I am looking for recommendation of HR for a guy!

I made a friend recently, and we talked about books. I told him I read a lot of HR. He said that he would like to try.
I want recommendation of a book that apart from romance would have a solid plot. Murder/spies/revenge.

I was thinking of Highwayman (naturally) but it is very dark and angsty.
Can you recommend something more lighthearted?