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.
Really hard to answer with just one book because of the difference between historical and contemporary romance but I think I’ll go historical with Heyer’s _The Grand Sophy_. Funny scenes, terrific heroine, great secondary characters and B story – it’s got it all. (Really wish they’d film this some day.)
Congrats on the book publication!
P.S. Venetia and I must have clicked “Send” at the same time – great minds…
Congratulations on your new release! I look forward to reading your book in the near future. 🙂
Just one! Man.. That is so hard.. But. If I have to just choose one, it will have to be Judith McNaughts’ A KINGDOM OF DREAMS. This book is one of my all time favorites. Its a historical, and I don’t usually read historicals as much as I used to, but this is the one book I always come back to. It will make you laugh, cry, and shout with frustration, but you walk away at the end with a big sappy grin on your face. Its one of those books where the characters stay with you.
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
I just came off a Lisa Keypas bender so I’m walking a little wobbly. For someone new to the genre, I think it would depend on the age of the person as to what book to suggest. I remember Tiger’s eye by Judy Blume rocked my world years ago. But for all around, every age, male, female, I would recommend what hooked me again into the genre: Outlander by Diana Galbadon.
Plenty of nookie and lurve and conflict to make the history go down just right.
Congratulations!! I can’t wait to read your new book!
As to recommending just one book, I’d suggest Mary Balogh’s Slightly Dangerous. Which of course is the conclusion to a series, and while it stands alone really well, the whole series is fantastic. It’s a huge part as to why I fell in love with the genre. I’ve read the series, and this book in particular, repeatedly over the last few years.
First off—CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! 🙂
I see a lot of people mentioned Crusie’s Bet Me, and while I love it too, I’ll have to fess up that my first Crusie was Getting Rid of Bradley (‘tis the name of the hubby). I laughed my tush off, and went through every Crusie book I could get my hands on. I guess I’m saying I’d recommend any Crusie book to those who like humor, and Gabaldon’s Outlander to those who like epic historicals.
This is such a difficult question. I would have to go with Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, my favorite Julia Quinn title. Who wouldn’t fall in love with Colin Bridgerton? And Penelope Featherington, for that matter? And once you’d fallen in love with them, you’d be hooked and need to read about the rest of the marvelous Bridgerton siblings!
By the way, Sarah, I loved your talk at the Connecticut Library Association conference! SO happy you were there!
I would have to jump on the Nora bandwagon, but say Birthright. It is by far my favorite romance novel. And, you get a nice two romances in one.
It has been said several times already….but I am going to repeat Outlander. *grin* My suggestion would change depending on the person. But off the top of my head that would be one of the first books I would suggest.
Congratulations on the new book!! <- *couldn’t contain it. sorry*
Great news on your book; I know it’s so exciting! I have two favorite go-to’s I suggest: All the Queen’s Men, by Linda Howard, and Knock Me Off My Feet, by Susan Donovan.
I would also say Bet Me—wish I could think of something more original, but I haven’t had enough coffee yet!
Ugh, TOO TOUGH OF A QUESTION. Okay. I may be tempted to go with Kristan Higgins or Julia Quinn or Julie Ann Long, but really the one that sent me head over heels was Nora Roberts’ Calhoun Sisters series. Kind of obscure, a little bit random, but TOTALLY AWESOME. God, I may have to dig them out and reread them now.
1. Thanks all, loads more books TBR
2. Argh…only one!!!!
3. Just gave my best chum ‘The Duke and I’ by Julia Quinn and she has since taken the rest of the Bridgertons away with her. So I guess that’s the one (this time!)
I love anything by Jude Deveroux, especially her time travel ones. Guilty pleasure, not often revealed. But The Princess is my all time fav!
I’d recommend Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer. Not only does it have the requisite romance, but it also has action, adventure, baking, a wedding, mobsters, hitmen, and the liberal application of frying pans to cheating bastards. Much fun all around!
I have to say my recommendation would be a Heyer—and if I have to choose one I would say The Cotillion—I just adore Freddy the reluctant hero—Kitty the impulsive heroine and the mechanations which result in their HEA…Love that book.
Picking just one is too hard! My first was a Harlequin, but what really brought me into the fold was old skool Garwood and Deveraux. Oh, and my Mom passing me her copies of Victoria Holt. 😀 “The India fan” still ranks as my favorite, so I’m going with that as my final answer.
For me it’s Linda Howard’s Cry No More. I still reread it about every six months. It’s got everything…suspense, emotion, hot sex, a heroine to love and a hero you want to take home with you.
Does a series count as one? Lol…Alright, alright, one it is! I recommend Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens. This book made me fall in love with romance novels, more specifically, historical romance….When you were asking about ideal heroes and heroines for your book I wrote about the characters in this book. They’re just that great!!!
Congrats on your book!! Can’t wait to read it!…Will you be at the BEA in NYC next week, by any chance?
Generally, I tailor my recommendation to the person, but Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie is probably the one I suggest the most often.
I would have to recommend Running Hot by Jayne Ann Krentz. It’s one of her Arcane Society novels (written by all three nom de plumes – Krentz, Quick, and Castle).
What the crap! One! OK I probably should pick one of Quinn’s Bridgertons or a Lisa Kleypas, but I will go with Sherry Thomas’s Not Quite a Husband.
Oh, SB Sarah, I’m so happy that you finished the book!!! I’d recommend my all-time favorite Just The Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James.
I always go back to Carla Kelly’s ‘Miss Whittier makes a list.’ I love the strength of both characters, the way they learn and grow, and the mistakes and triumphs they go through along the way. The matchup of the British sea captain and the proper American miss was magical. I loved it!
I would have to recommend Stephanie Laurens’ Devil’s Bride. Such a wonderful book!
I’m going with Connie Brockway’s “As You Desire” here. It starts out with the extremely overwrought, over-dramatic descriptions that many, many people assume are what comprise romance novels, then comes to a screeching halt when we realize that the floofy stuff is just in the heroine’s brain—her DRUNK brain—and that the book is actually mocking such nonsense. The hero and heroine are actually friends, with a lot of sarcasm and history between them, so while it’s a historical, it’s pretty approachable.
If you told me I had to get rid of all but one book— be stranded on a desert island— or only could only read one more book… It would be BIRTHRIGHT by Nora Roberts… I’ve already worn out one paperback and now reread it in hardcover 🙂
Julia Quinn’s “Romancing Mr. Bridgerton” – at least as an intro to regency romances.
It depends on the person of course. I’d probably ask someone to name 3 of their all time favourite novels to get a sense of what they like, then go from there. But since this contest is about a generic, and not specific, person, I’ll have to echo a ton of others and say something by Crusie, most likely Bet Me. Which is weird, b/c I read mostly historicals, but I figure that if I’m allergic to most contemps and Bet Me still manages to be one of my favourite romances ever, of any genre, there’s got to be something extra special about the book.
The Devil’s Delilah by Loretta Chase, as recommended to me by the SBs years ago. It is the romance to which I hold all other romances. I love me a nerd hero like you wouldn’t believe, and a fast-paced and hilarious story.
I toyed with a couple of titles, thinking in terms of recommending them to a guy, a young adult/easy blusher, etc. Then I realized that I can’t predict who I might be suggesting a book for, so I should go with something I love. Hence, my choice out of all the excellent romances out there is Georgette Heyer’s These Old Shades. It has humor, wonderful characters, derring do and an incredibly tender resolution. I actually re-read my favorite scenes out loud to myself. Even the dog laughs at my French accent.
Congrats on the new book!
Why, oh why only one?? if I have no choice I suppose I’ll go with…. “His Mistress By Morning” by Elizabeth Boyle. It’s one of my most favorites romances. I adored the whole whishing business to draw the attention of the hero and the HEA was really sweet.
I am going to jump on the Crusie bandwagon and say “Welcome to Temptation” would be my recommendation. Her stories just appeal on so many levels I think they are perfect for introducing someone new to the genre.
Congratulations on your upcoming book, I’m intrigued by the concept and looking forward to reading it 🙂
Just one book…
That really is a tough one! I would have to go with Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione. It’s an interesting concept and an easy world to understand especially for someone new to the Genre. LArissa gives us exceptional Alpha males who aren’t without faults, strong kick ass women who we can relate to, intricate plots that draw you in to the story and hot and steamy scenes that fit the story perfectly! Throw in action, humour and suspense and you have the makings of a very pleasant afternoon read! and maybe a love for a new genre that can open up the door to many new possibilities!
Congratulations! It’s so great to see another book from the Bitchery.
Right now, I’d recommend Not Quite a Lady for historical or The Next Best Thing for contemporary. Both of these made me cry like a little bitch in the best possible way.
I’d recommend Julia Quinn’s The Duke and I. Love it.
One book would definitely be “Dear John” by Lyn Ellis, which is a Harlequin Temptation from way back. But if you can find it, read it. Builds on the whole Navy SEAL/alpha male trend and the heroine is strong but not TSTL.
OMG, I really suck at having to pick my favorite *anything*, but I REALLY, REALLY want this…The only thing that comes to mind right now is Georgette Heyer’s “Cousin Kate,” which was a pretty “heavy” book, but of her heroes (that I’ve met), I find Phillip’s affectionate behavior towards the titular (huh huh…titular) character quite charming.
Yeah, I suck. I’ll just buy the book in October. Meanwhile, I snagged some good book recommendations to act on! 🙂
Oooh tough one! Right now, I’ve gotta go with the first in Nalini Singh’s Archangel series… Great, kickass heroine and sigh worthy hero.
The Iron Duke by MelJean Brook