Do you remember the first romance novel you read?

Posted August 31st, 2012 by in Blog, Let's Talk Books!, Musings / 29 comments

 Publisher: Harlequin (March 1, 1985) #779

 Book  Info:

 “Soon, I promise you, we will be married.”

Darcy couldn’t imagine why a Sicilian count would want their rambling Suffolk home — much less offer a    fortune more than it was worth…and agree to marry into her family.

She only knew that the down payment had been squandered, and her sister was nowhere to be found. So Darcy had to agree to a masquerade that made a mockery of her sister’s engagement.

But Lorenzo di Tancredi was not the charming dupe her family had taken him for. He planned to repay them with an amazing deception of his own…

“Love’s Tangled Web” by Mary Lyons was the first romance novel I read as a young teenager; it was  the start of my life long love affair with Category romance that has spanned over 2 decades and still going strong.

 

So let’s talk, Why Romance Genre? Do you remember the first romance novel you read or maybe there’s one that has made a lasting impression.

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29 Responses to “Do you remember the first romance novel you read?”

  2. Alicia Jespersen

    Yea, I remember my first romance novel. It was supposed to be as a book club between me and a friend but my friend never read it and I did. But I’m soooo glad I read it because it was that book that got me started in my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE genre! So the book was Dream Makers by Nora Roberts, those two stories just blew me away and it was just such an emotional ride for me. Never have I read another Nora Roberts quite like my first romance novel! Though I guess I could be a little biased, haha lol. I new from the moment I finished this book that I wouldn’t read anything else! I owe a lot to that book cause I also was never into reading and to a point I could say Dream Makers was the first book I read, well beyond childrens books. So I am eternally greatful for the leap that I made while reading this awesome romance!

  3. Sasha H

    I have absolutely no idea! 🙂

    All I know is Mills&Boon books were usually found by my aunts’ homes, sometimes tucked away, and it was only as I got older that I was ‘allowed’ to borrow them. (I’d been reading them for a while before that 😉 )

    I do remember wondering about, and later scoffing at, the 1970s into early 1980s stereotypical older man, innocent young woman hero and heroine. So anything different or involving former lovers was quickly snatched up by moi 🙂

    The new Mills&Boon, particularly the Modern line, has some great authors telling some wonderful stories. The best part? If you have a day off, you can pretty much read the book in one sitting. Perfect for busy people like myself

    • Sara HJ

      Sasha I agree there is some great talent out there, there has never been a better to be a category romance fan.

      Oh and I can totally see you breaking the rules and sneaking a read or two. 😉

    • Sara HJ

      OMG This book has over 200 4 star reviews on amazon, a definite read then. Thanks Kyla.

      Shanna by kathleen Woodiwiss

      Book Info
      A pact is sealed in secret behind the foreboding walls of Newgate Prison. In return for a night of unparalleled pleasure, a dashing condemned criminal consents to wed a beautiful heiress, thereby rescuing her with his name from an impending and abhorred arranged union. But in the fading echoes of hollow wedding vows, a solemn promise is broken, as a sensuous free spirit takes flight to a lush Caribbean paradise, abandoning the stranger she married to face the gallows unfulfilled.

      But Ruark Beauchamp’s destiny is now eternally intertwined with that of the tempestuous, intoxicating Shanna. He will be free . . . and he will find her. For no iron ever forged can imprison his resolute passion. And no hangman’s noose will deny Ruark the ecstasy that is rightfully his.

  5. Kai W.

    First romance book I read was a Harlequin Romance book. It was a book I have borrowed from the public library. The title is Where the Wolf Leads.

    • Sara HJ

      Kai – I am going to order this one through Amazon, If anyone else is interested

      Where the Wolf Leads (1980) A novel by Jane Arbor
      Here’s the book Blurb:
      Tara knew she was being used. Dracon Leloupblanc had tricked Tara into anengagement, hoping his infatuated cousin would lose hope of Tara and returnto his fiancée. And if that failed, Dracon intended to marry Tara! Normallythe prospect of marriage to a handsome French wine merchant would have beendelightful. But life at Dracon’s estate in Bordeaux was anything but normal,and the thought of marrying the autocratic, insulting Dracon was nothingshort of terrifying!

  6. Renee G

    I don’t remember the first one I read, but I believe it was one of the Betty Neels books. I used to love her books set in Holland.

    • Sara HJ

      Renee, Harlequin Treasury released a copy of Betty Neels books as ebooks…here are the one’s I have
      Only by Chance, The Bachelor’s Wedding, Marrying Mary, Dearest Mary Jane, The Right Kind Of Girl.

  7. Mary Preston

    It’s been such a long time since I read my first Romance book. No hope of remembering. It would have been one of my older sisters, so something set in a hospital no doubt.

  8. Natalija

    I think my first romance novel was a book by Sandra Brown. I’m still a big fan of hers, especially her older titles.

  9. Vanessa P

    I read voraciously, a book a day. If I did not read romance, where would I be? I cannot remember the first romance novel I read, although I suspect some of the classics I read in my youth could count. Hmmm… I think maybe Debbie Macomber or Nora Roberts may have been one of the first….

  10. Izz

    I don’t remember the first romance novel I read, it’s my sister’s. I love to read romance because it’s like having a journey to a fantasy land and it makes me happy 😀

    • Izz

      I forgot to write my email address in Subscribe to HJ NewsLetter part,

      my email I have subscibed : pinglecoon at gmail dot com

  11. Lilian sweety white

    I think my first romance novel i read is Until Forever-Johanna Lindsay.

    I like romance novel because its about love

  12. eli yanti

    Hi Sara,

    I agreed but Izz, why romance story because it’s about love 🙂

    the first romance novel is from harlequin book – penny jordan, love her book 🙂

  14. cecilia

    My first romance novel is from my sister book i forgot the title (upss..) Harlequin by Debbie Macomber and Diana Palmer.
    I love reading romence cause sometimes when i got bored, sad, thats really help my self to forget about my problem.. LOL. its makes me smile again..:D

  15. infinitieh

    I remember finding in a used books store a book about a girl and her horse titled COPPER’S CHANCE which was renamed BLUE RIBBON ROMANCE at some point. Does that count?

  16. amel armeliana

    Why romance genre? Because I feel comfortable with this genre. I loved thriller, suspense, mystery and fantasy genre also, but romance is always a special genre for me. And I think in any other genres, even a little, there’s always romance in it 🙂
    My first romance book that I’ve read, I remember it was a Barbara Cartland’s book. Belongs to my mother. I forgot the title, but I remember the hero, his name is Julian. Weird, forgot the title, but remember the hero^^

  17. Sara HJ

    Come to think of it I recall reading a few Barbara Cartland that belonged to my mom as well. Hey Amel thanks, I’m gonna have to go looking for this book now 😉

  18. Olga

    Why Romance Genre? I am at heart a True Romantic! My first English book was “The Wayward Debutante” by Sarah Elliott! For me it was a special book: I started self-learning English language! And now I can read, speak, write without much difficulties!