#RomBkLove Day 27: Romance Icons Their names are synonymous with romance. Who are they? Where do you even start?

Growing up if I associated romance with anyone person, it was probably Barbara Cartland. Her all-pink ensembles, manor house and British accent where often featured on TV shows I watched as a kid.  But when I actually started reading romance two names more than any other kept coming up.  Nora Roberts and Georgette Heyer.  I would then look at their immense backlists and despair.  Where does one start?  Chronologically? With something on sale? A trusted rec?

In the end for both of them I ended up starting with a book that came with both recommendations and a low price point.  I bought a copy of the McKade brothers trilogy on sale, on the recommendation of several Nora fans.  I started Heyer with Venetia, for the same reasons.  Reading them has given me a better appreciation of the romance genre. I understand references to their work that previously passed me by.

What writers do you consider romance institutions? Are there any you are scared to try?