Finally, wearied by the struggle, I decided that if my colleagues managed to fit their entry on one line, I'd accept it! The results you can find below. The ordering of the lists does not necessarily reflect the contributor's own rank order. Some did in fact attempt to list their favorities from one to ten; others found this an impossible task. And everybody felt as if they had left some favorites off that really ought to be there.

There are a lot of good books in these lists. How many have you read? Which ten books do you consider your favorite romances ever? How about sharing your lists with us, just as we've shared our top ten with you? Send your list of your top ten favorite romances (one can be a series!) to Jean Mason.

1) Anya Seyton, Katherine -Historical fiction
2) Loretta Chase, Lord of Scoundrels - Historical
3) Mary Jo Putney, Dearly Beloved - Historical
4) Celeste DeBlassis,The Proud Breed -Historical fiction
5) Susan Elizabeth Phillips, It Had to Be You -Contemporary
6) Tom and Sharon Curtis, Sunshine & Shadow - Contemporary
7) Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Nobody's Baby But Mine-
8) Susan Andersen, Obsession -Romantic suspense
9) Linda Howard, Dream Man - Romantic suspense
10) Cathy Cash Spellman, Paint the Wind -Historical

1-2) Catherine Coulter, Night Fire, Secret Song - Historical
3) Kristin Hannah, If You Believe - Historical
4) Jude Deveraux, A Knight in Shining Armor - TT
5) Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Nobody's Baby But Mine-
6) Christina Dodd, Once A Knight- Historical
7) Leigh Bristol, Scarlet Sunrise - Historical
8-9) Teresa Medeiros, Heather and Velvet, Thief of Hearts-Historical
10) Libby Sydes, Until Spring-Historical

1) Susan Andersen, Exposure (Zebra, 1996)- contemporary
2) Jennifer Crusie, Anyone But You (Silhouette, 1996)- category
3) Connie Brockway, As You Desire (Dell, 1997)- historical
4) Nora Roberts' Born in Series, (Jove, 1994-1996) contemp.
5) LaVyrle Spencer, Spring Fancy - contemporary
6) Kathleen Woodiwiss, The Wolf and the Dove, - medieval
7) Susan E. Phillips, It Had to be You (Avon, 1995) - contemp.
8) Amanda Quick, Reckless (Bantam, 1992)- historical
9) Sharon Shinn, Archangel, (Ace, 1996) - fantasy
10) Kathleen Korbel, A Soldier's Heart (Silhouette, 1993)- category

1) Sandra Brown, Sunny Chandler's Return, LS 185, 1987,
2) Patricia Gardner Evans, Keeper, SIM 559, 1992. Category
3) Julie Garwood, Honor's Splendor, Pocket, 1987. Historical
4) Jeanne Grant, Sweets to the Sweet,. 2nd Chance at Love 311, 1986. Category
5) Linda Howard, MacKenzie's Mission, SIM 445, 1992.
6) Rita Rainville, Gentle Persuasion, Silh. Romance 535, 1987.
7) Nora Roberts, The Heart's Victory, SSE 59, 1982. Category
8) Nora Roberts, The MacGregor Series, 1985-1987, SSE (5 Books)
9) Courtney Ryan, Lady Incognito 2nd Chance at Love 383, 1987.
10) Maura Seger, Light on the Mountain, HH 107, 1992. Hist.

1) Mary Balogh, The Temporary Wife, Signet, 1997 - Regency
2) Roberta Gellis, The Roselynde Chronicles, (6 Books), Various publishers, 1978-1984 - Historical
3) Georgette Heyer, Venetia, Dutton, 1958 - Regency
4) Linda Howard, After the Night, Pocket, 1995 - Contemporary
5) Carla Kelly, The Lady's Companion, Signet, 1996 - Regency
6) Judith McNaught, Perfect, Pocket , 1993- Contemporary
7) Mary Jo Putney, One Perfect Rose, Ballantine, 1997 - Hist.
8) Nora Roberts, Carnal Innocence, Bantam, 1991 - Suspense
9) LaVryle Spencer, The Hellion, Harlequin, 1984(reprint, Jove, 1989) - Contemporary
10) Joan Wolf, Born of the Sun, Onyx, 1989 - Historical Fiction

1) Eileen Charbonneau, The Randolph Legacy,
Forge, 1997 - Historical
2-3) Justine Davis, Lord of the Storm & The Skypirate,
Topaz, 1994 &1995-Fantasy
4) Celeste DeBlasis, The Swan Trilogy, Bantam, 1984, 1985 & 1989 - Historical
5) Diana Gabaldon, Outlander, Dell, 1991 - Time travel/historical
6) Susan Elizabeth Phillips, It Had To Be You, Contemporary
7) Mary Jo Putney, The Rake and the Reformer, Regency
8) J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts), Naked in Death, Berkley, 1995 - Futuristic/mystery
9) Deborah Smith, A Place to Call Home, Bantam,1997 -Cont.
10) Sharon Shinn, Jovah's Angel Ace, 1997 - Fantasy

1) Loretta Chase, Lord of Scoundrels, Avon, 1996 - Historical
2) Celeste De Blasis, The Tiger's Woman, - Historical
3) Jane Feather, Velvet - Historical
4) Diana Gabaldon, Outlander Series, (4 books), Dell, 1991-1997 - Time Travel/Historical
5) Roberta Gellis, Roselynde Chronicles, (6 books) - Historical
6) Georgette Heyer, Frederica, - Regency
7) Laura Kinsale, Flowers from the Storm, Avon, 1992 - Hist.
8) Edith Layton, Love in Disguise
9) LaVyrle Spencer, Hummingbird, - Historical
10) Elizabeth Stuart, Bride of the Lion, - Historical

1) J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) In Death Series Berkley- Futuristic
2) Elizabeth Lowell, Tell Me No Lies, Mira , 1986 - Contemp.
3) Beverly Bird, Compromising Positions, SIM 777, 1997
4) Nora Roberts, Montana Sky, Putnam, 1996, Contemporary
5) Judith Duncan, That Same Old Feeling, SIM 577, 1994
6) Linda Howard, Dream Man, Pocket- Contemporary Suspense
7) Patricia Gardner Evans, Keeper, SIM 559, 1994
8) Lisa Gardner, The Perfect Husband, Bantam, 1998 -Suspense
9) Kathleen Korbel, A Soldier's Heart, SIM 602, 1994
10) Justine Davis, The Skypirate & Lord of the Storm,
Topaz, 1994 & 1996 -Futuristic

1) Sharon and Tom Curtis, The Windflower, Dell, 1989 - Hist.
2) Diana Gabaldon, Outlander, Delacorte Press, 1991 - TT
3) Laura Kinsale, The Prince of Midnight, Avon, 1990 - Hist.
4) Laura Kinsale, For My Lady's Heart, Avon, 1993 - Hist.
5) Laura Kinsale, Flowers from the Storm, Avon, 1992 - Hist.
6) Suzanne Robinson, Lady Gallant, Bantam, 1992 - Hist.
7) Teresa Medeiros, Heather and Velvet, Bantam, 1991 -Hist.
8) Sarah Bird, The Boyfriend School, Doubleday, 1989 - Contem.
9) Judith Ivory, Beast, Avon, 1997 - Historical
10) Connie Brockway, As You Desire, Dell, 1997 - Historical

1) Lorraine Health, Texas Destiny, Topaz, 1997 - Historical
2) Jude Devereaux, A Knight in Shining Armor, Pocket , 1989 -TT
3) Jude Devereaux, The Princess, Pocket Books, 1987 - Historical
4) LaVryle Spencer, Years, Jove, 1995 - Historical
5) Pamela Morsi, Courting Miss Hattie, Bantam, 1991 - Hist.
6) Pamela Morsi, Runabout, Jove, 1994 - Historical
7) Karen Robards, Night Magic, Warner Books, 1987 - Contem.

1) Mary Jo Putney, Fallen Angel Series, NAL/ Topaz and Ballantine, 1993-1997 - Historicals (7 Books)
2) Mary Jo Putney, The Rake and The Reformer, Signet, Regency
3) Georgette Heyer, The Devil's Cub, Signet, 1966 - Regency
4) Jennifer Crusie, The Cinderella Deal, 1996, Bantam Loveswept
5) Kathleen Korbel, A Rose for Maggie, 1992, Silhouette -
6) Loretta Chase, Lord of Scoundrels, Avon, 1996 - Historical
7) Karen Harbaugh, The Vampire Viscount, Signet, 1995 - Reg.
8) Mary Stewart, Nine Coaches Waiting, Fawcett, 1958 - Romantic suspense
9) Susan Elizabeth Philips, It Had To Be You
10) Valerie Fitzgerald, Zemindar, Bantam, 1981 - Historical

1) Lisa Gregory, The Rainbow Season, Jove, 1979 - Historical
2) Georgette Heyer, The Grand Sophy, Ace, 1950 - Regency
3) Susan Elizabeth Philips, Heaven Texas - Contemporary
4) Jayne Castle, Wagered Weekend, Dell, 1981 - Category
5) Laura Kinsale, Flowers from the Storm, - Historical
6) Susan Krinard, Prince of Wolves, Bantam, 1994 - Fantasy
7) Mary Jo Putney, Silk and Shadows, Onyx, 1991 - Historical
8) Connie Brockway, As You Desire, Dell, 1997 - Historical
9) Loretta Chase, Lord of Scoundrels , Avon, 1994 - Historical
10) Linda Howard, Heart of Fire, Pocket, 1993 - Contemporary

1) Connie Brockway, As You Desire, Dell, 1997, Historical
2) Loretta Chase, Lord of Scoundrels, Avon, 1994, Historical
3) Jennifer Crusie, Anyone but You, Harlequin L & L 1996
4) Patricia Gaffney, Wild at Heart, Topaz, 1997, Historical
5) Heather MacAllister, Christmas Male, Harlequin Tempt. 1996
6) Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Heaven, Texas, Contemporary
7) Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Dream a Little Dream, Contemporary
8) LaVyrle Spencer, Morning Glory, Jove, 1989, Historical
9) Shelly Thacker, Forever His, Avon, 1993, TT/Historical

1) Diana Gabaldon, Outlander, - Time Travel/Historical
2) Diana Gabaldon, Voyager, - Time Travel/Historical
3) Diana Gabaldon, Dragonfly in Amber, - Time Travel/Historical
4) Diana Gabaldon, Drums of Autumn, - Time Travel/Historical
5) Karleen Koen, Through a Glass Darkly,
Random House, 1986 - Historical
6) Karleen Koen, Now Face to Face,
Random House, 1994- Historical
7) Patricia Gardener Evans, Keeper, Silhouette #559,
8) Mary Balogh, A Christmas Bride, Signet, 1997 - Regency
9) Robin Lee Hatcher, Patterns of Love, Harper, 1998 - Hist.
10) Louisa May Alcott, Little Women - Classic

1) Gwynne Forster, Sealed with a Kiss, Arabesque, 1995 - Cont.
2) Layle Giusto, Home Fires, Arabesque, 1996 - Cont.
3) Beverly Jenkins, Night Song, Avon, 1994 - Historical
4) Beverly Jenkins, Vivid, Avon, 1995 - Historical
5) Beverly Jenkins, Indigo, Avon, 1996 - Historical
6) Beverly Jenkins, Topaz, Avon, 1997 - Historical
7) Felicia Mason, Body and Soul, Arabesque, 1995 - Contem.
8) Felicia Mason, Seduction, Arabesque, 1996 - Contem.
9) Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Heaven, Texas, - Contemporary
10) Carla Fredd, Brenda Jackson, and Felicia Mason, A Valentine Kiss, Arabesque, 1996 - Contemporary Anthology