I’m featuring one of my favorite people in the world today. She’s Manda Collins, and she writes wonderful and witty Regency-set historical romance with a dash of mystery. Manda’s first series, The Ugly Ducklings, received a great deal of acclaim for its engaging heroines, thoroughly decent heroes, and smart, fun stories.
Happily, Manda has a brand new series, The Wicked Widows. The first book is called Why Dukes Say I Do, and it’s already received 4-1/2 stars and a Top Pick from RT Book Reviews:
“Witty and smart, Collins’ prose flows smoothly as she merges a charming, compassionate love story with gothic suspense….Add strong pacing and depth of emotion, and there’s no doubt this is a winner.”
Here’s the blurb for Why Dukes Say I Do:
Even in London society—where everyone knows what you did last season—you never know who’s next in line to walk down the aisle…
TRUE LOVE IS OFTEN FOUND
With her whirlwind social life in London, Lady Isabella Wharton has little interest in the customs of the country. But when her godmother asks her to pay a visit to her bachelor grandson in Yorkshire, Isabella can’t refuse. It behooves her to please the old dowager, since she harbors one of Isabella’s most scandalous secrets. So off she goes to see the newly-titled—and notoriously rustic—Duke of Ormond…
WHERE YOU LEAST EXPECT IT
Trevor Carey doesn’t care about what goes on
behind ballroom doors. He is content with the simple life—and isn’t ashamed to admit it to a society flirt like Lady Isabella. But the country air brings out a different side of Isabella—one full of longing and passion. Can her sophistication be hiding a desire for love? When a blackmailer from the city arrives to threaten Isabella, Trevor will shield her from harm—even travel to London. Can the duke tackle the ton on Isabella’s behalf …and manage to keep her all to himself?
Sounds great, doesn’t it? If you like smart, witty storytelling with a lot of heart–and you haven’t tried one of Manda’s books–then I suggest you get cracking!
And for those of you who loved Manda’s last series, The Ugly Ducklings, you can pick up her recently released novella, The Perks of Being a Beauty, which winds up the series.
For my readers today, Manda is giving away one copy of Why Dukes Say I Do. Just tell us who and what are some of your favorite historical authors and books. One person who comments will win a copy of Manda’s new book!
I have too many favorite historical authors and books. Julia Garwood, Lisa Kleypas, Stephanie Laurens, Elizabeth Hoyt, Alexandra Hawkins, Jess Michaels, Vanessa Kelly, Miranda Collins, Jennifer Ashley, and etc. I can’t list them all and for the books…well I love all the books that these authors’ wrote. There isn’t a favorite for me if I have to pick since they are all my favorite.
That’s a great attitude, Sandy!
I have a hard time picking a favorite too, Sandy!
Welcome welcome Manda, and Hi Vanessa!
Oh my goodness. That question! Well of course there’s Vanessa’s His Mistletoe Bride and Manda’s How to Dance with a Duke. Have you read At The Duke’s Wedding? Of course the 4 authors in there are great: KA, MR, CL, MN. The Lady Most Likely/and Willing also have 3 great authors: JQ, EJ, CB. There’s also Shana Galen’s Lord and Lady Spy; Stephanie Laurnes’ Devil’s Bride; Sarah MacLean, Julie Anne Long, Beverley Kendall and all their books; Tessa Dare and her Spindle Cover series; Karina Cooper and her St. Croix Chronicles series;Madeline Hunter and her Rarest Blooms series. There’s Jillian Stone; Sherry Thomas; Jade lee; Loretta Chase; Valerie Bowman; Heather Snow; Anna Randol; Robyn DeHart; Amelia Grey; Anna Campbell; Rose Gordon; Kieran Kramer; Grace Burrowes.
There’s so many!!!
Thanks, ki pha! You’re very sweet!
Thanks for including me, Ki!
Oh boy, my list of favorites is extensive! The first one that comes to mind is Lisa Kleypas for her Hathaway series (maybe my all time favorite series), Julia Quinn and her Bridgerton series. Eloisa James, Kieran Kramer, Stephanie Laurens….oh so many!
Anita, I think the Hathaways are my favorite series of all time, as well!
Those are all great choices, Anita!
Wow, is it possible to answer this question without leaving anyone out? There’s Julie Garwood who started my love for historicals. Kieran Kramer, Julie Anne Long, Eloisa James, Julia Quinn, Katharine Ashe, Jillian Hunter, Stephanie Laurens, Lisa Kleypas. I’m sure I’m forgetting someone besides Vanessa and Manda but there are so many to name. And the books….oh boy, I could run out of space lol
Isn’t it wonderful that we can love so many authors and books at the same time, Ada? I sure do!
I really love many historical authors and their books. But Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novels are fun.
I adore JQ’s Bridgertons! The Viscount Who Loved Me and Romancing Mister Bridgerton are on my all time favorites list!
Historical romance is my favorite genre.
Books I like:
Kat -Nothing But Velvet
Elizabeth Lowell-Unforgiven trilogy
Julie Garwood -The Gift, Ransom
Catherine Coulture -Song quartet, Devil’s Embrace
Vickie Dreiling
Karen Hawkins the Maclean’s and Hurst series
Victoria Alexander-heiresses
Sabrina Jeffries Heiress series
Madeline Hunter- Rare Blooms series
Lisa Kleypas- Seasons series
Theresa Romain Season for Temptation
Alexandra Hawkins -Time of day series
Julia Quinn- The Bridgerton family series
Julianne Maclean -American Heiress series Loved !
Sarah MacLean 9 Ways To..
Julia London
Laura Lee Gurke
Sophie Jordan
Nicole Jordan
Stephanie James
Eloisa James
Gayle Callen
Jo Beverly
Celeste Bradley,
Jenna Peterson- Lady Spies series
Jillian Hunter -The Boscastle family series
Laurie McBain
Jude Devereux-Velvet series
Joanna Lindsay
Brenda Joyce
Anna Campbell
Tessa Dare
Sherry Thomas
Cathy Maxwell, Jo Beverly
Mary Balogh
Kasey Michaels
Jennifer Ashley
Shana Galen…..
OOPS forgot:
Elizabeth Boyle Elizabeth Hoyt -wounded warriors series
Karen Ranney Scottish Lairds
Jade Lee
Linda Francis Lee
Pamela Clare – Untamed,Defiant, Surrender Liked a lot!
My word, Laurie! That’s a serious list! And I love that you’ve got old favorites and newbies on there too! 🙂
Too many to list! But I’ll choose some of them:
Vanessa Kelley of course! 🙂
Manda Collins too!
Eloisa James
Julia Quinn
Julie Anne Long
Connie Brockway
Kieran Kramer
I like my historical with a bit of humour! 🙂
Thanks, May! I (as you can tell from my books) like a bit of humor in them too. One of my favorites for historical funnies is Julie Anne Long.
Like many have already said, I have too many to list here. But among my top must-buy-no-matter-what authors are:
Stephanie Laurens
Sabrina Jeffries
Julia Quinn
Liz Carlyle
Julie Anne Long
Suzanne Enoch
Shana Galen
C. S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr series)
Shirley Tallman (Sarah Woolson series)
Anne Gracie
Candice Hern
Eloisa James
Sally MacKenzie
Elizabeth Boyle
Some of my newer favorites are:
Kieran Kramer
Victoria Thompson (Gaslight mysteries)
Ashley Gardner (Regency mysteries)
Valerie Bowman
Vanessa Kelly
Manda Collins
Jillian Stone (Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series)
I’m sure there are more…in fact, I know there are but will need to stop now. BTW, my new latest passion are Regency & Victorian Mysteries.
Manda is a relatively new-to-me author. I have one of her books on my TBR shelves and I just bought The Perks of Being a Beauty…but I haven’t read either of those books yet. Must get cracking on that.
Thanks for giving me a try, Karen!
Congratulations on the new series!
Some of my favorite authors and my favorite book of theirs:
Sherry Thomas (Private Arrangements)
Courtney Milan (The Duchess Wars)
Maggie Robinson (Mistress by Marriage)
Elizabeth Hoyt (Notorious Pleasures)
Amanda Quick (Mistress)
Lisa Kleypas (Again the Magic)
Julie Anne Long (How the Marquess was Won)
Cecilia Grant (A Lady Awakened)
… And so many more! Love, love, love the historical romance genre!)
Thank you, Tin! You’ve got some of my very favorites on that list. Clearly you have excellent taste;)
First Manda is on my must buy list 🙂 My favorite author would be Eloisa James favorite book my her Pleasure for Pleasure. That said I have many other authors I adore as well…. Julia Quinn, Stephanie Laurens, Sabrina Jeffries, Christina Dodd, Amanda Quick, Lynsay Sands, Margret Moore, Vanessa Kelley, the elizabeths (Hoyt and Boyle)Lorraine Heath, Tessa Dare, Stafaine Sloane, Kieran Kramer,………
Aww, thanks, Alisha! That’s a great list you have. Pleasure for Pleasure is one of my all time faves too!
Congratulations on the new book, Manda.
I have so many favorites. Here are just a few:
Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas
Something About You by Julie James
What I Did For a Duke by Julie Anne Long
A Lady’s lesson in Scandal by Meredith Duran
Lady Be Good by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn
Thanks, Kim! Those are some great choices. 🙂
I really like Julie Garwood, Stephanie Laurens, Julia Quinn, Pamela Clare, Sherry Thomas, Lisa Kleypas, and Emma Wildes, Madeline Hunter, Diana Gabaldon, Judith McNaught, Sara Maclean, Hannah Howell, Dawn Halliday, Tess Mallory, Monica McCarty, Lynsay Sands, Amanda Scott, Michele Sinclair, Veronica Wolff.
Too many to name.
Another great list! You guys really have good taste!
Like everyone else I love many authors. My favorite books tend to be debut novels because I feel like I’ve found a new friend and I can be proud of a new author’s success. Corny, I know. Mastering the Marquess and How to Dance With a Duke are on my keeper shelf.:)
That’s so sweet, Angelina- thank you!
My all time favorite book is “The Bride” by Julie Garwood. I just love the heroine, Jamie and her propensity to help everyone not knowing that her clan is supposed to be feuding with the clan she is helping. This book makes me laugh and cry.
I would have to say my absolute favorite on both counts is The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley. That book blew me away!
Awesome book, Chelsea. I love JA. She’s an auto-buy for me.
Well, you guys of course. Stephanie Laurens and The Cynsters, the Elizabeths, Hoyt and Boyle; Karen Hawkins; Julia London; Jennifer Ashley and The Mackenzies; Alexandra Hawkins; Sally MacKenzie and I could go on and on…..
Thanks, Sue!!
Good grief… picking a favorite author is worse than trying to pick your favorite child. But I love Julie Garwood, Lisa Kleypas, Eloisa James, Celeste Bradley, Alexandra Hawkins, Jo Beverly, Samantha James, Julie London, Cecilia Grand, Suzanne Enoch…and you, Vanessa Kelly, as I have just started reading His Mistletoe Bride (even though it is July and 80 outside). And I’m always on the lookout for another favorite author to add.
froot loop, thank you so much! I hope you enjoy my Christmas bride.
Besides you two, Eloisa James- , Kieran Kramer, Sophie Barnes, Jennifer McQuiston, Julia Quinn, Stephanie Laurens, Lisa Kleypas, Ann Gracie, Erin Knightly, Samantha Grace, Grace Burrows, Sabrina Jeffries, Teresa Medeiros, Karen Hawkins. I’m sure I am forgetting a few!
So many- Eloisa James, Diana Gabaldon, Anna Campbell, Valerie Bowman…and on and on…..
got tons of fave historical romance writers including some of the usual ones who’ve been writing for a good while (Lindsey, Garwood, Laurens, Howell), but also some newer writers (Elizabeth Hoyt, Sarah McLean, Sally Mackenzie, Joanna Bourne). when there’s so many talented writers out there, can’t have too many faves 🙂
I have so many favorite historical authors, I’m not sure where to start. Julia Quinn, Victoria Alexander, Mary Balogh, Celeste Bradley, Elizabeth Boyle, Stephanie Laurens, and the recently discovered, Manda Collins. I have just found Manda’s first series. I loved it!! I also enjoyed The Philadelphia Patriots series. So many talented authors, so little time!!
Thanks, Nancy. So happy you enjoyed the Patriots!
I enjoy Vanessa’s books, Sabrina Jeffries’ books, Eloisa James’ books and Connie Brockway’s books.
That’s not a fair question!!! There are too many Regency Books and Authors to just pick one!! I’ve read Manda’s first two Ugly Duckling books and am about half way through the third and they are awesome!! Alexandra Hawkins, Eloisa James, Jennifer Ashley, Sabrina Jeffries, Vanessa Kelly, Manda Collins, Gayle Callen, Gaelen Foley, Tessa Dare, Loretta Chase, Sarah MacLean, Julianne MacLean, Elizabeth Hoyt, Sophia Nash, Stephanie Laurens, Kasey Michaels, Patricia Rice, Julie Anne Long, Sophie Jordan, Jillian Hunter, Karen Hawkins, Anna Campbell, Isabella Bradford, Katherine Ashe, Vicky Dreiling, Victoria Alexander, Sophie Barnes, Allison Chase, Tiffany Clare, Victoria Dahl, Jayne Fresina, Samantha Grace, Christie Kelly, Sally MacKenzie… and I’m positive that I’ve left out some!! >^.^< Thank you for all of the wonderful books and characters!
I enjoy so many – here’s a list of the top of my head:
Tracy Ann Warren (reading her Byrons of Braebourne Series now)
Monica McCarty
Julie Garwood
Catherine Coulter
Julie Beard
Lynn Kurland
Linda Howard
…
and so many more
I look at all the comments above and say that I agree with these ladies — most of the authors they have listed, I’ve read something of theirs. But how do you keep them apart when you read so many of them? It’s like I live in that time period and have lots and lots of friends that I know. Sometimes, I’ll reread books and then they will stay imprinted in my mind. Presently, I’m into Sarah MacLean’s books and Sabrina Jeffries. Anything that Stephanie Laurens writes in her Cynster novels I remember well. Oh, and I have just read Mia Marlowe’s Lord of Devil Isle and have just bought her The How To Series. Vanessa Kelly is one author I particularly enjoy. However, I don’t believe that I have read any of Manda Collin’s books, so her Ugly Duckling Series will be added to my TBR list. Thanks for the review Vanessa!
There are many authors who are auto buys for me & whose books I’m always eagerly looking forward to’ Courtney Milan, Anne Gracie, Shelly Thacker, Lisa Kleypas, Suzanne Enoch, Sarah Maclean just to name a few.
Since I read a lot of Historicals, way too many authors to name. All my favorites have been named here.
I could bore you with repeating those authors previously mentioned. I love a good historical and a good Regency. It is amazing considering the Era only lasted about 9 years total…
Way to many favorites. LOL
Teresa Medeiros, Cathy Maxwell, Sarah MacLean, Grace Burrowes, Eloisa James, Jennifer Ashley, Stephanie Laurens, Julia Quinn, etc., etc. LOL
My favorite historical books are:
-Caressed by Moonlight (Rulers of Darkness, #1)by Greene, Amanda J.
-Knight, Eliza’s books
and many more!!