Like many writers I know, I constantly find myself surrounded by book people. It probably has something to do with the fact that I’m a bit of a nut when it comes to books, and I gravitate toward others like me. My TBR pile is a wobbly tower (several towers, actually, in various rooms of my house). I consider it a special treat to spend an hour alone perusing a book store. And one of my favorite conversations starts something like this: “So, I read the most amazing book recently…”
When you’re talking to other book people, and someone tells you something is their favorite book ever, you sit up and take notice, right? I do. Your favorite? Out of hundreds and hundreds of books you’ve read? Whenever anyone tells me something is their favorite book, that title goes straight to the top of my TBR pile, because even if it doesn’t turn out to be my favorite, I know I’m likely in for a very good read.
Because it’s the first week of February, I want to talk about favorite love stories. Favorites. Of all time. You know, those stories that pluck your emotions like guitar strings and make you feel like you’re falling in love again. I’m going to share some of my favorites from various categories, and I really hope you’ll drop a line and add yours, too! (And one lucky commenter will win a Borders gift card that can be used to buy some of these great titles.)
Favorite Romantic Suspense: Cry No More by Linda Howard. Note: Do not read the last scene of this book without a box of Kleenex nearby.
Favorite Contemporary Romance: This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I had never read SEP until she was the keynote speaker at Nationals one year and I was laughing through her speech. The woman sitting beside me said, “You’ve never read Susan?? You have to read This Heart of Mine. It’s my favorite book.” Because the woman was not only a romance reader, but an aspiring author too, I put a lot of stock in her opinion and bought the book that same day.
Favorite Romantic Comedy: (Notice I created a category so I could squeeze Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Jenny Crusie into the same list?) How about Jennifer Crusie’s Tell Me Lies.
Favorite Paranormal Romance: Now, some might argue that this book isn’t a full-fledged paranormal, but it has the time travel element, and it’s a fabulous book, so I’m going to go with it. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.
Favorite Historical Romance: Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale. Fellow Austin romance author Emily McKay once pulled me aside at a party and told me, “You must read this book!” Some people say it’s the best romance ever written. Read it. You won’t be sorry.
Favorite Classic Romance: I will have to go with Jane Austen here, Pride and Prejudice, although Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights is a close second for me.
What about you? Add your favorite love story to the list! And anyone who leaves a comment will get a chance to win a copy of my romantic suspense, Whisper of Warning and a $2o GIFT CARD TO BORDERS just in time for your Valentine’s Day shopping. Let’s hear it for love stories!
Favorite Romantic Suspense: Jaded by Karin Tabke
Favorite Contemporary: Wicked Ties by Shayla Black
Favorite Romantic Comedy: Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie
Favorite Paranormal: can’t pick just one
Favorite Historical: can’t pick just one
Favorite Classic: Pride and Prejudice
and my all-time favorite love story, although it leaves me in tears for days every time I read it, is The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Thanks, this was fun!!
Hi Bonnie,
I LOVED The Time Traveler’s Wife! My book club read it years ago, and it was one of the best ones we’ve done. Did you see the movie? I missed it in theaters.
Well, personally – I wouldn’t waste the time on the movie, if I were you. But I didn’t think it was going to translate well to film anyway.
Someone else told me that, too. I think I’ll stick with my memories of the book.
I would definitely recommend that course of action LOL
I’m a major fan of Eve & Roarke, and I don’t think I could part with any of the “In Death” books.
Since I’m packing books for our impending move, I’ve been delaying putting those in a box–just in case I need another fix.
Agree with you on Gabaldon. Time travel is where I started reading romance, and was hooked by Son of the Morning (Linda Howard) and then Gabaldon.
The In Death series is great, Terry! I can’t imagine packing all my books. You must have a zillion boxes. Are you taking them all or parting with some?
Oh, this is hard, hard, hard. I can’t pick just one favorite in any genre, but one of my favorites is Mirror Image by Sandra Brown! Now, I gotta have coffee. You’ve made my brain work too hard first thing in the morning!
Hi Debra,
I missed Mirror Image by Sandra Brown, and I thought I’d read most of her stuff. I will put that on my TBR list. Thanks!
This Heart of Mine is my all time favorite book too! There’s just something about it that speaks to me.
And isn’t Flowers from the Storm great? So complex and unexpected.
Here’s one of the interesting things about romance novels … reading a romance is such an intimate experience that sometimes it’s hard to even describe why you love a book. And you can love books that are totally different, or not like books that are very similar.
That is so true, Emily. Romance books bring out different emotions in everyone. I think because they’re about love, they play on our different life experiences. Cry No More, for example, deals a lot with mothers and children (she’s lost her child). As a mom, I totally responded to it.
I love what you said about how if someone introduces you to their *favorite* book you’re bound to be in for a great read. And I also love the feeling of searching for the person in the pages, wondering what exactly it was that made your friend love the story. I was recently given a copy of a friend’s favorite book as a gift, and I feel positively referent opening it because of how life-changing she said it was for her. I know that when I give one of my very favorites to someone, it is a big deal, it shows that I really care about them and trust them to see what I saw in the pages.
I agree, Sophie. Someone once told me that Twilight changed their life. I read it, and although I didn’t have that same reaction to it, it did open the door to YA for me. I hadn’t read anything young adult in ages.
Cry No More is a favorite of mine too. I would add Pride and Prejudice to your list.
Thanks, Maureen! Pride and Prejudice is on there, but I should probably add a few more by Jane Austen. She’s terrific.
Wow, that’s too hard. I couldn’t pick a favorite book any more than I could pick a favorite child. I have a list of 45 authors I read regularly. On that list I have a top 15.
In no particular order:
Janet Evanovich
Robert Crais
Karin Tabke
Toni McGee Causey
Jen Apadocah (Lyon)
Allison Brennan
PJ Tracy
JA Jance
Brenda Novak
Tori Carrington
Elaine Viets
Jennifer Cruisie
Fern Michaels
Nora Roberts
Carly Phiillips
MaryJanice Davidson
:::blink::::
Holy cats, Holly, you just made my week. And made me cry. Thank you. What a compliment.
Toni – Sorry to make you cry but it is only fair. I mean your books make me laugh so hard I have tears running down my face.
Every one on that list is there because when I read books by these talented people, day to day problems temporarily vanish. A great book is a wonderful vacation and I’m always ready for the next one.
Thank you, Holly! Believe it or not, I have not read all of these authors, so I will have to get online and look around for some titles. Thank you! Love discovering new authors.
Some of my favorite reads have been Gone With the Wind, Rebel Temptress by Constance O’Banyon, both old books and a new one would be Rachel and the Hired Gun by Elaine Levine, loved these books.
Thanks for the Constance O Banyon rec. I haven’t read Rebel Temptress.
Laura, I love your list! OUTLANDER blew me away all those years ago. Another book that I will never forget is Dean Koonz’s WATCHERS.
But when people ask me my favorite books, I go into full blown panic attacks. I can’t pick!
Oh on SEP’s books, NOBODY’S BABY BUT MINE made me laugh so hard I scared the kids 🙂
I could be here all day just reminiscing about books I love! What a great Feb topic!
I love Dean Koonz and have not read Watchers. Thank you! Yes, it’s fun to go down Book Memory Lane.
Laura,
Too funny, but I have pretty much the same exactly list as you! Maybe we should exchange reading lists, LOL? The only changes would be for Bet Me instead of TML and either Heaven, Texas or Nobody’s Baby But Mine for THOM–but the author’s are the same. Picking one of SEPs books is a little Sophie’s choicesque for me, basically any of the Chicago Stars books could be my favorite. FFTS is my favorite classic historical romance, I also love Julie Garwood’s Scottish/Medievals. The Bride is another favorite.
Hi Monica,
How funny that our lists are so similar! I love all those other titles, too. Haven’t read The Bride, but I like her contemporaries. I’ll have to try it. Thanks!
Favorite Romantic Suspense: I’m Watching You, by Karen Rose. That’s the hardest for me, my favorite genre. SO MANY great, wonderful, perfect authors. But this book touches me in a very personal way and I love every little bit of it.
Favorite Contemporary Romance: Talk of the Town, by Karen Hawkins. I don’t read much romance, as in just romance.
Favorite Romantic Comedy: Does Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, by Sophie Kinsella count? I know it’s not heavy on the romance, but, still…
Favorite Paranormal Romance: The novella Reason To Believe, by Roxanne St. Claire. Not much into paranormal stuff, to be honest.
Favorite Historical Romance: Let Sleeping Rogues Lie, by Sabrina Jeffries. I never thought I’d like historical romance until I read Sabrina Jeffries.
Favorite Classic: None. Can’t Stand Classics.
Thanks, Barbie. Your response about classics made me smile. 🙂 I usually read them for book club or something, but when I get to choose I tend to go commercial fiction.
I study Languages and Literature is part of my major. I have at least two classes of classic English, American, Brazilian AND Portuguese Literature if I ever want to graduate. (Two classes of each, by the way! YAY! NOT)
Anything I read of my own will is commercial fiction. By the time I’m done with University, I’ll never want to hear the name of a classic ever again. (Though Portuguese poetry isn’t too bad).
I have so many favorites, it’s impossible for me to choose. I’ve always been like that. I could never choose a favorite color, when asked those questions. Drove me nuts.
That said, I *love* reading others’ favorite lists, because I always discover new-to-me authors that end up enriching my life. Laura, you really nailed it when you said that about knowing that someone’s favorite was going to be a great read. I love your list.
I love Outlander. (I have issues with some of the logic of Jamie staying put for the torture, because I don’t believe he would. A commitment made under duress isn’t a word-of-honor type of commitment.) But that’s a quibble that I ignore myself when I re-read.
My favorite Jenny Crusie, though, is WELCOME TO TEMPtATION.
I have long loved Connie Willis’ TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG, which has a romance in it.
Wow, this is very very hard. But I did see several you all have mentioned which are now on my buy list! Thanks!
Hi Toni,
I haven’t tried Connie Willis. Thanks for the rec. My book club is about to read Outlander (on my rec) so I hope people enjoy it as much as I do.
It’s hard for me to pick favorites because I have many. CRY NO MORE is definitely in my top ten romantic suspense novels. I don’t read historicals (I don’t think REBECCA counts, does it?) I do enjoy SEP. One of my favorite contemporary romances is WELCOME TO TEMPTATION by Jennifer Crusie.
Hi Allison,
I think Rebecca has to count because KOD is a romance writers’ group and the whole Daphne thing. BTW, I just read Kristan Higgins on your recommendation and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks!
Some of my favorite romances are:Texas Trilogy, Shadows Of Yesterday,Seduction By Design, Above And Beyond all by Sandra Brown. Erotic Romance is the Rough Rider Series by Lorelei James. Janet Evanovich and Karen Rose for mystery/suspense.
Hi Leni,
I think you’re the second person to recommend the Texas Trilogy, so I’m putting it on my Must Read Soon list. Thank you!!
I love Cry No More, too. I avoided reading it for a long time because the premise was so sad, but I’m glad I finally read the book. My favorite historical is Julie Garwood’s Saving Grace and my favorite contemporary is Susan Andersen’s “Just For Kicks.”
Hi Jane,
I know about book avoidance. I was the same way with Lovely Bones, but I finally read it and was so moved by the story. Thanks for the Susan Andersen rec!
My favorite love story is The Dragon and The Jewel by Virginia Henley. I got to meet her at National in Reno and had a total fangirl moment. I was crying and she was crying. And stupid me with no camera. It was my first conference and I didn’t know about the free books and meeting the authors and I should have had my camera!!
The Dragon and The Jewel is my favorite because the hero went against the church and the king and anyone else who stood in his way to win the heroine.
Okay, you’ve totally convinced me to try The Dragon and the Jewel. Reminds me of the reason I liked Flowers from the Storm… love against all odds. Thanks for commenting!
Wow, soo many good choices!! Romance is so many different things to all of us. I think of the Loveswept reads when I think of just plain romance. So many popular authors used to write for the group. The old Sandra Brown reads were romantic and now I think SEP writes a good romance too. It seems like right now there are more romance authors than ever before. I have trouble keeping up with all the new authors. I read many different authors and I will say I love 99% of them. Thanks for contest!! Sue
Hi Sue,
Yes, there are so many authors out there. That’s why I like recommendations from friends. Word of mouth is the best way to get book ideas, I think.
Favorite Romantic Suspense: Fire and Ice by Anne Stuart
Favorite Contemporary Romance: Stephanie Plum series
Favorite Romantic Comedy: Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer
Favorite Paranormal Romance: WAY too many to count but I will say Charlaine Harris is one of the main ones.
Favorite Historical Romance: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Favorite Classic Romance: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
I forgot about Louisa May Alcott!! Can’t believe I did that because I read all of her books when I was a kid. Beautiful stories. Thanks for reminding me. My favorite was Jo’s Boys.
Hands down: SHADOW OF THE MOON, by M.M. Kaye.
Beyond gorgeous – plus, you learn about the 1857 Mutniny in India.
You want a book that will stay with you for a very long time, go to an old pro – the author of FAR PAVILLIONS. This one, in my opinion, was even better.
And Holly D – I love Robert Crais as much as you do. I’m reading THE FIRST RULE now.
Thank you Jake! All of these titles are new to me. Putting Far Pavillions on my list. I love books that stick.
I adore SEP. My favorite is It Had to Be You.
I also love Sea Swept and Born in Fire by Nora Roberts.
Romantic suspense would have to be Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard.
I’m a contemporary girl through and through.
Hi Jamie,
Looks like we think alike. I have all of those in my favorites shelf, too. Thanks for posting!
Wow, so hard! If I had to choose, though….
Favorite Romantic Suspense: Nora’s HONEST ILLUSIONS, one of my all-time favorite books. I loved that the characters had a long history.
Favorite Contemporary Romance: It would be Nora again, but I can’t choose between the trilogies and family sagas. Maybe those sexy MacKade brothers. Something about them…
Favorite Romantic Comedy: Haven’t read much, unfortunately. The Shopaholic books were cute. I liked the second, when she goes to New York. That was the best of the series, imo.
Favorite Paranormal: It would have to be a Black Dagger Brotherhood book. I love them all so very much, but Z’s book, the 3rd in the series was amazing. Plus the subsequent short story about him and Bella published in the series guide. *sigh*
Favorite Historical Romance: Betina Krahn’s ENCHANTMENT. Recently, though, I was swept away by Kris Kennedy’s THE CONQUEROR, too.
Favorite Classic: Pride & Prejudice, hands down! Nobody tops Darcy 🙂
Thank you, Amber! I haven’t read Enchantment. These sound like great reads!
Hello,
I love talking about my favorite books, but its hard to narrow them down, but I will try. I also agree that Cry No More is one of my favorite Linda Howard books, too.
Fav. Romantic Suspense (probably my favorite sub genre) – Killjoy by Julie Garwood or Breaking Point by Suz Brockmann
Fav. Contemporary – Paradise by Judith McNaught
Fav. Romantic Comedy – It Had to be you or Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Fav. Paranormal Romance – The Missing by Shiloh Walker
Fav. Historical Romance – well, I already covered Judith McNaught and Julie Garwood, who have many great historical books, so I will go with, Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas.
Fav. Classic Romance – I don’t have a pick for this one.
Thanks for the post and contest.
Hi Jennifer,
I know it’s so hard to narrow them down! I will have to try The Missing… somehow missed that one. Thanks!
This Heart of Mine also is my favorite romance of all time. I remember postponing reading it because of the cheesy title (well it sounded cheesy to me). I’ve read it a good dozen time since then. This Chicago Star series is by far my favorite. SEP truly is an amazng author.
My favorite romantic comedy would be Welcome to Temptation by Jenny Crusie although it’s hard to pick one. Romeo, Romeo by Robin Kaye and Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins also are fantastic reads.
Now Outlander… what can I say. It’s the book that made me fall in love with romance in the first place. Jamie…*sigh* (‘nough said ;-).
I just finished a Kristan Higgins, coincidentally. It was my first one, and very heart-warming. Hard not to like Outlander, too, I know.
congrats on the books i love love lol
loving emma on tv have not read book
ilove bet me by jen crusie such a wonderful
book
love leslie kelly books
Haven’t seen a film version of Emma. Will have to look for that.
I’m late to the party!
I Loved Cry No More and Mr. Perfect! My fave historical, Woodiwiss’s The Wolf and The Dove!
Hi Karin,
Thanks for the suggestion! Haven’t read The Wolf and the Dove.
Great list, Laura!
I cannot do without the In Death series – and I can’t wait until the new one is released the end of this month 🙂
My favorite Linda Howard novel is Sarah’s Child. I know it’s a controversial book, but the punch of emotion gets me every damn time.
And here I thought I’d read everything by Linda Howard. I just checked and it looks to be out of print. Will have to track down a used copy. Thanks!!