Bitchin' Blog Posts
Help a Dude Out: Looking for a Holiday Gift
by SB Sarah | by SB Sarah | November 23, 2009 | Monday at 11:56 am | 52 CommentsFrom a nice gentleman named Phillip:
Basically, I’m a guy that likes a girl, we’ve been dating for a month or
two, and I happened across the story of how she became known as Germaine.Turns out, her mother was reading a romance novel in the hospital when she
was born and decided to name her after a character. For Christmas this year,
I want to find this book for her! However, no one knows the name of this
book, not even her mother! The only facts that I know are these:- The main character’s name is Germaine,
- The main character is a nun who escapes or runs away from a convent for love.
- Printed before 1987Unfortunately this is all I have to go by right now…
Anyone remember this book? It’s shopping time (what an awesome gift).
Filed: General Bitching, Help a Bitch Out
Laurel said on 11.23.09 at 02:06 PM • [link]
Good luck! If you can pull this off it will go down in the gift hall of fame. Stellar.
iasmin said on 11.23.09 at 02:27 PM • [link]
The possibilities of her being named after Germaine Greer, feminist writer, are astounding when you consider Greer’s attendance at a private convent.
Shiloh Walker said on 11.23.09 at 04:31 PM • [link]
I have no idea, but I just wanna go…. aaaawwww….that’s got to be one of the sweetest, coolest ideas ever.
Sheryl Nantus said on 11.23.09 at 04:32 PM • [link]
get his DNA on file.
the clones will be magnificent!
;)
(can’t help, but he’s an awesome fella!)
Madd said on 11.23.09 at 04:37 PM • [link]
Why does this sound familiar to me? I think I might have read this when I was a kid.
Cara McKenna / Meg Maguire said on 11.23.09 at 04:41 PM • [link]
Not ringing any bells, but damn if Phillip doesn’t sound like a total dreamboat.
Darlene Marshall said on 11.23.09 at 04:55 PM • [link]
What a sweetie! Wish I knew the name of the book to help him out.
Monica Burns said on 11.23.09 at 05:39 PM • [link]
I SURE wish I could help you out, but DAMN, if this gal doesn’t know how lucky she is, send her here and we’ll explain it to her. This is one of those gestures that will make a girl cry.
emilytd said on 11.23.09 at 06:38 PM • [link]
When’s her birthday? I’ve got a librarian friend I can ask.
Stephanie Draven said on 11.23.09 at 07:04 PM • [link]
I don’t know the book, but if this guy pulls this off, he deserves major kudos. Heck, he should get props just for asking.
Maggie P. said on 11.23.09 at 07:05 PM • [link]
why does this make me think of a Victoria Holt?
Mollyscribbles said on 11.23.09 at 07:33 PM • [link]
Should you be unable to track down a copy in time, send her here and we’ll all vouch that you’re a keeper.
I bet you put the seat down and remember her birthday, too.
Lisa Hendrix said on 11.23.09 at 08:27 PM • [link]
Could it be one of Chelsea Quinn Yarborough’s St. Germaine vampire books? A MORTAL GLAMOUR is set in a 14th c French convent? Here’s a snippet of description:
A full description is at http://www.curledup.com/mortalgl.htm
Another, less likely, possibility is THE WIDE SARGASSO SEA by Jean Rhys (a prequel to Jane Eyre, about the first Mrs. Rochester). The heroine is in a convent with a girl named Germaine, but that’s really the only similary
Nara Malone said on 11.23.09 at 09:19 PM • [link]
Wicked Loving Lies, by Rosemary Rogers, had that plot line but the character’s name was Marisa.
Sophie said on 11.23.09 at 09:37 PM • [link]
The only romantic novel that comes to mind is by author George Sand (pseudonym of Amandine-Aurore-Lucile Dupin). The title of the book is Germain’s Marriage. However, I should mention that in this book there is no nun escaping from a convent- instead there is a priest who is heavily involved in the main character’s search for a wife. I should also point out that in this book, the name is spelled Germain, not Germaine- and it is a name of the male lead.
Here is the Google Books link: http://books.google.com/books?id=dbUaAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Here’s a link for more info on the author: http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/gsand.htm
I doubt this is the book; but I figured I’d mention it since there’s a remote chance it might be.
Rosemary said on 11.23.09 at 09:41 PM • [link]
Honestly, Phillip, if the book doesn’t turn up, just print this page, comments included, and put it in a nice frame.
You clearly give good gift.
molly_rose said on 11.23.09 at 10:13 PM • [link]
Good luck, Philip!
Lostshadows said on 11.23.09 at 10:50 PM • [link]
Actually, that one isn’t a St. Germain book, and I don’t remember any of the nuns having a similar name. Also, I’m not sure anyone would think of it as a romance.
BTW, Yarbro.
Sorry, no clue what the book could be, but I hope you can find it.
Chloe Harris (noelle) said on 11.23.09 at 11:45 PM • [link]
If you don’t find an answer here I have another suggestion.
On many of the baby name sites they have a place to post comments or join discussions on a particular name.
You might try posting the same question on one of those sites. You could find someone else named Germaine who was named after the same character and they might know the title.
mulberry said on 11.23.09 at 11:58 PM • [link]
I have no idea about the book, but I want to “aaaaahhhhh” too. Germaine is one lucky girl!
ella144 said on 11.24.09 at 12:35 AM • [link]
Phillip,
You might want to check out the site What was that book. The community is pretty good about finding books from very few details (sometimes less than you’ve provided here).
Good luck!
nekobawt said on 11.24.09 at 01:39 AM • [link]
found that in the replies to the post on harlequin’s recent “whoopsie”, and figured i’d re-post it here just in case kathy didn’t catch it. ;)
captcha word: miss69? probably not the title of the book he’s looking for.
Phyllis said on 11.24.09 at 02:29 AM • [link]
I thought of Crooked Hearts by Patricia Gaffney, but had to look it up - the fake nun on the run is Grace and it’s published too late (orig 1994).
Alicia said on 11.24.09 at 02:49 AM • [link]
As someone who was also named after a romance heroine—my mother doesn’t remember which one either—I wish you godspeed! This is going to make her year.
Diana said on 11.24.09 at 02:57 AM • [link]
Here’s a link to a description of Erin Pizzey’s Kisses. But it has the character Germaine running TO spiritual life, not away from it. I can’t get a fix on the original pub date; it has been reprinted several times.
mirain said on 11.24.09 at 03:48 AM • [link]
I have no clue but will post the description on GoodReads “What’s the Name of that Book?” page: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/244898-pre-1987-romance-about-nun-germaine-escaping-a-convent
I’m not sure you can access it without logging in, but Phillip, feel free to take the thread over.
annie said on 11.24.09 at 03:58 AM • [link]
These places are supposed to be able to help folks find books:
http://www.likesbooks.com/home.html
It seems like the forum is where you’d be able to get help: http://www.likesbooks.com/boards/viewforum.php?f=6
And this forum:
http://www.romantictimes.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=3
You’ll have to set up an account for them, but that’s pretty painless. Will you post here if you find it?
Lisa Hendrix said on 11.24.09 at 05:28 AM • [link]
Oops all the way around, especially on misspelling CQY’s last name. Guess that’s a sign it’s been too long since I last read her books. Will make amends by carrying credit card to B&N.
JamiSings said on 11.24.09 at 06:31 AM • [link]
These may or may not help, but I just asked the librarian where I work if there were any websites where you can search a book by plot keywords rather then title and author and he gave me the following -
http://www.whichbook.net/
http://beta.booklamp.org/
http://www.librarything.com/
I have no idea if that will help in finding this book or not, but it’s worth a shot.
Sarah Elle said on 11.24.09 at 08:00 AM • [link]
There is an early Lisa Kleypas called “Forever My Love” with a heroine named Mira German. Never read it, so I can’t comment if the plot matches, but perhaps someone else can help out. It was published in late 1988 though.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0451401263?_encoding=UTF8&tag=historicalroma09&linkCode=as3&camp=15041&creative=373501
http://allromancewriters.com/graphicalbooklist.cfm?expand=Yes&authorID=198
Sarah Elle said on 11.24.09 at 08:00 AM • [link]
Make that name Mira Germain.
Lostshadows said on 11.24.09 at 06:47 PM • [link]
I’m still kicking myself for missing I called him St. Germain instead of Saint-Germain.
I suspect there are very few 4000 year old vampires saints.
She has a new one due out December 8. But, you’ll have better luck finding her other books online, if my local B&Ns; are typical.
Maayan said on 11.24.09 at 06:53 PM • [link]
It’s only sort of a romance, and the description fits so sketchily, but in my brain, this somehow immediately pinged for “The Eight” by Katherine Neville. In it, two of the main characters are novice nuns who are sent away from the convent at the start of the French Revolution. Germaine de Stael is one of the supporting characters, although not the heroine.
But it was published in 1988. So I guess that’s not it.
Susan said on 11.24.09 at 10:29 PM • [link]
This isn’t a romance, but it’s about a woman named Germaine de Stael, and I believe a beautiful woman becomes a nun or talks about becoming a nun in one of the chapters:
Mistress to an age: a life of Madame de Staël, by J. Christopher Herold, (found here: http://bit.ly/5tA0xP)
Good Luck!
librariang said on 11.24.09 at 10:46 PM • [link]
A NoveList search yielded this book:
In the Shadow of the Castle. by Erin Pizzey. (Harper Paperbacks c. 1984)
“Three friends find themselves in a war between the sexes as pregnant Madeline takes a lover to protest her husband’s infidelities, promiscuous Edwina explores her taste for passion, and Germaine renounces men for more spiritual endeavors.”
Could that be it? It was later reprinted as Kisses, it seems.
librariang said on 11.24.09 at 10:51 PM • [link]
After all, renouncing men doesn’t mean you won’t change your mind later on in the story…
;)
Deb said on 11.24.09 at 11:58 PM • [link]
I have no idea what book this is, but I keep checking back to see if anyone has found the correct book because it’s such a wonderful gesture on this man’s part. I’m really pulling for him to find the book.
HelenM said on 11.25.09 at 01:05 AM • [link]
^What Deb said. My word I hope Philip finds the book.
(LOVING the fact that my captcha is love+my year of birth!)
kinseyholley said on 11.25.09 at 04:00 AM • [link]
I can’t help, but I"m commenting so that I can be notified when comments show up, because I so want someone to figure this out.
Hey Sarah - can ya’ll add an option like they have over at Dear Author, where you sign up to get notified about follow-ups even if you don’t leave a comment yourself? If that option already exists here and I’m too dorky to realize it, apologies.
Jennifer said on 11.25.09 at 06:14 AM • [link]
This sort of reminds me of a mid/late 80s Harlequin Presents (the one with the round circle?) that I read. Except in this one, the woman is pretending to be a nun as a ploy to keep her safe from some sort of dangerous situation. She meets a pilot? named Sam. He keeps her safe and she reveals that she’s not a nun just before leaving him behind. He comes to find her of course. Oh, those books I read as a teenager!
Marsha said on 11.25.09 at 06:39 AM • [link]
I have no suggestions but wanted to do my part to cheer Phillip on and beg him to come back and let us know if he finds that book!
Andrea said on 11.25.09 at 10:31 PM • [link]
You may also consider posting to the Fiction-L list-serv, which is read by many a Readers’ Advisory Librarian. These folks know their obscure book titles!
http://www.webrary.org/rs/FLbklistmenu.html
Luna said on 11.26.09 at 04:22 AM • [link]
Could it be Sable by Ellen Tanner Marsh-1984? The mc is named Sable St. Germain. I posed this question over on the Amazon board and this was suggested.
Heidi said on 11.29.09 at 06:11 AM • [link]
Good luck! Can’t help, but crossing my fingers :)
xaipe said on 11.30.09 at 12:56 AM • [link]
This sounds very familiar . . . for some reason the word “Green” pops into my head in association with it, but I couldn’t tell you whether I think that is the author’s name, a character name, or the colour of the type on the cover. They were in the jungle (which I suppose could also be “Green”).
Philip Bangcaya said on 12.01.09 at 09:05 PM • [link]
Hi! This is Philip
I’m still looking for this book actually! I just found out that this article has been posted on the website and I’m very excited! Hmmm to answer someone’s question Germaine was born on August 3rd 1984.
Thanks everyone for all the links you have sent me. I’ll be sure to checkout all these references and websites that you’ve recommended when I get home from work! I didn’t think finding a book would be so difficult, but this is actually proving to be a fun hunt indeed I will make sure to check back for more information and update you all on any developments!!!
Philip Bangcaya said on 12.01.09 at 10:57 PM • [link]
correction She was born 1987 lol I was born in 1984 lol ^^
barbara said on 12.02.09 at 01:32 AM • [link]
Here’s kind of a long-shot. Manouche, by Roger Peyrefitte, published 1973 “The story of Germaine Germain, a beautiful 16 year old nymphette who seduced an English Lord while at convent school in Worthing and then abandoned him for a petty French criminal. Later in police files she was know as Manouche., and in France she became a model for Patou and launched her amorous career as with a series of rich, famous and infamous lovers.”
Philip Bangcaya said on 12.05.09 at 05:09 PM • [link]
Just a little update:
I emailed Erin Pizzey the author of kisses and in the shadow of the castle… It’s not it =(
The search continues:
Philip Bangcaya said on 12.07.09 at 03:15 PM • [link]
UPDATE: The publisher was Mills and Boon!
- Character’s name was Germaine
- Germaine escapes from a convent in search of love
- Published before 1987
- PUBLISHED BY MILLS AND BOON!!!
Amber said on 12.09.09 at 11:02 PM • [link]
I’ve checked everywhere that I can think of and haven’t been able to come up with the title or author of this book. I know someone on another site that has read about every Mills and Boon. I posted the information to her and hopefully she knows what the title is.
Philip Bangcaya said on 12.10.09 at 06:11 PM • [link]
Wow!! Thanks Amber!! I also found this site with a list of Mills and Boons historical romance (if it is even a historical romance). I asked Germaine’s brother and sister to show her mother the site. Nothing from them yet. I might have to start thinking of an alternative present. I’ll keep searching till the very first hour of christmas day though!
Care to comment?
Comments are now closed for this post.
Subscribe to These Comments