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I'm getting tired of the "love at first sight" senario in romance. Can you recommend a book where the romance starts slow and takes its time? It can be a fantasy novel, or a science-fiction or a historical or anything else; I'm not picky ;)
Thanks!

I remember being pleasantly surprised with how much I ended up liking this one:
Troubled Waters

Not one I would have thought I'd like based on the descriptions of the other works of the author. It doesn't seem much like a (typical) romance at all, while reading it, it's much more about the main character finding her place on the world. Fantasy elements, young adult as far as not having graphic scenes. To say more about that part of the storyline would ruin it, but it was definitely a slow burn.

The first few others that immediately came to mind once I started thinking of this - Poison Study, Outlander, Lothaire - I think you've already read :)

The Abhorsen series, by Garth Nix, come to think of it, also feature very slow developing romance aspects. Again, young adult, not adult, as far as any graphic scenes go, but * far * darker in tone and concepts explored than that Sharon Shinn one, if you prefer something that's not too far toward the tame end of the scale.

There are series that have a slowly developing romance as part of the premise. An example is the Mercy Thompson books by Patricia Briggs.

The Emperor's Edge series by Lindsay Buroker has a slow build between the heroine and an assassin. No sexytimes but I never missed it.

Thank you :) I've already read both the Emperor's Edge series (one of my favorite, because the romance is just perfect and just what I'm looking for here ;) ) and the Mercy Thompson series. I'll try Toubled Waters though.

I recommend the series "Dark Swan" and "Georgina Kincaid" by Richelle Mead.

I love slow building romance. Kate Daniels is one of my favs where that's concerned. Demon Angel by Meljean Brook is a paranormal romance that develops the relationship slowly. You are introduced to them when they first meet and over the thousands of years you get to see them slowly care for each other. It's really a fun novel. I don't know if you've read the Kushiel Series by J. Carey. But, the relationship between Joscelin and Phedre develops really slow. But when it comes, it's amazing and so worth the wait. Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas is a really sweet historical romance. The heroine doesn't take any shit and she's a realist. She's very practical, but she's also not innocent. The relationship builds slowly. There's attraction at first, but nothing really goes quickly. It's one of my favorite historical romances. Hope this helps Desme.

I just finished and thought it might be perfect if you're still looking for books falling in this category. Kind of a blend of all the genres you mentioned, actually. I found it to be even better than the one I recommended earlier for when you're in the not mood for another with Kresley Cole/Jacqueline Carey-level of descriptive sex scenes, but still get the strong female lead and touch of fantasy elements.

I'm enjoying a historical romance now called My Highland Lord by Tarah Scott. It's a slow build and an interesting story.

I'd like to second a lot of the recommendations here. I love the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, and The Emperor's Edge series by Lindsay Buroker for the great plot and slower romance aspects. I would like to add the Toby Daye series by Seanan McGuire to the list as well. Really great world building and the romance is slow and a little bit heartbreaking.

Another series with great world building and story plot, another series you might want to check out is the Cast series by Michelle Sagara. Not a lot of romance but the main potential guy is pretty magnetic, in an evil-ish way.

Oh, another one that might be good is the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. I wouldn't say it's really romantic but it's definitely not love at first sight.. or second. It takes a long time for the characters to really come together, the second book if I remember correctly, and even then it's not till the end of the series where they really admit to anything.

The issue with slow building for me is sometimes when the two sides like go off and have other people between, I get so mad. Like with this one series I just said, NOPE because I felt more annoying distance between these two clearly meant to be people. sigh.

Slow build is my favorite and I third Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series (my favorite UF!)- starts with Magic Bites - along with 2 of her other series, Hidden Legacy - starts with Burn for Me - and their Innkeeper series- starts with Clean Sweep. They share each new chapter from the Innkeeper series every Friday for free on their blog (along with the previous chapters) until it is finished as a thank you to their fans, then offer it as an indie published eBook when finished for any who might want to go ahead and buy it.. They are on the second book right now.

I also second Seanan McGuire's Toby Day series- starts with Rosemary and Rue and then Karen Marie Moning's Fever series- starts with Darkfever if I remember correctly- but be forewarned, every Fever book ends on a huge cliffhanger. She has a second series with a slow-burn started off in the same world with one of the secondary characters that also includes the original MC's from the Fever series playing huge roles. They are frustratingly addictive, heehee.

And I third, Grace Draven's books- my own favorite is Master of Crows,

I also very highly recommend Kulti by Mariana Zapata. AWESOME contemporary slow-burn romance stand alone. The hero starts off as a huge jerk but does redeem himself. Strong heroine. Mariana Zapata is one of my favorite new authors, she does slow-burn so well! Her latest one just out is slow-burn, too, almost as good as Kulti (but Kulti's in my top 2 favorite romances ever), called The Wall of Winnipeg and Me.

Also, Broken Heart Syndrome by Susie Tate, another contemporary.

The best one I read was Haruki Murakami's "1Q84"...it's long, but the romance bt the main characters is worth the read. Last page had me in tears (for good reason)

Peach, by Elizabeth Adler. A longtime favorite of mine. It's a story of a man and woman born on the same day in different countries and circumstances. They cross paths several times; the woman represents a goal or aspiration for the man.

The sexual tension is subtle, and builds over time. Best of all, the love conquers all!

Desme wrote: "I'm getting tired of the "love at first sight" senario in romance. Can you recommend a book where the romance starts slow and takes its time? It can be a fantasy novel, or a science-fiction or a hi..."

Have you read the Samaria series? Starts with Archangel. That's the first book/series that comes to mind with your parameters...

Not sure if this is what you're looking for but currently reading More Than Magic and absolutely loving it. It's kind of 'instant romance' in that the attraction is pretty instant. But at the same time, not really because the entire novel takes place over a few days so the relationship blooms so much slower and feels genuine. I really enjoy the mystical atmosphere of the Appalachian mountains. The main characters are almost flawless but lovable, etc. The mystery at the center of it is quite nice.

Please let me know what you find because I'm kind of looking for similar things to read!

For slow building
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Steelflower by Lilith Saintcrow - fantasy...beware a second book has not been written and may never be published due to epiracy
Memory of Morning by Susan Sizemore
Herb-Witch by Elizabeth McCoy - verrry slow build, romance evolves more in the second book after she grows to trust him in the first.

Karen Marie Moning - faefever series it's slow build and really good. I struggled with the first book but after that boom I'm hooked and I've re read the series many times (fantasy)

Tamora pierce - really any of Tortall series. The lioness quartet is good place to start my personal favourite is tricksters choice and tricksters queen (young adult)

Anne Bishop - the others series. This is my all time favourite series and it's partly because of the slow build romance. This is my comfort read and my go to escape. In this year alone I've re read it 4 times. For me it never gets old.

You will love The Last Hour of Gann by R. Lee Smith. The romance is slow burn and will hook you right away. It's the sweetest most realistic love story I have ever read.

Hi everyone! I love this thread -I've been taking loads of inspiration from it, but, for some reason, only joined your group now. In particular, Christina and Dayna recommended the Emperor's Edge series by Lindsay Buroker and I loved it. Just wondering, are there similar books out there romance-wise? Entwined in all the adventure, the EE romance developed over the entire series of books and there was always more ground to be gained so my interest was always piqued... so I'm looking for something like that if you have any suggestions?? So far my Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ searches keep turning up angsty teen material so I'm keen to avoid that.. I'm also taking a break from vampires etc. Love magic and epic fantasy though so they would be a bonus

Try the Bobbie Faye series by Toni McGee Causey. Very strong female lead with an equally strong duo of men vying for her. Oh and Voo Doo, Criminals, Great chase scenes, Best friends into S & M, really the first book is about them getting to know each other. The other two books have the sexy times along with all of the above.

Juliet Marillier's Sevenwaters series, particularly Daughter of the Forest and Son of the Shadows. I reread these two all of the time. (Unfortunately, the remaining four books aren't as great).

I second Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel series as well.

I'm actually in this thread because I am looking for books to fill that space because I've reread both series too recently.

The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley. I must have read this 89000 times and it’s sweet and powerful every time!