Books with a romance that leaves you a bit breathless

[GrouchyKiwi]

I've just finished reading a marvellous historical urban fantasy (not steampunk) series with a fantastic romance and need more. The kind that really makes you feel it.

The series is the Lady Helen series (The Dark Days Club, etc) by Alison Goodman. Books and series that have given me a similar feeling are the Blood Destiny books by Helen Harper, Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase, and quite a few Georgette Heyers.

Any recommendations? They don't have to be any particular genre, though I do love fantasy elements.

Bump.

true blood- i loved those books

I have just got Arabian Nights the unexpurgated version and I'm hoping for some feeling of breathless romance.

Jane Eyre. I just love the sexual tension between Jane and Rochester. Feel breathless just thinking about it.

Little Drummer Girl by John Le Carre. It's on tv at the moment so I reread the book before watching and phwoar the electric tension between Gadi and Charlie...

Outlander surely for an epic romance that crosses time and history?

There are 14 books, 1morerep! I had no idea Harris had written so many. Do they stay good for the whole series?

AutumnLeaves Which translation? We have a copy but there are pages missing and I want to find a good replacement.

starlight The last time I read that I was very anti first-person narrative. I'll have to reread soon now that the majority of the books I read are first person.

Xiaoxiong I'll add that to my list!

gamerwidow I tried Outlander a long time ago and couldn't cope with the brutality in parts. Is it worth trying again?

Quite a few of them Loretta chase’s are good, mr impossible etc. Fantasy wise agree that true blood is great, you might like discovery of witches too (sky just released the first series of the books), or Laura Kinsale.

Oh and nalini Singh - the psy series or angels I loved them both.

J r ward may be a bit trashy for you but the earlier books I liked.

Thanks immummy. I'm slowly making my way through all Loretta Chase's books. LoS is my favourite so far.

Ah, I've just started the first Psy book by Nalini Singh this evening!

Trashy is fine.

Also love Lord of Scoundrels and Georgette!
Lisa Kleypas duo Then Came You and Dreaming of You are a little trashy but so much fun.
Maybe The Far Pavilions? I haven't read it for a while so the Raj history may not have aged well...

Nora Roberts is a a good choice for good books and good romances, though they become a bit 'scheduled' after a while

The absolute best historical fiction/romantic novel series is the lymond chronicles by Dorothy dunnett. I am in mourning that I will never spend a night with lymond

I’ve read those Lisa kleypas books too.

J R Ward. Kelley Armstrong the otherworld series. Keri Arthur. All fantasy with some romance

I've just loved reading Naomi Novik Uprooted, it was great!

On the fun but slightly trashy historical novel side, anything by Courtney Milan (her old ones are best)

Thea Harrison/ Nalini Singh/ Karen Chance/ Ilona Andrews/ KF Breene all produce heart skipping romances with kick-ass heroines and fantastical world building imo.
Peacemaking for ideas.

I loved The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger. It’s steampunk/supernatural/romance and they are fun stories with a kick-ass heroine!

It's the Sir Richard Burton version & if I'm being totally honest my favourite romance is Jackie Collins book Chances & the relationship between Gino & Leonora, totally trashy but a great romance story

Thank you for all of the recommendations!

Incoming I've read all of those authors except Chance, and totally agree.

almighty I LOVE Gail Carriger. Her YA series are good reads too.

I love a good romance (and adore Gail Carriger's books). They are very pretty trashy, but Cassandra Clare does a good line in urban fantasy romance. The Infernal Devices series is a good place to start IMO (Clockwork Princess the first IIRC).

If you don't mind m/m romance (and a lot of sex!) then try KJ Charles. Band Sinister is pure Heyer pastiche, and stacks of fun. The Charm of Magpies series is fantasy/romance, and the Society of Gentlemen series Regency romance again.

Thanks, Sadik!

Uprooted as above has a romance that definitely gave me the shivers.

I also loved A Court of Mist and Fury if you don't mind sex but you have to make it through the first book first which is... problematic.