We know how to celebrate Valentine’s Day in the Waterworld Mermaid lagoon. It’s not a one-day thing. We started on Tuesday by telling why we write romance, and we asked you to tell us why you write or read romance. Yesterday we asked some industry professionals to tell us their favorite heroes/heroines. We had a lively debate in the comment section, and several of us have since added recommended books to our TBR pile. If you missed either of these days, it’s not too late to add your comment.
Today we’re talking about romance again. Whether it’s a favorite book or a movie that moved you to laughter and tears, we know you have a favorite.
Just like yesterday, it’s hard to limit yourself to one book or movie that pulled at your heartstrings. Where the characters remained with you like a sneaky shadow for days afterwards. Where you relived a favorite scene over and over again because it was too delicious to imagine just once. Where you found yourself discussing the characters like they were family. 🙂
If I absolutely had to pick a favorite book it would be Judith McNaught’s Kingdom of Dreams, but luckily I don’t have to remain faithful to just one book. When the fancy strikes, I can read about one of Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons. Or Lisa Kleypas’s Wallflowers and Hathaways. Or Jude Deveraux’s Montgomery and Taggert men. I’m fickle that way.
In appreciation for your thoughtful comments and recommendations this week, we are offering a $50 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter. That commenter can run straight to their computer to order some of these recommended books or movies. I know I have Beth Miller’s favorite series–The Black Jewels trilogy– in my cart right now.
Make sure to go back and comment on our Tuesday and Wednesday posts for extra chances to enter. Why settle for one entry today when you can have three?
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, what is your favorite romantic story? What is your go-to book or movie that grabs you by the heart and won’t let go?
We will randomly select one commenter from all three posts on Sunday and let you know on Monday who will win the gift card. Good luck! And Happy Valentine’s Day!
My favorite Romance? Off the top of my head, Jude Deveraux’s A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR.
The longer I have to think, the more I come up with!! xox
I call my favorite historical romance authors the Power of the Three J’s: Judith (McNaught), Jude (Deveraux) and Julie (Garwood). 🙂
It is hard to pick just one, isn’t it? Knight in Shining Armor was one of my favs as well. But, now I want to run up into my locked closet and grab hold of Kingdom of Dreams and read it again on this snowy day. But, I have to stay focused on revisions. Stay focused…stay focused…stay foc
Okay, so this is not terribly original, but my favorite romance is Pride & Prejudice, followed by Persuasion as a close second. There was a time when I used to reread all of Jane Austen’s books once a year, but it’s been a while since I’ve done that. Maybe I’ll have to pick them up again — after I get through the other SIX books of the Black Jewels series, of course. 🙂
Yes Pintip! Pride & Prejudice – fabulous choice! I vote for that too.
Although…
This question is hard!!! I have soooo many! I can tell you that my favorite Nora Roberts book is the Calhoun Sister series, especially Amanda’s story.
My favorite romance movie? Love Actually. Favorite romance book? I don’t even know how I’d choose. Or even narrow it down.
I’m not terribly fond of romance stories, but I adore the movie “Love Actually”. 🙂 It shows all kinds of love, and the pain of love, with great hope.
I love that, Kitti. About the pain of love, with great hope. Thanks for stopping by!
Random Harvest with Greer Garson and Ronald Coleman is a tearjerker. Outlander is my favorite romance. Can’t get enough of Jamie Fraser!
The go-to movie is a no brainer – The Princess Bride 🙂 My husband and I danced to Storybook Love. I’m much more fickle with books, since it seems like my favorite changes yearly.
Princess Bride! Hurrah for one of the least appreciated movies until it became a cult classic! <3
If I only had one book to choose, it would be Persuasion. There’s something about that story that just keeps me reading – in fact, it would be my desert island book.
Current favorite? It’s so hard to say, and my usual favorite is the one I’m reading at the moment: HOT BUTTERED YUM has me all hot and bothered just now… 70s romance? THE THORNBIRDS is one of my back-then favorites, even though it’s not technically a romance. I think.
Great post!
Susan,
I actually had THE THORNBIRDS down for my favorite when I was writing this post, but then I couldn’t decide which one I liked better–the mini series or the book. And then that got me thinking that I actually cried so much in both that I couldn’t imagine putting it down for my favorite. Every time I read that book or watched the mini series, I would walk around with puffy eyes FOR DAYS AND DAYS. haha
So I went with the classic HEA ending instead. Can’t much think it was HEA for Father Ralph and little Meggie. This makes me want to read it again now…ugh.
My favorite movie is While You Were Sleeping. I have so many favorite romances but one that will stick with me forever, because it’s the one that made me realize I wanted to write romance. was Born In Fire by Nora Roberts. Now I have so many ‘must buy’ authors, but Nora was my first. 🙂
Tammy,
That’s one of my very favorite movies. It’s such a sappy feel-good movie, isn’t it? Love the part at the end when he comes to her work with his whole family and puts the ring in her token tray. Gotta love that. My other favorite ending is NEVER BEEN KISSED where he comes out onto the field and kisses her for the first time. My favorite kiss scene of all time! *sigh*
Loved the Born in Fire and Born in Ice books. Nora can sure write ’em.
English Patient.. I know, I know.. it’s a movie. But still..
Not technically a romance, but such a beautiful love story–Cold Mountain. Happy almost Valentine’s Day and good luck to everyone entering the Gift Card giveaway. And BIG OLE SQUISHY FISHY KISSES to our organizing Mermaids–Pintip, Kerri and Kim. Muah!
Oooh, this is hard! As romance writers our hearts are just naturally bigger leaving room for SO MANY favorites! For movies, I adore STEALING BEAUTY. It’s Liv Tyler’s first movie and is rife with the tumultuousness of first love, gorgeous cinematography (filmed in Italy!), and killer sound track–trifecta. Gah! Books are even harder. But the extremely complicated triangle between Urial, Leslie, and Niall from Melissa Marr’s WICKED LOVELY series springs to mind.
Hey, Darcy!
I have never seen STEALING BEAUTY. I will have to make a point of seeing that. I agree with your comment about first love completely!
I loved the WICKED LOVELY series.
Thanks for stopping by!
There are so many… I just can’t do it. Picking my favorite romance would be like picking my favorite child.