Behold, the excitement! I am containing myself to one exclamation point (not including the title) and that was it. Please appreciate my restraint, here.
I have A Pile Of ARCs to give away of my October book, Everything I Know About Love, I Learned from Romance Novels, which so very, very many of you helped create.
From the depths of the box on my dining room table currently being fought over by my cats, I have 10 shiny copies to giveaway.
But that is Not All.
This book is all about the lessons we’ve learned from reading romance novels, and it includes stories from romance readers and authors. My goal with this book was to show that the romance community is filled with incredibly smart and thoughtful readers and writers, and to put to rest the tired idea that romances create unrealistic expectations of love, relationships and sex. Romances, as many of us know, are more often a road map of What To Do and What Not To Do in real life relationships.
So many people contributed, and so very many people went above and beyond to make suggestions and provide stories and lessons learned that this book really isn’t about the genre so much as it is about the women who read and write romance, and how much we have learned from our favorite books. Therefore just giving away the ARC isn’t really enough.
Here’s my plan. Leave a comment and please tell me the one romance novel you want to recommend above all others to someone who hasn’t tried the genre (yes, just one) (yes, I suck) and you are entered to win.
What can you win? Awesome stuff!
Ten winners will be picked at random and each winner will receive an ARC of Everything I Know About Love, I Learned From Romance Novels (Which I refer to as “EIKAL” because there is nothing I love like a REALLY LONG TITLE, BABY, YEAH!).
The winner will also receive one of the following titles from these authors who also appear in the book:
But wait, there is still more. I have 10 copies of a special Jennifer Crusie omnibus edition that contains both Bet Me and Welcome to Temptation in one book – and each winner will receive a copy of that book, too. Each of these authors, plus many many more, appear in the book, providing stories and advice or landing a spot on one of the recommended reading lists in the book.
There will be more chances to win, do not worry. I’m giving away 10 here, and a few on Goodreads and on Twitter. (Any possible giveaways on Facebook will have to be random like a semi-drunk fairy landing on the keyboard and highlighting someone’s comment by chance while I’m half-looking at the screen to stay in line with the Facebook Terms of Service. Then I have to contact the winners by semaphore with hot pink flags while facing the eastern skyline.)
Standard disclaimers apply: I’m not being compensated for this giveaway. Void where prohibited. Do not wear a pelisse in the rain. Stirrups are required, but boots are optional. We’ll sell you the whole seat but you’ll only need the edge. Stripes and plaid are rarely a positive fashion statement.
Comments will be open until noon on Friday, 20 May, and I will announce the winners then. Contest is open to international readers, and since my stats indicate no readers in Greenland, if someone enters from Greenland and wins I’ll send them extra stuff. Come on, Greenland!
Honesty time: I am enormously proud of this book, and humbled by the number of people who shared how much their romances mean to them, and how valuable romances have been in their lives. This book wouldn’t be what it is without the authors and readers who contributed, so I can’t send out the ARC by itself. It has to have company.
Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie
I would suggest A Proper Companion by Candice Hern. Her first book, it is charming and witty, and all around an excellent read. Congratulations on your book!
Just one…you’re right, you suck :P. Hmmm…
I would recommend Linda Howard’s “After the Night.” I’m a GRIT fair and true and this story is just classic…classic and HAWT!
That’s a tough one, but I’d have to go back to one of my forever favorites – Nora Roberts and her Three Sisters Trilogy. It was the first series that I read by Nora and once I read ‘Dance Upon the Air’, I was hooked and gobbled up the other two books within days. So … start at the very beginning! ‘Dance Upon the Air’. 🙂
The Very Virile Viking
That book was just too much fun to not pass on!
Because I can’t quite pry my librarian hat off, I’m going to say Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Personally although I liked it, it doesn’t make my top five, but the librarian hat is telling me that it’s got appeal for fantasy and historical fiction fans, and since I don’t know what this hypothetical non-romance reader normally reads, I want to pick something with broad appeal for the best odds that it will demonstrate there’s something in the genre for them.
The librarian hat also wants me to emphasize that my answer might change depending on whom the recommendation was for.
Even though I’ve read it several times, I’ve been listening to SEP’s Dream a Little Dream, so I’ve got to recommend that one. I think it’s one of her best. Funny, poignant and sexy.
My recommendation would be “Outlander”, too. That book was just so amazing! Historical, time-traveling romance – what else do you need? 🙂
Congrats on the new book, Sarah! And thanks to opening the comp up to those of us not in the US.
If I had to pick just one book, it would have to be: “And Then He Kissed Her” by Laura Lee Guhrke.
I was gonna go with BET ME by Jennifer Crusie (because it is full of awesome as many people before me have mentioned), but because many people have already mentioned it, I’m going to suggest my new favorite crack, DRAGON BOUND by Thea Harrison.
spamword: next69 …okay!
I can’t choooose. But if I am forced to, it would HAVE to be a Heyer. The Corinthian, probably, as it is quite a nice, light one, but is still hilarious and witty. It’s one of my favourites – who doesn’t like a heroine who pretends to be a rake seducing young ladies?
Congratulations on your book, by the way!
I’m a sucker for history in my romances & one of my all-time favorite authors is the late Celeste DeBlasis. My favorite is Tiger’s Woman, but that book isn’t for everyone due to content. Her Swan trilogy is fantastic, but that’s three really meaty good books.
So, my recommendation is Proud Breed. A saga with the history of California statehood. Strong characters & a diverse & inclusive cast with good subplots, too. Worth every page.
Does The Other Boleyn Girl count as romance? I have some catching up to do in the romance reads department. Too many YAs. 🙂
Hmm. Just because I’m in the middle of (re)reading a book in the In Death series (yeah so I have short term memory), I am going to recommend Naked In Death. It’s so good that the series is still going strong at 35+ books. And I still can’t get enough of Roarke. And a good list of supporting characters. What more would you need for a world you can revisit anytime?
Oh, hell. If just one, I’ll give a historical one since that’s my favorite genre. Julia Quinn’s How to Marry a Marquis. It had laugh out loud goodness an secondary characters who nearly stole the show!
Lorelei James Rough Riders.
Have to be Colters’ Woman by Maya Banks. I remember reading and thinking, “WHAT???? I could have THREE hot guys???? HOT DAMN!!!” Sigh… yep… I’m a sucker for menage now… 😀
So excited for this book! Congratulations!!
I would recommend Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale. It’s beautifully written and a gorgeous story. Not your typical romance novel but seems to embody the genre completely. Makes me swoon every time. And that’s the sign of a great romance 🙂 Plus, Jervaulx is insanely (no pun) sexy and I loved his struggle even though it broke my heart.
Okay, this one might be weird, but if I had to pick one romance to introduce a reader to the genre, I’d pick Mackenzie’s Mountain by Linda Howard.
It’s not a paranormal or an historical. It’s not overly angsty but it has drama. It walks the line between old skool and modern, with an alpha hero who isn’t a big fat jerk and a heroine who is plain but not a doormat. There’s a kid but he’s not gratuitous or too precious for words. Throw in some horses and what more could you ask for? I think it personifies the spirit of the romance genre perfectly – love conquers all.
Congrats on the book, Sarah. Whether or not I win, I’ll be reading it when it comes out later this year.
Outlander by Diana Gabladon.
Ooh, exciting!
The hard thing is picking just *one* romance to recommend. Especially without knowing who I was recommending it to. I have successfully got my husband and at least one straight male friend to read Georgette Heyer, Julia Quinn and I think also Victoria Alexander – and have even been asked to provide more.
But right at the moment, I’d probably go with Eloisa James’ Desperate Duchesses, because it’s such a lovely, enjoyable, easy book with so many charming characters, and the hero is so much the antithesis of every Old Skool hero – even the chess is interesting. Though Soulless by Gail Carriger would also be an excellent choice, especially if I was trying to get a real non-romance reader to give it a try.
Heh, the security word is ‘decision99’ – believe me, I have a lot more than 99 romance novels to decide between!
My fave is Kleypas’ Devil in Winter but I don’t necessarily think that’d be the best one to introduce a person to the genre. So I’ll go with the author who got me hooked on romance, Julia Quinn and The Duke and I because I love the Bridgerton family and always have to start a series with Book One.
Congrats on your book!
I’d recommend Saving Grace by Julie Garwood to someone new to the genre, I absolutely loved that book and read it numerous times.
Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn and I guess it’s either a regency or historical romance but honestly I don’t even notice that I just noticed that the characters came to life and made me laugh and cry and just made me happy to be a reader of romance 🙂
Wild Women, by Jennifer Cruisie – 2 women who turn their lives around, 2 heroes, and sex that breaks a couch
I’d say SBTB’s favourite recommendation: Lord of Scoundrels! This book made me fall in love with the romance genre all over again after being disillusioned with it for years 🙂
Home at Last by Anna Schmidt — not because it’s the best romance I’ve ever read, but because it’s a sweet story that doesn’t necessarily follow romance stereotypes.
Only one, only one……Yep, that does suck! Well, besides many of the J. Crusie and J. Quinn and L. Chase listed above, I’m going with “Crocodile on the Sandbank” by Elizabeth Peters. Yes, it is mystery, too, but Emerson and Peabody are one of the longest lasting, most romantic couples out there!
I gave this a lot of thought (well, a lot as in, the time it took me to go to the bathroom by myself without an entourage), and I’ve decided Aliyah is right. I would recommend a different book depending on the person.
But, in all likelihood, if I was trying to lure someone in, I’d go with Kinsale first. Flowers from the Storm is NOT my favorite romance novel of all time. Not even in the top ten, because it is so intense. It’s simply not a re-read for me. But, I think it has a fabulous story and the classic Kinsale prose, so that would be my likely recommendation.
But, if I was certain a friend could handle it, I’d totally go for Judith Ivory’s Untie My Heart, instead.
Just one, huh? Then Julia James’ Practice Makes Perfect. I’ve actually Kindle-gifted it a few times now. It’s definitely a good introduction to the awesome writing to be found in romance novels.
Sorry – that was Fast Women by Jennifer Cruisie – haven’t had my morning tea yet
I always recommend Christina Dodd, and since One Scandalous Evening is my favorite, let’s go with that.
I’m going to have to say Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard.
Congratulations on the new book. Trying to come up with just one book was very hard. But I think Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie. She writes the funniest romance books, they are the best to re-read. I have saved all of hers over the years and when I want funny I will read it again.
Like so many had said before me; very hard to choose only one out of the many fantastic books out there. And it is also somewhat dependent on the person it is meant for.
Having said that, I could recommend Like No Other Lover by Julie Anne Long to anyone, really. It has it all: historical setting, intense and very believable obstacles, characters with depth, emotional pull and one hilarious scene that had me crying with laughter. Can’t go wrong with that one!
Very cool. Congrats.
My one book would have to be Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. (I would recommend everything by her, but since she writes series I thought this would be the logical place to start).
Yay! This is going to kill my TBR pile all over again!
For those asking about the Kindle option: the book will be published digitally for sure, but I am not sure when the digital pre-orders will be available. As soon as I know I’ll update. Thank you and I am sorry!
My favorite is Granny Dan by Danielle Steel but then it sounds so “oh of course Danielle Steel” but I don’t think I’d recommend any of her other books because they all sorta turn out the same but this particular one I just love and think is just such a sweet love story.
Congrats on the book!!!
I think Imagree with other that it depends on the person but I would say; C.L.Wilson’s Lord Of The Fading Lands, it breathes the pure essence of romance with fantastic characters and a riviting plot.
I have lost track of how many times I have recommended Outlander.