The 100 Best Romance Novels

From Pride and Prejudice to Twilight, Books to Fall in Love - and Lust - With

Jennifer Lawler, Crimson Romance Editors

• Publisher: Adams Media
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9781440560989
• eBook ISBN: 9781440560996
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Literary Criticism
• Index: Literature

"My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." --Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice

The taboo affair of Jane and Mr. Rochester.
The (literally) timeless love between Edward and Bella.
The improbable pairing of Grace and Josh.

Climb between the covers with The 100 Best Romance Novels, collected here for the very first time.

Avid fans of the romance genre, the ladies at Crimson Romance know a thing or two about igniting scintillating passion. They've not only collected 100 of the best romance novels of all time, but also provided delicious summaries for each of their picks.

From tempting classics like E.M. Hull's The Sheik to adrenaline-pumping contemporaries like Jennifer Crusie's Bet Me, this collection of romance novels is sure to melt your heart!

The Top 100
Romance Novels

1

16 Lighthouse Road

DEBBIE MACOMBER
CONTEMPORARY / 2001

“Cecilia Randall had heard of people who, if granted one wish, would choose to live their lives over again. Not her. She’d be perfectly content to blot just one twelve-month period from her twenty-two years.”

Macomber portrays realistic, truthful events in a heartwarming, uplifting way. She doesn’t shy away from dealing with heart-wrenching circumstances—in this book, a couple loses a newborn child—but she always finds a way to show how grace, hope, and love can ultimately triumph.

This is the first book in Macomber’s celebrated Cedar Cove series. Others include 311 Pelican Court (2003), 8 Sandpiper Way (2008), and 1225 Christmas Tree Lane (2011).

Macomber’s hometown created a five-day Cedar Cove Days festival in 2009 to celebrate the success of these novels.

In 16 Lighthouse Road, connected stories trace the trajectory of various characters’ love relationships. Cedar Cove family court judge Olivia Lockhart hears—and ultimately denies—the divorce petition of a young couple, Cecilia and Ian Randall—a couple seeking a divorce despite having signed a prenuptial agreement promising to love each other forever. Olivia sees hope and promise for them when they cannot see it for themselves.

Olivia’s court decision leads to some challenges in her own romantic life, for the newspaper coverage of the case brings newspaper editor Jack Griffin into her orbit. Long divorced, Olivia finds Jack appealing. Olivia’s daughter must also grapple with a decision about marriage, Olivia’s good friend must deal with her husband’s disappearance, and Olivia’s mother befriends a disabled man with a secret.

Throughout the novel, Macomber uses her warm and sympathetic style to explore issues of trust and to reject the idea that relationships—and love—can be thrown away.

2

All Through the Night

CONNIE BROCKWAY
HISTORICAL / 1997

“The landlady shuffled into the long narrow room ahead of Colonel Henry ‘Jack’ Seward and headed right for the curtained window overlooking the square.”

Brockway’s warm and intelligent style shines in all of her stories—but we find this one particularly riveting.

Meticulous research makes Brockway’s historical romances richly textured and finely drawn.

Brockway is an eight-time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award. And don’t worry, this isn’t a case of “always the bridesmaid” syndrome—Brockway has won the award twice (so far)!

Set in Regency England, this tale follows the exploits of the widow Anne Wilder, a thief who targets the richest members of society. Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—Colonel Jack Seward sets a trap to catch the thief. Anne seduces him and escapes his snare, but the colonel isn’t one to give up: He chases her all over England, never realizing that the criminal he pursues (and desires) is the same person as the widow he is growing to love.

While Anne does have a noble reason for her thievery (think Robin Hood), she is also motivated by the daring and risk involved. The colonel, a ruthless agent, adds a dark intensity to the story. The characters are troubled, with pasts that must be confronted, who make decisions that aren’t always defensible, but they aren’t the stereotypical troubled characters of romance—they’re complex, sensual, tender, and likeable.

Top Five Romantic Movie Proposals

1. Pride and Prejudice—Elizabeth Bennet (Jennifer Ehle) and Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth). The second proposal. Sigh.
2. Walk the Line—June Carter (Reese Witherspoon) and Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix).
3. Love, Actually—Jamie (Colin Firth) and Aurelia (Lúcia Moniz).
4. Jerry Maguire—Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) and Dorothy (Renée Zellweger).
5. Pride and Prejudice—Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) and Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen). I know, we cheated. No, we didn’t.

3

Almost Eden

DOROTHY GARLOCK
HISTORICAL / 1995

“Jason Picket was mesmerized. His mind scarcely registered what he was seeing, but he was alert enough to grasp the possibilities this chance encounter could mean to his miserable life.”

The romance trope of the half-breed rejected by society is given a fresh take in this adventure story.

Garlock doesn’t gloss over historical truths—her historical romances capture the true flavor of the Old West.

Characters in Almost Eden also appear in Garlock’s Wild Sweet Wilderness and Annie Lash.

Garlock was one of the launch authors for Bantam’s Loveswept line.

The two main characters—Baptiste Lightbody (Light) and Maggie—are both outcasts in their respective societies. He’s called a half-breed; she’s called a witch (mostly because she’s beautiful and adept with animals). They meet when Light rescues Maggie from a rapist; Light immediately senses they are two parts of the same spirit.

Though connected by this spiritual bond as well as by a common desire to find a home, they must confront a number of challenges—not least of which is a band of pirates—as they undertake a journey to reach their “almost Eden.”

4

Along Came a Duke

ELIZABETH BOYLE
HISTORICAL / 2012

“The day dawned like it always did in May in the village of Kempton, with a bright sprinkle of sunshine, a hint of dew on the grass and the birds singing happy choruses in the garden. There was no indication whatsoever that on this day, Miss Tabitha Timmons would not only find herself betrothed, but fall madly and deeply in love. And not necessarily with the same man.”

Boyle has written any number of wonderful historical romances, but this brand-new title is a delightful rags-to-riches Cinderella story.

This is the first in Boyle’s Rhymes with Love series—and we’re eagerly anticipating #2!

Expect tongue-in-cheek wit from Boyle rather than a perfectly realistic portrait of Regency England.

We give Boyle the award for most intriguing book titles—come on, who wouldn’t want to pick up a book called Confessions of a Little Black Gown or Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress?

Impoverished Tabitha Timmons is the perfect Cinderella—hardworking, smart, with an independent streak and troublesome relatives. And she has the chance to inherit a vast fortune if she weds the right man. Tabitha knows what the sensible thing is—marriage to the proper Mr. Barkworth.

But the Duke of Preston has other plans for Tabitha, which she would be more willing to participate in if he weren’t such a scoundrel. He’s arrogant (as a duke should be!) but ultimately softhearted and worthy of Tabitha’s love. Despite their differences, they make a believable and genuine match.

Boyle writes with a Jane Austen touch—witty, intelligent, and arch.

Top Five Romantic Dinners

Don’t forget the candlelight!

1. Chilled shrimp and champagne. Substitute oysters for the aphrodisiac quality.
2. Steak and lobster.
3. Asparagus risotto for the vegetarian.
4. For women, anything on a picnic!
5. For men, anything on the grill!

5

Bait

KAREN ROBARDS
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE / 2004

“It was a professional job, ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contributors
• Contents
• Dedication
• Acknowledgement
• Introduction: The List—and How We Came Up with It
• The Top 100 Romance Novels
• Crimson Romance
• Copyright