Top 100 Romance Novels

Little did I realize a couple of months ago what I was getting into when
I blithely suggested to Dede that -- given the furor about the Top 100
Novels of the 20th century -- we ought to compile a list of the Top 100
Romances. And who better to determine the top romances than the readers
of The Romance Reader

Of course, having suggested this undertaking, it fell to me to carry it
out. I think that I have finally finished the task. (You have no idea
how I came to dread those forwarded messages with still another reader’s
list!) Hundreds of readers sent in their lists of the 20 books they
thought should be included in the Top 100. These submissions
demonstrate both the richness of the romance genre and the varied tastes
of our readers. All told, over 1500 books by over 500 authors were
nominated.


Below are the books which received the most votes. There are actually 109
books on the list, since a number of books received an equal number of
votes. The final roster of novels is most impressive. It contains
classics like Pride and Prejudice and Gone with the Wind,
books by pioneers of romance such as Georgette Heyer and Roberta Gellis,
innovative novels like The Flame and the Flower, Sweet, Savage
Love, Knight in Shining Armor and Outlander. The
stars of the genre are well represented; you will find Roberts, Garwood,
Howard, McNaught, etc. But so too are some of the newer authors such as
Crusie, Joy and Laurens.


I’ve read 93 of the books on the list. How many have you read?

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Top 100 Romances
1. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Dream Man by Linda Howard
It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
4. McKenzie’s Mountain by Linda Howard
5. Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Devereaux

6. Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale
7. The Bride by Julie Garwood
8. Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

10. Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer
11. Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught
Naked in Death by J. D. Robb

13. Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss

14. Honor’s Splendor by Julie Garwood

15. Paradise by Judith McNaught
Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught
Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss
19. Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

Born in Fire by Nora Roberts

Hummingbird by LaVyrle Spencer

22. Dream a Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

The Rake (and the Reformer) by Mary Jo Putney

24. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Bewitching by Jill Barnett

After the Night by Linda Howard

Knight of a Trillion Stars by Dara Joy

The Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens

Born in Ice by Nora Roberts

30. Lion’s Lady by Julie Garwood

McKenzie’s Mission by Linda Howard

Once and Always by Judith McNaught
A Place to Call Home by Deborah Smith

The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen Woodiwiss
35. The Windflower by Tom and Sharon Curtis

The Secret by Julie Garwood

Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught

Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

39. Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

Saving Grace by Julie Garwood
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer

Venetia by Georgette Heyer

Courting Miss Hattie by Pamela Morsi
Honest Illusions by Nora Roberts

Born in Shame by Nora Roberts

46. Devil’s Cub by Georgette Heyer

These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer
Son of the Morning by Linda Howard

Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
Something Wonderful by Judith McNaught

51. My Lady Notorious by Jo Beverley

As You Desire by Connie Brockway

The Last Hellion by Loretta Chase

Frederica by Georgette Heyer

Perfect by Judith McNaught
The Promise of Jenny Jones by Maggie Osborne

River of Fire by Mary Jo Putney

Thunder and Roses by Mary Jo Putney

Ravished by Amanda Quick
One Summer by Karen Robards

Montana Sky by Nora Roberts

Sweet, Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers

A Rose in Winter by Kathleen Woodiwiss

64. Annie’s Song by Catherine Anderson

Slow Heat in Heaven by Sandra Brown

Sunshine and Shadow by Tom and Sharon Curtis

The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale
Jackson Rule by Dinah McCall

68. Anyone but You by Jennifer Crusie

Highland Velvet by Jude Deveraux

To Love and to Cherish by Patricia Gaffney

The Wedding by Julie Garwood

Alinor by Roberta Gellis
Duncan’s Bride by Linda Howard

Sleeping Beauty by Judith Ivory

Warrior’s Woman by Johanna Lindsey

Angel Rogue by Mary Jo Putney

One Perfect Rose by Mary Jo Putney

Mistress by Amanda Quick

Carnal Innocence by Nora Roberts

81. Something Wicked by Jo Beverley

Mirror Image by Sandra Brown

The Sherbrooke Bride by Catherine Coulter

Lord of the Storm by Justine Davis

The Proud Breed by Celeste DeBlasis

Sunrise Song by Kathleen Eagle

Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer

A Rose for Maggie by Kathleen Korbel

Family Man by Jayne Ann Krentz

This Is All I Ask by Lynn Kurland

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

The Wives of Bowie Stone by Maggie Osborne

Walking after Midnight by Karen Robards

95. Exposure by Susan Andersen


Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie

Wild at Heart by Patricia Gaffney

Bond of Blood by Roberta Gellis

The Rainbow Season by Lisa Gregory
If You Believe by Kristin Hannah

Eternally Yours by Brenda Jackson
Indigo by Beverly Jenkins
Finders Keepers by Fern Michaels

Simple Jess by Pamela Morsi

Fancy Pants by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Dearly Beloved by Mary Jo Putney

Silk and Shadows by Mary Jo Putney

Heart of a Falcon by Francis Ray