I'm not really sure how to lead into what I want, so I'll come out and say it-- Can people recommend action/adventure books that have strong romantic subplots and a happy ending?

I hope no one is laughing at me right now! This is such a strange thing to ask, but I started thinking about this and while I told myself to quit the idea, I couldn't. It all started the other day when my brother told me about this old movie he saw. It was completely sci-fi, bad guys killing good guys, mystery, etc... Normally I dont' like those types of movies/books. However, according to my brother it had a sweet, romance-type of ending for the main character.

Hearing about the the action and adventure, but the nice, romance-type happy ending, I couldn't help but wonder if there are any books like this out there. I'm sure there must be. But I don't want to go out and randomly find books. So can anyone help me?

Thanks!

 Natalie

Here's a list from AAR (All About Romance) that might get you started. Hopefully these are the type of books you're looking for.  :)

http://www.likesbooks.com/adventures.html

I would recommend:

Penny McCall's  All Jacked Up, Tag, You're It, and the third, which I haven't read yet is Ace is Wild.  

I also loved Toni McGee Causey's Bobbie Faye's Really (really really, really) Very Bad Day.  This one is very funny.

Marliss Melton

I've been reading Roxanne St. Claire's Bullet Catchers series.... Kill Me Twice, Thrill Me to Death, Take Me Tonight, First You Run, Then You Hide, Now You Die, and there are two stories in anthologies--I'll Be Home For Christmas and What You Can't See.

Your talking about one of my favorite genres! I love action/adventure romances.

Glenna McReynolds River of Eden is set in the Amazon, and is a good action/adventure romance. Linda Howard's HEART OF FIRE is also an adventure/romance set in the Amazon.

Sandra Brown's Two Alone is about two plane-crash survivors in the northern wilderness.

Kiss and Tell (Men of T-FLAC, Bk 2) by Cherry Adair is an action/romance that is really steamy, if you like that kind of romance (I do!). She has a whole series of romantic suspense books.

If you like muscle cars Tara Janzen's Steele Street series might appeal to you. It starts with Crazy Hot

If you think you'd like something historical Elizabeth Lowell has an old west series starting with Only His where the hero and heroine are leading a team of prize horses across the mountians and being persued by a bunch of outlaws that want her horses for themselves. A lot of old west romances are "road romances" which are basically adventure romances. Johanna Lindsey's A Heart So Wild is another one. It's kinda old (published in the 80's), but pretty good if you like the wild-west gunslinger heroes. The hero in that book is just yummy.

Suzanne Brockman- Seal series. 

Sara

If you are looking for historicals then I would recommend Marsha Canham.

Lucy Monroe's "Ready" "Willing" and "Able" series.

Sherri

Ya'll mentioned everything I was thinking, lol!

IMHO, Marsha Canham is the undisputed queen of the action/adventure romance.  Her inspirations are movies - big blockbuster swashbuckling adventure movies - like Pirates of the Caribbean, Zorro, and Robin Hood.  I suggest:

Stand alone novels:

Pale Moon Rider, Swept Away, and Under the Desert Moon

Series

The Robin Hood trilogy:

Through a Dark Mist, In the Shadow of Midnight (0 copies in the system right now), and The Last Arrow

The Pirate Wolf Series:

Across a Moonlit Sea, and The Iron Rose

And her Highlander series:

 The Pride Of Lions, Blood Of Roses, and Midnight Honor

Although, I don't recommend Midnight Honor.  You don't need to read it for continuity, and it's a little dry, IMO.  The first two are great though.

Try Cherry Adair's TFlac series. 

Also Diedre Knight's Parallel series.  It's about aliens invading earth but they're mostly romance.  Very good books-read them in order. I've read the TFlac books out of order and followed them just fine. But the Parallel books should be read in order.

FYI, meant to say that "The Unsung Hero" is the 1st Brockmann seal series (Troubleshooters) book. 

Sara

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! Historical or contemporary, I'm willing to check them out! If anyone else has any others, please let me know!

Natalie

All the Queen's Men by Linda Howard ( most of her later books are action packed)

Sandra Brown - Most of her later books

Suzanne Brockman - Over the Edge was my personal fav.  Part of Troubleshooters series. 

Anne Stuart

I would highly recommend J.D. Robb's In Death series.  The first is Naked in Death.  It is a futuristic setting with a kick ass heroine Eve Dallas who is a New York homicide detective and Roarke whom she meets during an investigation.  They have action and romance with wonderful character development.  You do have to read them in order.

I just found this book, so I haven't read it, but  The Diplomat's Wife ~  Pam Jenoff  takes place in post WWII. Considering it is Harlequin, I'm certain it will have a happy ending.

I also recently remembered about a book entitled Code Name: Blondie. I din't much care for it, but I think it was and action/adventure novel. As I recall, the government was experimenting with creating enhanced soldiers, and the heroine was -- I believe -- a journalist.