The oldest son, Rafe McKettrick, looks around their little town and decides a mail-order bride is just the ticket. Emmeline, who comes West for her own reasons, agrees to his proposal. It is basically a business decision for both of them.
But it doesn’t stay business forever! Though Rafe can be a bit thick-headed, he’s sincere, and he and Emmeline grow closer through some tender moments. Their love is threatened when Emmeline’s past shows up at the door and a most surprising secret is revealed!
33
Ice Storm
ANNE STUART
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE / 2007
“Mary Isobel Curwen had never shot a man before. She stood there, numb, unmoving. She’d never fired a gun before, and the feel of it in her grasp was disturbing.”
The heroine heads up a covert mercenary organization! She kills people without remorse! We love us some kick-ass heroines!
Anne Stuart has written contemporaries, romantic suspense, historicals, paranormals—and more! But we think she may have invented the genre of black ops romance.
Isobel Curwen is the head of The Committee, a covert mercenary organization. Dealing with some of the most dangerous people in the world doesn’t shake her. But confronting her past does.
Serafin, an assassin, seeks help from her organization—help only she can give. But it turns out that Serafin is a man she thought she killed a long time ago. What does he really seek? Is he looking for revenge? And what are they supposed to do about the attraction that has flared up between them now, just as it did then?
Serafin is a bad boy extraordinaire, and Isobel just might be the only one who can tame him.
34
In Too Deep
JAYNE ANN KRENTZ
PARANORMAL / 2010
“Paranormal fire burned in the darkness. Auroras of psi splashed across the ether. The night sky of San Francisco was ablaze with light from across the spectrum. Fallon Jones gripped the condo balcony railing with both hands, fighting to anchor himself to reality.”
This is a wonderful example of a paranormal that anyone can enjoy—even readers who aren’t fans of the genre. No blood-sucking vampires, no werewolves, just a lot of conflict and suspense.
Krentz also writes under the names Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle. She has also published as Amanda Glass, Jayne Taylor, Jayne Bentley, and Stephanie James. We’re exhausted just reading that list.
In Too Deep is the tenth novel in the Arcane Society series. We love this one because Fallon Jones finally gets what’s coming to him. Krentz juggles the mystery/detective story, the paranormal suspense, and the romantic relationship with consummate skill, all the while exercising her trademark wit.
Thirty-two of Jayne Ann Krentz’s 122 romance novels have made the New York Times bestseller list. We like those odds!
In a slightly futuristic world, Fallon Jones lives in Scargill Cove, a place where otherworldly phenomena thrive. And Fallon is a paranormal investigator, so he’s in his element. He runs Jones & Jones, which might best be described as a detective agency for things that regular law enforcement can’t handle. Things like … dark energy and people who can bend the will of other people.
Fallon’s also a recluse, dour, cynical, and the last person you’d ever expect to see starring in his own book. He’s sort of an accidental romance hero, which makes him extra-delightful.
Isabella Valdez, a talented intuitive, arrives in Scargill Cove and takes over Fallon’s office—and his life. But she’s on the run from danger, and it’s not just the physical kind. An encounter with an object of dark energy puts them both in danger and they must unravel its secrets before it destroys them. Krentz creates two unforgettable characters here.
35
It Had to Be You
SUSAN ELIZABETH PHILLIPS
CONTEMPORARY / 1994
“Phoebe Somerville outraged everyone by bringing a French poodle and a Hungarian lover to her father’s funeral.”
Sassy, sexy, heartwarming, and oh-so-emotionally satisfying. SEP, we adore you.
It Had to Be You is the first in Phillips’s enormously successful Chicago Stars series.
We dare you to read that first line and not be hooked.
Phoebe Somerville, a blonde bombshell, inherits the Chicago Stars football team from her despicable father. She doesn’t know the first thing about football, and she can’t imagine anything she cares about less. She knows her father’s will is his final slap in the face: If she doesn’t lead the team to the playoffs, she’ll lose the inheritance and it’ll go to her creepy cousin Reed. And if there’s one thing Phoebe is least likely to do, it’s succeed at running a football team.
Dan Calebow is the stubborn, sexist coach of the team, the type of man she heartily dislikes. The feeling is mutual: The last thing Dan needs is a boss like Phoebe. What he wants is a new owner, so he has no intention of helping her figure out what to do.
But they can’t help their attraction. And they come to realize that they are both more complex than they seem to be at first glance. Their attraction grows, and so does their ability to work together as a team. In the end, Dan has a chance to ride to Phoebe’s rescue, and they both get to enjoy the fruits of their success.
36
Jade Island
ELIZABETH LOWELL
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE / 1998
“The man was frightened.”
Romance, adventure, and treasure hunting! No one does it quite like Lowell.
This is the second book in the Donovan family saga—the others are Amber Beach and Pearl Cove.
Kyle Donovan, of the Donovan gem empire, prefers the allure of hunting for treasure to sitting in an office negotiating deals. When Lianne Blakely, a jade expert and the illegitimate daughter of the powerful Johnny Tang (a jade collector), is accused of stealing a precious cultural artifact from China, Kyle has to figure out what happened or Lianne and his family will be in jeopardy.
In one fun twist, Tang asks Lianne to seduce Kyle for the good of their family, and Kyle is asked to seduce Lianne for the good of his family, and neither knows what the other is up to.
The two must work together to find the true thief, and you know what that means! Love amidst the jewels.
Sensual and fast paced, this is the best book of the Donovan trilogy. The characters are nuanced and complex, their motivations compelling and sympathetic—even when they’re at odds with each other.
37
Jane Eyre
CHARLOTTE BRONTË
CONTEMPORARY AT THE TIME BUT NOW HISTORICAL / 1847
“There was no possibility of taking a walk that day. We had been wandering, indeed, in the leafless shrubbery an hour in the morning; but since dinner (Mrs. Reed, when there was no company, dined early) the cold winter wind had brought with it clouds so sombre, and a rain so penetrating, that further out-door exercise was now out of the question.”
Though Jane Eyre is considered a classic love story today, when it was first published it was truly ahead of its time, as it features a strong-willed, individualistic female main character and explores the issues of sexuality, religion, and feminism, paving the way for contemporary romance novels.
Jane Eyre was originally published in three volumes, which was a common publishing practice in the nineteenth century. Volume One consisted of chapters 1 to 15, Volume Two—chapters 16 to 26, and Volume Three—chapters 27 to 38.
The novel begins with ten-year-old Jane Eyre living with her deceased uncle’s wife and children in a home where she is routinely emotionally and physically abused. When she is given the opportunity to leave the family and attend school at the Lowood School for Girls, Jane finally stands up to her aunt and tells her what she really thinks of her. But her school life doesn’t turn out to be much better, as the headmaster is a cruel man who subjects his students to cold rooms, thin clothing, and insubstantial meals.
After six years as a student and two as a teacher, Jane leaves Lowood and takes a job as a governess, where she meets the handsome Mr. Rochest
er. The two quickly fall in love and are preparing to get married when Jane learns that Mr. Rochester is actually already married—to Bertha, the mentally ill woman living locked up in the house.
Ashamed and brokenhearted, Jane flees from Mr. Rochester’s home. She soon meets St. John, a clergyman who asks to marry her and take her away to India. Now Jane must make a decision—live a life of duty with St. John or go back to the man who lied to her and shamed her.
38
Kiss Me If You Can
CARLY PHILLIPS
CONTEMPORARY / 2010
“News flash! The Daily Post is happy to announce a partnership with the Bachelor Blogs, bringing you news of New York’s hottest men, both online and in print!”
Feel-good, fun romance with a contemporary voice.
Phillips was an attorney before trying her hand at writing romance.
This is the first book in Phillips’s Bachelor Blog series.
Reporter Sam Cooper (Coop) is not a man who likes change. But things are about to get turned upside down in his world when he stops a robbery at a jewelry store and is rewarded with an antique ring—and shows up in the city’s Bachelor Blog.
Free spirit Lexie Davis is interested in the ring, which was stolen a long time ago and which she thinks belongs to her family. Events get complicated when someone tries to steal the ring from Coop.
As they try to figure out why the ring matters, Lexie and Coop are drawn to each other, but will Coop find a way to change, and can Lexie be content settling down?
39
A Knight in Shining Armor
JUDE DEVERAUX
PARANORMAL (TIME TRAVEL) / 1990
“Nicholas was trying to concentrate on the letter to his mother, a letter that was probably the most important document he would ever write. Everything depended upon this letter: his honour, his estates, his family’s future—and his life.”
Deveraux does an excellent job putting both Douglass and Nicholas in fish-out-of-water scenarios and showing the reader just how difficult yet funny a culture swap can be.
The original release, which was the author’s hardcover debut, didn’t give romance readers the expected happily ever after—the hero dies alone in his time and the heroine ends up in the twenty-first century with his reincarnation. But despite some readers’ restlessness, Deveraux left this plot twist in place with her 2002 rerelease.
American schoolteacher Douglass Montgomery finally stands up to the boyfriend who is constantly taking advantage of her and pays a high price in the short run: She finds herself abandoned in a churchyard in England sans money, passport, or a plan. Who wouldn’t shed a few tears of panic? But Douglass’s tears conjure up Sir Nicholas Stafford, a womanizing, roguish Earl of Thornwyck who died in 1564, in the flesh before her—and not exactly happy to find himself whisked into the wrong century.
Once Nicholas manages to convince Douglass that his story is real, they build their romantic relationship on a friends-in-need basis rather than a friends-with-benefits arrangement as they team up to find the passage to this time travel portal. When they find it and he leaves her behind, she realizes her emotions are love and she must follow him. The kink in this plan? She lands in 1560—several years before Nicholas’s time-travel jaunt.
Naturally, he has no recollection of his lady love, so Douglass must set out to nurture their bond all over again despite the fact that ancient Nicholas’s personality is nothing like the man he became in 1988. The tender ending leaves even casual readers with tears as these two begin a third time to regenerate their connection—a solid definition of true love.
40
Lessons in French
LAURA KINSALE
HISTORICAL / 2010
“Lady Callista Taillefaire was a gifted wallflower. By the age of seven and twenty, she had perfected the art of blending into the wallpaper and woodwork so well that she never had to dance and only her most intimate friends greeted her.”
A sexy, humorous romp that also delivers a poignant love story.
Known more for her darker stories, this novel is a delightful departure for Kinsale.
Shy, plain Lady Callista Taillefaire has resigned herself to spinsterhood. She has been dumped (there’s no way to put it politely) three times, even though she comes equipped with a fortune. So she has turned her attention to other matters. Like raising her bull, Hubert.
Hot bad boy Trevelyan d’Augustin is a scoundrel from Callista’s past—the man who gave her lessons in French. And also French. Oh-la-la! Though he’s the worst possible choice for Callista, when he returns home, the sparks fly—and so do the adventures! And yes, Hubert is involved in them.
These are deeply believable characters drawn with a touch of whimsy.
41
Lion’s Bride
IRIS JOHANSEN
HISTORICAL / 1995
“‘I have it!’ Thea whirled to see Selene running through the city gates toward her. The child’s red hair had come loose from her braid and was flowing wildly down her back, and her narrow chest was lifting and falling as she tried to catch her breath.”
This medieval romance keeps you biting your nails as you try to figure out how Thea and Ware will ever be able to outwit the Knights Templar.
Best known for her Eve Duncan forensic thrillers, Johansen got her early start writing category romance.
Although she’s switched from romance to suspense, she writes on her website that she still tries to put a love story in each of her books.
Set during the Crusades, this is a story of romance, adventure, and intrigue. Johansen evokes the reality of the time with all of its many abuses of humans—everything from child labor to slavery. But she doesn’t forget that she’s writing a romance; where there’s romance, there’s hope.
Thea of Dimas is an indentured servant, working for a silk merchant. She steals some silk worms, intending to set up her own silk shop, and travels to Damascus, hoping to free her sister Selene. But her caravan is set upon, everyone is killed but her, and Lord Ware rescues her and carries her off to his castle.
Ware, who is in danger from the Knights Templar, knows that just being near him puts anyone in jeopardy and he doesn’t intend to get close to Thea. Thea likewise has her own plans, and Ware isn’t going to thwart them. In fact, she intends to have him help her.
At first, they battle each other, and then they battle their enemies, eventually finding a way to keep the Templars from ever finding them. Peace, at last.
42
Lord of Danger
ANNE STUART
HISTORICAL / 1997
“There were monsters who walked the land. Alys had never seen one in the flesh, but she had no doubt they existed.”
We love a good medieval romance—and this is one of the best!
Stuart’s first novel was Barrett’s Hill, a gothic romance. Ballantine published it in 1974.
According to Stuart, this is the first medieval romance she wrote, and still one of her personal favorites. Ours too!
The hero of this tale, the wizard Simon of Navarre, is not your average good guy hero. He practices the dark arts, is greatly feared by everyone who knows him, is thought to be a monster, not a man, and is otherwise the kind of person you’d not want to meet in a dark alley on a rainy night.
Richard the Fair (also a very bad man) wants Simon on his side and offers one of his sisters in marriage (this being the type of thing they did in the Middle Ages to cement alliances; now we’d sell some military hardware).
Alys, said sister, is more clever than beautiful. Though she’s intelligent, she was raised in a convent and is not terribly worldly. Simon makes her afraid for her soul. On the other hand, he is very attractive, and he can be charming. And he is entranced by her.
Through danger and court intrigue (including the scheming of Richard), they are both tested, and must come to trust each other.
43
Lord of Scoundrels
LORETTA CHASE
HISTORICAL / 1995
/>
“In the spring of 1792, Dominick Edward Guy de Ath Ballister, third Marquess of Dain, Earl of Blackmoor, Viscount Launcells, Baron Ballister and Launcells, lost his wife and four children to typhus.”
Some readers call this tale the perfect Regency romance. We won’t go so far as to assert that, but we do love a bright, not-naïve heroine, delightful dialogue, and the reformation of a rogue!
Lord of Scoundrels won a RITA for best short historical.
Like many writers, Loretta Chase has held down various jobs on her way to success, including a six-month stint as a meter maid.
The Marquess of Dain, Sebastian Ballister, is a scoundrel. (You might even call him the lord of scoundrels.) In addition to his very many bad habits, he’s arrogant, prideful, and occasionally sneering. He has no intention of redeeming himself; he enjoys his life of sin far too much. He has his reasons for being the way he is, but he has successfully managed to squelch any feelings of regret.
Jessica Trent has a plan to save her brother Bertie—“the greatest nitwit in the Northern Hemisphere.” The plan requires extracting him from his friendship with the lord of scoundrels, which Jessica is fully prepared to do.
From their first meeting, Sebastian and Jessica butt heads—and the sparks fly. The sparks fly so much that they are caught in a compromising position and Sebastian is eventually forced to marry Jessica in order to protect her reputation.
The 100 Best Romance Novels Page 5