6 Haunting Time-Travel Romances

The Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
We start with a modern-day time-travel romance, told in reverse: when Henry Detamble meets the young and ravishing Clare Abshire, he is informed by her that not only have they already met, but they are in love and from this moment on, destined to be together. Henry is surprised, but not that surprised to hear this: he has a genetic disorder that causes him to travel back and forth in his own timeline. Clare has loved Henry ever since she was a little girl, and now that they have met when she is an adult, their romance begins. Beautifully written with some of the most erotic scenes in a non-romance novel I’ve ever read.

Son of the Morning, by Linda Howard
Grace St. John is an academic, studying ancient manuscripts—she never thought she’d have to travel back in time to protect them. But when Grace’s husband is murdered because she discovers a secret of the Templar Knights in her documents, she goes on the run before the killer can track her down as well. Her journey to avenge her husband’s death and protect the secrets of the past leads her to Black Niall (one of my all-time favorite Scottish heroes). Niall, the bastard half-brother of the king, was ex-communicated from the Templar Knights but still seeks to protect their secrets. The romance here is a slow burn (seriously, wait at least half the book for anything to start burning between them) but Niall is a captivatingly dark hero and the perfect companion for Grace’s quest for justice.

A Dance Through Time, by Lynn Kurland
The de facto queen of time-travel romances, Lynn Kurland’s A Dance Through Time is a must-read if you’re new to this genre. Elizabeth is a struggling romance writer with a fiancé she’s not 100% sure about, and during a walk through Gramercy Park, she finds herself taking a nap on a park bench and dreaming about a Scottish laird. Imagine her surprise when she wakes up in the castle of James MacLeod, a 14th Century Scottish Laird—and is put in the dungeon on suspicion of being a witch. Eventually James realizes that Elizabeth is not a witch, but possibly the answer to a family mystery—and his prayers.

Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon
Season Two of Starz’ Outlander just ended, so if you haven’t yet given the books a chance, here’s another reason you should! Clare Fraser is reunited with her husband after World War II separated them—but on their romantic reunion in the Scottish Highlands near Craigh Na Duhn, she is transported back in time to the 1700’s, where she meets the dashing and noble James Fraser—and marries him! For more reasons why you should read Outlander, check out my other post on the subject. (There are GIFs of Sam Heughan, the guy who plays Jamie. You’re welcome in advance.)

Beyond the Highland Mist (Highlander #1), by Karen Marie Moning
Don’t you love romances about the man whose emotions have never been stirred by a woman (despite having many in his bed) until he meets THE ONE? Then you’ll fall for the stoic and predatory Hawk, the hero of Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander series. Adrienne de Simone travels from modern (well, late 90’s at this point) Seattle to the sixteenth century and coerced into marriage—both of them believing that they wouldn’t fall for the other. (Fair warning: once this couple heats up, the romance scenes are steamy.)

Mariana, by Susanna Kearsley
Julia Beckett has always wanted to live in Greywether House—and due to an unexpected inheritance, at age thirty, she finally buys it. But once she moves in, she realizes her attraction to the house may be more than mere coincidence, as she starts traveling back in time to the 17th Century and living as Mariana Farr, a young woman with a forbidden romance surrounded by danger. Eventually, Mariana’s past life begins to affect Julia’s present, and she must deal with the consequences of meddling with time.
What are your favorite time-traveling romances?