Even with the release of dozens, if not hundreds of romance novels each month, there are still some classic books that stand out from the contemporary crowd. As of this writing, fall is here and I'm starting to think about pulling together some reading material for the coming cold weather. So here, in no particular order, are my five favorite romantic books of all time.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman. If you liked the movie, you'll love the book. If you loved the movie, you'll adore the book. It goes into a lot more detail about Buttercup's childhood, and of course you see her relationship with Westley through the character's eyes, not the filmmakers'. A thoroughly enjoyable read!

Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell. If you don't think this is one of the more romantic books of all time, you have ice water for blood. How many of us can relate to the pain of an unrequited crush? And how many of us have pursued an unattainable love only to destroy (or maybe, almost destroy) the love we have but don't even notice? I don't know about you, but I can definitely plead guilty to that, just ask my husband Alex! Some cynics say that Gone With the Wind isn't a love story at all, that Scarlett represents Southerners at the time of the Civil War, Ashley is the Old South they don't want to let go of, and Rhett is the New South that they're going to have to learn to love. Bull paddies. Let go of the English major mentality, and just enjoy one of the best love stories of all time!

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. Wow. Just, wow. Who doesn't love a rags to riches story? Yes, the plot is improbable and the prose can get weighty at times, but the love of a rich man for a poor girl is classic, just classic. And the end, when she's, well, not rich but definitely comfortable, and he's destitute and blind and she still loves him - makes even cynical little me a little snuffly. I never read Jane Eyre until I was well into my thirties. I'm sorry I waited so long. If you've never read this book, or haven't read it in a while, you might want to grab a copy and snuggle down in your favorite chair for a while.

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. If you abstained from bookstores and the arts section of your favorite local newspaper or national news magazine in the mid 1980's, you may have missed hearing about this book. It's the story of King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, and the rest of the Knights of the Round Table, but told from the point of view of the women in the story: Arthur's mother Ygraine, Guinevere, Morgan Le Fay (Arthur's sister in this version, and in love with Lancelot, too), and Vivianne, the Lady of the Lake. The love between Guinevere and Lancelot has never been more beautifully told, and some interesting subtle details have been added. And don't forget, Ygraine fell in love with Uther Pendragon, Arthur's father, when she was still married to another man. You know, I haven't read that book in at least a decade, maybe longer I think it's time to pull it off the shelf for an enjoyable re-read.

Lady of the Forest by Jennifer Roberson. What Marion Zimmer Bradley did for Arthur and Guinevere, Roberson did for Robin Hood and Maid Marian. The book is long, but the timeframe of the story lasts maybe a week. And it's all in there: how Robin and Marian met, their instant infatuation, and, of course, lots of complications thanks to the Sheriff of Nottingham. Hmm. I haven't read that one in a while either...

As you sit in a cozy chair this winter, with your sweetie nearby and a warm dog at your feet, I hope you'll give some of these timeless love stories a try!