Perfect First Spousespaulandlinda

This list contains romances with heroes or heroines who had “perfect” first relationships. Those relationships may have been in actuality wonderful or merely perceived as wonderful by the new love interest.

(List begun 12/03, updated 08/14)

  • When a Man Loves a Woman (2000) by Alina Adams – Contemporary (B- at AAR)
  • Married for Christmas (2013) by Noelle Adams – Contemporary
  • The Husband List (2000) by Victoria Alexander – European Historical (B+ at AAR)
  • Baby Love (1999) by Catherine Anderson – Contemporary (B/C at AAR)
  • The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie (2009) by Jennifer Ashley – European Historical (A/A- at AAR)
  • The Notorious Rake (1992) by Mary Balogh – Regency (A at AAR)
  • The Snow Angel (1991) by Mary Balogh – Regency
  • Tempting Harriet (1994) by Mary Balogh – Regency
  • Web of Love (1990) by Mary Balogh – Regency (C+ at AAR)
  • Looking for a Hero (1998) by Patty Berg – Alternate Reality (B at AAR)
  • A Family for Gillian (2001) by Catherine Blair – Regency (A-/B+ at AAR)
  • Unleashed (2008) by Lori Borrill – Contemporary (D at AAR)
  • The Admiral’s Bride (11/1999) by Suzanne Brockmann – SIM-962 (B+ at AAR)
  • Into the Fire (2009) by Suzanne Brockmann – Contemporary(B- at AAR)
  • Fanta C (11/1987) by Sandra Brown – LS-217
  • Sunset Embrace (1985) by Sandra Brown – American Historical (A at AAR)
  • Texas! Chase (1991) by Sandra Brown – Contemporary (A at AAR)
  • A Whole New Light (1992) by Sandra Brown – Contemporary (A at AAR)
  • A Virgin River Christmas (2008) by Robyn Carr – Contemporary (B+ at AAR)
  • Virgin River (2007) by Robyn Carr – Contemporary (B+ at AAR)
  • Rachel LeMoyne (1998) by Eileen Charbonneau – American Historical (A at AAR)
  • Lady Jane (1984) by Norma Lee Clark – Regency
  • The Golden Touch (1992) by Sharon and Tom Curtis – Contemporary (A at AAR)
  • Fanning the Flames (2014) by Victoria Dahl- Contemporary
  • The Willing Wife (2002) by Claudia Dain – Medieval (B- at AAR)
  • The Tiger’s Woman (1981) by Celeste DeBlasis – American Historical
  • Bone Deep (2005) by Bonnie Dee – American Historial
  • The Heart Victorious (10/1984) by Delaney Devers – THTH-40
  • Into the Wilderness (1998) by Sara Donati – American Historical (B at AAR)
  • The Renegade and the Heiress (11/2001) by Judith Duncan – SIM-1114 (B+ at AAR)
  • A Family Resemblance (7/2006) by Margot Early – HSR-1357 – Contemporary
  • Outlander (1997) by Diana Gabaldon – Time Travel (A at AAR)
  • Daisy’s Back in Town (2004) by Rachel Gibson – Contemporary (B/D at AAR)
  • The Wild One (1997) by Danelle Harmon – European Historical (A at AAR)
  • Always to Remember (1996) by Lorraine Heath – American Historical (A/B at AAR)
  • The Next Best Thing (2010) by Kristan Higgins – Contemporary (B+ at AAR)
  • Girls Night (2002) by Stef Ann Holm – Contemporary (A- at AAR)
  • All the Queen’s Men (1999) by Linda Howard – Contemporary (C+ at AAR)
  • Cry No More (2003) by Linda Howard – Contemporary (A- at AAR)
  • Loving Evangeline (12/1994) by Linda Howard – SIM-607 (B at AAR)
  • Sarah’s Child (4/1985) by Linda Howard – SSE-230 (D at AAR)
  • Son of the Morning (1997) by Linda Howard – Alternate Reality (A/B+ at AAR)
  • Tears of the Renegade (4/1985) by Linda Howard – SIM-92
  • Lord of Darkness (2013) by Elizabeth Hoyt – European Historical
  • The Heart Breaker (1998) by Nicole Jordan – American Historical (B- at AAR)
  • Her Beautiful Assassin (10/2003) by Virginia Kantra – SFS-5 (B at AAR)
  • The Passion of Patrick MacNeil (1999) by Virginia Kantra Contemporary
  • The Double Cross (2013) by Carla Kelly – American Historical (A- at AAR)
  • Her Hesitant Heart (2013) by Carla Kelly – American Historial (A- at AAR)
  • Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand (1994) by Carla Kelly – Regency (A at AAR)
  • My Loving Vigil Keeping (2013) by Carla Kelly – American Historical (C at AAR)
  • Raven’s Bride (1996) by Lynn Kerstan – Regency
  • Lady Sophia’s Lover (2002) by Lisa Kleypas – European Historical (A at AAR)
  • Where Dreams Begin (2000) by Lisa Kleypas – European Historical (A- at AAR)
  • The Butterfly Tattoo (2009) by Deidre Knight – Contemporary
  • Some Men’s Dreams (8/2003) by Kathleen Korbel – SIM-1237 (A- at AAR)
  • Make Me Yours (2009) by Betina Krahn – Contemporary (A- at AAR)
  • Just in Time (2003) by Judith Lansdowne – European Historical
  • Miss Emmaline and the Archangel (3/1993) by Rachel Lee – SIM-482 (B+ at AAR)
  • A Woman’s Work (7/1990) by Laura Leone – SSE-608
  • Starting from Square Two (2004) by Caren Lissner – Contemporary (B- at AAR)
  • The Perils of Pleasure (2008) by Julie Anne Long – European Historical (A- at AAR)
  • What I Did For a Duke (2011) by Julie Anne Long – European Historical (A- at AAR)
  • Twice in a Lifetime (2001) by Merline Lovelace – Contemporary
  • Within Reach (2012) by Sarah Mayberry – Contemporary (B at AAR)
  • Wild about Harry (10/1991) by Linda Lael Miller – SD-667
  • The Marriage Bed (1996) by Stephanie Mittman – American Historical
  • The Witch and the Warrior (1998) by Karyn Monk – Medieval
  • Dedication (2005) by Janet Mullany – Regency (B at AAR)
  • Secret Admirer (1993) by Susan Napier – Contemporary
  • The Dangerous Viscount (2010) by Miranda Neville- European Historical (B+ at AAR)
  • Father-to-Be (10/1998) by Laurie Page – SSE-1201
  • A Hero to Come Home To (2013) by Marilyn Pappano – Contemporary
  • Dream a Little Dream (1998) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Contemporary (B+/B at AAR)
  • Beyond Sunrise (2003) by Candice Proctor – Historical (A- at AAR)
  • When He Was Wicked (2004) by Julia Quinn – European Historical (B at AAR)
  • Sex, Straight Up (2008) by Kathleen Reilly – Contemporary (B at AAR)
  • Taming the Night (1999) by Paula Detmer Riggs – Contemporary (A at AAR)
  • Black Rose (2005) by Nora Roberts – Contemporary (A- at AAR)
  • Blue Dahlia (2004) by Nora Roberts – Contemporary (A- at AAR)
  • After All These Years (7/1984) by Kathleen Gilles Seidel – HAR-2
  • The Man Who Loved Christmas (12/1999) by Kathryn Shay – HSR-877
  • Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand (2010) by Helen Simonson – Contemporary
  • Charming Grace (2004) by Deborah Smith – Contemporary
  • The Crossroads Cafe (2007) by Deborah Smith – Contemporary
  • Caught in the Act (2012) by Jill Sorenson – Romantic Suspense (B+ at AAR)
  • Crash Into Me (2009) by Jill Sorenson – Romantic Suspense
  • Bittersweet (1990) by LaVyrle Spencer – Contemporary
  • Morning Glory (1990) by LaVyrle Spencer – Contemporary (A at AAR)
  • Mistletoe and Margaritas in Holiday Kisses (2011) by Shannon Stacey – Contemporary (B- at AAR)
  • Wild Indigo (1998) by Judith Stanton – American Historical
  • Madam, Will You Talk (1954) by Mary Stewart – Contemporary (A at AAR)
  • Housebound (3/1985) by Anne Stuart – HAR-93
  • Everything But a Husband (12/2000) by Karen Templeton – SIM-1050
  • Fathers and Other Strangers (9/2003) by Karen Templeton – SIM-1244
  • The Bride’s Bodyguard (1997) by Elizabeth Thornton – European Historical (A at AAR)
  • Last Summer (1993) by Theresa Weir – Contemporary
  • Undone by His Touch (2012) by Annie West – Contemporary
  • Michael’s Temptation (12/2001) by Eileen Wilks – SD-1409 (B- at AAR)
  • Rio Grande Wedding (1999) by Ruth Wind – Contemporary (B+ at AAR)
    • Silent Melody (1997) by Mary Balogh – European Historical (A at AAR)
    • Tangled (1994) by Mary Balogh – European Historical
    • Loving Leah (3/2003) by Nikki Benjamin – SSE-1526
    • Christmas Angel (1992) by Jo Beverley – Regency
    • All Through the Night (1997) by Connie Brockway – European Historical (A at AAR)
    • Mirror Image (1990) by Sandra Brown – Contemporary
    • Beauty Like the Night (2000) by Liz Carlyle – European Historical (B+/C- at AAR)
    • Element of Risk (4/1996) by Robyn Donald – HP-1803
    • After the Music in A Very Gothic Christmas (2001) by Christine Feehan – Gothic Romance (C at AAR)
    • Killing Time (2013) by Cindy Gerard – Romantic Suspense
    • Rebecca (1938) by Daphne Du Maurier – Contemporary
    • The Second Bride (3/1997) by Catherine George – HR-3449
    • The Painted Lady (1993) by Lucia Grahame – European Historical (B- at AAR)
    • His Every Kiss (2004) by Laura Lee Guhrke- European Historical (B+ at AAR)
    • Irresistible (1994) by Catherine Hart – Amer Hist/Frontier
    • Untie My Heart (2002) by Judith Ivory – European Historical (A- at AAR)
    • With Child (2005) by Janice Kay Johnson – Contemporary (A- at AAR)
    • Someone to Watch Over Me (2003) by Judith McNaught- Contemporary (B at AAR)
    • The Second Coming of Lucy Hatch (2002) by Marsha Moyer – Contemporary (B at AAR)
    • The Importance of Being Wicked (2012) by Miranda Neville – European Historical (B+ at AAR)
    • First Lady (2000) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Contemporary (B at AAR)
    • Rendezvous (1991) by Amanda Quick – European Historical (A- at AAR)
    • Seduction (1990) by Amanda Quick – European Historical (A- at AAR)
    • The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever (2007) by Julia Quinn – European Historical (B- at AAR)
    • To Sir Phillip, With Love (2003) by Julia Quinn – European Historical (B+ at AAR)
    • Till Next We Meet (2005) by Karen Ranney – European Historical (A- at AAR)
    • Silent in the Grave (2007) by Deanna Raybourn – Historical Mystery
    • Finding the Dream (1997) by Nora Roberts – Contemporary
    • The Last Honest Woman (1998) by Nora Roberts – Contemporary
    • His Wicked Sins (2008) by Eve Silver- Historical
    • Sweet Hush (2002) by Deborah Smith – Contemporary
    • The Coming Home Place (1994) by Mary Spencer – American Historical
    • A Gift For All Seasons (2012) by Karen Templeton – Contemporary

This list is currently closed for submissions.