The Bookmatcher: Adults in Romances

Billie Bloebaum, romance book buyer for Powell’s in the Portland Airport, is exercising the power of her handselling abilities online, and fields requests for books to read. Thanks, Billie!

Today’s request is from Cara: I’m looking for some help finding romances with a particular kind of pairing.

I would like books with heroines who are smart, rational, and happy, and generally unconcerned with “proper” social behavior, and heroes who are equally smart and rational as well as kind.  Basically your anti -angry boner man.  Books where these two pair up because they both problem-solve in adult and unconventional ways, and where the sexy bits are clearly driven by genuine respect and admiration between the protagonists.

Any setting works, and any time period, with the exception that I would prefer no cowboys, no vampires and no werewolves.  Additionally, lesbian romances are totally welcome, so long as the two protagonists adhere to the same character requirements

For context, my favorite examples of this have been in Amanda Quick’s post 1993 books and Candace Camp’s “Suddenly”.

It seems like these would be very standard sorts of romances, but every time I walk into a bookstore lately, I’m inundated with dark, scary looking books, with a few rapey-sounding historicals scattered about for variety.

Billie says:

Billie says: “Off the top of my head:

Jill Shalvis
Julie James
Jennifer Crusie
Joanna Bourne
Lauren Willig (Or should that be “Jauren”?)

[Fortunately] I haven’t come across a lot of rape-y historicals recently.Yeah, there are nine bazillion paranormals out there and plenty of historicals with flibbertigibbet heroines and/or super-Alpha heroes, but the rape-y types seem to be thin on the ground. (Not that this is a bad thing.)”

What are your grownups-in-love go-to romance recommendations, where the conflict is character driven, not role driven or paranormal wtfery driven?

Comments are Closed

  1. A says:

    These might not be quite right, because they are also fluffy-happy-silly, but most of the Bridgerton series come to mind—Romancing Mister Bridgerton is probably my absolute favorite because it doesn’t start out with blind passion; that sort of builds over time.

    Also Mary Balogh’s Slightly Married?

    I’m not sure if these fit the bill, since I’m an amateur romance reader, but no one had mentioned them, so I figured I’d throw them out there…

  2. Randi says:

    @Liz re Bed of Roses: yeah, I’ve heard that complaint before about Mac and how she deals with her mother and Carter. I tend to disagree-I think how Mac handled (or not handled) her mother was in line with her character, as well as in character with people who have mothers like hers. My mother’s mother is a lot like Mac’s mom, and it drives my mom nuts. I’m always telling my mom to ignore her or let her go, but you know..moms. Can’t just set them aside. LOL. As for her feelings for Carter-eh. I don’t have an opinion on that either way. No, that’s not true. I think Carter was really easy on Mac. Mac = way more grovel required. Yet, her behavior wasn’t unrealistic, IMO. But it does seem that Mac’s mother split readers one way or the other.

    Either way, I do hope that Cara checks the series out. I’d be interested in her response. 😉

  3. Randi says:

    @Liz: Did you read Black Hills? If so, what did you think of that one?

  4. Becca says:

    second (or eighty-second) Julia James and Georgette Heyer. I’m of mixed emotions about the Bride quartet so far, but normally love Nora Roberts (Blue Smoke is one of my all-time favorites).

    I’m currently on a JAK kick – love most of her books (except one with such an over-controlling stalker-ish hero that I can’t stand even remembering the title), love the Jayne Castle books, but can’t read Amanda Quick: there’s a preciousness about the writing style that drives me up a wall.

  5. Beth says:

    I just started reading Susan Elizabeth Phillips and I’m loving her stuff. I haven’t read much Nora Roberts, but I have read her bride Quartet (well the 2/4 that are out) and they are going on my keeper shelf 🙂

  6. Ben P says:

    One for the road:

    Reading Marie Feraella’s “Christmas Every Day” and enjoying it. Great dialogue and an appealing lack of angry wang.

  7. Cath Bilson says:

    Try Candy Halliday if you’re looking for category romance. I’ve just finished two books she wrote for Harlequin’s (sadly) short-lived Romantic Comedy Imprint, Are Men From Mars? and Venus, How Could You? and they were both excellent.

    I also love Elizabeth (Liz) Young – Asking For Trouble was damn straight the funniest book I ever read – a few misunderstandings in there but you could easily imagine yourself making them. Don’t judge the book by the ghastly movie (The Wedding Date) made from it.

  8. Liz says:

    @Randi, I loved Black Hills.  Its been awhile since I read it, so i don’t remember all the details, but the characters were less childish than most romantic pairings.  What I really liked about it was that although the hero made some mistakes at 20 (who doesn’t imo) that they were able to get passed it, and you can see that he has grown since then.  I hate it when characters make mistakes when they’re young and expect everything to get back to “normal” because they realized they were a jackass as a teen/young adult.  This is why I had trouble with Sam Logan in the Three Sisters Island Trilogy.  He dumps Mia because he needs to see what he can be without her, and then when he realizes that he made a mistake he goes back to the Sisters expecting her to welcome him back with open arms, not understanding why she doesn’t or why she doesn’t appear to be angry with him.  His Mia was a spitfire.  This new Mia was different.  I kept thinking “Of course she is different!  Eleven years have passed!  If she was the same at 28 that she was at 17 then something is wrong with her!”

  9. Am huge Crusie fan, but my other go-to for grown up characters are Janet Mullany’s books – they are all terrific.

    Thanks, Madeleine, I’d have to agree! Joining almost everyone in the Crusie and Phillips lovefest and adding a shoutout for Nita Abrams’s fab books about an Anglo-Jewish family involved in espionage during the Napoleonic Wars—ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances.

  10. Alpha Lyra says:

    This is the kind of romance novel I like too. A few of my fave authors are Jennifer Crusie, Suzanne Brockmann, and Linnea Sinclair.

    Also I think the recently reviewed Julie James novel, “Something About You,” would qualify.

  11. willa says:

    A Harlequin contemporary writer I’ve recently discovered and quite like is Jamie Sobrato. First category romances I’ve liked in a long time. Recently read Baby Under the Mistletoe because of the interracial couple on the cover and was astonished at how much I liked the book. Am now glomming her back list. So far it’s all mature adults falling in love, with mature adult problems.

  12. Deb Kinnard says:

    Surprised Eileen Wilks’ pre-paranormals haven’t been mentioned yet. She writes flawed characters whose choices still end up making sense…and rational is all over the continuum, isn’t it? Her characters respect one another both in & out of the sack, and that’s why I like her classic romances.

    Her name doesn’t start with “J” though—is that all right?

  13. Lin says:

    My favorite kind of romance!  Intelligent heroine & hero with intelligent relationships – and I love when the author can write with humor, too. My must reads: Loretta Chase. Madeline Hunter, Liz Carlyle, all JAK/AQ/JC; most Mary Balogh, Betina Krahn,  & Jennifer Crusie … can’t wait to read some the recommended authors posted here that are new to me: Julia James, Jill Shalvis, Elizabeth Young

  14. cate says:

    Am also amongst the throng recommending Crusie, also second/thirding Anne Gracie & Liz Carlyle.  You might want to try Mary Jo Putney, Janet Chapman & Elizabeth Hoyt. All of them write blissfully sane, well written, thoroughly enjoyable romances. Rule of thumb…Not one of these writers has produced a wallbanger yet (At least, not for me!)
      Also, the Blessed Nora as JD Robb, technically crime, but who cares,they’re too good to miss out on.

  15. ks says:

    I’m with the others on Amanda Quick—those are some of my favorite books ever, but they do get a bit predictable after a while.  And JAK also writes some of the only contemporaries that I really enjoy—I very much prefer historicals, although I don’t have a particular favorite time period.  Also, no first person writing, because that really irritates me (and I couldn’t make it through the newest Lisa Kleypas, who I also usually love, because of that).

    And I agree with the recommendations for Eloisa James, Mary Balogh, Mary Jo Putney, and Jo Beverly.  I would also say that most of Stephanie Laurens’ books are entertaining, but I don’t care for the first two of her newest quartet.  The characters are starting to get really repetitive and the newest heroine is highly annoying.

  16. orangehands says:

    Kristi L.: I’ll second you on that her stories all seem the same, but my main problem in her Arcane series is how being a 9 or 10 is off the charts and EVERY freakin hero and heroine is. It’s not rare when all of your characters have it. *breaths* That felt good to get off my chest. 🙂

    Cakes: Yes!

    Hmm, no real suggestions beyond some of what’s been listed. (Crusie especially.) There are very few contemporary romance authors I consistently like. Dammit.

  17. Kilian Metcalf says:

    I love Georgette Heyer and Amanda Quick, too.  I also love Rosamund Pilchur and Maeve Binchey because their people are so sensible.  Since I’m ancient, I can remember DE Stevenson and buy up any of her used books that appear.  I wish they would reprint her and Elswyth Thane.  I know some of her Williamsburg novels aren’t politically correct, but they sure are good

  18. Lisa says:

    As a huge Amanda Quick fan, I’ll second what Beki said about LaVyrle Spencer.

  19. KS Augustin says:

    No limitations on time period, you say? What about SFR (Science Fiction Romance)? No cowboys or vampires or werewolves. Promise.

  20. Tawna Fenske says:

    Another vote for any Jennifer Crusie book (Welcome to Temptation and Faking It are my favorites). I also love Kristan Higgins (Just one of the Guys and Too Good to be True).

    Recently picked up my first Laura Kinsale (Lessons in French) and that might fit the bill for you as well.

    Good luck!

    Tawna

  21. Kristi L. says:

    Orangehands: The real reason that I didn’t start reading her Arcane series has to do with a lot. I really don’t care for contempoaries. They don’t feel as much like escapism to me. I heard that they were weird. When they first came out, Paranormals weren’t my thing and I hadn’t read any since I was 14. Even still I’m heavily into historicals and light on the paranormal. I’m picky. Now, it drives me up the wall because I know that she’s going cross-generational with them. For some reason I can’t stand it.

    Mostly though, I find that I’m so totally not into SMUT. I was fine with it when I was younger. When I was 14 it was forbidden and naughty and kinda dirty so it was automatically on my ‘awesome list’. Then I just kind of accepted it as part of the romance genre. Now, I find myself skimming over he sex, reading th dialogue because I keep thinking I’ll miss something plot related and getting annoyed that the author has to throw them between the sheets for any old reason. Now, I”m more into the either there but not tactful sex scenes, or even perferring the fade to black kind. I don’t need to read about his throbbing phallus in her velvet sheath. It’s kinda gross.

    But having gone completly off subject, I still love her. She’s one of my favorites. I just want some new unpredictable plot lines. *grin*

  22. Cait says:

    Brand new author for me….Katie Fforde.  English author, contemp english locations – not London..  Also Sophie Kinsella. not the Shopaholic series..Try UNDOMESTIC GODDESS, CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET? , Mary Kay Andrews – american, antiquing, thrifting, adult.;  AnnaJeffrey,  Chrietie Ridgway ( WISH YOU WERE HERE, if you can find it), Elizabeth Bevarly.  Jul;ie Ortolon,
      I agree with all the above suggestions, but I didn’t see these authors suggested.  Big fave is SEP, but the old ones please.  The last 2 – not so much.
        I almost forgot – Jeanne Ray:  ROMEO AND JULIE, STEP BALL CHANGE, EAT CAKE, ROMEO AND JULIE GET LUCKY, seq.  She said she had 4 books in her, wrote them and walked away.  I revisit her – ALOT!!!!
      Judith Ivory…love her romantic historicals, have not read her aka Judy Cuervas.  But I own them Karen Ranney – nhistoricals too
        Enough.  If you get half the suggested author, you’ll be busy for years.  Please find Jeanne Ray.  Any body else read her?
          Cait
      too many nbooks, too little time and the just keep writing!!! I’ll never get caught up
    ps.  My Mom’s all time fave BOUQUET BY sHIRL hENKE.  She re-read all the time until her eyes gave out.

  23. Carahe says:

    My goodness, my goodness!  I am the Cara in question, and I thank you all so much for your many great suggestions (I think I will be powell’s favorite customer tonight!).  It’s very reassuring to hear (see?) that there are so many books and authors out there catering to the ‘sensible, adult’ market with really delicious romances.  Call me crazy stingy, but I really prefer it when happy endings are achieved by characters I respect and like, characters who see their own romances as bonuses rather than entitlements or rescues.

  24. One more—Anna Maxted, a brilliant, funny English writer. Love her.

    [rather92. I should say so, old chap.]]

  25. quillwillow says:

    Nobody, but nobody, mentioned Kate Noble.  Her first two books were lovely, but The Summer of You, reviewed here with an A-, was WONDERFUL.  I actually sat in my car, in a parking lot to finish this one.  And I am not talking a few pages, I am talking chapters.  When I finally resurfaced, an hour had passed.

    Thank goodness I remembered to turn the car off.

  26. darlynne says:

    Nancy Thayer’s Hot Flash Club series is contemporary, funny and mature—literally. I like the relationship-solving aspects and problems that aren’t just between men and women. Watching this group of women come into their own, singly and together, over the course of the series, was fresh, fun and unexpected.

  27. megalith says:

    Candice Hern’s Merry Widows series is a nice example of adults getting together, although I do seem to recall a few misunderstandings involved. Not contrived enough to bother me, but YMMV.

    Overall, the intelligent, realistic romance between adults is also a staple in both women’s fiction and general fiction. In these romances, the larger page count allows for less telescopic characterization of relationships and the amped-up alpha heroes and supernatural elements are few and far between. Think Nicholas Sparks, but done well instead of male-fantasy awkward slash insipid. The only caveat is that occasionally you will encounter a more bittersweet ending than the typical romance HEA.

    Some authors I like: Joanna Trollope, Kristin Hannah, Barbara Delinsky, Elizabeth Berg, Jennifer Weiner, Susan Wiggs, Anthony Capella (historical), Lisa Scottoline (suspense). Lots of others, but can’t bring them to mind right now.

    Not all of their books appeal to me, but enough of them do that I’ll generally pick up their latest when it appears in my library. Some of these authors are regularly shelved in Romance, but not always. It pays to look up your favorite authors on Amazon, click on their name to bring you to their author page, and check out the “customers also bought” links on the right hand side of the page. It’s often as good as a reader’s advisory for finding similar authors.

  28. jody says:

    The characters in the late Laurie Colwin’s few novels are adult, sophisticated and charming. 

    Happy All The Time, Goodbye Without Leaving, Family Happiness and A Big Storm Knocked It Over, three short story collections and two volumes of cooking essays are her legacy.  Colwin died in 1992, and her books have never been out of print.

  29. orangehands says:

    Kristi L.: While I wouldn’t call it Smut, I am with you; I usually skim most sex scenes. They are just…well, boring for the most part. There are a few exceptions, I don’t mind that books have them, and its not necessarily that they are badly written, I just don’t usually want to read them anymore.

    I have the opposite problem with her doing the trilogy through her names (though I like the marketing ploy) – I love contemporaries and paranormals, but I am not a fan of historicals. Now, the two I’ve read of hers I liked, but I don’t even reread my favorite historical romance author (Loretta Chase) very much.

    And to finish off our derail 🙂 I do like her stories, I still reread some of her books (the ones from the 90s that I own especially), but I don’t mind if I don’t read her newest right away. 

    And she needs to have a damn character who is not “off the charts.”

  30. alligatorsmith says:

    I recommend Robyn Carr—her heartfelt Virgin River series is filled with wonderful characters who you will care about.  The leads are always intelligent and strong people who care about others, and there’s romance a plenty (10 books now for a small town population of 600.!)

  31. Emily Elizabeth says:

    I like Mary Balogh a lot.

  32. AM says:

    Hee, hee no one will read this because I’m posting so late..but what the hey.

    Vicki Lewis Thompson does an excellent job with anti angry boner man, especially in her Nerd series.  They are very funny, too.

    Let me preface next thought by saying that everyone should read what they prefer.  Its’ no fun to slog through what other people think you should read, including me.

    Ahem, anyway, here it is after my disclaimer:  Please never let me get so old that sex is boring and/or gross.  (It’s certainly gross but so is everything of interest in life…)  Thanks in advance.

  33. Steph says:

    The Korval series from Sharon Lee and Steve Miller.  Try The Dragon Variation as a great place to start

  34. Patty says:

    I would also suggest Linnea Sinclair as an author who writes strong, intelligent women and men who use their considerable mind power and strong personalities to problem-solve. Her books use strong characterization, great thrill rides, and wonderful romance.

  35. Melissa, in New Orleans says:

    Marianne Stillings writes fun contemporaries.  I just wish there were more of them!

  36. orangehands says:

    AM: If that’s after my comment, I’m 22. 😉 (It’s not that sex is boring, it’s that reading it can get boring.) But yep, to each their own.

  37. I agree with the commenters who’ve mentioned Jennifer Crusie, and was so pleased to see Jeanne Ray talked about here. Her books are marvelous! Did you know she’s the mother of Ann Patchett?

    Also, one not mentioned here but which I loved was “Kissing Games of the World” by Sandi Kahn Shelton. An intelligent heroine and hero, both brought together by the fact that their kids are best friends—and she shared a house with his late father. It’s funny and smart, both.

  38. Pamela says:

    I’m amazed J Crusie has been recommended so many times so it MUST be me, but my 2 cents worth anyway—her characters are anything but “sensible” as the original inquiry asked.

    Look to Loretta Chase. Her writing is lovely and her H/H are always, always different people with different personalities.  Nevertheless, they’re usually smart in varying degrees, they act rationally, I can’t remember a drama King or Queen among them anywhere, and they aren’t repulsive rakes or arrogant assholes, aren’t wimpy or simpering misses.

    Good luck!  I’m looking for much the same thing with an additional quality—heroines who have a lot of self possession and/or independence.

  39. Liz says:

    Long time reader, first time posting…

    Tracy Grant’s Charles and Melanie Fraser books are made of awesome! and fit the criteria as well. Hard to find but worth the search.

  40. ninjapenguin says:

    I second (or whatever) the recommendations for Loretta Chase, Georgette Heyer, and Deanna Raybourn.  If you don’t mind non-urban fantasy, then I liked Sharon Shinn’s Mystic and Rider.  For SF, you might try the last couple of Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan books, particularly A Civil Campaign (I love all of them, but they follow Miles as he grows up, so you may not like the first couple).

Comments are closed.

By posting a comment, you consent to have your personally identifiable information collected and used in accordance with our privacy policy.

↑ Back to Top