Historical
These romance novels take place during historical periods. Medieval, Regency, Old West, or Viking Romances are examples of historical romance varieties.

Jennifer Blake
Luke

Catherine Coulter
Sherbrooke Bride (first in the series)

Jude Deveraux
Twin of Ice
Twin of Fire
The Heiress

Jane Feather
Hostage Bridge (first in the series)

Dorothy Garlock
Edge of Town

Julie Garwood
One Pink Rose (first in the series)

Johanna Lindsey
Love Only Once

Mary Jo Putney
The Bartered Bride

Amanda Quick
Affair
With This Ring

Karen Robards
Nobody’s Angle

Kathleen Woodiwiss
Ashes in the Wind
Shanna

Period
In these novels writers must follow specific writing rules and stories usually have very little overt sex. Period romances are usually set during Regency or Georgian eras.

Mary Balogh
Barbara Cartland
Marion Chesney
Georgette Heyer
Patricia Veryan

Contemporary
These romantic novels take place during the present time.

Sandra Brown
Where There’s Smoke

Janet Dailey
Illusions

Jude Deveraux
Sweet Liar
High Tide

Jayne Ann Krentz
Eclipse Bay (first in the series)

Meagan McKinney
Fair is the Rose

Rosamunde Pilcher
Shell Seekers

Luanne Rice
Firefly Beach

Nora Roberts
Jewels of the Sun (first in the series)
Sea Swept (first in the series)
The Villa
Three Fates

LaVyrle Spencer
Then Came Heaven
Years
Morning Glory

Katherine Stone
Bed of Roses

Suspense
In these novels the focus is mostly on the suspenseful plot leaving the relationships and romances in the background.

Catherine Coulter
The Maze
The Edge

Kay Hooper
After Caroline
Haunting Rachel

Iris Johansen
And Then You Die

Elizabeth Lowell
Moving Target
Amber Beach (first in the series)

Nora Roberts
Carolina Moon
Sacred Sins

Gothic
These novels involve romantic suspense and are written in the first person “damsel-in-distress” style.

Philippa Carr
Daphne DuMaurier
Victoria Holt
Barbara Michaels
Mary Stewart
Phyllis A. Whitney
Jennifer Wilde

Time Travel
In these novels one or more characters must deal with different time periods. The stories usually cross between contemporary and historical times.

Jude Deveraux
Knight in Shining Armor
Summerhouse

Constance O’Day-Flannery
Anywhere You Are

J. Suzanne Frank
Reflections in the Nile

Diana Gabaldon
Outlander

Linda Lael Miller
Knights

Ask ten people what a romance novel is and you’ll get ten different answers. This is because there are so many categories within the romance genre. The confusion is compounded by the fact that many of the more prolific and well-known authors are difficult to categorize because they jump between categories.Listed in this brochure is an overview of the general categories of romance, along with some books to start with from the major hardcover authors. Also included is a list of several outstanding writers with humorous or sexy writing styles.

If you’re looking for a new romance novel, a new author, or just for a good book, check these out.

Romance Writing Styles

Humorous
These writers are usually known for their quirky, silly, “laugh-out-loud” dialog. Catherine Coulter
Jayne Ann Krentz
Amanda Quick

Sexy
These writers are known for their true hot and heavy “bodice-ripper” style.
Jude Deveraux
Johanna Lindsey
Kat Martin
Fern Michaels
Linda Lael Miller
Bertrice Small
Janelle Taylor
Kathleen Woodiwiss