Illicit Liaisons: Romance Book Recs for New Romance Readers

This week, I'm solo (Jenna) with an update to a blast-from-the-past episode from 2021 on what romance books I'd recommend to people who've never read romance but are willing to give it a try, with my updated picks for 2026.BOOKS MENTIONED ON THE SHOWClassic RomancePersuasion by Jane Austen https://amzn.to/4gGRvX7Persuasion movie https://amzn.to/4cpXUVkContemporary RomanceBig Rock by Lauren Blakely https://amzn.to/4gJuCCeCan't Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan https://amzn.to/4h78ja3Category RomanceThe Return of Rafe MacKade by Nora Roberts https://amzn.to/4yfahfiHistorical RomanceThe Duke and I by Julia Quinn https://amzn.to/4h4oTIAParanormal RomanceFirst Grave to the Right by Darynda Jones https://amzn.to/3T7gHy7 (for some reason, the cover on this book is weird on Amazon, although the covers for the other books in the series are right.)Dark Lover by J.R. Ward https://amzn.to/4zO6Y0fRomantic Suspense/MysteryEnvy by Sandra Brown https://amzn.to/3SMcoYKNaked in Death by J.D. Robb https://amzn.to/3UjkOHP (there are now over 60 books in this series!)The Doucet Series by Tami Hoag https://amzn.to/3UuLh57Sweet RomanceHarlequin Love Inspired Suspense (Sept 2026) https://amzn.to/3T7hmj5RomcomThe Hating Game by Sally Thorne https://amzn.to/3T7hmj5Chicago Stars Series by Susan Elizabeth Phillips https://amzn.to/3UM7zPSWelcome to Temptation/Bet Me (2 books in one) by Jennifer Crusie https://amzn.to/4iGITCh  (Jennifer has several books co-written with Bob Mayer that are fun too https://amzn.to/4clkzSH).RomantacyA Court of Thorn and Roses by Sarah J. Maas https://amzn.to/4gHAaNvTENDER & TEMPTING TALESTender and Tempting Tales Substack: Subscribe and get a FREE story! https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/Tender and Tempting Tales on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tendertemptingtales/Tender and Tempting Tales on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tandttalesTender and Tempting Tales ARC Team: https://booksprout.co/reviewer/team/56782/tender-and-tempting-talesCalls for Submissions: https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/p/write-for-tender-and-tempting-talesILLICIT LIAISONS PRODUCED & HOSTED BYTara Leederman Substack: https://taleederman.substack.com/Jenna Harte: https://jennaharte.com/Outline and Show Notes: T.A. LeedermanEditing: Jenna Harte