Toombs, Jane
Dec. 27, 1926—
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, CA
Place of Principal Residence: Ontonagon, MI and Lakeland, Florida
Biography:
Jane Toombs was born to James and Francis Jamison in Los Angeles, CA on Dec. 27, 1926. Her family soon moved to the Upper Peninsula in Michigan where she spent most of her childhood. Her father played a key role in encouraging her as a writer, who was, himself, a history writer. Toombs attended Michigan State University, College of the Sequoias and Northern Michigan University. She has been a registered nurse as well as a Cadet nurse. Toombs has published over 80 books, including eBooks, as well as some articles. She has used a few pseudonyms in the past: Ellen Jamison, Diana Stuart, Olivia Sumner and Jane Anderson. Her writing covers various romance genres such as gothic, suspense, contemporary, historical, paranormal, mystery, fantasy and horror. Toombs is now a widow with five children; James, Ellen, Bobbie, and Robert as well as two step-children, Michael and Leslie. She spends her summers in Michigan and escapes to Lakeland, Florida during the winter.
Selected Works:
- Dangerous Medicine (2003)
- Detective Daddy (2004)
- Hugger Doll (2005)
- Ladies Of The Lakes (2007)
Awards:
- Two-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America Golden Medallion Contest
- The Prism Award for Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter of RWA
- Bookrak Award for Best-Selling Series Romance
- Sapphire Award finalist for paranormal short story
- Two Eppie winners (EPIC)
Critical Reception:
There have been a number of different reviews to many of her books throughout the years. For the most part her books serve their purpose of being entertaining and diverting, but not every one of her works has been a jewel.
For Harte’s Gold:
“Jane Toombs brings her considerable award-winning skills to bear and enhances the main romance with the insightful secondary love story of the young-hearted grandmother.”
- Romantic Times Book Reviews
“Harte’s Gold is a sweet and simple story but it’s not sweet, simple and completely silly, which is what the publisher’s summary – incorrectly – suggests.”
- The Romantic Reader
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work:
Quite a few of her works refer to and are drawn from the Upper Peninsula area. Her most significant book in this area is Ladies of the Lakes, which takes place in the Great Lakes region.