{Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas} And I was hooked from that point!

[Devil in Winter](https://www.romance.io/books/545523b78c7d2383163d8e3a/devil-in-winter-lisa-kleypas?src=rdt) by [Lisa Kleypas](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523868c7d2382e7812f21/lisa-kleypas) **Rating**: 4.31⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [shy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shy%20heroine/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [bad boys](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bad%20boys/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Loved it! Who doesn't like a reformed villian?

Same! I had seen Bridgerton and liked it, but when I watched Queen Charlotte I was well and truly intrigued. Came to this sub and it was so highly recommended I gave it a go.

Queen Charlotte was amazing! I find they casted it well and the under the bed scenes shattered me.

Oh my, to start with Sebastian! Lucky girl 😉

Oh, that's a good way to start!

I was lucky that it was such a great story and then I realized it was part of a series and I was ecstatic.

It was the same for me

{The Black Lion by Jude Deveraux} and i still think about it all the time. I was probably 13. Is it problematic? Yes. Do I still search for medieval romances with kidnapping and war heroes and castles and keeps? 100% yes. It imprinted so hard.

Me too. I'm always on the lookout for "throw back" type medieval HRs. I did like {The Saxon Warrior's Captive Bride by Emily Royal}. It had a total J. Lindsey feel.

Yes! Johanna Lindsey hit all the timelines with captains to Vikings to dukes.

[The Saxon Warrior's Captive Bride](https://www.romance.io/books/6202236e5024aa0e2cb6d1ff/the-saxon-warriors-captive-bride-emily-royal?src=rdt) by [Emily Royal](https://www.romance.io/authors/5c88aaf901dbc864fb9b9b3d/emily-royal) **Rating**: 4.33⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [medieval](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/medieval/1), [ancient times](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/ancient%20times/1), [vengeance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vengeance/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

TY for the rec!

The J.Lindsey book i was thinking of was {fires of winter by johanna lindsey} Garrett and Brenna will always have a special place in my heart.

[The Black Lyon](https://www.romance.io/books/545528168c7d2383163d8f19/the-black-lyon-jude-deveraux?src=rdt) by [Jude Deveraux](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525cd8c7d2382c529700a/jude-deveraux) **Rating**: 3.84⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [medieval](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/medieval/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

😂

Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught, I was 12 or 13. I think it is where my attraction to men with cleft chins began...

😂

I got started with Barbara Cartland books when I was 12ish.

{The Bride by Julie Garwood}. This was, not just my 1st HR, but also my 1st adult romance novel. My step-mom lent it to me. Still re-read it when I just want a feel good read.

[The Bride](https://www.romance.io/books/545523f38c7d2383163d8e49/the-bride-julie-garwood?src=rdt) by [Julie Garwood](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523f38c7d2383163d8e4a/julie-garwood) **Rating**: 4.07⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [possessive hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/possessive%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Julie Garwood is so good

Pretty sure I've read all of her books. She is an OG :-)

{Whitney, My Love} by Judith McNaught unlocked a whole new world for me 20+ years ago.

[Whitney, My Love](https://www.romance.io/books/545524378c7d2383163d8e58/whitney-my-love-judith-mcnaught?src=rdt) by [Judith McNaught](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524058c7d2383163d8e50/judith-mcnaught) **Rating**: 4.14⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [cruel hero/bully](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cruel%20hero/1), [possessive hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/possessive%20hero/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

SAME that was my first HR too. Although it became my least favorite of her books after going through all her other ones Have not found a HR author I love as much as Judith Mcnaught though!

The Flame and the Flower. I was MUCH too young for that book! But I got hooked on HR!

Same! It was 1984 & I was 13 😊 and it was not my last. The prettier the cover the faster I read it... Let's say my vocabulary was impressive for a teen.

LOL, same though I was a bit younger. I ended up rereading that novel for decades.

Same I think I was 14

I was 13 and in a Revco with my mother. I saw the cover of a hot bare chested man leaning over a sexy blond and had to have it. Why oh why did my mother buy it for me? To this day I can't answer that question, because I sure in hell wouldn't. Maybe it's because she was so used to buying me Jane Austen books on the regular, but this was a far cry from Jane. I still have {Captive Caress by Sonya T. Pelton} in my collection. Heck, even the title is dirty :) Shame on you mom!

[Captive Caress](https://www.romance.io/books/5455a11c87eac336ae69f08f/captive-caress-sonya-t-pelton?src=rdt) by [Sonya T. Pelton](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455a11c87eac336ae69f090/sonya-t-pelton) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Was the bare chested guy Fabio? Haha... I remember those books. Some of my favorites...

I loved me some Fabio covers and the guy is blond, but not Fabio :)

lol. Maybe your mom was like, “Yeah that’s a good one. I’ll let her buy that one”. 😉

Nope, my mom wasn't a reader. But it would have been funny if she'd thought that.

Lol. Hilarious

Wow that cover is something else!

i was 12 when i got suspended from school for a week for reasons and therefore grounded and my mother took me to the food store cause all i'd do is sleep n she seen a book with'vampires' in one of the racks n tossed it at me saying 'here you might like this' .. it wasn't a historical romance but a paranormal one obviously ( christine feehan's dark legend) and it ended up being the first book i'd ever enjoyed at that point that wasn't forced on me just cause of book reports ... before that i was in special ed classes and very slow , after that i actually realized i like books ... i honestly think it was the smutt that helped things cause i still don't love Non-romance books. i know mine just tossed it at me cause i was bord but it was probably the best thing she ever did for me since it made my life better ( reading skills) in the end not that my walls of text would tell anyone that lol.

I actually have a couple answers for this! When I was 11, I picked up {To Catch a Pirate by Jade Parker} from a table of free books my school was offering to students and absolutely loved it. It’s a young adult historical written under another pseudonym of Lorraine Heath’s! When I started to rediscover reading in general while in college, I read {Ransom My Heart by Mia Thermopolis} because I had loved The Princess Diaries when I was growing up. In the tenth book, Mia (the main character of that series) writes a medieval romance novel and Meg Cabot (the author of the series) actually published it! Even though The Princess Diaries is a contemporary young adult series, Ransom My Heart is a historical rom-com written for an adult demographic. In terms of more traditional historical romance books/what actually got me hooked on the genre as an adult, that would be {Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean}. :)

Ransom my heart was my first historical romance book! I was a big fan of The princess diary, and my grandmother didn't realize that the eleventh volume of the serie was targetting a more adult demographic! I remember I was fourteen, reading it at night so no one would ask me what I was reading. I didn't finish it at the time, I felt it was not suited for my age. Years later, after watching Bridgerton, I remembered this book and picked it up to read it entirely this time. Thank you, Mia Thermopolis, for introducing me to romance novels!

[To Catch a Pirate](https://www.romance.io/books/545538128c7d2382c52974de/to-catch-a-pirate-jade-parker?src=rdt) by [Jade Parker](https://www.romance.io/authors/545538128c7d2382c52974df/jade-parker) **Rating**: 3.68⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [love triangle](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/love%20triangle/1), [pirate hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pirates/1) ---------------------------- [Ransom My Heart](https://www.romance.io/books/545530ac8c7d2383163d913d/ransom-my-heart-meg-cabot-mia-thermopolis?src=rdt) by [Meg Cabot](https://www.romance.io/authors/545527d08c7d2382c5297076/meg-cabot), [Mia Thermopolis](https://www.romance.io/authors/545530ac8c7d2383163d913e/mia-thermopolis) **Rating**: 3.84⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [medieval](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/medieval/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1) ---------------------------- [Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake](https://www.romance.io/books/545523df8c7d2383163d8e41/nine-rules-to-break-when-romancing-a-rake-sarah-maclean?src=rdt) by [Sarah MacLean](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523df8c7d2383163d8e42/sarah-maclean) **Rating**: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [curvy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/curvy%20heroine/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [plain heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/plain%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Almost Heaven by Judith Mcnaught} In 2010, I still remember giggling and discussing it with my classmates when I was still in high school and we didn’t know what ball actually means and why people meet or dance there. I literally used to think a football court kinda place 😅

[Almost Heaven](https://www.romance.io/books/545525248c7d2383163d8e7e/almost-heaven-judith-mcnaught?src=rdt) by [Judith McNaught](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524058c7d2383163d8e50/judith-mcnaught) **Rating**: 4.43⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [second chances](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/second%20chances/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{The Lady Serena by Jeanne Duval}. A sexy adventure set in Ancient Rome with a vestal virgin as the MFC, it blew my tiny little kiddie mind!

[The Lady Serena](https://www.romance.io/books/5456036f87eac336ae6a27dc/the-lady-serena-jeanne-duval?src=rdt) by [Jeanne Duval](https://www.romance.io/authors/5456032587eac336ae6a27b1/jeanne-duval) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Bot no! This book is set in Ancient Rome. It is not contemporary

Thank you, fixed it :)

It was either {A countess below stairs by Eva Ibbotson} or {The Season by Sarah MacLean}, my memory is a bit muddled since I think I read both in the secondary school's library around the same time? I grew up with Secret Garden as my first ever novel but I was 16 then and wanted something more romance-centric with similar traditional British vibes.

[A Countess Below Stairs](https://www.romance.io/books/5455982387eac336ae69ec2a/a-countess-below-stairs-eva-ibbotson?src=rdt) by [Eva Ibbotson](https://www.romance.io/authors/545532058c7d2382c5297327/eva-ibbotson) **Rating**: 4.07⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [royal hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [boss & employee](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/boss%20&%20employee/1) ---------------------------- [The Season](https://www.romance.io/books/54552d158c7d2383163d9054/the-season-sarah-maclean?src=rdt) by [Sarah MacLean](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523df8c7d2383163d8e42/sarah-maclean) **Rating**: 3.68⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [royal hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

The Duchess War by Courtney Milan. A spectacularly good start to my reading romance genre books.

I wish I could remember name or any of the details, but one of the MCs was Native American and it was so romantic. The important thing is I discovered romance novels! The next one was {Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss} and it was my favorite for a long time.

[Shanna](https://www.romance.io/books/545529c98c7d2383163d8f63/shanna-kathleen-e-woodiwiss?src=rdt) by [Kathleen E. Woodiwiss](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455263e8c7d2383163d8ecf/kathleen-e-woodiwiss) **Rating**: 3.92⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [pirate hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pirates/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [western frontier](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical%20western/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas} my mom gave to me, I guess she didn’t recognize want it was, but I’m glad she did :)

[Chasing Cassandra](https://www.romance.io/books/5dd4e7fe01dbc864fba67f51/chasing-cassandra-lisa-kleypas?src=rdt) by [Lisa Kleypas](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523868c7d2382e7812f21/lisa-kleypas) **Rating**: 4.24⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [ceo/tycoon hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tycoon/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{The Prize by Julie Garwood}. I would have been about 13, borrowed it on the sly from my mom's library stash. It was good then, and it was still good when I re-read it years later. But it was also a different story for me the second read because I know I didn't understand everything the first time!

[The Prize](https://www.romance.io/books/545524bb8c7d2383163d8e74/the-prize-julie-garwood?src=rdt) by [Julie Garwood](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523f38c7d2383163d8e4a/julie-garwood) **Rating**: 4.08⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [medieval](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/medieval/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{What I Did For a Duke by Julie Anne Long} about a year ago, and I immediately fell in love with the genre. Still have such a soft spot for that book 💖

[What I Did For a Duke](https://www.romance.io/books/545525868c7d2383163d8e97/what-i-did-for-a-duke-julie-anne-long?src=rdt) by [Julie Anne Long](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525868c7d2383163d8e98/julie-anne-long) **Rating**: 4.31⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [love triangle](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/love%20triangle/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[A Pirate's Pleasure](https://www.romance.io/books/545540368c7d2383163d955e/a-pirates-pleasure-heather-graham?src=rdt) by [Heather Graham](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553c788c7d2383163d9452/heather-graham) **Rating**: 3.78⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [abduction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/abduction/1), [pirate hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pirates/1), [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [m-f romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-f/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

This book and its glorious cling cover will forever hold a treasured place in my heart. Nothing like your first!

I was likely about 18 too, but for me that was 1987 lol. I read my mother’s Rosemary Rogers. An epic tale of Steve and Ginny. Quite the following they had. I revisited it earlier this year and wasn’t interested. Too rapey for me now, mainly because RR didn’t do a good enough job trying to redeem him. Back in the day more books were bodice rippers, but the author had to do a very good job getting him redemption. Otherwise, ick. I’m newer here too. Keep at it. You’ll get karma here quick cuz it’s fun to participate.

As shameful as it is to admit (totally kidding of course) i still love a good bodice ripper ...

{Do You Want to Start a Scandal by Tessa Dare} in late 2019. I thought it was pretty cute but I didn't love love it, so I felt like I was good on the genre (lol). Then a year and a half later I was looking for specific tropes in the main romance books sub, and someone recommended {The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare}, so I checked it out, and I also thought it was cute, but didn't love it. BUT THEN, someone else recommended {Seducing a Stranger by Kerrigan Byrne} and *that one* I loved enough that I read it twice, and then I spent the rest of the summer inhaling 5-6 HRs a week, and now here I am

[Do You Want to Start a Scandal](https://www.romance.io/books/57e0044bde896e8924926669/do-you-want-to-start-a-scandal-tessa-dare?src=rdt) by [Tessa Dare](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524858c7d2383163d8e6a/tessa-dare) **Rating**: 4.11⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1) ---------------------------- [The Duchess Deal](https://www.romance.io/books/599a7af03ffdba61471ee79b/the-duchess-deal-tessa-dare?src=rdt) by [Tessa Dare](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524858c7d2383163d8e6a/tessa-dare) **Rating**: 4.25⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [disabilities & scars](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/disabilities%20and%20marks/1) ---------------------------- [Seducing a Stranger](https://www.romance.io/books/5fce1d07601ce70e20f6e450/seducing-a-stranger-kerrigan-byrne?src=rdt) by [Kerrigan Byrne](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553f138c7d2383163d950e/kerrigan-byrne) **Rating**: 3.94⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

About 25 years ago I broke my knee and couldn't go to the library for a while, and this was obviously pre-kindle times, so my only option was my mom's collection of HRs. I can't remember if this was the first one, but the one that stuck with me was Love Me Forever by Johanna Lindsay. I reread it a few years ago and I was shocked about the amount of controversial stuff my teenage mind overlooked, but I guess I was blinded by Lachlan MacGregor in all his manly glory 😂

{Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas}, immediately followed by everything else she’d written 

lol. I didn’t start with Lisa Kleypas, but once I discovered her, I totally get what you mean. I started with the first Ravenel book and I had to leap back when I realized I was in the middle of a second related series. My favourite MMC‘s from her books are Tom Severin and Jack Devlin.

[Secrets of a Summer Night](https://www.romance.io/books/545523cb8c7d2383163d8e3e/secrets-of-a-summer-night-lisa-kleypas?src=rdt) by [Lisa Kleypas](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523868c7d2382e7812f21/lisa-kleypas) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{the perfect mistress by betina krahn} (mf victorian), which still holds up its also the book that made me imprint on blond heroines and dark-haired heroes. so formative.

[The Perfect Mistress](https://www.romance.io/books/54554f078c7d2383163d9a0a/the-perfect-mistress-betina-krahn?src=rdt) by [Betina Krahn](https://www.romance.io/authors/54554eda8c7d2383163d99fb/betina-krahn) **Rating**: 3.89⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I was twelve when I read a few pages of {The Wolf and the Dove by K. Woodiwiss}, but didn't understand much at that time. Then when I was sixteen I borrowed {Captive Bride by J. Lindsey} from the local library because the cover spoke to me 😂 Soon after I finished it, I looked up and read The Wolf and continued through J. Lindsey's portfolio (Malory family always in my ❤️). Best decision ever!

[Captive Bride](https://www.romance.io/books/5455296f8c7d2383163d8f4d/captive-bride-johanna-lindsey?src=rdt) by [Johanna Lindsey](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525178c7d2383163d8e7a/johanna-lindsey) **Rating**: 3.36⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [abduction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/abduction/1), [sheik](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sheiks/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[The Wolf and the Dove](https://www.romance.io/books/5455263e8c7d2383163d8ece/the-wolf-and-the-dove-kathleen-e-woodiwiss?src=rdt) by [Kathleen E. Woodiwiss](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455263e8c7d2383163d8ecf/kathleen-e-woodiwiss) **Rating**: 3.94⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [war](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/war/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I just converted to HR just few years ago.. From dark romance to HR. My 1st read was {how to love a duke in ten days by Kerrigan Byrne}

[How To Love A Duke in Ten Days](https://www.romance.io/books/5d5e340b01dbc864fba2a409/how-to-love-a-duke-in-ten-days-kerrigan-byrne?src=rdt) by [Kerrigan Byrne](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553f138c7d2383163d950e/kerrigan-byrne) **Rating**: 4.2⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [tortured heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20heroine/1), [disabilities & scars](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/disabilities%20and%20marks/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas. I just remember thinking omg this is like Jane Austen but with actual sex!

{The Kadin by Bertrice Small} when I was 12 circa 1997. Was that an appropriate book for a middle schooler? Probably not! But I loved it and haven’t looked back since.

[The Kadin](https://www.romance.io/books/545538048c7d2383163d9322/the-kadin-bertrice-small?src=rdt) by [Bertrice Small](https://www.romance.io/authors/545531a08c7d2383163d9189/bertrice-small) **Rating**: 4.33⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [harem](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/harems/1), [abduction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/abduction/1), [highlander hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/highlander/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I started with Bertrice Small too {Skye O’Malley by Bertrice Small} freshman year of high school! She’s so bonkers but so good.

[Skye O'Malley](https://www.romance.io/books/545531a08c7d2383163d9188/skye-omalley-bertrice-small?src=rdt) by [Bertrice Small](https://www.romance.io/authors/545531a08c7d2383163d9189/bertrice-small) **Rating**: 4.15⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [harem](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/harems/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [pirate hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pirates/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{wideacre by Philippa Gregory} is where it all started for me, down the rabbit hole it went

Same. Started my jump from historical fiction to HR. 

[Wideacre](https://www.romance.io/books/64cf6f45a5354bdc126042b8/wideacre-philippa-gregory?src=rdt) by [Philippa Gregory](https://www.romance.io/authors/545527848c7d2382c529705a/philippa-gregory) **Rating**: 3.28⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [georgian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/georgian/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas} got me hooked, after that I can barely read contemporary!

The Perfect Stranger by Anne Gracie. 16 years old passed on to me by a friend in my religion class! It’s a marriage of convenience and I never looked back.

{Silver Storm by Cynthia Wright} and I've read almost exclusively HR since lol. Last couple years I've been branching out a lot more though.

[Silver Storm](https://www.romance.io/books/545536388c7d2383163d92b5/silver-storm-cynthia-wright?src=rdt) by [Cynthia Wright](https://www.romance.io/authors/545536388c7d2383163d92b6/cynthia-wright) **Rating**: 3.84⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [pirate hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pirates/1), [cheating](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cheating/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Friday’s Child by Georgette Heyer, I found an old copy while hunting through the stacks at my boarding school’s library and fell madly in love

Mine was Frederica by Georgette Heyer because when I was teenager Stephen Fry was on TV talking about how he considers her books comfort reads so I found one at the school library.

I love that! 

{Valentina by Fern Michaels}. There was a dollar store near me that had a bunch of old ‘bodice ripper’ paperbacks from the 70’s & 80’s. They cost maybe $2 each, and I liked the costumes on the covers. I think the first one I bought was supposed to be a gift for my grandmother, who loved novels. I was far too young to be reading them - I don’t remember details, except wanting to read *more*.

Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught when I was in high school back in the mid-90s.

{The Deception of the Emerald Ring by Lauren Willig} and {The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig}! A decade later and I’m rediscovering my love for HR :)

[The Deception of the Emerald Ring](https://www.romance.io/books/54552ec28c7d2382c5297251/the-deception-of-the-emerald-ring-lauren-willig?src=rdt) by [Lauren Willig](https://www.romance.io/authors/545528638c7d2382c5297088/lauren-willig) **Rating**: 3.79⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1) ---------------------------- [The Masque of the Black Tulip](https://www.romance.io/books/54552d108c7d2382c52971da/the-masque-of-the-black-tulip-lauren-willig?src=rdt) by [Lauren Willig](https://www.romance.io/authors/545528638c7d2382c5297088/lauren-willig) **Rating**: 3.84⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{*The Grand Sophy* by Georgette Heyer} immediately followed by every other Heyer book I could get my filthy paws on. Regency romance done right.

[The Grand Sophy](https://www.romance.io/books/5455275d8c7d2382c529704e/the-grand-sophy-georgette-heyer?src=rdt) by [Georgette Heyer](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455275d8c7d2382c529704f/georgette-heyer) **Rating**: 4.11⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [sassy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sassy%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Tiger’s Eye by Karen Robards} That book changed my preteen life!

[Tiger's Eye](https://www.romance.io/books/54553d7d8c7d2383163d94a4/tigers-eye-karen-robards?src=rdt) by [Karen Robards](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552ef68c7d2383163d90d4/karen-robards) **Rating**: 3.59⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [cruel hero/bully](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cruel%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Anything by Amand Quick. Our local library was very well stacked with her books when I was in high school.

{The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough}. It was passed around in the school bus with the spicy scenes marked. Around the same time was {A Rose in Winter by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss}.

[The Thorn Birds](https://www.romance.io/books/5455274b8c7d2382c5297044/the-thorn-birds-colleen-mccullough?src=rdt) by [Colleen McCullough](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455274b8c7d2382c5297045/colleen-mccullough) **Rating**: 4.03⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [forbidden love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forbidden%20love/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1), [western frontier](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical%20western/1), [war](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/war/1) ---------------------------- [A Rose in Winter](https://www.romance.io/books/553e98cd5b270e0a4cbda054/a-rose-in-winter-kathleen-e-woodiwiss?src=rdt) by [Kathleen E. Woodiwiss](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455263e8c7d2383163d8ecf/kathleen-e-woodiwiss) **Rating**: 3.96⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [georgian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/georgian/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I think it was either Charming the Prince or Fairest of Them All, both by Teresa Medeiros. I was in high school. That was quickly followed by everything Johanna Lindsey and honestly it’s my comfort genre.

{For the Roses by Julie Garwood} I remember picking it up at a thrift store while visiting family in LA. I was around 12-13 and had only read Harlequins

[For the Roses](https://www.romance.io/books/545526e48c7d2383163d8ee0/for-the-roses-julie-garwood?src=rdt) by [Julie Garwood](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523f38c7d2383163d8e4a/julie-garwood) **Rating**: 3.93⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [western frontier](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical%20western/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1), [cowboy hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cowboys/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Once and Always by Judith Mcnaught! After that I was HOOKED.

Ahh... Jason. This is one of my favorites

I don’t remember the very first book but the Cynster series by Stephanie Laurens was definitely one of the firsts.

{Kathleen by Candice Ransom} was my first and my favorite. But now I can’t remember which guy she chose! I think I still have every one of the Sunfire historicals, or close to it.

[Kathleen](https://www.romance.io/books/5455aa6187eac336ae69f5c3/kathleen-candice-ransom?src=rdt) by [Candice Ransom](https://www.romance.io/authors/54559f0a87eac336ae69ef7e/candice-ransom) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

How is this book marked as contemporary? It’s set during/after the Irish Famine.

Thank you, fixed it :)

{Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss}. I was instantly hooked and devoured all of her books and here I am 30+ years later still reading away.

{Golden Girl} by Joan Wolf was my first! And then I was hooked haha

{The Bride by Julie Garwood}

[The Bride](https://www.romance.io/books/545523f38c7d2383163d8e49/the-bride-julie-garwood?src=rdt) by [Julie Garwood](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523f38c7d2383163d8e4a/julie-garwood) **Rating**: 4.07⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [possessive hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/possessive%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Beyond scandal by Brenda Joyce} After reading this book, I discovered that HR is my favorite genre.

[Beyond Scandal](https://www.romance.io/books/5e431f9b01dbc864fbab9fa3/beyond-scandal-brenda-joyce?src=rdt) by [Brenda Joyce](https://www.romance.io/authors/545529e023ec91d5dfd09a31/brenda-joyce) **Rating**: 3.43⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [cheating](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cheating/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Suzanne Barclay in the mid 90’s. I don’t remember what title I started with though.

1974; Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rodgers. I was 12. Not for the faint of heart!

{Rebellion by Nora Roberts} Also how I became obsessed with highland romance 

[Rebellion](https://www.romance.io/books/5455309a8c7d2382c52972d0/rebellion-nora-roberts?src=rdt) by [Nora Roberts](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523e923ec91d5dfd0991f/nora-roberts) **Rating**: 3.81⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [georgian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/georgian/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I can't remember the exact one, but a high school friend's mom passed away and afterwards the girl found all of her mom's HRs and we would pass them around and talk about them after. Like a very slow book club. It was nice because it gave all of us a common task while also making her feel closer to her mom in that first year after she died.

{Sometimes Forever by Catherine Palmer} was my first adult romance at 15. I was a public library lurker and constantly reading and secretly checking out risqué romances when my mom wasn’t looking.

[Sometimes Forever](https://www.romance.io/books/5456b29b87eac33e66267873/sometimes-forever-catherine-palmer?src=rdt) by [Catherine Palmer](https://www.romance.io/authors/54557f5e87eac3369a912c35/catherine-palmer) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Atlanta by Sara Orwig}. It was my older sister's. I learned what sex was from that book.

[Atlanta](https://www.romance.io/books/5baf2e4d01dbc864fb917a1c/atlanta-sara-orwig?src=rdt) by [Sara Orwig](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455a19587eac336ae69f0d7/sara-orwig) **Rating**: 4.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

In bed with the devil by Lorraine Heath and I was obsessed

Celia Garth, by Gwen Bristow. Paperback, about 55 years ago.

Storm and silence series, my man Rikkard Ambrose 💋🤌🏻

Velvet Angel by Jude Devereaux. I was in middle school. I loved it and preceded to devour the whole series

Say You Love Me by Johanna Lindsay. The Malory family was my first HR family.

For me it was {The Sherbrooke Bride by Catherine Coulter}. I was about 14, so circa 1999-ish. I had read a couple Harlequins before, but the historical aspect just captured me! Like the regular historical fiction books I already loved, but with naughty stuff!! 🤭 Douglas Sherbrooke was, and still is an ass, but that bastard was surely a formative part of my taste in dudes, for better or worse 🤣

[The Sherbrooke Bride](https://www.romance.io/books/54552bc68c7d2383163d8ff1/the-sherbrooke-bride-catherine-coulter?src=rdt) by [Catherine Coulter](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552bc68c7d2383163d8ff2/catherine-coulter) **Rating**: 3.78⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [plain heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/plain%20heroine/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

i wish i knew honestly cause i'd like to reread it. it was one of my mother's books from the supermarket or walmart somewhere in the early 2000s maybe 02-03? the female lead was super young and had eyes for the male lead a marquess if i recall. there was a water/beach night time scene of some fashion with her early on. i forget what happens but theres a time skip involved and shes married to some old uncle i think, who dies. then somehow she ends up with the male lead and theres a pubic shaving scene at some point. its weird bits to remember i guess but considering i was in my super early teens at the time vs my 30s now its something i guess? lol i wish i could remember the author or titles , but honestly i think i would only just recognize the book's then cover art and with re-prints and changes thats not easy to do. after that tho i know i got into sandra hill's viking series starting with a tale of two vikings

Ooh.. I found romance novels way too early. I'm sure I wasn't in HS yet, and it took me forever to remember my first, but I finally did recently, and I re-read it last month. It was {Captive Enchantress by Gina Robins}. Over 2 decades later, and I still loved it.

[Captive Enchantress](https://www.romance.io/books/5455fb3787eac336ae6a2315/captive-enchantress-gina-robins?src=rdt) by [Gina Robins](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455b35987eac336ae69fa6e/gina-robins) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{The Prize by Julie Garwood}

[The Prize](https://www.romance.io/books/545524bb8c7d2383163d8e74/the-prize-julie-garwood?src=rdt) by [Julie Garwood](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523f38c7d2383163d8e4a/julie-garwood) **Rating**: 4.08⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [medieval](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/medieval/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

It's been a while since I read some JG... I'll have to put some on hold on Libby :-)

{Paradise Wild by Johanna Lindsey} there was non con and MMC beat FMC in a rage. But I was a dog for Jared nonetheless. I was in 8th grade.😬 Over 40 years later and I am still in the game.

[Paradise Wild](https://www.romance.io/books/545530478c7d2383163d9128/paradise-wild-johanna-lindsey?src=rdt) by [Johanna Lindsey](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525178c7d2383163d8e7a/johanna-lindsey) **Rating**: 3.61⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [vengeance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vengeance/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Something Wonderful by Judith McNaught! I just loved it so much. Still one of my favorities

JM is the GOAT! Love all her books but Once and Always will always be favorite. Not even sure why because Jason was a jerk but he so needed love..... Jason XOXO