14 Amazing Romance Novels for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. And you are a book lover. What’s a girl to do? Well, if you are married or dating, read on through, choose a book or two, and let your man know what you want! They just want to please us. We can help them out. 🙂

Or maybe you are looking for a friend. Or if you are like me when I was single, you are unashamedly looking for what you are going to give yourself on Valentine’s Day. Date or No Date, Gotta Celebrate! 😉

With that in mind, please allow me to play matchmaker with 14 Amazing Romances that will last longer than those chocolates and in a much better way. In no particular order, I can promise a romantic adventure with:

(click titles to purchase)

1. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

I heard about this book long before I read it. Redeeming Love? Bla. No thanks. But when I finally gave it a chance, I was utterly swept away. What a love story! Tragic and beautiful, and with over 1 million copies sold, it’s no wonder this novel (and this Romance Writers’ of America Hall of Fame member) is so popular. Be warned, it deals with heavy themes. It is not for everyone, and definitely not for teens.

“California’s gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep. Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside. Then she meets Michael Hosea…” (Quoted portion taken from Francine’s website)

2. Waterfall by Lisa Bergren (Book 1 in the River of Time Series)

Ever wondered what it’d be like if you were zapped to 14^th century Italy? Find out in this Christy Award Winning Young Adult novel that was so popular readers begged for more. And Lisa delivered! I bet you can’t read just one in this modern-meets-medieval adventure. Battles and Romance and Rescues—Oh my!

“Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Bentarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives with their parents, famed Etruscan scholars, among the romantic hills. In book one of the River of Time series, Gabi and Lia are stuck among the rubble of medieval castles in rural Tuscany on yet another hot, boring, and dusty archeological site…until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces. And thus she comes to be rescued by the knight-prince Marcello Falassi, who takes her back to his father’s castle—a castle Gabi has seen in ruins in another life…” (Quoted portion from Lisa’s website)

3. Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz

I first happened upon this book when wandering the aisles of my local library. I loved it so much I wrote Laura’s name on a sticky note, stuck it to my bookshelf, and looked her up regularly to see if she’d written anything more. In the years since, I’ve read every one of her books. Oh, the history! The language! The romance…

“Morrow Little is haunted by the memory of the day her family was torn apart by raiding Shawnee warriors. Now that she is nearly a grown woman and her father is ailing she must make difficult choices about the future. Several men—ranging from the undesired to the unthinkable—vie for her attentions, but she finds herself inexplicably drawn to a forbidden love that both terrifies and intrigues her…” (Quoted portion from Laura’s website)

4. A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin

I loved this Christy Award winning book! I loved the main character’s quirky personality—funny but realistic, the well-placed bits of humor, and not knowing which guy she would end up with! With this book, I thee promise: romance, laughter, and a bit of introspection.

“It seems a perfect backdrop for what Violet Hayes longs to experience: a little mystery, a little romance. To be honest, it is more than a little mystery. She schemed her way to Chicago to discover the mother she barely remembered. As for romance—well, with the help of her grandmother and three great aunts, that is coming along nicely as well—perhaps too well. Each of her relatives—including her saintly grandmother—seems to have a separate agenda for her. In the course of a summer, Violet’s world will open wide before her eyes. But in the wake of discovery, she must find a way to determine which path—and which man—will ultimately be the right lifetime choice for her.” (Quoted portion from Lynn’s website)

5. Love’s Reckoning by Laura Frantz (Book 1 in a series of 3)

A love story so tender, so earnest, it made me want to be gentler myself. Eden’s quiet dignity and strength amidst the coarseness in which she lives will have you hoping for her triumph all the more.

“On a bitter December day in 1784, Silas Ballantyne arrives at the door of blacksmith Liege Lee in York County, Pennsylvania. Silas is determined to finish his apprenticeship quickly and move west. But because he is a fast worker and a superb craftsman, Liege endeavors to keep him in Lancaster by appealing to an old tradition: the apprentice shall marry one of his master’s beautiful daughters.

Eden is as gentle and fresh as Elspeth is high-spirited and cunning. But are they truly who they appear to be? In a house laced with secrets, each sister seeks to secure her future. Which one will claim Silas’s heart—and will he agree to Liege’s arrangement?” (Quoted portion from Laura’s website)

6. She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell

Oh so romantic, and fun too. Set in 1890’s New York when women still had “coming outs” and “seasons,” this book has great themes for book club discussions. What is beauty? What price did women pay to achieve it? How has beauty and the pursuit of it changed? What is the ideal hope for a marriage partner?

“For a young society woman seeking a favorable marriage, so much depends on her social season debut. Clara Carter has been given one goal: secure the affections of the city’s most eligible bachelor. Debuting means plenty of work—there are corsets to be fitted, dances to master, manners to perfect…” (Quoted portion from Siri’s website)

7. A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers (Book 1 in a series of 3)

This story is epic, and it moved me deeply. I fell in love with the main character, rooting for her, and wanting to be like her in real life. Francine Rivers is most famous for her novel, Redeeming Love, but to me, A Voice in the Wind is her greatest work.

Hadassah survives the devastation of starvation only to be sold into slavery… “The ill-fated romance between a steadfast Christian slave girl, Hadassah, and Marcus, the handsome aristocrat destined to love her, set in 70 A.D. Jerusalem.” (Quoted portion from Francine’s website)

8. The Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen

If you love Jane Eyre and Jane Austen, then Julie Klassen is the author for you. This Christy Award Finalist had me balling my eyes out at the end—in a good way. Poetic, dramatic, and mysterious, this novel is a treat.

“Even a proper vicar’s daughter can make a mistake…and now Charlotte Lamb must pay a high price for her fall. To avoid the prying eyes of all who know her, she hides herself away in London’s forbidding “Milkweed Manor,” a place of mystery and lore, of old secrets and new birth. But once there, she comes face to face with a suitor from her past—a man who now hides secrets of his own.” (Quoted portion from Julie’s website)

9. The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

This Christy Award winner is fun with lots of giggles, too. Can you imagine cleaning the chamber pot of the man you were interested in? Gross!

“Margaret Macy flees London, disguised as a housemaid, to avoid marriage to a dishonorable man. If she can remain unwed until her next birthday, she will receive an inheritance, and with it, sweet independence. But she never planned on actually working as a servant. And certainly not at Fairbourne Hall—the home of two former suitors.” (Quoted portion from Julie’s website)

10. Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs

and

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs

Liz’s historical fiction is soul-wrenching and beautiful. Don’t read her books unless you are prepared to journey deep into the human heart. These must be read together (which is why I cheated and put two in one spot!) At times I wanted to throw the first book across the room. But by the end of the second, I was hugging it close and wanting to learn a Scottish reel.

“A timeless story of love and betrayal, loss and redemption, flickering against the vivid backdrop of eighteenth-century Scotland, Here Burns My Candle illuminates the dark side of human nature, even as hope, the brightest of tapers, lights the way home.” (Quoted portion from Liz’s website)

 “The emotional and spiritual journey that began with Here Burns My Candle soars to a triumphant finish in Mine is the Night, a dramatic and decidedly Scottish retelling of the biblical love story of Boaz and Ruth.” (Quoted portion from Liz’s website)

 

11. Port Royal by Linda Chaikin (Book 1 in a series of 3)

Ever been treated by other girls as a weed among roses? Then fly across the sea on a dandelion seed to Jamaica in the 1600’s and meet Emerald. Virtuous and idealistic, she gives us all a lesson in holding our heads high and keeping courage in our hearts. Don’t let the outdated cover fool you—you may still fall off the couch in a swoon at this adventurous, pirate, swashbuckling romance. : )

“As the Caribbean Sea teems with piracy and privateering, Captain Baret “Foxworth” Buckington searches for his father. Though declared legally dead, Baret is certain his father is alive, perhaps being held prisoner. Willing to jeopardize his title, his inheritance, and his life in order to find his father, he sets sail and swears vengeance upon Spain. Amidst the slavery, brutality, and cruel gossip on a Jamaican Sugar estate, Miss Emerald Harwick seeks an escape. Rejected by her father’s wealthy family, Emerald is constantly reminded of her deceased mother’s notorious reputation and her father’s escapades on the high seas. Only two things keep her going—working in the Christian Singing School and her plans to secretly marry an indentured servant. In desperation, they plan to leave Jamaica. But Emerald’s father has other plans! As their paths intertwine, Emerald and Baret set out on a journey filled with danger, intrigue, and romance. (Quoted portion from novel’s back cover, click here for Linda’s website)

12. The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

I first found this wonderful author when browsing my Kindle for something new. I gave The Merchant’s Daughter a try and LOVED it! Only after reading half of it did I realize it was a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. In fact, all her novels are fairy tale retellings. How fun! You can read them in order by series or you can pick and choose your favorites. This Christy Award finalist and Carol Award winner even has its own video trailer. Enjoy!

“An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice. Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf’s bailiff – a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff’s vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf’s future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands…” (Quoted portion from Melanie’s website)

13. Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers

This is Francine’s newest novel, and it kept me up way past my bedtime wondering about Marilyn Monroe and women in Hollywood. It had me thinking about the choices we make and the bridges we burn in pursuit of what we think we want. This story stuck with me well after reading.

“To those who matter in 1950s Hollywood, Lena Scott is the hottest rising star to hit the silver screen since Marilyn Monroe. Few know her real name is Abra. Even fewer know the price she’s paid to finally feel like she’s somebody. To Pastor Ezekiel Freeman, Abra will always be the little girl who stole his heart the night he found her, a wailing newborn abandoned under a bridge on the outskirts of Haven. Zeke and his son, Joshua—Abra’s closest friend—watch her grow into an exotic beauty. But Zeke knows the circumstances surrounding her birth have etched scars deep in her heart, scars that leave her vulnerable to a fast-talking charmer who lures her to Tinseltown. Hollywood feels like a million miles from Haven, and naïve Abra quickly learns what’s expected of an ambitious girl with stars in her eyes. But fame comes at a devastating price. She has burned every bridge to get exactly what she thought she wanted. Now all she wants is a way back home.” (Quoted portion from Francine’s website)

14. Secrets (First of the Glenbrook Series by Robin Jones Gunn)

Were you worried there’d be no modern romances? Fear not, Robin has a whole series of them set in the I-Wish-I-Could-Go-There town of Glenbrook. In this light hearted series, expect some mystery, a happy ending, and a few giggle-snorts along the way.

“Beginning her new life in a small Oregon town, high school English teacher Jessica tries desperately to hide the details of her past. Yet two individuals remain determined to discover the painful truth: the jealous woman who is Jessica’s immediate superior, and Kyle Buchanan, a handsome, compassionate paramedic and dreamer. Will Jessica’s past destroy her future? Or can she find a deeper peace that will end her need to keep Secrets?” (Quoted portion from Robin’s website)

 

I hope you enjoy these books as much as I did! There are so many great novels that didn’t fit on this list—I may have to do another one. 🙂 To keep in touch, subscribe here, and I’ll let you know about my upcoming stories and blogs about our favorite subjects—romance and relationships!

Also, if you know another novel that MUST be read, please tell us in the comments and share the love!! 🙂 Happy Valentine’s Day and Happy Reading!

 

Warning: Some of these books have adult content and themes. Not all are appropriate for teens. Please read books yourself before giving to your teen.