Sometimes buidlings become characters in books. 

 

I sometimes select a hotel just because of its history.

 

These are some best Historic Hotels around the world.

 

Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan

Yamanashi, Japan
Opened: 705

 

Zum Roten Baeren

Freiburg, Germany
Opened: 1120

 

The Old Bell Hotel and Restaurant

Malmesbury, UK
Opened: 1220

 

Hotel Interlaken

Interlaken, Switzerland
Opened: 1323

 

 

Hotel El Convento

Location: Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Opened: 1651

 

Fairmont The Norfolk Hotel

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Opened: 1904

 

Don't you just want to pack your bags? 

 

 

Here are some great Historical Romance Novels that featuring Inns that you can visit. 

 

My lists are never in particular order. Enjoy!

 

1. It Happened One Night by Stephanie Laurens,  Mary Balogh, Jacquie D'Alessandro, and Candice Hern  

 

It Happened One Night . . . and nothing was ever the same again!

 

Once upon a time, four superstar storytellers—New York Times bestselling authors Stephanie Laurens and Mary Balogh, along with Jacquie D'Alessandro and Candice Hern—came up with a delicious idea. What if they each wrote a story about a proper young lady stranded at a remote inn away from society's constraints? What would happen? And how long would it take for her to give in to desire?

 

In these four amazing tales, four heroines will come face-to-face with the men who got away . . . only to discover that, instead of anger, there is still a passionate connection that cannot be denied. And while each of their lives is quite different, and their pasts utterly unique, they will all make a common discovery—that one night can change everything . . . forever.

 

2. Parting Gifts by Lorraine Heath

 

Marrying Maddie, a woman who works in a brothel in order to survive, widower Charles Lawson hopes to provide his three children with a loving mother until his terminal illness causes him to arrange a match between Maddie and his brother.

 

3. Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas

 

Poppy Hathaway loves her unconventional family, though she longs for normalcy. Then fate leads to a meeting with Harry Rutledge, an enigmatic hotel owner and inventor with wealth, power, and a dangerous hidden life. When their flirtation compromises her own reputation, Poppy shocks everyone by accepting his proposal--only to find that her new husband offers his passion, but not his trust.

Harry was willing to do anything to win Poppy--except to open his heart. All his life, he has held the world at arm's length…but the sharp, beguiling Poppy demands to be his wife in every way that matters. Still, as desire grows between them, an enemy lurks in the shadows. Now if Harry wants to keep Poppy by his side, he must forge a true union of body and soul, once and for all...

 

4. A Man and a Woman by Robin Schone

 

Widowed Megan Phillins longs to experience the intimacies shared with a man just once more. Playing the role of a harlot, she travels to the Land's End Inn, where she knocks upon the door of a mysterious stranger. After a night of forbidden passion Megan is shocked to discover the traveler is actually Connor Treffrey, an Englishman who was marooned and sold into slavery. But now Connor has returned to reunite with his well-bred family. And together, he and Megan will embark on a breathless journey of indescribable pleasure. 

 

5. The Grand Hotel by Elisabeth Fairchild, Barbara Metzger, Carla Kelly, and Allison Lane

 

London's luxurious Grand Hotel is the perfect setting for romantic rendezvous, glittering celebrations--and Cupid's good works. The impeccable staff and a host of most intriguing--and attractive--guests, will pamper, entertain, and romance readers in five heartwarming stories of love by five award-winning writers.

 

6. Make Me Yours by Betina Krahn

 

Mariah Eller was only trying to save her inn from being trashed. So how did the widow manage to attract the unwanted—and erotic—attention of the Prince of Wales? Not that being desired by royalty is necessarily bad… Only, Mariah much prefers the prince's best friend….

Jack St. Lawrence is very tempting, and very loyal. And he knows that the prince gets involved only with married women. So he figures sexy Mariah is safe…until the prince demands Jack find her a husband!

The problem? Jack and Mariah can't fight their sizzling attraction. And once they give in to their desires, the situation is even worse. Because the prince's man has found a husband for Mariah.

Himself…

 

7. A Place Called Rainwater by Dorothy Garlock

 

The small town of Rainwater, Oklahoma, has become a notorious boomtown now that a gusher has flooded its streets with drillers, welders and roustabouts of every description. Jill, a young woman who runs the hotel for her aunt, is unprepared to cope with the attention she receives from the woman-hungry men.

 

8. In the Heart of the Highlander by Maggie Robinson

 

Ever since Mary Evensong’s elderly aunt Mim got sick, Mary’s masqueraded as the owner of the Evensong Agency, finding housemaids and husbands, and solving pesky problems, for the peerage. Someday she’d like to shake off her silvery wig and spectacles and be the young woman she truly is, but desperate clients are waiting for “Mrs. Evensong” at the office.
 
Like a scandalous Scottish baron. Honor forbids Lord Alec Raeburn from explaining the suspicious circumstances surrounding his wife’s death, but he knows who’s responsible. He just needs to hire an actress to lure the scoundrel into a trap. 
 
After listening to Raeburn’s story—and seeing him in his kilt—Mary knows the perfect person for the role. Letting her red hair down, she heads off to the Scottish Highlands to pose as a seductress, but soon finds herself with more than her virtue at stake in a tug-of-war between two powerful men. She could wind up in danger—or in the heart of the highlander.

 

9. Hooked by Stef Ann Holm

 

Using an alias, stunt reporter Matthew Gage arrives in Harmony, Montana, to uncover the cheating going on in the town’s famous annual fly-fishing contest—not to tangle lines with a husband-hunting miss. But as soon as Meg Brooks gets stuck under his hotel bed, he’s hooked on her high-spirited charm. Besides, he hopes she’ll provide him with insider information—and a few kisses—while he snoops around.

But innocent Meg believes Matthew is “Vernon Wilberforce,” a polite carpet-sweeper salesman, the gentleman caller of her dreams. As the fishy scandal threatens to upset Harmony, Meg employs every lure in the book to land Matthew. But her heart will be broken by a man who isn’t what he seems…unless they each learn the truth: The best prize in life is given, not won. It’s love.

 

10. The Earl of Her Dreams by Anne Mallory

 

Facing the choice of flight or a wedding she cannot abide, Kate Simon has chosen to flee. Disguised as a boy, she takes refuge in a roadside inn, and finds herself rooming with intensely secretive Christian Black. Kate is breathless in the presence of this handsome, mysterious rogue whose piercing gaze seems to strip her naked. But neither suspects that a savage storm and a murder will draw them closer together still. But not the passion in their hearts

 

Christian dares not let anyone learn of his haunted past—or that he is, in truth, the Earl of Canley—especially not a slip of a girl whose masculine attire cannot disguise the exquisite female form beneath. But now that destiny and a dastardly crime have united them, Christian can no longer contain his desire to taste the nectar of Kate's sweet kiss. Danger certainly abounds, but the gravest peril might be resisting a once-in-a-lifetime passion that can heal all wounds.

 

 

Vote for the best of the best on my Goodreads list: Room for the Night: Inns in Historical Romance.

It is often the worst of times that bind us most tightly to those we love. In these darker days, we see the essence of a person. 

 

Here are some  great love story that take place during on in the aftermath of a flood.

 

 

1. Angel's Walk by Kathleen Creighton Free! 

 

Army Corps of Engineers’ John Campbell Harris has no choice--to save Bakersfield, California, he has to raise the height of the local dam in record time. This will flood the homes and destroy the dreams of many on the river, including Susannah Day whose beloved family home, Angel’s Walk, sits on long-designated lake bottom.

Harris didn’t plan to fall in love with an old-fashioned, stubborn, woman-child and then betray her, but who does? As the El Nino soaked the ground, and the water rose towards Angel's Walk, Harris made a dangerous choice for redemption. Would it be enough?

 

2. Courting Miss Hattie by Pamela Morsi

 

The news spread like brush fire through the whole county when widower Ancil Drayton announced his intention to start courting Miss Hattie Colfax. She was certainly spirited and delightfully sweet natured, and she'd managed to run her family farm almost single-handedly. But wasn't a twenty-nine-year-old lady farmer too old to catch a husband?

An Irresistable Suitor.

All his life handsome, black-haired Reed Tyler had worked Miss Hattie's farm--and dreamed of one day settling down on his own piece of land with the pretty young woman he'd sworn to marry. Hattie was someone he could tell his hopes and troubles to--someone he looked on as a sister. So he thought, until the idea of Ancil Drayton calling on her made him seethe. Until the night a brotherly peck became a scorching kiss... and Reed knew nothing would bank the blaze--and that his best friend was the only woman he would ever love.

 

3. All That Remains by Janice Kay Johnson

Wren Fraser can think of better times to go into labor. Say, when she's not on the run, or when there's a hospital nearby. Better yet, when there's not a major flood trapping her in an abandoned house. She needs a rescue…now!

It arrives in one Alec Harper. Strong, competent and goodlooking, the detective keeps her safe and doesn't leave her side. He even takes in Wren and the baby when they have no place to go.

For a woman wanting her independence, it's shocking how quickly she settles in with Alec. The situation seems a bit too domestic. And the sizzling attraction between them is making things worse. She keeps telling herself to walk away, yet she can't. Or should that be, she doesn't want to?

 

4. Jezebel's Blues by Barbara Samuel

 

 

5. Flood Zone by Dana Mentink 

 

Mia Sandoval's friend is murdered under mysterious circumstances—and the single mother is a suspect. Her only ally is a man she isn't sure she can trust. Search and rescue worker Dallas Black has a past as harrowing as Mia's own, and the police are suspicious of them both. With no choice but to work with secretive Dallas, Mia discovers he's as complicated as the murder they're forced to investigate to clear her name. Yet as a flood ravages their small Colorado town, a killer is determined that Mia, Dallas and their evidence get swept away to a watery grave.

 

6. A Man Like Him by Rachel Brimble

 

Changing her life…again.

 

After two years in hiding, Angela Taylor knows her independence is worth it. As long as she can escape her past, she has everything under control. Until a flash flood hits the park where she works, and hot Chris Forrester shows up the exact moment she needs a hero. 

 

Chris proves he can save lives—and weaken a girl's knees. But how can she make him understand that she's off-limits, that getting close to her will endanger his life? Her happiness or his safety: it shouldn't even be a choice. Because when you love someone, you protect them, no matter the cost. At least, that's what Angela keeps telling herself….

 

7. Rivertime by Rae Renzi

 

Casey Lord needs a break. Her great-on-paper boyfriend, Reed, is pressuring her to marry him—but she's not sure if he sees her merely as an asset to help his political career. A river-rafting trip in the remote wilderness provides the perfect opportunity to clear her head. Until a flash flood sweeps Casey away from her group—and straight into the arms of Jack, a mysterious man also stranded by the flooding river.

 

Jack won't tell Casey his last name, and her innocent questions about his life are met with evasive answers. Yet they have to trust each other to survive, and as the pair await rescue, their uneasy truce slowly blossoms into friendship—and love. They agree to keep secret whatever differences may separate them in the real world.

 

When rescue finally arrives, will it spell an end to their budding relationship or can they find a way to stay in RiverTime?

 

8. A Bird in Hand by Allison Lane

 

When Lord Symington tries to save a young woman from drowning he almost loses his own life, and winds up compromised—having spent the night (unconscious) with Lady Elizabeth Fosdale in a country cottage. As any honorable gentleman would, he offers her marriage, but she will have none of it. And his lordship is not quite willing to see Lady Elizabeth disappear.

 

9. Taken by Storm by Tamara Mataya

 

Leilani’s plan was simple: Return for her father’s wedding, house sit for the happy couple while they went on their honeymoon, then get the hell outta dodge. She’d thought the worst thing would be returning to the town she grew up in (and despised). She was wrong.

A flash flood hits the small town, stranding firefighter, Ryan, and a few strangers at the local bar. Worst of all, Leilani, his old high school rival – and last night’s scorching one-night-stand – is one of the people stuck in the bar. With waters rising, they need to stick together and wait for rescue.

The power grid’s knocked out, and cell phones aren’t working. When the others panic and leave, Leilani and Ryan are left alone in the dark. Fortunately, words aren’t necessary to keep the former rivals warm. But when they’re forced to leave the refuge of each other's arms, they must navigate the flood-ravaged town in order to find safe shelter.

The rising waters brought them together, but rising tempers might tear them apart.

 

10. In the Shadow of the Ark by Anne Provoost

 

When ReJana and her family reach the desert plain where the great ship is being constructed, the world has already begun to change. The waters are rising everywhere, and both people and animals are beginning to panic. This is the dramatic story of the weeks and months that follow, as the rain transforms the earth and the people come to understand the magnitude of the disaster. This is the story of one girl who stows away on the ark for love of Ham, Noah's son. This is her story of survival.

 

To vote for your favorite Romances featuring a flood, go to my Goodreads list: Flooded: Floods in Romance Novels. 

 

 

 

 

 

This one is worth getting just for Carla Kelly's story alone, which is a complete delight.  A 32 year-old spinster finally runs away from home in order to avoid getting married to a persistent, but very dull and self-absorbed suitor, and runs into an American sea captain at her old governess' home in Portsmouth. Sparks fly and lots of humour too! 

Bold misses are a lot of fun but its the quiet ones you have to watch.

 

Enjoy some Shy Heroines of Historical Romance!

 

1. The Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

2. Hester Waring's Marriage by Paula Marshall 

3.Honor's Splendour by Julie Garwood

4.Beast by Judith Ivory

5. Provocative in Pearls by Madeline Hunter 

6. Sweet Everlasting by Patricia Gaffney 

7. Talk Sweetly to Me by Courtney Milan 5 Stars!

8. Promises Prevail by Sarah McCarty 

9. An English Bride in Scotland by Lynsay Sands 

10. The Rake and the Wallflower by Allison Lane

 

To vote for the best of the best go to the Goodreads list: Shy Heroines of Historical Romance.

 

Let me know your favorite Shy Historical Heroine! 

Well, this kind of blew chunks (pardon the pun for those who have read it ;D), but I had to give it at least 3.5 stars just for the level of WTFery.

Our hero is brokenhearted when the love of his life goes off and marries some grandpa who has money and a title. The dude spends a year whoring, spending and puking until daddy threatens to cut him off and makes him go fix up a dilapidated estate if he wants anything to live on. He’s got a little inheritance but he has to marry and is on his way to propose to some horse faced woman when an accident pairs him with our perfect heroine. (Mary Sue has nothing on this chick). She was going to live her life as a dowdy spinster anyway, so all is good…except for the fact that he still has it BAD for his old love and just hates our heroine with a passion because she’s not her.

I know this wasn’t supposed to be funny by a long shot, but I more or less read this as a comedy due to all the over the top levels of pure rage directed towards the heroine whenever she did something that actually benefitted him or was simply impressive (and you can bet there was plenty). She plays the pianoforte like Mozart, showing up his precious? Hates her. He stays gone for three weeks bumping nasties with his old flame and comes back to changes that would’ve taken him three months to accomplish? Hates her. He sends her off sight-unseen to meet his family and the ton without any support only to find that she changes into a beautiful swan (well, passable swan) and ingratiates herself to his entire family, all his old friends, and even her long lost duke uncle. Hates her. Hates her, hates her, hates her. All the way through the book…all the way to that talked about scene (at almost the very end!) where he is actually disappointed when the heroine survives an accident that almost killed her (and this is when he had started to like her…or recognized that he was being unfair.)

As a nice balance, as blind as he was to the wonderfulness of the heroine, he was equally so to the whorishness of the OW who was all about the money and titles and never missed an opportunity to sleep with everyone in town. He was uber obsessed with the slut throughout the entire story, though he held himself back for the most part…for honors sake. He was big on being honorable. *cough*

The entire book was a constant bombardment of him hating the heroine equally to his loving the OW while keeping his butt cheeks clinched in order to not pounce on her (the OW) in public and, thus, embarrass him and his whole family and ruin his sister’s chance for a good connection during her coming out. But then at the very end, he has a random epiphany where he sees the OW for the slut she is and recognizes that the heroine is the embodiment of all the perfection he had attributed to the skankwhore. Believable, eh?

If quick turn-arounds with nice big bows at the end are your pet-peeve, then this one will throw you over the top. If you can overlook the unrealistic 180 switcheroo in order to wallow through the most obscene level of OW worship you’ll ever come across, then you have good times ahead.