I found AAR's list of the top 100 romance novels not on AAR, but rather on Rosario's and she's read 80 of the 100 and has several of the rest on her TBR pile. I skimmed the list and realized I'd read 90 of the 100. I think I've had too much time on my hands over the years. I've highlighted the books I've not read and of course made a few comments on others...
1. Lord of Scoundrels -- Loretta Chase
2. Flowers From the Storm -- Laura Kinsale
3. Welcome to Temptation -- Jennifer Crusie
4. As You Desire -- Connie Brockway
5. Bet Me -- Jennifer Crusie (I hated this book)
6. Dreaming of You -- Lisa Kleypas
7. Outlander -- Diana Gabaldon
8. Over the Edge -- Suzanne Brockmann (yikes, no way)
9. All Through the Night -- Connie Brockway
10. Sea Swept -- Nora Roberts
11. It Had to be You -- Susan Elizabeth Phillips
12. A Summer to Remember -- Mary Balogh
13. Morning Glory -- LaVyrle Spencer
14. The Proposition -- Judith Ivory
15. A Kingdom of Dreams -- Judith McNaught
16. Ravished -- Amanda Quick
17. Frederica -- Georgette Heyer (I just realized I've got this one on my TBR pile)
18. Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand -- Carla Kelly
19. MacKenzie's Mountain -- Linda Howard
20. Mr. Perfect -- Linda Howard
21. The Grand Sophy -- Georgette Heyer
22. Pride and Prejudice -- Jane Austen
23. The Bride -- Julie Garwood
24. Devil's Bride -- Stephanie Laurens
25. To Have and to Hold -- Patricia Gaffney
26. Born in Fire -- Nora Roberts
27. Winter Garden -- Adele Ashworth (This one is one of my favorites, thanks Rosario for recommending this one)
28. Gone Too Far -- Suzanne Brockmann
29. The Viscount Who Loved Me -- Julia Quinn
30. Saving Grace -- Julie Garwood
31. My Dearest Enemy -- Connie Brockway
32. In the Midnight Rain -- Barbara Samuel
33. The Windflower -- Laura London (I've never been able to find this book)
34. Naked in Death -- J.D. Robb
35. Whitney, My Love -- Judith McNaught (used to be a favorite, but not anymore)
36. Nobody's Baby but Mine -- Susan Elizabeth Phillips (one of my favorite SEPs)
37. A Knight in Shining Armor -- Jude Deveraux (sobbed at the end of this one)
38. Paradise -- Judith McNaught (I'm one of the odd ducks that liked Perfect more)
39. The Shadow and the Star -- Laura Kinsale
40. Dream Man -- Linda Howard (love it)
41. Out of Control -- Suzanne Brockmann
42. Silk and Shadows -- Mary Jo Putney
43. See Jane Score -- Rachel Gibson
44. Shattered Rainbows -- Mary Jo Putney
45. Thunder and Roses -- Mary Jo Putney
46. The Duke and I -- Julia Quinn
47. Heart Throb -- Suzanne Brockmann
48. For My Lady's Heart -- Laura Kinsale
49. Honor's Splendor -- Julie Garwood (my favorite Garwood)
50. Lord Carew's Bride -- Mary Balogh
51. Untie my Heart -- Judith Ivory
52. Dream a Little Dream -- Susan Elizabeth Phillips
53. The Secret -- Julie Garwood
54. This is All I Ask -- Lynn Kurland (I'm pretty sure I read this one, but I don't particularly like LK's books.)
55. Slightly Dangerous -- Mary Balogh
56. One Perfect Rose -- Mary Jo Putney
57. To Love and to Cherish -- Patricia Gaffney
58. Kiss an Angel -- Susan Elizabeth Phillips
59. Heaven, Texas -- Susan Elizabeth Phillips
60. Venetia -- Georgette Heyer
61. Daughter of the Game -- Tracy Grant (I've been looking for this one)
62. The Prize -- Julie Garwood
63. Reforming Lord Ragsdale -- Carla Kelly
64. Prince Joe -- Suzanne Brockmann
65. The Notorious Rake -- Mary Balogh
66. Heartless -- Mary Balogh
67. Son of the Morning -- Linda Howard (I'd move this one up the list)
68. Sleeping Beauty -- Judith Ivory
69. Where Dreams Begin -- Lisa Kleypas
70. The Devil's Cub -- Georgette Heyer
71. The Bronze Horseman -- Paullina Simons
72. The Time Traveler's Wife -- Audrey Niffenegar (this ones on my TBR pile)
73. With This Ring -- Carla Kelly
74. The Lion's Lady -- Julie Garwood
75. The Rake -- Mary Jo Putney (my favorite Putney)
76. Fallen from Grace -- Laura Leone (excellent book)
77. Always to Remember Lorraine Heath
78. Castles -- Julie Garwood
79. One Good Turn -- Carla Kelly
80. Chesapeake Blue -- Nora Roberts
81. By Arrangement -- Madeline Hunter
82. Perfect -- Judith McNaught
83. My Darling Caroline -- Adele Ashworth
84. The Defiant Hero -- Suzanne Brockmann
85. The Unsung Hero -- Suzanne Brockmann
86. Guilty Pleasures -- Laura Lee Guhrke
87. Jane Eyre -- Charlotte Bronte (one of my favorite childhood reads)
88. Kill and Tell -- Linda Howard
89. After the Night -- Linda Howard
90. More than a Mistress -- Mary Balogh
91. Born in Ice -- Nora Roberts
92. Miss Wonderful -- Loretta Chase (Mr. Impossible is much better)
93. The Charm School -- Susan Wiggs
94. Scoundrel -- Elizabeth Elliott (wish she was still writing/published)
95. How to Marry a Marquis -- Julia Quinn
96. Angel Rogue -- Mary Jo Putney
97. Trust Me -- Jayne Ann Krentz
98. Dancing on the Wind -- Mary Jo Putney
99. Once and Always -- Judith McNaught
100. This Heart of Mine -- Susan Elizabeth Phillips
I feel guilty that I'm not a huge Heyer reader and I've never read Carla Kelly. I must be missing something about the Brockmann books, most of the books listed I'd say were just okay. I guess she's not my thing any more.
10 comments:
I'll have to take a look at the list more closely when I get home, but I don't think I've read hardly any of them. I'd be surprised if I'd read more than 15 of the ones on the list. I guess I like to go against the norm.
Devonna, it's not a bad list. It's hard not to trip over most of them when you've been reading romance as long as I have.
I feel like I just failed a pop quiz. Out of 100 books, I've read 8 of them, and have 3 of them on my tbr pile. I'm going to have to check out some of the others, I guess and see what else I'm missing.
I'm going to steal this one off you and put my usual commentary up.
There were people who prefered Paradise to Perfect? Who knew?
You and I love most of the same books but some of them are making me laugh. I don't read Carla Kelly or Heyer either but I know I have a few in the TBR pile. Of course, I'm pretty sure I have one of everything in that pile ;)
CindyS
Devonna, look at it this way you've got lots of good books to look forward to.
Cindy, I agreed with a lot of the books, but a few left me scratching my head. I'll pop over and check out your commentary on "the list".
I saw this on a couple blogs and have been meaning to steal it. I think I'll steal it from you :). I'm sure I haven't read as many as you though.
I just received a copy of The Windflower from PBS, woohoo! I already read it but I wanted my own copy.
grrr ... my post from yesterday disappeared. Why does Blogger do that?
I'm so impressed that you've read that many. I counted on Rosario's blog and I've only read 40.
Renee, I'm looking forward to your list, I bet you've read a good amount. Maybe I should try getting The Windflower on PBS, I never thought of that and I'm owed some books over there.
Valeen, don't you hate when blogger does that? I'm not so sure 90 is that impressive it only means 1. I've been reading for a while and 2. I'm a sheep who can be easily lead to whatever's "hot" at the moment.--LOL.
Tara (and Cindy):
I'd be interested to see what you guys think of Carla Kelly. She has such a strong voice when I read her I start writing like her, too. I think she is just brilliant. Reforming Lord Ragsdale is my favorite of hers.
Heyer can be a tad slow for people accustomed to current fast-dialogued, deep POV romances.
Megan, I actually picked up a Carla Kelly at the UBS yesterday, I can't remember the title, but it was one of the books listed. I've read Heyer, but in small doses.
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