When my boss sends me in his place to a professional sports banquet, I find the only empty seat next to Donovan Taylor, the San Francisco Strikers resident hottie with a bad reputation. Riley also has other unusual historical romances in this period. if you like this list. Remedial Rocket Science: A Romantic Comedy, The best sweet romances to make you swoon, The best books about smart women trying to figure it all out (sometimes through the help of sea turtles), The best romantic comedies to make you LOL (and blush) in public, romance with longing so intense youll swoon, finding true love with the least likely person. A college romance book featuring an intelligent heroine the hero can't resist, yes please! In the previous life, Chu Qiao had been obeying her father at home and her husband after she was married. When Sophia Stanton-Lacy is dropped on her aunts doorstep by her diplomat father, shes not quite what any of her extended family were expecting. Stella loves logic. Reading Hardys Tess of the DUrbervilles is an affecting experience that will stay with you for a lifetime. Reid delivers on smart romance where both characters push each other to grow and this was a great new adult romance series from her. With every launch, their secret affair grows thornier. *AAR top 100 romances of all time*New York Times Bestselling Author Penny Reids debut novelThere are three things you need to know about Janie Morris:1) She is incapable of engaging in a conversation without volunteering TMTI (Too Much Trivial Information), especially when she is unnerved,2) No one unnerves her more than Quinn Sullivan, and3) She doesn't know how to knit.After losing her boyfriend, apartment, and job in the same day, Janie Morris can't help wondering what new torment fate has in store. Happy Endings guaranteed. She is a recent. How about her new roommates friendly ex-boyfriend? College Romance Books So Good They Score an A+ Something went wrong while loading recommendations. A gothic novel of intense passion, betrayal, and bitter vengeance underpinned by the quiet beauty of Bronts lyricism Wuthering Heights is an iconoclastic masterpiece that has inspired film-makers, novelists, poets, and song-writers for generations. A rich Cornish broth of love, rivalry, and discontent, Grahams novels conjure up the lashing rains, the wild winds, and the crashing seas of 18th century Cornwall as his plots roar along the coastline. Any romance novel recs with a genius hacker heroine? Meanwhile, inoffensive beta hero Jack Langdon stumbles into her path of destruction. My personal favourite character is Barbara Grahame (one of Peggys ancestors) who has an awesome cat-and-mouse relationship with a wickedly humorous enemy English soldier. Whats suspenseful, but not too scary? Its a retelling of the ballad of Tam Lin set in 1558 under the reign of Mary I. Fans of stubborn romantic leads ( la Annie and Frank from Annie Get Your Gun), quirky settings, and the time-tested city-girl-in-the-country trope may find a winner in Kiss An Angel. One of my faves :). Najja is a great heroine, and Burke writes some excellent sexual tension between her and Colin. Lovecraft the writer best known for creating Cthulhu, a winged Kraken-like creature, along with an entire mythos of similarly monstrous Old Ones. And though Lovecrafts terrifying tales have been captivating read the scientific possibilities of the not-too-distant future. But when a mission goes wrong, theyll have to put aside their pride for the greater goodand discover that matters of the heart have a logic all their own. Thornton has some wonderful historical romances (my favourites areTo Love an EarlandDangerous to Kiss) and the emotion and sensuality in them always bowl me over. Theres also a sweet F/F side romance! The solution is a romance that will break every rule.Six years ago, Miss Letitia Fenley made a mistake, and shes lived with the consequences ever since. Bonus if she is socially awkward or autistic too. The heroine is a very bright mathematician but socially awkward. India, 1857: Englishwoman Emmaline Martin is falling in love with Julian Sinclair, the future Duke of Auburn. All the better for Adrian, Earl of Shropshire. . Handsome, charismatic, genius--his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. Living a quiet life and working in her familys seafood restaurant in late 19th century England, Nan King is happy just the way she is that is until Kitty Butler, a male impersonator and performer, whirls into her line of sight. Unusual historical romances, here I come! His risky lifestyle catches up with him when, attacked and injured, he is forced to seek sanctuary in the basement of a stranger. I promptly embarrass myself because I have no idea who he is. Theres no way he can risk everything hes built up for Eddy, a young black woman he saves from death in the desert. romance with longing so intense youll swoon. Opposites attract when a nerdy computer whiz meets billionaire playboy.The last thing Melody expects when she accepts a dream job offer is to run into her college one-night stand again. A charming and affectionate portrayal of the love life of a neurodivergent woman, The Kiss Quotient is a breath of fresh air we doubt youll have read a romance quite like this before. 2 For all those genius, highly intelligent, scientific-minded, critically-thinking heroes in romance! Its 1986 when Eleanor arrives in her new town, all chaotic red hair and mismatched clothes. It takes place during the 12th century Anarchy, the period of English civil strife when Matilda battled Stephen for the crown. But a chance luggage mix-up at the airport brings them crashing back together. Will they ever be together, or will the seemingly insurmountable obstacles between them keep them apart? Then he kisses me and asks me out. DM me! Set during the infamous Tang Dynasty of China, this book features a sweet romance against a backdrop of intrigue and plotting royalty. 15 Seasoned Romance Novels To Remind Us That Love Is Not - BuzzFeed But dont be fooled. This content contains affiliate links. Removing this book will also remove your associated ratings, reviews, and reading sessions. The daughter of a fortune hunter and his impoverished bride, she completely plans to marry for money and shes not shy about it. In my travels, Ive also come across some wonderful, truly unusual historical romances which deserve special recognition. author picked This book doesnt try to gloss over some of the realities of 11th century life; both Ceidre and Rolfe are in marriages of convenience to other people, and he has many illegitimate sons he cheerfully abandons in Normandy. The Hating Game Tragically, she died in a car crash in the mid-80s, so these are her only two books. Rhine Fontaine is a successful saloon owner with political aspirations. Enter Michael, a handsome escort, who usually doesnt do repeat customers. author picked Owner of a successful all-women newspaper, she campaigns to prove to 1877 society that equal rights is something that can and should happen. Annabelle needs a rich husband, and fast. Scotlands answer to Fifty Shades of Grey, this erotic romance novel is much more than just innocent young graduate meets gorgeous billionaire and dot, dot, dot. MacLean. I only wish this book were longer! 10 Awesome Books With Strong Female Heroines | Reader's Digest And I'm obsessed. In an attempt to find kids who understand, Hazels mother forces her to attend a truly miserable cancer support group. Will she be able to break down his walls? She has only one goal: to take revenge on the FitzHughs who murdered her family. The best historical romance novels must all make great TV, because heres another one that inspired a super sexy series. Editors note: this post previously contained 25 bookswe have removed one since learning one of the main characters is an ex-Nazi. For more information, please see our Without her sister for the first time, Cath is forced to navigate the confusion and loneliness of being a freshman all alone. The characters in this one are passable at best, but I do love the backdrop. Its as gorgeous as it was groundbreaking. Too bad the only thing shell ever love is Scotland. why you should read it. Despite her new priorities, Scarlett quickly finds that she cannot leave affairs of the heart behind completely, as she is torn between her beloved Ashley and the dashing but dangerous Rhett. From Anna's list on authors picked Any romance novel recs with a genius hacker heroine? They meet when Jocelyn moves to Edinburgh and takes up an apartment in a building owned by Braden. But shes never forgotten what they did to her, and not even her marriage to Texas Sharpe sweet-souled son of their charismatic leader made her forgo her revenge. Read and vote for your favorites on the discover feed. Will Sebastian do whats right to save Jessicas reputation, or is he really as unscrupulous as she always suspected? 535 books But if you havent read the book that inspired the cult hit, youve missed a trick. Enter Lou; bubbly, funny sunshine in human form. You cant go wrong when the son of Madame President falls in love with Englands dishy prince. Following two sisters one wild and impulsive, the other quiet and sensible it brilliantly portrays a world of money and status, gossip and innuendo, where rigid social convention governs the impulses of the heart. On the face of things, they have nothing in common. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. A recent release thats already considered vintage Allende, A Long Petal of the Sea is suffused with a vibrant sense of time and place as it traces its story through forty years of authoritarian rule in Spain. If youre partial to Rick Riordan (who, incidentally, gave this book a glowing review!) As a Saxon, Ceidre is determined to resist the invasion of the Normans under William the Conqueror. But when a man whom she once spurned tries to shut down her efforts, she must enlist the help of his brother aristocratic forger and scoundrel Edward Clark to keep her campaign alive. Written at a time when most romantic heroines were preternaturally pretty, the headstrong, wilful, yet utterly average Jane is a subversive breath of fresh air or should we say Eyre? Amazon | Goodreads | My Review Been There Done That A onetime monk, he brings her to his castle and imprisons her until she agrees to be his mistress. authors picked Charlie Eason is used to men underestimating her. But Kya is not what they say. This classic fish-out-of-water tale follows Margaret, a nineteen-year-old girl whose life is turned upside down when her family relocates from a sleepy village to Darkshire a rough and restless industrial town in the north of England. They are witty, fun romps about a turn of the century, independently wealthy, self-made egyptologist/archeologist. But life isnt as unemotional or predictable as code, and things soon boil over with the intriguingly demanding Parsons. its about a really smart hacker, whos a loner and a sheriff who loves her. Agree bloody fab book! Lucy and Josh have so much chemistry that it manifests as anger, frustration, and, yes, hate. Some people love books. As the seasons change, and Tess changes with them, its clear that she identifies most with the natural world and it is here that the intensity of Hardys imagination comes into its own. Ever since the massacre of her clan when she was a child, Morganna KilCreggar has wandered disguised as a boy. Jiang Nian used to be an actress. 28 Steamy Billionaire Romance Books - BOOK RIOT The Thorn Birds explores the tangled web of three generations of one Australian Outback family, carefully tracking their loves and losses over the course of 50 years. A spoof fairy tale, a sharp satire, and a rocket-powered fantasy, all brilliantly disguised as a love story theres absolutely nothing fluffy about The Princess Bride. They are not modern, being published in the 70s/80s, but they are very fun, and Amelia Peabody is quite brilliant! authors picked Lady Meriel de Vere is a noble-born Norman, but circumstances force her into pretending to be a Welsh commoner. The Love Hypothesis Our heroine hated her father with good reason. After a long career in other forms of writing including but not limited to journalism, TV writing, nonfiction book authoring, I began writing contemporary romance novels two years ago and I havent gotten off the couch or closed my laptop since then. She takes a seat on the school bus and finds herself next to Park quiet, understated, and impossibly cool. The race to the moon is on, and engineer Eugene Parsons has two enemies: danger and distraction. Merlin Lambourne is an eccentric genius and possibly the only hope England has of defeating Napoleon. Imagine if all your high school crushes suddenly knew every embarrassing thought youve ever had about them. I love seeing the cautious scientist in Stella gradually open up to Michael, who aces the family dynamic and wins her fiercely-guarded heart. Below are 24 books which, by virtue of their plot, characters, or setting, stand out from the crowd. Another self-publishing success story in the vein of Fifty Shades of Grey, Sylvia Days Bared to You boasts a similarly devoted fan base and a similarly intense love story. Ivory doesnt skim over the grim realities of working-class life in the 1890s. Florentino Ariza has been waiting for 50 years for his true love to return. In six weeks, can she turn a poor working man into one who passes for a viscount? This is excellent historical fiction, perhaps even better than it is historical romance. In this book, watching Melody hold her ground in the face of wayward Jeremy made my heart happyshes funny, smart, and willing to put her heart on the line when it matters. If youve seen the incomparable Vivien Leigh bring her to life on screen, its time to meet Scarlett on the page. But then she comes across charming, light-hearted Zander FitzHugh, who forces her to be his squire, and things become a lot more complicated than she was anticipating. 1. Arriving in Chile, they immediately embroil themselves in a tangled web of characters connected by love and tragedy. She was lying on the operating table when she had difficult labor. So begins Judy Blumes Forever Is it any wonder that this YA book has been a favorite under-the-covers read ever since its release in the 70s? This is the first book in the Chemistry Lessons series and each subsequent book delivers as well. When Henry and Clare bump into one another at the local library, its a classic meet-cute. as one of their favorite books, and they share No, as a philologist, shes fascinated by his distinctly lower-class diction and Cornish accent. as one of their favorite books, and they share The problem is, love isnt logical. as one of their favorite books, and they share (Well, she did set them up, but what are best friends for?) Jocelyn and Braden the innocent young graduate and gorgeous billionaire, respectively are exquisitely written characters, engaged in a captivating and bittersweet love story. The writing in this book is gorgeously poetic my description really doesnt do the plot or characters justice. The romanceisbetween first cousins, but again, 1930s! Caitlin Randal is a passionate Scotswoman, dedicated to the Highlands she was raised in. Early on heroines tended to be normatively slim with perky breasts. He wont rest until he finds the culprit who turns out to be a delightful young woman named Prudence Haversham, who actually meant to tattoo the previous duke as revenge. Have you read The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang? The two head for big cities that Nan has never even dreamed of and a passionate romance unfurls backstage that rivals the action onstage. Spoiled Southern belle Scarlett OHara only ever had to worry about her love life, until poverty threatened to wipe out her familys plantation. Lily was 12 years old when the Sharpe gang murdered her parents and adopted her. One of the most well-known and well received historical romance novels of all time, this regency read has had readers seriously hot under the starched collar for 25 years. Delilah is vivacious, slightly materialistic, and quite willing to pull a pistol on anyone who rubs her the wrong way. Things quickly become unsettling, as the protagonist learns of the troubling questions surrounding Maxims previous wife, Rebecca, whose spectre haunts their relationship. From my experience, it does a good job of capturing that kind of smart driven personality (Worth noting that Emily Foster is a pen name for Emily Nagoski, Ph.D, bestselling author of "Come as You Are" and "Burnout," so her knowledge of academia makes sense). When Ransom, Lord Falconer arrives to meet the reclusive inventor, hes stunned to discover that its a beautiful woman. The Kiss Quotient Contemporary Erotic Romance, Novella. Sally Thornes writing is witty, charming, and sexy too. Weve compiled a list of our all-time favorite romance novels, from historical regency romance to contemporary novels tackling love in the digital age. I love the friendships between the brainy female scientists at their secret lab and the humorEverett always brings the humor in big, satisfying doses. Nothing is more distracting than his attraction to the brilliant, beautiful computer scientist on his team, but hes determined to overcome it since he needs her to help America win. With a few key couples dominating the pages in the style of Anna Karenina, we see the action through their eyes and feel their struggle to maintain hope after endless sacrifices. But he didnt count on meeting Abby, sister of a fanatical Roundhead, whose gentleness slowly begins to touch his heart. (Also, if you like dad jokes, there are some great awful math puns in Talk Sweetly to Me. Trust book recommendations from real people, not robots . But when Aaron starts spending his time almost exclusively with new boy Thomas, he quickly comes to a number of realizations that hes not altogether thrilled with. Its 1987 and a hot summers day in El Paso, Texas, when Ari and Dante meet at a swimming pool. Jenny Hans sugary sweet novel not only spent 40 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, it was also adapted into a blockbusting movie. I want some action! Bonus if the heroine is a genius. | Source, Not sure if you'd like this because the hero is super alpha, but I've recently read Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Read More Romance Sarah MacLean Sally Rooney was recognised as both a gifted writer and a perceptive and nuanced observer, when she released her debut novel Conversations With Friends. Also known by the title Lady of the Knight, Im starting you guys out strong with one of the most uniquely tortured heroines Ive ever encountered. I go to Newnham College, which is very strongly connected to the issue of female suffrage, and it was great to read a historical romance where Votes for Women is an integral part of the plot. She's charming and accommodating and prides herself on being loved by everyone at Bexley & Gamin. A highflying mathematician, shes never put much thought into finding a romantic partner. Ari is guarded, angry, and struggling to feel like he belongs. Miss Delilah Bard, pickpocket, would-be pirate, and street fighter extraordinaire, is not one of them. as one of their favorite books, and they share If you start with book one (a sensible choice) youll meet Ross Poldark as he returns from war in America. A rare genetic condition causes Henry to jump uncontrollably along the timeline of Clares life. Theres only one thing keeping this gorgeous couple apartseveral centuries. His multi-ethnic heritage makes him struggle to fit into either world, and its only with Emmaline that he feels whole.