Dabney's Ballin' Bodice Rippers--my current faves in historical romance

These are, currently, my favorite historical romances. All of these books have something that excites me: an unusual heroine, an arrogant hero beautifully humbled, passion that singes my soul. I don't claim any of them as great, only as books I love. The earliest one was published in 1991; the latest, just this year. If you'd like to see the list narrowed down to my top thirty faves, click here to read a post of mine at Dear Author.

Adele Ashworth My Darling Caroline Anna Campbell Untouched Anne Mallory Three Nights of Sin Anne Mallory Seven Secrets of Seduction Anne Mallory One Night Is Never Enough Anne Stuart Reckless Anne Stuart Ruthless Anne Stuart Breathless Beverley Kendall Sinful Surrender Beverley Kendall A Taste of Desire Callaway, Grace Her Husband's Harlot Carolyn Jewel Scandal Carolyn Jewel Lord Ruin Catherine Kean Dance of Desire Cecilia Grant A Lady Awakened Christina Dodd A Well Pleasured Lady Christina Dodd That Scandalous Evening Christina Dodd One Kiss From You Christina Dodd Rules of Attraction Christine Wells Wicked Little Game Connie Brockway As You Desire Courtney Milan Unveiled Courtney Milan Unlocked Courtney Milan Unclaimed Courtney Milan Unraveled Elizabeth Essex The Pursuit of Pleasure Elizabeth Essex A Sense of Sin Elizabeth Essex The Danger of Desire Elizabeth Hoyt The Raven Prince Elizabeth Hoyt The Serpent Prince Elizabeth Hoyt To Taste Temptation Elizabeth Hoyt To Seduce a Sinner Elizabeth Hoyt The Leopard Prince Eloisa James Fool for Love Eloisa James A Duke of Her Own Eloisa James A Kiss at Midnight Emma Wildes An Indecent Proposition Emma Wildes Our Wicked Mistake Grace Burrowes The Heir Hope Tarr Vanquished Jeannie Lin Butterfly Swords Jenna Petersen The Unclaimed Duchess Jennifer Ashley Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie Jennifer Ashley The Many Sins of Lord Cameron Jennifer Haymore A Hint of Wicked Jess Michaels Everything Forbidden Jess Michaels Taboo Jillian Hunter The Seduction of an English Scoundrel Jo Beverley The Dragon's Bride Jo Goodman One Forbidden Evening Jo Goodman The Price of Desire Jo Goodman Never Love a Lawman Jo Goodman Marry Me Joanna Bourne The Spymaster's Lady Joanna Bourne My Lord and Spymaster Joanna Bourne The Forbidden Rose Joanna Bourne The Black Hawk Johanna Lindsey Prisoner of My Desire Judith Ivory The Proposition Judith James Libertine's Kiss Julia London The Year of Living Scandalously Julia London The Revenge of Lord Eberlin Julia Quinn The Duke and I Julia Quinn The Viscount Who Loved Me Julia Quinn Romancing Mister Bridgerton Julia Quinn When He Was Wicked Julia Quinn The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever Julia Quinn What Happens in London J Quinn, E James, C Brockway The Lady Most Likely...: A Novel in Three Parts Julie Anne Long To Love a Thief Julie Anne Long The Secret to Seduction Julie Anne Long Like No Other Lover Julie Anne Long I Kissed an Earl Julie Anne Long What I Did for a Duke Karen Hawkins An Affair to Remember Karen Ranney Till Next We Meet Karen Ranney An Unlikely Governess Karen Ranney The Devil Wears Tartan Karen Ranney A Scotsman in Love Kathleen Woodiwiss Wolf and the Dove Kris Kennedy The Irish Warrior Laura Kinsale The Shadow and the Star Laura Kinsale Flowers From the Storm Laura Lee Guhrke Guilty Pleasures Laura Lee Guhrke Secret Desires of a Gentleman Lisa Kleypas Where Dreams Begin Lisa Kleypas Suddenly You Lisa Kleypas Again the Magic Lisa Kleypas Secrets of a Summer Night Lisa Kleypas It Happened One Autumn Lisa Kleypas The Devil in Winter Lisa Kleypas Mine Till Midnight Lisa Kleypas Tempt Me at Twilight Lisa Valdez Passion Liz Carlyle A Deal With the Devil Liz Carlyle The Devil to Pay Liz Carlyle Wicked All Day Loretta Chase Captives of the Night Loretta Chase Lord of Scoundrels Loretta Chase Lord Perfect Loretta Chase Last Night's Scandal Loretta Chase Silk Is for Seduction Lorraine Heath Always to Remember Lorraine Heath In Bed With the Devil Lorraine Heath Waking Up With the Duke Madeline Hunter By Design Madeline Hunter The Rules of Seduction Madeline Hunter Secrets of Surrender Madeline Hunter The Sins of Lord Easterbrook Madeline Hunter Ravishing in Red Madeline Hunter Provocative in Pearls Madeline Hunter Sinful in Satin Madeline Hunter Dangerous in Diamonds Margaret Mallory Knight of Desire Mary Balogh First Comes Marriage Mary Balogh Then Comes Seduction Mary Balogh At Last Comes Love Mary Jo Putney The Wild Child Meljean Brook The Iron Duke Melody Thomas A Match Made in Scandal Melody Thomas Must Have Been the Moonlight Melody Thomas Beauty and the Duke Melody Thomas Claimed by a Scottish Lord Meredith Duran The Duke of Shadows Meredith Duran Bound by Your Touch Meredith Duran Written on Your Skin Meredith Duran Wicked Becomes You Meredith Duran A Lady's Lesson in Scandal Nicola Cornick Desired Nicole Jordan The Seduction Pamela Clare Carnal Gift Patricia Gaffney To Have and to Hold Sabrina Jeffries Wed Him Before You Bed Him Sabrina Jeffries How to Woo a Reluctant Lady Sarah MacLean Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord Sarah MacLean Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake Sherry Thomas Private Arrangements Sherry Thomas Delicious Sherry Thomas His at Night Silvia Violet A Carnal Agreement Sophie Jordan Too Wicked to Tame Sophie Jordan One Night With You Stephanie Laurens Devil's Bride Stephanie Laurens A Secret Love Stephanie Laurens The Lady Chosen Stephanie Laurens Mastered by Love Suzanne Enoch London's Perfect Scoundrel Suzanne Enoch A Beginner's Guide to Rakes Sylvia Day Seven Years to Sin T. J. Bennett The Legacy T. J. Bennett The Promise Tessa Dare Goddess of the Hunt Tracy Anne Warren My Fair Mistress: A Novel Tracy Anne Warren Wicked Delights of a Bridal Bed Tracy MacNish Stealing Midnight Victoria Dahl To Tempt a Scotsman Victoria Dahl A Rake's Guide to Pleasure