Writing Tips - The Rules

We all enjoy a good romance, but what does a good romantic story aspire to do? I'd like to think the rules are very liberal, but there are two I always keep in mind when putting pen to paper.
#1 Create likable characters
Characters are the heart and soul of any romance novel. The reader needs to fall in love with them as they're falling in love with each other.
If the heroine is rude or crabby to the hero (or even to her friends), she isn't very likable. The same for the hero. It's hard to understand the attraction if they're not "likable." They've got to embody certain traits – honesty, sincerity, protectiveness, kindness, and a willingness to help others. They've got to be "good" people at heart.
#2 HEA
Readers expect a story that's hopeful, honest, and uplifting. If a romance doesn't do that, it isn't a romance. A romance story should leave a reader believing in Happily Ever After (HEA) or at least offer hope for HEA. If it doesn't, it's a mainstream fiction.
Enjoy the Holidays!
Question: Authors: Do you have any "rules" you'd like to add? What "rules" work for you?Readers:  What do you like to find in your romance? Would you consider Nicholas Sparks a "romantic" author, women's fiction, or mainstream romance? 

Reference: On Writing Romance, by Leigh Michaels, F&W Publications, ISBN: 978-1-58297-6983. 2007.