Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature/meme brought to you by the folks over at The Broke and the Bookish (the pic also belongs to them). This week’s theme is Top Ten Genre-of-Your-Choice Books.
So… I’m still sort of new to the genres I’ve been exploring lately (fantasy, YA contemp, YA dystopia, etc.) and I went through a major, major romance phase* in my late teens/early twenties… so I decided to give you a few of my favorite romantical books. I don’t promise that any of these have actual literary merit, but romance is not for making your brain think big thoughts.
Small Town Girl by LaVyrle Spencer – This was my first true romance book and I was hooked. The girl: a famous country singer returning to her small home town. The boy: Boy-next-door, divorced, with a daughter who has a promising future in country singing. If I recall, there was some good steaminess in this one.
Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane – The title comes from Nirvana lyrics. The couple meets in Seattle and goes on an adventure to meet the Starbucks CEO to present the boy’s big idea- Cinnamon Toast Crunch flavored milk. I remember so much about this book, even though most romances are disposable… so yeah, it’s a goody.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer – The first book only. I know not everyone loves this one, but I am putting this one on here because it reminded me of being in love as a teenager. For some reason, love is a lot more intoxicating and all-consuming as a teenager.
Luke by Jennifer Blake – I have a weakness for romances with cowboys/southern gentlemen as the romantic heroes. This one is guy=southern gentleman and gal=romance novelist. I read this one in high school and really liked it then and read a few of the others in the series. Not sure if it’d still hold up, but it does have a Louisiana gentleman in it, so probably.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte – I love this book because Jane is such a wonderful and independent character, but I also love the romance between Jane and Mr. Rochester.
Milk in My Coffee by Eric Jerome Dickey – This is a romance about an interracial couple and is told from the man’s perspective… both of which are anomalies in the world of romance.
Divergent by Veronica Roth – This is a dystopian YA, but I really liked the romance between Tris and Four. Four is all tough-guy on the outside and vulnerable on the inside. He’s also one of those strong men that still respects a strong and smart lady. Gotta love a romantic lead like that!
Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris – This is where Sookie hooks up with Eric who has lost all his memories and turns from an evil mean vampire to a super sweet, manly Viking vampire. Super steamy. This is best read with Alexander Skarsgard (who plays Eric on True Blood) in mind as Eric.
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger – A tearjerking love story. I love tearjerkers.
In the Garden series by Nora Roberts – It’s Nora Roberts. There is a ghost. And gardens. And a big ol’ mansion with lots of people (and a ghost) living in it. So, basically, awesome.
*So major that when I got together with an old high school friend recently, she reminded me of how popular I was on a band trip because I brought along a REALLY trashy romance novel that including a scene where the character’s clothes were “shucked” from her body. This led to much teenage giggling about shucking and the words it rhymes with…
Don't Take My Books Away 
I’m starting to think you and I were separated at birth because I think you’re my reading twin. I sorta stopped reading “romance romance” books a while ago, mainly b/c I read so many and the plots started running together, so I havent read Lavyrle Spencer in years. She used to be a fav. along with Jude Devereux. But I remember Small Town girl better than any of her othe stories. I always pictured a sort of young Reba whenever I thought of Tess McPhail. How crazy that you mention this book!! Also, Dead to the World is of course my fav. Sookie book. I reckon it’s most Sookie fans favorite book, although I did like Quinn (the weretiger) a whole lot too. This past season of True Blood was awesome because it was mostly based on Dead to the World. And yes, Time Traveller’s wife. Big ol’ “sigh”. I’m going to put Divergent on my list. I swear I’m not a blog stalker. If you’ll just talk about books I don’t care about, I might leave you alone. LOL.
We clearly have very similar tastes (which is sort of weird since it ranges from romance to zombies)! I also loved Jude Devereux, but can’t for the life of me remember which of hers I’ve read. I like a good romance every now for fun, but they really do all blend together after a while!
Great list! There are several on here that I read and loved – Divergent, Time Traveler’s Wife & Jane Eyre.
Thanks! Divergent was really good– I’m excited for the sequel to come out!
Nothing like a romance to warm the heart! Great list, i love it! Especially Dead to the World…
I don’t really read romances, but I must admit, some of these are pretty good books 🙂 I’m definitely a Divergent fan, and I enjoyed Sookie Stackhouse and The Time Traveler’s Wife.
Thanks for stopping by!
I am a huge Jane Eyre fan! Especially of Mr. Rochester! So glad to know you also like Tris and Four as much as I do 🙂
Jane Eyre is my all-time favorite book… and while Mr. Rochester is a pompous jerk, I still love him. Warts and all! (ha, I almost wrote that wards and all!)
The scene where Four shows Tris his fears was amazing… action-y and sweet and sad and it was so beautiful that he was willing to be completely and totally vulnerable in front of Tris. Just SO good.
Agreed! 🙂
Great topic! Tris and Four – love! Dead to the World is also a favorite of mine. And Stupid and Contagious sounds like a fun read.
LOVED Divergent and The Time Traveler’s Wife. I think I’m going to need to check out some of these books with the Southern gentleman male lead! That’s my favorite kind of guy to read about 🙂
Me too– you can’t beat a cute southern boy! (I am married to one, actually!)