It's Valentine's Day! There's red and chocolate everywhere, and there will be a lot of dining out and champagne and general fuzziness. Oh – and some media attention toward the romance novel since it's an annual thing, asking romance authors what the best date nights are and how to woo the unwilling maiden after you've taken over her father's business in an act of cold blooded corporate revenge.
I figure, let's give gifts! I am giving away two $50 gift cards to the bookstore of the winner's choice! All you have to do: tell me which romance novel you think would make a great gift, and for whom. Maybe it's the book that has the most wide and giddy appeal to the most readers you know. Maybe it's the book you think is one of the best kept secrets of romance publishing. Maybe it's just your favorite for a whole pile of reasons. Either way: name the book you think would make a marvelous gift in the comments, and you might receive the gift card that will enable the purchase of much of the romances! To the yay!
I will select two winners at random, and they will receive $50 to spend at the bookstore of their choosing.
Standard disclaimers apply: I am not being compensated for this giveaway. Your mileage may vary. Turn inside out before washing. Void where prohibited. Must be wearing a cowboy hat and be 18 years of age or older to win. Stop clubbing, baby seals.
You've got 24 hours, so let's start suggesting the perfect giftable romances!
ETA: We have winners! Thanks to the random integer generator, our winners are #3, Anna, and #122, Kirsten. Ladies, please contact me at sarahATsmartbitchestrashybooks.com to claim your gift cards. Thank you to everyone who entered – my books to recommend list is now miles long!
Loose Ends, by Tara Janzen – the final book in her Steel Street series, would make a wonderful gift – its got everything, for everyone!; fast cars, taking down rogue CIA agents who started up an evil chemical testing facility to transform regular soldiers into unbeatable wariers, a group of men/elite ops wariers (and their wives, as added throughout the series) who are determined to put a stop to the evil-do-ers and most importantly, get back one of their own who was captured by said evil-do-ers and assumed dead for years, and of course, and unforgettable romance between the heroine and her hero – the guy who was captured, tortured, and had his memory erased, but although his brain can’t remember their time together…his body sure remembers something….Great ending to an amazing series – which I HIGHLY recommend, but stand alone also a fabulous book.
My sister doesn’t read romance novels and thinks they are trashy. So, when I saw a really beautiful edition of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice I bought it for her and would do the same for anyone else who doesn’t read romance and/or thinks it’s trashy. Because this way I can give an awesome book that is also a romance but there is a good chance that they will read it because a) it’s a classic so b) there is nothing trashy about it and c) it’s a sweet romance, so none of that porn 😉
My all time favorite romance book is Dream a Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I would give it to anyone I knew who complained about not enjoying any books recently. Dream a Little Dream is the perfect romance novel to get you excited about reading again, as well as touch your heart.
I’d give just about anything by Julia Quinn, but if I’ve got to pick one: What Happens in London. I like my romance novels on the lighthearted side, and you can’t beat JQ’s dialogue.
I’d give Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier to my mother because it is full of magic, celtic “history,” a sweet love story, and it’s based on a fairy tale! The writing is wonderful, and Marillier really makes you feel the emotions of the characters. It’s a wonderful book, and I’ve read it dozens of times.
“Bet Me” by Jennifer Crusie truly worked on this close friend of mine. She had never liked any of the romance novels she’d read before, and has been kind of wary of the genre, but she totally fell in love with Min Dobbs! So now I think I might let her try “Welcome to Temptation” next.
I like to give Outlander by Diana Gabaldon A) because I just discovered the series finally last year and am now obsessed and B) it makes a fantastic intro for people into the world of historical epic romance.
I’m with some of the other commentors – I’d give out Lord of Scoundrels everytime. Sharing that book that first made my heart sing with the love of romance books is a no-brainer to share with the people I love.
I started with “The Duke and I” by Julia Quinn, so I think it’s the perfect first romance novel. Light, fun and very, very sweet. A great gift for anyone.
I would recommend to a teenager any one of the Avon Teen Romances from a few years ago. My favorites were the Meg Cabot ones because they were light and fluffy.
I would give The Thorn and the Blossom which is a unique-looking literary love story that tells the story from her perspective on one side and from his on the other.
Meljean Brook’s Demon Angel because nothing tells a girl you love her quite like killing her.
Lesbian romance novel ahoy!
I would give Colette Moody’s Parties in Congress to pretty much anyone. Even people who don’t traditionally read F/F.
It’s very snarky and funny, and basically made of awesome. (And no awkward words like “nubbin” or “button” used in the sex scenes – score!) It was kind of my default holiday gift this year, no lie. Well, that and Hilary Jordan’s When She Woke, which is not a romance novel, but is great – like The Handmaid’s Tale and The Scarlet Letter had a baby. No lie.
I would give Linda Howard’s Mr Perfect to anyone on the cusp of slipping from thriller to romance, and The Guernsey Potato Peel Pie and Literary Society to any romance sceptic – and watch them fall in love with that lovely little book….Yep I’ve already done that a few times (Bwah -ha-ha )
I would give Jennifer Crusie’s BET ME to anyone who hadn’t read any romance novels before, because it’s been such a good gateway read for lots of my friends who are NOW romance fans, after getting sucked in through that one!
I’d give Demons at Deadnight by A.E. Kirk. I read it recently, it was so funny and action packed and I suspect since it is self published most people I’d give it to have never heard of it. It has a wonderful slow building lust to love (well almost, it is a series after all…I think!) story along with a k-a heroine and the luscious Hex Boys!
But I WANT to know where she is ….I loved her books !
I’d give any Julie James novel away. They’re funny, sexy with a bit of suspense. Something for everyone.
I’m giving a friend a trio of Kristan Higgins books (Catch of the Day, Just One of the Guys, and All I Ever Wanted) for her birthday this weekend—keep it a secret until then! She’s hesitant about romances but she reads any books that include dogs (even the sad books!), and I know she’ll appreciate the comedy, so I think she’ll really enjoy these.
Definitely Unveiled, and to anyone, because it is The Perfect Romance: it has good relationship building first-and-foremost, but also has a good story as context, it gets past an (understandable, for once) deception without melodrama for melodrama’s sake, has good pacing and built-in tension that resolves with a very satisfying “pay-off,” the characters act and feel realistically and their world feels realistic (neither romanticized nor dark), and the reason for conflict and keeping the couple apart doesn’t feel contrived. Oh, and doesn’t lack sex. 🙂
It also doesn’t hurt that it happens to include a brothers dynamic that is one of my kinks—er, fascinates me (think Rob Thurman’s Leandros series, Supernatural, Fullmetal Alchemist).
Now where’s my cowboy hat
Mary Stewart’s The Ivy Tree, one of the first romances I read. Oh, the angst, the yearning, messages left by the lovers in an old tree! It’s Jane Eyre with fewer words and a 1960-ish setting.
I would say The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt or Lover Revealed by JR Ward.
“Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand”, by Helen Simonson. There are so many wonderful heartfelt observations about love and loneliness and acceptance. And every kind of love: paternal, fraternal, platonic, sentimental, romantic. This was a wonderful read that I would gladly share with everyone.
I agree with Welcome to Temptation… but for people who like YA adventure/romance-ish novels, I *loved* Graceling by Kristin Cashore.
I’ve already had to buy two or three copies of “Midnight Angel” by Lisa Kleypas because I give that out to doubters of romance, and somehow never get it back. It’s a perfect one to pass on to people who secretly like swoony romance with their history, but pretend they don’t. For my friends with less historical and more comedic leanings, I’d go with Victoria Dahl – “Start Me Up” is super funny – Jennifer Crusie, or Susan Elizabeth Phillips (“Heaven, Texas” being one of my favorites!).
Just one book? I don’t think I can narrow it down… Jennifer Crusie’s Bet Me for anyone who enjoys “chick lit” or spunky heroines, Joanna Bourne’s Spymaster’s Lady for historical action/adventure fans, Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels for just about anyone at all, and Laura London’s The Windflower for those who don’t mind a healthy bit of adorable ridiculousness in their storytelling. =D
I have some friends who don’t read romance and when they say that I always think someday you’ll read Julia Quinn, because they have a big family that’s Bridgetonish. So I would give them the complete set of Bridgerton books.
Everyone I would give either Sea Change by Darlene Marshall or Agnes and the Hitman.
Oh man, this thread is dangerous… so many delectable books to check out! I’d second (third? fourth?) the recommendations for The Spymaster’s Lady, which had some of the most fantastic writing I’ve come across, and Courtney Milan’s “Un-” books. I’d add Mr. Impossible, because it has a fantastic brainy heroine and a hero who appreciates that she’s the smarter one on the team.
I would definitely give Unveiled by Courtney Milan because it is my favorite Romance to date. I know it’s a great pick for fans of Historical Romance and excellent writing, but I think it’s also a perfect book for readers who don’t read a lot of Romance because they don’t believe the genre can be moving.
Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase or Crazy for You by Jennifer Crusie or Naked In Death J. D. Robb to anyone who hasn’t tried romance novels.
Seconding ToppysMom’s suggestion: I clicked on comments just to say Agnes and the Hitman. It’s got enough comedy and mystery going on that I often recommend it to people who mock romances but are open minded enough to at least try one.
I would give any of Shelley Laurenston’s books to anybody in need of a good laugh. A particualr favorite is “Big Bad Beast”.
I would recommend The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig or Manhunting by Jennifer Cruisie
Ravished by Amanda Quick is just about the perfect book to give a friend. H/h are both fun and quirky, the plot is different, the writing is awesome. Just a great book!
I love to give Eva Ibbotson’s romances. Especially A COUNTESS BELOW STAIRS for teenagers, and MADENSKY SQUARE for grownups.
Bet Me by Jennifer Cruise for my sister or any of my women friends. It’s an all season book—great if you’re feeling down and need to laugh, great if all is right in your world and you just want to feel even better.
Definitely Lord of Scoundrels, which hooked me into romance.
I’ve been rereading Jennifer Crusie lately. Easily half of her books could be used for this – but I will pick “Welcome to Temptation” (with the added strength of a great sequel when the newly addicted romance reader wants more).
The You I Never Knew by Susan Wiggs. Sometimes a little predictable but well written. I’ve recommended it to my sister in the past because she’s not a historical fiction reader.
I would give “What Happens in London” by Julia Quinn. I’ve given it to so many people who looked down on romances…and it’s never failed to make them fans!