Tis the season for giving. In that spirit, I wanted to do something special and fun for you.
I've heard from so many wonderful people this year and would love to know more about you. No big family secrets, I promise! However, I'd love to know a little about your reading habits and the things you like and want to read.
So here's the contest:
Each day I will post a question about reading and books. When you answer the question, I'll add your name to the 'hat'. On Tuesday, January 15, I will draw from the names accumulated. There will be one grand prize and two consolation prizes.
Grand prize gift includes the following:
A signed copy of the entire Last Chance Rescue Trilogy (RESCUE ME, RETURN TO ME and RUN TO ME)
$25 gift card to Barnes and Noble
Bath and Body Works gift set
Signed cover flats for the new trilogy (NO CHANCE, SECOND CHANCE and LAST CHANCE)
Advanced reading copy of NO CHANCE
Consolation prizes aren't bad either:
$25 gift card to Barnes and Noble and a signed copy of RUN TO ME
Only one entry per person per day, but try to answer each day since it increases your chances to win. And best of all, there is no right or wrong answer!
Today's question:
What was the first romance you read or can remember reading?
Post here, with the title and author of the book, along with your name so I can put it in the 'hat'.
Since this is the first time I've done this kind of contest, please let me know if you have any questions. And to get us started, and no, I won't include my name in the 'hat', but the first romance I can remember reading is The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss. From that moment on, I was hooked!
What about you?
33 comments:
hmmm, first romance was probably a Johanna Lindsay, the one with Brenna & Garrick...I can't think of the title right off. My mom went through a phase after her divorice where she devoured romances so I scooped up all the books when she was done. I was probably 14-15. :-)
Now and Forever by Diana Palmer. I found a box of old books my grandfather bought and I thought I was being sneaky reading a "dirty" book at the young and tender age of 12...I was hooked for life. It was fun talking them to school and putting a book cover on them so the teachers did not know I was reading those kind of books. Gosh this questions brings back memories.
Sarah Luth
Oh, I read a ton of Johanna Lindsay too. My mom introduced me to romance books and she still reads about 5 or 6 a week. I can't keep up with her anymore!
Love it, Sarah! And I think I was around 12 when I started reading them too!
The first one I remember reading was also The Flame and The Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss. I devoured all her books. Yhen i think I moved on to Johanna Lindsey and Constance O'Day Flannery. I read so msny historicals I can't stand to read that genre anymore. LOL!
First romance books I read would date back to when I was about 12 or 13 and my sister donated her 'Sweet Dreams' collection to me. I can't remember names or authors, but I can remember some of the plots. The hallway whispers, mean girls and cute, but unaware boys. The heroine would nearly always been the quiet, almost geeky girl who would be either new in town or very unpopular.
In seventh grade, my best friend loaned me a copy of Judy Blume's Forever, and though our parents considered it taboo, it actually got me thinking about the kind of relationship I wanted (and didn't want) with a boy. It made me hold true to myself and my values.
Most of the books I read i am not sure if you can count as being Romance,unless that would allow Eliet ops, service men,or vampire. But i do have some romance. The first romance i can remember reading was Night Moves by Heather Graham.
The first romance I remember reading was a Harlequin Presents by Carole Mortimer. I can't remember the title. I started reading romance as a pre-teen.
I don't remember the title but it was definitely by Barbara Cartland; I was hooked after that.
Oh my gosh! I'm so glad you didn't ask what's our favorite romance because after many, many years of reading I find that the hardest of all to answer. I can name my favorite genre, my favorite characters of all time, my favorite setting - but favorite book is an altogether different matter. So, thanks Christy!
Years ago while helping a friend move, I found a box of books in her garage that she was going to toss out. Among those books was Nora Roberts' "Honest Illusions". My heart was "stolen" by Roxanne, Luke and Max and their "magic"!
Colleen McCullough's "The Thornbirds" was also in the box and it came next.
Through the years, romantic suspense has become my poison of choice.
I agree with Sarah - this question brings back lots of memories of hours of enjoyment!
My first romance was Julie Garwood's "The Bride." That was the book that got me hooked.
Ok I was 11 and it was an ole Harlequin Presents by Lillian Peake.For the life of me I can't remember the name of it,and I just remember sneaking off so no one could catch me reading the "naughty books". If only they could see what I read now! LOL I just remember falling in love with reading right then and there and I've never been the same!
What a memeory!
Kim
P.S.
Christy have you thought of starting a message board?
Connie, I think the Flame and the Flower was the first for a lot of us. I read mostly contemporary now but I still love a lovely historical from time to time. There are a lot of wonderful ones out there!
Jo Anne, was Sweet Dreams a teen romance series? Sounds familiar but I don't think I had the opportunity to read them. They sound great!
Oh Trudi, I love that the book had such an impact on you. What a wonderful testament to Judy Blume. Making such a positive impact on young lives is so noble and worthwhile.
I read the Sweet Valley High series
when I was younger (ages 10-13). I Loved those books.
The first grown up romance I read was "The Thorn Birds". I wasn't hooked on romances until I read Kathleen Woodiwiss's "Shanna" . I still love reading her books today.
Ida, I've read many of Heather Graham's books under all her various pen names. She's an amazing storyteller.
Crystal, I used to devour all the Harlequin Presents as soon as they came out. I remember reading Carole Mortimer. Loved her!
Lulu, I'm embarrassed to say I don't think I've read Barbara Cartland and I know I should. She was so prolific and talented. Must put that on my list!
LOL. Get ready, Oklanannie. I might ask for at least the top five favorites. Not yet though. And any Nora Robert's books would be a great introduction to the romance genre. Honest Illusions was a great novel. Loved it!
Jane, The Bride is my absolute favorite Julie Garwood. I think I've read it at least a dozen times. She is such a wonderful writer.
Kim, yes! I remember Lillian Peake. Loved her too. Those Harlequin Presents were an addiction for me.
Message board? Is that like a Yahoo group? So behind on stuff like this. Let me know what it is and I'll see what's involved. (o:
Michelle, never read the Sweet Valley High but remember people talking about them. I think they came out years after I was in high school. (o;
Loved Shanna! Kathleen Woodiwiss was a wonderful author. So miss her!
The Thorn Birds. I don't think I read it but I did see the movie and seems like I cried my eyes out for hours after it was over. Not a happy ending? So love happy endings!
I didn't realize Kathleen Woodwiss had passed away until this summer. I was so sad when I found out because she wrote so many wonderful books.
Maybe The Thorn Birds sad ending was why I didn't read romance until several years later! LOL
Hey Christy,
Great contest! One thing readers like almost as much as reading is talking about reading! lol
I was very late to the romance genre, although I definitely remember that Judy Blume book. I love contemporary romance and romantic suspense, although I have read a few paranormal romances I've really enjoyed. Can't seem to get myself to read historicals, but it sounds like from these posts that I should definitely do that!
Several years ago I devoured Susan Elizabeth Phillips' Chicago Stars series. They are all still on my keeper shelf. Loved them all. I think that was a series that got me back in the habit of reading for myself, and not just for work, etc.
Michelle, you're right. Kathleen Woodiwiss did write so many wonderful books. It broke my heart when she passed away.
And reading Thorn Birds and thinking that was the way other romances ended would keep me from reading too! Closing a book and spending hours crying afterward is not my idea of a good time. Even though I'm sure it's a wonderful book, I just really want to end a book with a sigh and a smile.
Kara, I love, love, love Susan Elizabeth Phillips. One of my fav books of all time is It Had To Be You. The scene with Pooh at her father's funeral is one of the funniest scenes I've ever read.
Romance ? Nicola Cornick's ' One Night of Scandal' :)
and Anna Campbell, Captive of Sin will be next to read!
I would have to say Anne of Green Gables. Even though Anne hated Gilbert for so many long I knew it would end in romance.
Hi Christy
My first one was The Flame & The Flower. It was $1.75. I read it so many times & lent it out so many times that I must have replaced it about 5 times. BTW, I just discovered SEP & read all 7 Chicago stars books OMG Dream A Little Dream SIGH!
Kay had trouble posting so she sent me a message:
The Legend of the Seventh Virgin
by Victoria Holt 1969.
Been reading ever since.
I was totally into suspense books, like Dean Koontz and James Patterson. I happened to pick up a copy of Hard Evidence by Pamela Clare, it sounded like a great suspense plot, I was pleasantly surprised it was a romance and a HOT one at that. I never figured myself to like those sort of books, well needless to say I was hooked! Now I devour romance novels like it is going out of style!
Post a Comment