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Once upon a time a young woman picked up a novel which was so engrossing, thrilling, and full of passion it began a lifelong quest for other books that made her feel the same way. She read many, but only a few brought her to the heights of ecstasy. Those few went on her keeper shelf, and she re-read them when life was hard and she needed to be swept away, when she was lonely and wanted to visit old friends, when she was happy and wanted to celebrate. Those books, those romances, held a special place in her heart.

Which is why, here for your enjoyment, the Squawkers have each put together a list of their two essential romances no bookshelf should be without.

Christina Dodd thinks keeping it down to two is way too difficult, but here goes:
Jayne Ann Krentz was a pioneer in paranormal romances, writing them long before the current craze. (When I asked her about them, she said, “Can’t say that using the psychic thing was one of my more brilliant career moves. Not to put too fine a point on it, the books were not exactly a roaring success. Actually, the opposite. The books eventually found a niche (okay, cult) market but, sadly, it took years.") In GIFT OF GOLD, Jonas makes a physic connection to Renaissance weapons used in acts of violence. They transport him into the past where he reinacts the battle — and can kill in the present. He’s been used as a guinea pig by researchers, but nothing helps him control his gift until a chance meeting with Verity sends him after her. He stalks her to her restaurant, hires on as her dishwasher, and the story unfolds as they discover how their unique connection works, fight a terrible villiain … and fall in love. GIFT OF FIRE continues their story into a new adventure and a deepening relationship. This duo of books stands out in my mind as first, fun and fabulous, the Jayne Ann Krentz books I recommend first among her impressive body of work.

MACKENZIE’S MOUNTAIN is my first Linda Howard book, and in the past I’ve given speeches to romance writers dissecting the story. She constructs the book out of clichés and proves that in the hands of a master, clichés work. The setting is the rugged Colorado Rockies. The hero, Wolf, is Indian, a horse-breeder, a former Green Beret, and a man unjustly convicted of rape. The conviction was overturned, but only after he spent time in prison. He’s now a hard, bitter man, at odds with the mountain town. Mary is a Southern gentlewoman and a school teacher, determined to give Wolf’s teenage son — a brilliant boy and a drop-out — a chance at a scholarship to the Air Force Academy. Please note, the hero and heroine are exact opposites, and even their names are clichés. During the course of the story, Wolf saves Mary’s life, tames him and brings him back to the civilization which he scorns, cares for his son, and Wolf and Mary have the greatest sex in the history of the world. Politically incorrect? Yes. Great romance? You bet.

Eloisa James here, about to hit Amazon for Gift of Gold—a Krentz paranormal I haven’t read!—but I’ll pause just long enough to list two of my keepers:
Loretta Chase once described Lord of Scoundrels as a gift—one of those books which just fall into a writer’s hands (or computer) once in their lifetime.  To me, it reads like one of those very, very rare romances: one in which the hero is really a man—not a woman in men’s tights.  He thinks like a man and he falls in love like a man.  And he makes emotional mistakes just like the same flat-footed men we know.  This is one of the most beautifully written, sexy, funny and deep books I know. I think I’ve read it 14 times.  If you’ve never encountered it, then I’m deeply envious.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips writes the kind of books that make you laugh out loud, maybe even fall off the couch laughing—as I did when I read It Had To Be You for the first time. From the moment Phoebe Somerville sauntered across the page and into my imagination I loved her--but even more than that, I loved the prose that created her.  The incredibly funny one-liners balanced against grief, laughter and deep sexual desire.  This book is the kind that gives you not just laughs ,but a deep, satisfying sense of rightness at the end.  I feel the same way about this one that I do about Lord of Scoundrels:  I just wish I hadn’t read them, so that I could discover them now!

Teresa Medeiros knows her choices won’t shock anyone since she’s always raving about these two books: 
THE WINDFLOWER by Tom and Sharon Curtis (Laura London - 1984) - As I’ve said before, this is not only my favorite romance but my favorite novel of all time. You’ll find the writing a little more detailed than most romances today but it’s so exquisite that I love every syllable. The cast of unforgettable characters include Merry Patricia Wilding, whose innocence, courage, and good humor prove irresistible to even the most jaded of pirates; Devon, her handsome abductor, whose passion is exceeded only by his compassion; enigmatic pirate king Rand Morgan and his young protégé, Cat. To this day, Cat remains one of the most beloved secondary characters in all of romantic fiction. No longer a boy, but not yet a man, he reluctantly assumes the role of Merry’s champion and steals our hearts just as surely as Devon steals Merry’s. (Alternate Curtis Pick - SUNSHINE AND SHADOW and every one of their short Regencies and categories.)

A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR by Jude Deveraux (1989) - This is the ultimate time travel romance that rocked the publishing world back in 1989. It was fresh and unique because Jude brought her hero forward in time to the present day before sending her heroine back in time to search for him. It was the first time I realized just how compelling a “lovable loser” heroine could be. And I still smile when I think about Nicholas being introduced to the modern joys of the vacuum cleaner and can opener and get a catch in my throat when I think about the ending. Jude has always had the ability to write in almost any genre because she’s such a consummate storyteller. (Alternate: WISHES, the VELVET series).

Most of Lisa’s keeper books have two things in common : deeply tortured heroes and blazing sensuality.

I know it rings of nepotism for me to mention a fellow Squawker’s book, but there is no denying it: Connie Brockway’s All Through The Night is one of the greatest historical romance novels ever written. It features a tortured hero AND a tortured heroine, who find love and acceptance through sexual healing. The writing is sensitive and elegantly poetic without being flowery. And above all, it is haunting in the way it unfolds a careful pleating of savagery and tenderness, until you are madly in love with the story and every character in it. Especially Jack Seward and his ragged voice and his poor gimpy hand and his untamed libido. Back off girls: he’s mine.

You may say it’s too soon for this book to be called a classic, but I know one when I see one. A romance so good it transcends the paranormal genre . . . I don’t care if you like historicals, contemps, Americana, whatever, I defy you not to get a rush, a thrill, even a swoon, upon your first reading of Lover Awakened by JR Ward. This burning, over the top, heartbreakingly intimate Beauty-and-the-Beast story of vampires in love is nothing short of a thrill ride. The urban backdrop only enhances the story’s surprising qualities of sweetness and innocence, which persist even as Z and Bella indulge in shockingly erotic loveplay. And Z easily wins the title of Most Tortured Hero Ever. Two Fangs up for this great novel.

CONNIE finally decided to go with opposite ends of the spectrum starting with the sexually charged SHADOW AND THE STAR by Laura Kinsale

a Victorian story about impoverished, naive and sweet Leda, the shopgirl’s romance with the Samuel Gerard, child-abuse victim, tormented, twisted and a virgin. Poor Samuel wants so badly to ignore every sexual impulse and love only “purely” at the same time he is being honed into a weapon by his guardian’s mysterious butler. Taught self-control through years of studying martial arts, the only person who threatens that control is Leda. Okay, what’s better than a hero who loses it for love? Not much.

Up next, at the opposite end of the spectrum, with a hero who knows all too well the difference between lust and love and is on the rack because of it, is an amazing romance, LOVE IN DISGUISE by Edith Layton.

Educated as a lady, but the daughter of a wealthy fishmonger, beautiful Susannah doesn’t fit into either society. She aspires to a nobler class and so when one of her father’s business contacts the cynical, witty and fabulously wealhty Warwick Jones offers to sponsor her, she accepts. On Warwick’s part, their friendship soon becomes more, unfortunatley Susannah has already fallen for one of his best friend’s the gorgeous, honorable, athletic and dirt poor nobleman, Julian. What makes this romance so sumptuous is that you can feel Warwick’s pain as Julian, in turn, slowly awakens to Susannah’s charms.  Warwick is convinced it’s a perfect match as they are both young, beautiful, and decent. But what about Warwick? He yearns, he pines, he does hius damndest to be honorable, to encourage the relationship between the two people he loves and it’s wonderful to read through his torment and eventual...?

LIZ Rounds Things Up with Two of Her Very Favorite Books

I’ve been a sucker for ghost stories ever since seeing “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” when I was a girl.  So it’s no surprise that whenever I see a ghost romance in stores, I snap it up without a second thought.  But this, A SPIRITED SEDUCTION by Casey Claybourne is, hands down, my favorite.  In an effort to care for her younger brothers, spinster Sabrina Simmons will do just about anything--even if it means being a kept woman by the man who has his sights on the family home.  Unfortunately, bluestocking Sabrina doesn’t know the first thing about seduction.  So it’s good when Nell, the ghost of a London Madame, shows up to give her pointers, right? Never mind that Nell’s not exactly up on proper courtesan protocol… It’s just a wonderful, funny story that always makes me feel better when I need something to cheer me up.

It’s SO hard to narrow down one Theresa Weir book as my fave by her, ‘cause I love all of them.  But this, AMAZON LILY, barely edges out IGUANA BAY and FOREVER.  (But both are still highly recommended, said the sneaky author, adding another two books to the list.) What can I say?  I’m a sucker for jungle romances, too.  Farmgirl Corey McKinney, on a church mission to the Amazon, ends up relying on bush pilot Ash Adams, who saves her from death pits, hostile natives, spiders and, scariest of all, a potential life of routine and boredom.  Who could resist such a man? You want a romantic hero?  I gotcher hero right here, babe.

So what books would you add to the list of essential romances no one’s personal library should be without?  We especially want to hear about those that might have flown under our radar the first time around that we missed.  And remind us of the ones we need to go back and read.

TODAY’S SQUAWK 2ND ANNIVERSARY CONTEST MEANS MORE PRIZES FOR EVERYBODY!  WE’LL BE GIVING AWAY 6 AUTOGRAPHED SQUAWKER BOOKS TO 6 DIFFERENT READERS FROM OUR MEMBER LIST!  CHECK BACK TONIGHT FOR A LIST OF WINNERS AND GOOD LUCK!