Bitchin' Blog Posts
January 31, 2012 | Tuesday at 6:16 am | 14 Comments
Cleo is looking for a book that was truly memorable for her, for a number of reasons, including the context in which she read it. Honestly, this book sounds fascinating.
I have an HaBo. I read this book in the late ‘80s, during my freshman year at college, and of course I don't remember any names or titles. I borrowed it from one of my roommates, who borrowed it from someone down the hall, who borrowed it from someone else in the dorm. I’m looking for it because I think it was ahead of its time - the heroine had several lovers and no dire consequences. She didn’t die, or get raped, or shamed, or shunned. I’m sure you’re imagining the earnest conversations we budding feminists and young liberal arts scholars had about the ramifications of this radical plot, but no. Pretty sure everyone read it for the same reason I did – the sex. And I’m only pretty sure, not absolutely sure, because I barely talked about it with my roommate and I was WAY too embarrassed to talk about the sex in it. Or the social ramifications thereof.
read more »
January 31, 2012 | Tuesday at 3:11 am | 12 Comments
Lillie is looking for this book, which she has been trying to find for awhile.
I need your help! I've been searching for a book for a few months and I'm coming up empty.
It's an older Harlequin or Silhouette, and I believe it was published in the 90s. It's a Christmas reunion story. The hero is a cop (last name may be Knight?), very ba-humbug and a neat freak. The heroine loves Christmas, is a free-spirit and her name has something to do with the holiday. I think it might actually be Christmas, nicknamed Chrissy. Heroine saw her boss commit a crime, went to the police, and met the hero. They hooked up during the trial, then she disappeared.
read more »
January 31, 2012 | Tuesday at 12:03 am | 10 Comments
It's HaBO-Thon time! HaBO stands for "Help a Bitch Out," and is a segment wherein folks write in looking for books that they cannot find, usually becuase they remember many details about the plot, but not the title or author. This is, by the way, how I remember most books.
Our first request comes from GoldenDarter:
After the latest round of HaBOs, and another fruitless internet search, I have decided to ask the Bitchery if they might know of this book... I read it several years ago, in the infancy of my romance obsession, but I have no idea when it was actually released.
I believe it is a historical, and if I had to guess I would say it is set in England (really, where else could it be?). I am certain he is a lord of some kind or at least obscenely rich (could he be anything else?). There is really only once particular scene I remember, and it bothers me to not remember the whole story behind it. It takes place near the end of the book and the H/H have been sleeping together for a while, though I have no idea if they…
read more »
January 30, 2012 | Monday at 3:49 am | 0 Comments
Tonight at 9pm ET, the window below will go live with book chatting, mayhem, shenanigans, and much Smite discussion. I hope you'll join us for the book club chat about Courtney Milan's Unraveled.
The chat will be from 9-10pm, and Milan will join us at 10pm for a Q&A session. I cannot wait to hear what you thought of this book.
read more »
January 29, 2012 | Sunday at 9:42 am | 9 Comments
Books on sale! Books that are good! Books that are classics! Books that are good classics on sale! They sell a lot. How's that for analysis first thing in the morning?
And that exhausts my allotment of exclamation points for the day. Please continue your Sunday in staid and even fashion.
- And Then He Kissed Her by Laura Lee Guhrke | Amazon | BN | Sony | Kobo |
- Beauty and the Duke by Melody Thomas | Amazon | BN | Sony | Kobo |
- Devil's Bride with Bonus Material by Stephanie Laurens | Amazon | BN | Sony | Kobo |
…
read more »
January 28, 2012 | Saturday at 12:30 am | 5 Comments
Many thanks and high fives to the January advertisers. These are the lovely folks whose support helps underwrite the mayhem and insanity here, and without them there wouldn't be as much Bitchery to go around.
Thanks for advertising with us, and thank you to everyone who has clicked on an ad and learned more about a book being advertised here. You're helping support advertisers who want to reach romance readers directly, and that's excellent. They, and I, thank you big heaping amounts. You rule.
read more »
January 27, 2012 | Friday at 3:24 pm | 126 Comments
Time again for me to be nosy and ask, what are you reading this weekend?
I have a list of things to try out, as I just read Truths and Roses in a marathon sprint. I also have a nonfiction book about storytelling arts that I want to read.
While I was loving At Home in parts, I had to stop reading it for awhile, because the discussion was often so bleak. Here are all these amazing people who invented amazing things that we now take for granted and who have been entirely forgotten by history! Oy. So that'll sit for awhile until I feel like picking it up again.
What about you? What are you reading this weekend? I hope it's awesome, whatever it is!
Oh! And is anyone going to see One for the Money this weekend? I don't think it looks "babysitter worthy," but I'm curious!
read more »
January 27, 2012 | Friday at 2:18 pm | 45 Comments
I received the following very sweet inquiry this week, and thought maybe you'd have some good ideas to help Val out. Val wants to throw a surprise party for her mother in law, and center the party on a romance-novel theme. Here's her message:
I have no idea how to give my Mother-in-law a surprise 80th birthday party
in April with a romance novel theme.
This has been her quiet hobby for at least the last 4 decades that I have
known her.
She's a widow with eight grown (obviously) children, as well as
grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and almost all of us have given her
romance novels for all occasions, or when she's not feeling well.
I realize this isn't your usual, but would appreciate any input you
have.
I think that is such a nice idea, and so generous! Off the top of my head, if Val could find out what her favorite romances are, each table or different parts of the room could be dedicated to those books, or the settings of those books, especially if they have a setting or theme in…
read more »
January 27, 2012 | Friday at 12:09 am | 12 Comments
I found this on Tumblr, and it's an advertisement for the Zurich Chamber Orchestra. Let's all go to Zurich!
If you can watch it in fullscreen mode, definitely do it. It'll blow your eyeballs and eardrums in a happy way.
Link!
There is also a making-of video which is SO COOL.
I hope your weekend is full of creativity that makes you feel like you're flying.
ZKO Rollercoaster // GREAT EMOTIONS from virtual republic on Vimeo.
read more »
January 26, 2012 | Thursday at 2:19 pm | 36 Comments
I found this book because of a Facebook ad. If you follow me on Twitter or are subscribed to the SBTB Facebook page, you saw me talking about it yesterday. Here's the ad:
This ad worked for me so well I was astonished. Hero description, heroine description, briefest plot summary with hints at the tropes to be used.
I WAS SO THERE.
Then I got a look at the cover. Beautiful! Looks…professional!
Add to that the .99c price, and it was not difficult to click the ad, look at the book description, and click to buy. And judging from the link traffic stats, many of you did, too. I hope you enjoyed the book as much as I did.
read more »
January 26, 2012 | Thursday at 10:45 am | 24 Comments
Judith McNaught is one of the romance authors whose books have been read by so many, for so many years, she's a mainstay in terms of reader best-of lists. Some readers couldn't say enough amazing things about McNaught's novels, while others struggle with the old-skool heroes, particularly those who rely on the "all women are evil" trope to justify some really shitful behavior.
So compiling a list of reader favorites and recommendations for someone who hasn't tried McNaught proved a bit tricky. Based on reader comments, there are some that are loved without reservation - while those same titles are equally hated by other readers. Here's the list of recommended books, and one caution.
Almost Heaven Goodreads | Amazon | BN
Recommended by Daisy, Lauren Willig, and many others. Noelle says, "I cannot live without Almost Heaven, A Kingdom of Dreams and Remember When. I adore most of her historicals and many of her contemporaries, but these three are tops…
read more »
January 26, 2012 | Thursday at 9:39 am | 8 Comments
Did you read the thread of t-shirt slogans? Y'all have hilarious apparel. That was totally fun to read.
And now: winners! The following folks have won a copy of Lisa Kleypas' Rainshadow Road. Please email me at sarahATsmartbitchestrashybooksDOTcom with your mailing addresses.
As deteremined by Random.org, here are the winners:
#289 Laurie F
#102 Nnekacharles718
#17 Holly
#156 Patricia M.
#430 michelle
#253 gob
#134 Barbara Studer
#96 Renee
#114 Awgee
#338 Turtle
Thank you to everyone who entered, as you all have excellent taste in shirts!
read more »
January 25, 2012 | Wednesday at 11:50 am | 27 Comments
Via Publisher's Lunch (Free reg. req.): recipe site AllRecipes was purchased by Meredith Corp for $175 million dollars. Among the final four bidders: Random House and Amazon.com.
AllRecipes is a site I use frequently, and the strength of the community there is based on reviews and commentary on the recipes. I rarely use a recipe that doesn't have reviews and comments, especially from folks who have modified it to suit their tastes.
The strength of AllRecipes is in the community of reviewers and their commitment to critique and improvement more than just the database of recipes, and with the number of times I refer to that site in a week, I'm not surprised it went for $175mm.
Reviews, y'all. They're valuable! Who'd have thought?
What recipe sites do you use? Do you use AllRecipes?
read more »
January 25, 2012 | Wednesday at 2:33 am | 6 Comments
It's a New Year, and I've updated the calendar with events in North Carolina, Maryland, and New York City in February. If you're nearby, I'd love to meet you at one of these events, especially if you have books to recommend!
The calendar is online as well, but here's a list of upcoming events, too.
February 1, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
New York Public Library, Jefferson Market Branch
An evening discussing romance novels, all the things you can learn about relationships from reading romance - and book recommendations, of course! I love hearing what people are reading.
read more »
January 24, 2012 | Tuesday at 7:13 pm | 10 Comments
To follow the proceedings of Digital Book World 2012, the hashtag #dbw12 is a mix of reaction and reporting. Alas, my reporting ended after lunch, as I had to take a break from the conference and go home. I am not sure if I'll be back tomorrow, but the hashtag is full of folks reporting from the different panels.
One highlight today; a full hour in the morning of the opening day devoted to lessons learned from romance ebook publishing, featuring Julie Cummings from AllRomance, Raelene Gorlinsky from Ellora's Cave, Liate Stehlik and Angela James from Carina Press.
The panelists discussed DRM, pricing, and the ways in which digital publishing has created a more adept and flexible publishing model that's better positioned to treat readers as customers and to take charge of their own customer service relationships. Two years ago, romance was part of an afternoon session - this year it was among the first sessions on the main stage. Most excellent.
read more »
