Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature/meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is Top Ten Favorite Romances.
I couldn’t tell if this week’s Top Ten topic meant “romance novels” or “romantic relationships”, so I decided to post top ten lists for both. My choices are pretty arbitrary, and some very good books and relationships didn’t make the cut. I also decided to skip the obvious classics like Pride and Prejudice, because I figured that almost everyone already knows about them.
So here they are, in honor of Valentine’s Day: my top twenty favorite romances!
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| Photo: MarissaPewPew (on DeviantArt). License: CC BY-ND 3.0 |
My Top Ten Favorite Romance Novels (only vaguely in order):
- A Summer to Remember, by Mary Balogh (read my review!)
- Romancing MrBridgerton (Bridgertons #4), by Julia Quinn (read my review!)
- Slightly Married (Bedwyn Saga #1), by Mary Balogh
- Slightly Scandalous (Bedwyn Saga #3), by Mary Balogh
- The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgertons #2), by Julia Quinn
- The Devil in Winter (Wallflowers #3), by Lisa Kleypas
- Mine Until Midnight (Hathaways #1), by Lisa Kleypas
- Thunder and Roses (Fallen Angels #1), by Mary Jo Putney
- The China Bride, by Mary Jo Putney
- Virgin River, by Robyn Carr
Top Ten Favorite Romantic Relationships (in no particular order):
- Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane (Strong Poison, Have His Carcase, Gaudy Night, Busman’s Honeymoon, by Dorothy L. Sayers. Mystery)
- Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe (the Anne of Green Gables series, books 1-7, by L. M. Montgomery. Children’s/YA/adult)
- Roderick Alleyn and Agatha Troy (assorted Inspector Alleyn mysteries beginning with Artists in Crime, by Ngaio Marsh. Mystery)
- Kate Sutton and Christopher Heron (The Perilous Gard, by Elizabeth Marie Pope. YA historical fantasy) (Read my mini-review!)
- Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes (The Beekeeper’s Apprentice and sequels. Mystery) (Read my series review!)
- Marguerida and Mikhail (Exile’s Song, The Shadow Matrix, by Marion Zimmer Bradley. SF/fantasy)
- Diana and Matthew (A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, by Deborah Harkness. Fantasy) (Read my reviews: ADoW, SoN)
- Hari and Corlath (The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley. YA fantasy) (Read my mini-review!)
- Beauty and Beast (Beauty, by Robin McKinley. YA fantasy)
- Kit Tyler and Nat Eaton (TheWitch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare. YA historical fiction)
Looking at my choices in the second list (and a bunch in the first list, too), there’s definitely a common thread: All these people are strong, intelligent individuals, and the relationships they build must accommodate and respect their strengths and differences. No one is tamed or subordinated; these couples become partners. And above all, these pairs of lovers are also friends (even if they didn’t start out that way – about half of them are a bit prickly for a while!)
What are your favorite romances — novel or relationship? What makes them special? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Amanda Reyes
LOVED Virgin River! Finally someone else has this listed!! 🙂
New follower via GFC
My TTT
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
Thanks for stopping by, Amanda, — and for following! I enjoy the whole Virgin River series, but the first one is my favorite. Have you read the Grace River trilogy? I really liked those, too, and they tie in to the VR series.
I’m headed over to check out your TTT!
kimbacaffeinate
I loved the Virgin River series..so sad that it ended. I would include Sarah MacLean’s numbers series on my list.
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
Hi, Kimba! I haven’t read any of Sarah MacLean’s books — thanks for the recommendation! As for Virgin River, I’m sad too, but I’m hoping that her new series will have some of the same flavor.
Ems
I ADORE Julia Quinn’s romances. She’s probably my favorite historical fiction author. Those Bridgertons… 😀
I haven’t read many of the others, but I’ll definitely be trying some out!
Ems
I positively ADORE Julia Quinn! Her romances are the best. I think she’s probably my very most favorite historical fiction author. Those Bridgertons… 😀
Haven’t read many of the others you mentioned, but I’ll definitely be checking some out. 🙂
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
Hi, Ems! Thank you for stopping by. I have to agree with you re Julia Quinn — or at least, she’s in my top five (I have a hard time narrowing it down to just one favorite!) She manages witty humor without losing an iota of tenderness, romance, and passion.
Shelver506
We share two couples! And wow, I really need to read Blackbird Pond again.
My TTT: http://shelversanon.blogspot.com/2013/02/top-10-tuesday-favorite-romances.html
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
Welcome, Shelver506! We do indeed… and you have quite a few that I haven’t read, which means I have new books to look forward to! I actually have Graceling on my shelves, and haven’t read it yet. Ditto the Attolia books. I think I’ll move them up higher on the TBR list!