The Book That Made Me Love Romance

Ever wonder why writers write books in a specific genre? Several authors share below the book that made them love and want to write romance.

Tessa Bailey: "Hidden Fires" by Sandra Brown

"Hidden Fires was like a conduit directly to my romantic soul. It was dramatic and sexy, the heroine was fierce and the hero was devoted. I never wanted to stop reading romance after that."

Check out Tessa Bailey's books in our catalog. 

Ashley Herring Blake: "The Kiss Quotient" by Helen Hoang

"As I was already on my writing journey with young adult and middle grade, I think the book that really sealed the deal for me diving into romance was Helen Hoang’s The Kiss Quotient. I absolutely fell in love with the tropes, the steam and the heart."

Check out Ashley Herring Blake's books in our catalog.

Sabrina Jeffries: "Lorna Doone" by R. D. Blackmore

"I remember writing and wanting to be a writer as early as age 8, but believe it or not, when I was 12, I remember making up stories (all some form of romance) and actually thinking that when I grew up, I was going to write them in a book and sell them. I must have been quite the mercenary little girl! But the earliest book I remember reading in the specific genre I write now was Lorna Doone by R. D. Blackmore. I’d read many, many books before that, but Lorna Doone’s varied dialogue, gorgeous description of Devonshire and Exmoor, adventure plot, and wonderful characters captivated me and made me want to write historical romance. Coincidentally, I read it because it was part of Baltimore's Calvert School curriculum, which is what my mom used in homeschooling us while we lived in Thailand." 

Check out Sabrina Jeffries' books in our catalog.

Sidney Karger: "High Fidelity" by Nick Hornby

"If you love romantic comedies as much as you love music, it’s legally required to read High Fidelity. Set in the old timey days of mixtapes and VCR players (remember those?), Nick Hornby’s debut novel, which is equally giggle-inducing and heart-melting, reinvented the rom-com genre for me. Struggling record shop owner Rob Fleming is an emotionally immature music snob who learns to become a slightly less emotionally immature music snob, while figuring out if he deserves a second chance with his ex-girlfriend Laura, the one who got away. The romantically-challenged Rob, who obsessively makes top five lists of his ex-girlfriends and favorite songs, might find true happiness in knowing he’s finally landed his very own spot on this list of romance books."

Check out Sidney Karger's debut novel, "The Best Men", in our catalog.