June 11, 2007 • Print This Post
Father’s Day is right around the corner. In addition to the usual polo shirt gift, I was looking into buying dad a book. He likes mysteries and biographies and books in the DaVinci Code vein. While checking around Amazon, I started chuckling at the thought of my dad reading a romance. He’s a bit of a guy’s guy. Not really a romance reader.
That got me wondering about what romance books men do buy. Do any of you have personal experience on this? If you were going to suggest a few romance novels to your boyfriend, husband, male friend or whatever, which ones would you choose? Romantic suspense is my first thought as a subgenre, but I was wondering if there were particular titles you thought men might like.
For indluging my curiousity, I’ll give a $15.00 Amazon gift certificate to a person chosen at random from those who comment and offer suggestions. And if no one can think of any…then I guess I’ll keep the gift ccertificate. 
Posted by HelenKay Dimon @ 6:00 am • Filed under: HelenKay Dimon
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Well I’m back to being infatuated with the JD Robb series, so I’d say definitely the “In Death” books. No overly sappy stuff, and if they like murder mysteries, this series is perfect with just a hint of that intense romance. I just think this series appeals on so many levels.
Karen Rose - she writes very credible suspense without skimping on the romance (which isn’t sappy). Also, her books tend to have very high body counts - which is good for the guys (and girls) who have a blood-thirsty nature.
Lisa Jackson, Sandra Brown and Karen Rose are all great when it comes to Romantic suspense. ‘Envy’ by Sandra Brown is one of my all time favorites.
My suggestion would be Wendi Corsi Saub or Elizabeth Lowell.
My brother likes books with action/fighting so I would choose JR Ward’s books with the Brotherhood.
Sandra Brown was a first thought for me. . . and maybe not so much your father but others, if they are into X-Files like stuff, they might go for vampires/paranormal stuff. But I’m not a reader of paranormals, so you got me on authors. But it might be a different direction.
Lois
I agree with Lisa that men would like fighting books so I think any of the Sherrilyn Kenyon - Dark Hunter Series
I enjoyed Shannon McKenna’s books which are romantic suspense so that’s my suggestion.
I’m on a couple groups that have men on them, they like reading Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series and Jacqueline Frank’s Jacob.
Actually, my spouse has read a couple of my urban fantasies, viz Kelley Armstrong and Kim Harrison, and loved it. They’re not “girly” enough to put him off but has enough kick-ass action and paranormal elements that makes it all somehow more “believable”
(and here I’m literally quoting him). In Harrison’s case, the intense sexual tension between 2 lead characters also turned out to be a big plus where he’s concerned (men!:roll:) He also doesn’t mind romance in literature. While he didn’t hate Pride and Prejudice, he loved Jane Eyre, for the spooky elements that is 
I don’t know what author I would recommend but, thinking of my dad, it would have to be a romance with a western theme. My dad has currently been on a Louis L’Amour kick.
I would suggest any book by Nicholas Sparks. My favorite was The Notebook.
I was going to say Sandra Brown or JD Robb, but they’ve already been named …
My Dad likes to read Catherine Coulter - the FBI series. He also enjoyed Lucy Munroe’s trilogy of the Mercenary’s. Truthfully, my Dad surprises me on the books that he borrows from me and enjoys.
Mary Higgins Clark.
Beverly barton has great supsense. Meryl sawyer and mariah stewart.
I gave a male co-worker my copy of Outlander by Diana Galbadon. He generally reads mysteries. He liked it enough to go get the second book in the series so I’m going to suggest that one.
My hubs likes Sci-Fi/Fantasy, so I’d say Linnea Sinclair. Her books have romance AND sci-fi! Another would be Cait Londons new book At The Edge. It has paranormal (psychic) and a bit of romance. The J.D. Robb books are another and I see I’m no the only one to think so! Heather Graham’s books seem like they might appeal to men as well.
Exclusive by Sandra Brown or any of Linda Howard’s suspense books as well as Beverly Barton’s susense books. Sidney Shelton, if you would consider that romance, If Tomorrow Comes.
Start out with books not traditionally romances, but strong on characters and relationships.
The Husband by Dean Koontz
A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
Move on to some action packed books with a touch of romance.
The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner
Janet Evanovich (pick any one of her books)
Sherrilyn Kenyon (again lots to choose from)
Or if you like speed and cars there are a number of NASCAR romance novels.
Carlene Thompson, Kate Pepper, Michael prescott, Joseph Finder, Richard Stark
I’m going to say Jean Auel’s Earth Series - the romance is hidden amongst a lot of adventure and history from a journey starting with the first cave people but there is definitely a deep romance within it’s pages (7 books).
Kay Hooper, Lisa Gardner, David Hosp, Halen Coben, Gregg Olsen
Allison Brennan is classified as romantic suspense but I think it should really be under mysteries. Her books are so suspenseful and exciting! I think alot of the romantic suspense authors mostly use mystery and have very small romantic elements. It’s a shame so many men are weary about reading them because they think it’s romance! I also love Lisa Gardner and Harlan Coben. You can’t go wrong with their books! I can’t really see a man reading Janet Evanovich’s books though since they are purely aimed at women. They are fun though. Good Luck finding a great gift!
Hello Helen,
Here are some authors to check out. Harlan Coben, Michael Connelly, James Patterson, Mary Higgins Clark and Lee Child. Dan Brown has good books also.
Hugssss
LindaH
Hi all,
With men its always been Tom Clancy and Clive Cussler! But I heard men also like Suzanne Brockmann’s Seal series, so that may be the way to go. Good luck!
Well my hubby normally reads straight fantasy or sci-fi so if I had to get him a romance book - maybe Susan Grant?
HUNTER’S MOON by Karen Robards
DARK TORMENT by Karen Robards
DARK OF THE MOON by Karen Robards
BEACHCOMBER by Karen Robards
BAIT by Karen Robards
THE HARBOR by Carla Neggers
I would recommend David Eddings’ The Belgariad & Mallorean series. They’re each a “five-book fantasy epic”, and one just could easily get hooked to the way David Edding writes. I get entertained constantly reading his books, they’re so witty & sarcastic that I couldn’t help laughing most of the time. One definately doesn’t have to be a fantasy story lover to enjoy his books.
A warning though for anyone who wants to check out other David Eddings’ books: he tends to palgarise from himself
Of course there’s romance within: a majority of the characters (minor or major) tend to get paired up by the end of the story. Except for those evil guys of course…
I would suggest Open Season and Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard.
Anything by Lisa Jackson. Joann Ross- Blaze. My son loves Tim Dorsey. Kathryn Shay has a lot of good books with policemen and firefighters. I also like Kay David’s Negotiator, Listener etc book. Heather Graham has the “Tall, Dark and Deadly”, “Long, Lean and Lethal”, “Drop Dead Gorgeous” series
Pamela Clare’s Surrender was a wonderful historical more in line with Braveheart.
Linda Howard’s White Lies
Kat Martin’s “Hot Rain”
My husband won’t read anything with the word “romance” in it. He is a Clive Cussler fan as well as of books from the Star Wars and Star Trek series. I would also suggest Dean Koontz for your father.
did u pick a winner
I actually did but it got stuck in spam - how is that for odd????
The winner is….Danette! Congrats
Email me and I’ll get that prize out to you.
Thank you HelenKay.I sent you an email :smile:Hugs
Thank you for announcing the winner. I’ve been checking every day anxiously waiting.
wtg danette.