Top 5 Romantic Novels

2013/February by Marji Laine 4 Comments

I know, I’m a mystery and suspense author. With a little romance on the side, of course! So what am I doing with a  post like this one?

I’m EMBRACING THE PINK! Pink hearts, pink flowers, pink feelings! ‘Tis the Season for all things LOVE-ly!

Now I have to admit that I’m not a classics reader for the most part. I don’t generally go for the Literary Fiction, so there are going to be a lot of newer books on this list.

But of course, my first thought must be Pride and Prejudice. I probably should set it at #1. Could there be any better romance? The hero is unwillingly drawn by his intense attraction to a spirited young woman in a period when such spirit incurred disdain more than appreciation. The heroine, in turn, regards the hero with disgust due to rumors and misunderstood behavior. Austen had her work cut out for her to bring these two together. No wonder it’s such a long book!

Right behind that, I thought of Shattered, Dani Pettrey‘s newest. I would say that intense love story should be #3. It’s only been out for a few days, but the intensity of the romance in this story is compelling. Forget compelling, it’s palpable! The hero here has been drawn by the heroines spunk, though he considers it foolhardy. Convinced that he can never have her, he allows himself to spiral into an emotional pit. The heroine, realizing unnerving feelings of her own misunderstands his detachment. Ohh! And the resolution! You just have to experience it! But hopefully you won’t be reading that part in a roomful of strange men waiting for car repairs like I was. Ugh. So hard to keep the stoic face!

I’d set #4 and #5 as Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert or The Doctor’s Lady by Jody Hedlund. Both of them had such great interplay of love/hate (more like hate/hate/hate/love) between their main characters. And the subplots surrounding the romances gave such drive to the stories. LOVE LOVE LOVE these!

My #2 spot would go to Susan May Warren‘s My Foolish Heart. Oh, what characters! Seriously, this story has impaled itself on my memory as strongly as Pride and Prejudice and I only read it once! In fact, with my memory, the fact that these stories stand out at all is HUGE! But I loved My Foolish Heart! The deeply burdened heroine with phobias that included the hero. And the hero, who didn’t allow his brokenness to destroy him. Reminds me of the verse that speaks of being pressed, but not crushed and persecuted, but not abandoned. That so went on in this inspiring book. Susan May Warren is a master story-weaver, easily in the same class as Jane Austen. Only without the funny English accent. 

There you have it, my PINK PARADE OF PRESTIGIOUS ROMANCES. If you haven’t read some of these, use the links to consider a purchase. Or visit the authors’ sites. Oh and tell them I sent you!

Your Turn: Most romantic scene, read or watched. Oh please tell me about it!

Oh and don’t forget about our romantic collection. Though not a novel, it contains 6 delightful stories that will touch your heart! Available soon at Amazon! I’ll be posting the link as soon as it is available!