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The best historical romance books I've read.
1

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4.20 avg rating — 98,658 ratings
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3

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4.31 avg rating — 1,255,695 ratings
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4

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3.80 avg rating — 684,141 ratings
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5

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4.11 avg rating — 38,930 ratings
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6

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3.99 avg rating — 481,370 ratings
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7

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4.16 avg rating — 47,404 ratings
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8

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4.20 avg rating — 56,264 ratings
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9

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4.07 avg rating — 40,793 ratings
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10

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3.88 avg rating — 425,126 ratings
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11

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4.22 avg rating — 70,444 ratings
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12

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4.30 avg rating — 31,527 ratings
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13

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4.06 avg rating — 80,791 ratings
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14

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4.09 avg rating — 72,838 ratings
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15

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 87,151 ratings
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16

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4.04 avg rating — 47,868 ratings
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17

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4.04 avg rating — 40,345 ratings
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18

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3.98 avg rating — 258,861 ratings
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19

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4.25 avg rating — 56,494 ratings
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20

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4.33 avg rating — 29,704 ratings
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21

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4.33 avg rating — 38,404 ratings
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22

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4.09 avg rating — 512,814 ratings
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23

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4.23 avg rating — 34,801 ratings
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24

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4.15 avg rating — 50,323 ratings
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25

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4.03 avg rating — 47,244 ratings
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26

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4.13 avg rating — 20,343 ratings
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27

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4.16 avg rating — 37,864 ratings
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28

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4.16 avg rating — 2,107,652 ratings
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29

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4.14 avg rating — 47,789 ratings
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30

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4.07 avg rating — 60,161 ratings
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31

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3.94 avg rating — 401,929 ratings
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32

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4.13 avg rating — 23,488 ratings
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33

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4.06 avg rating — 23,773 ratings
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34

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4.20 avg rating — 53,642 ratings
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35

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4.34 avg rating — 384,615 ratings
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36

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3.93 avg rating — 31,749 ratings
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37

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4.39 avg rating — 330,365 ratings
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38

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4.20 avg rating — 38,459 ratings
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39

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3.95 avg rating — 24,892 ratings
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40

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4.17 avg rating — 28,796 ratings
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41

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4.22 avg rating — 32,320 ratings
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42

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4.26 avg rating — 30,166 ratings
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43

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4.06 avg rating — 17,578 ratings
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44

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3.94 avg rating — 33,626 ratings
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45

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3.97 avg rating — 212,116 ratings
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46

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3.69 avg rating — 298,117 ratings
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47

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4.29 avg rating — 94,405 ratings
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48

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4.21 avg rating — 24,226 ratings
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49

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4.02 avg rating — 61,077 ratings
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50

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4.19 avg rating — 13,156 ratings
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51

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4.19 avg rating — 10,917 ratings
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52

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4.16 avg rating — 13,206 ratings
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53

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4.07 avg rating — 141,517 ratings
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54

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4.17 avg rating — 36,250 ratings
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55

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4.20 avg rating — 24,875 ratings
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56

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4.04 avg rating — 20,548 ratings
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57

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4.14 avg rating — 17,859 ratings
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58

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4.17 avg rating — 21,108 ratings
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59

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4.04 avg rating — 26,857 ratings
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60

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4.15 avg rating — 182,948 ratings
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61

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3.76 avg rating — 25,823 ratings
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62

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4.11 avg rating — 9,961 ratings
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63

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4.36 avg rating — 268,782 ratings
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64

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4.10 avg rating — 21,753 ratings
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65

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4.17 avg rating — 23,930 ratings
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66

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4.18 avg rating — 25,644 ratings
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67

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4.11 avg rating — 19,912 ratings
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68

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4.06 avg rating — 30,832 ratings
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68

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4.23 avg rating — 17,463 ratings
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70

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3.86 avg rating — 51,056 ratings
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71

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4.08 avg rating — 39,424 ratings
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72

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4.02 avg rating — 23,506 ratings
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73

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4.14 avg rating — 17,574 ratings
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74

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4.02 avg rating — 14,901 ratings
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75

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3.98 avg rating — 16,592 ratings
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76

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77

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4.21 avg rating — 35,747 ratings
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78

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4.12 avg rating — 12,398 ratings
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79

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4.44 avg rating — 191,415 ratings
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80

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4.05 avg rating — 19,684 ratings
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81

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4.26 avg rating — 226,575 ratings
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82

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4.11 avg rating — 15,126 ratings
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83

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4.10 avg rating — 18,345 ratings
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84

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3.95 avg rating — 22,954 ratings
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85

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3.90 avg rating — 24,443 ratings
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86

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4.08 avg rating — 14,039 ratings
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87

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4.15 avg rating — 18,303 ratings
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88

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4.15 avg rating — 16,886 ratings
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89

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 11,604 ratings
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90

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3.77 avg rating — 14,535 ratings
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91

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4.10 avg rating — 22,867 ratings
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92

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4.44 avg rating — 165,485 ratings
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93

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4.05 avg rating — 17,639 ratings
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94

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4.02 avg rating — 22,197 ratings
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95

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 12,868 ratings
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96

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4.06 avg rating — 17,145 ratings
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97

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4.10 avg rating — 12,176 ratings
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98

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4.02 avg rating — 10,694 ratings
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99

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4.06 avg rating — 10,362 ratings
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100

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4.26 avg rating — 5,758 ratings
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1,971 books · 2,157 voters · list created August 10th, 2008 by Suvi (votes) .
257 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Suvi 2296 books
7 friends
Barbara 3812 books
28 friends
Kathrynn 1629 books
46 friends
Cindy 10720 books
159 friends
Jessica 114 books
306 friends
new_user 1555 books
193 friends
Susanna - Censored by GoodReads 3386 books
851 friends
Sandra 889 books
69 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-30 of 30 (30 new)

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message 1: by Anna (new)

Anna I think that For the Roses by Julie Garwood needs to be added to this list. As do all the Cynsters by Stephanie Laurens, all the Sherbrooke Bride books by Catherine Coulter, and all the Julia Quinn books about the Bridgertons. And lots of others. I think I'll have to do my own list.


message 2: by Anna (new)

Anna From one Anna to another . . . I agree with you! I love the Sherbrooke series; so funny and adventurous. And every one of the Bridgerton siblings was lovable and had a great story. Especially Eloise and Colin--their stories are my top 2, but I love them all.


message 3: by Henryetta (new)

Henryetta Do the voters ever read the list titles or categories? How could 13 people vote for Eclipse by Stephenie Myers? Historical--really? What century or decade was the setting? I liked the Twilight series, but can someone please remove it from this list.


message 4: by Alexa (new)

Alexa Henryetta wrote: "Do the voters ever read the list titles or categories? How could 13 people vote for Eclipse by Stephenie Myers? Historical--really? What century or decade was the setting? I liked the Twilight s..."

I was reading the list and I saw it too. Historical romance? I mean, REALLY? Seriously, people.


message 5: by Cryselle (new)

Cryselle Have no idea why books from Bronte and Austen are on this list either -- they aren't historical romance. Good books, but utterly contemporary when they were written. They belong on a classics shelf.


message 6: by Julie (new)

Julie S. That is strange that people would call Eclipse historical fiction. The Twilight books were published not that long ago...


message 7: by Henryetta (new)

Henryetta Historical fiction tells a story that is SET IN THE PAST--not necessarly published in the past. Since all of the "Twilight" books are set in present day--as noted by the cars the characters drive--they can NOT be historical fiction. What is or is not considered "historical" is discussed in the comments of "Best Historical Fiction".


message 8: by Danna (new)

Danna Wow, I think you got some great books in here, personally, I have a complete reading list for holidays-time, thank you! According to the voting of some people ("users") I know online, I learn that the books you included on this list are incredible, and I would like to thank you for this, so Thanks A Lot!
I gonna vote now, for the book that I do know. Gone with the Wind, which is amazing, and the Jane Austin, the first book on the list, for now, anyway.


message 9: by Danna (new)

Danna Cryselle wrote: "Have no idea why books from Bronte and Austen are on this list either -- they aren't historical romance. Good books, but utterly contemporary when they were written. They belong on a classics shelf."

Austen? Come on, she is The author of historical romance :)


message 10: by Valerie (new)

Valerie Kite Bronte is historical from our current viewpoint.


message 11: by Diane (new)

Diane Diana Gabaldon and Barbara Erskine for me all the way...


message 12: by Siasiam (new)

Siasiam can anyone tell me abuout this site?? am new here..can we read online here????


message 13: by [deleted user] (new)

Siasiam wrote: "can anyone tell me abuout this site?? am new here..can we read online here????"

Not really, this is more to give you an idea about what you might want to read.


message 14: by Hanae (new)

Hanae I've removed the Twilight books from the list - the people who added it or voted for it clearly hadn't read the list description.


message 15: by Hanae (new)

Hanae "The Odyssey" is gone from the list, as well as the books that were added twice or were listed under a wrong title.


message 16: by [deleted user] (new)

Hanae wrote: ""The Odyssey" is gone from the list, as well as the books that were added twice or were listed under a wrong title."

Thanks, I appreciate it when a librarian cleans up these lists.


message 17: by Hanae (new)

Hanae let me know if there's anything else you'd like me to remove. I'd be glad to help.


message 18: by Dede (new)

Dede Jojo I read a lot of romance books I love reading


message 19: by Dede (new)

Dede Jojo I am new her if any one recommend any books plz do


message 20: by Mochaspresso (new)

Mochaspresso Technically, historical fiction means a fictional story that is set in the past (any time in the past..not necessarily "long, long ago") and is usually centered around a historical event. Austen and Bronte aren't technically historical fiction because they aren't centered around historical events. Not in the same, clear way that "Gone With the Wind" and Gabaldon's "Outlander" are. Quite a few books on this list don't belong.


message 21: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Jun 30, 2013 02:39PM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) I've seen quite a number of books on this list I personally wouldn't consider a 'historical romance' but that might be a matter of opinion :-) Anne Frank's diary, however, is definitely not a historical romance and will be removed.


message 22: by Elizabeth (new)

Elizabeth Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre are not historical fiction. They were written about the time periods they were written during. If that's all it takes for something to be historical, I'm sure we'll eventually have to have Eclipse re-added to this list. ;)


message 23: by Greselley (new)

Greselley I can't believe Dreaming of you is only in no. 10 spot!!! This is so bad.


message 24: by Emily (new)

Emily I would add The Conquerer (sp?) by Brenda Joyce


message 25: by Shanna (new)

Shanna Rampersad Anna wrote: "I think that For the Roses by Julie Garwood needs to be added to this list. As do all the Cynsters by Stephanie Laurens, all the Sherbrooke Bride books by Catherine Coulter, and all the Julia Quinn..."

yes,I totally agree


message 26: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Aug 15, 2020 01:39AM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) Henryetta wrote: "Historical fiction tells a story that is SET IN THE PAST--..."

In my opinion, historical fiction means it is not set when it was first publishsed. For instance, Pride and Prejudice is not historical fiction, as it was set in the time it was written. It needs to be set in the past (50 years or more, or such).


BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) Elizabeth wrote: "Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre are not historical fiction. They were written about the time periods they were written during...."

I agree...


BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) Cryselle wrote: "Have no idea why books from Bronte and Austen are on this list either -- they aren't historical romance. Good books, but utterly contemporary when they were written. They belong on a classics shelf."

I totally agree...


message 29: by Midniteillusion (new)

Midniteillusion Can A Cedar Cove Christmas (Cedar Cove, #8.5) be removed? It's a contemporary.


message 30: by Sam (new)

Sam Other than Heyer ), the top 100 of this list is full of popular authors I strenuously avoid. Hmm, guess I should look for another list.


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