Top Ten Historical Romance Novels

Lose yourself in these wonderful tales - amazing stories of days gone by that capture the essence of the human spirit in all its contrasting shades - raw ambition, cruelty, betrayal, honour, love, compassion and bravery.

Historical romance novels that do not have cardboard cut out heroes, villians and damsels in distress, but characters that are often based on real people, that you can connect with and share their emotions. The authors weave such a spell that you feel like you are drawn into the pages, a privileged observer of another space in time. Historical research that reveals interesting facts of daily life, unimaginable in the comfort of our 21st Century world.

Not only is this genre true escapism, it is also fascinating and insightful. The past gives us an understanding of human nature and how society, politics and religion can shape behaviour. Relationships and family dynasties are intriguing. The Tudors are a great example. Henry VIII was so desperate to have a male heir that he went to the extremes of reforming the church and beheading wives only to have his daughter, Queen Elizabeth, in response to his own behaviour, refuse to marry and thus end the Tudor line.

The romance and nostalgia of the past is captivating, especially in the setting of nobility. Bathtubs scented with aromatic herbs, decadent jewels and gowns, masques, feasts and dancing. Great castles rising up out of highland mists, men dressed in magnificent armour jousting for their ladies favour. Who wants to come back to the banality of modern life when you can partake in this?

There are many different historical fiction books, written in exotic places, and focusing on different themes. I tend to lean towards books that involve British monarchs and have some kind of love story. Below are listed ten of my favourites -


1. Here Be Dragons (Welsh Trilogy) by Sharon Penman

2. Lords of the White Castle by Elizabeth Chadwick

3. The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Penman

4. The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory

5. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

6. When Christ and his Saints Slept by Sharon Penman

7. The Conquest by Elizabeth Chadwick

8. The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon

9. The Crowning Mercy by Bernard Cornwell/Susannah Kells

10. The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly