Romance readers agree on only one thing: Each romance novel should have a Happily Ever After. For more of what is required, take a look at
What Rules are in the Romance Novel Covenant?
i've all weighed in on the Best This and the Crucial That, but i haven't yet attempted—not here, at least—to come up with a comprehensive list of what the Romance Novels You Should Have Read by Now are.
Let's rectify that, shall we? Keep in mind this list is not a subjective Best Ever list*, but a list that gathers up the crucial books in the genre. And—of course—feel free to add your thoughts in comments! what did i miss? What book isn't worth being included? i want to know!....

10. Anne Stuart, •Black Ice•
Why? There is no one better than
Anne Stuart at the “Kiss or kill” book, and Black Ice is the epitome of this.

9. Julia Quinn, •The Viscount Who Loved Me•
Why? Julia Quinn's books appear deceptively light, but always carry darker depths underneath the sparkle. And there is loads of sparkle—Quinn excels at dialogue, and at making a historical setting seem approachable, peopled with characters you could imagine knowing at any period in time.

8. J.D. Robb, •Naked in Death•
Why? Before long-running series were the norm, J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts) began her In Death series, still going strong 30+ books later. The book is set in the near future, is a police procedural, and is also strongly romantic. The series' couple, Eve and Roarke , are the paradigm of a strongly-matched pair.

7.E.L James, •Fifty Shades of Grey•
Why? This book by E.L. James converted millions of people into readers. For that alone it should be part of the romance canon. It is also one of the most striking direct examples of the obsessive, controlling hero who finds something unique—something addictive—in an otherwise normal woman.

6. Susan Elizabeth Phillips, •Ain't She Sweet•
Why? The heroine is that completely unlikeable, manipulative, gorgeous, most popular girl in high school —laid completely low nearly a decade later, returning to her hometown and having to eat a lot of crow. She hasn't had a change of character, but her character changes through the course of the book, and the reader ends up rooting for her. A remarkable witty and gritty contemporary romance from Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

5. Laura Kinsale, •Flowers from the Storm•
Why? This historical by Laura Kinsale tackles some very intricate and delicate subject matter, and ends up a tour de force , a book that includes a devout Quaker, a brain-damaged Duke, mathematical genius, and the vast and incredible power of love.

4. J.R. Ward, •Lover Awakened•
Why? J.R. Ward 's Black Dagger Brotherhood paranormal romance series is chock-full of over-the-top tortured vampire heroes, and the women who love them. Zsadist is the most (literally!) tortured hero of the BDB, and his journey to love is compelling, angsty, and utterly poignant.

3. Jennifer Crusie,
•Bet Me•
Why?
Jennifer Crusie 's Bet Me has an overweight heroine, a hero who is befuddled and entranced by her, loads of snarky wit, and a critically sexy donut scene.

2. Lisa Kleypas, •Dreaming of You•
Why? In Dreaming of You, Lisa Kleypas crafted one of the most memorable heroes ever, Derek Craven .
Derek's rough upbringing, his ruthlessness, his need for his heroine, and his resultant emotional fragility is the epitome of the tough on the outside/gooey on the inside alpha male.

1. Loretta Chase, •Lord of Scoundrels•
Why? Loretta Chase's Lord of Scoundrels frequently tops Best Romance Novels Ever lists, and so it needs no further justification for being tops here. But since we're here...its lummoxy hero, Sebastian Dain, gets felled handily by his heroine, Jessica, and she seems to recognize, almost immediately, what Dain is like on the inside (see that tough/gooey analogy above). Their courtship is sensual, witty, and delicious throughout, and doesn't shy away from difficult moments.

ok

Common No Jackie collins?sandra Brown?julie Garwood? .. op,i comment my reserve for you (opinionated indeed)

Op, not even one mentioned from James hardly chase.

goldbim:
Common No Jackie collins?sandra Brown?julie Garwood? .. op,i comment my reserve for you (opinionated indeed)

The post ain't 'bout The Authors Dearie,buh the "novels"...Anyways,thanks for your opinion!

bammy007:
The post ain't 'bout The Authors Dearie,buh the "novels"...Anyways,thanks for your opinion!

if I'm to write about the novels,i'l be partial to say one is better than the other..its cool, sha.*jst passing bye* .that Lord of scoundrels, tho ..

satelliteDISH:
Op, not even one mentioned from James hardly chase.

NOTED!

goldbim:
if I'm to write about the novels,i'l be partial to say one is better than the other..its cool, sha.*jst passing bye* .that Lord of scoundrels, tho ..

Aii'...wb it?

Op no Julie Garwood, Sandra brown, Danielle steel sorry to say but your list is not complete

sweetetlove:
Op no Julie Garwood, Sandra brown, Danielle steel sorry to say but your list is not complete

Yeah, most especially Julia Garwood and Nora Roberts

Pls read the education of Caroline and Sebastian, book1/2 by Jane Harvey.

no Nora Roberts,Catherine coulter,Johanna Lindsey why

Rubbish, when wattpad dey dia to gimme hot novels wey fit calm u or boil u, however way u want it. Been long I laid my hand on book sef, dunno why I'm getting so anti book. Is it a medical condition somebody?

Smellymouth:
What about -" Eze Goes to School, Chike and the river, The Drummer boy, One week One Trouble, Ogonna the cry cry baby and My Father's Car?

You deserve Ibra's volley-kick on your .... *sneezes*

i find romance book kinda uninteresting. give me adventure, thriller and war novel anyday.

phay:
no Nora Roberts,Catherine coulter,Johanna Lindsey
why

the post is 'bout the novels,not the authors...jez included the authors' name for u to knw who wrote 'em....Johanna Lindsey Is A Fantastic And Gifted Writer Tho',u Read Captives Of My Desires?

sweetetlove:
Op no Julie Garwood, Sandra brown, Danielle steel sorry to say but your list is not complete

it's All 'bout The "Novels"

Abbeyunique2:
i find romance book kinda uninteresting. give me adventure, thriller and war novel anyday.

lol...Then Go Read The Rats By James Herbert, Dragonlance(chronicles Of The Dragon Vol.1&2) By Laura And Tracy Hickman,nd Maximum Ride By James Patterson...Enjoy!

pinceprinz:
Rubbish, when wattpad dey dia to gimme hot novels wey fit calm u or boil u, however way u want it. Been long I laid my hand on book sef, dunno why I'm getting so anti book. Is it a medical condition somebody?

lol,maybe!!...Buh These Novels Can Be Downloaded On Every Pdf Supported Mobile...U Can Even Read Some Of 'em On Java Phones...

bammy007:
lol,maybe!!...Buh These Novels Can Be Downloaded On Every Pdf Supported Mobile...U Can Even Read Some Of 'em On Java Phones...

Well, I like u. So I'll say maybe I'll do that, thanks ... Sincerely, thanks for sharing

phay:
no Nora Roberts,Catherine coulter,Johanna Lindsey
why

the post is 'bout the novels,not the authors...jez included the authors' name for u to knw who wrote 'em....Johanna Lindsey Is A Fantastic And Gifted Writer Tho',u Read Captives Of My Desires?

pinceprinz:

Well, I like u. So I'll say maybe I'll do that, thanks ... Sincerely, thanks for sharing

Aiit bro

bammy007:
the post is 'bout the novels,not the authors...jez included the authors' name for u to knw who wrote 'em....Johanna Lindsey Is A Fantastic And Gifted Writer Tho',u Read Captives Of My Desires?

nope,though I've read all the other books in the malory-Anderson series...give or take a few