Sarah’s Sizzling Summer Book Club

imageThis summer, if you’re looking for books to read, I have a whole lot of fun planned, and I hope you’ll join me. I’ve partnered with AllRomanceEbooks.com to do a Sizzling Summer Book Club of great romance reads, and I’m so excited I can barely sit still. In Yiddish, they call that “shpilkis.” Everyone wants a great summer read, and romance is perfect for summer reading – so why not a whole season of good books, right? Right.

Here’s how the Summer Book Club will work: I’ll announce the selection, and folks will have plenty of time to buy and read it. Then I’ll be hosting a live chat on the site open to anyone – but I’ll be rotating the time of the chat session so that readers all over the world have a chance to participate. This will be extra fun when it’s 3am and I’m wired on caffeine. I’ll be selecting one book every 2 weeks, and scheduling the chat sessions at various times throughout the summer.

Here’s the spiffy part: AllRomanceEbooks is offering a 50% rebate on every book I select, so if you purchase it digitally through ARe, you get 50% as a rebate in eBook Bucks. And of course you can purchase paper copies if you like – I’ll provide links for that, too. This is a great opportunity for anyone who has wanted to try reading a digital book, and one thing I really like about ARe is that they respond to customer inquiries pretty quickly through their customer service department (service@allromanceebooks.com) if you run into trouble. Note: the offer runs from 1 June to 27 June, but if you purchased already, email AllRomance and let them know – they’re very cool people!

I’m still looking for ideas for July, so please, suggest a book you’re looking forward to reading that comes out this summer, as I want to make sure there’s something from as many subgenres as possible. I’ll be announcing the other books one by one. If you don’t want to leave a comment, feel free to email me at sarahATsmartbitchestrashybooksDOTcom with “Summer Book Idea” in the subject line. And if you have a suggestion for a time that works for you in your part of the world, let me hear it. I’m ready and making coffee this summer to talk with romance readers around the world (can you tell I’m really excited about that part, too?).

Please note: I can’t use books that are subject to the agency model, which sucks, because ARe can’t do a rebate on those books, as neither they nor I can discount a book once the publisher has set the price. I suppose I could ask and then there’d be a subcommittee of a committee with a task force to examine the issue, and really, that’s just mean. Task forces are the devil.

There will, however, be prizes, guest appearances, and paper ARC copies of some of the upcoming books for the having, too, so stay tuned for that.

Shall we move on to the first book for the Summer Book Club? Yes, we shall!

Book CoverThe first book will be Tessa Dare’s One Dance with a Duke coming out today (woo!). I’ve already read it, so I won’t go into detail, but I thought there was a lot to enjoy about the heroine, particularly, and the setup of the series, and I hope you’ll read it and join in when I schedule the first Summer Book Club chat.

You can get your digital copy at AllRomanceEbooks.com, or a paper copy at Amazon, Book Depository, or Powell’s.

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And how cool is the logo they made? I wish my hair would do that tousled thing. For more than five minutes anyway.

But wait, there’s more! ARe is also hosting a giveaway of their own: spread the word about the book club on your site, and you’re entered to win an

iPad

iPod Touch (MY BAD-  total typo).

Give our Bookclub a boost by proudly displaying one of our Bookclub banners with a link back to the full page URL http://allromanceebooks.com/bookclub.html or just the tiny URL http://tinyurl.com/278pz22 Then .email us at links@allromanceebooks.com. One lucky poster will win an iPod Touch and a $100.00 All Romance/OmniLit Gift Certificate. Post as many links as you want.

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**Contest Fine Print See submission instructions above under the “Boost the Bookclub” heading. Those instructions must be followed. This contest will run from June 1, 2010 – September 5, 2010. You must be 18 years of age to enter. Employees of All Romance eBooks, LLC are not eligible to enter. NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY. You may enter once for each link posted. Duplicate entries for a single post will result in disqualification. The winner will be chosen at random on September 7th and notified via email. The prize, an iPod Touch and a $100.00 gift certificate from AllRomance.com/OmniLit.com is valued at $300.00. It is being furnished by All Romance eBooks, LLC, DBA All Romance and OmniLit. 334 East Lake Road, Ste 286, Palm Harbor, Florida 34685-2427.

Got all that? You can buy the book, read it, and put a note on your calendar for the third week of June to discuss the book -and watch for more book club selections coming all summer long. Please note: I don’t actually encourage literal sizzling in the sun. I’m a big proponent of sunscreen. Slather on! 

I’m so giddy about this and I hope you’ll join me to celebrate great romance, discuss the summer book club books, and enjoy some fine reads. Big mad proppy thanks to AllRomanceeBooks for the discount and the prize (and the total complete hair envy I’m now suffering).

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General Bitching...

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  1. Cakes says:

    YAY! I liked a couple of Tessa Dare’s.

    I’m looking forward to Kristan Higgins new book “All I Ever Wanted” that comes out in July, I think.

    and Stephanie Laurens’s “The Brazen Bride” at the end of June.

  2. Melissa S. says:

    WOOT! I needed a way of getting back into the Romance of things…It’s been a year since I’ve picked up a book!!!

  3. How fun!  I just posted the banner and bought the book.

  4. SB Sarah says:

    @ Melissa S: I’m aiming for your TBR pile, now. That is WAY TOO LONG to be without a book! I’m shocked!

    @ Cakes: thank you! I LOVE Higgins’ books. I have to be careful I don’t feature too much contemporary since I enjoy it so much, too!

    @ Mary: you rock the casbah!

  5. Buffy says:

    I’m totally on board with this. I’ve suggested book clubs to my friends but they never pan out.

    My suggestions are:

    Married By Morning by Lisa Kleypas.
    Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn
    Last Nights Scandal By Loretta Chase

    The Kleypas and Quinn are being released today. Chase’s is set for release on July 27th, 2010. I’ll have read the Kleypas and Quinn by the end of this week though.

  6. Cathy says:

    How about Joanna Bourne’s “The Forbidden Rose” for July?

  7. JBHunt says:

    This sounds like great fun!

    Some possible titles for later in the summer…

    The Forbidden Rose (Joanna Bourne)
    Last Night’s Scandal (Loretta Chase)
    His at Night (Sherry Thomas)
    Infamous (Suzanne Brockmann)

  8. runswithscissors says:

    Yay for book club!  I am very excited about Joanna Bourne’s new book, The Forbidden Rose, out at the beginning of June.  I love, love, love the way she writes; she can smoothe the wrinkles out of the worst day.

  9. runswithscissors says:

    So that was a weird convergence of people thinking about The Forbidden Rose at the same time.  Obviously we’re all feeling the love right now!

  10. Elizabeth L. says:

    This sounds like so much fun! I agree with adding Julia Quinn, Lisa Kleypas, and Loretta Chase’s new books to the list.

    I’ve already blogged about this and added a link to the side of my blog! Super excited!

  11. Megan says:

    Cynthia Eden’s I’LL BE SLAYING YOU comes out in July. Awesome paranormal author.

  12. SB Sarah says:

    The Forbidden Rose and Last Night’s Scandal are so on my radar. Thank you for the other recommendations!

  13. Ana says:

    Twice Bitten, the third book in the Chicagoland Vampire series is coming out July 6th. Maybe it won’t qualify, since it’s a series, but in the second one there was a lot of recap from the first book, so I believe in this one there would be too.

  14. hollygee says:

    Our Lady of Immaculate Deception by Nancy Martin, fun, sexy, Pittsburgh blue collar, sexy. Full disclosure, I made Nancy’s website, but loved the book.

  15. Theresa says:

    My copy of The Forbidden Rose is already pre-ordered so that would be a great pick. One that I haven’t seen mentioned yet is the newest Elizabeth Hoyt book releasing August 1st: Wicked Intentions.

    And, I’m SO doing this book club! It sounds like a lot of fun and I’ll probably check out some new authors in the process. 🙂

  16. AgTigress says:

    I’m so excited I can barely sit still. In Yiddish, they call that “shpilkis.”

    What a great word!  I must try to remember it.  🙂  It sounds just right for what it describes.
    Unlike ‘trope’. 😉

  17. PK says:

    OMG, I love book club and at 50% off, please please count me in.  I already posted the banner and link to my blog.  I was going to recommend The Forbidden Rose too but loads of folk beat me to the punch.  I’ll check back with other tasty morsels that are on the summer release horizon.

    Yay!

  18. At first I was REALLY excited because I thought that plane on the banner was a flying lobster! What can I say, I grew up in Maine, where we suffer en masse from a highly specific breed of regional hallucinations. Everywhere I look, I see Stephen King riding a moose through a field of blueberries.

    But even after I realized it wasn’t a flying lobster, I was still pretty excited! Looking forward to this. Thanks, Sarah and ARe.

  19. KeriM says:

    I second the Kleypas and how about:
    Ava Gray’s Skin Tight
    Jennifer Ashley’s Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage
    Eloisa James’s A Kiss at Midnight or is late August too late?

  20. Lindleepw says:

    I agree with a lot of these. Don’t forget Lisa Kleypas has another book coming out June 29th (Love in the Afternoon). I’d also suggest Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh coming out July 6th.

    So very, very excited!!

  21. Erin says:

    I’m with Buffy – totally in, and seconding (thirding?) the new Kleypas.

  22. ehoyden says:

    Excellent first choice. 

    Last night my pre-order books downloaded to my nook and I started on
    One Dance with a Duke by Tessa Dare. 

    Also received
    Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas
    Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn
    A Gentleman Always Remembers by Candace Camp.

  23. Mary Lamb says:

    How about “Marrying the Royal Marine” by Carla Kelly or “The Time Weaver” by Shana Abe.  I’ve tried these authors previously and have to admit they didn’t work for me.  However, enough people whose opinions I trust have reccomended both and I am anxious to give them another try.

    I am new to this whole blogger thingy and am not having much luck in figuring out how to post the banner with the link back on my blog. I use Google Blogger. Do they not allow this?  Can anyone lend a hand?  Thanks!

  24. Lisa J says:

    This sounds like so much fun.  I can’t wait to see all the choices. 

    Here’s my two cents worth – To Conquer a Highlander or Bedding the Enemy both by Mary Wine

  25. Eileen says:

    Wow, this sounds like a lot of fun.  I’m in. 

    As far as book suggestions, Victoria Dahl has a new one coming out this summer called (I think) Crazy for Love.

  26. Amber says:

    Sounds like a fun idea!

    I did notice that Secret is spelled wrong on the banner, though. Was that intentional?

  27. Mary Lamb says:

    Sarah:
    You did say you wanted a wide variety of genres.  Are you doing inspirational? How about “Sons of Thunder” by Susan May Warren?  It was well reviewed at AAR and sounds unusual and interesting.

  28. Ginny says:

    I love the idea! 
    Here are my suggestions:
    Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn
    Crazy for Love by Victoria Dahl
    I’ll Be Slaying You by Cynthia Eden

    Or if you are willing to jump into an ongoing series:
    Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh
    The Darkest Lie by Gena Showalter

  29. ehoyden says:

    Flowers From The Storm by Laura Kinsale….in my TBR.

    I haven’t read it, but everyone and their dog recommends it.  I’ve seen lots of rants and raves over it, so it would be nice to have an intelligent discussion about it.  Unless everyone is sick of talking about it.

  30. Melissa says:

    Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh (yes it’s part of a series that should be read in order but the series is awesome so maybe people can catch up?)

    Into the Crossfire by Lisa Marie Rice

    Hot Finish by Erin McCarthy (Aug 3, part of Nascar series with Flat Out Sexy and Hard and Fast)

    Sugar Creek by Toni Blake

  31. SB Sarah says:

    @caramckenna: “Everywhere I look, I see Stephen King riding a moose through a field of blueberries.”

    That + tigers would improve a LOT of books!

    You guys have the best suggestions – I’m writing them down like madness over here. Thank you.

  32. SB Sarah says:

    @amber: NOPE. OOPS. OMG. I’m laughing so hard that I didn’t notice that. Usually typos reach out and smack me silly. Like a moose riding Stephen King.

    Thank you for pointing that out.

  33. Tessa Dare says:

    I am so excited that One Dance with a Duke is part of this!  Thanks for choosing it, SB Sarah, and thanks to ARe for offering the rebate. 

    I love the way the cover looks on the banner ad.  I’m almost tempted to by an iPad just to see my cover that size.  And I’m totally rocking the tousled hair and sunglasses today.  It’s the “I can never sleep the night before release day” look, though.  Not the “I’m at the beach with my flying lobster” look. 🙁

  34. MaryK says:

    I’m glad you picked One Dance with a Duke because I need to remember to buy it.  Loved her book trailer!  It convinced me to buy it even though her earlier books are still on my TBR pile.

  35. KellyMaher says:

    I know some of these have already been mentioned, and I know some are probably agency model, but I’m just listing what I’ve currently got on my June, July & early-August watchlists which are honestly a bit sparse at the moment 🙂

    Joanna Bourne – The Forbidden Rose (6/1)
    Ava Gray – Skin Tight (6/1)
    Elizabeth Lowell – Death Echo (6/8)
    Stephanie Laurens – The Brazen Bride (6/29)
    Victoria Dahl – Crazy for Love (7/1)
    Nora Roberts – The Search (7/6 – my b-day!)
    Christine Feehan – Water Bound (7/27)
    Eloisa James – A Kiss at Midnight (7/27)
    Loretta Chase – Last Night’s Scandal (7/27 – is this turning into another 5/25 with everyone dumping out their romances?)
    Victoria Dahl – A Little Bit Wild (8/3)
    Linda Howard – Veil of Night (8/10)

    And did you know there’s a new Jenny Crusie releasing on 8/31? It’s called Maybe This Time.

  36. Meredith says:

    Yay!  I’m in for sure.  That sounds like such fun.  But I’ll buy the book from my local indie bookseller since they have this one (sorry not to give you your referral percentage, it’s just I’m all about supporting the independent bookstores whenever possible—especially since we only have one bookstore in this wee, rural town). 

    I’ll purchase it only *after* I’ve finished this article I’m supposed to be writing for next week’s deadline.  New romance novels make great motivators. 🙂

  37. SonomaLass says:

    I’ve already read One Dance With a Duke, and I will love having an excuse to read it again. It’s definitely my favorite of Tessa Dare’s books so far, although I enjoyed her first trilogy immensely (especially the middle book). 

    For what it’s worth, I’d prefer not to have selections that are in the midst of a series.  The Joanna Bourne and Loretta Chase books are probably both wonderful, but not really a change of subgenres (huge historical fan that I am, I’d like to see you mix it up a little).  Crazy for Love by Victoria Dahl is contemporary, and her publisher is HQN, so no agency model worries (I think).

    New paranormal romances (which aren’t sequels) on my radar include Blood Song, by Cat Adams (C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp writing together; I loved their Touch of trilogy); Shadow Bound, by Erin Kellison; and Assassin’s Honor by Monica Burns. Adams is Tor, Burns is Berkeley, but maybe the Kellison (I don’t know the publisher) isn’t agency.

    What about YA? There’s so much excellent work being released in that genre, surely there’s something worth reading that is not a sequel, nor print-only, nor an agency publisher. I can’t think of one off the top of my head, but I’m sure someone has ideas.

    I’d push for some steampunk, but the books I’m looking forward to in that subgenre are fall releases.

    Great idea, and I look forward to seeing what you choose!

  38. Carin says:

    Oooo!  Ooooo!  Oooo!  Here’s another vote for Victoria Dahl’s Crazy For You in July.  And another for Hot Finish by Erin McCarthy, too!

  39. Lisa says:

    Lots of stuff on my pre-order list has already been mentioned. Yeah, steampunk would be great but Gail Carriger’s “Blameless” doesn’t come out until Sept. 7. Can I throw in a vote for the newly released “Changeless”?

    And, um, what is “agency model’”?

    captcha: lead44 My TBR pile leads my roomie’s with close to 44 books!

  40. Carin says:

    On the paranormal over the top funny side, how about Beast Behaving Badly by Shelly Laurenston?  I don’t know who the agency publishers are.  AllRomanceEbooks has a lot of Shelly Laurenston, but I didn’t see this one, and I think it came out today – paper copy anyway.

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