Roses, by Leila MeachamRead about another entry on the list.
What makes this a tragic romance? It’s simple: the main characters, Mary Toliver, heiress to a Texas cotton empire, and Percy Warwick, king of timber, should have gotten married. But they did not, and the tragedy stems across the 20th century as their children and children’s children deal with secrets, manipulation, and heartbreaking ramifications of a love that should have been. Historical, beautifully written, and definitely worth a few tears.
The Page 69 Test: Roses.
--Marshal Zeringue