Come on people. Julie Garwood is perfect in her own way. She writes romantic suspense and she is the best at it. The two authors are not the same, but they are both very very good at what they do. Here is the difference:
In JM books we are dealing with two people falling in love and misunderstandings and stuff like that, there is an emotional roller-coaster. In JG books there are still two people falling in love and a villain and the hero is all protective and possessive and gorgeous. Just like JM heros, but he has a reason to go to the extremes and use his abilities to protect the woman he loves (even when he doesn't even know it yet
) She is the best at writing historical Scottish romantic suspense. Her books are not exactly emotional roller-costers. But she builds her characters so well, you fall for them, and cry for them and laugh with them. Just read it. I promise you you won't be dissappointed. You may still feel you love JM more, it's normal. But you'll love JG's every book too (apart from "a girl named summer", it's a young adult book which doesn't come close to her other 30 something books). I know it. I really do know it.
( My favorite JG book is "Ransom", the second book of her Highlands' Lairds series)
But other than JG, I absolutely agree with you there is noone else comes close to her. I read a lot, I read all the romance books I can find. I don't believe there are any major writers I haven't read yet. But nope. No one close.
There are other good writers and good books. But JM is a brilliant writer who can have your emotions wrapped around her finger and pull and push wherever she wants and you go willingly. It's amazing really. Oh, how I worship that woman.