A cold, dark winter’s day needs two things:
a blanket and a good romance novel.
Here are some of my favorites:
Separate Beds, by Lavyrle Spencer
I read this book shortly after I graduated from college, and it’s one of the reasons I fell in love with the romance genre. The story illustrates how love can change a person for the better. In this book, love appears in the form of an unexpected pregnancy that brings the hero and heroine together in a marriage of convenience. The marriage gives the heroine a chance to escape from the tyranny of her alcoholic father, and motherhood gives her the unconditional love she has always hungered for. It is a delight to see the hero fall in love with her and their baby.
The Devil Wears Plaid, by Teresa Medeiros
I’m a sucker for a great Scottish Highlander romance, and this certainly qualifies. The hero and heroine are likable and endearing, and it is so much fun to watch them fall for each other. Teresa Medeiros is one of my favorite authors, and I think this story is one of her best. I refer to this book whenever I want to remind myself of the level of writing I aspire to – every page is beautifully crafted.
Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon
Normally, I don’t like time travel books, but a fellow author recommended that I try this one. I purchased it at Christmas and couldn’t put it down. Now I keep it in my car so that I can reread portions of it while I’m waiting on carpool line. Outlander is a long book, but it is one of the absolute best historical romances I’ve ever read. The heroine accidentally gets transported back into 1743. In order to survive, she marries Jamie Fraser, a Scottish warrior, who promises to protect her from an English soldier who believes she is a spy. A passionate love springs between Claire and Jamie as they circumnavigate a world fraught with danger. When Claire has the chance to return to her own time, she choses to stay with Jamie only to watch him get captured by the man who seeks to destroy him. Can she save the man she loves?
.
I must admit that I really like to read books that contain explicit sex scenes that are tender, passionate, and move the plot forward. Not surprisingly, my favorite romance novels are no exception.
What is one of your favorite books?
Lynn Kellan is a romance novelist devoted to finding the love and the funny in every story. Her novella will be available in 2012, but she is always here to focus on the lighter side of life. 
"You make me start my day with a smile!" from Ravit
{ 13 comments }
You may or may not be shocked to hear that I have never read a romance novel. I know! I guess I prefer to live it out in real life. *wink*
Here’s a good character for your next book. A smiley face, flannel pant wearing housewife with braided hair and glasses who can’t keep her hands off her hunky shirtless electrician husband. LOL! I’ll give you that one for free since we’re related by marriage. HA! HA!
Have a marvelous day my friend!
Kim
Kim @ Homesteader’s Heart´s last [type] ..Blogging Encouragement!
The very first romance novel I read was when I was a young mother. It was “The Wolf and the Dove” by Kathleen Woodiwiss. I remember reading in a rocking chair with a baby in my arms. The baby had repeated ear infections and the only way he could sleep was up against me. That romance novel helped me keep my sanity as I was allowed for even just short breaks of time to escape into another world. Today I tend to read Nora Roberts and just about anything from the great group of women writers from the Pacific Northwest.
Suzan´s last [type] ..First Finish 2012!
It’s funny, but I feel a little ashamed for admitting that one of my favorite books is Orlando, by Virginia Woolf…which is kind of a romance, even though there’s no explicit sex. Although the main character does have a sex change.
More years ago than I’m willing to admit I was a college English major and I had a very snobby attitude toward romance novels in spite of not having read any. Then I read one I found at a bus stop and liked it and realized that if it’s wrong to judge a book by its cover then it’s even more wrong to judge a whole genre. And even if I hadn’t liked the romance novel someone else obviously liked it enough to publish it–which is more than I could say for anything I’d written.
If that weren’t enough I now work in a library. Every year the Romance Writers of America organization names a Librarian Of The Year, and is a big supporter of libraries generally. I love that.
I love books too but I’m not really a fan of romance novels. I like fantasy more than romance and my favorite fantasy book is Artemis Fowl. Have your heard of it? I highly recommend it to those who love fantasy.
Great book reviews! Thanks for sharing them!
-Nancy
Nancy Drake´s last [type] ..how to get a girlfriend
Loved Separate Beds…. Love LaVryle Spencer… and Jude Devereaux and Johanna Lindsay and Kathleen Woodiwiss and so many more. Separate Beds is definitely in my top 10
One of my favourite books is We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. It’s not necessarily a comfortable read, but it made me think for a long time afterward.
I haven’t read many romance novels but the ones you’ve listed sound intriguing; I’ll have to try at least one of them …
The Outlander series is one of the best written, EVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can reread all of them, at any given time……. and do. IF you have not yet availed yourself to this series please do so post haste !!!
You do know… that OUTLANDER… is a series.. RIGHT?? Because I want you to know that the first book is just the beginning. And you really need to read the REST of them. They are UNBELIEVABLE.
skye @ neathering our fest´s last [type] ..flying with larue!
Lynn, I’ll have to think on this one. I don’t know if I can name my favorite romance book. I’ve read so many it would be hard to pick just one. My favorite book (not-romance) would have to be Mama Day by Gloria Naylor. I’ll get back to you on the romance one.
I was one of those “too good for romance” people but now am an unabashed lover of good romance (which is harder to come by than you might think). Outlander is awesome although things drop off rapidly after book #2. Also for somebody who knows how to work the Scottish accent for maximum appeal check out any of Cole’s McCarrick trilogy. Slightly different but I just finished and LOVED Marillier’s Daughter of the Forest (epic saga+fairy tale+romance). Also recently discovered Georgette Heyer (loved The Grand Sophy). While not on par with Heyer but still good, Silent in the Grave is a great mystery/romance (first 3 in the series are really fun). Has one of the all time best opening sentences I’ve ever read:
“I’d say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband’s dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching upon the floor.”
Alexis´s last [type] ..The Thing About Sleep Regressions
DIANA PALMER SANDRA CANFIELD BRENDA JOYCE NORA ROBERTS
I love reading. However, I’m partial to thrillers and romance. Anything written by John Grisham will be immediately downloaded to my kindle without question. Some of my favorites authors are Kathleen Woodiwess, Judith McKnight , Mary Higgins Clark and Greg Rucka.
I have never been let down by these favs.
Oooooh — I just started reading The Devil Wears Plaid! I can’t wait to talk to you about it!
And Diana Gabaldon is amaaaaazing. Simply stunning!
Comments on this entry are closed.