Behold, the excitement! I am containing myself to one exclamation point (not including the title) and that was it. Please appreciate my restraint, here.
I have A Pile Of ARCs to give away of my October book, Everything I Know About Love, I Learned from Romance Novels, which so very, very many of you helped create.
From the depths of the box on my dining room table currently being fought over by my cats, I have 10 shiny copies to giveaway.
But that is Not All.
This book is all about the lessons we’ve learned from reading romance novels, and it includes stories from romance readers and authors. My goal with this book was to show that the romance community is filled with incredibly smart and thoughtful readers and writers, and to put to rest the tired idea that romances create unrealistic expectations of love, relationships and sex. Romances, as many of us know, are more often a road map of What To Do and What Not To Do in real life relationships.
So many people contributed, and so very many people went above and beyond to make suggestions and provide stories and lessons learned that this book really isn’t about the genre so much as it is about the women who read and write romance, and how much we have learned from our favorite books. Therefore just giving away the ARC isn’t really enough.
Here’s my plan. Leave a comment and please tell me the one romance novel you want to recommend above all others to someone who hasn’t tried the genre (yes, just one) (yes, I suck) and you are entered to win.
What can you win? Awesome stuff!
Ten winners will be picked at random and each winner will receive an ARC of Everything I Know About Love, I Learned From Romance Novels (Which I refer to as “EIKAL” because there is nothing I love like a REALLY LONG TITLE, BABY, YEAH!).
The winner will also receive one of the following titles from these authors who also appear in the book:
But wait, there is still more. I have 10 copies of a special Jennifer Crusie omnibus edition that contains both Bet Me and Welcome to Temptation in one book – and each winner will receive a copy of that book, too. Each of these authors, plus many many more, appear in the book, providing stories and advice or landing a spot on one of the recommended reading lists in the book.
There will be more chances to win, do not worry. I’m giving away 10 here, and a few on Goodreads and on Twitter. (Any possible giveaways on Facebook will have to be random like a semi-drunk fairy landing on the keyboard and highlighting someone’s comment by chance while I’m half-looking at the screen to stay in line with the Facebook Terms of Service. Then I have to contact the winners by semaphore with hot pink flags while facing the eastern skyline.)
Standard disclaimers apply: I’m not being compensated for this giveaway. Void where prohibited. Do not wear a pelisse in the rain. Stirrups are required, but boots are optional. We’ll sell you the whole seat but you’ll only need the edge. Stripes and plaid are rarely a positive fashion statement.
Comments will be open until noon on Friday, 20 May, and I will announce the winners then. Contest is open to international readers, and since my stats indicate no readers in Greenland, if someone enters from Greenland and wins I’ll send them extra stuff. Come on, Greenland!
Honesty time: I am enormously proud of this book, and humbled by the number of people who shared how much their romances mean to them, and how valuable romances have been in their lives. This book wouldn’t be what it is without the authors and readers who contributed, so I can’t send out the ARC by itself. It has to have company.
Honor’s Splendor-Julie Garwood
One of the first romance books I read.
One of my favorites.A book I recommend
to people trying romance for the first time.
Wow, love love love or really want to read all those books you pictured. 😀 I snuck in the audio book for Agnes and the Hitman by Crusie/Mayer on my fiance’s mp3 player and he really enjoyed it… but I tend to force people to read Bet Me. That goofy crazy lust/love feeling, crazy family and friends being ‘helpful’, sharing great food with people you love… it’s such a REAL book. 😀
Congrats on your book, Sarah!
That is evil.. just one title. I’d probably have to choose a different one for each reader due to what they have previously liked. It’s all about baby steps to get over the Romance Do not Cross line. hmmm I’d probably have to settle for one of Celeste Bradley’s Royal Four series, One Night with a Spy to be specific. It has it all, adventure, plots, spies, crime solving, tension, woman fighting for her rights, and of course romance and passion. This is also the series I would use if a guy ever wanted to try to read them.
PS also congrats about the book!!!!
I would absolutely recommend Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas. It’s different, but fun and interesting, and I reread it about once a year to kick off my annual summer country music binge. I normally only read historicals, but Kleypas has brought me to the dark side!
So exciting! (the giveaway and the new book).
I would recommend “Bet Me” by Jennifer Cruisie because the characters are so warm, and funny but also really realistic. I read that book in one sitting the first time I read it.
The book I always recommend is Always to Remember by Lorraine. It’s such a powerfully emotional read. I cry everytime I read it and am impressed by how Heath handles war and the idea of cowardice. Awesome read!
I know it’s not the same as the others, but Jane Eyre!
For someone who is truly new to the romance genre, I have to admit that I have many a favorite that I would *not* start a person on…Some need to be eased into 🙂 I would lean towards Jude Deveraux’s “Summerhouse” as a gentle nudge into the genre, as it was also the first book that popped into my head (and sometimes gut instinct wins out).
This is a hard question but having actually been in this situation, I know that the answer is Welcome to Temptation because it’s my faaaavorite….but it’s Nora Roberts that actually works I think. I can’t wait to read the new book, one way or another!!
Spamword- read72- have I read 72 romance novels? Heck yes! Per month more like!
My recommendation would be for Nora Robert’s Born in Fire. And congratulations on another intriguing title. I am looking forward to reading it.
So excited for the book!!
Strangely, the one book I often suggest to convert new readers (and it works!) is Agnes and the Hitman.
I think “Bet Me” by Jennifer Crusie is the best “starter” romance novel. It has it all: likeable characters, a good plot, plenty of laughs, and serious chemistry. I tell people that if they don’t like “Bet Me” then they don’t like romance.
I’d recommend Mischief by Amanda Quick. It was the first romance novel I’ve ever read and I found the characters smart and funny.
I’m going to have to say Devil takes a Bride by Gaelen Foley.
Can’t help it. There’s a serious addiction there…. 😀
Congratulations on the new book!
I always recommend Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie and have converted a few of my friends into avid romance readers.
“Seize the Fire” by Laura Kinsale. It was her tribute to
Viet Nam veterans. I didn’t understand that until I finished the book. It was an emotionally charged story from beginning to end.
Nora Roberts…. Birthright!
“Secrets of a Summer Night” by Lisa Kleypas. Hands down that’s it!
My first thought was about Jennifer Crusie, but she was mentioned so often that I have to go with my second choice – Georgette Heyer. I am heartily recommending Frederica for anyone who hasn’t read – or who has – read romance novels. It is delightful and hilarious and sweet. And I actually need to go read it again.
I would recommend Susan Elizabeth Phillips- Ain’t She Sweet, because it is funny, it’s clever, it’s more than just two people falling in love – but it is also about redemption and over-coming grudges, and keeping love alive, and family. Just adore it for the depth, the problems overcome, and ultimately the romance.
My vote is for Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins. This is not what I would call my favorite romance novel, however, I find it one of the best to recommend. It shows that romance isn’t always easy, pretty or predictable; it’s still pretty great anyway.
Thanks,
I guess what I suggest really depends on what the person likes to read (or what kind of movies they like to watch). If they like Sci-Fi, Contemporary or Historical fiction I would pick completely different books, of course.
I just got my mom to read a romance by giving her a HUGE bag of books, one of them that drew her in the most was THE MISSING by Shiloh Walker. She likes suspense movies, and never really read much…now she’s asking for more. She really liked that, the paranormal and the post-apocalyptic romances I gave her, which really surprised me!
Spider—My favorite book of all time is JANE EYRE. It’s a CLASSIC.
Sweet Nothings by Catherine Anderson. It’s a great book about the healing power of love.
Congratulations, Sarah!
I would recommend TIL THE STARS FALL by Kathleen Giles Seidel and BILLY BOB WALKER GOT MARRIED by Lisa G. Brown,
two of my all-time favorites.
I think Nora Robert’s Montana Sky is a great one for people who aren’t a big romance fan. It has friendship, mystery, and of course romance!
I want this book. Really fucking bad. First because it sounds awesome. Second, because I’ve always wanted an ARC.
Anyway, the historical I’d recommend (and have!) is Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas. The contemporary would be Blue Eyed Stranger by Lisa Kleypas.
God, this was hard.
Goddess of Spring by P.C. Cast – most of the people I would recommend stuff to would enjoy a good retelling of the Persephone and Hades myth, it is both hot and romantic, and it shows that romances can be fairly complex in terms of theme and treatment of characters.
My one would be The Madness of Lord Ian McKenzie by Jennifer Ashley.
Is it bad that I have almost all the books being given away, except your ARC obviously!
What, you won’t let us break it down to sub-genres? How’s that supposed to work? I mean, it depends on mood, weather, what you’re making for dinner, if you just had a fight with your significant other, or any of a million other things! Ok, ok I choose:
Lauren Dane’s Laid Bare
Great, great book! Congrats on your book. I am so excited to read it!
Hmm… can’t decide, can’t decide… *coin toss*
Lover Unbound by JR Ward.
I love V. He’s so beautifully damaged. (My second favorite BDB guy is Zsadist, so I guess I have a thing for abused men 😛 ) Jane has this amazingly dry wit and I adore her for it. Their chemistry is undeniable right off the bat, and the sex is HOT HOT HOT. The slang get a bit annoying after a while, but it’s easy to overlook once you get used to it.
Birthright, by Nora Roberts!
I would recommend This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. LOVE that book!
Yay! Congrats! If I had to recommend one, it would be Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis. I love her sense of humor.
I’d have to pick Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn—one of the best!
Can’t wait for the new book! I sent a copy of Beyond Heaving Bosoms to my sister who is buying more copies for her friends!! Loved it beyond measure!!
Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase. One of the first romances I ever read, one of the romances I truly love, and probably the only romance with children that I adore!
It’s a hard decision, but I think, if I there can be only one, I’d say Crusie’s Strange Bedpersons. It’s easily the funniest romance I’ve ever read, and shows the give and take that needs to be in relationships.
I would like to add my Big Pimpin’ congratulations to you on the book!
Okay, the one book I would recommend to introduce someone to the romance genre is the first serious romance book I read “Defy Not the Heart” by Johanna Lindsey. After reading that book, I went to my mother’s romance stash (she was a member of some romance book club) and read as many as I could hoping to experience the “Awwww, they are so going to fall in love” moments that I felt with “Defy Not the Heart”. I even read other Lindsey books, but none came close to that one…I just wish they would release it as an ebook because I lost my paperback copy!
Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase. One of the first romances I ever read, a romance I truly love, and quite possibly the only children-featuring romance that I adore!
Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase. One of the first romances I ever read, a romance I truly love, and quite possibly the only children-featuring romance that I adore!