You know how people can remember where they first heard about a terrible disaster? The Harlequin Horizons debacle is like that for me. While most romance readers heard about it on a blog or a romance message board, I heard about it first on a writing site, AbsoluteWrite.com. Reading about scams that prey on writers is like a hobby for me. When I saw a warning for something called Harlequin Horizons, my first thought was “Some small publisher is going to get in trouble for using the Harlequin name.”
Avon Advanced Read Giveaway Winner
November 20th, 2009LaRue Foster is the lucky winner of three e-galleys and six print galleys of upcoming Avon books. Not to even mention the supercute pink and green tote bag.
We thank everyone who took the time to enter. And, of course, we thank Avon for their generosity and creativity in putting together such a terrific prize package.
Don’t forget that until December 12th, you can save 20% off the price of Avon Books when you shop in the online Harper Collins store. Just enter the code AARAvon20 at checkout.
-Sandy AAR
Speaking of Audiobooks: December Releases
November 20th, 2009
As I searched for December’s audiobook releases, I decided to take a peek at 2010 and get an idea of what the year has in store for us audiobook romance lovers. Many of next year’s audio releases (for the most part we’re talking Jan-April) are not too surprising with authors such as Debbie Macomber and Nora Roberts offering numerous books, both old and new. But there were a number of satisfying discoveries as well with such releases as Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer’s Wild Ride (March) and the “Untitled Historical” by Lisa Kleypas.
Sabrina Jeffries is arriving on the audio scene in a big way with three books in early 2010, (January), The Truth about Lord Stoneville (January), Never Seduce a Scoundrel (March), and Only a Duke Will Do (May). Ms. Jeffries has two audiobooks to date – a short story, Gone But Not Forgotten, and an audio cassette version of A Dangerous Love from 2001. Let’s hope the powers that be choose to give us some of her earliest titles as well (my favorites).
Who’s Your Favorite Vampire?
November 19th, 2009
With the premiere of New Moon looming, suddenly everyone’s talking about vampires. The diehard Twilight fans I know never entirely stop talking about it, but the chatter grows ever louder. I’ve read all the books and I suspect I’ll end up seeing all the movies, but there is so much more to read once you’ve run through Bella and Edward (and Jacob)’s story. If you’re hooked on vampires, there are a ton of good books out there.
A Solution to the Reading Slump
November 18th, 2009
I never thought I’d say this, but here’s my answer to the reading slump: Stop reading.
About three weeks ago, I had a period of major crunching, and for two solid weeks I didn’t read a thing. My review books lay sulking on the table. The books I’d borrowed from friends were abandoned. Comfort reads were no longer a comfort – how could they be, when I couldn’t even face opening their covers? No newspapers, no magazines, and had the Bernstein Bears appeared I would have shunned them too. In short, I went into total reading freeze. For me, that’s huge.
The main reason was simply a question of fatigue – I’ve been too tired to do anything except work, eat, and sleep, emphasis on the latter. But when it was over, and after getting a solid ten hours of sleep, I successfully opened a book. And from the ashes arose an interesting realization: I was glad to take a break from reading. I was satisfied that I had stopped. I read that book enthusiastically, even though it turned out to be a dud. I was once again happy in the world of literature. All because I’d stopped reading.
20% Off Avon Books and a Cool Advanced Read Giveway (Contest Closed)
November 16th, 2009
We’re very excited to announce a special new benefit exclusively for AAR readers, thanks to the generosity of Avon Books.
From now until December 12th, when you shop at Harper Collins online, you’ll save 20% from your total order when you enter the code AARAvon20 at checkout.
And, to keep the good news coming, we’re also excited to announce a giveaway of an exciting package of Avon advanced reading copies for one lucky winner packed in a cute (really, really cute) handmade tote bag. To enter for your chance to win, just post in the comments section of this post by Thursday, November 19th at 12 midnight, eastern time. A winner will be randomly selected and announced here on Friday.
The prize consists of three e-galleys and six print galleys. The actual release date of all upcoming books is included in parentheses, but the prize will be shipped shortly after the contest concludes. Here’s what the winner will receive:
I’m Always a Sucker for This One
November 13th, 2009
Rike’s post yesterday on plotlines that could use a break got me thinking. I’ve got plenty of kvetches, believe me – many of them mentioned already by Rike – but, to put a Pollyanna spin on things (and, okay, so I am not often Pollyanna-ish, but let’s just run with it) there is at least one plot device that works for me always every time. Put an uptight brainiac seriously in need of having some pins pricked in his or her pretentions together with a casual, laid back type who knows how to deliver a zinger and I’m done for. Totally done for.
A friend of mine says I like “goofball” heroes and, to some degree, I think she’s right. But humor takes fierce intelligence (Jon Stewart, anyone?) and I find it incredibly attractive when someone is confident enough in himself that he doesn’t need to hit others in the face with his brains. It’s fun (not to mention sexually exciting) to discover that someone you initially underestimated is w-a-a-a-a-y smarter than you thought, right?
So, forthwith and with no more verbal diarrhea, here are my fave brainiac/goofball romances:
Plotlines That Could Take a Break
November 12th, 2009
On the whole, I don’t mind seeing variations of the same old plot in what I read. Well, I do read plenty of genre literature after all! The finesse and/or psychological depth in which a well-known plot is handled can actually enrich my pleasure in reading a great deal. That said, there are a few plotlines out there that I would really like to retire for a couple of years or so, and which may very well keep me from buying a new publication unless it’s by an autobuy author.
My Reading Habits Wallow in Shame, Apparently
November 10th, 2009
I normally adore Bookmarks magazine. While more than half my reading is romance, I read all kinds of other books as well and Bookmarks gives pretty good coverage of the non-romance world. They tend towards covering mainstream fiction without a lot of pretentious B.S., and their historical fiction articles by Sarah Johnson in particular have given me fantastic reading suggestions. However, when I saw their Guilty Pleasures article in the November/December 2009 issue, I was rather taken aback. The article (part I in a series) goes through types of books the author considers “guilty pleasures” and ranks them as Paradise (practically guilt-free, you could even be seen in public with these), Purgatory (nightstand reading) and Hell (books the author says “shame on you” for reading).
We have Winners!
November 9th, 2009And the winners of our Election Day giveaway are…
The Untamed Bride by Stephanie Laurens
Maureen and Moriah
and
Bound to Shadows by Keri Arthur
Patricia
Congratulations to all of our winners!
-Lynn Spencer
