Top Romance Books (continued)

Continuing the list of romance novel, here are a few more to keep you engrossed this weekend!

A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux
Vacationing in England with her lover, Robert, and his spoiled teenage daughter, heroine Dougless Montgomery is abandoned by them in a remote country churchyard near the tomb of Nicholas Stafford, an earl who died in 1564. Almost immediately, an armor-clad swashbuckler materializes--Nicholas himself, reincarnated in the 20th century to clear his reputation, having been unjustly convicted of treason. Intrigued by his plight, Dougless agrees to help Nicholas learn his accuser's identity and restore his good name. They become lovers, and their adventures briefly lead Dougless back to the 1560s.

Shanna by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
Behind the foreboding walls of Newgate Prison, a pact is sealed in secret -- as a dashing and doomed criminal consents to wed a beautiful heiress . . . in return for one night of unparalleled pleasure. In the fading echoes of hollow wedding vows, a promise is broken -- as a sensuous free-spirit flees to a lush Caribbean paradise, abandoning the handsome stranger she married to the gallows. But Ruark Beauchamp's destiny is now eternally intertwined with his exquisite, tempestuous Shanna's. And no iron ever forged can imprison his magnificent passion . . . and no hangman's noose will deny him the ecstasy that is rightfully his.

Honor's Splendour by Julie Garwood
Lady Madelyne 'rescues' the Wolf from her brothers capture...only to find that he invaded the keep to capture her! Against her will she is dragged to a place that he calls home, and has to deal with his brother that loathes her, a sister that despises her, and dogs that simply won't keep away from the main table. You can't help but laugh at the antics of this family, and applaud the heroism shown by Lady Madelyne. A must read if you enjoy a good laugh and a "sigh-able" romance.

Paradise by Judith McNaught
Two strong-willed characters maintain 11 years of unwarranted hostility based on a series of misunderstandings in this engaging romance, Teenage socialite heiress Meredith Bancroft has a quick and disastrous secret marriage to unsuitably penniless Matt Farrell. Her domineering father tells each of them a series of damaging lies and speedily arranges a divorce. A decade later, Meredith, now vice-president of a department-store chain and engaged to a prominent banker, meets Matt again. The highly successful CEO of his own conglomerate, Matt has a well-deserved reputation as a ruthless corporate raider, and when he hears of Meredith's aggressive plans for her chain's expansion the two clash explosively.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice, one of the most adored romances of all time, is a comedy of manners played out in early 19th Century English society, a world in which men held virtually all the power and women were required to negotiate mine-fields of social status, respectability, wealth, love, and sex in order to marry both to their own liking and to the advantage of their family. Such is the case of the Bennetts, a family of daughters whose father's estate is in jeopardy and upon his death they will lose home, land, income, everything. But are the Bennett daughters up to playing a winning hand in this high-stakes matrimonial game without forfeiting their own personal integrity?

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
A novel of mystery and passion, a dark psychological tale of secrets and betrayal, dead loves and an estate called Manderley that is filled with memories of the elegant and flamboyant Rebecca, the first Mrs. DeWinter; with the obsessive love of her housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, who observes the young, timid second Mrs. DeWinter with sullen hostility; and with the oppressive silences of a secretive husband, Maxim. Rebecca may be physically dead, but she is a force to contend with, and the housekeeper's evil matches that of her former mistress as a purveyor of the emotional horror thrust on the innocent Mrs. DeWinter. The tension builds as the new Mrs. DeWinter slowly grows and asserts herself, surviving the wicked deceptions of Mrs. Danvers and the silent deceits of her husband, to emerge triumphant.

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Many novels have been written about the Civil War and its aftermath. None take us into the burning fields and cities of the American South as Gone With the Wind does, creating haunting scenes and thrilling portraits of characters so vivid that we remember their words and feel their fear and hunger for the rest of our lives. In the two main characters, the white-shouldered, irresistible Scarlett and the flashy, contemptuous Rhett, Margaret Mitchell not only conveyed a timeless story of survival under the harshest of circumstances, she also created two of the most famous lovers in the English-speaking world since Romeo and Juliet.

The Mists Of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
This novel has it all! It rewrites the romantic story of Camelot from a female perspective. You will be enthralled by Morgaine of The Faeries and her desperate love for the handsome Lancelet. You will also enjoy the sweeping historical backdrop of England, where the old religion of Goddess worship is being replaced by Christianity. Guinevere and King Arthur are pivotal characters in this epic masterpiece, which has love, passion, and betrayal on every single page.

Damage by Josephine Hart
If you prefer your romance with a darker, edgier feel, this book could spark your imagination. Damage tells the story of a doctor-turned-politician who simply goes through the motions of living, devoid of true passion and love. When he meets his handsome son's fiancee, he realizes that more is possible. The dangerous love affair between Anna and her future father-in-law is fierce and primitive. Both parties are drawn further into forbidden sin and passion...both know there will be a price that must be paid...
 

Mistral's Daughter by Judith Krantz
This juicy page-turner tells the tale of an artist and his muses. Julian Mistral is mega-talented, temperamental, and tempestuous. He finds romance with Maggy Lunel, who is an artist's model, and their passionate union is fraught with drama. Set in the WWII period, Mistral collaborates with Nazi invaders in order to do the one thing he loves most - to paint! Julian and Maggy's love does not survive Julian's selfishness, but fate has much in store for the arrogant master. Maggy's beautiful daughter, Teddy, from another relationship, falls in love with Julian and opens his heart.
 

Polo by Jilly Cooper
This novel takes readers into the glamorous, high-stakes world of professional polo, where handsome players vie for accolades - on the field and off! Beautiful women flock to the polo fields of England and Argentina to watch their heroes play chukkas. Dom Perignon and Cristal flow as the rich play their elite games. Ricky France-Lynch is the brooding hero of Polo, a great player with a tragic past. He loses his wife to a richer man, and knows he needs to get her back at all costs. But is she worth having?

Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
Lady Constance Chatterly lives in the English Midlands with her husband, Sir Clifford. He returns from battle in WWI, paralyzed from the waist down. Their marriage suffers as Constance longs for physical and emotional intimacy that Clifford cannot provide. When she meets Mellors, the randy gamekeeper who works on their estate, she begins a touching journey into true passion, earthy and real...

Let’s not forget novels by Nicholas Sparks, The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje, Chesapeake Blue by Nora Roberts, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, Follow the Stars Home by Luanne Rice.