Birthday Contest

Posted by Jessica | 12:41 PM | , | 23 comments »

My birthday is in a couple weeks... 2 weeks and 1 day to be exact. :D I currently have an Amazon.com gift card burning a hole in my pocket (OK, it's really in my e-mail, but you get the idea). Problem is, I'm torn at what to buy with the card.

That's where you come in. I'm looking for book suggestions. Post a comment here with a book suggestion. I need a title, author and why I should get the book. Remember that I read mostly romances, the occasional light mystery, action book or non-fiction (usually biographies).... no horror! Each suggestion you give me will put your name in the pot. Winner will get to chose from the following books: Deep Magic by Joy Nash, Just One Sip anthology, Eclipse Bay by Jayne Ann Krentz or Murder, She Wrote: Murder on the QE2.

As always, the more entrants I have (not multiple posts, but people posting) the more likely I am to pick more than one winner. Contest will end on my birthday, Sunday, Sept 28, sometime in the evening. Winner will be posted here, so be sure to subscribe to the post or leave your contact information.

*** I'm extending the contest until Sept 30 due to birthday commitments and our guest blogger on Monday. So, watch for the winner(s) to be announced on Wed. Oct 1.***

23 comments

  1. Jessica // September 13, 2008 5:09 PM  

    Jen,

    My recommendation:
    The Secret Life of Bees

    I haven't written my review for the this book, but I absolutely LOVED it!

    Recommendation 2:
    If you want a sweet book about love, check out: The Gazebo by Emily Grayson. I was crying like a baby while reading this book.

    -jessica

  2. BookTalkAdmin // September 13, 2008 5:24 PM  

    Jess, give me more about the books to make me want to get them. :)

  3. kimmyl // September 13, 2008 6:37 PM  

    DARK AND DANGEROUS by Jeanne Adams
    This book has action, romance and jeopardy, a perfect blend. It is full of spine-tingling plots.

    I loved it.

    If you like vampires:
    THE BRIDE OF CASA DRACULA by Marta Acosta
    The story lampoons from werewolves to vampires and their extended packs and families as well as wedding planners. Filled with twists including a great final spin about Milagro's escapades as her world is crumbling when she should be at her happiest; either way she knows what will occur will be toasted with a few pints of blood - mostly she fears hers.

    SEDUCTION OF A PROPER GENTLEMAN ½
    Victoria Alexander
    This is the last story in the The Last Man Standing saga. I dreaded seeing it end. I felt that,Kate, was a strong, courageous, and remarkable heroine because no matter what life threw at her she kept her sense of humor, and she kept picking herself up and carrying on.

    COLD HEARTED by Beverly Barton
    This story has suspense mixed with some romance.

  4. Tammy Yenalavitch // September 13, 2008 7:11 PM  

    All About Evie by Beth Ciotta or the sequel Everybody Loves Evie. Evie is 40 and fabulous. This book is fuuny, sexy, has adventure and great characters. I loved it.

    Good Time Girl by Candace Schuler Harlequin Blaze - One of the sexiest books I have ever read with a must read pick up scene. Great characters and great plotting. I loved it.

    Acting on Impulse by Vicki Lewis Thompson This book is wild and sexy, with humor and a great story. I loved it.

    I have read 85 books so far this year and these are my 4 favorites.

  5. BookTalkAdmin // September 13, 2008 9:21 PM  

    Kimmy... I've been eyeing Marta Acosta's books. I just saw an interview she did at Bitten by Books. And I love Victoria Alexander and have read all the books in that series, except for that last one. Hmmmm...

    Tammy... I have All About Evie on my TBR shelf. I might just need to move it up on the list. :) VLT is a favorite author of mine. I adored her Nerd series. Hadn't heard of this one though. And a Harlequin Blaze is always a good choice of book.

  6. Yan // September 14, 2008 12:25 PM  

    Definitely try the Aisling Grey series by Katie MacAlister. It’s a great paranormal romance story with a bit of humor and butt-kicking action. But don’t worry, the action is very little. I just love the dialogue and character interaction, very laugh out loud funny! The characters also develop very well throughout the series and she’s even making a squeal series for one of the minor characters, The Silver Dragon novels, which is another amazing series so far.

    Another book would be The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson. While the romance isn’t that abundant, the story plot is fantastic. I love the details and the small stories woven into the novel and how love transcends the test of time. This book is also fantasy and fiction. And the cover is GORGEOUS!

    Ok, so Bloom by Elizabeth Scott is a YA book. It’s a short read with great characters. Though the main character was a bit annoying in the beginning, I love her in the end. It’s something sweet enough to please that sweet tooth. I absolutely love this book!

    ylin.0621[at]yahoo.com

  7. Jen in WA // September 14, 2008 2:04 PM  

    Yan, I love Katie MacAlister, and I have all the Aisling Grey books. In fact, I'm pretty sure I reviewed one on the site... if not, I know I'd meant to review the last one. I have the first Silver Dragon book in my TBR pile.

    And I might just need to look into those other suggestions.

  8. Amy // September 14, 2008 3:13 PM  

    My choice is The Seven Deadly Sins series along with Vegas Vampire series both by Erin McCarthy. The writing style is very much similar to Katie MacAlister. So if you love Katie MacAlister, which I think you do from the previous comment XD, McCarthy is someone you should definitely check out.

    aimme21 at yahoo dot com

  9. Jen in WA // September 14, 2008 5:04 PM  

    Amy, good choice. I have the McCarthy Vegas Vampires, but haven't read them yet (sheesh...I sometimes forget how many books I own and haven't read). Sounds like I need to move them up on my list.

    Have you read Mouth to Mouth by Erin McCarthy? It was the first book I read by her and I loved it.

  10. Amy // September 14, 2008 5:27 PM  

    I haven't actually read that one but I've read almost everything else by her and loved most of them!

  11. Donna Alward // September 15, 2008 5:06 AM  

    I just finished Trish Wylie's The Millionaire's Proposal and ADORED it. If you're looking for category, it's a brill choice. I also suddenly had the urge to start traveling...this is her "round the world" book!

  12. BethRe // September 15, 2008 9:07 AM  

    I don't know if you have read the Twilight books but I really loved the first one. I'm also reading For One More Day by Mitch Albom. I'm enjoying that

  13. Linda // September 16, 2008 5:32 PM  

    Try Larissa Ione's debut series Demonica novels. I've heard nothing but good things about! I've actually read about three quarters of it and I can't wait until the next book comes out.

    linda9510@gmail.com

  14. CrystalGB // September 18, 2008 9:10 AM  

    I enjoyed Jessica Andersen's Night Keepers and Larissa Ione's Pleasure Unbound.

  15. ArkieRN // September 19, 2008 11:15 PM  

    Patricia Briggs. Her Mercedes Thompson books. You've really got to read them.

  16. Karen H in NC // September 20, 2008 8:10 AM  

    I am a huge fan of historical romances with emphasis on the Regency period, but anything in the 19th century or late 18th century will suit me fine. I have a large TBR library and I also wait until I have all the books in a series before starting to read. Because of that, alot of the books I read may not be new releases. I rate the books I read from 1 to 4. Here are the books I've read so far this summer that rated high.

    Desperately Seeking a Duke 3; A Duke Most Wanted 4; and The Duke Next Door 3 by Celeste Bradley was a great series. Celeste's books are warm, sexy and sometimes humorous with some mystery and suspense thrown in for good measure. Her characters and story lines are well developed and entertaining.

    Candice Hern's Merry Widow Trilogy was fantastic and sizzling. I think my hands are still burning just from holding them! I rated each of those books a 4. Wilhelmina, a character seen in the trilogy will be featured in Candice's story in the 'It Happened One Night' anthology to be published 10/1..can't wait to get my copy.

    Distracting the Duchess 3.5 by Emily Bryan is the first of 3 books she has written under this name. DTD was fun, light and sexy. She writes heavier, darker stuff under the name of Diana Groe.

    I just started reading 'The Accidental Countess' by Melissa Schroeder and so far, it seems to be pretty good. This is the first of Melissa's work that I've read, but any story that starts out with the heroine walking home in a snow storm and finds the hero laying drunk, face down in a snow-filled ditch has got to be good. Of course, she drags him home with her...she can't leave him laying there to die, can she?

    Up next will be Liz Carlyle's newest trilogy: Never Lie to a Lady, Never Deceive a Duke and Never Romance a Rake. I love anything by Liz and this new series sounds like they will all be rated #4.

  17. annie // September 20, 2008 8:42 AM  

    I enjoy family sagas which have a great deal of romance in them. One that was unforgettable was a Historical novel which I loved, The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly. Well written and memorable story.
    Another one that I felt was emotional and beautiful with lovely writing and setting was Isabel's Daughter by Judith Ryan Hendricks. One more that was my favorite of all is Sea of Lost Love. Her writing is simply amazing and the locale and beauty are evident in every word.

  18. EllenToo // September 20, 2008 9:00 AM  

    My recommendation is:
    "Murder Among the OWLS" by Bill Crider---
    Sheriff Dan Rhodes isn't superstitious but when his elderly neighbor's black cat walks into his kitchen, he suspects trouble which is confirmed when he finds Helen Harris dead on her kitchen floor. It appears to be an accident but the fact that the cat is outside proves that someone else had been in the house. Further evidence proves that she was murdered.

    Helen belonged to several clubs and Dan hoped that by questioning the members he could find something that would lead to the murderer. The clubs are: The Red Hat Society, the Old Women's Literary Society, and a metal detecting club.

    The metal detecting club is the one most likely to produce a lead since Helen had found something that she refused to share with club members.

    Helen's will was also missing which was an important clue since she was fairly rich.

    There's a lot of action going on and a lot of suspects (altho you might have a hard time figuring out who is guilty).

  19. ruth // September 22, 2008 3:40 PM  

    A book that left a deep impression upon me was The Sense of Paper by Taylor Holden. Vivid descriptions of the various areas where it took place, wonderful characters who are larger than life and a great story.
    A Thread of Grace is historical fiction and amazing to read. This novel takes place in Italy during the Nazi invasion. I loved it and felt the emotions throughout.

  20. Eva S // September 25, 2008 6:17 AM  

    My favorite series is Nalini Singhs' Psy/Changeling books, they are paranormals, very emotional and very much romance! Her world is so fantastic and every new book make you long for more, 5 books so far...

  21. Eva S // September 25, 2008 6:21 AM  

    The titles and reading order are: Slave to Sensation, Visions of Heat,Caressed By Ice, Mine To Possess and Hostage to Pleasure

  22. TamiC // September 26, 2008 9:24 AM  

    Ok Jen I don't know what all books you have read or not, but I would get anything by Lisa Jackson, Nora Roberts, Karen Robards, Linda Howard or Jayne Ann Krentz those are my all time favorite authors. I don't even pay attention to what the book is about if I don't have it I am snagging it up! They have never let me down and I am constantly looking for their books.


    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

  23. Jen in WA // October 01, 2008 8:25 AM  

    Ok... I picked the winners (and will make a new post later today when I'm not at work). But Donna Alward and Linda are the winners. Shoot me an e-mail at admin.bookblog@gmail.com and we'll talk prizes.

    Congrats and thanks to everyone who suggested books. I'll post soon with my shopping cart contents.