Okay, so this week’s TOP TEN TUESDAY from That Artsy Reader Girl was a killer! How does anyone who loves books narrow the couples they have adored to just ten. They don’t. Take my word for it that I have way more than ten favourite couples in books and I had to stop looking at my shelves as I kept seeing more I wanted to add! W ith Valentine’s Day approaching I’ve focused on couples from HEA love stories in recent novels (in the last decade or so), and am saving my couples from the classics for another day. I could talk a lot about each of these couples but for the sake of you all, I’m keeping things short and sweet. Please share your thoughts on any of these couples, or some of your favourites – I’d love to know!
Favourite Couples in Books
Cameron Pierce and Jade in Kristen Heitzmann’s Freefall || Loved seeing the protective and suspicious Cameron become the champion to a woman who can’t remember her own name!
Kate Lawrence and Lucas Wright in Denise Hunter’s The Convenient Groom || I adore this couple so much, totally swoony moments, but the way Lucas has Kate’s back when the chips are down? The best!
Griffin Riddell and Kazi Faron in Ronie Kendig’s Firethorn || Fire is right! Sparks and fireworks abound when these two operatives are forced to work together. The dialogue between them is the bomb. As it is with Candyman and Timbrel in Beowulf. Reece and Shiloh in Dead Reckoning. Mercy and Ram in The Tox Files. You get the idea of what I think of Ronie Kendig’s couples 😉
Harriet Bisset and Maddox McCray in Tamara Leigh’s Splitting Harriet || Gosh, I love these two. Both determined, both trying to make amends, both discovering the heart of the other person. And lots of laughs as they do so!
Everard Wulfrith and Susanna de Balliol in Tamara Leigh’s The Longing || Like Ronie’s, I could have easily done a Top Ten of favourite Tamara Leigh couples. There is a scene atop the battlements between Everard and Susanna that is one of my ALL TIME romantic scenes. The tenderness shown by this aloof warrior is so moving. Sigh.
Salome and Rahab in Tessa Afshar’s Pearl in the Sand || One of the best depictions of working through SIGNIFICANT issues in a marriage, requiring forgiveness and understanding in spades. Loved these two so much.
Sam Brooks and Willow Rose in Susan May Warren’s Rescue Me || Susie May knows how to pen romantic couples, there’s no question, but the scene at the beginning of this story when Sam mistakes Willow for her sister who he is actually dating? A terrific scene that sets the pace of the rest of the story.
Caleb Stiles and Kate Hawkins in Amy Matayo’s Sway || Talk about a mismatched couple! Amy makes it work and them some. Another writer whose every couple I could easily include in this list.
Claire Le Noyer and Adrien Jean Luc Delaporte in Siri Mitchell’s Kissing Adrien || A fun-loving Frenchman and a somewhat staid American accountant enjoying the sights and sounds of Paris? I love how Adrien opens Claire’s eyes to the beauty around her as she discovers her own place in the world. Tres bon!
Paisley Sutton and Beau Hudson in Jenny B. Jones’ Engaged in Trouble and Royally in Trouble || A failed rock star and a traumatised war veteran? What could go wrong? These two are like batteries – they attract and repel each other at will!
There are so many others I could include like Kate O’Malley and Dave Richman from Dee Henderson’s The Negotiator, Morrow Little and Red Shirt from Laura Frantz’s Courting Morrow Little, Matt Jarreau and Kate Donovan (waving to you, Katie Donovan!) from Becky Wade’s A Stubborn Heart, Charlie Lionheart and Ella Beckley from Joanne Bischof’s The Lady and the Lionheart…gah! I must stop now 🙂
Do we share any favourite couples?
February 12, 2019 at 10:09 pm
Well, I guessed correctly on some of these 😉 I knew Everard would make it on there, and I suspected Firethorn and Rescue Me too. Loved Freefall! Need to read a few of these again (and some for the first time!)
February 13, 2019 at 11:27 am
Thought you’d know some of mine 🙂 Which ones haven’t you read?
February 12, 2019 at 10:28 pm
All new books and couples for me! I’m enjoying this week… My TBR is crying though.
February 13, 2019 at 11:27 am
Mine, too, Nicci!!!
February 12, 2019 at 11:18 pm
I absolutey love the cover of Royally in Trouble. The colours go great together and that tiny little skull just kills me! I’d definitely pick that one up.
My favourite couples this week.
February 13, 2019 at 11:30 am
You must, Louise! Engaged in Trouble is equally as gorgeous and it’s the first in the series and you need to read them in order as the characters are continuous. Thanks for sharing yours. I’ve never been a fan of additions to P&P, but I like your recommendation for What Kitty Did Next.
February 13, 2019 at 12:18 am
Salome and Rahab do sound like an interesting couple.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
February 13, 2019 at 11:33 am
It’s an excellent story based on the Biblical story of Rahab, the prostitute who saved Israel. I posted a comment on your TTT but I think it got spammed 🙁
February 13, 2019 at 12:30 am
Any couples created by Ronie Kendig, Susan May Warren, Denise Hunter, and Kristen Heitzmann are awesome and incredibly memorable. Haven’t read anything by Tamara Leigh, Siri Mitchell, or Tessa Afshar yet so need to get going on those!
February 13, 2019 at 11:35 am
Oh, Mindy!! You have SOOOOO much good reading ahead of you. Highly recommend the backlists of Tamara, Siri, and Tessa. Here’s my recommendations to start:
Tamara – The Unveiling
Siri – Chateau of Echoes
Tessa – Pearl in the Sand
February 13, 2019 at 1:07 am
Pearl in The Sand is one of my all time favorites of Biblical fiction. Great list. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
February 13, 2019 at 11:35 am
Yes!!! We have such similar taste in books, Beckie!
February 13, 2019 at 1:37 am
I’ve read most of those. So good.
February 13, 2019 at 11:36 am
Yes!!
February 13, 2019 at 1:39 am
You pretty much just listed all my favorite books.
February 13, 2019 at 11:36 am
Reading twins 🙂
February 13, 2019 at 1:53 am
I hadn’t heard of any of these books. Thank you for telling us about them.
This is my Top Ten Tuesday post.
February 13, 2019 at 11:40 am
Thanks for stopping by, Lydia. I commented on your list but it didn’t show up. Valancy and you know who are favourites of mine. The Blue Castle is the best Montgomery novel IMO 🙂
February 13, 2019 at 11:05 pm
So honored to see The Longing and Splitting Harriet in your Top Ten, Rel! And to have them sitting alongside Ronie’s and Tessa’s books–oh my! This writing day cannot possibly go wrong. Thank you!
February 17, 2019 at 7:46 pm
Tamara Leigh » Love them ALL! So sad I could include Axel and Piper…and everyone else – LOL!
February 14, 2019 at 3:15 am
The whole “Age of Faith” Series by Tamara Leigh has amazing couples for each story – but – – it all began with BARON GARR WULFRITH and LADY ANNYN BRETANNE!!!! Did I mention Garr Wulfrith. . . did I pause at Garr Wulfrith . . . did I STOP and SHOUT …. GARR WULFRITH!!!! We need more chainmail and swords and moats and castles!!!
February 17, 2019 at 7:45 pm
Pam – Florida » I think you and my friend Jennifer Major might have to take up swords to determine who is the most ardent Garr devotee 😉
February 14, 2019 at 4:24 am
Uh huh. Red Shirt and Morrow…
Kazi and Griffin are so great!
Charlie and Ella?!
Garr and…every female reader…
But how does one pick!?!?!?!?
February 17, 2019 at 7:44 pm
Jennifer Zarifeh Major » Hahahaha!! I thought of you when I mentioned Red Shirt and Morrow 🙂
February 18, 2019 at 5:48 am
GARR – GARR – GARR – GARR!!!!!!
February 18, 2019 at 5:49 am
GARR – GARR – GARR – GARR!!!!
February 14, 2019 at 4:26 am
EEEEP! I’m so tickled and honored to have Griffin and Kazi right up there with the inimitable Tamara Leigh. THANK YOU!! <3
February 17, 2019 at 7:44 pm
Ronie » Gosh, it was SOOOOOO hard to choose. I adore ALL your couples 🙂
February 14, 2019 at 2:34 pm
Rel, I agree with you on all of the ones I’ve read!! I might’ve cried a bit when I read Mercy and Ram! They are in my top couples ever!! I also am adding to my TBR. And how in the world do you remember specific scenes with all the books you read? I read and loved Tamara’s, but don’t remember specific scenes!
February 17, 2019 at 7:43 pm
Kim » Well, I’ve read the battlements scene many times and listened to it in audio twice 🙂 Glad I’ve given you some ones to add to your TBR, Kim!