top ten books that will make you swoon

Tuesday, February 11, 2014 |
Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where we all get to exercise our OCD tendencies and come up with bookish lists.  If you’d like to play along, check out this post.

top ten tuesday

St. Valentine’s Day is Friday, and the internet has surely taken notice.  All of my favorite lifestyle blogs have tips for incorporating pink and hearts into the daily routine – or instructions on how to host a complete themed party.  Heck, even book bloggers are getting into the act, with this week’s list of books that will make a reader swoon. 

Here’s something I’ve said before, but you might not know if you didn’t pay close attention: I read romances.  Like, all the time.  I love shifter and Regency ones best right now (dear lord i hope my mother doesn’t read this!).  But yeah.  You’ll notice that about half of the books on my list aren’t romances.  They’re spectacular books WITH romance in them.  Which is the sort of book I prefer at all times, really.  And yes, they bring the swoon, even if it’s just of the developing tension variety, rather than the happily ever after kind. Also you should know that the romances I DID include are the cream of the swoon-making crop.  I need to re-read them all soon!

Top Ten Books That Will Make You Swoon



1. Persuasion by Jane Austen – This is one of my favorite books of all time, and I think it is because at its heart it’s about forgiveness, overcoming the past, and getting (and taking!) second chances.  Also, Captain Wentworth’s letter to Anne hits me right in the feels.

2. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund – Is this cheating?  It might be cheating.  Peterfreund’s book is a sci-fi, post-apocalyptic retelling of Persuasion.  It has all of the best elements of Austen’s original, written beautifully and wrapped in a shiny YA SFF package.

3. Archangel by Sharon Shinn – Science fiction.  Angels.  Mates brought together against their will.  Music.  And Shinn’s writing!  She makes you believe in a romance, in characters, in emotion.  Oh, this one’s good.

4. Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley – Two people on completely different paths…who happen to fit each other.  And they have one night to figure it out.  An adventure full of art and discovery and that beautiful, shivery thing that is first love crossed with hope.

5. The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook – Brooding, reluctant hero meets no-nonsense, practical heroine.  It’s not love at first sight – it’s criminal investigation at first sight.  And from there it’s airships, zombies, clockworks and, oh yes, eventually, love.


6. Written in Red by Anne Bishop – There is no central romance in this book.  HOW DID IT MAKE THE LIST?!  It’s one of those with so much potential that it fairly vibrates with it.  Also, the amount of sacrifice and love and loyalty takes it into swoon-worthy territory.  Healthy respect is hot, folks.

7. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater – ZOMG, this book!  It is so atmospheric and special.  I may swoon over the setting even more than the romance, but it’s a close call.

8. Sunshine by Robin McKinley – The swoon in this one is about food, courage, and loved ones giving you space or knowing when to close ranks.  It’s sweet and dark and complicated and Sunshine has the best voice ever. 

9. Steam & Sorcery by Cindy Spencer Pape – The hero is good with kids.  I think that automatically ups a book into swoon-possible territory.  I know I am not alone in this.  Pape’s first in a steampunk series is a combo platter of romance with pretty steamy sexy-times and a family-style happily ever after.

10. Snowfall by Mary Ann Rivers – Angie at Angieville finally convinced me to read Rivers, and holy goodness, I’m so glad I did.  The emotional range in this little novella (from the Heating Up the Holidays anthology) is breathtaking.  So good, so different, so addicting.  I shall be reading Rivers again.

Did any of these books make your list? What makes you swoon in a book?

11 comments:

Snapex said...

While I haven't read of the the other books, I'm glad to see The Scorpio Races on other peoples list's. For some reason I thought i would be the only one with it haha.

all in all, great list :)

My TTT

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I wish there was a way for bloggers to learn when their lists have sent their readers off to add books to their wish lists! Top Ten lists are the best.

Here's my list of books that will make you swoon.

Anonymous said...

I wasn't going to do this week's TTT but then your list inspired me with all of my favorite books <3

Anonymous said...

Definitely The Scorpio Races and For Darkness Shows the Stars! Agree 100% :D

Liviania said...

I think it's cheating to include both Persuasion and For Darkness Shows the Stars, but the truest kind of cheating.

Tales of Whimsy said...

I SO look forward to trying Persuasion.

Ula said...

Dear lord! I have not read any of these! I do have Stiefvater on my TBR. Looking forward to it a lot!
Happy reading!

Ginger @ GReads! said...

Mary Ann Rivers is amazing! Angie introduced her to me, too. I definitely recommend reading The Story Guy, sooner rather than later.

Brandy said...

Grafitti Moon almost made my list. I actually debated adding it anyway, but if I don't keep the 10 limit, there will be no stopping me. :)

Sara said...

I love you picks, Cecilia! There are some that you named that I totally considered for my list/loved too, like GRAFFITI MOON, ARCHANGEL, WRITTEN IN RED, and SUNSHINE. I am so excited for the sequel to WRITTEN IN RED, but I might have to reread bk 1. There is so much tension in that book... I loved it!

Thanks for stopping by The Hiding Spot today!

Vanessa said...

SUNSHINE is one of my favorite books, so I'm happy to see it on your list--it's so underrated--so I have hope when others enjoy it, too. And since it's on your list, I will definitely check out the others (I've read PERSUASION and totally agree with you there, too). Thanks!

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