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As a reader of the romance genre for almost twenty five years, I love giving recommendations to those who are looking for good romance novels to read. Sometimes I’m asked how I started reading romance and what books I considered the must read books any romance fan, or beginner to the genre should look for. My first foray into romance was Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind the summer I turned fourteen. My mother gave me Gone With the Wind, my first adult fiction book as her way to get me to read more. After some hemming and hawing (I wanted to stick to reading Nancy Drew and not a thousand page book about a woman during the Civil War), I took a chance on the book that would change my entire opinion about reading in general. I read Gone With the Wind in less than a week and developed a fan girl crush on Scarlett O’Hara. I wanted to read more books with characters just like Scarlett. I found myself at my local library reading as many historical romances I could get my hands on. From there I then branched out and tried all types of other romance genres such as contemporary, paranormal and a mix of fantasy and science fiction.
I’d love to share my top favorite romance novels and authors I feel are great picks for someone who wants to start reading romance but don’t know where to start.
The one author any romance reader must try is Lisa Kleypas. I cut my historical romance teeth mainly because of Lisa. Dreaming of You is widely considered a fan favorite of Lisa’s, as well as her Wallflower series. Lisa also writes contemporary, and Sugar Daddy, and the very emotional and powerful Blue- Eyed Devil are both books that must be read.
Loretta Chase is another historical romance fan favorite and Lord of Scoundrels is what some considered the gateway book to the romance genre. The hero, Dain is a very unconventional and thought of as ugly as sin. Jessica, the equally unconventional heroine is his savior. A true swoon worthy read. I would also recommend Julie Garwood’s historical romances, as well as Julia Quinn and Connie Brockway.
For the contemporary fans, you can’t go wrong with some vintage Sandra Brown. Sandra wrote many category romances in the 1980’s and are great guilty pleasure reads. Older Karen Robards and Linda Howard from the 1990’s also hit the spot with powerful and manly heroes who find their weight in gold with the heroine they end up seducing. Linda’s Cry No More will leave you in tears about a mother searching for her stolen child and the silent, yet remarkable man who helps her find answers. James Diaz is one hero that will make you fan yourself.
Any paranormal fan must read J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood. She gives a new and different spin on the vampire myth, as well as Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter who write some of the hottest and most engaging paranormal romances I’ve ever read.
But the one romance I urge anyone to read, which happens to be my all-time favorite romance, is The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons, the Word War II epic masterpiece that I read for six hours straight and was in tears. The sequel, Tatiana and Alexander is also a must read. Both these books will tear your heart open and make you bleed because they’re so tragic and heartbreaking, but also uplifting.
The authors and books I mentioned are only a small taste of why I love the romance genre. Take a chance on any of these, and you’ll be hooked and hungry for more.
-------------------------Thank you KT for some great recommendations!
Have you read any of these titles that KT has shared with us? What other romance novels would you add to the list?
Thanks for sharing your addiction KT!! I don't read a lot of romance, but I am definitely interested in the paranormal romance that you have mentioned!
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