Can anyone recommend a great romance author or book?

Question

I really enjoy reading books by Julie Garwood, Suzanne Brockman, and Linda Howard. I like both historical and contemporary novels. Any other great authors and books that I would enjoy? Can you tell me what the books about?

Answer 1

The Notebook!

Answer 2

Julie Garwood and Linda Howard are both very good; I haven't read any Suzanne Brockman, though her books have been recommended to me.

You may also enjoy some of Catherine Coulter's novels. She has written quite a number of historical romances as well as contemporary. I particularly enjoy her FBI mystery series which starts with The Cove. (This first of the series is about a seemingly idyllic vacation spot filled with friendly people. The only problem is that tourists who visit have a bad habit of disappearing forever. There is always a love interest in the series, too.)

Mary Jo Putney has written some very good books, too. Her Fallen Angels series set in the 1800s was a fun read. The books are Thunder and Roses, Petals in the Storm, Dancing on the Wind, Angel Rogue, River of Fire, Shattered Rainbows and One Perfect Rose. (Each of these has some adventure, intrigue or mystery as well as the "bad boy" who falls in love.)

Christina Skye wrote a contemporary romantic suspense series called the Draycott Abbey series which was very good. The books include: Hour of the Rose, Bride of the Mist, Bridge of Dreams, Key to Forever, Season of Wishes, Enchantment, Christmas Knight and The Perfect Gift. Each book is set at this old abbey, where a ghost roams. Each couple faces mystery and danger...none of the visitors was a part of a couple until after the visit.

You may also enjoy Patricia Veryan's Tales of the Jewelled Men series: Time's Fool, Had We Never Loved, Ask Me No Questions, A Shadow's Bliss, Never Doubt I Love and The Mandarin of Mayfair. These have romance and intrigue and are set in Georgian England. It also has a conspiracy that runs through all of the books. This was a great series.

If you enjoy romantic suspense, I'd recommend Mary Stewart, Phyllis A. Whitney and Victoria Holt (hers are historical). They are all enjoyable; great mystery and a love interest.

Georgette Heyer wrote some wonderful stories set in Regency England as well as Medieval and times in between. The Nonesuch, a Regency romance, is really good.

Though neither writes pure romance, I'd recommend Rosamunde Pilcher and Maeve Binchy. Their books are very enjoyable reads. They both have a certain beauty and charm to their stories. They are great "comfort" books, but also very enjoyable stories.

Some other authors you may enjoy, include:

-Jo Beverley

-Loretta Chase

-Mary Balogh

-Johanna Lindsey

-Elizabeth Lowell

-Jude Deveraux

-Amanda Quick (this is contemporary author Jayne Ann Krentz's name she uses for historical romance)

-Nora Roberts (I like her romantic suspense best)

There are a lot of others, but hopefully this will help.

***Edit: If you want some classics that have romance in them, I would recommend Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (or any of her others, especially Persuasion - her most romantic), Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, Evelina by f***y Burney (or her others), Washington Square by Henry James, Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens or The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton (and others).

Answer 3

A lady of Secret Devotion - Tracey Peterson.

In 1857 Philadelphia, Cassandra Stover is elated when a kind wealthy society lady Mrs. Jameston hires her as her companion as her family needs the money. Cassie moves in to her employer’s home. Whereas Mrs. Jameston treats Cassie as if she is her daughter, her son Sebastian is odious and always seems stalking her ,waiting to get inside her pants; worse in Cassie’s mind is he is abusive towards his mother.

Widower Mark Langford has arrived in town from Boston to investigate the murder of his best friend Richard. He believes Sebastian killed Richard, but has no proof to affirm his belief. Needing to get closer to his prime suspect, Mark pretends to court Cassandra in order to find the evidence and to keep the two women safe because he thinks Sebastian will kill the females. Their fake courtship turns real as they fall in love, but stopping Sebastian from another two homicides remains Mark’s priority.

This third Ladies of Liberty tale (see A LADY OF HIDDEN INTENT and A LADY OF HIGH REGARD) is a fabulous pre-Civil War historical romantic suspense. The story line contains a strong cast especially the lead couple. She has faith in God, country, family (including Mrs. Jameston whom she loves as a grandma) and Mark; he thanks the Lord for a second chance as his beloved late wife died seven years ago from cholera. Although the villain has no redeeming qualities, fans will appreciate this fine mid nineteenth century Americana romance summed up by Mrs. Jameston who will always love her son even though she knows he will always hurt her.

Answer 4

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov.

Answer 5

Sarah Dessen is a very good author This Lullaby sounds good for you- it is about a girl whose mother has lots of flighty relationships and she decides she doesn't believe in true love so she wants to always keep herself distant from relationships then she falls in love with someone who is the total opposite of her

Sarah Dessen's books Just Listen and The Truth about Forever are good too

Answer 6

MIDNIGHT PLEASURES by Eloisa James

Regency romances are not my favorite genre, but Eloisa James has a wicked sense of humor. Her heroines are the typical simpering girls. they are fun and gutsy and very likeable. I enjoyed this one immensely and also POTENT PLEASURES by her. Both a lot of fun.

Blurb:

Eloisa James, the acclaimed author of Potent Pleasures, returns to Regency England with an unforgettable new heroine — a genteel but naughty innocent who gets more than she bargains for when she finally says yes to love.

To her legions of adoring suitors, it comes as quite a shock when Lady Sophie York rejects an offer of marriage from the dashing, rakish Patrick Foakes in favor of amiable but dull Braddon Chatwin. He may be an earl, but it is Patrick's stolen kisses that sear her lips.

When Patrick, in disguise, scales a ladder to retrieve his friend's fiancée, he never expects the elopement to be his own. Neither does Sophie, Braddon, or the rest of the tattling ton. One hasty wedding later, the passionate innocent and the sophisticated rogue play out their own intricate dance as Sophie masters what it takes to keep a man where he belongs. And Patrick learns the ultimate lesson in love.

Karen Syed

http://karensyed.blogspot,com