Five Books Everyone Should Read is a new feature we’re running in 2015. We’ve asked some of our favorite authors, readers and bloggers to share five books that touched them or have stayed with them throughout the years.
The Five Books (Romances) Every Reader Should Read
I read exclusively romance, and have done so for years, so I’m sure that there are other important books I could list for this post, but I’m going to list romance, since that’s what I read. These aren’t necessarily exclusively my favorites, though several of them are, but they are books or authors that I think each romance reader should try.
Dream Man by Linda Howard
Detective Dane Hollister of the Orlando police department has never met anyone quite like Marlie Keen. While he has doubts about her supposed clairvoyant powers, she sees crimes as they’re being committed, there is no doubt about how much he desires her. To Marlie, Dane is all heat and hard muscle, and he makes her body come alive as it never has before. But not even she can foresee that their passion will lead them on a dangerous journey into the twisted mind of a madman who will threaten their happiness and their lives.
Readers new to romance might not realize that Linda Howard used to write incredibly hot, chemistry filled romances. Her more recent books have a more romantic suspense feel, while her earlier romances do have a suspense element; they are mostly incredibly hot romances. Old school Howard features extreme alpha heroes and their heroines. But what really makes the old school Howard books sparkle is the chemistry. Dream Man features a cop hero investigating a serial murderer and a psychic heroine. The attraction between Dane and Marlie really draws the reader in making you want to turn the pages faster and faster. While the sex scenes might not be as spicy as today’s erotica, they are incredibly well written and feel really spicy. Old School Howard is not to be missed.
Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
THE FIRST PSY/CHANGELING NOVEL from the New York Times bestselling author of Shards of Hope, Shield of Winter, and Heart of Obsidian…
The book that Christine Feehan called “a must-read for all of my fans.”In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of “rehabilitation”—the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was…
Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a Changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy coexistence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several Changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion—and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities—or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation…
In my humble opinion, Nalini Singh writes two of the very best paranormal romance series being published today. Her Psy/Changeling series is long running, and features two things that I really love. The first is heroes who are both strong and steadfast in their love for their heroines. The second is a plot that is phenomenally tightly written. One knows from the beginning that Singh has an endgame in mind for the series. Each entry builds upon the overarching mythos of the world, while also providing a fully realized, focused romance. They are incredibly satisfying books, ones that have a proud place on my keeper shelf and are routinely recommended to readers.
All Through the Night by Connie Brockway
A woman compelled. . .
In the glittering world of Regency England, Anne Wilder played a dangerous game. A widowed lady by day, by night she became a masked thief preying on society’s elite. She roved high above London’s black rooftops, compelled by phantoms from her past to take ever greater risks. Until her restless spirit led her into Colonel Jack Seward’s trap. . . where seduction was her only way out.
A man obsessed. . .
She’d played him for a fool, taking advantage of his hungry response to escape from his clutches. But as Jack hunted for his thief, his heart fell captive to a self-possessed widow. Torn between illicit passion and tender love, Jack is duty-bound to capture the audacious criminal, even if it means ripping society apart to do so. Now he stalked her through the ton, never realizing the lovely widow who captured his heart was the same woman who roused his most violent passions.
A love that defied king and country. . .
This is one of those favorites of mine. While I don’t read my historical romance any more, this is a book that I read once a year, and each time I revel in the sheer brilliance of Connie Brockway’s craft. The story is a cat and mouse game between our honorable hero, Jack Seward and his thief, Anne Wilder. The story is one of the most romantic that I’ve read. The characters are both nuanced and interesting, and the romance is swoonworthy. This is, in my opinion, among the most perfect romances ever written. I gave it an A+ on Dear Author.
It Happened One Wedding by Julie James
SHE KNOWS BETTER THAN TO SAY “I DO”
After a humiliating end to her engagement, investment banker Sidney Sinclair is done with commitment-phobic men. But when her sister winds up engaged after a whirlwind courtship, she’s thrown in to close contact with exactly the kind of sexy playboy she wants to avoid—the gorgeous best man. She’s stuck with him, for better or worse, until her sister walks down the aisle, but that doesn’t mean she has to give in to his smooth advances, no matter how tempting they are…
BUT HE MAKES IT HARD TO SAY “I DON’T”
Special Agent Vaughn Roberts always gets his man on the job and his woman in bed. So Sidney’s refusal to fall for his charms only makes him more determined to win over the cool and confident redhead. Only what starts out as a battle of wills ends up as a serious play for her heart. Because the one woman who refuses to be caught may be the only one Vaughn can’t live without…
For my money, Julie James writes the best heroines in romance. They are smart, career minded, independent women who aren’t necessarily looking for a man. They are women you want to read about and have a glass of wine with. I love every James book and could really choose any of them to put on this list, but I chose It Happened One Wedding because it features my favorite opening scene ever in a contemporary romance. The meet cute is brilliant and sets up the lead characters in an adversarial role where they are fighting their attraction even while being forced into each other’s company. Every moment of it is funny and romantic. Julie James is absolutely not to be missed.
The Hook-Up by Kristen Callihan
The rules: no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all… No falling in love.
Anna Jones just wants to finish college and figure out her life. Falling for star quarterback Drew Baylor is certainly not on her to do list. Confident and charming, he lives in the limelight and is way too gorgeous for his own good. If only she could ignore his heated stares and stop thinking about doing hot and dirty things with him. Easy right?
Too bad he’s committed to making her break every rule…
Football has been good to Drew. It’s given him recognition, two National Championships, and the Heisman. But what he really craves is sexy yet prickly Anna Jones. Her cutting humor and blatant disregard for his fame turns him on like nothing else. But there’s one problem: she’s shut him down. Completely.
That is until a chance encounter leads to the hottest sex of their lives, along with the possibility of something great. Unfortunately, Anna wants it to remain a hook up. Now it’s up to Drew to tempt her with more: more sex, more satisfaction, more time with him. Until she’s truly hooked. It’s a good thing Drew knows all about winning.
All’s fair in love and football…Game on.
New Adult is among the hottest trends in romance right now. Generally they feature a ton of angst, drama and ridiculousness. Not so with The Hook-Up. This story features a star college quarterback and a heroine who completely captivates him, yet has absolutely no interest in him – or so she thinks. What makes this book one of my favorites is it features my favorite trope: the hero in hot pursuit. The moment Drew lays eyes on Anna, he wants her. He respects everything about her and is incredibly attracted. It’s a fabulous story of a couple becoming friends and then falling in love, and about what comes after. I love this book with every fiber of my being.
So there it is. Honestly? There are so many good romances out there, that if you ask me a month from now, this list could change. But for today, these are the books that I think every romance should read. They feature the best of the subgenres I read. If you haven’t read some of them, I hope you’ll consider giving them a try.
About KatiB: I’ve been reading romance for more than 30 years and reviewing regularly for the last five. My first romance was Irish Thoroughbred by Nora Roberts, and once I read it, I was a goner. I read most subgenres of romance (except inspirational and steampunk) but focus mostly on contemporary and paranormal, with a sprinkling of historical thrown in for flavor. I am an avid sports fan, so I have a special place in my heart for sports themed romances. I’m a sucker for old skool romance, which is probably most evident in the fact that The Windflower is my favorite romance of all time.
Reviews can be found at Dear Author. Follow her on Twitter: @KatiD