Can a guy recommend romance?
If so I think you should read the SF novel "Cordelia’s Honour" by Lois Mcmaster Bujold. I believe it would appeal to the many women that like romance on this board. And it’s nothing like a harlequin novel.
It's full of waffs and whams and it has a brilliant twisty plot. Bujold are a very good at creating a number of different interesting star nations and cultures and isn’t afraid of tough questions. And some of the supporting characters are extremely memorable.
In short Cordelia is a captain in the Betan Astronomy survey(Beta Colony is a very advanced and liberal world) that stumbles on a Barrayaran
staging ground for an invasion (Barrayar is a rather aggressive male dominated imperial power.) Where she captured by Lord Aral Vorkosigan the infamous "butcher of Komarr" and things move on from there.
Don't be discouraged by the SF setting it's nothing awkward.
But you can see for yourself, the ten first chapter are
here .
Baen Books are simply the best.
