The party continues today as we move closer to our 10th anniversary. Snow? What snow? We have MAYHEM!
We’ve been counting down each month looking back at some of the most popular pages in the site’s archives over the past year. And now – more fun!
Ready for more giveaway mayhem? Givea-hem? May-away? Whatever? It’s time for more!
Mr. DeSalvo and his pink gladiator style are ready on the right, so let’s get to the next pair of celebratory gift packs! I’d call them gift baskets but there’s no actual basket. Maybe the basket is imaginary.
Standard disclaimers apply: Each giveaway will be open until 31 January 2015, and each prize pack is open to international residents where applicable by law. Must be over 18 to win. Void where prohibited. Objects in mirror may be closer than they appear. Close cover before striking.
Here’s the first one – ready? Reading and tea! READING AND TEA! (And nipple. Just about every prize picture includes mantitty. Yes, that’s on purpose!)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway features 2oz. of Fava Tea Company‘s Winterblend tea. Elyse’s favorite tea, this robust black tea has hints of orange, clove, pink peppercorn and pistachio. Subtlety spicy and delicious. Please note: This blend contains nuts.
Plus, the following books are included: A Fine Summer’s Day by Charles Todd, Wildalone by Krassi Zourkova, Beautiful Stranger, Beautiful Player by Christina Lauren, Linger by Lauren Jameson, Spellbound by Sylvia Day, a digital copy of Pride, Prejudice and Popcorn by Carrie Sessarego, Standoff by Sandra Brown, The Wedding Vow by Cara Connelly, When a Laird Takes a Lady by Rowan Keats, To Marry a Scottish Laired by Lynsay Sands, and three books by Laura Kaye – Hard as You Can, Hard to Come By, and Hard as It Gets. And ready for giveaway part deux? a Rafflecopter giveaway
Included in this giveaway are a Smart Bitches flask featuring The Ladies, a 1000 piece puzzle featuring classic Harlequin covers, a hardcover notebook featuring The Widow Gay by AA Marcus, a collection of Harlequin Notables matchbook notepads with vintage covers, a bottle of Posh Wash bath & shower gel in cherry blossom scent, a digital copy of Pride, Prejudice and Popcorn by Carrie Sessarego, a copy of Sweet Surprise by Candis Terry, a hardcover copy of Burned by Karen Marie Moning, and (drumroll please!) an Advanced Reader Copy of Eloisa James’ April 2015 book, Four Nights with a Duke.
Good luck with the giveaways – and get ready for more. We’re hosting two a day all week, leading up to our 10th anniversary on the 31st!
Most recc’d-what else can I say but Lord of Scoundrels? You can’t beat the Queen of Romance Novel initiation recs.
I am all about Spindle Cove when I talk about romance with non-romance folks. I love the idea of this town with all these “weird” (read: awesome) ladies!
i don’t find myself recommending romance novels very often! i need to start! i’d most likely recommend johanna bourne.
I am always recommending Suzanne Brockmann
Depends on whose asking. I like clever writers though so often recommend those books. The last book I recommended was Courtney Milan’s – Trade Me. I hope my friend loves it as much as I did! Or she won’t be my friend anymore!!!!!
Does classics count? Well, I’ll most often recommend Jane Eyre, it has it all (imo), a non-to-typical heroine, a not-quite handsome hero, a mystery and a lot of suspense and reading it today it’s a historical romance. It’s the one romance I’ve read the most number of times.
Courtney Milan’s Countess Conspiracy, I think. I work in medical research, so I love that it’s about women in science in the 19th century.
I have very few fellow romance readers in my real life and I tend to get more recommendations than I give to online people. Plus it all depends on genre. Just to save me writing pages, I’m going to say I probably would recommend Tessa Dare, Courtney Milan, and Lisa Kleypas the most for historical romance. And I feel like I’m forgetting somebody else that I adore, but they’re who are springing to mind for me right now. 🙂
Jennifer Crusie’s Welcome to Temptation is a fun read for romance newbies
I don’t know all that many people who actually read in real life (which is depressingly unfortunate), but I usually recommend either Loretta Chase or Sarah Morgan, depending on the person.
Anything by Jennifer Crusie, who was one of the first contemporary romance authors I discovered
My most recommended romance is either “Bet Me” by Jennie Crusie, or Joanna Bourne’s books (any/all of them; they’re all awesome).
It depends a bit on the personality of the person I recommend a book to, but most often I push one of Lois caster Bujold’s books. Because she’s a wicked good author! I adore Shards of Honor, but A Civil Capaign is just insanely fun in addition to being an excellent romance. And I absolutely adore the proposal!!!! And no one who have been exposed to any of the Vokosigan books (and adores the romances) would want to miss Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance. (That’s Ivan-you-idiot’s book)
Hey, that was three books, but they’re good enough that I figure no one will complain!
I usually recommend The Viscount’s Scandalous Return by Anne Ashley because I like the heroine a lot.
I don’t know almost anyone who reads romance, but if they do, I tend to tailor my recommendation to what else they’re reading. I tend to prefer lighter, campy romances with a paranormal element (which definitely isn’t what my friends read!). So to play it safe, I usually start them out with Lord of Scoundrels or Bet Me.
I have two go-to authors: Diana Gabaldon (the Outlander series, while not strictly romance, is totally romantic!) and Molly O’Keefe — especially Crazy Thing Called Love (which won the Rita)and any of the other books in the Crooked Creek Ranch series. I’d also add Susan Elizabeth Phillips to the pile and J.D. Robb. Better stop there!
I always recommend: Julie James: Something About You and Bet Me! by Jennifer Crusie.
None of my “real life” friends seem to read romances (or they don’t admit it – silly bitches!), so I rarely have a chance to share a fave. 🙁
Depends on the ‘audience’ – if I had to commit to just one, though, it would have to be Annie’s Song. Oh, the feels!
I recommend Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter series to people wanting to try paranormals.
Angel’s Devil by Suzanne Enoch or Lord of Scoundrels. Depends on the person.
According the the Hallmark website, 10th anniversary gifts are:
Traditional – tim/aluminum
Modern – diamond jewelry
Which do you prefer?!?
Open Season by Linda Howard
Jill Marie Landis’ TIKI GODDESS series as a cozy mystery set in Hawaii with aging hula ladies, a transplated California girl, and a hot fire dancer.
It depends, but for people looking to get into romance, I sometimes start with a classic Heyer or the like. Or something that’s a fairy tale redux. Kind of to ease them into the genre.
Always start with Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels. I get thank yous all the time for that one.
@Kim:
Hmmm. I do love a good aluminum foil hat….
For Romance, I always recommend Courtney Milan. I just love how she writes her characters.
It depends on the person. for my lit fiction loving friends, I’ve been pushing The Story Guy by Mary Ann Rivers.
I ‘convert’ people to romance novels with Judith McNaught. Never failed 🙂
I often recommend Jayne Ann Krentz, early Feehan, Jennifer Crusie, Julie James, Amanda Quick, Sarah Maclean, and Nalini Singh
Depends on the person but Georgette Heyer is usually the starting point!
Like most people, Lord of Scoundrels is one my auto-recs for historical. Bet Me for those who wants something more related time-wise. “The Classics”. And Soulless for those who wants to try steam and/or paranormal.
I don’t know many romance readers in my real world, so when recommending a book I tend to go for Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder – a believable romance in a fantasy setting xx
My most recent recommendations have been Trade Me by Courtney Milan and the Ivy Years series by sarina Bowen.
This is a very hard questions, because I usually recommend a certain series as opposed to a single book. And it also depends on the reader. Lately, I’ve been recommended the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews or the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. Not really romances, but good relationships.
I use Outlander (Gabaldon) as a gateway dru- er, book, then seal the deal with Flowers from the Storm (Kinsale). Usually the people I am attempting to convert are ‘I only read fiction and literature’ types who are unaware of the great writers that exist in our genre.
Depends on who I am talking too. For my non-romance friends it would be Silent in the Grave, the first Lady Julia book. For romance readers, Lord of Scoundrels.
For historicals, Julia Quinn. Jennifer Crusie’s Welcome to Temptation for comtemporary.
Jennifer Crusie’s Bet Me. Has worked so far.