Even the most cynical readers amongst us have, at some point of time or the other, curled up with a romance novel just to give us something lighthearted to think about. A romance novel can sometime be a much-needed break after a heavy novel that forces you to think. A great genre of romance novel to read is the historical romance genre. Most novels that are based in a period before the Second World War are categorized in this genre. The first of these novels was written by author Georgette Heyer who wrote sometime during the early twentieth century basing her novels in the Regency period. The popularity of historical romance novels has only grown since then, until recently where there has been a slight fall. An author writing a historical romance is expected to create characters that are true to the period and with every background detail in line with the happenings of the period.
Popular Historical Romance Novels
The genre of historical romance novels can be further divided into twelve sub genres which include the categories of Americana, Civil War, Colonial United States, Elizabethan, Georgian, Medieval, Native American, Pirate, Regency, Tudor, Victorian, Viking, and Western. Since 2001 the number of historical romance books published every year has dropped with a wider preference for romance novels based in the contemporary period. In 2004, according to statistics, only 486 romance novels of this genre were published in America which accounted for about 20% of all romance novels published that year. Despite a perceived fall in popularity, there are still many readers who remain die-hard fans of the genre. The list given below is a subjective compilation of some of the best selling and most popular historical romances of all time.
Pick up the books given in this list of best selling romance novels of the historical genre and you are sure not to be disappointed.
Popular Historical Romance Novels
The genre of historical romance novels can be further divided into twelve sub genres which include the categories of Americana, Civil War, Colonial United States, Elizabethan, Georgian, Medieval, Native American, Pirate, Regency, Tudor, Victorian, Viking, and Western. Since 2001 the number of historical romance books published every year has dropped with a wider preference for romance novels based in the contemporary period. In 2004, according to statistics, only 486 romance novels of this genre were published in America which accounted for about 20% of all romance novels published that year. Despite a perceived fall in popularity, there are still many readers who remain die-hard fans of the genre. The list given below is a subjective compilation of some of the best selling and most popular historical romances of all time.
| A Kingdom of Dreams | Judith McNaught |
| A Summer To Remember | Mary Balogh |
| All Through The Night | Connie Brockway |
| Almost Heaven | Judith McNaught |
| And Then He Kissed Her | Laura Lee Guhrke |
| As You Desire | Connie Brockway |
| Banner O'Brien | Linda Lael Miller |
| Bet Me | Jennifer Crusie |
| Bound By Your Touch | Meredith Duran |
| Bride | Stella Cameron |
| Cotillion | Georgette Heyer |
| Devil In Winter | Lisa Kleypas |
| Devil's Bride | Stephanie Laurens |
| Devil's Cub | Georgette Heyer |
| Dreaming of You | Lisa Kleypas |
| Emma | Jane Austen |
| Flowers From The Storm | Laura Kinsale |
| Gone With The Wind | Margaret Mitchell |
| Honor's Splendour | Julie Garwood |
| It Had To Be You | Susan E. Phillips |
| It Happened One Autumn | Lisa Kleypas |
| Lady Sophia's Lover | Lisa Kleypas |
| Lord of Scoundrels | Loretta Chase |
| Lord Perfect | Loretta Chase |
| Married by Morning | Lisa Kleypas |
| Mr. Impossible | Loretta Chase |
| Mr. Perfect | Linda Howard |
| Not Quite a Husband | Sherry Thomas |
| Once and Always | Judith McNaught |
| Outlander | Diana Gabaldon |
| Paradise | Judith McNaught |
| Persuasion | Jane Austen |
| Pride and Prejudice | Jane Austen |
| Private Arrangements | Sherry Thomas |
| Rainbow Season | Lisa Gregory |
| Ransom | Julie Garwood |
| Rebecca | Daphne du Maurier |
| Romancing Mr. Bridgerton | Julia Quinn |
| Saving Grace | Julie Garwood |
| Scandal In Spring | Lisa Kleypas |
| Seduce Me At Sunrise | Lisa Kleypas |
| Something Wonderful | Judith McNaught |
| Suddenly You | Lisa Kleypas |
| Sunset Embrace | Sandra Brown |
| Tender Rebel | Johanna Lindsey |
| The Bride | Julie Garwood |
| The Duke and I | Julia Quinn |
| The Duke of Shadows | Meredith Duran |
| The Flame and the Flower | Kathleen Woodiwiss |
| The Grand Sophy | Georgette Heyer |
| The Lady's Tutor | Robin Schone |
| The Last Hellion | Loretta Chase |
| The Leopard Prince | Elizabeth Hoyt |
| The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie | Jennifer Ashley |
| The Magnificent Rogue | Iris Johansen |
| The Proposition | Judith Ivory |
| The Raven Prince | Elizabeth Hoyt |
| The Secret | Julie Garwood |
| The Secret Pearl | Mary Balogh |
| The Seduction | Nicole Jordan |
| The Serpent Prince | Elizabeth Hoyt |
| The Shadow and The Star | Laura Kinsale |
| The Spymaster's Lady | Joanna Bourne |
| The Viscount Who Loved Me | Julia Quinn |
| The Windflower | Laura London |
| Then Came You | Lisa Kleypas |
| Thunder and Roses | Mary Jo Putney |
| To Have and To Hold | Patricia Gaffney |
| Untie My Heart | Judith Ivory |
| What Happens In London | Julia Quinn |
| When He Was Wicked | Julia Quinn |
| Where Dreams Begin | Lisa Kleypas |
| Whitney My Love | Judith McNaught |
| Wicked | Susan Johnson |
| Worth Any Price | Lisa Kleypas |
Pick up the books given in this list of best selling romance novels of the historical genre and you are sure not to be disappointed.