AAR is re-running the Top 100 Romances poll for the fifth time (and the first since I left the helm). Although I don't participate at AAR anymore (other than an occasional AAR After Hours blog comment), I decided to submit a ballot, and as my shift at the bookstore last night was cancelled, thought I'd take it off my to-do list. So I printed out my 2007 ballot, then listed all my DIK's and B+ reads, ordered and re-ordered, worked and re-worked it, and finished devising my revised, 2010 ballot before going to bed.
If this blog were more widely read, I'd hold off until after the poll closes, but as my daily average remains fairly constant with about 20 visitors, I'm in no danger of influencing the votes of others. As such, I'm listing it here, but won't actually submit it until right before the poll deadline in case I tweak it some more - and as I'm a known tweaker, that's a distinct possibility. And if I do tweak, I'll correct it here.
1. Castles by Julie Garwood, European Historical Romance
2. The Real Deal by Lucy Monroe, Contemporary Romance
3. The Secret by Julie Garwood, Medieval Romance
4. Bewitching by Jill Barnett, Fantasy Historical Romance
5. A Basket of Wishes by Rebecca Paisley, Fantasy Historical Romance
6. The Vicar's Daughter by Deborah Simmons, European Historical Romance
7. Velvet Bond by Catherine Archer, Medieval Romance
8. The Bride by Julie Garwood, Medieval Romance
9. The Lion's Lady by Julie Garwood, European Historical Romance
10. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Classic Fiction
11. Guardian Angel by Julie Garwood, European Historical Romance
12. A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught, Medieval Romance
13. To Die For by Linda Howard, Contemporary Romance
14. Born in Fire by Nora Roberts, Contemporary Romance
15. Mrs. Mike by Benadict and Nancy Freedman, Fictionalized Biography
16. Dawn's Awakening by Lora Leigh, SF Romance
17. Soulless by Gail Carriger, Steampunk Romance
18. To Love a Dark Lord by Anne Stuart, European Historical Romance
19. A Rose at Midnight by Anne Stuart, European Historical Romance
20. A Fire in the Heart by Katherine Sutcliffe, European Historical Romance
21. Once an Angel by Teresa Medeiros, Historical Romance
22. Lord St. Claire's Angel by Donna Simpson, Traditional Regency
23. The Ideal Bride by Nonnie St. George, Traditional Regency
24. A Family for Gillian by Catherine Blair, Traditional Regency
25. Tallie's Knight by Anne Gracie, Traditional Regency
26. Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas, European Historical Romance
27. Scoundrel by Elizabeth Elliott, European Historical Romance
28. The Rules of Seduction by Madeline Hunter, European Historical Romance
29. Lady Be Good by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Contemporary Romance
30. Saving Grace by Julie Garwood, Medieval Romance
31. A Secret Affair by Mary Balogh, European Historical Romance
32. Calypso Magic by Catherine Coulter, European Historical Romance
33. Moonspun Magic by Catherine Coulter, European Historical Romance
34. Midsummer Magic by Catherine Coulter, European Historical Romance
35. The Serpent Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt, European Historical Romance
36. The Last Rogue by Deborah Simmons, European Historical Romance
37. The Music of the Night by Lydia Joyce, European Historical Romance
38. Dream Fever by Katherine Sutcliffe, Frontier Historical (Australia)
39. How to Marry a Marquis by Julia Quinn, European Historical Romance
40. Chesapeake Blue by Nora Roberts, Contemporary Romance
41. A Dove at Midnight by Rexanne Becnel, Medieval Romance
42. The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell by Samantha James, European Historical Romance
43. Naked in Death by J. D. Robb, Futuristic Romantic Suspense
44. Portrait in Death by J. D. Robb, Futuristic Romantic Suspense
45. Survivor in Dath by J. D. Robb, Futuristic Romantic Suspense
46. Ceremony in Death by J. D. Robb, Futuristic Romantic Suspense
47. Rapture in Death by J. D. Robb, Futuristic Romantic Suspense
48. Seduction in Death by J. D. Robb, Futuristic Romantic Suspense
49. Promises in Death by J. D. Robb, Futuristic Romantic Suspense
50. Ice Storm by Anne Stuart, Romantic Suspense
51. Breathless by Anne Stuart, European Historical Romance
52. A Well Pleasured Lady by Christina Dodd, European Historical Romance
53. Indiscretion by Jillian Hunter, European Historical Romance
54. My Dearest Enemy by Connie Brockway, European Historical Romance
55. Sea Swept by Nora Roberts, Contemporary Romance
56 My Favorite Bride by Christina Dodd, European Historical Romance
57. Jewels of the Sun by Nora Roberts, Contemporary Romance
58. Night Fire by Catherine Coulter, European Historical Romance
59. Splendid by Julia Quinn, European Historical Romance
60. The Prize by Julie Garwood, Medieval Romance
61. Fairy Tale by Jillian Hunter, European Historical Romance
62. Too Hot to Handle by Elizabeth Lowell - Category Romance
63. Rebellious Desire by Julie Garwood - European Historical Romance
64. Prisoner of My Desire by Johanna Lindsey - Medieval Romance
65. The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe - Contemporary Romance/Women's Fiction
66. The Bargain by Jane Ashford, European Historical Romance
67. The Gift by Julie Garwood, European Historical Romance
68. Day Dreamer by Jill Marie Landis, Historical Romance
69. The Sherbrooke Bride by Catherine Coulter, European Historical Romance
70. Honor's Splendor by Julie Garwood, Medieval Romance
71. All Through the Night by Connie Brockway, European Historical Romance
72. The Wind from Hastings by Morgan Llywelyn, Historical Fiction
73. The Royal Mess by MaryJanice Davidson, Alternate Reality Romance
74. Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase, European Historical Romance
75. Smooth Talkin' Stranger by Lorraine Heath, Contemporary Romance
76. Phantom Waltz by Catherine Anderson, Contemporary Romance
77. The Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas, European Historical Romance
78. Captive of Sin by Anna Campbell, European Historical Romance
79. The Book of Scandal by Julia London, European Historical Romance
80. Only Mine by Elizabeth Lowell, Frontier Historical Romance
81. Winter Fire by Elizabeth Lowell, Frontier Historical Romance
82. The Heartbreaker by Rexanne Becnel, European Historical Romance
83. The Temporary Wife by Mary Balogh, Traditional Regency
84. The Obedient Bride by Mary Balogh, Traditional Regency
85. Married by Mistake by Melinda McRae, Traditional Regency
86. High Energy by Dara Joy, Contemporary Romance
87. The Anonymous Miss Addams by Kasey Michaels, Traditional Regency
88. A Highly Respectable Widow by Melinda McRae, Traditional Regency
89. Scandalous Secrets by Patricia Oliver, Traditional Regency
90. Derik's Bane by MaryJanice Davidson, Urban Fantasy Romance
91. Shadow Touch by Marjorie Liu, Urban Fantasy Romance
92. The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter, Urban Fantasy Romance
93. Fair Game by Diane Farr, Traditional Regency
94. Ecstasy by Jacquelyn Frank, Urban Fantasy Romance
95. Edge of Hunger by Rhyannon Byrd, Urban Fantasy Romance
96. Lion in Love by Elizabeth Lapthorne, Contemporary Erotic Romance
97. Fever by Kimberly Dean, Contemporary Erotic Romance
98. Against the Wall by Rhyannon Byrd, Contemporary Erotic Romance
99. Duncan's Bride by Linda Howard, Category Romance
100. Chain Lightning by Elizabeth Lowell, Category Romance
Numbers 1 - 71 reflect all my romance DIK's (most that are hybrids didn't make the list, although at least one - The Wind from Hastings - did). Ranking them, and deciding which of my B+ reads to include was the toughest part, as was the decision to eliminate any short stories this time around.
With the exception of my J.D. Robb picks, I'm confident that my ballot will bear little resemblance to the final poll results. That said, have you started working on your ballot, how do you feel yours will match up, and if you've participated in an earlier poll (or all of them), how different is today's?
2 comments:
I am a procrastinator with ballots, so I see myself feverishly working on it November 14 at 10:30. But I found it interesting to read yours, especially your top Robb picks - which are almost entirely different from mine (Rapture is the only one that makes both our lists).
That kind of reminds me of my husband. Whenever we find something we both like - like pottery or glass - we always prefer entirely different items and either one of us gives in or we buy both. Often it'll be one scene in a book that sends it over the top for me (if it's a song, it'll be a phrase or how a snippet is sung), and I know that's just now how most people choose DIKs. Can't wait to see your list. If I waited until the last night, I'd feel totally overwhelmed.
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