So, I've read my first romance novel, the aforementioned When A Rake Falls by Sally Orr, and it's so good. Again, I'm not an experienced connoisseur of romance, but I loved it.
Our leading lady, Eve Mountfloy is a wonderful relatable goody-two-shoes scientist who wants to do her duty, but is having trouble because she is falling in love. Our leading man is the charming Boyce Parker, who wants to go on adventures to restore his reputation, and who is a bad boy who isn't an utter bag of dicks and is actually likeable. The plot is silly, but it's the fun kind of silly. Also, Sally Orr managed to write some mutual pining that made sense, and didn't require the characters to be particularly thick headed (conflicted and risk-averse and not communicating brilliantly, but not in a way that's unreasonable.)
Turns out I might like Regency romance? Whoda thunk?