Question for romance genre readers

[clytemnestra215]

What are the top romances you've read, ever, in all time, in the entire world? Historical, contemporary, paranormal etc. I'm talking romance genre specifically; not just books with romantic tones. The main conflict is the relationship between the hero & heroine and they have a happy ending.

What do you love and, hopefully, why do you love it?

Comments

[sanalith]

Oh geez, I'm such a romance junkie, I could spend hours on this ^^;; I'll narrow it down to my top three authors for you.

My all-time favorite romance author is Karen Marie Moning. She has a series of Scottish time-travel romances, many of which focus on the realm of the Fey. (You can see the titles here. I can't recommend her enough to romance-lovers. I started reading her because I was intrigued by the time-travel idea, and what kept me around was simply the exquisite *realness* of her characters. In her later books especially, her heroines are just so life-like, it's amazing. They're not perfect, they have flaws and worries and body-image issues. I never feel like I'm reading a novel; I feel like I'm reading someone's life. She also has an absolutely *perfect* balance between raw, erotic sexual situations and soft, quiet love. She is the ONLY romance author I've loved enough to buy every single book she's written. She's currently working on an urban romance-esq series, but I'm not sure if that would count here, as it's not *

[breathingbooks]

Cotillion by Georgette Heyer was the first that came to mind. The hero and heroine are neither of them witty, gorgeous, or extraordinarily talented, but they see each other and love that reality. For several years I've preferred romance as the awesome side dish and not the main course, so most of my suggestions would be cross-genre, but if you've read regency romances I'd suggest taking a look at Nonnie St. George's Courting Trouble. It has the lolz. :D

[azthegreat]

The Time Traveler's Wife is probably the best romance novel I've read. The movie does not do this book justice! I love it for several reasons. The concept of a time travelling significant other was approached in a novel way. The interaction between the two main characters is relatable(with the exception of the time travelling part) and you can feel the love between them by what is written. Time travelling unites Henry with Claire when he is 36 and she is like 8 and they form a relationship from that point on. Henry is drawn to the important parts of his life and Claire is one of the most important parts so he is drawn to her. It's a pretty well thought out book. Claire meets Henry for the first time later on but he doesn't know who she is because his future self is the one that meets up with her in the past. Later on in life Claire is alone often because Henry travels into the past. At some times, the writing is a bit crass, but the story is exceptional. It's one of my favorites.

[clytemnestra215]

I loved The Time Traveler's Wife! I was really pleased with it. Recently took it up again, though I haven't finished my reread yet.

[theshoelacearmy]

I'm an ass, I tend to believe in the stories where the love is strong but they can't be together for some reason or other. Once they get together, it's all just ruined!

[clytemnestra215]

I've gotta admit I love a good tragic romance. I'm just not craving it at the moment. But which do you enjoy?

[theshoelacearmy]

I haven't had time/energy to read a book since last summer... but my most amused last reading was of the Mortal Instruments series, where there is hint of incest hahahaha. I don't want to spoil anything though.

[skyeangelr]

By all time favorite romance author is Jude Deveraux and my favorite book of hers is Wishes, about an ordinary girl with a not so ordinary guardian angel who grants her three wishes. Things happen in unexpected ways, and the hero falls in love with her anyway. It's in the American West, but there's no cowboys involved except peripherally