Fresh Fiction Blog | Jade Lee

So this past week, I got to hang out a little with Sara Reyes in Vegas. (Note to people who fly before their morning coffee: Vegas is actually Las Vegas. When looking on the airport signs, the city will be listed under “L” And yes, awake people can start laughing at me now.) Anyway, once I got to the Paris hotel, I had a great time and learned a lot, and not all of it was about writing. In fact, Sara schooled me.

We had a library signing event where I was one of the authors on stage gabbing about writing and books. It was a ton of fun, but I live in the midwest, so the time change was killing me. I gratefully climbed into a cab with Sara and another author to head back to our hotel. The cabbie was a lovely woman named Sandra who asked who we were and what we did. I answered that we were romance authors and asked if she read romance. She said, no, she didn’t.

That’s okay. Lots of people don’t read romance, and so I shut up. After all, I’d hate it if a horror writer tried to convince me to buy his book. I don’t like being scared, so I’m not going to read that genre no matter how well it’s written. (Sorry, Stephen King). I was about to shift the topic to what it was like being a cabbie in Las Vegas, but Sara didn’t let the topic drop. She asked Sandra what she did like to read. After all, the woman had a Nook right there. What did she have on it?

Then began a delightful discussion of what was on her Nook. Sandra enjoyed an eclectic mix of non-fiction and inspirational stories of recovery and redemption. Then–wham–Sara starts suggesting romance stories with those themes. By the end of the cab ride, the woman was so excited to have a half dozen book suggestions that she missed our turn and offered to give us the cab ride for free (we paid anyway). Then, as an added kicker, she decided to buy What The Bride Wore even though she didn’t read historical romance. More than that, she was excited to give something new a try.

Well, knock me down with a slot lever. (Okay, that image didn’t work, but I was trying to get the Vegas backdrop in somehow). Anyway, thanks to Sara, Sandra was thrilled to try my book. And yeah, she might end up enjoying the contemporary romances better, but that doesn’t matter. When was the last time I talked with someone who was really excited to try reading something new–like a completely new genre? It’s been a while. And it made me wonder what I’d been missing by never reading horror.

Sara talks a lot about a reader being a reader. Period. Everyone’s on the look-out for a really good book, and maybe they just haven’t tried a romance with the right theme. Turns out...she’s right. Which means I may have to give this guy Stephen King a try. If you’d like to try out a historical romance with witty dialogue and two hot brothers (think Sam and Dean from Supernatural) along with a heroine who’s a little older and a lot wiser than typical, then could I suggest What the Bride Wore and (if you want to get Dean’s story) the feed in novella Winning a Bride!

In the meantime, any really good books you want to recommend no matter what the genre is?

Comment to win a copy of What The Bride Wore.

Comments

i would sophie and the wrong woman from kimberly truesdale
(Denise Smith 12:31pm August 29, 2013)

I have been stuck on the old authors Victoria Holt and Phyliss
A. Whitney. I am looking for someone new that I will love as
much as them! Thanks for the chance to win your book.
(Sandra Gest 1:22am August 29, 2013)

I like a couple of short stories recently.
Monuments to the Dead by K. Rusch and The Man Who Planted Trees by
J. Giono.
(Laura Gullickson 1:52am August 29, 2013)

It's early morning here, but my favorite book is Roses by Leila Meacham. I also like anything by Janet Evanovich!! Your posting was great, but then again, who wouldn't enjoy anything you write!! Have a great day!!
(Peggy Roberson 7:37am August 29, 2013)

I am a little behind but I recently finished the autobiography about us. Nice one.
(Hetal Gandhi 8:24am August 29, 2013)

I love the f/c! ..and am looking forward to reading this! TY for the opportunity to win a copy.
(Betty Hamilton 9:13am August 29, 2013)

I loved The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate and Into the Free by Julie Cantrell. I love a variety of books! I would love to read your book so thank you for the opportunity.
(Melanie Backus 9:25am August 29, 2013)

I love all your books and can't wait to read this one!!!
(Bonnie Capuano 10:04am August 29, 2013)

I recently began listening to audiobooks. The London Steampunk series by Bec McMaster is narrated by Alison Larkin and I fell in love with it! I cannot even imagine reading it in any other way.
(Karin Anderson 11:16am August 29, 2013)

I love the Historical romances but I been reading all of Fool's gold by susan Mallery! I love her books as well.
Penney
(Penney Wilfort 11:59am August 29, 2013)

I read a bunch of books by Robin Perini... truly enjoyed them, especially her Montgomery justice books.
(Colleen Conklin 12:54pm August 29, 2013)

I enjoy a variety of types of books, but do not want to read one about a vampire. Something about it turns me off.
(Anna Speed 1:22pm August 29, 2013)

I have been reading the Percy Jackson series the follow-up series Heroes of Olympus.
(Pam Howell 2:04pm August 29, 2013)

I'm really enjoying Jaci Burton's One Sweet Ride. Now I have
to check out the rest of the Play-by-Play series. lol
(Deidre Durance 3:13pm August 29, 2013)

My taste in reading material depends on my mood - I like a lot of genres. I
just finished Angel Sister by Ann B. Gabhart, and I loved it. Just started The
Gallery of Vanished Husbands by Natasha Solomons. I like it so far. I
would love to read What The Bride Wore! Congratulations and thanks for
the chance to win!!!
(Linda Brennan 3:51pm August 29, 2013)

I enjoy different types of books, but there are some I have never read. I really liked Love Always by Harriet Evans, Riversong by Tess Hardwick, Nowhere To Hide by Jasmine Cresswell, Lake Country by Sean Doolittle, Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler, and The Intercept by Dick Wolf to name a few. Thank you for this chance to win your book as I would like very much to read it. The Best To You Always.
(Esther Somorai 4:59pm August 29, 2013)

I just finished reading J. Kenner's Damien Stark Trilogy -
"Claim Me"; "Complete Me"; & "Release Me". Scorching HOT
reads - I didn't want the series to end.
(QuenKne M 5:02pm August 29, 2013)

I've been on a Julia Quinn kick recently... I've almost finished reading every book
of hers I own, so it's time to start thinking of where/who/what I'll read next!
Would love to read yours!
Thanks for the giveaway.
(Becca Luman 6:30pm August 29, 2013)

I enjoy different romance genres. I especially love and have enjoyed every book written by Sarah Jio...
Violets of March Blackberry Winter
The Bungalow The Last Camellia
I would also recommend Karen Kelley these books were very good...
Where There's Smoke Where There's A Will Smoking Hot
I loved Cindy Holby's cowboy romance books...
Angel's End Colorado Heart
When I find good author's I like to read all their books, and I'm enjoying many.
(Linda Luinstra 7:08pm August 29, 2013)

My titles of books (above) ran altogether making it confusing. I had spaces in between when I typed it up. So, will list them over again.
Sarah Jio...Violets of March, Blackberry Winter, The Bungalow, The Last Camellia.
Karen Kelley...Where There's Smoke, Where There's A Will, Smoking Hot.
Cindy Holby...Angel's End, Colorado Heart.
(Linda Luinstra 7:14pm August 29, 2013)

I like all romance book from regency to paranormal. But I can read just about anything. I usually read any where from 3 to 6 bks a wk. I never go anywhere with out a bk.
(Felicia Sidoma 8:18pm August 29, 2013)

I prefer historical books, but also enjoy contemporary. Right now I am reading Sweet Enemy by Heather Snow.
(Cathy Phillips 9:55pm August 29, 2013)

I recently discovered Kody Kepling who is a young adult author and I really like her books.
(Jamie Fortney 11:01pm August 29, 2013)

Wow, Congrats on your new book: WHAT THE BRIDE WORE. I love
the book cover too. I would recommend the book: WHITE PICKET
FENCES by Susan Meissner. Also, PLEATING FOR MERCY by
Melissa Bourbon. I would love to win and read your new book
this summer. Thank You very much. Cecilia CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 11:26pm August 29, 2013)

I would love to read this new book. Just finished reading "The Chance" by Karen
Kingsbury (cried 12 times). It was so good.
(Diana Kaye 12:10pm August 30, 2013)

Congrats on the new book. I'll put it on my list of books
to read. One of my favorite newer series is by Deborah
Harkness. A Discovery of Witches and the sequel A Shadow of
Night will keep you up nights until you finish them. I am
eagerly awaiting the last book in the series. I will
however be very sad to see it end. Have a great day.
(Amy Kincade 12:40pm August 30, 2013)

Hi Jade!

Many years ago I was pretty stuck in reading only contemporary and historical romance. One day I went to our local bookstore and they had just put a display of a book by a new author and one ob the booksellers told me I should check it out. She said it was by a new author, some guy named Tom, but I might think it would be a good book for my husband The name of the book was The Hunt for Red October. I decided to pick it up for him because at the time he was in the Navy flying on P3's.

Since he wasn't going to be home for a few more weeks I decided tor read it while since he was chasing subs on a P3!

Needless to say he loved the book but more surprising is that so did I! I never would have picked it up much less read it if that one bookseller didn't tell me about it - a book by the way he hadn't read, if she hadn't pointed it out to me!

Who would have thought back then that it would become such a huge success not only in the book world but as a movie as well!

Now I find myself reading some of the books my husband reads so we can talk about them - but I still haven't gotten him to read any of my beloved romance novels!
(Jeanne Miro 12:41pm August 30, 2013)

I recommends reading Taming Me: A Memoir of a Clever Island Cat and Sacred Games (The Athenian Mystery). Sacred Games is about a mystery murder set in ancient Greece during the Olympic after the Greece/Persian War.

Another one is The Faceless One. It is a supernatural, horror story. I don't read too much horror stories but I like this book.
(Kai Wong 12:57pm August 30, 2013)

Hi. I finished reading two books I loved this past week : "Love and Other Scandals" by Caroline Linden and "Once Upon a Tartan" by Grace Burrows. Both were well written with characters that I'll remember for a while. I love historical romance! My spouse and I listened to "The Cuckoo's Calling" when we returned from up north this week. J. K. Rowling has written an interesting mystery, but every other word was "fucking". I couldn't stand it. Maybe I love historical romance because the characters don't constantly use crude language. :-)
(Elaine Carlini-Davis 1:31am August 30, 2013)

Loved Taking Shots by Toni Aleo. Cannot wait to read the rest of the series. Am reading a 2nd one now.
(Pat Lieberman 9:08am August 30, 2013)

I just finished Fool For Love and The Trouble With Love by Beth Ciotta. I loved both books.
(Rita Wray 9:39am August 30, 2013)

Not romance, but anyone who enjoys humor and urban fiction might get a kick out of "The Rook," by Daniel O'Malley--it is fast and funny.
(Janet Martin 9:43am August 30, 2013)

I agree, if that lady had not read romance in a long while she's in for a treat! The genre has really moved on and includes so many sub-genres from inspirational to suspense. A reader is a reader and it's always good to try something new.
I can recommend The Rosie Project, an often hilarious look at how a professor in genetics tries to establish who would be the right woman for him, while brash Rosie has her own agenda and teaches him to live in the real world.
(Clare O'Beara 10:08am August 30, 2013)

I love your books of course. :)

I also love Julie Anne Long's books.
(May Pau 10:31am August 30, 2013)

Lately, I've been rereading some of my Julie Garwood Historical books. She's my favorite historical author, but I haven't read any of your books yet.
(Carol Woodruff 11:01am August 30, 2013)

I would recommend Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid. The heroine was definitely unique.
(Maureen Emmons 4:57pm August 30, 2013)

There are a ton of great books out there! I lean toward
historical & contemporary romance. I love Laura Florand's
contemporary books, like The Chocolate Thief, which are very
sensual.
(Sharlene Wegner 7:45pm August 30, 2013)

Golly, I can admire Stephen King and think that he is brilliant, but it doesn't mean that I want to read his books. I really want to be able to sleep at night! ;-) On the other hand, I really love romances!
(Marcia Berbeza 10:21pm August 30, 2013)

I would love to win one of your books. You are one of my
favorite authors!
(Charlene Fraley 10:43pm August 30, 2013)

Who doesn't want to read books about love, romance and yes I enjoy reading a good mystery too! Thank you for the opportunity.
(C Culp 6:55am August 31, 2013)

Thank you for an amusing post! As far as genres are concerned, I usually like to read historicals, but I do like some contemporaries. Lately I've been reading the companion books to my favorite sci-fi show "Supernatural", which if you like the tv show, you'll love the books as well. I liked reading Tessa Dare's "Any Duchess Will Do" (she's one of my favorites).
(Sandy Kenny 10:35am August 31, 2013)

I'm happy to try reading all genres. I've found some great
books that way.
(Mary Preston 6:58am September 1, 2013)

Count me in!! I would love to read this book! I love your work!
(Lisa Glidewell 3:07am September 5, 2013)

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