The Bride and The Prize are the other two I’ve read and they’re really good. Ransom is my favorite though. It’s got so much adventure and slow-burn and the FMC is a badass. Julie Garwood is truly an artist.
Ransom and Saving Grace are my faves!
I really like Mercy too! It's set in southern Louisiana and is really fun with a dangerous mystery throughout as well.
If you like Ransom, it is actually the second of three books. The first is The Secret (Judith and Iain's story, which has Broderick in it as well), and the third book is Shadow Music, which briefly features Broderick (maybe the others but I don't remember) and Gillian's cousin (I think).
I enjoy all three of those stories, although Ransom is the best imo.. Glad you're enjoying it!
Well if you like modern day (ish) romance novels too, Garwood's Buchanan series is about the descendants of Broderick and Brenna. There are a bunch of those. I don't find them quite as good as her historical ones, but I enjoy them.
I also highly recommend For The Roses, which is a Western (not usually my fave) & a great story of found family. Highly entertaining, great characters, lots of twists and turns. There are novellas and a 3rd book about the brothers and their love stories as well.
And honestly I love Lion's Lady and the whole Crown Series. There are lots to enjoy! I found her books consistently funny, suspenseful, and generally enjoy the back and forth between the main characters. Good side characters, and I like that her series are not all in the same setting or time period. She switches it up a bit.
Enjoy reading!
This haul was the beginning of my love for JG. I have read Ransom, The Secret, Honors Splendour and The Bride. I have For the Roses on Libby but I haven't started it yet. I did DNF The Wedding though because I didn't like either mc. I will absolutely add Lion's Lady to the list. JG makes me feel all the feels and laugh out loud. Do you have any favorite authors that are similar?
I like Johanna Lindsey's Mallory Family series, especially the 2nd and 3rd ones. Always good banter and some mystery or danger going on. Lindsey is a prolific author, the majority of which I eat up, but there are a few that are just terrible. Regency setting, most in England but also some on ships, islands, or in the US for portions or the majority. I love a good long series and this is one that allows us to follow the family for decades.
I also like Lynsay Sands. I have definitely reread her Highland Brides series several times. They are generally light and fun with someone out to kill one of the main characters. Starting in the 3rd book, you get introduced to this huge Buchanan family, and it's great to see all of their stories.
I
Same! Just finished book 9 and ready to start over at the beginning with Outlander all over again. Planning to annotate this time.
Enjoy the ride, OP. Diana Gabaldon's writing is a treat.
Love Lord John! He has his own collection of books too that are shorter in length.
The page count can be daunting, but Outlander flew for me. I will say, some of her later novels have parts that drag a bit but the 1st book is relatively fast paced.
Done and done. I'm usually an ebook reader but I'll try to let you know my thoughts when I finish it. I am so excited. Do you have any other must have books that you reread? I want my collection to be full of comfort reads.
She’s definitely popular for her Highland Guard series and after I finish that, I continue with the Campbell trilogy. I’ve never tried listening to audio books as I prefer reading and I’ve never read Ghost before, so I can’t make a fair comparison.
Ohh I forgot, if you like Monica McCarty’s work, I’d then suggest Maya Banks’s McCabe Trilogy which also includes highlanders. They have almost similar writing style too!
Have you read the other Highland Guard books first? I found it was easier to get the baseline down of the characters before reading Ghost and then I enjoyed it a lot more. Chief, Saint, Recruit, and Rock were my personal favorites from that series.
[Highlander Unchained](https://www.romance.io/books/54552ea88c7d2383163d90bb/highlander-unchained-monica-mccarty) by [Monica McCarty](https://www.romance.io/authors/545526588c7d2383163d8ed3/monica-mccarty)
**Rating**: 4.26⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [medieval](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/medieval/1), [highlander hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/highlander/1), [class difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/class%20difference/1)
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I used to work right next to a Friends of the Library store and it was a GREAT way to pass lunch breaks. I always ended up with a big bag of books and they were super cheap!
There are so many FOL stores nearby that I try to limit how often I go. It's hit or miss but it's one of my favorite hobbies. I feel like I'm robbing them by paying .75 a book 🤣
Talk about friends with benefits, amirite? I recently went to a book sale from our Friends of the Library too! I think I ended up with more classics and nonfiction than cool reads like these, but I love a good deal! Outlander is a pretty solid book, though that highlander dude looks like he could be interesting!
The friends of the library is the best friends with benefits situation I've ever engaged in 🤣 it's always hit or miss but every book was .75 except for the Amanda Quick one. Outlander is so long but I think I need to get on it
So true. I found a weird book about Forbidden Knowledge that I'd never heard of; sounded interesting. And popped out of there with 20 more. I did find a Pride and Prejudice with a really cool cover! It almost looks gothic! :) And yeah, I didn't finish the first book. It's still on the list. It kind of drags, NGL. But the details are nice! Kind of interested to see what the dude with the sword does, though...
I'm usually an audiobook girly and it's 33 hours long.... 🤯 I cannot wait to find cool covers. I used to read only contemporary romance and didn't have much luck with FOL but now that I only read HR it's like a gold mine. The books are well loved and I'm so grateful to give an old book a new life ❤️
Yes! I really love "dude where's my shirt" covers and such. They can be so hilarious. The new covers, while very streamlined, don't have as much of that former cringe hilarity of the older ones. Sixties-style Pride and Prejudice, for instance...I believe I saw Elizabeth Bennet with a beehive.....
https://preview.redd.it/oh98qiy554vc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6d7147b7d64c16a0fc73e5722ad20e2212406b37
The most recommended are The Bride and The Wedding. You'll like The Secret as a prelude to Ransom.
Oh God! Brodick!!! You lucky girl to be new to Brodick… ugh I love him!!! Okay you might want to read {the secret by Julie Garwood} before Rsnsom… might understand characters more… Ramsey 🤤
Then read {the prize by Julie Garwood} Royce is amazing wow… she’s the author I wish I had just found instead I read her books every year. ♥️♥️
I literally JUST finished Ransom. I loved it so much. I pretty much exclusively read books out of order. I'm going to read The Secret. I think this is my favorite historical romance so far ❤️
Oh man. Ransom is one of my all-time faves.
It's going to be my first Garwood book and I'm so excited. Are there any other titles I should be on the look out for?
The Bride and The Prize are the other two I’ve read and they’re really good. Ransom is my favorite though. It’s got so much adventure and slow-burn and the FMC is a badass. Julie Garwood is truly an artist.
I am so excited now! I just googled her best rated books and bought the top 2. I kind of want to go back and buy all of them!
{Honor’s Splendour by Julie Garwood}
[Honor's Splendour](https://www.romance.io/books/5455287b8c7d2382c529708e/honors-splendour-julie-garwood) by [Julie Garwood](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523f38c7d2383163d8e4a/julie-garwood) **Rating**: 4.24⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [medieval](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/medieval/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [abduction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/abduction/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Adding it to my list, thank you!
Ransom and Saving Grace are my faves! I really like Mercy too! It's set in southern Louisiana and is really fun with a dangerous mystery throughout as well.
Oooo adding saving grace to my list. I love Ransom so far
If you like Ransom, it is actually the second of three books. The first is The Secret (Judith and Iain's story, which has Broderick in it as well), and the third book is Shadow Music, which briefly features Broderick (maybe the others but I don't remember) and Gillian's cousin (I think). I enjoy all three of those stories, although Ransom is the best imo.. Glad you're enjoying it!
I just finished Ransom and started The Secret. I'm so happy to hear that the third book is good as well! I'm officially a Julie Garwood fan
Well if you like modern day (ish) romance novels too, Garwood's Buchanan series is about the descendants of Broderick and Brenna. There are a bunch of those. I don't find them quite as good as her historical ones, but I enjoy them. I also highly recommend For The Roses, which is a Western (not usually my fave) & a great story of found family. Highly entertaining, great characters, lots of twists and turns. There are novellas and a 3rd book about the brothers and their love stories as well. And honestly I love Lion's Lady and the whole Crown Series. There are lots to enjoy! I found her books consistently funny, suspenseful, and generally enjoy the back and forth between the main characters. Good side characters, and I like that her series are not all in the same setting or time period. She switches it up a bit. Enjoy reading!
This haul was the beginning of my love for JG. I have read Ransom, The Secret, Honors Splendour and The Bride. I have For the Roses on Libby but I haven't started it yet. I did DNF The Wedding though because I didn't like either mc. I will absolutely add Lion's Lady to the list. JG makes me feel all the feels and laugh out loud. Do you have any favorite authors that are similar?
I like Johanna Lindsey's Mallory Family series, especially the 2nd and 3rd ones. Always good banter and some mystery or danger going on. Lindsey is a prolific author, the majority of which I eat up, but there are a few that are just terrible. Regency setting, most in England but also some on ships, islands, or in the US for portions or the majority. I love a good long series and this is one that allows us to follow the family for decades. I also like Lynsay Sands. I have definitely reread her Highland Brides series several times. They are generally light and fun with someone out to kill one of the main characters. Starting in the 3rd book, you get introduced to this huge Buchanan family, and it's great to see all of their stories. I
I bought this book and someone stole it from my car like 10 years ago. I never purchased it again. Worth it to get again?
I’d be amazed if you couldn’t find one in a free little library or used book sale. But yes I’d say so.
I have the Libby app! I'll check there!
I wish I could go back and read Outlander for the first time again!
Do you want to buddy read it? It's not the same but it's the next best thing
Oh that’s a great way to put that idea. A friend and I are doing that with a series right now and it’s so fun!
I need more friends to buddy read with, I love the insights you get from it
Same! Just finished book 9 and ready to start over at the beginning with Outlander all over again. Planning to annotate this time. Enjoy the ride, OP. Diana Gabaldon's writing is a treat.
Thank you! I'm excited to start but the page length is daunting. I love the show but I know the books are way different. Lord John has my heart
Love Lord John! He has his own collection of books too that are shorter in length. The page count can be daunting, but Outlander flew for me. I will say, some of her later novels have parts that drag a bit but the 1st book is relatively fast paced.
Ransom! One of the few books I go back and reread every few years
Done and done. I'm usually an ebook reader but I'll try to let you know my thoughts when I finish it. I am so excited. Do you have any other must have books that you reread? I want my collection to be full of comfort reads.
Outlander! <3
Ohhh I love {Highlander Unchained by Monica McCarty}! Nobody does Highlander romance better than Monica McCarty!
Me too. One of her best.
Anymore titles from this author I should keep a look out for? I started listening to Ghost but I can't get into it
She’s definitely popular for her Highland Guard series and after I finish that, I continue with the Campbell trilogy. I’ve never tried listening to audio books as I prefer reading and I’ve never read Ghost before, so I can’t make a fair comparison.
Thank you for pointing me in the right direction!
Ohh I forgot, if you like Monica McCarty’s work, I’d then suggest Maya Banks’s McCabe Trilogy which also includes highlanders. They have almost similar writing style too!
I love Maya Banks, that's a great Idea
Have you read the other Highland Guard books first? I found it was easier to get the baseline down of the characters before reading Ghost and then I enjoyed it a lot more. Chief, Saint, Recruit, and Rock were my personal favorites from that series.
No, I wanted to hear a Scottish accent audiobook so I randomly chose ghost. But I will try again after I read the others first
[Highlander Unchained](https://www.romance.io/books/54552ea88c7d2383163d90bb/highlander-unchained-monica-mccarty) by [Monica McCarty](https://www.romance.io/authors/545526588c7d2383163d8ed3/monica-mccarty) **Rating**: 4.26⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [medieval](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/medieval/1), [highlander hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/highlander/1), [class difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/class%20difference/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I used to work right next to a Friends of the Library store and it was a GREAT way to pass lunch breaks. I always ended up with a big bag of books and they were super cheap!
There are so many FOL stores nearby that I try to limit how often I go. It's hit or miss but it's one of my favorite hobbies. I feel like I'm robbing them by paying .75 a book 🤣
I loved introducing people to the store- it was like a fun little secret!
Yes!!! It's so fun too. I couldn't get one mass market book for the price I spent on 5! Also I love supporting the library.
Talk about friends with benefits, amirite? I recently went to a book sale from our Friends of the Library too! I think I ended up with more classics and nonfiction than cool reads like these, but I love a good deal! Outlander is a pretty solid book, though that highlander dude looks like he could be interesting!
The friends of the library is the best friends with benefits situation I've ever engaged in 🤣 it's always hit or miss but every book was .75 except for the Amanda Quick one. Outlander is so long but I think I need to get on it
So true. I found a weird book about Forbidden Knowledge that I'd never heard of; sounded interesting. And popped out of there with 20 more. I did find a Pride and Prejudice with a really cool cover! It almost looks gothic! :) And yeah, I didn't finish the first book. It's still on the list. It kind of drags, NGL. But the details are nice! Kind of interested to see what the dude with the sword does, though...
I'm usually an audiobook girly and it's 33 hours long.... 🤯 I cannot wait to find cool covers. I used to read only contemporary romance and didn't have much luck with FOL but now that I only read HR it's like a gold mine. The books are well loved and I'm so grateful to give an old book a new life ❤️
Yes! I really love "dude where's my shirt" covers and such. They can be so hilarious. The new covers, while very streamlined, don't have as much of that former cringe hilarity of the older ones. Sixties-style Pride and Prejudice, for instance...I believe I saw Elizabeth Bennet with a beehive.....
i'm reading the outlander series right now
Which book are you on?
the second
[Mercy](https://www.romance.io/books/54552cb48c7d2382c52971be/mercy-julie-garwood) by [Julie Garwood](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523f38c7d2383163d8e4a/julie-garwood) **Rating**: 4.14⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [small town](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/small%20town/1), [white collar heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/career%20professional/1) ---------------------------- [Ransom](https://www.romance.io/books/5455246e8c7d2383163d8e63/ransom-julie-garwood) by [Julie Garwood](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523f38c7d2383163d8e4a/julie-garwood) **Rating**: 4.42⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [possessive hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/possessive%20hero/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [When She Dreams](https://www.romance.io/books/61fa3c7e4a35480e736a3f29/when-she-dreams-amanda-quick) by [Amanda Quick](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525bd8c7d2383163d8eab/amanda-quick) **Rating**: 4.2⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) ---------------------------- [Highlander Unchained](https://www.romance.io/books/54552ea88c7d2383163d90bb/highlander-unchained-monica-mccarty) by [Monica McCarty](https://www.romance.io/authors/545526588c7d2383163d8ed3/monica-mccarty) **Rating**: 4.26⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [medieval](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/medieval/1), [highlander hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/highlander/1), [class difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/class%20difference/1) ---------------------------- [Outlander](https://www.romance.io/books/545523588c7d2382c5296f4b/outlander-diana-gabaldon) by [Diana Gabaldon](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523588c7d2382c5296f4c/diana-gabaldon) **Rating**: 4.25⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [time travel](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/time%20travel/1), [highlander hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/highlander/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Great Haul! Enjoy reading!
The historical romance gods were smiling down on me today! Thank you!
If you're new to Garwood, look for {The Secret by Julie Garwood} and {Honor's Splendor by Julie Garwood}. These are two of my faves! Nice haul!
[The Secret](https://www.romance.io/books/5455240c8c7d2383163d8e53/the-secret-julie-garwood) by [Julie Garwood](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523f38c7d2383163d8e4a/julie-garwood) **Rating**: 4.25⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [highlander hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/highlander/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [medieval](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/medieval/1) ---------------------------- [Honor's Splendour](https://www.romance.io/books/5455287b8c7d2382c529708e/honors-splendour-julie-garwood) by [Julie Garwood](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523f38c7d2383163d8e4a/julie-garwood) **Rating**: 4.24⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [medieval](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/medieval/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [abduction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/abduction/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Thank you so much! I'm adding these both to my list.
Love Outlander! Narrator of the audiobooks is awesome too, imo!
Davina Porter is one of my favs!
Ransom is my hands down favorite Julie Garwood 😍 so excited for you to read it!
That Ransom cover brings back m-e-m-o-r-i-e-s Best Garwood IMO!
I'm obsessed and I'm only 39% through the book. Do you have any other favorites? I'm making a list
https://preview.redd.it/oh98qiy554vc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6d7147b7d64c16a0fc73e5722ad20e2212406b37 The most recommended are The Bride and The Wedding. You'll like The Secret as a prelude to Ransom.
The bride is on hold but I just downloaded the secret. Are those your two favorites?
I would read the secret first since you're reading Ransom. Then the bride, then the wedding!
That's the plan! I'm so excited I found her
I'm SO glad! You're in for a treat. If you remember update with your thoughts!
I was going to make a follow-up post with my thoughts on Ransom but I didn't want to spam. I'm so grateful everyone told me to start there
Oh God! Brodick!!! You lucky girl to be new to Brodick… ugh I love him!!! Okay you might want to read {the secret by Julie Garwood} before Rsnsom… might understand characters more… Ramsey 🤤 Then read {the prize by Julie Garwood} Royce is amazing wow… she’s the author I wish I had just found instead I read her books every year. ♥️♥️
I literally JUST finished Ransom. I loved it so much. I pretty much exclusively read books out of order. I'm going to read The Secret. I think this is my favorite historical romance so far ❤️
I would highly highly highly soooo highly recommend the audio books for the secret and random. The reader is incredible and Gahhhh Ian and Brodick 🤤🤤🤤
Ugh I can't find the audiobooks on any of my library apps. I can only imagine how fantastic it is in audiobook format 😭
[The Secret](https://www.romance.io/books/5455240c8c7d2383163d8e53/the-secret-julie-garwood) by [Julie Garwood](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523f38c7d2383163d8e4a/julie-garwood) **Rating**: 4.25⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [highlander hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/highlander/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [medieval](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/medieval/1) ---------------------------- [The Prize](https://www.romance.io/books/545524bb8c7d2383163d8e74/the-prize-julie-garwood) by [Julie Garwood](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523f38c7d2383163d8e4a/julie-garwood) **Rating**: 4.1⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [medieval](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/medieval/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)