Top 13 Romance Writers Share Their Absolute Favorite Romance Authors

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Historical romance novels are a category that offers quality which are almost extinct today, it breath the beauty and charms of another era and the characters withing often cause a controversy in early years if publishing. Yet these twelve novels still continue to gain popularity today and a must read to the book lover.

12Madame Bovary (Bantam Classics) by Gustave Flaubert

First Published: 1993

Plot Summary:
Emma Rouault marries the country doctor Charles Bovary expecting to live in luxury and passion such as the sentimental novels and women’s magazines she read. To the contrary his husband is but a dull doctor and her life together with him is only the day by day ordinary provincial life. Until she fall to the spiraling life of deception and desperation by having affairs, and debts to fulfill her passion of luxurious life that will bring destruction for her and people around her.

Reason for you to read this:
Deemed as one of the greatest novels of all time, it has been considered as “perfect” work of fiction. The novel shows what the society secretly have thought of, how everybody yearn to have a luxurious and so called perfect life or whatever every people think they want in their life. But when reality speaks otherwise, one could just be grateful and contempt of their life or retaliate by forcing to bend it your way like Emma. It is a great novel of showing what you could done to have it your way, yet it shows the consequences of tragedy and leave you with thought of how the way of thinking and point of view could have save our Emma.

Best Quote:
“Human speech is like a cracked kettle on which we tap crude rhythms for bears to dance to, while we long to make music that will melt the stars,”

First Published: 1909

Plot Summary:
This novel focused on Christine Daae grow up in the Paris Opera House after his father the famous musician died with a promise of protection and guidance from angel of music. She then start receiving teaching and guidance to sing from a beautiful voice whom she thought as the music angel. In the future she begins successfully singing on the stage and get noticed by her childhood friend Raoul who relieves his love to her and anger the jealous “music angel”, who actually the murderous and malformed Erik dwelling the opera house cellar who will do anything to keep Christine as his.

Reason for you to read this:
This novel has become the inspiration of the successful re-known stage musical of the same name by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with its alluring themes of possessive and passionate love. That love could not be forced and a bit of compassion might have saved your life. How everybody were long to love and be love, though some expressed it in the different way. It is a must read for all the lover of the musical because this it the genuine first basis of it. And for you who are not familiar, it is a extraordinary Gothic horror literature to indulge and celebrate.

Best Quote:
“If I am the phantom, it is because man’s hatred has made me so. If I am to be saved it is because your love redeems me.”

First Published: 2011

Plot Summary:
It revolves around Isabel Archer, a young, beautiful, and gallant American, who inherits a great amount of fortune. She previously had turned down two proposals for her own purpose of determining own destiny independently, yet after she met Gilbert Osmond was charmed and get married without further hesitation. She then unexpectedly have to suffer having a husband who is a different man after marriage. And found out he is cooperating with his long time secret affair even have a daughter whose future is imprisoned in his own will.

Reason for you to read this:
This novel has earned critical acclaim by its first publication and still remain as James’s most popular fictions. The author ability to analyze human consciousness and motivation has been recognize by critics, even by feminist in recent days. It is easier for the reader nowadays to relate to Emma’s independence and her failure to do so as she is charmed and therefor she struggle with her decision to marry with the whim of her feeling.

Best Quote:
“I always want to know the things one shouldn’t do.”
“So as to do them?” asked her aunt.
“So as to choose.” said Isabel”

First Published: 2013

Plot Summary:
Lucy the main character lives in a strict middle class which has been planned out for the rest of her life. Until she make acquaintance with novelist Eleanor Lavish, the Cockney Signora, Mr. Emerson, and his fiery son George while she stay with her cousin Charlotte in Florence Italy. Her eye opener experience of Italy’s intense passionate life compared with dull Edwardian England. Will she choose conduct and contempt with her fiance Cecil or the fiery passionate of George?

Reason for you to read this:
Romantic and optimistic is this novel, it also filled with the young Edwardian girl empowerment, sensual awakening, institutional religion, coming of age, finding and choosing true love as oppose to the society expectation. The theme that is popular in modern society, yet are not impossible in those era. If you’re looking for a romantic classic novel with positive vibe and the triumph of love and personal happiness above status quo this novel is what you’re looking for.

Best Quote:
“It isn’t possible to love and part. You will wish that it was. You can transmute love, ignore it, muddle it, but you can never pull it out of you. I know by experience that the poets are right: love is eternal.”

First Published: 2013

Plot Summary:
When the lovely Buttercup is kidnapped by a trio in an act of setting politic war in motion, they are pursued by Dread Pirate Roberts who might be Westley the one true love of Buttercup. Unknown to them that Prince Humperdinck, the future husband of Buttercup is trailing their track to safe her. The story is set with the wits of their dialogue, comedy, swordsfights, monsters, and the power of true love.

Reason for you to read this:
The book is an all time favorite, because it is intelligently funny, packed with action, morale, adventure, and hopelessly romantic set in the 1941 era of prince charming and beautiful princess, heroes and villain. It even has been adapted to the big screen, and have been considered a “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”

Best Quote:
“Do I love you? My God, if your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches.”

7The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

First Published: 1920

Plot Summary:
The novel set in 1870s New York of upper class society, where a couple with perfect social class and background match in the eyes of their society yet there are no sparks or passion. Until the cousin of bride with scandal background rumor arrive catching the groom attention and later enchanted to even doubt of his former choice to marry.

Reason for you to read this:
This novel won the 1921 Pulitzer Prize, its depiction of desire and betrayal in Golden Age of Old New York when scandal are considered worse than malady are spot on. Its a bittersweet of dilemma between obligation and passion. Archer’s internal conflict to be courageous and happy or accept his fate and suffer. It is romance novel which is a must read for your taste of no cliche and real.

Best Quote:
“The real loneliness is living among all these kind people who only ask one to pretend!”

6Villette (Penguin Classics) by Charlotte Bronte

First Published: 1998

Plot Summary:
This novel set in the 1853 in a fictional French language city of Villette, where the main character Lucy Snowe teach at a girl’s school after the incident of family tragedy back in England. There she unexpectedly encounter adventure and romance, where she looks for a man who she could spend the rest of her life with and still can have freedom.

Reason for you to read this:
Considered as Charlotte Bronte most refined novel as it is a very heartfelt writing and it were based on her own experience of losing her three siblings. Other than her notably work in Jane Eyre, this novel is so uncompromising and original. Reading this book connecting you to Lucy with her lonely journey to find her own place and love in the big wide world.

Best Quote:
“I believe in some blending of hope and sunshine sweetening the worst lots I believe that this lif is not all; neither the beginning nor the end. I believe while I tremble; I trust while I weep.”

First Published: 1996

Plot Summary:
Margaret Hale and her family were torn away from the comfort of home in Hampshire to the north England after her father’s crisis. Her eyes were opened to the poverty and hardships in the industrial town of Milton, where she then starts to fight for social justice against John Thornton the mill owner whom she have undeniable attraction to.

Reason for you to read this:
Though has been critiqued by some writers because of the subject of poverty and working class as the basis of romance novel, it still remain as one of the celebrated romance novel with more broad them of Victorian heroines towards social concerns and possibilities of love in any circumstances of life.

Best Quote:
“I wish I could tell you how lonely I am. How cold and harsh it is here. Everywhere there is conflict and unkindness. I think God has forsaken this place. I believe I have seen hell and it’s white, it’s snow-white.”

First Published: 2002

Plot Summary:
This novel tells of wild and intense love story between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff the adopted boy grows up together and fall in love, yet Catherine’s jealous brother bullied and misdirect him of her unrequited feeling. Until in the future Heathcliff come back and took revenge upon them, for his insulted and bullied past and brings only tragedy and misery to all of them.

Reason for you to read this:
Widely regarded as a classic of English literature, it was deemed a controversial novel during the published year as it tells of physical and mental cruelty opposing the strict Victorian ideals. Yet it is captivating and handled with such accomplish of passionate love in the beautiful lonely moorland.

Best Quote:
“He’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”

First Published: 1766

Plot Summary:
Focused on Anne Elliot, 27 years old Englishwoman whose moving with her family to decrease their expenditure and getting out of debt during the end of war. So they let an admiral and his wife to rent their house, unexpectedly their tenant brother is Frederick Wentworth a Navy Captain who is Anne former fiance 8 years past. So they met and will this be the chance for Anne at love and marriage?

Reason for you to read this:
This novel is the last of Jane Austen writing before her death, and has been receiving positive critics as well as success even adapted to several television film. If you are a fan of Jane Austen novel and it’s light romantic stories this book is a must read.

Best Quote:
“I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.”

2Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

First Published: 2011

Plot Summary:
The novel set in Clayton County and Atlanta during the American Civil War and Reconstruction Era, focuses on the young, spoiled, and rich Scarlett O’Hara who do everything she could to get out of poverty after the destructive Sherman’s March to the Sea and tragedy falls on her mother and father. Also her charms and beauty who have enchanted many man in her lifetime, to her three marriages and love interest.

Reason for you to read this:
This is a very popular novel in America, and was the top American fiction bestseller in the published year with more than 30 million copies have been printed worldwide. A very good read if you prefer the more complicated love and realistic view of survival than the cliche romantic love. Though it’s subject of slavery and African American has been controversial, yet nowadays it has become a reference point for other writers. It’s lead to numerous adaptation from television to film.

Best Quote:
“After all, tomorrow is another day!”

First Published: 2003

Plot Summary:
The novel set in southwest England, London, and Sussex in 1792-1797, focuses on Dashwood sisters Elinor and Marianne to their movement in a meagre cottage after their mother becoming widow. This sets in motion their respective journey to love, heartbreak, and marriage. While Marianne always wear her heart on her sleeve and thus deemed for having to much sense, her sister Elinor struggles to show her feeling of love therefor deemed to be having to much sensibility. They must then have balance of sense and sensibility in order to find their personal happiness.

Reason for you to read this:
If you’re looking for the exemplary of love and logic yet covered with the beauty of 17th century in charming society and breathtaking landscape of south England and London this is the book you have to get. Not only it is romantic and graceful, it also offer the problems not only woman nowadays women face but also even the women in 17th century. Also it sure is end with a happy note, hopelessly romantic, and the message is universal. Should we choose what our heart desire or what our common sense brain told us.

Best Quote:
“The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!”

CONCLUSION
These 12 novel represents the timeless theme of all time, love. All are loved by readers for centuries and still gaining for fans and followers, mostly filled with the beautiful and graceful culture of it’s historic time, and breathtaking landscapes and the now changes fashion.

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Dylan Jong is an editor at statree and he likes to blog on business, entrepreneurship, lifestyle and travel. When in leisure time, he prefers to spend time in traveling with friends and family. Her main interests are music, reading novels and fitness.
favorite-romance-authorsReally enjoyed reading this book after seeing so many movies about the story. I recommend this to all who like old English literature. Charlotte Bronte is a bit wordy, but nothing is left out.