In honor of Michelle's interview (cuz she was just so dang nice to let me interrogate her!) I decided to have another contest, 'tis the season and all that. In deciding which book I should offer up as a prize, I asked Michelle for one of her faves. Several came to mind, but this was the one she decided to go with. "Whitney, My Love" is a classic, released more than 20 years ago by an author that has had a huge impact on the romance industry. I don't know about you, but I know I never looked at historicals the same again, and it's still one of those books that I can re-read and be drawn back into the story with very little effort.
So in order to to be entered in the contest, just answer the following questions:
- What book had an impact on you & changed the way you looked at romance?
- What was it about the book that made you feel this way?
~ Winner will be randomly selected noon CST on Saturday, December 16th ~
Good luck!
Description
One of today's best-loved authors, Judith McNaught launched her stellar career with this dazzling bestseller. Now in a special edition that features a brand-new, enhanced ending and endows familiar characters with new depth, "Whitney, My Love" lives on as "the ultimate love story, one you can dream about forever" (Romantic Times).
Under the dark, languorous eyes of Clayton Westmoreland, the Duke of Claymore, Whitney Stone grew from a saucy hoyden into a ravishingly sensual woman. Fresh from her triumphs in Paris society, she returned to England to win the heart of Paul, her childhood love...only to be bargained away by her bankrupt father to the handsome, arrogant Duke. Outraged, she defies her new lord. But even as his smoldering passion seduces her into a gathering storm of desire, Whitney cannot -- will not -- relinquish her dream of perfect love.
Rich with emotion, brimming with laughter and tears, "Whitney, My Love" confirms once more why "Judith McNaught is truly one of the spellbinding storytellers of our times" (Affaire de Coeur).
Find out more: Read an excerpt
Product Details Pocket, June 2000 Mass Market Paperback, 736 pagesISBN-10: 0-671-77609-6ISBN-13: 978-0-671-77609-1
Labels: contests, Judith McNaught, My Love, Whitney
posted by Stacy~ at 12/12/2006 07:13:00 PM
Wow! I haven't read this book yet. Although I've heard alot about it from the Bellas.
byThis question is difficult because every book has a difference to it, plus the different subs each bring a different aspect to romances.
If pressed I would say Anna DeStefano's THE UNKNOWN DAUGHTER. It was the first category I had read. I actually steered clear of them because they are a smaller book and I didn't think they would have the same punch as a "full sized" book would have. I was wrong. It brought the romance back to romances for me. It was sweet, witty, and sexy. Everything that a romance should be but at some point I started taking it for granted and came up wanting. This book reopened my eyes to what I wanted in a book.
I haven't read it either.
byTo answer your questions:
While each romance affects me in some way, I would have to say the one that had the biggest impact on me was the first romance I ever read...For the Roses by Julie Garwood. When I bought the book I had no idea that it was a romance novel...I thought it was just a regular historical fiction book. While not her best book, this book still opened the doors to the world of romance for me and made me a Garwood and romance fan. I never knew these types of books existed. Prior to this the only romances that I had read were fairy tales and the classics...none of them had the sensuality level or steam of mainstream romances. Reading this book and realizing that romances like this existed changed my reading preferences and the way I viewed romances in books and elsewhere. Without that first romance novel, who knows what I would be reading today and just think of all the online friends I wouldn't have met without discovering romances.
Tough questions, Stacy. I don't know that there is any one book that changed the way I viewed romances because it seems I've always read them. But there are books that have stuck with me decades after I've read them ~ Virgins by Caryl Rivers; Forever by Judy Blume; Eloquent Silence by Sandra Brown (my first SB ever). Every book is a journey ~ some of them are wonderful, the ones that aren't I don't finish. But those are examples of books I've loved for decades.
byAs far as what I want in a story ~ I want a good story, realistic characters (even if it's fantasy or paranormal), and an author that can trust that the person reading his/her book is intelligent enough to do so and doesn't feel the need to have to explain every little thing over and over and over again. I don't really think I'm hard to please ~ a good story will suck me right in; a bad story will just suck.
Mine was Janeele Taylors Moondust &
byMadness it was the first sci-fi futuristic I read and it totally hooked me on the genre. I still have it and Stardust & Shadows and Starlight & Splendor the others in the series
That's actually an easy question for me - it was the first romance I ever read. Highland Rose by Author Unknown. It's been that long ago, but I can stil remember the story line and the way it made me feel. The heroine rescued a baby from certain death, the hero was sent to find her and return the baby. She pretended the baby was hers but fed it with a goat-skin bladder instead.
byIt was the descriptions of Scotland that made me fall in love with the country, the story, the characters and the time period. Ever since then, I've been hooked on historicals.
She was spunky when she was supposed to be submissive. He was a knight that disobeyed a direct order. The antagonism and synergy that these two characters exuded made me read this book over and over - and nearly fail Government my senior year...because I was so caught up in their story that I could have cared less about Republicans and Democrats...
Crowd Pleasers by Rosemary Rogers
byThis book was a departure from the author's earlier works and a precursor to more explicit books to come from her.
The book had shock value when I read it way back then.
I have never read this book either.
byMy first series that I devoured and could not get enough of would be the Trixie Belden series, but I strayed away from reading romance stories for quite a few years, until I read Nora Roberts - Montana Sky - and the rest is history as they say.
OMG, I have been wanting to read this book! The Bellas definitely have gotten my curiousity up debating its merits!
byTo answer the questions, I would say The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss was a pivotal book for me. It really started my love of historical romance. I still remember borrowing the book from my Mom's shelf, and just being completely swept away by the story. I'm enjoying everyone's answers on this! I need to buy a couple of these books!
Happy Holidays all! Zara