Love

There are many types of love:
Love of your;

Children
Pets
Home
Your parents
Friends
Spouse
Career

And so on.

Yeah but some of those example don't involve a romantic relationship... or at least, they -shouldn't- :U (romantic relationship with pets lol).

From opinion, I don't think there is a difference. It's just alternative rhetoric strategies to add flavor to writing. It's just that overtime, "in love" is so commonly seen on xanga, myspace, friendster, livejournal and other teenage fads to the point that it's became cliche.

Because in a romantic relationship, is there much difference if you were tell tell your partner that you love them versus you're in love with them? I'd say no unless someone can give me reason not to.

As long as the act of cherishing, appreciating, etc. one another in a romantic relationship is there, there isn't much difference in saying the two.

edit: wow. i was 2nd post and tended to other things for 20 minutes then Quantact ninja'd me and stole what i was gonna say ;~;