I and II of Norah Robert's Irish trilogy...I must admit I was partly wrong.

These two components contain more that I request in my soul-felt romances.  Warmth, family, understanding...life lessons...respect.  I like either of these books better than #3.  Is it just because Darcy is so earth-shatteringly confident and beautiful?  I related much better to Brenna and Jude.  Their insecurities, their journey to self-understanding that coincided with finding their respective loves after a sojourn in stormy waters at least hinted at realism.

I'm part Irish, so I like the whole notion of the legends and history of Ireland.  It's just so much more romantic than America where "old" history is two or three hundred years. After all, we never had knights and princesses and pookas.
 

I will add the caveat that the physical descriptions of romance are rather strong in these.  I prefer books where there is more illusion and allusion--but I suppose that's a rarity in modern romance. Also--I personally believe that every human being who falls in love needn't look fabulous, perform like an expert in bed, or be fabulously wealthy and/or talented.  Once again, these books aren't really my choice of rainy day reading.  They'll do while I'm waiting for Francine Rivers--or Mary Balogh--to write another book.