What about you? What kind of influence did romance books have on your perception? Comment and enter to win an advance copy of Julia Quinn’s A NIGHT LIKE THIS.

I was going through my endless books of one of my favorite romance novelist, Janet Dailey. I stumbled onto a somewhat memorable tittle called, LEFTOVER LOVE. Why did this particular tittle stand out? The hero was, butt ugly! Of course this book first came out in 1984; I hope I’m not dating myself…lol. I digress. It really was a great book, but I do remember being a little uncomfortable with the fact that the hero was, not plain, but ugly. I think it was because it was Janet Dailey that I continued and read the whole book. Now, fast forward to 2012, I’m not sure that an ugly hero would fly in this day and age. With provocative covers and slick marketing I’m not sure if an ugly hero has a place in this millennium of romance novels. What do you think, would you pick up a book knowing the hero was ugly?

Comment to enter to win Maggie Robinson’s MASTER OF SIN and Zoë  Archer’s DEMON’S BRIDE. 

As always, I’ll be around, still supplying lots of books for the giveaways and popping in when I have interesting tidbits to tell. Speaking of giveaways, I’ll be holding a big one for Memorial Day. Grand Prize winner will win 25 books. Details to come…

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Thanks for that warm welcome Bev.

Hello The Season Readers, Madison here, I know that I have some big shoes to fill but I know I’m up for the challenge. Okay, The Season Readers let’s jump right in shall we?

I’ve recently just bought my first tablet and I have been in absolute heaven devouring new romance books and old favorites. As I found on my recent quest, the digital market includes traditional published books and self-published books.  What I have found, which I’ve never noticed before in reading traditional hard cover books, is the glaring mistakes that are hard to look over. One book in particular was so bad that I rated it and in my review pointed out all of the mistakes, hoping the author would read the review and take some of my suggestions to heart and correct them.

As a result, I began to wonder if others are having the same experiences like mine, and if you are, does it bother you?   Comment to enter win Nora Roberts’  THE LAST BOYFRIEND: In Print (U.S Residents only) or Digital. 

HER BEST WORST MISTAKE by Sarah Mayberry

EBONY M.
MELISSA M.
KC

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WHY DO YOU READ ROMANCE? OR NOT post

MELODY MAY
WILLAFUL
AMY MEDEIROS

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Congratulations, ladies! It’s first to respond, first gets to choose for the winners of the Why Do You Read Romance? Or Not? post. Don’t forget to indicate the title of the book(s) you won or want. Please email your snail mail address to me at contests at theseasonforromance dot com. You have one week to collect your prize.

Well that’s the ereader I’m giving away in my May/June contest. Details to enter are here.

In other news, I’m curious–I’d like to know what you’re reading or if you’re not reading a book at this moment, the last book you read. The first person to list the same book I’m reading will receive a print book from my stash OR a digital book (mmpb ) of choice.

As I grew older, my tastes grew along with me–as right they should. I distinctively remember my years devouring Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys, Trixie Belden and The Bobbsey Twins (okay, that may have been when I was a bit younger). I was into the teen love books at the age of 12 and 13 when my sister introduced to Harlequin Presents(yeah, I was way young for them). That was my true introduction to romance…and I was hooked. I’ve read them every since even as I became a die hard Agatha Christie fan and read Stephen King, Scott Turow and dabbled in Mary Higgins Clark for a bit. I even read one or two Danielle Steele novels–not more me as I didn’t feel like they read like a true romance.

There was a time, however, that I stopped reading romance. My life was crazy and for ten years I was off romance. Those were my cynical days. I don’t think I believed in HEAs anymore. But all is right with the world and I do now. I’m an ardent believer that there is someone (or even several someones) for everyone. My love of romance novels has–as you know–led me to take it up as a career, as a writer of romance novels.

What about you? When (age) and how did you start reading romance novels? Why do you read romance? If  you don’t read romance, why not? Comment and enter to win 2 of the six books below (3 winners). Click on the covers for book review and details. 

**U.S. Residents only

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Her Best Worst Mistake
Author: Sarah Mayberry
Publisher: Small Cow Productions
Pub. Date: May 4, 2012
ASIN: B00807FKPA
Pages: 188
Digital Price: $2.99
Amazon ~ Smashwords

She thinks he’s stuffy. He thinks she’s spoilt.
Then the gloves come off and so do their clothes!

For six years Violet Sutcliffe has known that Martin St Clair is the wrong man for her best friend. He’s stuffy, old before his time, conservative. He drives Violet nuts – and the feeling is entirely mutual. Then, out of nowhere, her friend walks out just weeks before her wedding to Martin, flying to Australia on a mission of self-discovery. Back in London, Violet finds herself feeling sorry for suddenly-single Martin. At least, she tells herself it’s pity she feels. Then he comes calling one dark, stormy night and they discover that beneath their mutual dislike there lies a fiery sexual chemistry.

It’s crazy and all-consuming – and utterly wrong. Because not only are they chalk and cheese, oil and water, but Martin once belonged to her best friend. A friend Violet is terrified of losing. What future can there be for a relationship with so many strikes against it?

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There is nothing like a new Sarah Mayberry book. I actively anticipate the release of her books, which is why I was thrilled to learn she had a new “Blaze-type” book out called HER BEST WORST MISTAKE.

The hero and hero, Martin St. Clair and Violet Sutcliffe, were secondary characters in Sarah Mayberry’s Blaze, Hot Island Nights. And I remember when I was reading Hot Island Nights, I thought there had to be something simmering beneath the surface of the relationship between Violet and Martin. Their interactions were so volatile and fraught with so much disapproval and…tension. Well in HER BEST WORST MISTAKE readers discover all that tension was sexual in nature.

Violet never thought Martin was a good match for her best friend Elizabeth. Despite her misgivings, she intends to stand up with her when Elizabeth marries Martin, a man who has the blessing of Elizabeth’s wealthy grandfather—whom Martin works for.

Martin in turn, disapproves of Violet. He finds her too everything: too flamboyant, too flirtatious, too impetuous. He’s quite staid and has pulled himself up from extremely humble beginnings. Marrying Elizabeth is the icing on the top of his well-ordered world. Then she dumps him and jets off to Australia in search of her biological father. He’s stunned and not about to let the relationship go that easy but a trip to Australia finds Elizabeth already involved with another man and Martin finally realizes that they are over—and never meant to be.

Neither Violet nor Martin expects to see each other again. Elizabeth had been the person holding them together. But Violet realizes why Martin has always irritated her. It isn’t that she doesn’t like him—as she’d convinced herself—it’s because she likes him…at little too much. Her peace offering in the form of a bottle of schnapps really blows opening their “true” feelings for one another. Their relationship goes through several fits and starts before getting into a good rhythm.

I absolutely adored and loved this book. When I first met them in Hot Island Nights, I prayed Sarah would follow up with a story of their love affair. Thank goodness she did and HER BEST WORST MISTAKE exceeded my expectations. Far from this staid, stuck-in-the-mud man, Martin has a lot of passion buried inside of him. The tension between them is electric and when they finally get together, their lovemaking is hot with a capital H.

Violet has some unresolved issues that has to do with her family and Martin grows in such a way that he grows to understand what’s really important in life and what’s not—like being accepted by the country club elite. The one big sticking point is that Violet puts off telling Elizabeth that she’s now in relationship with her ex-fiancé. And let’s face it, she’s broken the unspoken rule of dating your best friend’s ex. It’s just not done. But alas, that all works out nicely bringing the book to a most satisfying ending.

I highly recommend HER BEST WORST MISTAKE, which is a steal at $2.99. It has it all: great conflict, taut sexual tension and two fabulous lead characters. And as far as sequel go, it’s a winner.

Rating: 4.5 (Excellent – Must Read)

Heat-Level: 4 (Hot)

Reviewed by Beverley

Ways to win an iPad 3 and other stuff… post

JENNIFER

CHELSEA B.

DIANE DIAMOND

Congratulations, ladies! It’s first to respond, first gets to choose. Please email your snail mail address to me at contests at theseasonforromance dot com. You have one week to collect your prize.

Kindle Fire

JESSICA WALLS

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Kindle Touch

KEISHA CAMPBELL

Congratulations, ladies!!!! You have already received an email from me.

Well the rules are the exact same except this prize is for an iPad 3 (own one and LOVE IT!) and the goal for AN HEIR OF DECEPTION is 15,000 copies sold. Where am I know you ask? Currently I’ve sold 4140 copies, which means 10,860 copies to go. The blog or site I receive the most redirects from will receive a $100 Visa gift card. If you’re interested and need me to send you the ad, please email me at contact at theseasonforromance dot com.  And don’t worry, if you don’t have a blog or website, you’ll still be able to enter the day I post for the drawing.

Tomorrow I’ll be posting the winners of the Kindle Fire and the Kindle Touch so make sure you’ve entered (Kindle Fire entries requires you are subscribed to my newsletter).

In the meantime, while I strive for those 15k in numbers of books sold, I’m giving away the books below. Comment to enter to win. Click covers for reviews and book details.