Today I’m participating in The Romance Reviews’ Romance Madness Hop, in which bloggers come together to showcase favourite romance novels. I so love romance books, and have done my whole life, so choosing just one to feature today proved too hard a task. Therefore, I’m sharing with you five of my favourite romance reads:

The Shadow of the Moon by MM Kaye. Had I to pick a favourite writer, MM Kaye would be my choice. She writes so vividly, and her fabulous descriptions transport you to a time and a place so effectively that you are drawn into the story. The Shadow of the Moon tells the story of a beautiful English heiress come home to her beloved India and her protector who falls in love with her, set against the backdrop of war that threatens the empire. It’s epic, it’s romantic and it’s timeless.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. This has been one of my favourite books since I first read it in my youth because it is so wonderfully romantic and Charlotte Brontë has such a beautiful writing style. Jane is such a strong, admirable character, and Mr Rochester is the ultimate byronic hero. I defy anyone to read this book and not be swept away by the poignancy and power of the words.

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. I was educated at a French convent school and I read French Literature at university, so as you can imagine, I have a strong connection to this great French writer. If, like me, you love thick books and long, intricate, detailed plots then Les Misérables is a must-read. The stage show and the film are wonderful, of course, but they really can’t convey the power of Hugo’s words. There is such beauty in the language, and such wisdom. Take, for example, this quotation from the book: “When love has fused and mingled two beings in a sacred and angelic unity, the secret of life has been discovered so far as they are concerned; they are no longer anything more than the two boundaries of the same destiny; they are no longer anything but the two wings of the same spirit. Love, soar.” My heart sighs just to read those words!

The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh. This is a recent read for me, but I’ve found it has echoed in me since I closed the book. Stirring and romantic in a grounding, inspiring way, and eye-opening in terms of its exploration of colonial South Africa. For my review of the book, see https://hannahfielding.net/?p=1745.

Burning Embers by Hannah Fielding. Is it cheating to choose your own book? Well, the American writer Toni Morrison once said, ‘If there’s a book you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.’ This is how I feel about my books, and I’m sure it is how other authors feel as well – we love our books, because they embody stories that have lived and breathed inside our minds, our hearts, our souls for a lifetime.

Would you like to escape into a passionate, vivid romance? For your chance to win a copy of my novel Burning Embers, simply comment on this post by the end of the hop.