Day 5: Romance authors share their keeper books

Update: Congratulations to Ginger Robertson, winner of a box of newer releases. Please check Facebook messages for information on how to collect your prize.

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Welcome to Day 5 of HEA's five days of romance authors' favorite romances. If you didn't catch this week's earlier posts, you can check them out here, here, here and here. Notice the awesome giveaway on those? A box of newer releases. That's right, a box. Well, this post has the same giveaway. So if you leave a comment sharing a book that's on your keeper shelf, you could win.

Doing these posts all week made me want to share what's on MY keeper shelf. Third shelf down, sixth book from the right is Primal Obsession by Susan Vaughan, and I will happily admit that she is a fabulous friend. She's also a fabulous author: Primal Obsession is romantic suspense at its best -- tense, hot and action-packed. Love it!

Now, here's what today's authors had to say (they're listed along with their most recent or upcoming release):

Jami Alden, Private Paradise

"What a fun exercise! Three shelves down, six books over, I found Moon Flower by Shirl Henke. Talk about an oldie but goody! This book is from a time when historical romances were sweeping epics, full of beautiful, feisty heroines and heroes who sometimes crossed the line into outright cruelty. I love Henke's books because they're full of those moments that make your gut clench and your eyes sting with tears. With her steamy yet deeply emotional stories, Henke and authors like her laid the foundation for my own writing and evoke the kind of emotional response I strive for in every book."

Duffy Brown, Iced Chiffon

"Lucy Valentine solves mysteries and falls in love in Truly Madly. Heather Webber writes the best of both worlds."

Cathy Lamb, A Different Kind of Normal

"On my keeper shelf for romances is The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I could hardly get off my couch when I was reading that book. I only got up to feed the children, and only when they whined. It is very, very rare for me to be that gripped by a book. I loved Henry and Clare and ached for them as they met throughout time, at different ages, in different places, with different problems. I wanted them to be together always! The end was particularly heart-wrenching for me. They'd had a life-long love affair, with their love intersecting and crossing, staying steady and true. As a writer, I appreciated the complexity of the structure of the book, the back and forth throughout time, and how well drawn the characters were. You could feel how they felt, as if you were part of their twosome. Beautiful."

Terri Brisbin, The Highlander's Stolen Touch

"A Knight's Desire by Judith Hill (1992!) is still on my keeper shelf because it is the quintessential medieval historical romance to me – it has warriors, strong women, incredible emotional battles and a redeemed villain that inspired me to write one of my own. I had the chance to meet Judith at an RWA conference and had the chance to talk to her about her wonderful story – it was such a thrill!"

Angela Knight, Master of Darkness (Mageverse Series)

"Hmm. Let's see. I've been reading romance seriously since the 1980s, and I've got floor-to-ceiling bookcases that are stuffed with books three deep. This makes it tricky to find ANYTHING. But on the third shelf from the top, I find the 10th book from the left. Oh, yum, Ilona Andrews' Magic Bleeds! I've read every book in the Kate Daniels series half a dozen times, so I barely resisted the urge to give a fan-girl squee when I met Ilona and her handsome husband, (actually a writing team) at Romantic Times this year. Magic Bleeds is the fourth book in the series, and features all kinds of deliciousness, including a magical version of Typhoid Mary. Ilona is -- or rather, are -- wildly creative in their world-building, and I'm a sucker for world-building. But they're also skillful at constructing a romance, and I just love the twists and turns they install in each couple's passionate relationship. Any book of theirs -- whether it's the Kate Daniels books, the Edge series (also a delight) or the new books about Kate's partner ... I just love 'em all. You can't go wrong with Ilona Andrews. In the words of the Lolcats, 'Nom NOM NOM!!!'

Valerie Bowman, Secrets of a Wedding Night

"The book in that spot is Lisa Kleypas' Again the Magic and it's on my keeper shelf because ALL Lisa Kleypas' novels are on my keeper shelf. She's fabulous! It's that simple."

Ruth A. Casie, Knight of Runes

"A Duke of Her Own by Eloisa James. Eloisa's stories are masterpieces of rich character development but more than her prowess as an author Eloisa James is unique. A friend and mentor to authors at all levels, she shares her knowledge/experiences and is candid about the industry. Her openness and warmth are the essence of her personality. She sets a high bar for us all."

Lucy Monroe, Not Just the Greek's Wife

"Affair of Risk (1982) by Jayne Castle because even in her earliest books, Jayne's heroines were strong and intelligent and I love that."

Shawn Lane, Loving the Boss

"I'm going with a book called My Fair Captain by J.L. Langley. Not surprisingly it is an M/M romance and it's among the first stories I read. It was part of what convinced me to write in this genre myself because I loved it so much. Both heroes are swoon-worthy and to die for. I often go back to it when I need a smile and a feel-good read."

Adrienne Giordano, Relentless Pursuit

"Too Good to be True by Kristan Higgins. I have all of Kristan's books (Just One of the Guys is my favorite) and have loved each one. They are full of fun, quirky characters that Kristan sometimes puts in hilarious situations. If you're a fan of contemporary romances, I'd recommend any Kristan Higgins book. They're all great fun."

Willa Blair, Highland Healer

"Gabriel's Ghost, a science-fiction romance novel by Linnea Sinclair, won the RITA in 2006 for Best Paranormal Romance. Part of her Dock 5 series, this book's plot is rich with twists and turns of politics, religion, peril and, most important, the love-hate relationship between Gabriel Ross Sullivan and Chasidah Bergren, the disgraced heroine he is determined to save. … Their journey to love is so compelling, I go back to this book over and over again. Sully is my all-time-favorite tortured hero. Gabriel's Ghost is a keeper!"

M.J. Schiller, Taken by Storm

"Black Creek Burning by R.T. Wolfe is on my keeper shelf because it is a great romantic suspense novel with one burning hot hero, Nathan Reed. Nathan is an artist/woodworker/architect/hunk! There's just something about a creative guy, isn't there? Maybe it's because they're imaginative, and good with their hands! ( ; Plus, Nathan is concerned about others and patient with his heroine, Brie Chapman. Brie has to work through the trauma of her parents' deaths at the hands of an arsonist, knowing that the fire was set for her. Others have given up on Brie, but not my -- I mean -- not Nathan. Nathan also is understanding when it takes awhile for his orphaned nephew, Duncan, to warm up to him. Wolfe's writing pulled me in from the beginning and had me rushing through to the end."

Louann Carroll, A Shadow of Time

"Lady of Avalon by Marion Bradley. A story of love not easily controlled."

Becky Lower, The Reluctant Debutante

"I have Jude Deveraux's A Knight in Shining Armor in a prominent position on my shelf. I read it long ago and loved it so much, I decided then and there that, if I was ever to write, I would do time-travel stories. With many moves between then and now, the book disappeared from my collection. So when Jude reissued it several years ago, I snapped it up for my 'forever' shelf. I'm still working on my time-travel story, but every time I write one of my historical series, I feel like I'm time-traveling back to the 1850s in America."

C.H. Admirand, Jesse

"The Last Honest Woman by Nora Roberts. Ms. Roberts has a gift for creating characters that you'd love to count among your friends and in your life. I am a huge fan!"

Beth Yarnall, Rush

"Too Much Temptation by Lori Foster is tattered and dog-eared. Its yellowed pages smell a little musty and its spine is broken. I've read it so many times I can recite parts of it. Why do I love this book so much? Well, besides the fact that there's a mega hot sex scene in chapter five and the pages don't stop smoldering until the last words are read, I love it because it's everything a romance should be -- smart, sexy and funny. Noah, the hero, is 100% alpha male, but he's also soft-hearted and so tender with Grace, the heroine, there are moments when I actually sigh out loud. Grace is a gentle soul with ample curves and a bit of a crush on Noah. Their romance begins as friends with benefits where Noah is the boss in the bedroom, but it's Grace who holds the true power. Their journey to happily ever after is sweet, sensual and satisfying."

Shelley Freydont, Beach Colors (writing as Shelley Noble)

"Duchess by Night by Eloisa James. Love her stores and writing style."

Mackenzie Crowne, That Dating Thing

"Oh, I love my keeper shelf! It's full of old friends, including Reese Duncan and Madelyn Patterson in Duncan's Bride by Linda Howard. A modern-day tale of a mail-order bride, their explosive love story takes place on a Montana cattle ranch. This was the first title I read by Ms. Howard and I've been a fan since. … Duncan's Bride delivers the perfect mix of spicy romance in the midst of a fabulous battle of wills."

Heather Thurmeier, Falling for You

"My romance keeper shelf gets bigger by the day. Good thing it's on my Kindle and my virtual bookshelf will never be full! One of my favorite romance keepers is Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis. I'm not usually a fan of small-town romance, but Lucky Harbor made me completely smitten. I love the relationship between the sisters and the hunky men who capture their hearts."

Gabrielle Bisset, Blood Spirit (Sons of Navarus #3)

"One book that will always have a place on my romance keeper shelf is Blood on Silk by Marie Treanor. I love the feel of that story! She captures the dark and dangerous side of my favorite kind of paranormal character so well. Her vampire Saloman is as delicious as he is deadly, and the romance between him and the heroine, Elizabeth, is mature and sexy. A definite keeper!"

Aimee Thurlo, Falcon's Run (November 2013)

"The Secret of Cypriere Bayou by Jana DeLeon. Loved this book. It reminded me of my life in New Orleans, and my days in the South. I came to the desert because of severe breathing difficulties (asthma) and made a new life here. I love my town and my life in New Mexico, but this was like a walk back in time for me, and a great story, too."

Kristina Wright, Lustfully Ever After

"My keeper shelf revealed an oldie but a goody -- Sandra Brown's Slow Heat in Heaven (1988). The setting -- the Louisiana bayou -- is one that is sultry and fascinating and provides a great backdrop for a story about desire, intrigue and the secrets of a small town, and Ms. Brown's alpha hero, Cash Boudreaux, is dark and brooding and deliciously sexy."

Nancy Naigle, Sweet Tea and Secrets

"I have all my little hardcover Christmas romances at the far right of one of my keeper shelves, so I knew before I headed in my office to look that shelf three, sixth from the right was going to be a Christmas story. I have to admit, though, that when I went into my office and counted off six in ... I was tickled to pluck The Christmas Basket by Debbie Macomber from the shelf. I add to this collection of holiday romances every year and I reread the growing number every single year. Debbie Macomber weaves a lovely tale of home and family traditions that always make me smile. In The Christmas Basket, Noelle is home for Christmas (and her birthday) and it's going to be a Christmas to remember. I think this story is even offered in an anthology with a couple other of her stories. Aside from the story being a perfect 10 on the happy meter, I just can't resist the smaller hardback size and pretty glittery cover. I might just read this one again tonight. After all, we're already on the countdown of less than 75 days until the big day! Hugs and happy reading."

Linda McMaken, Baer Necessities

"The book that lives on my third shelf, sixth one over makes me smile. It is actually one of my newer books. Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I've loved and read SEP for many years. This book, however, is special and will remain on my keeper shelf until the pages become petrified. I was at my first Romantic Times convention last year and Susan was signing. I waited in line, got up to her and just stood there and stared, not one word would come out of my perpetual motion machine of a mouth. Susan was kind, she was patient, she asked me if I'd like her to sign her book. Suddenly, my mouth began working and all I could say was 'I'm a librarian,' as though that should make up for my sudden insanity. She laughed, told me she loved librarians and signed the book to 'Linda, her favorite librarian.' A very gracious lady."

Deb Stover, Another Dawn (Kindle edition)

"The sixth book from the right on the third shelf of my keepers is Marrying Stone by Pamela Morsi. The characters in this small town in the hills crawled into my heart and stayed. I love Morsi's historicals, though she has been writing women's fiction for the past 10 years or so. All her historicals are on my keeper shelf, and this one is probably my favorite. It's warm, witty, unique, sexy, a little wild and definitely filled my heart with hope. I think I'll have to reread it now."

Don't forget to leave a comment sharing a book from your keeper shelf for a chance to win a box of newer releases.

You can enter through midnight ET Friday, Oct. 26. Winner will be notified by Monday, Oct. 29. (Contest rules are at the bottom of Monday's post.)