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.
