I’m a big fan of Karen Rose. Romance is a main plot point, but it’s not “romance novel” like. The tension comes from whatever the crime is, and the romance portions are used to explore the histories of the two main characters as they heal through their relationship. The characters are varying degrees of broken that are largely consistent with real psychology and real responses to trauma, and the dichotomy between how they view themselves vs others is a nice showcase of spotlight effect. There is usually explicit sex, so if that’s not “tasteful” it might disqualify them.
I got into them as a heavy mystery reader who liked them for that, but I really like how she gets into the heads of different characters and she emerged as my favorite author over time.
2_Bagel_Dog on
I had a friend who described the Dirk Pitt novels by Clive Cussler as “male romance novels” – his words, but after I heard that, I want to go back and reread some of my favorites from the series.
I recall especially liking *Pacific Vortex*.
mooonbearr on
* Normal People
* Pride and Prejudice
* Alone With You in the Ether
* Song of Achilles
Cleverusername531 on
Airboat: Love is an Adventure – written by a special forces guy who was deployed and wanted a book to take his mind off, but he didn’t like the romance novels they had so he wrote the kind he would have wanted to read. https://www.amazon.com/Air-Boat-Adventure-Jacek-Waliszewski/dp/B0B5PLCPXD
iamthefirebird on
Paladin’s Strength by T Kingfisher. The rest of the series, too, and Swordheart as well, but this was the first one I picked up. It didnt even matter that it was the second in the series.
Before I read this book, I didn’t think romance in books was something I could love.
I have loved books that have romance in them, but I had never loved them *because* of the romance. At best, I appreciated the way the relationship was built without overtaking the character arcs and events. This was different. The resonance between Istvhan and Clara is just breathtaking, and the emotional vulnerability he shows her! And the way she chooses to reach out and trust him in return!
It’s the *choice* that really gets me. At any point, they could have chosen to go their separate ways. They both have a lot going on. Nobody would have blamed them, least of all the other! But they don’t. They both choose to reach out and make a human connection, in the midst of everything else going on, and the romantic aspect enhances it.
Pugilist12 on
**A Town Like Alice** by Nevil Shute. Or **Pastoral** by Nevil Shute.
7 Comments
The Thorn Birds
Do you like detective stuff?
I’m a big fan of Karen Rose. Romance is a main plot point, but it’s not “romance novel” like. The tension comes from whatever the crime is, and the romance portions are used to explore the histories of the two main characters as they heal through their relationship. The characters are varying degrees of broken that are largely consistent with real psychology and real responses to trauma, and the dichotomy between how they view themselves vs others is a nice showcase of spotlight effect. There is usually explicit sex, so if that’s not “tasteful” it might disqualify them.
I got into them as a heavy mystery reader who liked them for that, but I really like how she gets into the heads of different characters and she emerged as my favorite author over time.
I had a friend who described the Dirk Pitt novels by Clive Cussler as “male romance novels” – his words, but after I heard that, I want to go back and reread some of my favorites from the series.
I recall especially liking *Pacific Vortex*.
* Normal People
* Pride and Prejudice
* Alone With You in the Ether
* Song of Achilles
Airboat: Love is an Adventure – written by a special forces guy who was deployed and wanted a book to take his mind off, but he didn’t like the romance novels they had so he wrote the kind he would have wanted to read.
https://www.amazon.com/Air-Boat-Adventure-Jacek-Waliszewski/dp/B0B5PLCPXD
Paladin’s Strength by T Kingfisher. The rest of the series, too, and Swordheart as well, but this was the first one I picked up. It didnt even matter that it was the second in the series.
Before I read this book, I didn’t think romance in books was something I could love.
I have loved books that have romance in them, but I had never loved them *because* of the romance. At best, I appreciated the way the relationship was built without overtaking the character arcs and events. This was different. The resonance between Istvhan and Clara is just breathtaking, and the emotional vulnerability he shows her! And the way she chooses to reach out and trust him in return!
It’s the *choice* that really gets me. At any point, they could have chosen to go their separate ways. They both have a lot going on. Nobody would have blamed them, least of all the other! But they don’t. They both choose to reach out and make a human connection, in the midst of everything else going on, and the romantic aspect enhances it.
**A Town Like Alice** by Nevil Shute. Or **Pastoral** by Nevil Shute.