Cozies with a good romantic subplot?

[Anna]

I'm a mystery writer, but I belong to a romance writer book club. So I'm always looking for mysteries with strong romantic subplots for when it's my turn to choose our book of the month. Any suggestions? The romance doesn't have to be resolved at the end of the book, but it should be an important element. (Something besides the Stephanie Plum books, please! Been there, read that.)

Thanks!
Anna Castle

[Sandra J]

How about Donna Andrews' Meg Langslow books? A mystery, humor, a heroine who's a blacksmith with a large and eccentric extended family, and Michael. The first one is

[☯Emily]

I love Earlene Fowler's books with Benni Harper and her romance and marriage to Gabe. She also has a large extended family, including her feisty grandmother, Dove.

[Tracy]

☯Emily is tired of waiting for GR announcement, so now has Booklikes account. wrote: "I love Earlene Fowler's books with Benni Harper and her romance and marriage to Gabe. She also has a large extended family, including her feisty grandmother, Dove."

I love most of this series, but I often find Gabe frustratingly macho, especially in the books with his son. I haven't read all of the series, though. I will say that I think Earlene Fowler does an incredible job of making character's actions come to life. Every time I read one of her books, I feel like I learn a little more about making dialogue come to life. I aspire to some day approach the skill of her writing.

[❂ Murder by Death]

A Cutthroat Business is the first book of a real estate mystery series that has a strong romantic sub plot. The first book or two is really only heavy on tension and innuendo, but the remaining books are more openly romantic.

The later books in the White House Chef (Julie Hyzy) series have a pretty light but nice romantic sub-plot as well.

[Tracy]

I just thought of another series. Maggie Toussaint

I've only Read Dime If I Know, but it has a strong romantic subplot, and I'm pretty sure the others in the series do as well.

[Lynn]

I enjoyed the romantic sub-plots in Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayles series and Claudia Bishop's Hemlock Falls series. There is a nice one running though Karen Kingsbury's Pennyfoot Hotel series and Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mysteries as well.

[Tracy]

Lynn wrote: "I enjoyed the romantic sub-plots in Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayles series and Claudia Bishop's Hemlock Falls series. There is a nice one running though Karen Kingsbury's Pennyfoot Hotel series..."

My goodness. I haven't read any of these! Lynn, which is your favorite?

[Lynn]

Tracy wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I enjoyed the romantic sub-plots in Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayles series and Claudia Bishop's Hemlock Falls series. There is a nice one running though Karen Kingsbury's Pennyfoot..."

If I had to pick, I'd go with either China Bayles or the Gaslight Mysteries, but I think the romance in the Gaslight mysteries is a bit more satisfying (though in all honesty I am a few books behind on the series, so I do not know how it continues to develop or if it concludes).

[Tracy]

Lynn wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I enjoyed the romantic sub-plots in Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayles series and Claudia Bishop's Hemlock Falls series. There is a nice one running though Karen Kingsbu..."

The first one in the China Bayle's series is already on my TBR list. Need to get to that one!

[[deleted user]]

I think the following series have good romantic subplots:
-Royal Spyness series by Rhys Bowen (set in England)
-Books by the Bay series by Ellery Adams (set in the Carolinas, I think NOrth Carolina...)
-Cue Balls series by Cindy Blackburn (set in North Carolina)

Very enjoyable cozy mysteries! :)

[Melodie]

☯Emily is tired of waiting for GR announcement, so now has Booklikes account. wrote: "I love Earlene Fowler's books with Benni Harper and her romance and marriage to Gabe. She also has a large extended family, including her feisty grandmother, Dove."

One of my absolute favorite series, and Dove gets her own romance.

[Melodie]

Tracy wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I enjoyed the romantic sub-plots in Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayles series and Claudia Bishop's Hemlock Falls series. There is a nice one running though ..."

You've got some great reading ahead of you, Tracy. The latest China Bayles book will be on my Top 10 list for this year.

[Anna]

Wow, y'all are great! I'm starting a List. Might as well keep it in Goodreads. Then I can find it when it's my turn again and people can add to it as time goes by.

Thanks!

[Moonlight]

A mystery about the owners of a matchmaking firm would be a good addition to your list.

[Anna]

Thanks, Moonlight! That's in the Austin Public Library, too, which is one of our requirements. I'll add it to the list.

[❂ Murder by Death]

Also, just remembered the series by Lois Greiman that starts with Unzipped. Hilarious and with a romantic subplot. (Also, Language)

[Nancy]

So glad to read this thread..I have been reading romances for years & never thought there could be a good mix of mys. & rom. N one book.
Please DO continue with the titles and I will happily collect a nice list for 2014. :)
Thank you good readers for contributing !

[Jean]

Anna wrote: "I'm a mystery writer, but I belong to a romance writer book club. So I'm always looking for mysteries with strong romantic subplots for when it's my turn to choose our book of the month. Any sugges..."
Anna, Have you tried one of the Murders by Design Mysteries? They feature a young widowed interior designer who needs to find love as well as well as the killer of her best friend. Designed For Death by Jean Harrington is the first in the series. Available through Amazon.

[Anna]

Another one for the list! Thanks, Jean.

And while I'm at it, I need to add Diane Vallere's Mad
for Mod series.

Anna Castle

[Carolyn]

Jean wrote: "Anna wrote: "I'm a mystery writer, but I belong to a romance writer book club. So I'm always looking for mysteries with strong romantic subplots for when it's my turn to choose our book of the mont..."

Jean, have you read Norah Roberts? Her book Angels Falls is a really good mystery/romance and she's written loads - some better than others! I've just written a mystery crime novel with a touch of romance in it but my next one has a stronger romantic thread so watch this space when it comes out in a couple of months time!! Do your mystery books have romance in them too?

[Carolyn]

Anna wrote: "I'm a mystery writer, but I belong to a romance writer book club. So I'm always looking for mysteries with strong romantic subplots for when it's my turn to choose our book of the month. Any sugges..."

Oops - just realised I send my last message to Jean instead of you Anna. Will re-send it here in a minute! These threads are a touch confusing to say the least!

[Jean]

That's okay, Anna! I'll answer too. I have read a great deal of Norah Roberts, but not Angels Falls. Will look for it. And yes, my mysteries do have a current of romance in them which intensifies as the series progresses.

[Carolyn]

Jean wrote: "That's okay, Anna! I'll answer too. I have read a great deal of Norah Roberts, but not Angels Falls. Will look for it. And yes, my mysteries do have a current of romance in them which intensifi..."

I think you made the same mistake as me Jean and replied to Anna instead of me! Good to see I'm not the only one who gets confused by the way these threads work.

[Ramla Zareen]

Hi, I hope I am not too late with a recommendation...!

My opinion of a good romantic sub-plot in Cozy Mystery would be:
--the romance should be present, but should not overwhelm the mystery element
--it should be discrete with intimate details avoided
--a little romantic development and progression ...with few ups and downs in all the phases ...and some romantic tension etc is fine
--but there should not be a prolonged love-triangle
--and the romantic relationship should move forward and become stronger as the series progresses
--and eventually the protagonist should be happily involved with a steady partner

For people who prefer the same criterion as me, I would like to recommend the following series:

1) White House Chef Mystery Series by Julie Hyzy

First Books

This series features Olivia (Ollie) Paras, White House assistant (later, executive) chef, in Washington DC.

A wonderful Cozy Mystery Series, in my opinion...! Mysteries are finely plotted with satisfying conclusions. Characters are interesting. Especially the protagonist comes across to me as a smart, caring and loyal person. The writing style is both refined and entertaining, with a desired amount of decent humour, and the language is clean. The romantic element is unsettled in the first few books in the series, but after that it is wonderful as the protagonist becomes happily involved with a steady partner who both respect and appreciates her.

2) Death On Demand Mystery Series By Carolyn G. Hart

First Books

This series features Annie Laurance, proprietor of the 'Death on Demand' book store, located in the fictional South Carolina island community of Broward's Rock. 

The mysteries are finely plotted, the writing is polished and entertaining ...and the romance part is also good as the protagonist is happily involved with a steady partner. The only drawback could be that the books contain a little profanity here and there, but in my opinion, not so much as to spoil the overall ambience.   
 
3) Jane Jeffry Mystery Series By Jill Churchill

First Book

4) Angie Amalfi Mystery Series By Joanne Pence

First Book

5) Flower Shop Mystery Series By Kate Collins

First Book

6) Domestic Bliss Mystery Series by Leslie Caine

First Book

Well, I really hope that my recommendations would be of help to someone...!:-)

Thanks...!

[Marja]

Ramla Zareen wrote: "Hi, I hope I am not too late with a recommendation...!

My opinion of a good romantic sub-plot in Cozy Mystery would be:
--the romance should be present, but should not overwhelm the mystery elemen..."

I agree with you, Ramla. I have to be honest and say that I'm really tired of the love triangles. I don't feel the protags have to be in a relationship, but it helps.

[Ramla Zareen]

Marja wrote: "Ramla Zareen wrote: "Hi, I hope I am not too late with a recommendation...!

My opinion of a good romantic sub-plot in Cozy Mystery would be:
--the romance should be present, but should not overwhe..."

Thanks Marja :-)

I do believe that a 'little' romance, like in your "Sandi Webster Mystery Series" adds to the reading pleasure :-)

First book

...but I find love-triangles, especially those that continue even after about 6 to 8 books in a series, very irritating...!

[Marja]

Ramla Zareen wrote: "Marja wrote: "Ramla Zareen wrote: "Hi, I hope I am not too late with a recommendation...!

My opinion of a good romantic sub-plot in Cozy Mystery would be:
--the romance should be present, but shou..."

I agree. If it's overdone, it can become very boring. And thank you for commenting on the Sandi Webster series.

[Ramla Zareen]

Marja wrote: "Ramla Zareen wrote: "Marja wrote: "Ramla Zareen wrote: "Hi, I hope I am not too late with a recommendation...!

My opinion of a good romantic sub-plot in Cozy Mystery would be:
--the romance should..."

Well, I really enjoyed the book that I read in that series: The Bogey Man, so it was a pleasure to mention it :-)

And yes, a prolonged love-triangle can be both annoying as well as boring ...plus it can sometimes overshadow the mystery element ...and also create uncertainty about the protagonist's eventual happiness ...which further prevents me from enjoying the books.

[Ramla Zareen]

I recently read The Strange Situation at Emlee by MaryJo Dawson. It's the third book in the Sally Nimitz Mystery Series. I found the book quite an enjoyable read mainly due to it's 'cozy' ambience and the warm personality of the protagonist. Sally is a widow but she has a strong friendship with George which I think might evolve into a romance. In any case, I thought that I'd mention this here since I like this kind of "romantic sub-plot" in a Cozy series where the friendship gradually develops into a romantic relationship, without it overshadowing the main 'mystery' element in the stories :-)