The Complete Idiots Guide to the Ultimate Reading List discussion

Historical romances: the passionate past
Regencies: Jane Austin's legacy
Contemporary romances: love in the here and now
Romantic suspense: kiss me, kill me
Paranormal, futuristic and time-travel romances: vampires and werewolves and E.T.'s, oh my!

HISTORICAL ROMANCES: THE PASSIONATE PAST

CLASSICS:
Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale
The Gamble by LaVryle Spencer
Roselynde by Roberta Gellis
Skye O'Malley by Beatrice Small
The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen Woodwise

MORE GREAT READS:
The Bartered Bride by Mary Jo Putney
The Book of True Desires by Betina Krahn
Bridal Season by Connie Brockway
The Bride and the Beast by Teresa Mederios
The Charm School by Susan Wiggs
Dangerous Deceptions by Lynn Kerstan
Devil's Bride by Stephanie Laurens
High Country Bride by Linda Lael Miller
In the Thrill of the Night by Candince Hern
A Lady's Guide to Rakes by Kathryn Caskie
Lord of Vengeance by Tina St. John
Man of My Dreams by Johanna Lindsey
Miss Wonderful by Loretta Chase
Moon in the Water by Elizabeth Grayson
Much Ado About You by Eloisa James
The Orchid Hunter by Jill Marie Landis
Outsider by Penelope Williamson
The Promise of Jenny Jones by Maggie Osborne
The Rogue's Return by Jo Beverley
Saving Grace by Julie Garwood
Seduction by Amanda Quick
Sleeping Beauty by Judith Ivory
Slightly Married by Mary Balogh
Some Enchanted Evening by Christina Dodd
Stealing the Bride by Elizabeth Boyle
Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas
The Texans Wager by Jodi Thomas
Texas Destiny by Lorraine Heath
To Tame a Texan by Georgina Gentry
A Wanted Man by Susan Kay Law
Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught
The Widows Kiss by Jane Feather
The Windflower by Tom and Sharon Curtis
A Woman Scorned by Liz Carlyle

REGENCIES: JANE AUSTIN'S LEGACY

CLASSICS:
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
Minerva by Marion Chesney

MORE GREAT READS:
Deirdre and Don Juan by Jo Beverley
The Errant Earl by Amanda McCabe
The Famous Heroine by Mary Balogh
A Grand Design by Emma Jensen
Knave's Wager by Loretta Chase
Lord Will and Her Grace by Sophia Nash
Marry in Haste by Lynn Kerstan
Miss Westlake's Windfall by Barbara Metzger
Miss Whittier Makes a List by Carla Kelley
My Lady Gamester by Cara King
Moonlight and Mischief by Rhonda Woodward
The Nobody by Diane Farr
The Scandalous Widow by Evelyn Richardson
Seducing Mr.Heywood by Jo Manning
A Singular Lady by Megan Frampton
Utterly Devoted by Regina Scott
The Vampire Viscount by Karen Harbough

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCES: LOVE IN THE HERE AND NOW

CLASSICS:
The Color of Love by Sandra Kitt
It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
A Rose for Maggie by Kathleen Korbel
Sarah's Child by Linda Howard

MORE GREAT READS
Bet Me by Jennifer Cruise
Blame It on Chocolate by Jennifer Greene
Born in Fire by Nora Roberts
Charming Grace by Deborah Smith
A Crazy kind of Love by Maureen Child
Dreaming of You by Francis Ray
Good Girls Do by Cathie Linz
Hidden by Tara Taylor Quinn
Hot Dish by Connie Brockway
How to Trap a Tycoon by Elizabeth Bevarly
Jude's Law by Lori Foster
The Last Good Man by Kathleen Eagle
Love in Bloom's by Judith Arnold
Nerd in Shining Armor by Vicki Lewis Thompson
On Angel Wings by Roz Denny Fox
The Secret by Shirly Hailstock
Sweet Nothings by Catherine Anderson
Truly Madly Yours by Rachel Gibson
When you Dance with the Devil by Gwynne Forster

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE: KISS ME, KILL ME

CLASSICS
Emerlad by Phyllis Whitney
Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt
Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

MORE GREAT READS
After Midnight by Merline Lovelace
Amber Beach by Elizabeth Lowell
Angels Fall by Nora Roberts
Black Ice by Anne Stuart
The Cove by Catherine Coulter
Dark Desires by Eve Silver
Flirting with Danager by Suzanne Enoch
French Silk by Sandra Brown
Home Before Midnight by Virginia Kantra
Kiss and Tell by Cherry Adair
The Mistress of Trevelyn by Jennifer St.Giles
Mr.Perfect by Linda Howard
Nothing to Fear by Karen Rose
Picture me Dead by Heather Graham
Sharp Edges by Jayne Ann Krentz
Shatterd Silk by Barbara Michaels
The Slow Burn by Julie Garwood
The Ugly Duckling by Iris Johansen
The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann
Walking After Midnight by Karen Robards

PARANORMALS,FUTRISTICS,AND TIME-TRAVEL ROMANCES: VAMPIRES, WEREWOLVES AND E.T.'S, OH MY!

CLASSICS:
A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Sweet Starfire by Jayne Ann Krentz

MORE GREAT READS:
Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning
Bitten and Smitten by Michelle Rowen
Blue Moon by Lori Highland
Breath of Magic by Teresa Medeiros
The Bride Finder by Susan Carroll
Christmas Knight by Christina Skye
Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
Dark Prince by Christine Freehan
Date Me Baby, One More Time by Stephanie Rowe
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
I Dream of You by Judi McCoy
Imagine by Jill Barnett
Knight of a Trillion Stars by Dara Joy
Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Prince of Wolves by Susan Krinard
The Reluctant Miss Van Helsing by Minda Webber
The Smoke Thief by Shana Abe
Tiger Eyes by Marjorie M. Liu
The Very Thought of You by Lynn Kurland
You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister

Wow, I haven't read any of these! Not a genre I really dabble in.

I have read a lot of these also

Something tells me you may have read quite a few books, Cupcake/Michael. Do you think you'll get through reading all these from all the categories? What about with this category, recommend a stand out book to start with? Thanks for the recs, it's how I decide most of my books to read.

The Outlander series was outstanding.Good,
engrossing detailed story with plenty of character and plot development.

I love the Outlander series. I always heisitate to recoomend romances because people are picky about them. So have you read any romances and which ones did you like and then I can help

Outlander will have to be added to my list now as well, the ever-growing list!!

Nope, I haven't read any romances, unless you include a few Danielle Steel I've read and one Erica James novel - ha, and I call myself a reader! Having seen all these books I now know I shall have to diversify more.

Here are my favorite romances from the list:

The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen Woodwise
Saving Grace by Julie Garwood
Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught
Lord Will and Her Grace by Sophia Nash
Marry in Haste by Lynn Kerstan
Bet Me by Jennifer Cruise
Blame It on Chocolate by Jennifer Greene
Good Girls Do by Cathie Linz
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Black Ice by Anne Stuart
The Cove by Catherine Coulter
Mr.Perfect by Linda Howard
Picture me Dead by Heather Graham
Slow Burn by Julie Garwood
The Ugly Duckling by Iris Johansen
A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
Date Me Baby, One More Time by Stephanie Rowe

Great!! Thanks!! I shall have to make myself a brand new list including these and mystery novels/

before this book i was all about mystery, romance, chick lit and horror. I rarely read outside these generes. So this book has really helped me to branch out.

I have to say, I''m not one for romance at all, I even avoid them...but I read the Outlander by mistake and I loved it. It would be the perfect book for any person who's never read Romance.

I have read a TON on this list, especially the paranormal section as it is a personal favorite genre of mine. BUT I always recommend Outlander. To everyone. EVERYONE. It is probably my favorite series of all time (which is saying a lot given how much I read) I think it is a cheat to the book and series to label it a romance. I think it would be better to label it historical fiction. But it has a lot of romance. And suspense. Well, I could go on for hours about how great these books are. But here is the key fact - she is just a great author. Seriously. I think she could write a book about physics and manage to make it fascinating. In fact, I have talked about this book to tons of people (family, friends, book store employees, strangers, etc) and I have never met anyone that read the books that didn't LOVE them. Not just like them but love them. Not one person disliked them. So run to the library or book store and pick it up NOW!

I dont know about physics but she is a great author

I don't suspect I'll be reading much here. Not my deal.

Oh come on Acknud if I can read fantasy you can read Romance

I may try ...but what happens if my head explodes!?

I promise it wont.

Yikes I have a long long way to go on this list!!! :(

TG for Nora Roberts! Otherwise I would only have read one of these books. I have only read the two Nora books (written as Nora). Romance is definitely not my thing!

It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Bet Me by Jennifer Cruise
Born in Fire by Nora Roberts
Angels Fall by Nora Roberts
Nothing to Fear by Karen Rose

I enjoy a good romance novel!

Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt
Nince Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
The Cove by Catherine Coulter
Shatterd Silk by Barbara Michaels
The Ugly Duckling by Iris Johansen
Walking After Midnight by Karen Robards
A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Naked in Death mt J.D. Robb

well that is better than I thought but still I have a long long way to go...sigh :)

Roselynde by Roberta Gellis
Bet Me by Jennifer Cruise
Born in Fire by Nora Roberts
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Angels Fall by Nora Roberts
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
Naked in Death mt J.D. Robb
The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen Woodwise

If there is not already a discussion thread about any of the books you have read. Please feel free to start one