Top Ten Tuesday: Swoonworthy Books, and Crowdsourcing

February 11, 2014 Romance, Top Ten Tuesday 18

Hey Bookworms,

It’s coming up on Valentine’s Day, and the ladies of The Broke and the Bookish have challenged us to list our favorite swoonworthy books. Since “swooning” also can mean fainting in disgust, I’m going to go ahead and clarify that these swoons are all via rrrrromance! I’m also going to try something a little different this week. I feel like I’ve been recycling the same books on these lists over and over lately, and I’m bored with myself. I decided to call in some favors from the greatest bloggers in all the land (and thereby get out of doing my own writing. I KNOW. Very sneaky!)

TTTSwoon

1. “I pretty much enjoy anything by Jennifer Cruise for romance. She has the talent of writing characters that are likable, a little ridiculous (like me) and not Barbie doll perfect. One of my favorites, Bet Me, has a female lead with a love for donuts that rivals my own.” -Opinion via the certified awesome Joules, from Pocketful of Joules. (Side Note: I read Bet Me and was forced to go our for chicken marsala shortly thereafter. Forced, I tell you!)

2. “Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon, is a rip-roaring good time. I don’t usually go all-in for books that include romance, but this one in particular has enough adventure and intrigue for this persnickety reader.” And with that statement, Andi of Estella’s Revenge has won the internet. Because OUTLANDER.

3. “I’m a sucker for time travel romance fiction. Books like the Outlander series and The Time Traveler’s Wife are my romance jam. One time travel romance novel that I absolutely loved is Overseas by Beatriz Williams. Overseas is a sweeping romance that seamlessly takes readers between 2007-08 U.S. and 1916 France. With Kate Wilson, Williams has created a multifaceted heroine who will intrigue readers. Julian Laurence, Kate’s love interest, is handsome, smart, and Emily Post would thoroughly approve of his manners. If the other qualities I mentioned aren’t enough, he’s also a poet. I’m pretty sure Carly Simon wrote Nobody Does It Better about Julian. Maybe Julian had a brief stop over in in 1970s? Just sayin’… If you’re looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day read Overseas has it all: romance, suspense, and great characters you’ll fall in love with.” – the beautiful and talented Mandy Boles (How had I not heard of this book until now? I need to read Overseas. Like now… And rock out to some Carly Simon. Thanks a lot, MANDY!)

4. “Hi guys, Katie flattered me and asked me to chime in with one of my favorite romantic books, and I wanted to mention a great unconventional one – The Mad Scientist’s Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke. Cat grows up with Finn, her very own personal robot. As she becomes an adult and the world is changing to accept robots as individuals with their own rights, she struggles with the feelings she has for him. I know, I know – a lady in love with a robot! But somehow the author just makes it WORK, and it’s a beautiful thing. And who knows – we live in the Digital Age. It might even become relevant to us a few decades from now.”– The utterly brilliant Sarah from Sarah Says Read. (Holy CRAP, Sarah! Robot love? This sounds crazy… Crazy awesome!)

 5. And because Sarah has the best opinions… “What is on my mind right now is The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion! I just finished re-reading it (for The Fellowship of the Worms, YAY), and it’s so light-hearted and sweet and has so many funny shenanigans. It’s basically a really awesome rom-com, but a book. Just read it. You’ll fall in love with Don and Rosie.” (I know I did!)

6. “If I could have been born into another lifetime, I would take Austen’s Victorian England. Even during my jaded and angry phases, I’ve always been a hopeful romantic, so it’s no surprise to me that Pride and Prejudice remains my favorite literary love story of all time. The magic of un-judging someone and falling in love with the whole of them, quirkiness, bizarre family and all is pretty stellar.” – The Quirkiest Chrissy… Of Quirky Chrissy. Naturally.

7. “Though Helen Fielding is now dead to me, Bridget Jones’s Diary as a modernization of Pride and Prejudice left nothing to be desired. Add the klutziness and foolishness of Bridget to Elizabeth Bennet’s family dynamic and you basically have me, in search of my own Darcy.”– The girl who, as my college roommate, joined me in naming a gaggle of house plants after Bridget Jones characters: Quirky Chrissy. (The good news? She found her Darcy, and his name is Brian.)

8. Jen of The Relentless Reader has a soft spot for The Song of Achilles, and rightfully so: “It’s one of those books that brings to mind the words epic and sweeping. It’s suspenseful and romantic, with some of the most beautiful language that’s ever been put down on paper. The love story is one of the most believable that I’ve read. The Trojan War, the cranky Greek Gods and Goddesses…this is a book not to be missed.” She is right, as usual, because this book is amazing. It isn’t your conventional love story, but it is SO SO SO good. If you don’t believe me, I gushed about it in a review here.

What are some of your favorite swoonworthy love stories, Bookworms? I simply must know!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all my blogging pals who gave me blurbs and inspiration! You all rock!

*If you make a purchase through a link on this site, I will receive a small commission.*

18 Responses to “Top Ten Tuesday: Swoonworthy Books, and Crowdsourcing”

  2. Girl

    Eleanor and park!!!!

    I don’t think I could ever type this enough times to get across how much I mean this.

    Time travelers wife is another good one. I am not a huge romance fan, but ELEANOR AND PARK!!!!

    Reply

  4. Rory

    I’ve just recently gotten into the Outlander series. I’m reading Voyager in between review books right now. So much drama, but so good…

    Reply

  5. Elizabeth @ Don't Take My Books Away

    What a fun way to do TTT! I know I often feel like I am recycling the same books over and over again, too. My favorite romance that I’ve read recently is Unsticky by Sarra Manning. And then my all-time favorite swoonworthy book is probably Jane Eyre. I need to read Outlander one of these days, I always hear how romantic it is!

    Reply

  9. Stephanie

    The Mad Scientist’s Daughter sounds really intriguing! Especially since I maybe kinda had a tiny little crush on Data on Star Trek TNG,,,maybe. I also really enjoyed The Song of Achilles.

    Reply

  10. Melinda

    It’s been a while (a few years) since I read any swoon-worthy books… I will check out the recommendations of these awesome bloggers.

    Reply

  11. Sarah @ Sarah Says Read

    This post is just so freaking full of awesome. Thanks for including me 🙂

    Reply

  13. Isi

    Great post!!
    I have read Outlander, which is one of my favourite romance series too, and also Pride and Prejuice 🙂
    I have to read The song of Achilles, it’s been in my kindle since forever, and I know I’ll love it!
    Ohh I love romance!

    Reply

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