aggieamy Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 I want to read a few nice love stories. I suppose that would be 'romance' but I've been rather disappointed by the few books in that genre that I've read so far. I don't mind a bit of smut as long as there's an engaging plot, well-developed characters, and interesting dialogue. What can you recommend to me? I love Georgette Heyer, P&P, and I don't remember loving it but I did read and enjoy Outlander. Historical setting is a plus but not necessary. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgiana Daniels Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Do you want a love story or a romance? A love story doesn't necessarily have a clearly defined hero/heroine (could involve multiple people) and many do not have a happily-ever-after (people dying, etc.) A romance has a clearly defined hero and heroine, and you know they will overcome obstacles to get together in the end, though you don't know how. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted July 31, 2013 Author Share Posted July 31, 2013 Do you want a love story or a romance? A love story doesn't necessarily have a clearly defined hero/heroine (could involve multiple people) and many do not have a happily-ever-after (people dying, etc.) A romance has a clearly defined hero and heroine, and you know they will overcome obstacles to get together in the end, though you don't know how. I guess I want a romance then. Boy meets girl then some interesting stuff happens then we have happily ever after. Happily ever after is a must! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Check out Nora Robert's Macgregor series, Robyn Carr's Virgin River series, and anything by Debbie Macomber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgiana Daniels Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 I guess I want a romance then. Boy meets girl then some interesting stuff happens then we have happily ever after. Happily ever after is a must! :) I love happily-ever-afters too. Unless I'm having a mood, lol. Got my ears open for responses since I haven't been reading much in the way of romance lately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 I don't have a suggestion, but I have found a good way to get recommendations for a book I might like is to go to Amazon and look up a book or author I know I like and then I see what other books are suggested. It has worked surprisingly well. There are always a few suggestions that make me go :huh: but some winners as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baseball mom Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Have you tried this site? http://www.likesbooks.com/ifyou.html It is a "if you like this author you might like" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHaveNoIdeawhatIAmDoing Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in TX Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Any of Mary Stewart's "romantic suspense" novels that she wrote in the 50s and 60s. These are mysteries, but always include some happily-ending romance. The writing is lovely--much higher caliber than romance novels. ETA: I'm sorry--I didn't intend that to be a slam at romance novels. I consider Mary Stewart's romantic suspense novels to be romance novels, really--very good ones. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Have you tried this site? http://www.likesbooks.com/ifyou.html It is a "if you like this author you might like" :iagree: I love that site. My author recommendations are just about anything by Eloisa James, Julia Quinn, or Loretta Chase for straight up romance with smart and witty dialogue. You may like The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. It takes place during the Siege of Leningrad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meggie Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Have you read An Assembly Such As This? It's the best P&P fan fiction I've ever read. Makes me so happy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamuelsMommy Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Try Rose Gordon. I've enjoyed all her books. They are set in England in the 1700 & 1800's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaitlinC Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Also, Mary Balogh is a deservedly popular regency romance writer. Intelligent, soothing and satisfying, with just the right touch of humour and pathos. http://www.marybalogh.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapbabe Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Seeking Persephone and Edenbrooke are two I recently read and enjoyed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MollyAnn Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Love: Mary Balogh- Slightly Series Julia Quinn- Bridgerton Series Elizabeth Boyle- Something about Emmaline, I have read it so many time pages are falling out of my copy. Lisa Kleypas They all have a fast pace, good humor, witty dialogue, historical setting. Some smut, but easily skipped. It is NOT the focus. Lynn Kurland writes romance where the bedroom door closes and you are on the other side. Check out her MacLeod and dePaiget series. Reading order under books. Debbie Macomber is great for contemporary love stories. I like her Blossom Street series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelli Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 I was also going to suggest Edenbrooke. It was wonderful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Lawana Blackwell's Gresham Green series (set in English village, late 1860s): The Widow of Larkspur Inn (4.5 stars, 871 reviews) http://www.amazon.com/Widow-Larkspur-Gresham-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B004I6DD7E/ref=pd_sim_kstore_3 The Courtship of the Vicar's Daughter The Dowry of Miss Lydia Clark The Jewel of Gresham Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 Thank you ladies so much! I've added at least a dozen books to my Goodreads list. Actually there's a funny story behind that. I was adding books to my Goodreads list on the iPad and it wasn't until I finished adding them that I noticed I was signed in under DH's account. :laugh: I haven't taken the time to remove them yet. I wonder what his friends will think of his new sudden interest in romance novels. Normally he's more of a fan of sci-fi and fantasy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 I'm not sure if this qualifies as a romance, but it's a fun and interesting series about Sherlock Holmes and his apprentice (a young woman). They eventually fall in love and get married. The Beekeeper's Apprentice http://www.amazon.com/The-Beekeepers-Apprentice-Segregation-Russell/dp/0312427360/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375340951&sr=8-1&keywords=beekeeper%27s+apprentice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delirium Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Dorothy Keddington books. Not sure what I'd call them, maybe clean romances? romantic suspense (stole this one from the amazon reviews)? The not looking for love heroine solves a mystery and just happens to fall in love with the dashing man that's in her way or assisting her depending on the book. Pretty tame in the sensual department Aisling of Eire is one of the better ones. Looking for something a little more oomph and maybe a little goth? Starblood by Carmilla Voiez. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T'smom Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Catherine coulter is awesome! She has two genres she writes in, one is historical romance and the other is present-day crime mysteries. In the romances, there is definitely plot and character development and usually some sort of mystery. I was addicted one summer and read everything she'd ever written. It was a good summer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deee Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell. Fabulous, 1850ish. After you've read it you can swoon at the BBC miniseries. Better than P&P D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapbabe Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell. Fabulous, 1850ish. After you've read it you can swoon at the BBC miniseries. Better than P&P D . Yes!! Love North and South, book and movie. Also Jane Eyre is a great book too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caitilin Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 I know I'm always flogging these books, but Dorothy Sayers' Peter/Harriet novels, especially Gaudy Night and Busman's Honeymoon, are awesome love stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mothersweets Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Imprudent Lady by Joan Smith. Great banter between the H/h and the secondary characters are a hoot. If you have an ereader, this is one of my favorites: Danse de la Folie by Sherwood Smith. Well written, believable romance, accurate period details, happy ending. Perfect! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 Ugh. I hate how you can only do FIVE interlibrary loans at once. I want to have all these books on my night stand so I can do a power reading weekend. :) I know, I know. Some people have real problems and I'm complaining about ILL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie Sue Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 You might like Laverle Spencer's books. I love her stories. She does write in some sad events, but everything turns out well in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 I just posted this in the Book a Week thread. It's a romance but decidedly untraditional. The setting is contemporary. Courting Greta by Ramsey Hootman "Samuel Cooke knows most women wouldn't give him a second glance even if he were the last man on earth. He's the cripple with crutches, the nerdy computer genius every female past puberty feels compelled to mother. So when he leaves his lucrative career to teach programming to high schoolers, romance definitely isn't on his radar.Perhaps that's why Greta Cassamajor catches him off guard. The sarcastic gym coach with zero sense of humor is no beauty - not even on the inside. But an inexplicably kind act toward Samuel makes him realize she is interesting.Samuel is certain she wont accept his invitation to dinner - so when she does, hes out of his depth. All he knows is that he'll do whatever it takes to keep her as long as he can. Pretending he's got his class under control? Easy. Being vulnerable enough to admit why he ditched his programming career for teaching? Um, no. That would require honesty. And if there's one thing Samuel can't exist without, it's the lies he tells himself.In this poignant, witty debut, Ramsey Hootman upends traditional romance tropes to weave a charming tale of perseverance, trust, and slightly conditional love." Seconding previous suggestions of LaVyrle Spencer (try Morning Glory), Lisa Kleypas (she has historicals as well as contemporaries; try Mine Till Midnight which is first in a series), and Eloisa James (try When Beauty Tamed the Beast). I'd also recommend Courtney Milan (try Unveiled) and Sherry Thomas (try Delicious). Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbotoast Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 Subbing so I can add some ideas to my goodreads :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 Nora Roberts. Lots of various plots, settings, etc. Well written, beautiful imagery/scenery, and nice love stories without a ton of sex. I love them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 Catherine coulter is awesome! She has two genres she writes in, one is historical romance and the other is present-day crime mysteries. In the romances, there is definitely plot and character development and usually some sort of mystery. I was addicted one summer and read everything she'd ever written. It was a good summer! thank you for this! I read some of her stuff a while ago and totally forgot about her after I read everything my library had. I have a kindle now,and can find the rest of her stuff! yay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 Ok, I don't normally read romance & I'm quite out of my league on this thread, but the book that I'm (sort-of) reading now may fit your category: The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson. The nameless and beautiful narrator of "The Gargoyle" is driving along a dark road when he is distracted by what seems to be a flight of arrows. He crashes into a ravine and wakes up in a burns ward, undergoing the tortures of the damned. His life is over - he is now a monster. But in fact it is only just beginning. One day, Marianne Engel, a wild and compelling sculptress of gargoyles, enters his life and tells him that they were once lovers in medieval Germany. In her telling, he was a badly burned mercenary and she was a nun and a scribe who nursed him back to health in the famed monastery of Engelthal. As she spins her tale, Scheherazade fashion, and relates equally mesmerising stories of deathless love in Japan, Greenland, Italy and England, he finds himself drawn back to life - and, finally, to love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted August 2, 2013 Author Share Posted August 2, 2013 I just posted this in the Book a Week thread. It's a romance but decidedly untraditional. The setting is contemporary. Courting Greta by Ramsey Hootman "Samuel Cooke knows most women wouldn't give him a second glance even if he were the last man on earth. He's the cripple with crutches, the nerdy computer genius every female past puberty feels compelled to mother. So when he leaves his lucrative career to teach programming to high schoolers, romance definitely isn't on his radar. Perhaps that's why Greta Cassamajor catches him off guard. The sarcastic gym coach with zero sense of humor is no beauty - not even on the inside. But an inexplicably kind act toward Samuel makes him realize she is interesting. Samuel is certain she wont accept his invitation to dinner - so when she does, hes out of his depth. All he knows is that he'll do whatever it takes to keep her as long as he can. Pretending he's got his class under control? Easy. Being vulnerable enough to admit why he ditched his programming career for teaching? Um, no. That would require honesty. And if there's one thing Samuel can't exist without, it's the lies he tells himself. In this poignant, witty debut, Ramsey Hootman upends traditional romance tropes to weave a charming tale of perseverance, trust, and slightly conditional love." That sounds like a great Chick Flick plot ... maybe that's what I'm looking for really. A book that if it was a movie would star Drew Barrymore. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erin Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 Much as I love some of these other authors, I second the LaVyrle Spencer suggestion. She's my favorite. No series, they're all stand-alones. Start with Years... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 I know this was reactivated by a spammer (who I reported), but I wanted to add Kristan Higgins' books to the list. They're definitely light reads, but they're really funny (I laughed out loud several times), and they're not super smutty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-M- Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Two somewhat offbeat book recommendations that may also meet your requirements even if they're not strictly romances: â– Why We Broke Up (written by Daniel Handler (yes, the Lemony Snickett guy) and illustrated by the magnificent Maira Kalman) â– Attachments (Rainbow Rowell) ETA: I didn't realize this was an old thread. Oh, well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Dorothy Sayers. Start with Strong Poison, then Have His Carcase, Gaudy Night and finally Busman's Honeymoon. Oh, and Persuasion, of course. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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