The party continues today as we move closer to our 10th anniversary. Snow? What snow? We have MAYHEM!
We’ve been counting down each month looking back at some of the most popular pages in the site’s archives over the past year. And now – more fun!
Ready for more giveaway mayhem? Givea-hem? May-away? Whatever? It’s time for more!
Mr. DeSalvo and his pink gladiator style are ready on the right, so let’s get to the next pair of celebratory gift packs! I’d call them gift baskets but there’s no actual basket. Maybe the basket is imaginary.
Standard disclaimers apply: Each giveaway will be open until 31 January 2015, and each prize pack is open to international residents where applicable by law. Must be over 18 to win. Void where prohibited. Objects in mirror may be closer than they appear. Close cover before striking.
Here’s the first one – ready? Reading and tea! READING AND TEA! (And nipple. Just about every prize picture includes mantitty. Yes, that’s on purpose!)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway features 2oz. of Fava Tea Company‘s Winterblend tea. Elyse’s favorite tea, this robust black tea has hints of orange, clove, pink peppercorn and pistachio. Subtlety spicy and delicious. Please note: This blend contains nuts.
Plus, the following books are included: A Fine Summer’s Day by Charles Todd, Wildalone by Krassi Zourkova, Beautiful Stranger, Beautiful Player by Christina Lauren, Linger by Lauren Jameson, Spellbound by Sylvia Day, a digital copy of Pride, Prejudice and Popcorn by Carrie Sessarego, Standoff by Sandra Brown, The Wedding Vow by Cara Connelly, When a Laird Takes a Lady by Rowan Keats, To Marry a Scottish Laired by Lynsay Sands, and three books by Laura Kaye – Hard as You Can, Hard to Come By, and Hard as It Gets. And ready for giveaway part deux? a Rafflecopter giveaway
Included in this giveaway are a Smart Bitches flask featuring The Ladies, a 1000 piece puzzle featuring classic Harlequin covers, a hardcover notebook featuring The Widow Gay by AA Marcus, a collection of Harlequin Notables matchbook notepads with vintage covers, a bottle of Posh Wash bath & shower gel in cherry blossom scent, a digital copy of Pride, Prejudice and Popcorn by Carrie Sessarego, a copy of Sweet Surprise by Candis Terry, a hardcover copy of Burned by Karen Marie Moning, and (drumroll please!) an Advanced Reader Copy of Eloisa James’ April 2015 book, Four Nights with a Duke.
Good luck with the giveaways – and get ready for more. We’re hosting two a day all week, leading up to our 10th anniversary on the 31st!
I don’t think I have a most rec’ed book, most people in my life don’t read romance.
No one has asked me for a romance recommendation. That, however, does not stop me from giving them!
Historicals: Anything by Sherry Thomas or Courtney Milan
Contemporary: Julie James, and I read all the Jennifer Cruisie in the 90s
Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy: most recently, really loved the first two of the new Anne Bishop series, the Others
SciFi: Fortune’s Pawn – so good.
Anything by Julia Quinn or Mary Balogh, and now that I’ve read it, add me to the “start with Lord of Scoundrels” team.
For friends who want a regency, I recommend Between the Devil and Ian Eversea, Three Weeks with Lady X, and Romancing the Duke. For a Scottish historical, A Highlander Never Surrenders is my hands down fav, and for paranormal historical, I rec Kristen Callihan – just start with book 1… I’ve had Four Nights… pre-ordered since May, but I’d still love, love, love an ARC! And I adore jigsaw puzzles 🙂
I rec Bet Me, all the time, every time.
For sheer number of times I’ve recommended a book by her, it would be Nora Roberts. But those recommendations have slowed to a trickle during these past years when I haven’t been as happy with the books. These days I am enthusiastically recommending Courtney Milan, Anna Richland, Tessa Dare, Sherry Thomas – all authors I’ve discovered here, first.
Recently, I’ve been recommending Bet Me by Jennifer Cruise, Asking for Trouble by Tessa Bailey, It’s in his Kiss by Jill Shalvis and Screwdrivered by Alice Clayton.
While it’s been free, I’ve been recommending starting with The Duchess War by Courtney Milan. For contemporary, I think Jessica Clare is a good place to start (her voice has a lot of humor).
For romance newbies I like to recommend something light and funny like Julia Quinn’s “What Happens in London.” For more seasoned romance readers I often suggest Elizabeth Hoyt’s steamy Legend of the Four Soldiers series.
Hm, I don’t recommend things unless I expect a person will like them, but I know I’ve mentioned Outlander to a lot of people…
I read alot and my favorite authors cannot keep up! I need some new favs!
I always recommend either Julie Garwood or Julia Quinn.
Anything by Eloisa James!!
Shanna by KEW is still my favorite!
I usually recommend what I am currently reading. Which is usually historical romances. I also read a lot of paranormal and that’s usually Christine Feehan.
Contemporary or erotica
Depending on what someone is going for I’ll recommend “Bet Me” or “Outlander.” I love how often I’m seeing these both in the comments!
Hmm I don’t tend to recommend romance novels to others much, but usually they involve the extra crazy contemporaries
The romance author I recommend the most is Courtney Milan, because she is glorious. I also tend to point people towards Julia Quinn, Tessa Dare, Loretta Chase and Julie Anne Long. Depending on whether they like their romance angsty or not, I also recommend Sherry Thomas or Meredith Duran, but I know enough people that haven’t liked those.
There’s way too many I could recommend but probably I’d recommend the In Death series by JD Robb…that would qualify as a romance in my opinion and likely books a wide variety of people would enjoy.
Most often I recommend Jennifer Crusie’s Bet Me!
Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase
Hm, this is a hard question but I think I recommend more authors than books in particular usually starting with Courtney Milan as she’s the one who hooked me.
I usually recommend Nalini Singh 😀 I think I have made people crazy with it :))
My top rec is Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels. Thanks for the giveaway.
Most recommended? Gotta be Laura Kinsale Flowers from the Storm.
It depends. To my less adventurous friends, Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips or Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie. For my more adventurous friends, the Rock Chick series by Kristen Ashley. Linda Howard is the very best at romantic suspense. For someone interested in shifters, Jennifer Ashley or Thea Harrison. For historicals, Joanna Bourne or Lisa Kleypas. And then there’s Nora Roberts.
Eloisa James and Nora Roberts (I call her NoRo) always fall out of my mouth first but recently I’ve been telling everyone about Kristen Ashley. Love her x x x
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY SMART BITCHES!!!!!
I would definitely recommend any Eloisa James book! She is an expert when it comes to writing romance.
Usually anything by Karen Marie Moning – magical highlanders-‘nuf said.
Lord of Scoundrels is the book I’ve recommended the most. I usually follow it up with Mr. Impossible.
Recently I’ve been recommending Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover, but I’ve been recommending A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant for a while.
Suzanne Brockmann, good quick fun reads
I have yet to recommend any romance books to others because I’ve just gotten into them myself but I wanted to add that after reading recommendations on SBTB, I basically started with the one-two punch of Lord of Scoundrels and Flowers from the Storm and I don’t see how you can do better than that because I’m completely hooked!
Also, I loved reading all of the new-to-me authors in the comments. Can’t wait to get started on some of them!
Anything by Sherry Thomas, but particularly Not Quite a Husband and His at Night.
Lord of Scoundrels. If they don´t like it, they will never get romance at all.
Sherry Thomas, Jillian Stone, Courtney Milan, Julie James, Nalini Singh, Joanna Bourne, Kresley Cole, Gail Carriger, Thea Hrrison, Kristen Callihan, Juliana Gray…
Okay maybe I should go with who I wouldn’t recommend. The list would be much shorter.
Just wanted to say congratulation! 10 years and still going strong. Impressive.
It depends on what type of romance they are looking for. I usually recommend Karen Hawkins, Eloisa James, Julia Quinn and Stephanie Laurens for historical. For contemporary, I recommend Jill Shalvis, her Lucky Harbor series is fantastic.
I need this!