Confused where to begin with so many romance books available? Here are some books to get you started with the genre.
A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught
Jennifer Merrick and her stepsister Brenna were kidnapped by Stefan Westmoreland. Being daughters of a Scottish laird, they were brought to the Black Wolf, Royce Westmoreland. Jennifer has to marry Royce as ordered by the kings of Scotland and England, but her family tried to send her to a convent first.
Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
Set in the Russian Revolution of 1905, the novel is about the life of Yuri Zhivago who has to choose between two women. He met Tonya while studying medicine and Lara while serving as a medical officer.
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
The novel tells the stories of four people at an Italian villa during World War II. These are army nurse Hana, Hana’s patient Almasy, volunteer sapper Kip and thief David Caravaggio.
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Set in the Civil War and Reconstruction Era, the book is about Scarlett O’Hara’s coming of age. Initially she wanted to marry Ashley Wilkes but he was engaged to her cousin. She decided to marry the girl’s brother to spite Wilkes, but she was widowed soon after.
Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase
This is the third book of the Debauches Series. It tells how the notorious bad boy 3rd Marquess of Dain, Sebastian Ballister, fell in love with Jessica Trent. Jessica was trying to spare her brother from the influences of the Marquess.
Love Story by Erich Segal
Two college students, Oliver Barrett and Jennifer Cavilleri, found that they needed to be together despite their differences and the objections of Oliver’s father. The couple struggles during marriage after Oliver was disowned by his father.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
When Frank and Claire Randall take a vacation at Inverness, Scotland, Claire time-travelled to the past where he met the Clan MacKenzie. There she was told marry Jamie Fraser and fell in love with him.
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffeneger
Clare Ann Abshire was married to Henry DeTamble who has a disorder that causes him to time travel. He can’t control this disease and so Clare has to be patient with her husband’s condition.
The Sheik by E.M. Hull
Diana Mayo goes on a trip to the Algerian desert with an Arab guide. That guide however had been bribed and she was kidnapped by Shiek Ahmed Ben Hassan. She later learns that she has fallen in love with her captor but was afraid she would be sent away when he learns of her feelings.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Lockwood rents the Thrushcross Range manor, owned by Heathcliff. Lockwood stays over at Heathcliff’s house where he found items from a previous inhabitant named Catherine. The housekeeper Nelly Dean tells him about the stories she has witnessed in Wuthering Heights, particularly about the affairs of Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw.
