Romance novels are often dismissed by critics, but readers keep buying them, and sales tend to rise when the real world feels particularly bleak. 

So what is it about a love story, a cosy bookshop and the promise of a happy ending that keeps us coming back? 

Romance writers and co-authors of The Bookshop Belles Ebony Oaten and Catherine Bilson reveal the enduring appeal of historical romance and why the genre still doesn't get the respect it deserves, and the romance novels they most recommend!