The Top 100
Romance Novels
1
16 Lighthouse Road
DEBBIE MACOMBER
CONTEMPORARY / 2001
âCecilia Randall had heard of people who, if granted one wish, would choose to live their lives over again. Not her. Sheâd be perfectly content to blot just one twelve-month period from her twenty-two years.â
This is the first book in Macomberâs celebrated Cedar Cove series. Others include
311 Pelican Court (2003),
8 Sandpiper Way (2008), and
1225 Christmas Tree Lane (2011).
Macomberâs 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 charactersâ love relationships. Cedar Cove family court judge Olivia Lockhart hearsâand ultimately deniesâthe divorce petition of a young couple, Cecilia and Ian Randallâa 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.
Oliviaâs 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. Oliviaâs daughter must also grapple with a decision about marriage, Oliviaâs good friend must deal with her husbandâs disappearance, and Oliviaâs 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 relationshipsâand loveâcan be thrown away.
2
All Through the Night
CONNIE BROCKWAY
HISTORICAL / 1997
âThe landlady shuffled into the long narrow room ahead of Colonel Henry âJackâ Seward and headed right for the curtained window overlooking the square.â
Meticulous research makes Brockwayâs historical romances richly textured and finely drawn.
Brockway is an eight-time finalist for Romance Writers of Americaâs RITA Award. And donât worry, this isnât a case of âalways the bridesmaidâ syndromeâBrockway 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. Unfortunatelyâor perhaps fortunatelyâColonel Jack Seward sets a trap to catch the thief. Anne seduces him and escapes his snare, but the colonel isnât 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 arenât always defensible, but they arenât the stereotypical troubled characters of romanceâtheyâre complex, sensual, tender, and likeable.
Top Five Romantic Movie Proposals
- Pride and PrejudiceâElizabeth Bennet (Jennifer Ehle) and Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth). The second proposal. Sigh.
- Walk the LineâJune Carter (Reese Witherspoon) and Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix).
- Love, ActuallyâJamie (Colin Firth) and Aurelia (LĂșcia Moniz).
- Jerry MaguireâJerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) and Dorothy (RenĂ©e Zellweger).
- Pride and PrejudiceâElizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) and Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen). I know, we cheated. No, we didnât.
3
Almost Eden
DOROTHY GARLOCK
HISTORICAL / 1995
âJason 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.â
Garlock doesnât gloss over historical truthsâher historical romances capture the true flavor of the Old West.
Characters in
Almost Eden also appear in Garlockâs
Wild Sweet Wilderness and
Annie Lash.
Garlock was one of the launch authors for Bantamâs Loveswept line.
The two main charactersâBaptiste Lightbody (Light) and Maggieâare both outcasts in their respective societies. Heâs called a half-breed; sheâs called a witch (mostly because sheâs 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 challengesânot least of which is a band of piratesâas they undertake a journey to reach their âalmost Eden.â
4
Along Came a Duke
ELIZABETH BOYLE
HISTORICAL / 2012
âThe 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.â
This is the first in Boyleâs Rhymes with Love seriesâand weâre 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 titlesâcome on, who wouldnât 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 Cinderellaâhardworking, 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 isâmarriage 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 werenât such a scoundrel. Heâs arrogant (as a duke should be!) but ultimately softhearted and worthy of Tabithaâs love. Despite their differences, they make a believable and genuine match.
Boyle writes with a Jane Austen touchâwitty, intelligent, and arch.
Top Five Romantic Dinners
Donât forget the candlelight!
- Chilled shrimp and champagne. Substitute oysters for the aphrodisiac quality.
- Steak and lobster.
- Asparagus risotto for the vegetarian.
- For women, anything on a picnic!
- For men, anything on the grill!
5
Bait
KAREN ROBARDS
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE / 2004
âIt was a professional job, ...