Having exhausted the library's offerings on the subject, Cornwall discovered Bernard Cornwell's "dashing, brave, tormented, inspiring hero" Richard Sharpe, who interested her in reading other Regency-era fiction by such authors as Mary Balogh, Julia Quinn, and Eloisa James.
Mary Balogh (born 1944), née Jenkins, a Welsh-Canadian historical romance novelist
Queen Mary | Mary | Mary, Queen of Scots | Mary I of England | Mary J. Blige | Mary Shelley | Mary Poppins | Mary Pickford | Mary of Teck | RMS Queen Mary | Mary Magdalene | Mary Robinson | Mary Landrieu | Assumption of Mary | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Mary (mother of Jesus) | Mary-Kate Olsen | The Jesus and Mary Chain | Mary Chapin Carpenter | Mary Tyler Moore | Mary Stuart | Mary Hopkin | Peter, Paul and Mary | Mary Lou Retton | Mary II of England | Mary Froning | Mary Black | Mary Cassatt | Hail Mary | William and Mary |
Well-known authors include: Mary Balogh, Jo Beverley, Nancy Butler, Marion Chesney, Georgette Heyer, Lisa Kleypas, Stephanie Laurens, Sorcha MacMurrough, Amanda McCabe Barbara Metzger, Julia Quinn, and Joan Smith.
The sensual Regency historical romance has been made popular in recent years by Mary Balogh, Jo Beverley, Lisa Kleypas, Stephanie Laurens, and Julia Quinn.