Clean Romances discussion

Hi, everyone,I am sooooo weary of 'DOWNER' romances, full of 'woe,tragedy, characters that are either TSTL or so wounded that they can't let go of the past and trust Mr or Mrs Perfect for them,until the last few pages of the book[hence no romance there]!

I went through my read list and these are my favorites,can anyone suggest similar ones? Please no Georgette Heyer,I have tried 7 of hers and could not get into them,so hers are forever off my list!
And no more by Marcia Lynn McClure I have read several but only two make my favorites list.

My Favorites....

Edenbrooke [but I hated the second book-Blackmoore!] by Julianne Donaldson

Pride's Prejudice by Misty Dawn Pulsipher

Brighton Road by Susan Carroll

First Impressions (The Austen Series, Book 1)by Debra White Smith

Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand Carla Kelly

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

Waterfall: A Novel (River of Time Series)by Lisa T. Bergren

A Crimson Frost by Marcia Lynn McClure

The Highwayman of Tanglewood by Marcia Lynn McClure

Waiting hopefully For wonderful suggestions,any romance sub-genre! :]

I don't know if I'm allowed to recommend my own book here but if you like to check the reviews here or on Amazon of 'Inshallah' you may find it's worth a read.
It's different anyway.

Hi Christine! Have you checked out the Harlequin Heartwarming line? Happy ever afters are a given. We do have a group here and they can be found on amazon too.

Christine, (had someone at the door earlier) I just looked into the books on your list and plan on trying a few. Waterfall sounds really interesting. I love historicals but most of the ones I know aren't 'clean' so thanks for posting. I'll be checking some of these out!

Who is the author of The Rose Garden?

Christine wrote: "Hi, everyone,I am sooooo weary of 'DOWNER' romances, full of 'woe,tragedy, characters that are either TSTL or so wounded that they can't let go of the past and trust Mr or Mrs Perfect for them,unti..."

Hi Christine! I write the kind of books you are asking about. My first in the series is out and the second is coming out in two weeks. The third is already written. Check it out on my website. I'll even send you the first one for free because I'm hoping I'll get you hooked. It's long (426 pages) but a really fast, light hearted read.

Read this review and check out the website and email me if you want a free copy.

So here's what's offered in this impressive first novel by amazing author-out-of-nowhere Tamie Dearen: A quick-moving love story peppered with just enough steam and romance to happily revive a warm-blooded, too-long cynical imagination. The heroine may be a woman whom in our jaded culture provokes an eye roll and a "you've got to be kidding" smirk: She's a ways past 40. She has no skeletons in her closet or train wrecks in her personal life. She has a working moral compass and a healthy libido, to boot. She has two adult daughters who actually buy in to her cool-aid of high standards and insistence on holding out for Mr. Right. A prehistoric long-extinct creature? No. A refreshing role model who works out, steps out, gets the guy and keeps her soul. Ann Best is a happily-ever-after why-shouldn't-it-be-reality-show role model who challenges a generation of Best women to get out there and go for, wait for and insist on the gold.

terratt0612@gmail.com

http://tamiedearen.weebly.com/best-gi...

Hi Christine,

I think I know what you mean. I write stories about real women who are normal and believable, not overly dramatic. Here are a few stories that I’ve enjoyed lately. They’re all sweet romances, with sane main characters that you can like and believe. I’m not sure they are entirely “angst-free” since if there was no conflict or problem there would be no story, but the people aren’t horribly damaged and the couples aren’t fighting and arguing.

The Bargain https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
The Ring That Binds https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
A Heart for Christmas https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

P.S. What is TSTL?

Beth...I had to think for a sec, but I believe it stands for Too Stupid To Live. I hate those types of characters too, lol!

Hi everyone and thank you so much for the responses!

The Rose Garden is by Susanna Kearsley.

TSTL=TOO STUPID TOO LIVE!

I will check the books mentioned. I did forget to mention that I prefer full length novels and 'won't even read' anything less than minimum 200 pgs[I do not consider anything shorter a book!]

I prefer just under 300 pgs to 400 pgs. Also must have several 4-5 'genuine'[not just friends/relatives/sock puppets] star reviews.

Thanks, Rula and Christine. Ah, those women you just want to slap some sense into. Now I understand why they irritate you. Me too.

Those recommendations I gave are all fairly short, so probably wouldn't suit you, Christine. I enjoy short stories in between longer ones, for variety. I'm glad to hear you like longer books, though. My last one came in at close to 400 pages, and I was afraid readers might shy away from long books.

I'll have to look through my history and see if I can think of any longer reads you might like. Are you a Rosemund Pilcher fan? Winter Solstice is one of my favorite books, although there is some premarital sex (alluded to, not described). I'll have to check out your list of favorites.

Barbara Metzger's Regencies are hilarious! I think you can find many of them as e-books if you can't get the paperbacks. Other older writers who wrote in the vein of Georgette Heyer are Clare Darcy and Daisy Vivian. I also really like Regina Scott's Zebra paperback Regencies. There's always a villain or some sort of obstacle to overcome but they're light and fun. Check out my reviews or my blog http://bluestockingmusings.bloogspot.com
to see what else I like.

Sorry Beth and Qnpoohbear,but Rosemund Pilcher's books sound depressing and are far too long!

Plus the books of neither author sound like they are what I consider 'clean'.

I see Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand. I love Carla Kelly books as well.

My stories have some conflict, so maybe some agnst, but not much.

HER EX NEXT DOOR is my funniest (according to my husband). It's sweet with no sex scenes.

Ginny hasn’t told anyone about her brief marriage nine years ago -- not even her new fiancé. But sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas.

Ginny is planning to get married in six weeks, when her ex-husband Derek shows up. Derek has always been trouble -- too smart, too sexy, too unreliable. Ginny wants nothing to do with him, but now he’s rich, and he has mischief on his mind. Ginny does not want to trade her dreams of happily-ever-after for a guaranteed heartache. But what if he's changed?

Beverly Farr

Christine wrote: "Hi, everyone,I am sooooo weary of 'DOWNER' romances, full of 'woe,tragedy, characters that are either TSTL or so wounded that they can't let go of the past and trust Mr or Mrs Perfect for them,unti..."

Here are some that I have liked.

My Own Mr. Darcy

Anything by Sarah M Eden
Longing for Home

After Hello

Austenland and Midnight in Austenland are pretty fun in my opinion.

Hope you find some you like.

"Christine wrote: "Hi, everyone,I am sooooo weary of 'DOWNER' romances, full of 'woe,tragedy, characters that are either TSTL or so wounded that they can't let go of the past and trust Mr or Mrs Per..."

I really like several of those books on your list, so we might have similar tastes :) Here are a few I've enjoyed:

All For You by Lynn Kurland (modern/medieval time travel)

Stranger She Married by Donna Hatch (Regency romance)

Mystic and Rider by Sharon Shinn (fantasy with some romance)

Crown Duel(and Court Duel) by Sherwood Smith (medieval-style fantasy romance)

Beauty by Robin McKinley (Beauty and the Beast retold)

Saphyre Snow by Marcia Lynn McClure (Snow White retold)

The Bride Finder by Susan Carroll (has sex scenes between husband and wife)


Most of these are clean romance (except where indicated), several with fantasy story lines. If you want lots of warm romance with little angst, definitely read LK. I know you didn't want any MLM but based on the other two books by her on your list I think you'd really like this one also (I don't like her westerns but love this style from her!) Happy reading! I look forward to trying some on your list also...

Hi Christine,
I've written two books you might enjoy The Ocean Between, and Payback in Wayback. They are contemporary, realistic and romantic without explicit sex. If you do check them out, I'd love to hear your opinion.

Brooke and KRJ,thank you for those suggestions!

Lynda,The Ocean Between sounds interesting,but I would not read the 40-pg-Payback in Wayback.

Keep the suggestions coming. :]

I'll admit that I've enjoyed "Rose Garden" and a couple of other Susanna Kearsley books because they read quite a bit like Mary Stewart's mystery-romances. However, they're not what I'd call truly clean. There's premarital sex in every one of hers that I've read, although totally non-explicit (behind closed doors). You can make your own call as to whether that's clean enough for you.

I don't personally care for Marcia McClure's books--too "purple prose".

I have to get kids off to school but will come back and edit this with a list of my favorite romances. :)

I can accept the premarital sex as long as it's behind closed doors,after all....in truth,how many of us[including our parents]did not have sex before marriage,lol?????

Plus,I prefer my romances to have at least a few 'passionate' kisses,no tongues mentioned please,but I like to hear about deeping the kiss,the hero pulling her closer... and I love to hear the hero groan,lol!

The Diamond Key
Cindy Holbrook
Donna Hatch
Debbie Raleigh

Metzger, Holbrook and Raleigh's books are lighthearted (the ones I've read). I thought they were a lot of fun. I bought used copies off amazon for pretty cheap. I'm hoping they'll be on kindle some day.

Okay, this is it: my master list of lists for good clean romantic reads. I'll leave off Sarah Eden, Carla Kelly and a few others that everyone here would know or have already been mentioned (Edenbrooke, Crown Duel, Austenland, Beauty).

Shannon Hale: Goose Girl and River Secrets (skip Enna Burning unless you're a completist)
Loretta Chase: Any of her 6 early traditional Regencies (The Sandalwood Princess, Knave's Wager, Isabella, The English Witch, Viscount Vagabond, The Devil's Delilah)
Melanie Jacobson: I've really enjoyed all of her romantic comedies.
Emily Mah Tippetts: Someone Else's Fairytale and Paint Me True
Mary Stewart: Nine Coaches Waiting, This Rough Magic, The Moonspinners, Madam Will You Talk
Sherwood Smith: Coronets and Steel (full disclosure: there's kind of a cliffhanger ending that's resolved in the second book, Blood Spirits. Still well worth reading) and The Trouble With Kings
Megan Whaley Turner: The Thief series (seriously: you have to read the third book, The King of Attolia. SO GOOD! but you really need to read the first two to appreciate it. This is primarily a fantasy with a little romance.)
Robin McKinley: The Blue Sword
Patricia McKillip: The Changeling Sea
Sharon Shinn: Summers at Castle Auburn
Georgette Heyer: Devil's Cub (Christine, if you haven't read this one, give it a try even though you didn't like her others. The end is to die for)
Kate Harper: How to Build the Perfect Rake
Diane Darcy: She's Just Right
Jenni James: Pride and Popularity
Nevil Shute: A Town Like Alice (okay, only loosely a romance, but I wholeheartedly love this book)
Rachael Anderson: Luck of the Draw
Elizabeth Marie Pope: The Sherwood Ring (major love to this book as well)

The Reluctant Bachelorette
My Fair Godmother (she writes mostly YA, but she has a few adult ones that are fun)

Thank you Kathy and Tadiana for those suggestions.Looks like a fun winter of reading ahead.

If you can find Judith Lansdowne, her books are great fun. I love some Lynn Kurland, some not as much. Dreams of Stardust is a fav. I recently read a book called Re-writing Monday that I think fits in your criteria. I think the author is Jodi Thomas. Not all her books are clean but that one was in my definition. Cindy Miles has some as well. I did find that a couple if them have some swearing in them but no R-rated words. If that doesn't 't bother you, give her a try.

Thank you Nanci, I will check those out,and no occasional 'mild' cursing doesn't bother me, if not too continuous.

This is totally the category I like also. I have read most of the suggestions given here but there are a few I haven't. Thanks all, for sharing. Let's keep this discussion open and add books where we find them. It is great to have two characters meet, progress in the relationship and fall in love without all the misunderstanding and inner turmoil. Ugh! I enjoy it when the conflict is something outside the relationship that brings them together.

Christine wrote: "no tongues mentioned please"

If you hate tongue discussions then skip "She's Just Right" by Diane Darcy. Tongues definitely play a role in the kissing scenes. I thought it was kind of hot but you probably wouldn't care for it. LOL.

Christine wrote: "Hi, everyone,I am sooooo weary of 'DOWNER' romances, full of 'woe,tragedy, characters that are either TSTL or so wounded that they can't let go of the past and trust Mr or Mrs Perfect for them,unti..."

Have you read Jane Austen's novels? ;)
The Nobody by Diane Farr was very good, I strongly recommend it!

I second the nomination for Jane Austen.

Tadiana wrote: If you hate tongue discussions then skip "She's Just Right" by Diane Darcy. Tongues definitely play a role in the kissing scenes. I thought it was ki..."

Oh don't skip Diane Darcy, she has just the right amount of kissing and always great romances. I have really enjoyed all of her books.

Oh yes, I LOVE Jane Austen,and also loved 'The Fortune Hunter' by Diane Farr,it was hilarious! :]

Christine wrote: "Hi, everyone,I am sooooo weary of 'DOWNER' romances, full of 'woe,tragedy, characters that are either TSTL or so wounded that they can't let go of the past and trust Mr or Mrs Perfect for them,unti..."

So Christine, you probably really enjoyed Sarah Eden's Glimmer of Hope, huh? :D

Has anyone EVER read a romance novel that's more of a downer? I don't think I have. Short of divorce or one of the main characters dying, I don't think it could have been worse.

Have you read Dorothy Keddington books...... I love them....adventure, kinda predictable but some great romance. I think they're a lot like Edenbrooke. My fav is Jayhawk with Return to Red Castel a close second. Anyone I have ever recommended them to love them.

If you like Jane Austen then read Jude Morgan. He comes the closest to capturing her tone and style. I loved Indiscretion. A Little Folly is good too. I have a shelf of clean romances I've read https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

The contemporary romances usually feature a fade to black love scene and some mild language akin to a PG-13 movie. The historical books may mention past exploits and have mild epithets.

Tadiana,the only thing I've read by Sarah Eden is 'The Kiss of a Stranger'[1-star] hated it,so I think she is an author for me to avoid.

Ashlynn,I loved Return To Red Castle[5-stars] by Dorothy Keddington,but didn't care much for Jayhawk[3-stars] with the many despicable racist characters in that story of a white woman/Indian romance.

Qnpoohbear,thanks a bunch for all those titles to browse through! There is sure to be several hits there. :]

The Shadow of the Bear is a very good one. The characters in it are Catholic, but it's not a very "religious" book. I just finished it this past week, and it's become an instant favourite.

I really enjoyed Dorothy Keddington's The Fairy Thorn. It was a fun romantic read. I don't think her books are available on the Kindle, though.

Sarah Eden does kind of write angsty books. I did enjoy Drops of Gold and Seeking Persephone, but yeah, pretty major life trauma going on there. Courting Miss Lancaster is more light-hearted, so you might try that one.

Add My Double Life to the list. I read that one the other day and liked it a lot.

Megan wrote: "The Shadow of the Bear is a very good one. The characters in it are Catholic, but it's not a very "religious" book. I just finished it this past week, and it's become an instant favourite."

Megan,'Shadow of the bear' if it's the one by Regina Doman is shorter[at 228 pgs] than books I choose to read.I prefer books closer to 300-400 pgs.I'm just not into short stories or 'booklets'.

Tadiana,will have to try The Fairy Thorn,and My Double Life. I got Courting Miss Lancaster some time ago as a Kindle Freebie,but haven't tried it.I hope she isn't like Karen Kingsbury. I've never read a synopsis for any book of hers that doesn't sound like a downer,though,so I doubt if anyone else can be that depressing,lol!

I'll see your Karen Kingsbury and raise you Sarah Eden's Glimmer of Hope. LOL. I've never read a Kingsbury book but, like I said upthread, I just can't imagine a romance novel being more of a downer than Glimmer of Hope. Made me want to slit my wrists.

Tadiana wrote: "I'll see your Karen Kingsbury and raise you Sarah Eden's Glimmer of Hope. LOL. I've never read a Kingsbury book but, like I said upthread, I just can't imagine a romance novel being more of a downe..."

LOL, Oh boy,I know to avoid that one at all costs!!!!! Very misleading title,wouldn't you say?

Emily Hendrickson wrote super fluffy clean Regency romances. They seem to be available for Kindle.

Also in the Regency category The Best Intentions by Candice Hern is funny and it's clean but there are some passionate kisses. I'm waiting for Miss Lacey's Last Fling to show up in the mail.

I just read A Bride for Christmas by Aileen Fish. It's a super sweet and heartwarming Regency romance. It's a little funny and a lot sweet.

I like contemporary "chick-lit" stories. They usually have closed door love scenes and some language like a PG-13 movie. I adore Meg Cabot (her teen books aren't as good) and Sophie Kinsella.

Go to listopia and check out the Clean Indie Reads list. Hope you find your HEA.

Christine wrote: "Oh yes, I LOVE Jane Austen,and also loved 'The Fortune Hunter' by Diane Farr,it was hilarious! :]"

I haven't read that one yet! I think Falling For Chloe comes before it, right?

Anne wrote: "Christine wrote: "Oh yes, I LOVE Jane Austen,and also loved 'The Fortune Hunter' by Diane Farr,it was hilarious! :]"

I haven't read that one yet! I think Falling For Chloe comes before it, right?"

I believe so Anne.

Christine wrote: "Anne wrote: "Christine wrote: "Oh yes, I LOVE Jane Austen,and also loved 'The Fortune Hunter' by Diane Farr,it was hilarious! :]"

I haven't read that one yet! I think Falling For Chloe comes befor..."

Have you read that one? I think I will read it before The Fortune Hunter :)

I just ordered Falling for Chloe and The Fortune Hunter through PaperbackSwap.com (I have some extra credits to use up) so thanks for the recommendations, ladies! They look like fun books. And yes, Falling for Chloe definitely comes first.

Tadiana wrote: "I just ordered Falling for Chloe and The Fortune Hunter through PaperbackSwap.com (I have some extra credits to use up) so thanks for the recommendations, ladies! They look like fun books. And yes,..."

Oh great! :) I hope you will enjoy them, I can't wait to get to them!

I haven't read 'Falling For Chloe' didn't know until recently that it comes first,but I do know that I found 'Fortune Hunter' to be a blast to read,and what made it even more enjoyable is that I really liked both the Heroine and the rascal of a Hero,lol!

How about some suggestions in 'other' genres besides 'Regency',lol?

I love Knights,Cowboys, Ranchers,Military and other men in uniform,also.All men,all eras.

You might like my contempory romance, Recalculating Route, about a widow who meets a many-time-divorced cowboy and agrees to ride along on his road trip. The characters are nice, sane people and the romance develops naturally through the story.