After the signing at Turn the Page Bookstore, where the people are awesome and the diet Pepsi is DAMN cold, I asked each author to sign a book of their choice for a giveaway on this here hot pink page of Bitchery madness. I carried that giant pile to the cash register and managed not to drop any, then I carefully packed them in the trunk of the car and drove them home, where they are now hidden in the china cabinet of my house, where toddlers and cats fear to tread. Seriously, signed books? OMG. SO precious.
I mentioned on Twitter that I’d be giving away the Hella Pile Sequestered in My China Cabinet, and it’s time to rock and roll. Thanks to @YoungLibrarian on Twitter, I have a quest for you folks who would like this Hella Pile of Sequestered Books. You know the Inn Boonsboro has rooms named for famous romantic couples, right? Your task, should you like to win the pile of books, is to come up with an additional room for the Inn. It has to be a romantic couple, even one from a romance novel you adore, and it has to be a couple that has a happy ending. No tragic deaths or wasting away from a massive head cold or some shit like that. Happy endings, yo. Extra awesome points for those who mention the decor or decorating theme of the room based on the couple they choose. Could be a color scheme or a piece of furniture, but get funky, folks.
You have 24 hours starting now, so leave your room/couple suggestions and any decorating ideas in the comments. Winner will be selected from the comments and will receive the following pile of signed books – every one of which is new and signed by the author. So get busy with your romantic inclinations.
ETA: Nora Roberts has also added to the pile of signed books! She’s going to send me a signed Advanced Reader Copy of her upcoming July hardcover, Black Hills, which features a childhood-friends-to-lovers relationship (paging Jane, party of one, your favorite trope is ready) between a wildlife biologist in South Dakota and a New York City investigator who moves to the Black Hills. This brings the total book count to fifteen – yay!
The Eve and Roarke Room.
Heh – I got distracted thinking how funny an Anita Blake room would be – Anita and Jean Claude and Richard and Micah and…. and…. and…. and…
@Rebyj MWAH. Right back atcha.
You guys are amazing. This is going to be difficult to judge. Holy crap.
Wow. So much fun. And I would like to add even more love for both “An Old Fashioned Girl” and “Bet Me”.
My suggestion?
The Nick and Nora Charles room. Filled with retro-noir furnishings, bookcases full of mysteries to read, and a well-stocked liquor cabinet hidden behind one of the bookcases. (they were originally written during Prohibition). Gramophone, awesome clothes, and fantastic hats included.
Also, it comes with “Asta” a dog you get to borrow for your stay.
Aw, man, I should have checked, but they already have a Nick and Nora one. Super cool.
Second choice?
A Tommy and Tuppence room. Also filled with bookcases full of mysteries, a well-stocked (but not hidden) liquor cabinet, and some fantastic disguises. Always looked after by a woman whose maiden name is “Evans” and occasionally receives mysterious calls from MI5.
Ok, I will say Talon & Sunshine since I just finished their book. Wow their room could go a few different way. You could go with the bayou outdoorsy feeling and have a cabin sort of look. Art deco with vibrant colors and beautiful art pieces everywhere. High techy with black furniture & high tech modern conveniences. What ever the choice it would have to have some pink in it for Sunshine. lol
I’m probably the only one in the world that thinks this is a love story, but I wanna stay in the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike room. It could be decorated in shades of dark. With a comforter of sweatshirt material. Sigh
Hmm. Toss up between Jo March and Professor Bhaer and Emma and Knightley.
I think I’ll have to go with Jo and the Professor. I know everyone loves Laurie but even at a young age I always thought Laurie was lame and I far preferred the older Professor (beginnings of a father figure kink of angsty hotness (tm not me)? Who knows) so I quite rejoiced when Jo and the Professor got married (hmm, I need to reread Little Women).
The room I imagine would have a cherry wood bed with matching armoire and vanity table set. There would be an overstuffed armchair in the corner with a matching ottoman with dark green and tan striped upholstery. The curtains would be green to match the chair and the covers on the bed. There would be a wall covered in bookshelves, obviously and a writing desk as well (to save space one could always substitute a lap desk). And just for kicks perhaps a stand in the corner with an old-fashioned wash basin on it. You could even modernize and make it a functioning sink.
Han Solo and Princess Leia
The theme of the room could be space. Stars on the ceiling, the feeling of going through hyper space on the walls. The window could have the Millenium Falcon window look. The bed could be one of those space age beds.
OK, I have to go wake my kids up, and I want to think of my own idea, but before I do, and as I wipe up the milk I just spewed with the mention of Big Blue… This room would have to have some sort of alcove or window seat, or, I don’t know how you do it, but it MUST have a place where you can you can sit and with your S.O. and at the right time stretch up and accidently bump the lights and sirens in the police cruiser. Please, lights and sirens, please! (maybe just a lights option for us shy girls…)
Let’s see…
I’d go for a Sam and Jaine room from Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard. It would be decorated in deep candy-apple red walls. Pictures of large trucks and speedy cards would decorate the walls. The huge bed would be in the shape of a vintage Mustang.
Then there’s…
The Peabody and McNab room. Decorated in the garish colours of Ian’s clothing with a state-of-the-are computer system mixed with the earthiness of Delia’s free-ager upbringing: goddess statues, mother earth paintings, etc.
Next would have to be…
Mackenzie and Violet from Joey W. Hill’s Natural Law. This room comes complete with extra large bed, discreet St. Andrew’s Cross and a leather-covered bench for all your spanking needs. Want a little silence during sessions? We have ball gags in all sizes! Exhibitionist? One wall is completely glass so on-lookers may enjoy your flogging technique.
Delaney and Nick from There Goes the Bride. It would be decorated in a Tuscan theme (like Nick convinced Delaney to use in his grandmother’s house) all colorful and no white walls. It would have a cd player in the room with The Cars CD in it so you could hear “Shake it Up” (read the book to understand if you haven’t) 🙂
How awesome it is that the Inn BoonsBoro has the Nick and Nora Charles room? Props to the Inn.
My nomination: Odysseus and Penelope from ‘The Odyssey’ by Homer. Considering what they went through, they truly deserve a room of their own to enjoy their HEA. The colours of the room would be white (dominant), blue, green and occasional gold. Some Greek-style vases, frames, and a lot of white materials.
I’m not that keen on the film, but there’s no denying that Johnny & Baby from ‘Dirty Dancing’ are one of iconic romantic couples of the 1980s. (Get well soon, Patrick Swayne!) The room could be lightly decorated with some early 1960s-era pieces, similar to a hotel room in the film.
I’d love to see a Bridget & Mark (Jones & Darcy, respectively) room. The room & furniture would be slick and sober (just like Mark) but there would be clutter on all available surfaces and enough floor space for clothes to be discarded as will (lust?) dictates it (in a very Bridget manner).
The Beatrice and Benedick room for those kiss and make up kinds of couples. Filled with deep color velvets, sturdy dark wood furniture, and paintings of rustic italian landscapes. This Much Ado About Nothing inspired bedroom will have even the pickiest couple tossling the sheets in sweet make up sex.
Antony and Cleopatra (from the Shakespeare, not the real life!):
A wooden platform bed with gauze canopy, jewel-toned walls, hardwood floors w/a simple Persian rug, floor length flowing curtains, trinket boxes & woven baskets for storage. 🙂
Johnny Cash and June Carter – Chic rustic with distressed wood (oak finish), stylish exotic animal print, and buttery leather accents.
Odysseus and Penelope – wooden canopy bed with white diaphanous curtains, delicate framed mirrors to give the space an airy feel. Perhaps some white marble, and lots of clean lines.
Rhett and Scarlet – lots of antiquated brass-and-cherrywood furnishing, rich gem-tone velvet, and lush patterned linens.
I have to go with the Robert and Elizabeth Browning Room
I was thinking of the Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love Room – it could be all trashed and have wall to wall speakers – and for those of you thinking it wasn’t a HEA – it certainly was for Kurt – he got away from Courtney. Then again the same decor could be applied to a Sid and Nancy Room – but that would have to have strange medical paraphernalia around that might not go over well with the health inspectors.
So my choice would have to be Robert and Elizabeth Browning Room – poetry, an overbearing father, overcoming the obstacles – what a romance.
Decor – subdued Victorian furnishings with a fainting couch in one corner that is set up as a library filled with books of poetry. Fireplace is not an option.
Anna and Rupert from Eva Ibbotson’s The Secret Countess/Countess Below Stairs
Decorwise, inter-war stately home. Light blue silk wallpaper, antique mirrors, bowls full of roses and furniture that has stood the test of time. Dogs not only allowed but mandatory for that true English aristocracy experience and a large portion of the room to be a dancefloor to allow you to dance the night away to the strains of your gramaphone records.
No actual running water (think slightly run down stately home) but a bell pull to summon a maid to lug in water for your bath or dispose of the contents of the chamber pot.
A large bookcase of treatises on how to clean silver correctly and get a proper shine in your cut crystal. Absolutely no tomes on eugenics.
Devil and Honoria Cynster.
You wouldn’t even need to make room in the inn! You just turn an outbuiling into a woodsman shack, surround it with trees, give it two chairs and a bed, with bonus points for having a special effects team rig up a system that makes it “storm” every night!
Oh boy do I want that pile of books. How about a Harry Potter and Ginny room. Is that weird?
The Avon & Leonie room for Georgette Heyer’s These Old Shades.
An eighteenth century four poster bed and sumptuously over the top French furnishings. Including of course extra large wardrobes for a variety of costumes should any guests fancy a little cross-dressing.
Not to mention his & hers (or his & his) sinks in the bathroom.
It would be the Deana and Tristan suite. Totally decorated in the styles of the 1960’s and on the walls would be framed Beatles records! There would be an old style radio (hidden CD player) on a writing desk in the corner that had the complete Beatles collection beside it.
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/one-enchanted-summer-p-867.html
While I love the Cal and Min from Bet Me, I’m gonna have to support my favorite Jennifer Crusie couple and say Sophie and Phineus from Welcome to Temptation.
The room would have to have the bed that Davy sends as a wedding gift and be stocked with Dove Bars and a Pool table. And maybe a few video cameras 🙂
Right, I want to change my Supes/Lois room. I would decorate it in the Superman colours – red and blue. Very bold. The walls would be decorated with iconic images of the couple from the comics and movies. From the tv series, too. It would be great if you could get some Lois Lane articles about Superman from the movies/shows and display them. The room would be a true celebration of one of the most romantic couples in comics, spanning over 70 years. Clois rules!
I am going to say Darlene and Jack Dawson from A Matter Among Men by Destiny Blaine. The room could be done in Cowboy accents and have a very rustic look.
I think Zarek and Astrid from Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dance with the Devil would make a great addition to the Inn. Zarek was born a slave and never learned to read or write, and Astrid saved his soul from loneliness. Disfigured and banished, Zarek trusted no one, and no one trusted him. Astrid, rendered blind by the gods, was sent to judge him. She wasn’t able to see him with her eyes, but her heart saw the man he was underneath the hurt and betrayal.
The room would focus on a beautiful hand carved bed, covered in luxuriant pillows in blue and green jewel tones. The warm hardwood floors would have rugs scattered throughout, and would need a few carved figurines for Astrid’s hands explore. It would need a large writing desk to accommodate Zarek’s desire to learn to read and write, and a bookshelf filled with the classics for him to look forward to.
A large couch would hold lovers for hours of cuddling up together by the fireplace and reading together. The walls would be a soft cream to showcase the wood furniture and brilliants blues and greens, and artwork would be provided by local artists. Zarek anonymously gives to charities and carves toys for children, so having local artists provide the artwork would be perfect for his suite.
HEA couples only? To bad, I guess I have to scratch my ideas for a “King Kong and the White Woman” room.
My contribution would be a Han Solo & Leia Organa room, they are celebrated as the happy version of the ‘Gone with the Wind’ couple. As for the decor, well it doesn’t have to look like a Hutt dwelling but wouldn’t it be all kinds of awesome if it did?
What about a Yelena and Valek room from Maria Snyder’s series. I see a room filled with books, maps, sinister killing objects but magical items as well.
I would go with Almanzo and Laura Ingalls Wilder.
I’m not very good with the whole decor ideas, but the room could be made to look like a cabin. Instead of lights there would be candles. The bathroom could look like an outhouse and there could be a big washtub for a bath.
Ok…definitely not a romantic room, but I would do anything to win some books!
How about a room named for Alex and Daisy from Kiss An Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips? It could have a circus theme. The room could be made up to look like the inside of a circus tent. It could include paintings on the walls to look like all the animals featured in the book, such as Tater and Sinjin. I can also picture a cage in the room with a robotic tiger inside. There could be a whip hanging on the wall and maybe a tightrope.
Maybe a Wrath and Beth BDB room. All black satin bedding, a bowl of peaches and a STURDY bed frame of large proportions. Throwing stars as decorative accents and a long black leather couch for cuddling.
**my word is trial69. Uhm okay, if you insist, I will try it.
Oh! I know! A little old school, perhaps – but the Alex and Rane Falconer room from the Swan trilogy! I’d totally stay in that one. And by that, I mean I’d move in and be impossible to remove.
The overall theme naturally, would have to be ships, swans and horses. With a bit of Southern or English charm to it. So I’m thinking gigantic wooden bed with a carved scene of Wild Swan at the top, and the horses running at the bottom. Perhaps a painting of the Liza Gwen up on the wall for Rane’s ship.
As I said, it’d be a bit old-timey. So maybe a clawed-foot bathtub in the bathroom, phone designed to look old, maybe like the sort that went up on the wall – probably a fully functioning modern phone hidden in there though. Safety and ease and all that. And there would absolutely have to be something that would be in the shape of swans that when put together, could interlock to form a heart – I’m thinking bookends or vases.
It would be a fairly simple room other than that, refreshing spring colors offset with dark woods. Very little metal or plastic in the room, it should have an airy feel to it that encourages staying in bed and snuggling.
Sebastian and Kaderin from Kresley Cole’s “No Rest for the Wicked.”
Since someone beat me to Beatrice and Benedick (curse you, Melissa S.!), I’m going to go with John and Abigail Adams. Theirs was a marriage of equals during a time when that was nearly impossible.
The decor would be Colonial American with a large, curtained bed to shut out the rest of the world. A copy of The Letters of John and Abigail Adams should certainly rest on the bedside table (absolutely worth reading, fascinating and sweet). Oh, and a nice oak desk stocked with parchment, quills, and ink should you be inspired by this awesome couple.
One of my favorite romantic comedies is You’re Got Mail and a Joe Fox /Kathleen Kelly room would have all the charms of Manhattan( a small cafe section by the window,which would be trimmed with twinkle lights),plus tons of great books to read.
Since Kathleen sold children’s books,a few illustrations from kid friendly classics could be framed as art for the walls and with Joe being a dog lover,a cozy green pillow in the right spot would be great. Also, fresh daisies are a must,due to their being the friendliest flower.
how about a jamie/claire themed room [from the ‘outlander series by diana gabaldon]?
there could be tartan plaids everywhere and scottish music playing…
just an idea. 🙂
here are a couple.
The Peter Pan and Wendy room: canopy bed with leaves and such, light green room, pirate treasure maps on the walls, and the ceiling is shimmery with pixie dust. and maybe an “Indian Brave’ to help out in the tub 😉 heehee.
The Baucis and Philemon room: (cupid and psyche were taken and ovid is not the happiest text). marble floors and columns in the corners, pretty potted trees (not oaks though :S) incense, and a large goose feast.
The Jessie and Cian room (from Karen Marie Moning’s Spell of the Highlander): a very large mirror near the bed, which is sumptuous and large and covered with plaids. pretty dark wood furniture, better than airplane food, and a wardrobe full of tight jeans for Cian to try on 😉
The Clay and Elena room: (though not strictly romance, kelley armstrong dishes up some sexy characters). Fur rugs, fireplace, huge fridge filled with meat and cheeses and bread, a punching bag in the corner, and french doors leading out on a private acre spread of land. SPOILERSPOILER: and daycare service. SPOILERSPOILER
The Paul and Victoria room: I thought movies would count, so I added the couple from A Walk in the Clouds. large bed with antique white lace bedsheets, several bottles of wine, and carpet on the floor. also, a hotline to the jewelry store so Paul can get Victoria a real ring when he decides to marry her.
I think that’s it, can I add later? aww this is fun.
Rats. Holly Z beat me to Odysseus and Penelope. Bah.
Okay, fine.
Edward VIII (Prince Edward/Duke of Windsor) and Wallis Simpson
Romantic Deco furnishings, opulent finishes, flowing fabrics, a distinctly continental and dramatic flair.
What’s more romantic than a King who gives up his throne for love?
My pick would be Chloe and Dageus of Dark Highlander by Karen Marie Moning. There would be a gigantic bed equipped with scarfs of the softest silk on the bedposts. The setting and decorations would tell the story of the Scottish hills and the magic that can be found there. The lighting would be soft candlelight and there would also be screened off in the corner, a huge claw foot bath built to hold at least two to be filled with the warmest scented water, lilac or heather I think. Add various oils and lotions for massaging the aches and pains of pleasure away. Those MacKeltars boys are huge and magically gifted.
Robin and Maid Marian, although whether that has a happy ending depends on which version you read, I guess. Obvious woodsy and possibly medieval theme. Maybe a bed with a gauze canopy with leaves interspersed or something (what? I’m secretly still a ten-year-old girl). Maybe a golden arrow on the wall. Most of the decor should be naturey but the furniture would have a more medieval style.