2: Cursed or Blessed? by Reluctant_Sir OK, it's not a 10, it's a little on the edge ...but damnit, it's an amusing little tale. It dragged me in so far that I had to follow to the end ...and then I had to read it again!
3: Dealing With Jessie by Jedd Clampett A fantastic piece of character-driven introspection, looking into the implosion of a marriage ...and what happens after. Deals really well and very realistically with serious mental health issues.
4: Forever in My Heart by Jedd Clampett I loathed Madeline. Stuck up, self-important, arrogant snob. Colton irritated the hell out of me, wallowing in his own misery.
They grew on me, and dammed if this didn't turn into a fantastic story.
5: Fringe Benefits by Michael Lindgren Possibly the best damn love story on this site. Lindgren is a genius to write a story with this depth - or maybe I'm just caught in it because they're my age & I've got similar experiences.
Either way, you should treat yourself to this absolute delight of a story.
6: Garlic Salt? by Jay Cantrell ooof. Jay writes some of the best character-driven stories I've seen here. This one? This is a fantastic look at two adults who just can't be together anymore.
7: A Little White Lie by Cat5 Cats posted a few stories in 2005, and has started again after a 15 year gap. Read their work, but start here.
This is a sweet love story and very well told.
8: PurpleProse1020 by carney22 A pity that we don't have more work from this author. This is a fantastic story. Yeah, our protagonist is a bit of a nebbish, and his lady has to drag him along, but there's something very right about this 'lonely nerd finds his mate' story!
9: Savior by Just Plain Bob Possibly JPB's best story ...and I say that as an acknowledged romantic sap.
10: Under the Bed by Vulgar Argot An amazing fantasy. This is the kind of story that other writers read, and shake their heads in despair for their own talents. This is supremely well told.