A lasting impression?

[brainstorm77]

Which romance novel(s) have left a lasting impression on you?:)

[sunandshadow]

The ones that got turned into movies. (That's kind of a sad thing to say, isn't it? :( True though.)

Other than that I guess I remember the ones with the best science fiction, fantasy, or historical worldbuilding, and the ones which made me mad (have to remember not to buy other books by those authors.)

[Stlight]

The Trouble with Harry by Katie MacAlister. I was avoiding romance, had been for years, then I saw the cover top hat, gloves, watch, cane and rubber ducky. I bought it, I read it, I loved it. I've read it a dozen times because it's funny. Oh, there's a scary part to it, but that's toward the end and quickly resolved, but most of it is funny. So I read a few more romances. I still like the funny ones best.

Please note I really really hate to cry over books and will avoid authors who make me do that. That's just me. Crying gives me headaches, so I don't thank authors for that.

[Gecko Girl]

Hmm. I'd have to say Outlander, and the two books that followed, Dragonfly in Amber and Voyager, although I wouldn't categorize them as strictly romance. In fact I just bought a new copy of Outlander so I can re-read the first several books before I read the more recent ones and complete the series.

There's also Lionors: King Arthur's Uncrowned Queen by Barbara Ferry Johnson. I remember reading it as a young teen and crying all over the book. Once again though, I don't know that it qualifies because it doesn't have an HEA.

[Collectonian]

I'd have to say top at my list would have to be Shades of Twilight from Linda Howard. I've read it over a dozen times, as I read it at least once, often twice, a year, and every single time it still makes me cry.

[sunandshadow]

The Trouble with Harry by Katie MacAlister. I was avoiding romance, had been for years, then I saw the cover top hat, gloves, watch, cane and rubber ducky. I bought it, I read it, I loved it. I've read it a dozen times because it's funny. Oh, there's a scary part to it, but that's toward the end and quickly resolved, but most of it is funny. So I read a few more romances. I still like the funny ones best.

Please note I really really hate to cry over books and will avoid authors who make me do that. That's just me. Crying gives me headaches, so I don't thank authors for that.
I agree with that, I love the really funny romances (although some serious ones are good too) and hate the ones that make me cry.

[LorelieBrown]

The Outsider by Penelope Williamson - because Williamson makes this very interesting choice with regards to POVs and the two *very* different occasions she dips into the hero's head
Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase - because it plays with so many different rom standards and tweaks them just enough
It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas - the scene where the heroine gets drunk. Heh.
The Duchess by Jude Deveraux - the first time I remember reading wall sex in a rom. I think I was about 15? That *definitely* made an impression. *coughcough*

[girlyswot]

Flowers from the Storm, Laura Kinsale
A Civil Contract, Georgette Heyer
Dancing With Clara, Mary Balogh

[brainstorm77]

It's great hearing these :) *scribbles a list for future reading*

[Irysangel]

THE TAMING by Jude Deveraux - heiress marries the dirtiest, rudest knight in England. It was crazy. I loved it.

KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR by Jude Deveraux - first time travel I ever read. SO good.

A KINGDOM OF DREAMS and WHITNEY, MY LOVE by Judith McNaught. Crazy drama.

THE SECRET by Julie Garwood - light and funny and smart.

A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER by Kresley Cole - because she takes all the stuff I should hate (overbearing, kidnapper hero and doormat heroine) and makes me love it fiercely.

MR. IMPOSSIBLE by Loretta Chase - because it was the first time I'd read about a bimbo hero, and I loved it.

SECRET FIRE by Johanna Lindsey - because the hero threw the heroine into a trunk, kidnapped her, drugged her with spanish fly, and then took her virginity. (note, this was not a 'good' memorable)

THE KADIN - Bertrice Small -- Actually, most of Small's earlier epic romances were off the wall INSANE, plot-wise, and I freaking loved it. Never knew what was going to happen next or who the heroine would end up with. AT ALL.

[Grrarrgh]

There's one from the mid-80s called The Black Swan by Day Taylor. It was the first really long, sweeping romance I read and I loved it. I look for it all the time in used book stores, but I haven't found it yet. And it's not available for my Kindle, either.

Rememberance by Jude Deveraux was the paranormal-ish romance. It's not really time travel, more past lives, but again, I was hooked.

A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux was the first true time travel I read, and again, I got hooked.

ETA - I just looked Black Swan up on Amazon and it's available for 19 cents. I may have to break down and do it!!! :)

[Soccer Mom]

Another vote for Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase. A charming himbo of a hero, but there is nothing he wouldn't do for his woman. Hilariously funny.

Lady Elizabeth's Comet by Sheila Simonson has a brilliant female scientist as the heroine and a hero to absolutely die for.

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn. I always loved Penelope and the Lady Whistledown reveal was such a blast. My favorite of the Bridgerton series.

The Last Bachelor by Betina Krahn. Flat out the best battle of the sexes romance ever.

And there is a whole list of Georgette Heyers that are special to me, but especially Black Sheep and Regency Buck. I could read those both a hundred times (and probably have).

Another couple of classics: This Rough Magic and Touch Not the Cat by Mary Stewart.

Best romance I've read recently is The Sargeant's Lady by Susanna Fraser. High-born heroine and working class hero. Very emotional, but so satisfying.

[CheekyWench]

The only one I can think of right now that really stuck with me is Born in Sin by Kinley McGregor. I don't know why. But as soon as I took it to the UBS I regretted it and had to buy it back months later.

[Camilla Delvalle]

Most of the Jane Austen novels. I don't remember reading many romance novels. Maybe because they didn't make a lasting impression.

[brainstorm77]

THE TAMING by Jude Deveraux - heiress marries the dirtiest, rudest knight in England. It was crazy. I loved it.

KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR by Jude Deveraux - first time travel I ever read. SO good.

A KINGDOM OF DREAMS and WHITNEY, MY LOVE by Judith McNaught. Crazy drama.

THE SECRET by Julie Garwood - light and funny and smart.

A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER by Kresley Cole - because she takes all the stuff I should hate (overbearing, kidnapper hero and doormat heroine) and makes me love it fiercely.

MR. IMPOSSIBLE by Loretta Chase - because it was the first time I'd read about a bimbo hero, and I loved it.

SECRET FIRE by Johanna Lindsey - because the hero threw the heroine into a trunk, kidnapped her, drugged her with spanish fly, and then took her virginity. (note, this was not a 'good' memorable)

THE KADIN - Bertrice Small -- Actually, most of Small's earlier epic romances were off the wall INSANE, plot-wise, and I freaking loved it. Never knew what was going to happen next or who the heroine would end up with. AT ALL.

Sounds like some interesting selections :)

[LorelieBrown]

Most of the Jane Austen novels. I don't remember reading many romance novels. Maybe because they didn't make a lasting impression.


I'm sorry, that got my back up a wee bit. May I ask why you're contributing to this discussion in that case? Maybe jotting notes on books to check out? *she asks hopefully*

[sunandshadow]

I'm sorry, that got my back up a wee bit. May I ask why you're contributing to this discussion in that case? Maybe jotting notes on books to check out? *she asks hopefully*
Perhaps she might have meant what I have been thinking - that although I read a ton of romance novels, most just aren't memorable.

[Stacia Kane]

Yeah, I don't think there was anything wrong with the comment. Certainly I don't think it was intended to be rude in any way. :)

[Brindle Chase]

A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER by Kresley Cole - because she takes all the stuff I should hate (overbearing, kidnapper hero and doormat heroine) and makes me love it fiercely.


I couldn't finish that one. It was going along just great until the hero forced sex on the heroine... had to throw that one away. *sigh*

[Ambri]

My favorite of all time is Breath of Magic, by Teresa Medeiros

I also loved the first 4 of the Outlander series . . . kinda went off on some plotless tangent after that, IMO

Seducing the Spy, Celeste Bradley

Oh, and I'm currently reading Prince of Midnight, by Laura Kinsale. I love how unconventional her hero and heroine are. He's a has-been highwayman, and she's an ice-cold lady intent on revenge against an evil man.

[Camilla Delvalle]

I'm sorry, that got my back up a wee bit. May I ask why you're contributing to this discussion in that case? Maybe jotting notes on books to check out? *she asks hopefully*
I haven't really read many romance novels that I know of except Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters, if they count as romance. And I have read one by Nora Roberts and also a couple of chick lit novels. Maybe a few more. That's the real reason I don't remember many, because I haven't read many. But I'm interested in the genre and I might read more in the future.

[san_remo_ave]

I love the historicals with deep, emotional pull & turmoil

FLOWERS FROM THE STORM by Laura Kinsale
SLEEPING BEAUTY and THE PROPOSITION by Judith Ivory
CAPTIVES OF THE NIGHT by Loretta Chase
BITTERLEAF by Lisa Gregory (an oldie, pseudonym of Candace Camp)
ADDICTED by Charlotte Featherstone

[brainstorm77]

I adored Gone With the Wind.

[AuburnAssassin]

Touch not the Cat by Mary Stewart
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
1st 3 Outlander books by Diana Gabaldon
The Dove and the Wolf by Kathleen Woodiwiss
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
The Ladies of Missalonghi by Colleen McCullough (novella that wasn't technically a romance)
Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella

[milly]

Colleen McCulough's "The Thorn Birds"

[brainstorm77]

Colleen McCulough's "The Thorn Birds"


Great book.

[Karen Junker]

Most memorable romances for me include The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne and An Arranged Marriage by Jo Beverley. I love historicals, but these each have something extremely memorable about them.

[Nightmelody]

Lord of Scoundrels --Loretta Chase
The Mad Earl's Bride --Loretta Chase
Devil in Winter --Lisa Kleypas(and that whole series)
Nobody's Baby but Mine -- Susan Elizabeth Phillips (and the Series)
Romancing Mr Bridgerton -- Julia Quinn(and the other Bridgertons)
Tell Me Lies, Welcome to Temptation, Bet Me -- Jennifer Crusie
Honor Bound -- Sandra Brown

Series--The Virgin River Series, Robyn Carr and JR Ward's Black Dagger brotherhood

I think the common denominator with these are unique and finely drawn characters.

[Rose English]

I believe that Jilly Cooper set me up to expect/wish for/fantasize about a certain kind of man. As a teenager I read all her books; Riders and Rivals being among the best of them; but also her short stories in Lisa and Co, and the one off's like Octavia, Harriet, Prudence and so on.

I still adore Rupert Campbell Black and Lysander (who I think was an updated RCB). In reality of course, I'm sure they would infuriate me; but in fantasy - sigh.

I keep meaning to write a letter of heartfelt gratitude to Ms Cooper for all the pleasure she has given me. I'm talking hours buried under the duvet with a torch to find out what happened next, never mind getting up in the morning. I don't know what she's up to these days, must go off and google...

[Nightmelody]

For paranormal/fantasy/shifter erotic romance I really enjoyed Mima's Bonded series from Liquid Silver.

[Jersey Chick]

Gone with the Wind - I read this book once a year or so, and have since I was 19.

The Flame and the Flower - It the first romance novel I ever read.

A Knight in Shining Armor - LOVE THIS BOOK. It's the one and only book I've ever given up sleep to read. I stayed up all night to finish it. I have two versions of it - the original paperback that came out in 1989 (when I first read it), and a revised version from the early '00's. Devereux added scenes that didn't make the earlier version. She also explained one of the themes (which I have to admit, I don't see in the story even after knowing it's there.)

[ThetProf]

The Wolf and the Dove - Kathleen Woodiwiss (the first Romance I read if you don't count Gone With The Wind)
An Arranged Marriage - Jo Beverly (still infuriated over how Nicholas treats Eleanor but love the book)
Devilish - Jo Beverly (and all the Malloren books)
The Rose in Winter - Kathleen Woodiwiss
One Perfect Rose - Mary Jo Putney (read all night, biting my nails over what the HEA would be)
This Rough Magic, The Moonspinners, and Madam Will You Talk? - Mary Stewart

[elindsen]

Johanna Lindsey's Pirate's Love. I even named my MC after her's!
Iris Johansen's And Then You Die. romantic suspense, and perfect in every way!

[Summerwriter]

I don't know if one can count this, but...if the name Wilkie Collins says anything, there is one novel I like. "The Woman In White". As I said, I don't know if it is romance or not, but at least the romantic stuff comes in rather early.

[synna]

in no particular order
THE CROSSROADS CAFE by Deborah Smith (recently read freebie Kindle download, amazing book--made me cry)
PERSUASION by Jane Austen (was my 2nd fav. of hers for a long time but has moved to most favorite upon re-reading)
THE YOUNG CLEMENTINA by D.E. Stevenson (one I read in my younger years and just stuck with me for all this time--a wonderful tale. I'd love to re-read this sometime if I ever get my hands on it again).
THE THORN BIRDS by Colleen McCollough (Loved it as a kid--should re-read it sometime)
WUTHERING HEIGHTS by Emily Bronte (I have a significant love-hate relationship with this book. It's disturbing. It's deep. It sticks in your psyche long after you put it down.)
JANE EYRE by Charlotte Bronte (Lovely and haunting)

[brainstorm77]

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg. I just have to say WOW, she's one heck of a writer. I will def read the book again and look for more of her stuff.