Here’s the description of the novel:
With shades of The Lovely Bones combined with the guilty pleasure of a pirate romance: a novel about two sisters coming of age in the 1950s, and what happens when one of them disappears.
Neave and Lilly Terhune couldn’t be more different. Lilly is a beauty who runs through men like water. Neave, having been told at an early age by their mother that she will not be able to get by on her looks, always has her head in a book. Her favorite is The Pirate Lover, a romance novel about a young woman who refuses marriage to the highest bidder and instead escapes to the high seas where she meets the love of her life.
During WWII, when the men are gone, both sisters start working. But when the servicemen return and take back their jobs, Neave and Lilly are left with few options besides marriage. But they have other ideas. They start to build a makeup business (think Avon in its early days) and soon have a hit on their hands. But just as their business is truly taking off, Lilly disappears and Neave must figure out what happened. Luckily, she has Lilly’s assistance helping from above, even if she doesn’t know it quite yet.
Alternating between the sisters’ story and that of Neave’s beloved Pirate Lover book, Sharon Pywell shows how all romantic relationships have dark undercurrents, how even the most cerebral amongst us can enjoy a swashbuckling, page-turning romance, and how sometimes the guiltiest of pleasures might contain essential kernels of truth.
There’s romance, historical fiction, and female friendships! I can also vouch that the cover is really pretty in person.
To enter to win, leave a comment and tell us what you love about being a romance reader. Is it the stories of strong women? Is it the community? Let us know!
Standard disclaimers apply: We are not being compensated for this giveaway. Void where prohibited. Open to U.S. and Canadian where permitted by applicable law. Must be over 18 and ready to bury your nose in a good book. While the Terhune sisters above might have a secret love of pirates, all heroes are appreciated here! Life lessons learned by reading romance are always encouraged. Comments will close Friday, Monday 24, 2017 around noon ET, and winners will be announced shortly thereafter.
Good luck to everyone!
Winner update:
- Vicki
- elizabeth
- Maureen
- Melisenda
- Megan Larsen
- Katherine C.Â
- Emily
- MollyM
- Kay Sisk
- Susan
- Mara
- Hera
- Heather RR
- Liviania
- Karenmc
- Nancy
- Holly Gault
- cleo
- Lori
- Cristie
- Becky
- Janine
- DonnaMarie
- Valerie Paquin
- Cat
Thank you so much to every one of you who commented. Seeing what you love about romance is truly heartwarming.
Winners, you should be receiving an email from me shortly. Please, check your spam folders!
I like the optimism of romance books, that no matter the obstacles there is the possibility of a happy ending at the end of the journey.
I like the happily ever afters, and the idea no matter who you are or what you look like, someone out there is going to think you’re amazing and gorgeous and perfect.
What I love most about romance novels is that they often place women, their stories, friendships and feelings, as the focus (of course, there are male-male romances, multi-partner romances, and romances from the point of view of the male, but by and large, my statement remains true). It’s one of the few, or maybe the only, genre whose every heroine has something I see in myself.
Two things, actually. The happily ever after is the most important, as I’m reminded every time I take a break, read fiction, and get burned when my main character is killed off. But I also love the way I learn things, because a well-researched book contains facts I didn’t know before. I love quoting something true and factual, and people wonder where I learned that, and it’s like, that’s right – in a romance. Bam.
Oh my goodness this is alllllll kinds of Ruth catnip! I love romance for the HEA and the sheer, glorious escapism of it all.
You know, the reasons I love reading romance keep changing as my life changes. As an adolescent, I read romance (secretly) for the sex. When I taught full time I started reading romances almost exclusively because they were the only books I seemed to be able to actually remember from one reading session to the next. And I needed the guarantee of a happy ending.
These days (after getting laid off and changing careers) I seem to read romances for the emotions. I like that it’s a genre where connecting with story and characters emotionally is as important (maybe more important depending on the author) as connecting intellectually. I like being swept away into someone else’s story for awhile.
I love how romance novels really believe that everyone deserves love. I’ve read books with characters who are deeply flawed, or deeply annoying, or who I just probably wouldn’t like if I met them on the street, and they all get their HEA. I love that.
I’m finding comfort, solace, and escape when I am not comfortable in my own world.
I like having nice places to escape to, and that romance books are primarily about people figuring things out and doing okay.
I definitely am a fan of strong women. #TomboyRomance
I love the escape from reality and the fact that everyone is worthy of love no matter how “difficult” or flawed they are. Also, the romance community is fantastic!
I read about science all day. When I’m not doing that, I’m caring for other humans. Reading romance is what I do for me and my touchy-feely side. Yay for feelings!
I work in the tech field and reading historical romance takes me away from the bits and bytes.
Reading romance has made me a better friend, increased my self-reflection, and introduced me to wonderful readers and authors online. And then there’s the journey to the HEA, the sexy times, and knowing more history than my history-major brother;)
Part of reading romance is that they’re comforting, you *know* how it’s going to end. But it’s the fun parts on their way there that make each one special.
I like the importance they place on emotional development, and the respect they have for emotional intelligence.
I like knowing there will be a positive ending– some days, I need to know it’s all going to be OK. That’s the one unique aspect of romance reading that I can’t get anywhere else
I like the knowledge of an HEA, even in the most WTF, crazy-sauce of plots, I love that the heroines all know what they want and go for it, or at least refuse to settle for less, and I love the community of friends I have developed around reading romance.
I enjoy knowing there will be a happy ending, and I also love the wit in many romance novels. I’ve read quite a few that are laugh out loud funny in spots, and I don’t find that in many other types of books.
I love the variety of stories, characters, and plots that I can read without being worried of my favorite characters having a sad ending. Reading romance means that I can read without stress and know that in the end, despite the huge obstacles they may encounter, the hero and heroine will be OK.
What do I love? Where to start? That love and connection take precedence over power and money. Although, if you like power and money, there’s a book for you. In fact, I love that there’s a book for everyone.
And I love answering the question “How do you know that?” with “I read it in a romance novel.”
Reading saves my sanity in this clown-car political climate. Romance reading is the best; everyone can identify with romantic longings. My favorite part of this blog is HABO, because the descriptions and comments make me laugh out loud and then I feel that I am part of a unique and erudite tribe. Reading romance novels, spicy or sweet, is the cheapest anxiety therapy that I have found. I love this community.
Reading stories written by women about women is the best! I try to only read women authors, fiction and nonfiction. Thank you for your site! (Side note, giggled again about your bargain post for ‘Hail Mary’ – lord, the cover! :))
I love that romance can provide an escape. I love happy endings. And I love the community of (mostly) women that read romance.
I love reading romance books because they let us believe, if only for a short time, that there really can be a happily ever after. I recently shared a beloved romance novel with a 70-year-old immigrant, who has lived and worked (legally) in our country for years but is uncomfortable in our current environment. She is a mathematician who had NEVER read a romance novel. She told me this week how much joy and comfort it had brought her. What more can you ask?
I love that the romance genre simultaneously reflects and inspires a new generation of empowered females.
The HEAs and tendency for the books to be quick reads make Romance the perfect genre for a little escapism. Plus, the romance writers I’ve met tend to be really interesting individuals with open hearts and quick wit.
I thought when I separated from my husband I wouldn’t be able to tolerate romance novels anymore, but it turns out that it actually renewed my faith and joy in romance again 🙂 They also offer momentary distraction from the stresses of single parenting! The promise of an HEA means that even a stressful suspenseful romance is a restful escape. And I love how far romance has come, so that the annoying, misogynistic, chauvinistic, throw-against-the-wall-in-rage books are far fewer and farther in between, so instead of feeling talked down to, I feel empowered, both by reading romance, and being part of a sisterhood of like-minded women 🙂
I love that a happy ending is (almost always) guaranteed. With the chaos that exists in the real world, I need my escape to promise a solved problem and a happy protagonist. Also, it’s really wonderful to read about women changing their own lives for the better and accepting themselves (and being accepted by others) just as they are. This is is something that women still don’t see enough of every day.
I like the hope and optimism that there are still good guys out there and that sometimes you have to go through some real jerks before you find them, but they will be found! I used to curse Romance because of the unrealistic expectations, but since I met (and married) my good guy, I see what my jaded eyes didn’t see all those years.
I love reading romance novels for so many reasons. So. Many. Reasons! Knowing there will always be a happy ending is comforting and I enjoy the opportunity to learn about different historical eras, lifestyles, cultures and people. Romances are a wonderful escape from reality during the bad times and rereading a beloved favorite can be like visiting with old friends.
Romance novels provide a sense of escapist, just-for-me time (I know, I sound like a Calhoun commercial), as well as a warm feeling of community. Honestly, with the world as it is these days, SBTB could add 10 new posts a day and I’d read them, comments and all.
I like that even all these years later, I still feel anxious when we get to the ‘maybe we shouldn’t be together after all’ phase of the book. Great writing and compelling characters are the best.
Romance has been the one true constant in my life, the one thing that I could always turn to no matter what was going on in my life. What haven’t I learned from romance novels? They brought my mom and I closer as she was the one who introduced me to Nora Roberts when I was young (probably too young hah). They taught me about amazing women and strong, healthy relationships. I learned much more about healthy sex-ed from romance novels than in school, that’s for damn sure! But romance also gave me a community to be a part of that you don’t often see in the literary world. And mostly, romance re-ignited a passion that I’d long ignored…writing. Finding this blog and diving back into romance has led me to working on more of my writing, taking all of the stories I come up with in my head and putting them on paper. I just love love and everything it’s brought to my life!
My first Romance novel came to me in a difficult time of my life. I was 17, full of insecurities, very emotional, going to a school I hated… And along came this book (I found it in the cottage my family rented for skiing vacation) and reading it just made me so happy. And it worked everytime, as I re-read it whenever I felt down. And it worked with my friends, too. No wonder I went looking for more of those books. Cause I much prefer feeling happy to feeling down.
I love the happy ever after. Reading romance is the best therapy there is.
There are romances with strong heroines and more docile heroines. I can see myself or some trait I think I have in common with any of them. As we all have those different moods. You can find something to read at any time regardless of your mood. And If you only read HEA endings then it’s even better. Everyone needs a little escape from realty and “real” life problems now and then. That is why I love romances so much!
Valerie Paquin
I like the sense of discovery I feel every time I open a new book or try a new author. It might be learning about something new–whether its the process of distilling single malt scotch or unfamiliar science or history or costume porn. It might be characters that I want for my new best friend or that are just so complex that they fascinate. I like good writing and authors who clearly put as much work and skill into their romances as any dedicated writer.
I guess I like the same things in romance that I like in any book. Good romances relax me and make me smile. So do good books of any genre. I don’t really see the point of making a distinction. It’s a book, therefore I can potentially love it. I also deeply, deeply adore turning a non romance-reader on to my favorite books. I’m looking at you, scornful spouse.
I love the remarkable community of women I’ve connected to through romance, and a hot sex scene doesn’t hurt!
I like the journey the characters must take before their HEA. Yes, the destination is the same in genre romance I have to agree with my literature-minded friends, but it’s the JOURNEY. It’s the “will the author really do that to them?” It’s the “oh, no, I thought we were there” moment when their world seems to crash about them and then the rush to set all on the right path to a solid relationship. Whew!