The isolated house trope may be getting harder and harder to pull off (we have fewer true dead zones in terms of cell coverage), but a haunted house still works. Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker sits atop the 2026 most-anticipated lists for the New York Times, USA TODAY, Readworthy, and Bookriot. It’s a story of dual times that should never overlap, but in a hot, isolated little house in Japan, hidden by sword ferns and wild ginger, Lee Turner, a modern-day college student, meets Sen, a young samurai from 1877 hiding from a government that demands her extinction. Lee is convinced he killed his college roommate, although days pass without news of it appearing anywhere on the web. Sen is convinced Lee is an evil spirit, that all that is wrong with her family might in fact be laid at the door of this demon. They slowly discover that things are far more complicated than either of them could have imagined.

I love that the author gives us a mystery that cell phones and computers have no mpact upon. None of Lee’s internet searches resolves the problems driving the story and instead, both characters must come to terms with the events in their own lives that have led them to this moment. Chilling and thought-provoking, Japanese Gothic highlights that what drives us is less about science and more about the heart and soul.

Jane Harper is one of my favorite mystery writers, and her latest novel, Last One Out, shows how tech doesn’t guarantee safety. Carralon Ridge, a once vibrant village in rural New South Wales, has become a shell of itself, its houses and buildings bought up and left to rot by the mining company operating at its borders. The town’s people had initially left in trickles, many stubbornly clinging to land that had been in their family for generations, but years of noise and pollution have resulted in a flood of deserters; only a handful now remain.

Ro expected she would be one of the last people standing, her family determinedly cleaving to the home in which they shared over two decades of memories. However, when her son Sam disappears on his twenty-first birthday while visiting from college, she finds that their shared history suffocates rather than endears, and leaves her husband and home behind, heading to the bright lights and safety of Sydney with her daughter. Five years later, she returns to Carralon, reuniting with her ex and grown daughter to commemorate the anniversary of Sam’s disappearance. It’s an annual event, but this time around, she begins to suspect something was overlooked in his case. The kind of something that just might be worth killing for.

I love that Sam was carrying a laptop and a phone, his image captured by drones, and yet he simply vanished, leaving no easily discoverable clues behind. Technology certainly has made us safer, but it hasn’t resolved ALL our problems.

Alex Finlay does a fabulous job of showing how technological advancements can combine with dogged sleuthing to uncover cold cases in his novel The Anniversary. Jules Delaney and Quinn Riley are high school juniors in 1992, with separate plans to attend the same concert on May 1. The selfish actions of one young man at the event send their lives on an unexpected trajectory, entangling them with The May Day Killer and leaving them with scars that will echo through the coming decades.

When the story starts, the characters are all using landlines. Some of the things that happen could have been resolved by cell phones and Uber. But as the tale progresses, and our characters get cell phones and forensics advances, the criminals they chase keep pace with the ever-changing world, becoming adept at avoiding all the things we’d hoped would make them obsolete. This heartfelt, riveting tale will have you reading all through the night.

Lisa Jewell starts her latest mystery, It Could Have Been Her, with some helpful high-tech. Jane Trevally is walking her dogs on her country estate one May afternoon when a small white pooch appears. Repeated calls for its owner prove fruitless, so she takes the little guy home, gives him a meal, and swings by the vet the next day. The pup does indeed have a microchip implant, and from that, Jane obtains his name (Hugo) as well as the owner’s name and address. A phone call doesn’t yield the results she wishes for, so she finds herself making the hours-long trip to London to reunite the little sweetie with his legal parent. Upon arrival, she discovers she’d been in that house one very dark and frightening night long ago. Meeting with Hugo’s owner proves anything but reassuring, and as additional information surfaces, she realizes she may just have stumbled upon a dangerous mystery.

Jane made a brief appearance in Don’t Let Him In and that experience has given her a taste for resolving real-life puzzles. This is another tale in which technology intermingles seamlessly with sleuthing to deliver an engaging, not-to-be-missed mystery.

For those whose stories simply can’t work around the tech, try setting them in the past as Kelley Armstrong does in An Ordinary Sort of Evil. The fifth book and eighth publication in her A Rip Through Time series, these volumes star Mallory Mitchell, a twenty-first-century detective who finds herself solving crimes in Victorian Scotland alongside Dr. Duncan Gray, a pioneer in forensic science. Mallory can sometimes be frustrated by her lack of access to the current-day luxuries like CSI labs and CCTV, but it’s fun to watch her and her friends pit their skills and wits against the villains of their stories. This latest installment deals with ghosts, teen girls, gothic poems, and seances. It’s a must-read for anyone who has been enjoying the series (the romance progresses! Hurray!), and I strongly recommend the whole set to those who enjoy clever cozies.

Hopefully, I’ve given readers a good guide to some upcoming mysteries that deal with the technology issue correctly. I could write a long list of those that don’t, but why give bad books good press? How often have you been pulled out of a story by sloppy use of tech? Can you remember books where it just didn’t matter to you, or do you always find yourself bothered by these glitches?

~ Maggie Boyd

The post Mysteries and Modernity – the Curse of Technology in the modern mystery novel appeared first on All About Romance.

• All About Romance  did eight polls over an almost thirty year period. They were done in: 1998, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2018, and 2026.
• The first six polls are ranked lists. The last 2 polls, 2018 and 2026, are unranked.
• Only three titles ever hold the top position in the ranked polls:
  • A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux in 1998
  • Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase in 2000, 2007, 2010, and 2013
  • Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale in 2004
• Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase is the only title to finish #1 more than once. It does so four times.
• Twelve titles appear in all 8 polls:
  • Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
  • Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale
  • Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
  • It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
  • Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase
  • MacKenzie’s Mountain by Linda Howard
  • Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
  • Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
  • Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
  • Ravished by Amanda Quick
  • The Bride by Julie Garwood
  • The Secret by Julie Garwood
• Of those twelve continuous titles, two are by Julie Garwood, two are by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and the remaining eight are by eight different authors.
• The earliest-published title in that continuous group is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813). The most recent titles in that group are from 1995: Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase, and Naked in Death by J.D. Robb.
• A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux is ranked #1 in 1998, but it does not appear in 2018 or 2026.
• Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale appears in all eight polls and reaches #1 once, in 2004.
• Naked in Death by J.D. Robb appears in all eight polls.
• Outlander by Diana Gabaldon appears in all eight polls.
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen appears in all eight polls.
• MacKenzie’s Mountain by Linda Howard appears in all eight polls.
• Georgette Heyer is absent from 1998 and present in every poll from 2000 onward, which means she appears in seven of the eight polls.
• Julia Quinn appears in all eight polls. In 1998, the titles are Minx by Julia Quinn, Dancing at Midnight by Julia Quinn, and Splendid by Julia Quinn.
• The Duke and I by Julia Quinn first appears in 2000 and is still present in 2026.
• The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn first appears in 2004 and is still present in 2026.
• Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn appears in 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2018, but not in 2026.
• Courtney Milan first appears in 2013 with Unveiled by Courtney Milan and The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan. She is also present in 2018 and 2026.
• Tessa Dare first appears in 2013 with A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare. In 2026, she has four titles:
  • A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare
  • Do You Want to Start a Scandal by Tessa Dare
  • Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare
  • The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare
• K.J. Charles first appears in 2018 with A Gentleman’s Position by K.J. Charles and A Seditious Affair by K.J. Charles. In 2026, the K.J. Charles titles are A Seditious Affair by K.J. Charles and Band Sinister by K.J. Charles.
• Lucy Parker first appears in 2018 with Act Like It by Lucy Parker. In 2026, she has two titles: Act Like It by Lucy Parker and Pretty Face by Lucy Parker.
• Emily Henry first appears in 2026 with two titles: Book Lovers by Emily Henry and Funny Story by Emily Henry.
• Ali Hazelwood first appears in 2026 with two titles: Bride by Ali Hazelwood and Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood.
• Mia Vincy first appears in 2026 with two titles: A Dangerous Kind of Lady by Mia Vincy and A Wicked Kind of Husband by Mia Vincy.
• Lisa Kleypas has one title in 1998: Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas.
• Lisa Kleypas has twelve titles in 2026:
  • Blue Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas
  • Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas
  • Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas
  • Devil’s Daughter by Lisa Kleypas
  • Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
  • It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas
  • Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas
  • Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas
  • Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas
  • Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas
  • Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas
  • Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas
• Jude Deveraux is present in 1998, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2010, and 2013, but not in 2018 or 2026.
• Kathleen Woodiwiss is present in 1998 and 2000, but not in any of the later polls.
• Johanna Lindsey is present in 1998 only.
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is present in 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2018, and 2026, but not in 1998 or 2000.
• Persuasion by Jane Austen is present in 2007, 2010, 2013, 2018, and 2026, but not in 1998, 2000, or 2004.
• Romantic suspense or closely related suspense titles are present in every poll. One title that makes that visible across the full span is Naked in Death by J.D. Robb, which appears in all eight polls.
• In 1998, the poll includes seven In Death titles by J.D. Robb:
  • Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
  • Glory in Death by J.D. Robb
  • Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb
  • Ceremony in Death by J.D. Robb
  • Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb
  • Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb
  • Vengeance in Death by J.D. Robb
• Time-travel romance is present in every poll. The clearest continuous example is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, which appears in all eight polls.
• The later polls include books published after 2018. In 2026, examples include Book Lovers by Emily Henry, Funny Story by Emily Henry, Bride by Ali Hazelwood, and We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian.
• The 2026 list includes titles first published across a span of more than 200 years, from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813) to 2020s titles such as Funny Story by Emily Henry and Bride by Ali Hazelwood.

The post Parsing the Polls appeared first on All About Romance.

Passionflix was founded in 2017 by director and producer Tosca Musk (yes, she’s Elon’s sister and sadly not free of controversy). The platform’s mission is to produce and release film adaptations of romance novels, a genre generally neglected by Hollywood, and to tell these stories from the female perspective. Some high name authors have allowed their works to be adapted, including Sylvia Day (Afterburn/Aftershock), Jill Shalvis (The Trouble With Mistletoe), Kristen Ashley (The Will), and Brenda Jackson (A Brother’s Honor/A Man’s Promise/A Lover’s Vow).

I will say that the adaptations are very faithful. While this is a boon for book purists, it’s also proof that sometimes changes are necessary, because written novels don’t always make for good TV. For example, in two different films the respective heroes resisted the heroines’ attempted seductions with a vague “I can’t do this”. There was never any explanation for this ‘can’t’, and because we weren’t privy to any internal monologue, their resistance made no sense at all, especially since these same guys were more than willing to go to town soon afterwards without any observable changes. In most cases, conflicts were too easily resolved, the endings rushed to their inevitable HEAs. I can only assume this would prove the case in the source material as well, but somehow on TV this storytelling defect is far more blatant and egregious.

The Hollywood Reporter described Passionflix productions as “saucier than Hallmark but much tamer than porn”. Indeed, the sex scenes are what I would call soft-core super-lite. Occasional female nudity up top and the flash of a male butt, but really not more than you’d find on Bridgerton. Some movies are designated ‘closed door’, so it seems like there is a range for all spice-tolerances. Female sexuality is front and center and fully unapologetic, with copious shots of bare male chests sculpted to perfection and heroes enthusiastically focused on pleasuring their lovers ‘below the Equator’.

The budgets are low by Hollywood standards (TemuHBO for sure), and sometimes it shows. In one movie, the heroine whips a Mixmaster-style stand mixer out of a box with one hand and waves it around, proving it to be a cheap plastic prop because I know for a fact those suckers weigh like twenty pounds. In Wallbanger, the heroine is annoyed because the hero’s ‘wallbanging’ activities on the other side of a shared wall keep her awake at night. Except the set is constructed so that they live across the hall from each other and don’t share any walls, thus negating the entire premise. But given that most romance novels are free from fancy CGI needs, the lower budgets generally don’t detract from the story beyond the hit-or-miss talent of unknown actors and in the case of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, some really, really bad wigs.

Currently, the platform’s offerings are pretty sparse. There are thirty movies/adaptations, three series, and eleven ‘quickie’ short films. I’m working my way through (I still have around ten movies to check out and two different series and all of the shorts), and I’ve encountered a fifty percent success rate as far as my enjoyment goes.

I’ve DNF’d several for the following reasons: Hero was too much of an unlikeable asshat (Hollywood Dirt). Hero seemed to be a jerk and the actor was physically offputting (Resisting Roots). Beginning was too slow/didn’t capture my interest (Gabriel’s Inferno). The actors were really bad (Lick). The premise was stupid (also Lick).

But I found many movies to be very entertaining. I especially enjoyed The Air He Breathes (I actually cried), The Will (Jake was one of my favorite heroes), and Tangled (great enemies to lovers and groveling). Seduction and Snacks and Wait With Me were laugh-out-loud funny. I also liked Dirty Sexy Saint (I’m hoping they adapt the sequels) and the aforementioned Wallbanger, despite the production-created plot hole.

Unfortunately, the platform’s keystone offering – the Gabriel’s Inferno series – failed to capture my interest even after giving it a solid hour. The hero was too moody and inconsistent, the story too slow, and the heroine too much of a limp dishrag to appeal to me in any way. I later learned that the book shares a lineage with Fifty Shades of Grey (both began as Twilight fanfic), which explained a lot. Since there are nine Gabriel’s Fill-In-The-Blank adaptations, that’s nearly a third of the movie offerings that I won’t be watching. 

As for the BDB adaptation… let’s just say if you’re a fan of the books, they are definitely fun to watch. The first season is very faithful to Dark Lover, down to Rhage turning into a dragon and the grossness of the Lessers. The wigs that the actors have to wear are very unfortunate, as are the obvious contact lenses bulging over their eyeballs. (For crying out loud, show runners, please let Rhage take off that ghastly blond wig!) I do think it was well-cast, with Michael Roark as Butch being the most outstanding. Funnily enough, I watched a handful of promo vids with the actors as themselves, and they are far more attractive in their natural state than they are when made up to be the swoon-worthy brothers.

Apparently the next BDB title is in production and scheduled for release in 2026 (this would be Rhage’s book, Lover Eternal), and I confess that I’m absolutely salivating for Zsadist’s story (Lover Awakened) because it is one of my top ten romances ever. For a fun review of this adaptation, check out Danielle Binks substack article where she expresses my thoughts exactly. And if you really want a kick, hunt down the video shorts of J.R. Ward when she first ‘meets’ the actors dressed up as their characters. (My favorite one, and this one is hilarious.)

As much as I’m loath to add yet another streaming platform to my already too-high entertainment budget, I’ll stick with Passionflix for a while to see what they do. I’m really hoping if they have some success, they’ll be able to increase budgets and get more high-quality authors to allow adaptations. Heaven knows the amount of source material for great romance movies is nearly endless!

~ Jenna Harper

The post What is this Passionflix? appeared first on All About Romance.

Here are some salient facts about this year’s winners:

70 are Historical romances.

24 are Contemporary romances.

4 are Paranormal or urban fantasy romance.

2 are Speculative or time-slip romances.

11 books on the list are by authors of color.

6 books with have queer central romances.

3 books were first published in the nineteenth century.

3 books were first published in the 1980s.

21 books were first published in the 1990s.

20 books were first published in the 2000s.

38 books were first published in the 2010s.

15 books were first published in the 2020s.

The AAR Top 100 List 2026

10 Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase

A Dangerous Kind of Lady by Mia Vincy

A Duke of Her Own by Eloisa James

A Lady’s Code of Misconduct by Meredith Duran

A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore

A Seditious Affair by KJ Charles

A Substitute Wife for the Prizefighter by Alice Coldbreath

A Summer to Remember by Mary Balogh

A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare

A Wicked Kind of Husband by Mia Vincy

Act Like It by Lucy Parker

After Dark with the Duke by Julie Anne Long

Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught

Angel in a Devil’s Arms by Julie Anne Long

An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole

Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie

Band Sinister by KJ Charles

Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Blue Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews

Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas

Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens

Devil’s Cub by Georgette Heyer

Devil’s Daughter by Lisa Kleypas

Do You Want to Start a Scandal by Tessa Dare

Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas

Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt

Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt

Dukes Prefer Blondes by Loretta Chase

Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale

Frederica by Georgette Heyer

Funny Story by Emily Henry

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

His at Night by Sherry Thomas

It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas

It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Lady Derring Takes a Lover by Julie Anne Long

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase

Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas

Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn

Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

Mackenzie’s Mountain by Linda Howard

Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas

Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas

Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

More Than a Mistress by Mary Balogh

Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase

Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard

My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long

Naked in Death by J.D. Robb

Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Pretty Face by Lucy Parker

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas

Ransom by Julie Garwood

Ravished by Amanda Quick

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh

Something About You by Julie James

The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne

The Bride by Julie Garwood

The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran

The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

The Heiress Effect by Courtney Milan

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

The Luckiest Lady in London by Sherry Thomas

The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley

The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt

The Secret by Julie Garwood

The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata

The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare

Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas

Vixen in Velvet by Loretta Chase

Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian

What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long

When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

The post The AAR Top 100 Romances Poll (2026) appeared first on All About Romance.

The list is a love letter to historical romances. That genre has long been the favorite at AAR and the voting reflected this. Out of the Top 100 Romances picked in the overall poll, 70% are historical romances. They are what our readers love. 

This year we have TWO Top Ten lists. One is the ten books that got the most votes. This is the way that, in previous years, we picked the Top Ten. The other is the ten books readers picked as the Top Ten romances–these are books that readers felt belonged at the top of the romance cannon. There is overlap between the two lists but they are different.

The ten books picked as the ten romances that are the pinnacle of the genre are, in order of votes received:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale

Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh

Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley 

The ten books that got the most votes, in order of votes received, are:

Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas

Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas

Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh

What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long

Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase

Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase 

Again, thanks to all who voted. 

The post The Top Ten Romances in our Top 100 Romance Poll appeared first on All About Romance.

This poll was created with all the books from the last top 100 poll, the top picks from reader generated entries (voted on by readers) and the staff’s top picks (voted on by readers). The books on this list have been published over decades, represent many different genres, and are by a diverse group of authors. You have 218 books to choose from, separated into two tranches and the chance to separately choose the Top Ten Romances as well. 

It is our hope–and we’d really like your help with this–that this list is voted on by as many romance readers as possible. The poll will remain open until the 15th of March. Please share it with your friends, on your social media, and anywhere else you can think of!

We are excited, one last time, to let romance readers pick their all time favorite romances. May the best books win! (CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO BEGIN THE SURVEY.)

THE AAR TOP 100 ROMANCES POLL (2026)

The post What are the Top 100 Romance Novels of All Time? appeared first on All About Romance.

(unranked)

10 Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase

A Dangerous Kind of Lady by Mia Vincy

A Duke of Her Own by Eloisa James

A Lady’s Code of Misconduct by Meredith Duran

A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore

A Seditious Affair by KJ Charles

A Substitute Wife for the Prizefighter by Alice Coldbreath

A Summer to Remember by Mary Balogh

A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare

A Wicked Kind of Husband by Mia Vincy

Act Like It by Lucy Parker

After Dark with the Duke by Julie Anne Long

Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught

Angel in a Devil’s Arms by Julie Anne Long

An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole

Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie

Band Sinister by KJ Charles

Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Blue Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews

Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas

Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens

Devil’s Cub by Georgette Heyer

Devil’s Daughter by Lisa Kleypas

Do You Want to Start a Scandal by Tessa Dare

Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas

Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt

Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt

Dukes Prefer Blondes by Loretta Chase

Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale

Frederica by Georgette Heyer

Funny Story by Emily Henry

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

His at Night by Sherry Thomas

It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas

It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Lady Derring Takes a Lover by Julie Anne Long

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase

Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas

Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn

Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

Mackenzie’s Mountain by Linda Howard

Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas

Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas

Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

More Than a Mistress by Mary Balogh

Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase

Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard

My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long

Naked in Death by J.D. Robb

Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Pretty Face by Lucy Parker

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas

Ransom by Julie Garwood

Ravished by Amanda Quick

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh

Something About You by Julie James

The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne

The Bride by Julie Garwood

The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran

The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

The Heiress Effect by Courtney Milan

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

The Luckiest Lady in London by Sherry Thomas

The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley

The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt

The Secret by Julie Garwood

The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata

The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare

Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas

Vixen in Velvet by Loretta Chase

Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian

What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long

When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

AAR Top 100 List (2018)

(unranked)

Act Like It, Lucy Parker, Contemporary Romance, 2015

Ain’t She Sweet?, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Contemporary Romance, 2005

Almost Heaven, Judith McNaught, Historical Romance, 1991

An Extraordinary Union, Alyssa Cole, Historical Romance, 2017

Angels Blood, Nalini Singh, Fantasy Romance, 2009

Any Duchess Will Do, Tessa Dare, Historical Romance, 2013

Anyone But You, Jennifer Crusie, Contemporary Romance, 1996

Beard Science, Penny Reid, Contemporary Romance, 2016

Bet Me, Jennifer Crusie, Contemporary Romance, 2004

The Black Hawk, Joanna Bourne, Historical Romance, 2011

Blue Eyed Devil, Lisa Kleypas, Contemporary Romance, 2008

The Bride, Julie Garwood, Medieval Romance, 1991

Burn for Me, Ilona Andrews, Urban Fantasy, 2014

The Countess Conspiracy, Courtney Milan, Historical Romance, 2013

Dark Lover, J.R. Ward, Vampire Romance, 2005

Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas, Historical Romance, 2006

Devil’s Bride, Stephanie Laurens, Historical Romance, 1998

Devil’s Cub, Georgette Heyer, Classic Fiction, 2003

Dragon Bound, Thea Harrison, Fantasy Romance, 2011

Dream a Little Dream, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Contemporary Romance, 1998

Dreaming of You, Lisa Kleypas, Historical Romance, 1994

The Duchess Deal, Tessa Dare, Historical Romance, 2017

The Duke and I, Julia Quinn, Historical Romance, 2000

A Duke of Her Own, Eloisa James, Historical Romance, 2009

Duke of Midnight, Elizabeth Hoyt, Historical Romance, 2013

The Duke of Shadows, Meredith Duran, Historical Romance, 2008

Duke of Sin, Elizabeth Hoyt, Historical Romance, 2016

Flowers From the Storm, Laura Kinsale, Historical Romance, 2003

Frederica, Georgette Heyer, Classic Fiction, 2000

A Gentleman’s Position, K.J. Charles, Historical Romance, 2016

The Governess Affair, Courtney Milan, Historical Romance, 2012

Hate to Want You, Alisha Rai, Contemporary Romance, 2017

The Hating Game, Sally Thorne, Contemporary Romance, 2016

Heart of Obsidian, Nalini Singh, Paranormal Romance, 2013

Heaven, Texas, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Contemporary Romance, 1995

The Heiress Effect, Courtney Milan, Historical Romance, 2013

Him, Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy, Historical Romance, 2015

His at Night, Sherry Thomas, Historical Fiction, 2010

A Hunger Like No Other, Kresley Cole, Paranormal Romance, 2006

The Iron Duke, Meljean Brook, Steampunk, 2010

It Had To Be You, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Contemporary Romance, 1994

It Happened One Autumn, Lisa Kleypas, Historical Romance, 2005

It Happened One Wedding, Julie James, Contemporary Romance, 2014

Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte, Classic Fiction, 2004

Kiss of Snow, Nalini Singh, Paranormal Romance, 2011

Kulti, Mariana Zapata, Contemporary Romance, 2015

Lord of Scoundrels, Loretta Chase, Historical Romance, 1995

Lord Perfect, Loretta Chase, Historical Romance, 2006

Love in the Afternoon, Lisa Kleypas, Historical Romance, 2010

Lover Awakened, J.R. Ward, Vampire Romance, 2009

The Luckiest Lady in London, Sherry Thomas, Historical Romance, 2013

Mackenzie’s Mountain, Linda Howard, Contemporary Romance, 2000

The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie, Jennifer Ashley, Historical Romance, 2009

Magic Binds, Ilona Andrews, Urban Fantasy Romance, 2016

Married by Morning, Lisa Kleypas, Historical Romance, 2010

Marrying Winterborne, Lisa Kleypas, Historical Romance, 2016

Match Me if You Can, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Contemporary Romance, 2005

Mine Till Midnight, Lisa Kleypas, Historical Romance, 2007

More than a Mistress, Mary Balogh, Historical Romance, 2001

Mr. Impossible, Loretta Chase, Historical Romance, 2005

Mr. Perfect, Linda Howard, Contemporary Romance, 2001

Naked in Death, J.D. Robb, Futuristic Romantic Suspense, 1995

Natural Born Charmer, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Contemporary Romance, 2009

Neanderthal Seeks Human, Penny Reid, Contemporary Romance, 2013

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, Sarah MacLean, Historical Romance, 2010

Nobody’s Baby But Mine, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Contemporary Romance, 1997

Not Quite a Husband, Sherry Thomas, Historical Romance, 2009

Outlander, Diana Gabaldon, Time Travel Romance, 1992

Persuasion, Jane Austen, Classic Fiction, 2003

Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen, Classic Fiction, 1983

Private Arrangements, Sherry Thomas, Historical Romance, 2008

A Promise of Fire, Amanda Bouchet, Fantasy Romance, 2016

Radiance, Grace Draven, Fantasy Romance, 2015

The Rake, Mary Jo Putney, Historical Romance, 1998

Ransom, Julie Garwood, Medieval Romance, 1999

The Raven Prince, Elizabeth Hoyt, Historical Romance, 2006

Ravished, Amanda Quick, Historical Romance, 1992

Rock Hard, Nalini Singh, Contemporary Romance, 2015

A Rogue by Any Other Name, Sarah MacLean, Historical Romance, 2012

Romancing Mister Bridgerton, Julia Quinn, Historical Romance, 2002

Sea Swept, Nora Roberts, Contemporary Romance, 1998

The Secret, Julie Garwood, Medieval Romance, 1992

Secrets of a Summer Night, Lisa Kleypas, Historical Romance, 2004

A Seditious Affair, K.J. Charles, Historical Romance, 2015

Slave to Sensation, Nalini Singh, Alternate Reality Romance, 2006

Slightly Dangerous, Mary Balogh, Historical Romance, 2005

Something About You, Julie James, Contemporary Romance, 2010

The Spymaster’s Lady, Joanna Bourne, Historical Romance, 2008

The Suffragette Scandal, Courtney Milan, Historical Romance, 2014

A Summer to Remember, Mary Balogh, Historical Romance, 2003

Then Came You, Lisa Kleypas, Historical Romance, 1993

The Viscount Who Loved Me, Julia Quinn, Historical Romance, 2000

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me, Mariana Zapata, Contemporary Romance, 2016

A Week to Be Wicked, Tessa Dare, Historical Romance, 2012

Welcome to Temptation, Jennifer Crusie, Romantic Suspense, 2004

What I Did for a Duke, Julie Anne Long, Historical Romance, 2011

When Beauty Tamed the Beast, Eloisa James, Historical Romance, 2011

When He Was Wicked, Julia Quinn, Historical Romance, 2004

White Hot, Ilona Andrews, Urban Fantasy Romance, 2017

Wildfire, Ilona Andrews, Fantasy Romance, 2017

AAR Top 100 List (2013)

(in order of votes received)

AAR Top 100 List (2010)

(in order of votes received)

AAR Top 100 List (2007)

(in order of votes received)

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase (European Historical) (1995)
Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas (European Historical) (1994)
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Classic Fiction) (1813)
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (Time Travel) (1991)
Flowers From The Storm by Laura Kinsale (European Historical) (1992)
Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh (European Historical) (2004)
Devil In Winter by Lisa Kleypas (European Historical) (2006)
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie (Contemporary) (2004)
Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie (Contemporary) (2000)
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn (European Historical) (2000)
Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward (Paranormal) (2006)
Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase (European Historical) (2005)
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (European Historical) (2000)
It Had To Be You by Susan E. Phillips (Contemporary) (1994)
Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase (European Historical) (2000)
Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn (European Historical) (2002)
The Bride by Julie Garwood (Medieval) (1989)
Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard (Romantic Suspense) (2000)
Naked In Death by J.D. Robb (Fut. Rom. Susp.) (1995)
A Summer To Remember by Mary Balogh (European Historical) (2002)
Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan E. Phillips (Contemporary) (1997)
Dream Man by Linda Howard (Romantic Suspense) (1995)
The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (European Historical) (2006)
Paradise by Judith McNaught (Contemporary) (1991)
As You Desire by Connie Brockway (Historical) (1997)
MacKenzie’s Mountain by Linda Howard (Series/Category) (1989)
Dark Lover by J.R. Ward (Paranormal) (2005)
The Secret by Julie Garwood (Medieval) (1992)
Son Of The Morning by Linda Howard (Time Travel) (1997)
Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward (Paranormal) (2006)
Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens (European Historical) (1998)
A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux (Time Travel) (1989)
Heaven, Texas by Susan E. Phillips (Contemporary) (1995)
To Have and To Hold by Patricia Gaffney (European Historical) (1995)
Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught (European Historical) (1990)
Match Me If You Can by Susan E. Phillips (Contemporary) (2005)
The Shadow and The Star by Laura Kinsale (Historical) (1991)
Cry No More by Linda Howard (Romantic Suspense) (2003)
A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught (Medieval) (1989)
Over the Edge by Suzanne Brockmann (Romantic Suspense) (2001)
Sea Swept by Nora Roberts (Contemporary) (1998)
Ravished by Amanda Quick (European Historical) (1992)
Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas (European Historical) (1993)
To Die For by Linda Howard (Contemporary) (2005)
Something Wonderful by Judith McNaught (European Historical) (1988)
This Heart of Mine by Susan E. Phillips (Contemporary) (2001)
The Serpent Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (European Historical) (2007)
Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas (European Historical) (2001)
The Proposition by Judith Ivory (European Historical) (1999)
Honor’s Splendour by Julie Garwood (Medieval) (1987)
Saving Grace by Julie Garwood (Medieval) (1993)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (Classic Fiction) (1847)
When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn (European Historical) (2004)
Persuasion by Jane Austen (Classic Fiction) (1818)
All Through The Night by Connie Brockway (European Historical) (1997)
It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas (European Historical) (2005)
Born In Fire by Nora Roberts (Contemporary) (1994)
Thunder and Roses by Mary Jo Putney (European Historical) (1993)
Kiss An Angel by Susan E. Phillips (Contemporary) (1996)
Out Of Control by Suzanne Brockmann (Romantic Suspense) (2002)
After The Night by Linda Howard (Romantic Suspense) (1995)
Lady Sophia’s Lover by Lisa Kleypas (European Historical) (2002)
The Secret Pearl by Mary Balogh (European Historical) (1991)
Once and Always by Judith McNaught (European Historical) (1987)
More Than A Mistress by Mary Balogh (European Historical) (2000)
Untie My Heart by Judith Ivory (European Historical) (2002)
See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson (Contemporary) (2003)
The Rake by Mary Jo Putney (European Historical) (1998)
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (Time Travel) (1992)
Perfect by Judith McNaught (Contemporary) (1993)
Whitney My Love by Judith McNaught (European Historical) (1985)
The Duke by Gaelen Foley (European Historical) (2000)
One Perfect Rose by Mary Jo Putney (European Historical) (1997)
Shattered Rainbows by Mary Jo Putney (European Historical) (1996)
The Windflower by Laura London (Historical/Pirate) (1984)
Dream A Little Dream by Susan E. Phillips (Contemporary) (1998)
Frederica by Georgette Heyer (Classic Fiction) (1965)
Passion by Lisa Valdez (European Historical) (2005)
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (Time Travel) (1994)
The Lady’s Tutor by Robin Schone (European Historical) (1999)
Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer (Americana) (1990)
Worth Any Price by Lisa Kleypas (European Historical) (2003)
Winter Garden by Adele Ashworth (European Historical) (2000)
My Dearest Enemy by Connie Brockway (European Historical) (1998)
Where Dreams Begin by Lisa Kleypas (European Historical) (2000)
Devil’s Cub by Georgette Heyer (Classic Fiction) (1932)
Gone Too Far by Suzanne Brockmann (Romantic Suspense) (2003)
Anyone But You by Suzanne Brockmann (Romantic Suspense) (2003)
For My Lady’s Heart by Laura Kinsale (Medieval Romance) (1993)
Rising Tides by Nora Roberts (Contemporary) (1998)
Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward (Paranormal) (2007)
Open Season by Linda Howard (Romantic Suspense) (2001)
Born In Ice by Nora Roberts (Contemporary) (1996)
Ransom by Julie Garwood (Medieval) (1999)
Venetia by Georgette Heyer (Classic Fiction) (1956)
Miss Wonderful by Loretta Chase (European Historical) (2004)
Ain’t She Sweet by Susan E. Phillips (Contemporary) (2004)
The Notorious Rake by Mary Balogh (Trad Regency) (1992)
The Prize by Julie Garwood (Medieval) (1991)
Slave To Sensation by Nalini Singh (Paranormal) (2000)

AAR Top 100 List (2004)

(in order of votes received)

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase (Eur Hist Romance)
Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale (Eur Hist Romance)
Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie (Contemp Romance)
As You Desire by Connie Brockway (Hist Romance)
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie (Contemp Romance)
Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas (Eur Hist Romance)
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (Time Travel Romance)
Over the Edge by Suzanne Brockmann (Contemp Romance)
All Through the Night by Connie Brockway (Eur Hist Romance)
Sea Swept by Nora Roberts (Contemp Romance)
It Had to be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Contemp Romance)
A Summer to Remember by Mary Balogh (Eur Hist Romance)
Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer (Americana Romance)
The Proposition by Judith Ivory (Eur Hist Romance)
A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught (Medieval Romance)
Ravished by Amanda Quick (Eur Hist Romance)
Frederica by Georgette Heyer (Regency Romance)
Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand by Carla Kelly (Regency Romance)
MacKenzie’s Mountain by Linda Howard (Series Romance)
Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard (Contemp Romance)
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer (Regency Romance)
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Classic Fiction)
The Bride by Julie Garwood (Eur Hist Romance)
Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens (Eur Hist Romance)
To Have and to Hold by Patricia Gaffney (Eur Hist Romance)
Born in Fire by Nora Roberts (Contemp Romance)
Winter Garden by Adele Ashworth (Eur Hist Romance)
Gone Too Far by Suzanne Brockmann (Romantic Suspense)
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn (Eur Hist Romance)
Saving Grace by Julie Garwood (Medieval Romance)
My Dearest Enemy by Connie Brockway (Eur Hist Romance)
In the Midnight Rain by Ruth Wind (Women’s Fiction)
The Windflower by Laura London (Hist. Romance)
Naked in Death by J.D. Robb (Fut Romantic Suspense)
Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught (Eur Hist Romance)
Nobody’s Baby but Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Contemp Romance)
A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux (Time Travel Romance)
Paradise by Judith McNaught (Contemp Romance)
The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale (Eur Hist Romance)
Dream Man by Linda Howard (Romantic Suspense)
Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann (Contemp Romance)
Silk and Shadows by Mary Jo Putney (Eur Hist Romance)
See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson (Contemp Romance)
Shattered Rainbows by Mary Jo Putney (Eur Hist Romance)
Thunder and Roses by Mary Jo Putney (Eur Hist Romance)
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (Eur Hist Romance)
Heart Throb by Suzanne Brockmann (Contemp Romance)
For My Lady’s Heart by Laura Kinsale (Medieval Romance)
Honor’s Splendor by Julie Garwood (Medieval Romance)
Lord Carew’s Bride by Mary Balogh (Regency Romance)
Untie my Heart by Judith Ivory (Eur Hist Romance)
Dream a Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Contemp Romance)
The Secret by Julie Garwood (Medieval Romance)
This is All I Ask by Lynn Kurland (Medieval Romance)
Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh (Eur Hist Romance)
One Perfect Rose by Mary Jo Putney (Eur Hist Romance)
To Love and to Cherish by Patricia Gaffney (Eur Hist Romance)
Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Contemp Romance)
Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Contemp Romance)
Venetia by Georgette Heyer (Regency Romance)
Daughter of the Game by Tracy Grant (Historical Mystery)
The Prize by Julie Garwood (Medieval Romance)
Reforming Lord Ragsdale by Carla Kelly (Regency Romance)
Prince Joe by Suzanne Brockmann (Series Romance)
The Notorious Rake by Mary Balogh (Regency Romance)
Heartless by Mary Balogh (Eur Hist Romance)
Son of the Morning by Linda Howard (Paranormal Romance)
Sleeping Beauty by Judith Ivory (Eur Hist Romance)
Where Dreams Begin by Lisa Kleypas (Eur Hist Romance)
The Devil’s Cub by Georgette Heyer (Regency Romance)
The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons (Historical Fiction)
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegar (Fiction)
With This Ring by Carla Kelly (Regency Romance)
The Lion’s Lady by Julie Garwood (Eur Hist Romance)
The Rake by Mary Jo Putney (Eur Hist Romance)
Fallen from Grace by Laura Leone (Contemp Romance)
Always to Remember by Lorraine Heath (Amer/West Hist Romance)
Castles by Julie Garwood (Eur Hist Romance)
One Good Turn by Carla Kelly (Regency Romance)
Chesapeake Blue by Nora Roberts (Contemp Romance)
By Arrangement by Madeline Hunter (Medieval Romance)
Perfect by Judith McNaught (Contemp Romance)
My Darling Caroline by Adele Ashworth (Eur Hist Romance)
The Defiant Hero by Suzanne Brockmann (Contemp Romance)
The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann (Contemp Romance)
Guilty Pleasures by Laura Lee Guhrke (Eur Hist Romance)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (Classic Fiction)
Kill and Tell by Linda Howard (Romantic Suspense)
After the Night by Linda Howard (Contemp Romance)
More than a Mistress by Mary Balogh (Eur Hist Romance)
Born in Ice by Nora Roberts (Contemp Romance)
Miss Wonderful by Loretta Chase (Eur Hist Romance)
The Charm School by Susan Wiggs (Amer Hist Romance)
Scoundrel by Elizabeth Elliott (Eur Hist Romance)
How to Marry a Marquis by Julia Quinn (Eur Hist Romance)
Angel Rogue by Mary Jo Putney (Eur Hist Romance)
Trust Me by Jayne Ann Krentz (Contemp Romance)
Dancing on the Wind by Mary Jo Putney (Eur Hist Romance)
Once and Always by Judith McNaught (Eur Hist Romance)
This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Contemp Romance)

AAR Top 100 List (2000)

(in order of votes received)

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase (Historical)
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (Time Travel)
Mackenzie’s Mountain by Linda Howard (Series/Contemporary)
Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale (Historical)
Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens (Historical)
Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas (Historical)
It Had To Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Contemporary)
Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Contemporary)
Shattered Rainbows by Mary Jo Putney (Historical)
The Shadow & the Star by Laura Kinsale (Historical)
The Bride by Julie Garwood (Historical)
Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Contemporary)
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Classic)
One Perfect Rose by Mary Jo Putney (Historical)
The Rake by Mary Jo Putney (Historical)
A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux (Time Travel)
The Proposition by Judith Ivory (Historical)
Thunder and Roses by Mary Jo Putney (Historical)
Dream Man by Linda Howard (Romantic Suspense)
The Secret by Julie Garwood (Historical)
Kiss An Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Contemporary)
Paradise by Judith McNaught (Contemporary)
A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught (Historical)
Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught (Historical)
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (Historical)
Lady Be Good by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Contemporary)
To Love and to Cherish by Patricia Gaffney (Historical)
Dragonfly In Amber by Diana Gabaldon (Time Travel)
How to Marry a Marquis by Julia Quinn (Historical)
Prince Joe by Suzanne Brockmann (Series/Contemporary)
After the Night by Linda Howard (Contemporary)
Naked In Death by J. D. Robb (Futuristic Romantic Suspense)
Ravished by Amanda Quick (Historical)
Saving Grace by Julie Garwood (Historical)
Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught (Historical)
My Lady Notorious by Jo Beverley (Historical)
As You Desire by Connie Brockway (Historical)
To Have and to Hold by Patricia Gaffney (Historical)
Castles by Julie Garwood (Historical)
A Precious Jewel by Mary Balogh (Regency)
My Darling Caroline by Adele Ashworth (Historical)
Born In Ice by Nora Roberts (Contemporary)
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (Time Travel)
Knight of a Trillion Stars by Dara Joy (Futuristic)
Once and Always by Judith McNaught (Historical)
Lord Carew’s Bride by Mary Balogh (Regency)
Dream A Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Contemporary)
Mackenzie’s Pleasure by Linda Howard (Series/Contemporary)
Something Wonderful by Judith McNaught (Historical)
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Classic)
Splendid by Julia Quinn (Historical)
Sweet Liar by Jude Deveraux (Contemporary)
The Windflower by Laura London (Historical)
Beast by Judith Ivory (Historical)
Sea Swept by Nora Roberts (Contemporary)
The Prize by Julie Garwood (Historical)
The Gift by Julie Garwood (Historical)
Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie (Romantic Suspense)
Where Dreams Begin by Lisa Kleypas (Historical)
The Famous Heroine by Mary Balogh (Regency)
Bewitching by Jill Barnett (Paranormal/Historical)
Perfect by Judith McNaught (Contemporary)
These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer (Classic)
Heartthrob by Suzanne Brockmann (Contemporary)
Get Lucky by Suzanne Brockmann (Series/Contemporary)
Truly, Madly Yours by Rachel Gibson (Contemporary)
My Dearest Enemy by Connie Brockway (Historical)
Devil’s Cub by Georgette Heyer (Classic)
Crazy for You by Jennifer Crusie (Contemporary)
The Vicar’s Daughter by Deborah Simmons (Historical)
The Wolf & the Dove by Kathleen Woodiwiss (Historical)
Born In Fire by Nora Roberts (Contemporary)
Wild at Heart by Patricia Gaffney (Historical)
Honor’s Splendor by Julie Garwood (Historical)
This is All I Ask by Lynn Kurland (Historical)
The Flame & the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss (Historical)
Rendezvous by Amanda Quick (Historical)
The Last Hellion by Loretta Chase (Historical)
Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard (Contemporary)
Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon (Time Travel)
Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand by Carla Kelly (Regency)
Mine to Take by Dara Joy (Paranormal)
The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann (Contemporary)
Dancing on the Wind by Mary Jo Putney (Historical)
Lion’s Lady by Julie Garwood (Historical)
Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas (Historical)
Son of the Morning by Linda Howard (Time Travel)
Jewels of the Sun by Nora Roberts (Contemporary)
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer (Classic)
Mackenzie’s Mission by Linda Howard (Series/Contemporary)
Angel Rogue by Mary Jo Putney (Historical)
The Secret Pearl by Mary Balogh (Regency)
Tears of the Moon by Nora Roberts (Contemporary)
Sleeping Beauty by Judith Ivory (Historical)
Scandal by Amanda Quick (Historical)
Venetia by Georgette Heyer (Classic)
My Sweet Folly by Laura Kinsale (Historical)
Devilish by Jo Beverley (Historical)
The Admiral’s Bride by Suzanne Brockmann (Series/Contemporary)
Jackson Rule by Dinah McCall (Contemporary)

AAR Top 100 List (1998)

(in order of votes received)

The post the AAR Top 100 Romances Polls (1998 to 2026) appeared first on All About Romance.

Over the past several weeks, many romance titles have begun returning the same message in Amazon’s SiteStripe interface: This product is excluded from the Amazon Associates Program.** Please link to a related product or category instead. The books remain available for purchase across all formats. Their retail pages load normally. What has changed is that Amazon will no longer allow affiliates to earn commissions for recommending them.

That may sound like a technical adjustment, but it is not a small one. Amazon Associates underwrites much of the online book ecosystem. A great deal of book coverage—reviews, recommendation sites, curated lists, newsletters—is sustained by affiliate income. When a book is excluded from the program, it is not banned, but it is removed from the financial structure that makes it easier for readers to find and hear about it.

The exclusions do not appear to be random although the implementation still is.*** I began tracking the pattern after noticing that titles I had linked to for years were suddenly un-linkable. I expanded my check to a decade of top picks from All About Romance, and roughly ten percent are now excluded. The correlation is striking. These are not fringe erotica titles. They are mainstream romances from major publishers. The common denominator is simply that they contain on-page sex.

Examples include Uncommon Passion by Anne Calhoun, Written on Your Skin by Meredith Duran, Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey, Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai, A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole, Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid, and The First Time at Firelight Falls by Julie Anne Long. These are books that have been widely reviewed, widely recommended, and affiliate-eligible for years. Older backlist titles have flipped alongside new releases, and the exclusions apply across all editions.

Amazon has not announced a policy change. I have contacted Amazon for clarification and have also reached out to several affected authors. As of now, there has been no public explanation. But the practical effect is clear: Amazon appears to be tightening the line on what it considers adult content for affiliate purposes, and books with open-door sex scenes are increasingly being swept—almost certainly by an automated classification system—into that category.

In a moment when sexual content is being policed with renewed zeal, this shift feels ominous. Amazon is not removing these books from sale, but it is making them harder to sustain in the recommendation economy. That is not censorship in the blunt sense, but it is pressure, and pressure works.

If Amazon has changed its standards, it should say so plainly. This is a company that accounts for roughly half of all print book sales in the United States and the overwhelming majority of the e-book market—by some estimates more than two-thirds, and closer to four-fifths when Kindle Unlimited is included. When Amazon–will Google be next?–decides that ordinary, consensual sex in a mainstream romance novel is too risky to support through its affiliate program, it redefines the boundaries of acceptable promotion.It’s not a stretch to worry that mechanism could be expanded to narrow other categories–political and religious beliefs, for example– just as easily. When a corporation with this reach decides which books are too dangerous to incentivize, that is censorship. We should all be paying attention.

* I first read about this here. Romance authors are beginning to speak out about this issue as well. 

** Amazon Associates is Amazon’s affiliate marketing program, which allows websites and creators to earn a commission by linking to products sold on Amazon.

*** Many books that are very graphic sexually are still available. Even within series, the prohibition varies. 

The post A New Modesty Code for Romance appeared first on All About Romance.

Larry was chomping pretzels at his great grandchild’s gender reveal party—he is not a fan—when suddenly choked to death. He awakes in the afterlife’s first stop—imagine a giant convention center built with a very 60s vibe—in his much younger body. (In the afterlife, you’re whatever age you were the happiest.) His consultant, hilariously played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph, explains the rules and asks him—now played by Miles Teller—where he’d like to go. Larry says nowhere. He’s waiting for his wife of over 65 years, Joan, whose advanced cancer means she’ll be arriving shortly.

But when Joan does arrive, young and beautiful—played impeccably by Elizabeth Olsen—Larry is not the only one waiting for her. Her first husband Luke—a seductive Callum Turner—who died in the Korean War, has been waiting for her for 67 years. Neither man is up for polyamory so, helped along by her AC Ryan (John Early), Joan must choose which of her two loves she wants to spend forever with.

It’s not an easy decision. Luke and Joan were crazy, madly, sexily in love. The lives they dreamed of were lost to them. The two have chemistry as well as a clean slate—they never got a chance to struggle. Larry, who will be the first to tell you Joan has always been out of his league, is the man Joan made a life with. They have history, children, shared memories, and a bone deep familiarity. Luke is movie star handsome. Larry is a bit of a schlub. Luke’s chosen paradise is different than what Larry thinks he’d like so, whichever one Joan chooses, that’s it—she’ll never see the other man again.

This clever setup combined with excellent acting makes Eternity remarkably charming but there’s depth in its delights. Worked into the humor—Early and Randolph keep the laughs coming—are questions worth pondering. If you had to spend forever in one sort of place, what would you choose? Is the time that you were the happiest reflective of who you are now? What do we owe those who love us? How final really is death?

The answers to these, and there are answers, resonated with me. Like my favorite rom com, About Time, this is a film that made me cry, laugh, and feel grateful for all those I’ve loved and who’ve loved me. It’s determinedly earnest, something I think we need more of. (Currently, cynicism and ennui aren’t doing it for me.) I loved it—if you love smart rom coms, I think you will too.

Eternity is streaming on Apple TV

The post Eternity: a movie review appeared first on All About Romance.

Anyone looking for tragedy needs to, literally, do nothing but read, watch, and, god help you, scroll. It’s harder to find joy.

If you are lucky enough to be in Western North Carolina this week, however, exuberant whimsey awaits you at the North Carolina Arboretum. There, you will find Trolls: A Field Study, a temporary outdoor art installation by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, featuring twelve larger-than-life troll sculptures made from reclaimed wood, fallen branches, pallets, and other recycled materials. Each troll stands about seven to nine feet tall and all are scattered throughout the Arboretum’s gardens and trails.

To see them, in person and, I hope, on the screen, is to smile. Each is named and all have risible personas. Posted discretely near each is a sign about them, all of which, using humor and wit, introduce the troll and explain an environmental problem humans have created that the trolls are puzzling over. 

Here, in all their wooden glory are the twelve:

 

This is Wilde, the first troll you see. He’s fascinated by humans and is drawing, on his pad, a sketch of a human taking a phone picture of him.

 

This is Larke. She is baffled by all the good stuff humans throw away.

 

This is Birch. He loves measuring humans. Just like trolls, they come in all shapes and sizes.

 

This is Hasse. He’s baffled by lawns and, especially lawn mowers. What are the humans doing?!?! He’s hoping that another perspective might give him more clarity.

 

This is Poppy. She’s still trying to figure out what to do with all these shiny beep things humans love. Eat them? That didn’t work. She’s thinking….

 

This is Kirse. She loves humans and has figured out that if she is silly, they, especially the little ones, will be silly too.

 

This is Boge. He’s a little shy around humans. It’s hard to figure out how much to shake them. They seem to do better with gentle hugs.

 

This is Lilnut. She’s caught some lovely humans in her next. Her favorite was the one who took her home and let her lie down on something called a couch. It was the best!

 

This is Bignut. He too likes to catch humans, especially the small ones—it’s so easy!

 

This is Valle. He finds humans a bit much. He likes naps much better.

 

This is Taks. He’s the youngest troll. He really likes humans. They’re weird but they have the best snacks.

 

This is Anja. She loves numbers, especially counting. Right now, she’s using stones to keep track of all the humans who come to see her

I loved them all and I hope you did too!

This is a post from my new substack–I won’t normally cross post but I couldn’t resist sharing!

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