It’s been 11 years since the first reviews from the hot pink palace of Bitchery went live, and every year, we like to celebrate with merriment, traditional and modern anniversary gifts, mayhem, and possibly also shenanigans.
Lucky for us, the traditional gift for the 11th anniversary is steel, and the modern gift is jewelry. I thought, hey, this is awesome! STEEL JEWELRY ahoy!
Then RedHeadedGirl said, “Wait. SWORDS.”
Swords?
And everyone else said, “YES. SWORDS.” So this year, we’re giving away jewelry and swords! Happy anniversary to everyone!
Here are the prizes:
Yup, it’s a sword! The Timber Wolf sword is perfect for this giveaway since we’ve got plenty of shifters in romance, plus men and women wielding swords, and who doesn’t need a deep blood groove in their sword, right? And if you’re thinking, “Well, that’s not jewelry…” SURE it is! It’s Jewelry for ALL OF YOUR SELF!
More steel! And more jewelry!
And of course, some steel jewelry for your pocket or purse:
Want to enter? Easy! Just leave a comment below and recommend a romance you loved. You’ll be entered to win one of the prizes. Comments will close around noon eastern, and I’ll select the winners at random on Friday, 5 February 2016. If the item pictured above is not available at time of announcement, a similar alternative will be provided.
Standard disclaimers apply: Void where prohibited. Open to international residents where permitted by applicable law. Must be over 18 and full of steely determination to read. I’m not being compensated for this giveaway except for the opportunity to go sword shopping, which is compensation a-plenty! Crumb coats make the icing look very smooth, but icing is just as good straight from the bowl. Icing is also a legitimately delicious food group. Blanket forts may be constructed for purposes of reading; no prior warning is required.
Thank you for spending time with us. Smart Bitches wouldn’t be as much fun without you, so thank you for being part of our celebration!
ETA: 5 February 2016
Thank you so much for all the anniversary wishes! I am honored that you all come hang out with us each day, and I’m so happy to celebrate our anniversary with you. It’s winner announcement time!
The winner of the sword: L
The winner of the typewriter bracelet: Giddypony
The winner of the reading & tea bracelet: Cerulean
The winner of the reader pendant: Jill B
The winner of the flask: Alaina Keener
Thank you to everyone who entered, and thank you for celebrating with us!
Elizabeth Michaels ‘The Infamous Heir’ 🙂
Happy anniversary!
I just finished Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins and it was soooo good.
The Irish trilogy “Born in” by Nora Roberts, which consists of “Born in Fire”, “Born in Ice”, and Born in Shame” is one of my favorite series. The books are as much about the relationships between the sisters as they are about each one’s romance.
I know we’re supposed to stop with one book, but for anyone who likes m/m romances, one of my favorites from 2015 was “For Real” by Alexis Hall.
One of my favorites is Trade Me by Courtney Milan. I picked up after listening to the podcast. Ever so good, waiting for the rest. Thank you for all the book love.
So many choices…. let’s see….
My not feeling well comfort read is the Wallflower series from Lisa Kleypas. For snow days, I get out the early books in Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory series, while rainy days get the Scottish time travel books from Lynn Kurland.
Lots of other favorites, but those will do for a start 😉
I just devoured Rebekah Weatherspoon’s Fit trilogy and it was so good!
Happy 11th Anniversary, SBSarah! Your work broadens my world and provides joy for so many of us.
I am 100% fangirl for Rose Lerner. Smart, sexy characters and well-earned HEAs.
My favorite comfort reads are Loretta Chase’s Mr. Impossible and Not Quite a Lady.
Right now my favorite books right now are Ilona Andrews Innkeeper series.
Congrats on your anniversary and thanks for the giveaway.
11 years!! Glad I’ve been able to lurk for the last three. 🙂
One of the romances I recommend to my friends who want to test the waters is Let It Be Me by Kate Noble. Italy, music, court life – it has such a rich setting, and some very steamy scenes. A little bit for everyone!
I love “Outlander.” I’m a fan of all of Diana Galbaldon’s books, but “Outlander” is where it all began. And it brought me into Romance World.
Wait! What?!?!?! *FLAIL* You want me to recommend ONLY one?!?!?! The series I tell everyone they need to read is Anne Bishop’s The Others, starting with WRITTEN IN RED. Not truly a “romance”–a fantasy with romantic elements. Totally hooked on the series. The best romance I’ve read lately is Roxanne St. Claire’s BAREFOOT WITH A STRANGER (Barefoot Bay Undercover #2). But…if I have to pick my favorite romance of all time? JD Robb’s NAKED IN DEATH. Hands down. It’s my chicken soup book.
And a very Happy Anniversary! The Bitchery rocks, rolls, and is so freaking pink I wear my shades when I visit! <3 y'all!
I just read Clockwork Heart by Heidi Cullinan which comes out Tuesday and it’s already one of my all time favorites.
Congrats on 11 years! I love all things Beverly Jenkins, but my favorite is Wild Sweet Love.
I’ve read so many good romances, but I would have to say the one that stands out from recent reads is A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev. I would recommend it to everyone.
The Sari Shop Widow by Shobhan Bantwal. Happy anniversary!
A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Devereaux is one of my favorite golden oldies; the first time-travel I ever read. Keep up the good work ladies!
I loved “Trade Me” by Courtney Milan. And discovering Kristen Ashley rocked my world.
I recommend “The Rebel Pirate” by Donna Thorland. It’s action packed, and her heroines have so much agency!
I really loved Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase, which I picked up after seeing it mentioned in Beyond Heaving Bosoms, then immediately wondered how it hadn’t come to me sooner. So many of my catnips. 🙂 Hm, perhaps it’s time for a re-read….
Happy 11th Anniversary!
Oh I cannot wait for Anne Bishop’s Latest in the Others Series, so I recommend Marked in Flesh.
Swords, Flasks and Bling-fabulous.
Happy Anniversary! I’ve only been here about 9 of those years, but they have been great ones! As for this past year, the best romance – the best book – I read in 2015 was The Shattered Court . I can’t say enough good things about it, so I’ll just say, read it and you’ll see what I mean.
One of my favorite early romances was Desire by Amanda Quick. And browsing that Q area soon lead me to Julia Quinn and all those dashing Bridgertons!
Happy Anniversary to one of the best sites on the Internets!
An old-school one from me–one of the first romances I ever read: Mary Stewart’s This Rough Magic. Crete/oceans/dolphin-saving/brooding(ish) hero/sisters (Having two myself, I like books where sisters are friends) and lots of Shakespeare 🙂
Sort of stereotypical for now but the heroine is adventurous and smart and it’s one of my top comfort reads even now.
Games of command, by linnea Sinclair. Found it through SBTB and ever since then have been fiending for more virgin cyborg romance. That’s totally a trope, right?
I just got around to reading Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas and am now chewing at the bit for the next book in the series! I also read Back to the Good Fortune Dinner by Vicki Essex and really enjoyed it (I’m not much of a modern day romance without some sort of SFF twist, but this book really worked for me).
I love this site! Happy Anniversary.
I’d recommend Lois McMaster Bujold’s Sharing Knife books (the first is Beguiled). They’re usually classified as fantasy, but there’s nothing more romantic than Fawn and Dag’s story, to my mind.
I found Ashes In The Wind by Kathleen Woodiwiss out at my grandmother’s house. I still have it although I’ve had to tape the paperback together. Respect the Purple Prose. Respect it!
The Kraken King by Meljean Brook. Perfect balance of adventure and romance, plus amazing world-building. That book makes me so happy.
Currently loving Scarlet and the White Wolf series. M/m fantasy by Kirby Crow. So good!
I’ve been re-reading KM Moning lately and have fallen in love all over again with Gwen & Drustan’s story in “Kiss of the Highlander”. I love the dialogue and byplay between them and also between them and his family. This book reminded me of why I fell in love with her as an author. 🙂
Far From the Madding Crowd is one of my all time favourites. But for something more modern I’d go with Juklie Ann Long every time!
Happy Anniversary
It’s hard to pick just one book as a favourite but I do love Joanna Bourne’s The Spymaster’ Lady. I’ve read it so many times, it’s got wonderful characters and is a realistic regency spy novel. Highly recommended
I loved “Outlander” before it was cool (and found it thanks to this site), and have always loved gifting it to people.
Happy Anniversary!
I recommend The Good, the Bad, and the Vampire by Sara Humphreys. Funny, excellent world building, a great love story, and vampires.
Happy Blogiversary! What an awesome giveaway. A recent read that I loved is Act Like It by Lucy Parker, will definitely be recommending it to friends who enjoy contemporary romance.
Happy Anniversary! So many favorites I can’t name just one…Joanna Bourne’s THE BLACK HAWK, Meredith Duran’s DUKE OF SHADOWS, anything by Courtney Milan or Tessa Dare…the whole Sector Four series by Kit Rocha…the Psy/Changeling series by Nalini Singh…and so many more…
Thanks for sharing so many great years of romance! Here’s to many, many more!
I’m about 2/3s of the way through it, but I’m loving Farrah Rochon’s STAY WITH ME FOREVER. Secret crushes since high school! Former one-night stand! It’s the guy who has to do the convincing! Competence porn!
The first romance that I remember reading was a Georgette Heyer. I think it was Bath Tangle. The first romance I remember buying was Flame and the Flower – and then all of their old skool pink and purple-covered siblings. I can’t remember when I found the Bitches, but you have led me to paranormal, shifter urban romances. Thanks for all the recommendation Bitches – and please continue for years to come
Happy Anniversary!
Love dropping by this corner of the world. So many romances to recommend it is difficult to name one. I like my romance steeped in history, so anything by Susanna Kearsley, although The Winter Sea remains a favourite.
I just finished The House of Shattered Wings by Aliette de Bodard. Enjoyed it very much, think I picked it up based on a rec here.