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.
I would say Sabrina Jeffries, she a wonderful writer. I’m reading her Hellions of Halstead Hall series and it the best, can’t put it down.
I love suzanne Enoch, so I would def recommend her after the kiss book. I love this question though bc I love finding new books to read. I see a few new ones. Thanks!!
Congratulations on you new book very intriguing indeed!
The book I would have to recommend is Nora Roberts Three Fates I first read this book many years ago and it is still one of my faves! It has a good mix of romance and suspense and has characters you can easily fall in love with and you can read it again and again!
What an exciting giveaway and what a tough choice to make. I would probably go with His at Night by Sherry Thomas – it’s a perfect combination of romance and amazing humour, plus a very strong woman who kicks ass :)) Congrats on the new book! I will get it no matter what. The last one was a blast, and the best part? Nobody who is not a romance reader could understand why I was giggling all the way through.
First, I’m going to have to agree that Bet Me by Crusie or Agnes & the Hitman by Crusie/Mayer are great books and two of my favorites. They were also the first two books that popped into my head. And then I thought maybe a Julia Quinn, because Romancing Mr. Bridgerton and It’s in His Kiss are two of my favorite all time reads… But I hate starting a series in the middle so I nixed that idea which made me really think.
I’m going to recommend the book that got me reading romance again:Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens. It’s a historical romance, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the heroine is very modern thinking, which, I think might help others change their minds about historical romances. At the same time, Devil Cynster is everything I love in a hero no matter when it takes place, he’s commanding, in charge (and irritated when Honoria doesn’t fall in with his plans), and a little dark and dangerous (Ok, a lot) – after all he’s nicknamed Devil. But the absolute kicker for me is that it’s all about expressions of love and not just saying the words, whether it be to the immediate family or to his future bride. (I could be wrong, but I don’t think that Devil actually says the words ‘I love you’ to Honoria until a book much later on in the series)
Wow…some great recs have already been mentioned. I’ve converted several friends with Bet Me, Outlander, and anything Kresley Cole’s or Karen Marie Moning’s backlist. That being said I still consistently recommend the book that converted me…Ward’s Dark Lover. It was the first romance book I’d read in more than 10 years at the time. Thanks to a very long, unexpected layover and a poorly stocked terminal bookstore, I read Dark Lover and Brockmann’s Unsung Hero before I made it home. I’ve been hooked on romance ever since.
I can’t wait to read your new book!
As far as my recommendation goes, it would probably have to be Lord of Scoundrels unless the person wasn’t into historicals. Then Bet Me. I’m not original, but I really think those books are tops!
Nora Roberts’ _Montana Sky_ offers three romances, adventure, mystery, and really, really good writing. I also have a crush on Adam. 🙂
Firstly congrats on your new book. Definitely looking forward to reading it.
Goodness, trying to come up with one is a nightmare 🙂 But I would have to say Prince Charming by Julie Garwood. Yes its an oldie but still stands the test. I reread that one about once every 6 months and its not too heavy so a nice intro into the romance genre
congrats on the new book and thanks for the giveaway. i think this book looks great. it is true that sometimes we think that we will get the fairy tale ending just like the book and that does not always happen.
My favorite romance novel would have to be anything by Johanna Lindsey. My 2 favorites by her are Say you Love Me and The Loving Scoundrel. She writes a great series of books about a family called the Malorys. I love them they are a great family.
christinebails @ yahoo.com
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon—I know historical romance written eons ago but it is such a wonderful story—army nurse vacationing with her husband and then the adventure begins. Claire is such a great heroine—strong and smart. Jamie is such a handsome and good man. How can it be anything other than superb? I like the following books in the series and am just amazed at how realistically she aged them yet when I need a visit to an old friend—I go to the “Outlander”…
Just one? Brighter than the Sun by Julia Quinn. It’s funny, there is a “getting to know you” on the part of the couple and there is respect between them. and they are not perfect!
Only one?? That leaves out all of my favorite NR trilogies then…
An older gentleman friend once sheepishly admitted to me that he’d accidentally picked up a NR book from the library in the faculty lounge and really enjoyed it and did I know of any other authors he’d like? I gave him a few more of my NR books, but also loaned him SEP “Lady Be Good”. He *loved* it – and was totally hooked on the genre. My work was done 🙂
Fabulous cover. Congrats on the book, Sarah!
Born in Fire by Nora Roberts.
Book 1 of a terrific trilogy. Classic romance, amazing descriptions of glass making. Is a comfort read for me. One of the few books I kept during a recent purge.
Bet Me, by Crusie, end of story.
Oh my gosh, I can’t wait to try some of the books people are recommending!
The romance novel I’ve read more than any other, and thus would push on another, is “The Fire Rose” by Mercedes Lackey. It’s a magic-filled retelling of “Beauty and the Beast,” and it’s just…special.
Once and Always by Judith McNaught
The one book that I would recommend above all others, with the exclusion of the hundreds that I would also recommend would be Jennifer Crusies Welcome to Temptation. I fell in love with this book in my Women in Literature English class at UAFS-along with every other romance novel my instructor chose for us to read. But this one really is a great read.
How cruel, just one?! I guess it would depend on the intended reader. For men, I would recommend “Agness and the Hitman” by Crusie and Mayer. Love and dead bodies, what’s not to like? For women I would go with “Bet Me” by Crusie. One word: donuts.
My love of Regency romance and paranormal romance has given me a broad range of titles to choose from, but discovering your most excellent website has inspired even more. So if I had to recommend just one…
In the paranormal genre I’d recommend Lover Eternal by JR Ward. Say what you will about the cartoon-ish names or the decline of writing caliber with the last book of the series (just my humble opinion), there is some good lovin’ in this book and some gripping action. So much so that I’ve re-read it. A lot.
Congrats on your book! I’m so happy for you.
Hard to choose, but Candice Hern’s Just One of Those Flings is one of my recomended reads. =)
The Next Best Thing by Kristan Higgins made me laugh and cry, and I think I would recommend it to any of my friends. I think I have already recommended or given it to all of my friends. That’s fun.
I’d have to go with Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale. The heroine is unconventional, the hero is damaged physically, mentally, and emotionally, and there are enough romance tropes to keep a dozen reviewers busy, and all are handled with originality and such delicious prose. Absolutely my favorite book, and the one I’ve used to lure readers into romance time and time again.
I’m going to jump on the Crusie bandwagon and go with Anyone But You.
It has to be Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale. I’ve bought so many copies of that book just for the purpose of indoctrination. Because loaners do not come back!
Joanna Bourne’s The Spymaster’s Lady. Welcome to Temptation, most anything by Julia Quinn. And I have to say, based on rec’s here and other romance sites Meljean Brooks The Iron Duke was awesome.
Maya Banks seducing Simon
I’ll add another vote for The Spymaster’s Lady. Great plot with a few twists, fun historical period, good writing, decent sexual tension. My only hesitation is that Bourne’s others aren’t quite as good, and books can usually be author gateways, especially for someone who isn’t familiar with the genre.
What a great giveaway! I know it’s already been suggested tons, but because I just re-read it last night, and because it’s WORKED at turning my pals onto contemporary romance, I have to go with Jennifer Crusie’s Bet Me.
I would recommend many of the Nora Roberts books as a good introduction to romance novels. The specific book would depend on the person’s favorite genres. If I have to pick just one, I guess it would be Montana Sky.
Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl.
Hands down, one of my all time favs and here’s why: Sexy yet flawed hero. Funny, lovable yet flawed heroine. Awesome, realistic love scenes. Unbelievably good dialogue. Great secondary characters. And the all-important HEA. I just loved everything about this book. I dare you to read it and not laugh out loud or cry a little near the end.
I usually start with one of the ones that is borderline thriller. The Villa is usually a good one because it has relationships at three different stages of life, plus mystery and who doesn’t like a good discussion wine-making?
I love so many…but I think I’d have to go with For My Lady’s Heart, by Laura Kinsale. I think it is a great story, with unexpected twists, and not your typical characters. Also, for anyone that believes that romance novels are all brain candy, the Middle and Old English dialogue might just change their minds.
Congratulations! I would have to recommend a Lisa Kleypas, I think perhaps “It happened one Autumn”
But I have to admit that kleypas was my gateway drug/author.
Since she was my gateway drug to romance, I’m going to have to go with Georgette Heyer. And I have to say that “Arabella” may be the best introduction to her genius and hilarity.
Congrats on the book!
Sooo tough to pick just one… For contemporary, I usually always go with Crusie—Welcome to Temptation, though Trust Me on This comes close too. For historical, Mr. Impossible.
I have to go with Nora Roberts, but which one?? Hmmm…*peruses bookself*…I’ll choose Public Secrets because it is the one that hooked me many years ago.
Other titles that popped into my head were Bet Me, Lord of Scoundrels, Devil’s Cub, and Silent in the Grave, most of which are already well-represented here.
Thanks for the contest, Sarah. I look forward to reading your new book when it is released.
One of the first romance novels I read was Jennifer Crusie’s Bet Me, and it remains my absolute favorite and the one I recommend to EVERYBODY. Funny, sweet, sexy, and pitch-perfect, it is the romance novel to end all romance novels. I think it would make an excellent movie, but I’m scared Hollywood would mess it up, as they are wont to do.
I’m still on the lookout for my Cal Morrisey. If you see him, tell him I’m waiting!
For me, it would have to be Lord of Scoundels. It was the first out-and-out “romance” that I really truly LOVED.
Love the book!
The book I would recommend?
Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale. HANDS DOWN.