Romance is the most maligned genre of literature, despite being the highest grossing. How do publishers afford multi-million dollar contracts for first time literary fiction authors? On the backs of romance. We, romance readers, are the most loyal fans. We are powering through the recession, earning even more profits for Harlequin despite the buying downturn through the rest of the economy. Unfortunately, most people who criticize the genre as “bodice-rippers” and “crotch novels” have never read one. I’ll leave the eloquent arguments to Smart Bitches who Love Trashy Books and Dear Author. Check out the stats on romance readers from the Romance Writers of America to see that we’re a highly diverse, highly educated bunch. Escapist fantasies? What book, besides a textbook, isn’t an escapist fantasy? That’s what reading is. That’s what TV and movies are. ENTERTAINMENT.

Romance novels are delicious. Nom…nom…nomnomnomnomnom.

What I want to share with you now is the time honored wisdom: Don’t Knock it till You’ve Tried it

Here are 13 recommended books (all of which I’ve read and loved) in each subgenre of your reading persuasion. Go ahead, try one. I double-dog dare ya.

1. Contemporary: This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
2. Paranormal: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
3. Historical: It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas
4. Regency: The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne
   
5. Science-Fiction: Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair
6. Fantasy: The Moon Witch by Linda Winstead Jones
7. Suspense: Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
8. Young Adult: Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith (sigh, or Twilight…but who’s left who hasn’t read it?)
9. Women’s Fiction: Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas
10. Erotica: Go Fetch! by Shelly Laurenston
11. Contemporary Category Romance: Marriage at the Millionaire’s Command by Anne Oliver
12. Paranormal Category Romance: Raintree Inferno by Linda Howard
13. Suspense Category Romance: Strangers in the Night by Kerry Connor

Title: Marriage at the Millionaire’s Command
Author: Anne Oliver
Publication Info: Harlequin Presents, June 2008 (US)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

This story overflows with heart and soul. Tender and passionate, moving and inspiring, I can’t understand why Harlequin insisted undercutting the book with that generic, boring title. None of the Presents line titles are unique, made as they are of marketing buzz words that apparently appeal to the reading public. But, really, how can they stick any old mix of millionaire/billionaire, secret baby, virgin mistress, forced bride and claim to do justice to the magic between the pages? This story is a must read for romance fans. It will leave you with that heart-bursting feeling of love, true love, and the conviction that happily ever after really can come true. Isn’t that why we read romance?

To be fair, I suppose I should disclose that I heart secret baby plots and am having a severe bout of babylust at the moment. It most likely is affecting my judgement, and causing this overpowering urge to make Mr. Wonderful read this book, in hopes he will catch my baby fever. Also, I downloaded a bunch of ebooks onto my computer and didn’t remember any of the back cover blurbs, so I was pleasantly surprised by the “secret” baby in this book. The unknown aspect made unwrapping the story that much more delicious.

PLOT: (This book debuted with slightly different character names in the Aussie/UK and US versions, as one can read in the varying synopses and notes on Ms. Oliver’s website.)

Carissa Mary is a struggling pianist who waits tables on the side to make ends meet. When her fiance breaks up with her, her stepsister convinces her to live a little and find a hot man to “tune her piano.” Carissa, still a card carrying Virgin at 26, screws up her courage and agrees. Cue hero, haunted songwriter Ben Jamieson who struggles with the recent death of his best friend. Jamieson is tall, dark and handsome and thoroughly sexy, as all good heroes should be. After one night of heart-stopping passion, Carissa runs home.

To pay the bills on the antique house her grandmother left her, Carissa puts out an ad for a boarder. Ben, seeking a place to crash for a few months for some solitude and soul-searching, where no one knows him, sees the ad and knocks on her front door. Mortified, Carissa only accepts him as a boarder grudgingly under one condition – hands-off. Neither can help the burgeoning attraction.

Seven weeks later something else is burgeoning. Carissa is terrified of caring for Ben because he’s said from the first he isn’t the sticking around type, so she throws him out without telling him her little secret. Ben, angry but willing to comply, intercepts a message from the OBGYN’s office and realizes he’s being duped. True to the title, the millionaire commands marriage. Both are too afraid of rejection and of love to admit to themselves, let alone each other, that there is more to the marriage than duty. Can their rocky relationship survive when tragedy strikes?

Every story has already been told. The difference is in the telling of it. Secret-baby plots are standard fare for the Harlequin Presents line (and we readers gobble them up like chocolate), but this book stands out in the beautifully descriptive storytelling. This is my first sampling of Ms. Oliver’s outstanding gift, but it has earned her a place as one of my favorite Harlequin authors.

This book took 2nd in Romance Writers of New Zealand’s Clendon Award in 2004.