The Hathaways series by Lisa Kleypas 

The worst historical series that I have ever read. These books seem to be written by a clumsy child. The love stories are painfully superficial. The plots are brainless (the characters, especially the heroines, have unjustified positions, that eventually they change completely, also in this case, without reason. And each book contains an excuse of paranormal/mystery/action sub-plot that to define ridiculous  is totally inadequate. I skimmed through all the books in the series because I was mesmerized by their ugliness (except for the last one that can be read with a modicum of interest) and I'm a bit sad because it's the first time that I had to be so stern with  this genre.

Now for the second part of the love letters in Romance list!

In the Historical Romance, the vellum really flows! Many different paths for the letter, journal, or note to help with cupid's arrow and cause mischief.  

Here are some of my favorites in no particular order!

1. Marrying the Royal Marine by Carla Kelly

2. The Substitute Bridegroom by Charlotte Louise Dolan

3. Texas Destiny by  Lorraine Heath

4. To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn

5. Love In The Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas

6. Till Next We Meet by Karen Ranney

7. The Lord Next Door by Gayle Callen

8. My Sweet Folly by Laura Kinsale

9. Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros

10. Scandal by  Amanda Quick

During my research I found a treasure trove of Historical Romances with this theme that I added to my Tumbling To Be Read Pile! 

1. Brave in Heart by Emma Barry

2. Season for Surrender  by Theresa Romain

3. Letter From a Rake by Sasha Cottman 

4. The Lady and the Laird by Nicola Cornick

5. Edith and the Mysterious Stranger by Linda Weaver Clarke

6. Edenbrooke: A Proper Romance by Julianne  Donaldson

7. Paper Roses by Amanda Cabot

8. The Nomad Harp by Laura Matthews 

9. A Deal With the Devil by Liz Carlyle

10. Last Night's Scandal by Lorretta Chase

Let me know if I missed your favorite! 

If you you like to see even more Romances from all the subgernes with written communication as a conduit for love, go to my Pinterest Board: Love Letters: Texts, Notes, Emails, Journals, Letters in Romance. 

If you missed the first list, here it is: Love Letters, Seductive Texts, Sexy Notes, and Romantic Emails in Contemporary Romance. 

These heroines do more than wear pants and disguise themselves as boys. They chafe at gender restrictions and do what needs to be done. 

Dirt in the Skirt Ladies! 

My favorite Historical Romance Tomboy Heroines in noparticular order. 

1. Texas Splendor by Lorraine Heath, Loree

2. Surrender by Amanda Quick, Victoria Huntington

3. The Unlikely Wife by Debra Ullrick

4. The Protector by Madeline Hunter,  Anna de Leon

5. Silver Lining by Maggie Osborne, Low Down

6. Never Love a Highlander by Maya Banks, Rionna

7. Love In The Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas, Beatrix Hathaway 

8. Fern by Leigh Greenwood, Fern Sproull

9. Slightly Scandalous by Mary Balogh, Freyja Bedwyn

10. Robber Bride by Deborah Simmons, Bethia

Do you have a favorite Historical Tomboy that I didn't mention? Let me know!

Vote for the best of the best on the Goodreads list: Best Historical Romance Tomboy Heroines.

To see recommendations from all genres of Romance and some amazing Tomboys, check out my Pinterest Board: Tomboys in Romance Novels.

Lisa Kleypas does it once again!  I love the way she is able to weave a beautiful romantic story with just the right amount of angst and passion.

We met Kev Merripen in Mine Till Midnight.  He is a gypsy boy that was taken in by the Hathaway family at a young age and has since become a protector/servant/brother to them.  Merripen showed he was moody and dark.  In this Seduce Me at Sunrise we find out more about his background and also got a couple of chapters taking us back to the early years of the Hathaways.  Back before they were plagued by illness and loss.

Merripen’s reason for staying with the Hathaway family has always been Winnifred.  Due to scarlet fever, she has always been fragile.  She leaves her family for France to a clinic that in two years heals her.  I have to say I was just as confused at Win as to the reasons why Merripen always pushed her away.  It was obvious to everyone how he suffered when away from her and how much he loved her.  But Merripen feels unworthy of a love and person as pure as Win.

It was lovely to see the passion in their union and how much Win was willing to fight for the man she loved. 

As a side note, I’ve begun listening to the audio version of these books and Rosalyn Landor does an amazing job of bringing Lisa Kleypas characters and world to life.  It really is a treat!

The Tattooed Hero is massively over done in Paranormal, New Adult, and Contemporary Romance. This fact won't keep me from doing best of lists on these heroes but it is a character trait that has become an easy go to in order to develop a certain kind of hero-- Bad boy. Warrior. Biker. 

The Historical Hero with a tattoo is so very much more rare. These tattoos come of being in prison, smuggling, captivity, or other not so common Historical Romance Hero things to be doing or being. 

Thus, Historical Heroes with tattoos are actually interesting! 

Here is a list of Historical Heroes with Tattoos for your reading pleasure.  Of course, the tattoos are always a surprise so, SPOILER Alert!

1. To Desire a Devil by  Elizabeth Hoyt

2. The Blue Viking by Sandra Hill

3. Seduce Me At Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas

4. Beau Crusoe by Carla Kelly

5. The Dragon's Bride by Jo Beverley

6. Bone Deep by Bonnie Dee

7. I Thee Wed by Amanda Quick

8. San Francisco Surrender by Donna Fletcher

9. In Bed With the Devil by Lorraine Heath

10. The Chief by Monica Mccarty

Do you know of some Historical Heroes with Tattoos? Gimme! Gimme!

If you would like to vote for the best of the best, go to the Goodreads list: Tattooed Man in Historical Romance.

If you would enjoy gazing at sexy tattooed men, check out my Pinterest

Board: Tattooed Man: Best Romance Hero Sporting Ink.

I will be doing Best Contemporary and Paranormal Romance Heroes with Tattoos next and then moving on to Inked Up Romance Heroines. Stay tuned!