ddickinson: There is nothing unfortunate about that, nothing to be ashamed of for being a big romantic at heart. I am a huge romantic when it comes to my partner, just not when it comes to books.
As for English authors, well that depends what genre of book you are after. For romantic stories, there are authors like Jane Austen, Shakespeare, or Charlotte Brontë. I am not too up to date on more modern romance authors, due to me not been big on the genre.
Oh, I don't feel ashamed :")
It's just that... well... being romantic is sometimes painful. You have to deal with very strong feelings ; but you cannot take only the good ones, and let the bad ones aside ; it's all or nothing. I tried to muzzle my heart, to protect myself... it worked, for a while (many years) ! :-) But who can (or would like to) indefinitely live without *real* love... (?)