STORY:
Top Ten Romantic Books

It's hard to have just one person pick out what the best books in romance are,  so we've based our list upon Amazon.com's Top Customer picks.  Happy Reading!

1- Bel Canto: A Novel by Ann Patchett
In an unnamed South American country, a world-renowned soprano sings at a birthday party in honor of a visiting Japanese industrial titan. His hosts hope that Mr. Hosokawa can be persuaded to build a factory in their Third World backwater. Alas, in the opening sequence, just as the accompanist kisses the soprano, a ragtag band of 18 terrorists enters the vice-presidential mansion through the air conditioning ducts. Their quarry is the president, who has unfortunately stayed home to watch a favorite soap opera. And thus, from the beginning, things go awry.

2- Chesapeake Blue by Nora Roberts
Seth Quinn is finally home. It's been a long journey. After a harrowing boyhood with his drug-addicted mother, he'd been taken in by the Quinn family, growing up with three older brothers who'd watched over him with love. Now a grown man returning from Europe as a successful painter, Seth is settling down on Maryland's Eastern Shore, surrounded once again by Cam, Ethan, and Phil, their wives and children, all the blessed chaos of the extended Quinn clan. Finally, he's back in the little blue-and-white house where there's always a boat at the dock, a rocker on the porch, and a dog in the yard. Still, a lot has changed in St. Christopher since he's been gone-and the most intriguing change of all is the presence of Dru Whitcomb Banks. A city girl who's opened a florist shop in this seaside town, she craves independence and the challenge of establishing herself without the influence of her wealthy connections. In Seth, she sees another kind of challenge-a challenge that she can't resist.
But storms are brewing that are about to put their relationship to the test. Dru's past has made her sensitive to deception-and slow to trust. And Seth's past has made him a target of blackmail-as a secret he's kept hidden for years threatens to explode, destroying his new life and his new love. . . .

3- The Playboy by Carly Phillips
In the first book of Phillips's trilogy (The Bachelor) about the irresistible marriage- resistant Chandler brothers of rural Yorkshire Falls, N.Y., footloose foreign correspondent Roman got hooked, thanks to the ingenious plotting of his matchmaking mama. This follow-up focuses on the middle brother, Rick, a loving but broken-hearted divorcee determined to resist both mom's marriage plots and those of his admirers-roughly every single woman in town. To do so, Rick employs a counterplot involving equally commitment-shy Kendall Sutton, whom the playboy policeman rescues from a car mishap as she's fleeing her own wedding. But will the independent twosome, feigning coupledom to remove themselves from the matchmaking game, foil themselves by genuinely falling for each other? Of course. In fact, there's little in the way of surprise or suspense herein. The characters express astonishment at certain plot turns, but readers won't, as all devious deeds are broadcast miles in advance. Still, the brothers' considerable charisma makes up for many sins of style and substance. Those who like their romances fast 'n' frothy may well find this lightweight tale an appealing afternoon's diversion.

4- Truly, Madly Manhattan: Local Hero &... by Nora Roberts
Discover passion in the city that never sleeps . . . #1 New York Times bestselling author NORA ROBERTS presents the passionate heart of the city that never sleeps, in these two complete novels . . .
LOCAL HERO. His trade was creating heroes, but comic book writer Mitch Dempsey had never seen himself as one. But something about Hester Wallace, the shy single mom who moved in upstairs, made him long to protect, honor and love her forever. . . . Playing Booth DeWitt's cruel ex-wife was pushing Ariel Kirkwood's acting career in the right direction -- but pushing sexy Booth away. She wanted to be his leading lady -- for life. Could she convince Booth to see her for the woman she truly was?

5- Dangerous by Nora Roberts - Risky Business
She was a maddening combination of mystery and innocence. But Liz was the key to finding his brother's killer, so cynical Jonas Sharpe had to stick close...too close for comfort. Storm Warning He had shattered her world once, but when Lucas McLean reentered Autumn's life, she couldn't deny the love still blazing inside her or the evidence she had that said he could be guilty of murder. The Welcoming: He'd never known the warmth of a home until he found his way to Charity's charming inn... and into her arms. But Roman DeWinter had come looking for a criminal mastermind and all the evidence pointed to Charity.

6- Lady of Desire by Gaelen Foley
Impetuous Lady Jacinda Knight is the daughter of a scandalous woman. Though society predicts she'll follow in her mother's footsteps, the spirited beauty stands unashamed of her passionate nature. Then one night, in flight from a safe but loveless marriage arranged by her strict older brother, Jacinda finds herself alone on a dark and dangerous street face-to- face with Billy Blade, the notorious leader of a band of thieves. His stolen kisses awaken in her a longing for a man she can never possess. A handsome scoundrel running from a secret past, Billy Blade has never met a woman like Jacinda-her fiery innocence and blossoming sensuality set his rebel's heart ablaze. Having turned his back on the privilege and power of his tyrannical father's house years before, he vows to return to his rightful place and reclaim his title, Earl of Rackford-to win the love of the ravishing beauty who has stolen his heart.

7- Good in Bed: A Novel by Jennifer Weiner
When Cannie Shapiro, a witty but overweight reporter for the Philadelphia Examiner, opens the latest issue of Moxie, a trendy woman's magazine, she's shocked and horrified to find an opinion piece by her ex-boyfriend, Bruce, that not only talks about their sex life but also about her insecurities about her weight. Hurt and even more insecure, Cannie signs up for an experimental weight-loss program. But then Bruce unexpectedly reenters her life when he phones to tell her of the death of his father. Cannie, who has always grappled with the pain from her own father's desertion of her family, immediately runs to be by his side. Unexpectedly, the two end up sleeping together after the funeral. But it's not the reconciliation Cannie hopes for, and soon Bruce is dating someone else. Depressed, Cannie soon finds their night together had repercussions she had never dreamed of. From there, it's a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs, wild success and bitter lows, during which Cannie finds success, peace, and even love. A warm, refreshing story.

8- Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dear Reader, Being trapped in a bedroom with a woman is a grand thing. Being trapped in hundreds of bedrooms over two thousand years isn't. And being cursed into a book as a love-slave for eternity can ruin even a Spartan warrior's day. As a love-slave, I knew everything about women. How to touch them, how to savor them, and most of all how to pleasure them. But when I was summoned to fulfill Grace Alexander's sexual fantasies, I found the first woman in history who saw me as a man with a tormented past. She, alone, bothered to take me out of the bedroom and into the world. She taught me to love again. But I was not born to know love. I was cursed to walk eternity alone. As a general, I had long ago accepted my sentence. Yet now I have found Grace-the one thing my wounded heart cannot survive without. Sure, love can heal all wounds, but can it break a two thousand year old curse? Julian of Macedon

9- Taken by Surprise by Susan Johnson, Thea Devine, and Katherine O'Neal An erotic game takes a most unpredictable course. A forbidden encounter leads to desire and danger. And a lover's provocative tale includes a very surprising twist. Tried-and-true passion may be lovely, but when it comes to deliciously wicked sinning, there's no greater aphrodisiac than being...

10- The Boy Next Door by Meggin Cabot
In her debut adult novel, Cabot (known for her extremely successful young adult fiction series the Princess Diaries, published under the name Meg Cabot) relies entirely on highly amusing e-mails to tell a fetching meet-cute story. New York City gossip columnist Melissa Fuller is known for being obsessive about Winona Ryder, dating the wrong men and being tardy for work. Arriving particularly late one morning, she explains to her colleagues at the New York Journal that she was detained by the attempted murder of her elderly next-door neighbor, Mrs. Friedlander, who is in a coma. Always the good girl, Mel has volunteered to take care of Mrs. Friedlander's many pets until the neighbor's nephew Max, a famous fashion photographer, can be reached. Her co-workers warn her about Max, a notorious lady's man. Contrary to the gossip, when she meets Max he is down to earth, funny and kind. Despite the strange fact that he likes to be called John and appears to be between photo shoots, she begins to date him and learns that he shares her love for Stephen King novels and natural disasters. It doesn't take long for her to fall head over heels, or for Mel's mom to write, "Get a ring on your finger before you uncross those legs, sweetie." When a mysterious e-mail arrives explaining that there is more to her beau than meets the eye, she is duly upset and uses the power of her pen to get even. But when Mrs. Friedlander's attacker returns, will Mel and Max be able to put their differences aside to catch a killer? Full of clever e-mail banter and tongue-in-cheek humor, this cheeky novel should be enjoyed in one sitting.