As Determined by AAR’s Readers in October 1998
Introduction | Results | Analysis
Introduction:
Shelley Dodge, AARList member, had a terrific idea after this summer’s 100 Best Books of the Century list was released. She decided to poll readers for their 100 favorite romances. Unfortunately, after number 83 on the list, she ran into a 69-vote tie! As a result, we opened up the voting to be Internet-wide. The shortest list sent in by a reader had one title and the longest contained 100 titles. There were a total of 3,346 “votes”, and 1,733 titles were included in her database. Historicals dominate the list – they comprise 52% of the final choices.
As you’ll see from the list below, the list is in order, but there were several ties. We ended up with 105 titles on our list; the last group of titles tied with six votes each. The number one ranked book received 22 votes. A very diverse group voted – Shelley’s database includes many books which received only one or two votes.
I was surprised by the final tally – I expected many titles to show up on the list which did not. I did not expect so many Judith McNaught titles to be included and thought Mary Balogh and Laura London (aka Tom and Sharon Curtis) would have more titles on the final list. The showings of Nora Roberts (aka J.D. Robb), Jude Deveraux, and Elizabeth Lowell were as to be expected, but I was surprised at how few times Jayne Ann Krentz (aka Amanda Quick) and Johanna Lindsey showed up on the list. I could go on and on, but I won’t. Take a look for yourself and let Shelley know what you think about the results.
Results:[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_2″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]
1. | A Knight In Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux – Time Travel |
2. | The Secret by Julie Garwood – Historical |
3. | Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Contemporary |
| Outlander by Diana Gabaldon – Time Travel | |
5. | Dream Man by Linda Howard – Romantic Suspense |
| Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Contemporary | |
| Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase – Historical | |
| The Gift by Julie Garwood – Historical | |
| Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught – Historical | |
10. | It Had To Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Contemporary |
| The Bride by Julie Garwood – Historical | |
12. | Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught – Historical |
| Dream A Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Contemporary | |
| Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – Classic | |
15. | Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale – Historical |
| Paradise by Judith McNaught – Contemporary | |
| Perfect by Judith McNaught – Contemporary | |
| Saving Grace by Julie Garwood – Historical | |
| The Prize by Julie Garwood – Historical | |
20. | Bewitching by Jill Barnett – Paranormal Historical |
| Born In Fire by Nora Roberts – Contemporary | |
22. | After the Night by Linda Howard – Contemporary |
| Born In Shame by Nora Roberts – Contemporary | |
| Ravished by Amanda Quick – Historical | |
| The Rake by Mary Jo Putney – Historical | |
| Thunder and Roses by Mary Jo Putney – History | |
| Velvet Angel by Jude Deveraux – Historical | |
28. | Castles by Julie Garwood – Historical |
| Mackenzie’s Mountain by Linda Howard – SIM#261 | |
| Naked In Death by J. D. Robb – Futuristic Romantic Suspense | |
| Scandal by Amanda Quick – Historical | |
| Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss – Historical | |
| Sweet Liar by Jude Deveraux – Contemporary | |
| The Wolf & the Dove by Kathleen Woodiwiss – Historical | |
35. | Born In Ice by Nora Roberts – Contemporary |
| Forbidden by Elizabeth Lowell – Historical | |
| Only His by Elizabeth Lowell – Historical | |
| Minx by Julia Quinn – Historical | |
| Rising Tides by Nora Roberts – Contemporary | |
| Sea Swept by Nora Roberts – Contemporary | |
| Shades of Twilight by Linda Howard – Contemporary | |
| Something Wonderful by Judith McNaught – Historical | |
| The Flame & the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss – Historical | |
| Untamed by Elizabeth Lowell – Historical | |
| Velvet Song by Jude Deveraux – Historical | |
46. | Glory In Death by J. D. Robb – Futuristic Romantic Suspense |
| Highland Velvet by Jude Deveraux – Historical | |
| Kill & Tell by Linda Howard – Romantic Suspense | |
| My Lady Notorious by Jo Beverley – Historical | |
| Once and Always by Judith McNaught – Historical | |
| Only Mine by Elizabeth Lowell – Historical | |
| Perfect Partners by Jayne Ann Krentz – Contemporary | |
| Simple Jess by Pamela Morsi – Historical | |
| Texas Destiny by Lorraine Heath – Historical | |
| Trust Me by Jayne Ann Krentz – Contemporary |
56. | A Rose For Maggie by Kathleen Korbel – SIM #602 |
| A Rose In Winter by Kathleen Woodiwiss – Historical | |
| Always To Remember by Lorraine Heath – Historical | |
| Annie’s Song by Catherine Anderson – Historical | |
| Ashes In the Wind by Kathleen Woodiwiss – Historical | |
| Daring To Dream by Nora Roberts – Contemporary | |
| Double Standards by Judith McNaught – Contemporary | |
| Dragonfly In Amber by Diana Gabaldon – Time Travel | |
| Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon – Time Travel | |
| Enchanted by Elizabeth Lowell – Historical | |
| Gentle Warrior by Johanna Lindsey – Historical | |
| Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell – Classic | |
| Grand Passion by Jayne Ann Krentz – Contemporary | |
| Hidden Riches by Nora Roberts – Contemporary | |
| Honor’s Splendor by Julie Garwood – Historical | |
| Immortal In Death by J. D. Robb – Futuristic Romantic Suspense | |
| Kiss An Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Contemporary | |
| Mirror Image by Sandra Brown – Contemporary | |
| Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer – Contemporary | |
| One Perfect Rose by Mary Jo Putney – Historical | |
| Only Love by Elizabeth Lowell – Historical | |
| Sarah’s Child by Linda Howard – SSE#230 | |
| Surrender by Amanda Quick – Historical | |
| The Shadow & the Star by Laura Kinsale – Historical | |
| The Sherbrooke Bride by Catherine Coulter – Historical | |
| Voyager by Diana Gabaldon – Time Travel | |
| Wildest Hearts by Jayne Ann Krentz | |
83. | Ceremony In Death by J. D. Robb – Futuristic Romantic Suspense |
| Dancing At Midnight by Julia Quinn – Historical | |
| Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas – Historical | |
| Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey – Historical | |
| Holiday In Death by J. D. Robb – Futuristic Romantic Suspense | |
| Knight of a Trillion Stars by Dara Joy – Futuristic | |
| Lion’s Lady by Julie Garwood – Historical | |
| Lord Carew’s Bride by Mary Balogh – Regency | |
| Only You by Elizabeth Lowell – Historical | |
| Public Secrets by Nora Roberts – Contemporary | |
| Rapture In Death by J. D. Robb – Futuristic Romantic Suspense | |
| Scoundrel by Elizabeth Elliott – Historical | |
| Shattered Rainbows by Mary Jo Putney – Historical | |
| Sleeping Beauty by Judith Ivory – Historical | |
| Son of the Morning by Linda Howard – Time Travel | |
| Splendid by Julia Quinn – Historical | |
| Sweet Baby by Sharon Sala – Contemporary | |
| The Outsider by Penelope Williamson – Historical | |
| The Promise of Jenny Jones by Maggie Osborne – Historical | |
| The Windflower by Laura London – Historical | |
| Velvet Promise by Jude Deveraux – Historical | |
| Vengeance In Death by J. D. Robb – Futuristic Romantic Suspense | |
| Walking At Midnight by Karen Robards – Romantic Suspense |
After Shelley tallied the votes and presented the above list, we received numerous queries about authors, both mid-list and lead, who did not make the final list. As a result, Shelley went back and sorted her database a bit differently. She came up with a list of authors who received at least 25 votes, many of whom did not make the final cut. The reason why? They received votes for a multitude of releases, not one (or more) specifically.
We want to share with you this list of authors who, by virtue of the body of their work, should not be forgotten by readers. Again, some of these authors received enough votes for a particular title that they made the final list while others received many votes, but not enough for any particular title.
| Author | # of Votes | # of Titles | Title from the Top 100 list |
| Jennifer Cruisie | 25 | 8 | none |
| Anne Stuart | 26 | 17 | none |
| Pamela Morsi | 27 | 9 | Simple Jess |
| Joan Wolf | 30 | 17 | none |
| Heather Graham | 31 | 18 | none |
| Loretta Chase | 32 | 9 | Lord of Scoundrels |
| Jo Beverley | 33 | 12 | My Lady Notorious |
| Sandra Brown | 34 | 19 | Slow Heat in Heaven |
| Julia Quinn | 36 | 6 | Splendid Dancing at Midnight Minx |
| Diana Gabaldon | 38 | 4 | Outlander Voyager Dragonfly in Amber Drums of Autumn |
| Kathleen Woodiwiss | 42 | 5 | The Wolf & the Dove The Flame & the Flower Shanna Ashes in the Wind |
| J.D. Robb | 44 | 7 | Glory in Death Naked in Death Immortal in Death Rapture in Death Vengeance in Death |
| Laura Kinsale | 44 | 10 | The Shadow & the Star Flowers from the Storm |
| LaVyrle Spencer | 47 | 10 | Morning Glory |
| Mary Balogh | 47 | 26 | Lord Carew’s Bride |
| Catherine Coulter | 47 | 20 | The Sherbrooke Bride |
| Johanna Lindsey | 55 | 25 | none |
| Amanda Quick | 56 | 15 | Ravished Scandal |
| Jayne Ann Krentz | 62 | 20 | Grand Passion Perfect Partners Trust Me |
| Georgette Heyer | 63 | 29 | These Old Shades The Devil’s Cub |
| Mary Jo Putney | 70 | 19 | The Rake One Perfect Rose Thunder & Roses |
| Susan Elizabeth Phillips | 77 | 8 | It Had To Be You Dream a Little Dream Heaven, Texas Kiss an Angel Nobody’s Baby But Mine |
| Elizabeth Lowell | 88 | 25 | Enchanted Forbidden Only His Only Love Only Mine Only You Untamed |
| Judith McNaught | 96 | 10 | A Kingdom of Dreams Almost Heaven Double Standards Once and Always Paradise Perfect Something Wonderful Whitney, My Love |
| Linda Howard | 103 | 21 | After the Night Dream Man Mackenzie’s Mountain Sarah’s Child Shades of Twilight Son of the Morning |
| Jude Deveraux | 117 | 28 | A Knight in Shining Armor Highland Velvet Sweet Liar Velvet Promise Velvet Angel Velvet Song |
| Julie Garwood | 124 | 12 | Castles Honor’s Splendor Lion’s Lady Saving Grace The Bride The Gift The Prize The Secret Gentle Warrior |
| Nora Roberts | 145 | 46 | Born in Fire Rising Tides Born in Ice Born in Shame Daring to Dream Hidden Riches Public Secrets |
 | Results of our 2007 Top 100 Romances Poll |
| Results of our 2004 Top 100 Romances Poll |
| Results of our 2000 Top 100 Romances Poll |