My Top 100 Romances

Creating a list for All About Romance's top 100 romances poll is one of the toughest things I do. Here's this year's list, although I already want to change the order of things. :)

1. Bitten, Kelley Armstrong
2. Naked in Death, J.D. Robb
3. Contact, Evelyn Vaughn
4. Immortal in Death, J.D. Robb
5. Over the Edge, Suzanne Brockmann
6. To Love and to Cherish, Patricia Gaffney
7. Living Dead in Dallas, Charlaine Harris
8. The Stranger I Married, Sylvia Day
9. Heiress for Hire, Erin McCarthy
10. When He Was Wicked, Julia Quinn
11. Blue Moon, Lori Handeland
12. The Marriage Bed, Claudia Dain
13. Inner Harbor, Nora Roberts
14. See Jane Score, Rachel Gibson
15. Dead to the World, Charlaine Harris
16. Betrayal in Death, J.D. Robb
17. Club Dead, Charlaine Harris
18. Bad Boys Online, Erin McCarthy
19. Vengeance in Death, J.D. Robb
20. Brighter Than the Sun, Julia Quinn
21. Champagne Rules, Susan Lyons
22. Slave to Sensation, Nalini Singh
23. Stolen, Kelley Armstrong
24. Holiday in Death, J.D. Robb
25. Night Watch, Suzanne Brockmann
26. Lord of the Storm, Justine Davis
27. "The Forbidden Daffodils," Mary Balogh
28. Off Limits, Michele Albert
29. Glory in Death, J.D. Robb
30. Nobody Does It Better, Jan Freed
31. Conspiracy in Death, J.D. Robb
32. Witness in Death, J.D. Robb
33. Prince Joe, Suzanne Brockmann
34. Her Secret Thrill, Donna Kauffman
35. A Man to Trust, Justine Davis
36. Face the Fire, Nora Roberts
37. Slightly Dangerous, Mary Balogh
38. Love's Duet, Patricia Veryan
39. Portrait in Death, J.D. Robb
40. Always to Remember, Lorraine Heath
41. Born of the Sun, Joan Wolf
42. Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris
43. Out of Control, Suzanne Brockmann
44. The Reluctant Cavalier, Karen Harbaugh
45. “Fuzzy Logic,” Erin McCarthy
46. Too Many Bosses, Jan Freed
47. Suspect, Jo Leigh
48. It Must Be Love, Rachel Gibson
49. A.K.A. Goddess, Evelyn Vaughn
50. “Wish List,” Sylvia Day
51. The Ice King, Dinah Dean
52. The Edge of Light, Joan Wolf
53. Midnight Bayou, Nora Roberts
54. To Die For, Linda Howard
55. Bad Boys Ahoy, Sylvia Day
56. "Touch Me," Shannon McKenna
57. Origin in Death, J.D Robb
58. Undead and Unwed, MaryJanice Davidson
59. A Suitable Bodyguard, Kathryn Shay
60. Summer Campaign, Carla Kelly
61. Love, Come to Me, Lisa Kleypas
62. "Going Down," Donna Kauffman
63. The Tyrant, Patricia Veryan
64. Better Than Chocolate, Jennifer LaBrecque
65. Dance with the Devil, Sherrilyn Kenyon
66. Getting Her Man, Michele Albert
67. Bodyguard, Suzanne Brockmann
68. Whispers in the Woods, Helen R. Myers
69. Heartless, Mary Balogh
70. Impulse, Candace Camp
71. A Stranger's Kiss, Shelly Thacker
72. The Wagered Widow, Patricia Veryan
73. After Hours, Vicki Lewis Thompson
74. Seduce Me, Jill Shalvis
75. "The Nekkid Truth," Nicole Camden
76. Something Wonderful, Judith McNaught
77. Hunter's Moon, Karen Robards
78. Taking Cover, Catherine Mann
79. Lord Carew's Bride, Mary Balogh
80. Someone to Watch Over Me, Lisa Kleypas
81. Hero Under Cover, Suzanne Brockmann
82. The Only Way Out, Susan Mallery
83. Night Fire, Catherine Coulter
84. Kitty and the Midnight Hour, Carrie Vaughn
85. Lord of Scoundrels, Loretta Chase
86. Just a Memory Away, Helen R. Myers
87. Wickedly Hot, Leslie Kelly
88. The Counterfeit Coachman, Elisabeth Fairchild
89. Guilty Pleasures, Laura Lee Guhrke
90. Flight from the Eagle, Dinah Dean
91. The Grinch Makes Good, Alison Kent
92. Get a Clue, Jill Shalvis
93. "The Nutcracker Sweet," Nancy Warren
94. My Darling Caroline, Adele Ashworth
95. The Mandarin of Mayfair, Patricia Veryan
96. Miss Chartley's Guided Tour, Carla Kelly
97. The Lady's Tutor, Robin Schone
98. This Is All I Ask, Lynn Kurland
99. A Whole Lot of Love, Justine Davis
100. Key of Knowledge, Nora Roberts

I created a list three years ago, but there have been a number of changes to the new list. The biggest change: several In Death books dropped off the list. I still love the series, but I decided I didn't need to list every book--I think the series is still quite well represented.

I've added a bunch of new favorites, such as Bitten, Contact, Champagne Rules, and Slave to Sensation.

I enjoy making this list, but I admit I'm glad there are a few years between them. Putting them in order is a tough task.

My Top 100 Romances

At long last, my list of 100 favorites. It's the best I can do at the moment, but this list could change as soon as tomorrow. Whew! This was quite a task, but here goes:

1. Naked in Death, J.D. Robb
2. Immortal in Death, J.D. Robb
3. Glory in Death, J.D. Robb
4. Living Dead in Dallas, Charlaine Harris
5. Inner Harbor, Nora Roberts
6. See Jane Score, Rachel Gibson
7. Dead to the World, Charlaine Harris
8. Over the Edge, Suzanne Brockmann
9. Betrayal in Death, J.D. Robb
10. Club Dead, Charlaine Harris
11. Vengeance in Death, J.D. Robb
12. Holiday in Death, J.D. Robb
13. Night Watch, Suzanne Brockmann
14. Lord of the Storm, Justine Davis
15. Off Limits, Michele Albert
16. Nobody Does It Better, Jan Freed
17. Conspiracy in Death, J.D. Robb
18. Witness in Death, J.D. Robb
19. Prince Joe, Suzanne Brockmann
20. A Man to Trust, Justine Davis
21. Face the Fire, Nora Roberts
22. A Great Catch, Michelle Jerott
23. Love's Duet, Patricia Veryan
24. A Whole Lot of Love, Justine Davis
25. Portrait in Death, J.D. Robb
26. Remember When, Nora Roberts
27. Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris
28. Out of Control, Suzanne Brockmann
29. The Reluctant Cavalier, Karen Harbaugh
30. Gone Too Far, Suzanne Brockmann
31. Too Many Bosses, Jan Freed
32. The Defiant Hero, Suzanne Brockmann
33. It Must Be Love, Rachel Gibson
34. Purity in Death, J.D. Robb
35. A Suitable Bodyguard, Kathryn Shay
36. Undead and Unwed, MaryJanice Davidson
37. Summer Campaign, Carla Kelly
38. When He Was Wicked, Julia Quinn
39. The Ice King, Dinah Dean
40. Love, Come to Me, Lisa Kleypas
41. "Going Down," Donna Kauffman
42. Chesapeake Blue, Nora Roberts
43. The Tyrant, Patricia Veryan
44. Sea Swept, Nora Roberts
45. Rising Tides, Nora Roberts
46. Getting Her Man, Michele Albert
47. Bodyguard, Suzanne Brockmann
48. Whispers in the Woods, Helen R. Myers
49. Heartless, Mary Balogh
50. Impulse, Candace Camp
51. This Is All I Ask, Lynn Kurland
52. A Stranger's Kiss, Shelly Thacker
53. Her Secret Thrill, Donna Kauffman
54. The Wagered Widow, Patricia Veryan
55. After Hours, Vicki Lewis Thompson
56. Key of Knowledge, Nora Roberts
57. Behind Closed Doors, Shannon McKenna
58. Hunter's Moon, Karen Robards
59. Something Wonderful, Judith McNaught
60. My Dearest Enemy, Connie Brockway
61. Taking Cover, Catherine Mann
62. Lord Carew's Bride, Mary Balogh
63. Someone to Watch Over Me, Lisa Kleypas
64. Hero Under Cover, Suzanne Brockmann
65. "The Forbidden Daffodils," Mary Balogh
66. "The Nekkid Truth," Nicole Camden
67. The Only Way Out, Susan Mallery
68. The Edge of Light, Joan Wolf
69. Midnight Bayou, Nora Roberts
70. Loyalty in Death, J.D. Robb
71. Night Fire, Catherine Coulter
72. Lone Star Millionaire, Susan Mallery
73. Divided in Death, J.D. Robb
74. Visions in Death, J.D. Robb
75. "The Best Gift," Mary Balogh
76. Lord of Scoundrels, Loretta Chase
77. Just a Memory Away, Helen R. Myers
78. Imitation in Death, J.D. Robb
79. The Counterfeit Coachman, Elisabeth Fairchild
80. Guilty Pleasures, Laura Lee Guhrke
81. Ceremony in Death, J.D. Robb
82. Reunion in Death, J.D. Robb
83. Born of the Sun, Joan Wolf
84. "Touch Me," Shannon McKenna
85. Flight from the Eagle, Dinah Dean
86. Rapture in Death, J.D. Robb
87. Seduction in Death, J.D. Robb
88. Born in Ice, Nora Roberts
89. My Darling Caroline, Adele Ashworth
90. Acting on Impulse, Vicki Lewis Thompson
91. Bad Boys Online, Erin McCarthy
92. Judgment in Death, J.D. Robb
93. A Thing of Beauty, Casey Claybourne
94. The Mandarin of Mayfair, Patricia Veryan
95. By the Book, Nancy Warren
96. Undead and Unemployed, MaryJanice Davidson
97. "The Nutcracker Sweet," Nancy Warren
98. Room . . . But Not Bored, Dawn Atkins
99. Miss Chartley's Guided Tour, Carla Kelly
100. The Lady's Tutor, Robin Schone

I have some definite favorite authors, those with three or more titles on the list:

Mary Balogh
Suzanne Brockmann
Justine Davis
Charlaine Harris
J.D. Robb
Nora Roberts
Patricia Veryan

There are several with two titles:

Michele Albert/Michelle Jerott
Dinah Dean
Jan Freed
Rachel Gibson
Donna Kauffman
Carla Kelly
Shannon McKenna
Nancy Warren

This was an interesting exercise, even if my eyes feel a bit crossed.

Alyssa