2/13/2015

Love American Style: A Valentine's Weekend Celebration

It's here! Love, American Style. This weekend on Get Lost in a Story we're celebrating romance in the land of the red, white and blue--past, present and forevermore  Over the next three days, you'll meet authors who write romances set in America, and get a peek at a favorite love moment from one of their books, as well as have a chance to enter a drawing for lots of FREE goodies.

Today, we visit Love in the Old West with E.E. Burke, Jill Marie Landis, Becky Lower, and Sylvia McDaniel. Come with us on a journey back in time to the 19th century and enjoy love, American style. 

E.E. Burke
E.E. Burke

E.E. Burke writes romance from the heart woven with history the way it really happened. The tempestuous era of the early railroads inspired her latest American historical romance series, Steam! Romance and Rails, which includes Passion’s PrizeHer Bodyguard and A Dangerous Passion. Her writing has earned accolades in regional and national contests, including the prestigious Golden Heart®.

This weekend, her books are on sale at Amazon for only $1.99. You can find them on her Amazon author page.

What's your favorite love story?
There are so many wonderful romances out there it's difficult to pick a favorite, so I'll tell you my favorite fairy tale. Beauty and the Beast. Beauty has to look past the Beast's ugliness (both in form and manner) to see his true heart, and Beast must learn to forgive himself and become vulnerable, which is scary for someone who believes they're ugly and/or bad. 

Why do you write romances?
Because I believe in the power of love. Real life is harsh. The bad things that happen often make no sense at all, and leave us broken and feeling defeated. Stories about people who overcome their difficulties and find happy endings give us magical moments of hope and joy. What better gift could I offer to the world?

My latest novel, A Dangerous Passion, is part of the series Steam! Romance and Rails. It's kind of a Beauty and the Beast story, where beauty happens to be an adventure-seeking aspiring author and beast is a ruthless railroad baron. Here's a love moment, after Lucy shaves Henry and discovers a handsome, but scarred man, who longs to be loved but is afraid to give his heart.



     What’s so funny?” Lucy asked.
     He turned and crossed his arms over his chest. In the daylight, her assessment of his face might be different. “Which do you prefer, beard or no beard?”
   She cocked her head to one side, studying him. He appreciated knowing he’d get an honest answer. People who had the integrity to tell him the truth usually didn’t have the nerve. Lucy had both.
    “You’re handsome either way.”
     That was taking the easy way out. “Don’t lose your refreshing honesty now.”
     “I mean it.” Setting the book aside, she glided across the room. Her touch on his face set off a sizzling response. He wrapped an arm around her waist and brought her closer.
     “Careful. Start something, and we may never get off this train.”
     The sultry smile teasing her lips increased the odds of his prediction coming true. “I just wanted to assure you that I find you attractive, with or without the hair on your face.” Her expression became thoughtful. “The beard does make you look dangerous. More like a villain.”
    Her comparison amused him. Somewhat. He arched an eyebrow in his best dastardly imitation. “You’d cast me as a scoundrel?”
     She tapped her finger on his chin. “If I put you in book, yes.”
     Was she serious? She was smiling, but something in her eyes told him she might be telling the truth.
     “Don’t look so worried. I like villains. They’re much more interesting. I thought Capitola should’ve chosen Black Donald instead of Herbert.”
      Who the hell was she talking about? “Sorry, I don’t follow.”
      “In The Hidden Hand. The book I was reading.”
     “Ah.”
     “Black Donald is a treacherous highwayman who wants Capitola in his bed. She outfoxes him when he traps her and ends up with a kind-hearted fellow named Herbert.”
     “Herbert?” Henry scoffed. “Even his name sounds boring.”
     “And yours is better?”
     “There were kings named Henry. None to my knowledge named Herbert.”
     Lucy sniffed. “Well, if I were naming you, I’d call you Hank. Sounds stronger.”
     “Stronger, eh?” Henry couldn’t resist flexing arms around her to remind her he wasn’t exactly a weakling. “So, Capitola liked this Herbert fellow?”
     Lucy nodded with a rueful twist of her lips. “As I said, I would’ve preferred she end up with Black Donald and rehabilitate him.”
     Henry swallowed a chuckle. Lucy got very wrapped up in her stories, almost as if they were real people, and he didn’t want to hurt her feelings. “Rehabilitate the treacherous highwayman?”
     Her gaze softened. “Or redeem him—with her love.”
    The remark stopped Henry’s heart. After a breathless moment, it lurched into motion, chugging hard. Was this Lucy’s way of saying she loved him? 
     He ventured a question to confirm, but kept his tone light, just in case he was wrong. “Is that what you’d do with me?
     Uncertainty flickered in her eyes. “Are you in need of redemption?”
     For God’s sake, he was in need of love. Her love. Only, he wouldn’t beg for it. She was a bright girl. She ought to know by now how he felt about her. “Doubt you could turn me into a kind-hearted fellow. Men like that can’t run a railroad.”
     “You can run a railroad without breaking the law. My father is proof of that.”
    He was tempted to point out that her illustrious father had been given the sack. 
     “I’m sure he didn’t get to where he did without bending a few rules.” He regretted the remark the moment it was out of his mouth, and even more when Lucy’s eyes reflected disappointment.
     “How many rules have you bent?”
     “If I told you, you might think I’m a treacherous highwayman.” The line came out sounding more like a confession than a joke. He tried smiling. “But you did say you prefer villains.” 
     The unhappiness that filled her eyes should’ve warned him. “Only in stories.”

Jill Marie Landis


Jill Marie Landis
JILL MARIE LANDIS has written novels that have earned distinguished awards and slots on national bestseller lists, such as USA TODAY's Top 50 and the New York Times Best Sellers Plus. She is a seven-time finalist for Romance Writers of America's RITA Award in Single Title Historical and Contemporary Romance as well as a Golden Heart and RITA Award winner. She resides in Hawaii with her husband. When she's not writing or sitting on the beach reading, she enjoys visiting with family and friends, raising orchids, working in her garden, occasionally quilting, but most of all dancing the hula. 

What's your favorite love story?
One of my favorites is the movie Overboard with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell.
Not only does their real life attraction for each other show on screen, but I love the whole premise. A cruel, pampered rich bitch, Joanna (Hawn), screws over a hired carpenter, Dean (Russell). Later, she falls overboard off of her yacht and suffers amnesia. Happy to be rid of her, her conniving husband doesn't even try to find her. When her photo appears in the local Oregon newspaper, Dean shows up and claims her as his wife. Seeking revenge, he dumps her in his run down backwoods house with his four unruly sons and tells her to clean the place up and have dinner waiting for him. She doesn't know the first thing about being a housewife but she hangs on. Many laughs and heartwarming scenes later, the unlikely pair falls in love. Dean fears that if he tells her the truth he'll lose her. Naturally Joanna is shocked and terribly hurt when the truth comes out and leaves him, returning to her former life. But will she be able to forget Dean and the kids? Will she ever morph back into the cold, heartless bitch she was before? Let's just say this is a romance so you know there will be a happy ending. When I'm feeling down, this is one of my go-to DVD's for a laugh and attitude adjustment. 
     
Why do you write romances?
I love to write romances because I know that no matter what obstacles I throw in the hero and heroine's paths, no matter what conflicts I create in their back stories, no matter how unlikely they are to be right for each other, love will triumph in the end. Why? Because their own unique story is being told in a romance novel where there can only be one ending. Readers expect all the hearts, flowers, tears, laughs and sighs of falling in love over and over and time after time, the hero and heroine end up happily ever after.   

Past Promises has been recently re-released as an eBook through Amber House Books. Here is a love moment, Jessica and Rory's first kiss:


When Rory Burnett gets wind of two women searching the untamed wilds of New Mexico for a cave rumored to contain ancient “saurian” bones, a cave on sacred Ute land that he’s promised to protect, he hires on as their guide, determined to lead them away from their goal and persuade them to clear out.
But Rory hasn’t reckoned on dealing with a woman like no-nonsense Jessica Stanbridge, who is not only a stubborn intellectual, but behind her severe clothing and wire framed glasses, is a find as rare and lovely as the artifacts she’s searching for.

     Casually, his voice so low that it could not be carried on the breeze, he asked, “Have you ever been kissed, Miss Stanbridge?”
     The abrupt change of subject took her aback. Had she heard wrong?
     “What? Why I never!”
     Rory smiled. “That’s just what I thought.”
     She stepped away.
     He reached out for her before she escaped.
     “Get ready, because it’s about to happen.”
     Jessica knew what was coming but was powerless to stop it. Shock, mingled with an odd curiosity kept her from struggling. When his hands closed over her upper arms and he pulled her roughly against him, all she could think of was the warmth that emanated from him and the surprising fact that up close, his eyes were unbroken by any flecks of color and just as dark and fathomless as they appeared from far away.  As he lowered his lips to hers, she was mesmerized by her own reflection in his eyes. Almost immediately she was caught up in the sudden realization that his lashes were so thick that it was a pity they had been wasted on a man.
     Their lips had barely touched when Rory pulled back and secured his hold with an arm across her shoulders. He slipped off her spectacles with his free hand and set out to kiss her again.
     It was like nothing she’d ever imagined.
     It was more than he’d ever dreamed.   

Becky Lower


Becky Lower
Becky Lower has traveled the country looking for great settings for her novels. She loves to write about two people finding each other and falling in love, amid the backdrop of a great setting, be it on a covered wagon headed west in the 1850s or present day middle America. Historical and contemporary romances are her specialty. To find out more about Becky and her books, visit her website at www.beckylowerauthor.com

What's your favorite love story?
I have so many favorite love stories, it's hard to choose just one. I can watch When Harry Met Sally or Romancing The Stone any time. My favorite love stories in books would have to be Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series, because they're about family dynamics as well as the love story.

Why do you write romances?
I write romance because that's what I read, and have, since I graduated college and put textbooks behind me. I appreciate the classics and spent a lot of time with William Shakespeare in college, but give me a good, sappy, romance any day. I grew up watching westerns on TV, and, in fact, my first writing effort was to submit a screenplay to the writers of Bonanza when I was only 12. Of course, it got rejected, but they writers were very encouraging, so I kept on.


My early love of westerns is what drew me to writing historical romances set in America. I love finding little pieces of history, little known facts that in some small way changed the lives of the people who were living in that era, and then placing my characters into that setting. Something as simple as public transportation, which we all take for granted today, impacted the lives of many when first introduced.

Excerpt from Banking on Temperance, book three in the Cotillion Ball Series. You can find it on Amazon.


Temperance Jones and her large family pull into St. Louis, hoping to catch a late wagon train headed west. However, they’re too late and must winter over in town. The head of the family finally succumbs to the illness that plagued him during their travels from Pennsylvania, but not before extracting a promise from his eldest daughter that she’d get the family to Oregon. She begins work for Basil Fitzpatrick, cleaning his bank and private quarters, and a friendship develops.

     She sputtered and fumed, breathing fire as the door to Basil’s apartment staircase closed behind him. That no-good, self-centered ass! How dare he say their friendship had been destroyed by her ambition! If they’d truly been friends, he would have stood by her and championed her clever attempts to get her family moved westward. But once he introduced her to Jake, it was as if he’d turned his back on her. She could take him turning his back on her as a woman, but not as a friend. She yanked open the door and ran up the stairs.
     “How dare you!” She didn’t bother to knock at the top of the steps, she was so angry.
     He turned to face her, but didn’t reply.
     “Well? How dare you say that I’m the one who turned away from your friendship. You’ve become my best friend here in town. Do you want me to quit? To leave?”
     “Yes.”
     “Yes, what?”
     “If you know what’s best for you, leave, right this minute.”
     “Why? Because you’ll tell me something I don’t want to hear?”
     Basil crossed the room to her in two strides. He placed his hands on either side of her face and growled, “Not because of what I’ll tell you, but because of what I’ll do.” He lowered his mouth to hers, crushing her tender lips beneath his own.
     Temperance stood still, in shock at what was happening. The breath whooshed out of her lungs. Her arms hung by her sides, but her mouth and tongue were doing battle with Basil’s. She wanted this, she had wanted this since the night in October when she’d been forced to stay here overnight.          She’d begged Basil then, silently, to take her to bed, but he had remained stalwart. Now, she could tell his emotions for her rivaled her feelings for him. She breathed a contented sigh.
     She moved her arms finally, and wound them around his broad shoulders.
     This is where I belong. Not Oregon.

Sylvia McDaniel


Sylvia McDaniel
Sylvia McDaniel is a best-selling, award-winning author of western historical romance and contemporary romance novels.  Known for her sweet, funny, family-oriented romances,  Sylvia is the author of The Burnett Brides a historical western series, The Cuvier Widows, a Louisiana historical series, Lipstick and Lead, a western historical series and several short contemporary romances. To find out more, visit Sylvia’s website at www.SylviaMcDaniel.com


What’s your favorite love story?
My favorite movie is It Could Happen To You with Nicholas Cage. It’s the cop and the waitress story, and whenever I’m sick or needing a pick me up, it’s the movie I go to. My favorite books are: See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson, Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James.

Why do you write romances?
I write romance because it's fun and I love creating relationships between men and women. I enjoy taking people who you would never think of belonging together and forcing them to work out a problem. I love contemporaries, but I find that my voice is more fitting for westerns and I do love cowboys, so that’s what I write. In our world violence is so much more accepted than love and romance. So I try to make my heroines kick-ass women who don’t take any crap from anyone. They are not your typical sweet, southern girl. They will take you out and tie you up if you misbehave. By making them stronger, I hope that my readers will get a touch of the old and the new.

Available from Amazon, iBooks,
Kobo, Google, B&N
Sylvia's latest series is Lipstick and Lead, and here's a love moment from her new book, Dangerous. 
    Her pantaloons were starting to feel very warm. The scent of something burning reached her nose, and then suddenly, Beau was throwing her onto the bedroll, beating her legs.
     “Gosh, damn it, woman, you are a pain in the ass.”
     “Get off me.”
     “Your underwear was on fire.”
     With him still on top of her, she glanced down at the bottom of her pantaloons. The lace around the edge had burned off but hadn’t reached her skin.
     Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of her clothes catching fire. Yet, he was lying on top of her, and she was beginning to feel a different kind of warmth. She could feel his bare chest and the thump of his heart against her.      They landed on the bedroll, but now he was half-on and half-off of her. He was gazing at her, his eyes dark and burning with some emotion she didn’t recognize. A heat that had nothing to do with her pantaloons catching fire suddenly engulfed her.
      “How can one woman get into so much trouble and yet look so innocent and beautiful? How can you be so tempting and sweet and luscious one moment and the next I’m ready to kill you? And how can I go another minute, looking at those full lips without tasting them? Damn it, I don’t want to do this, but I’ve got to,” he said, his voice husky, sending shivers of anticipation through her.
     He was going to kiss her. She watched as his mouth lowered to hers, and she realized she wanted his kiss.
     His mouth moved over hers, tempting and teasing and tasting of her like she’d never been kissed before. And she never had.
     This was her first kiss and whatever expectations she’d had were quickly dispelled. It was much better than she’d imagined. His hands gripped her face, holding her hostage to his lips, holding her immobile as he took her lips between his own. Savagely, he slanted his mouth over hers as his tongue persuaded her to open. He tasted her thoroughly, completely, and so convincingly her heart was ready to explode in her chest.
     Hot, heavy, hunger filled her as his mouth took her like the storm that raged outside. Wild, consuming, and awakening feelings she’d never experienced before. She arched her back, needing more, wanting more of the passion this man had awakened inside her.
     She wanted to remove the barriers between them. Running her fingers down his silken, muscled shoulders, she wanted to touch him everywhere, feel his skin, taste him.
     God, she didn’t know what it was she wanted, but she wanted this to continue. She didn’t want this to stop. She wanted…
     A shot rang out in the night, not far from their cave.
     Beau bolted into a sitting position. He jumped up ran to the entrance, and peered into the darkness. Another shot sounded and he grabbed his wet shirt and ran outside in the rain, with his guns drawn, leaving Annabelle alone, panting in a bat cave. 

Tomorrow, we'll explore Love in the City with Vicki BatmanAlexa BourneLara Lacombe, and Tawny Weber. And on Sunday, find Love in the Country with Angi MorganLiz SelvigDonna Alward, and Love Forevermore with Kathleen Baldwin.

What's your favorite love story? Share it with us, and be sure to enter the drawing. There are books from twelve authors up for grabs. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

209 comments:

  1. My favorite would have to be WUTHERING HEIGHTS. Such an all consuming love.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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    1. I love Wuthering Heights. All consuming, yes, and sad. Sometimes sad can be more memorable, but I have a hard time doing sad. Thanks for stopping by!

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    2. One of my all time favorites too. So dark. So very...wuthering!

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  2. Scarlet and Rhett from Gone With the Wind is a favorite.

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    1. Ah, one of my top love stories, too! Thanks, Maureen!

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    2. Love Scarlet. I consider her a tragic heroine because she just didn't learn from her mistakes until it was too late.

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  3. AWESOME POST. There are too many favorites to name.

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  4. I agree with Angie. Too many favorites. One I thought of recently is the old movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I still remember the names of each brother, altho Caleb won my heart with my first viewing.

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    1. I've always been a sucker for the youngest, myself.
      LOVE that movie. OWN that movie.

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    2. I'd love to add it to my collection, too. Where's my Amazon wish list?

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    3. I remember watching the TV show, too. And the spin off, Here Come the Brides...Bobby Sherman, David Soul, Robert Brown...those were the heartthrobs of the day.

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    4. LOVED Here Comes The Brides...would really like to do a series just like that...someday.

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  5. Wonderful group of writers and ladies. Thank you for stopping by GLIAS today.

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  6. Gone with the Wind was one of my favorite stories because it was the book that got me started reading. There is an awesome group of authors here and these books look fantastic, can't wait to read them. Entering under the name of Virginia.

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  7. This is fun, I get to read about some new authors as well as connect with friends. My ancesters traveled out west before and during the Civil War. I know Becky Lowers book are set at that time. I enjoy reading about what they might have come across during their lives.

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    1. That sounds like a great story! Thanks for stopping in Barb.

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    2. Thanks for coming by Quilt Lady...you need to send me an email. Also Barb Han. Thanks for coming.

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  8. What a great weekend you have planned! I'm so excited to see so many of my favorite authors being featured :)

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    1. Thanks so much for the shout out. We love Amber House Books authors! Including the one who runs the show. ;)

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  9. You've Got Mail is a very fav of mine. French Kiss is another. Emma with Gweneth Paltrow is good. I have to many to list them all. LOL

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    1. Oh, yes! I love French Kiss. I know an author who uses that film to teach how to write romance. :)

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    2. I own French Kiss and ever so often I have to watch it...hmmm maybe tonight.

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  10. ^^ I see the comment from Teresa Medeiros from above... I love her books!

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  11. I wasn't much of a reader in school, but once I got pregnant with my first child I started to read. I have an addiction to romances, paranormal romances, and historicals :)

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    1. My favorite love story based on a book would be The Notebook :)

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    2. Crystal, we're all about romance here, so you'll find a wide array of stories to interest you. Thanks for stopping in. Hope you come back!

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    3. Crystal glad you found books. Love them.

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  12. I don't have a favorite but love Jill Sanders, Nora Roberts and many more. sclickner at juno dot com

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  13. An Affair to Remember, Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. True love held out. I absolutely love that story. She left him because of her carelessness (hit by bus) and he finds her and sees she is in a wheelchair. And through it all their love remained strong. Makes me cry everytime!

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    1. Oh, that's a good one. Make sure you enter the drawing!

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  14. Susan Mallery's THE SHEIK'S SECRET BRIDE. I have re-read it every couple of years for over a decade now....
    seytype at Hotmail dot com

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    1. Love Susan Mallery's books...but haven't read that one. Need to check it out.

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  15. "Gone With the Wind" Rhett and Scarlett. It's my favorite movie and they're my favorite couple. The passion they have is explosive! When they're in love and in each other's arms, they could set the curtains on fire. When they are arguing with all they have they could blow out every window. It's the ultimate I love you, I hate you toxic, but AMAZING love story.

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  16. Yay! I found another great blog to follow!

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    1. Welcome to GLIAS Ann! We're delighted to meet you.

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    2. Yay Ann! We are so glad to have you join us!

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    3. Ann this is one of the best blogs around.

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  17. So many wonderful Authors and new books to be found. Unfortunately I think I messed up badly. I visited the Suthors on FB and didn't realize I had to like them. It said it wasn't neccessary. But if I paid close enough attentio I' d have caught the like part .So please excuse my blunder. Sorry.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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    1. No worries Carol. Just make sure you entered the drawing. So glad you stopped by, and hope you'll come back tomorrow for more Love American Style.

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  18. "Gone With the Wind" Rhett and Scarlett. It's my favorite movie and they're my favorite couple. The passion they have is explosive! When they're in love and in each other's arms, they could set the curtains on fire. When they are arguing with all they have they could blow out every window. It's the ultimate I love you, I hate you toxic, but AMAZING love story.

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  20. Gone with the Wind was a fantastic book/ movie.

    shawn113(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  21. My favorite love story changes so often. I just read a Julie Anne Long novel and at the moment that is my favorite but yesterday it was probably a Jane Austen novel and tomorrow...well it may be one of these wonderful authors. So much joy in reading romance!

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    1. Oh I agree with you, Julie Anne Long's books are so much fun to read.
      And of course Jane Austen... :-)

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    2. I haven't read Julie Anne Long's books. Of course my TBR pile is a mile long and grows every day.

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  22. Gone With the Wind or anything by Stephanie Laurens.

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  23. My all time favorite would have to be my very first, read many, MANY years ago, Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss.

    blueshedevil32 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. That's a classic. It's on the keeper shelf. Thanks for stopping in, and hope to see you here again.

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    2. Love Love Love that novel and I still reread it every few years. That one and The Wolf and The Dove are my favorites by her. Shanna comes in 3rd.

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  24. My favorite is Water for Elephants.

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    1. That was such a great book. I couldn't put it down! Thanks for coming by Steve. Hope to see you here again!

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    2. I listened to that one on audio and then saw the movie. The book was of course better.

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  25. I love all Nalini Singh's books :) So many great books listed here!
    alinutza4u2004[at]yahoo[dot]co[dot]uk

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    1. You'll have to come back Saturday and Sunday. Lots more authors, lots more books. Kat Baldwin is sharing a wonderful YA fantasy on Sunday you might enjoy. Thanks for stopping in, hope to see you here again.

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    2. I've not read Nalini Singh. Will have to check her out.

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  26. Thanks for a great list of books. My favorite lovers are the futuristic couple from J D Robb In Death series of books. They are Eve Dallas and Roarke.

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    1. Thanks, Robbie. JD Robb In Death series is a good one. And this is only the beginning of our book list. We have eight more authors over the next two days. Be sure to come back!

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  29. My favorite love story would have to be THE NOTEBOOK. I lost my husband to Alzheimer's Disease and Noah & Allie's story touched my heart.
    Thank you for this contest and the list of books - And the excerpts!! I've seen so many of them I need to add to my TBR stack!
    My email is: marysbookworm@cableone.net

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    1. That's a wonderful story, Mary Alice. Thanks for sharing. So glad you found some books to add to your list. We have lots more to share, so be sure to come back.

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    2. Mary Alice that's my favorite book by that author. I listened to that book on tape in the car. I remember going to lunch and sitting in the park just so I could finish the book and crying buckets. Then I had to go back to work. That one got to me.

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  30. Hello,
    I enjoyed the blog:) It introduced to new fabulous authors that I had not heard of. Thanks.

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    1. Glad we were able to introduce you to some new authors. We have more Love American Stye over the next two days. Check it out if you get the chance.

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  31. I love Pride and Prejudice!
    Denise

    dholcomb1 (at) aol (dot) com

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    1. Hi Denise! Any friend of Pride and Prejudice is a friend of mine!

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  32. My favorite would have to be Gone With the Wind
    skpetal at hotmail dot com

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    1. I think GWW may be winning the poll! Thanks for stopping in, Jean. Hope we'll see you again soon.

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  33. I don't know that I necessarily have a favorite, but I really enjoy Susan Mallery, Jill Shalvis, & Nora Roberts.

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    1. All three excellent authors. Thanks for commenting. Hope you'll come back tomorrow for another day of Love American Style.

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    2. You can't go wrong with any of those authors. They're all favorites of mine as well.

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  35. I've always loved Pride and Prejudice, but also enjoy books by Nora Roberts, Julia Quinn and Stephanie Laurens.

    mybeach52 at yahoo dot com

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    1. Michele, You're a woman after my heart. Your list of favorite authors is my list, too.

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    2. Love Pride and Prejudice. Still a great story. The other authors are fantastic as well.

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  36. Replies
    1. My list is getting longer, too! But what fun! Thanks for stopping by, and hope we'll see you here again soon.

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  37. Don't laugh, but I love Edward and Bella's love story in the Twilight series.
    pbabcock2004(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. It's a great love story. Pat, thanks for coming by, and please do come back. We only laugh with you, not at you!

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    2. Pat, everyone has their own taste and you shouldn't be ashamed of what you enjoy. I read the first book in the series and could understand why everyone was raving about it.

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  38. I really enjoy Austen - Emma, Pride and Prejudice ... I also love Carly Phillips and Denise Grover Swank - funny love stories ... Love Actually is my absolute favorite - though it is not a book, at least I don't think so ...

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    1. Love Actually is a great movie. And that's a great author list. Heather, thanks for stopping by, and I hope you'll come back tomorrow for more great books and excerpts.

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  39. I loved Pride and Prejudice

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  40. I have been a reader all my life. My tasted are eclectic. Romance, fantasy, horror sometimes. I love Nora Roberts, JD Robb, Christina Dodd, Mercedes Lackey, Terah Edun, Maureen McGowan, Jill Landis and many more

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    1. Ditto on everything. You've got a great taste! Hope you'll come back tomorrow for more authors, more great books.

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  41. Oh boy, it's hard to name just one favorite. I loved all of the Cynster stories by Stephanie Laurens. But my very first romance was from my mother's stash: Gone with the Wind. I realize the ending wasn't traditional romance, but still, it was a terrific story. I tend toward the historical rather than contemporary, although there are some by Jill Shalvis, Kristan Higgans and Patience Griffin that are hard to beat! I do love a touch of humor in my romances. Thanks for the post! jdh2690@gmail.com

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    1. Janice, thanks for stopping by. I love the Cynster series, too. And like you, my first love is historical. And humor...that's something when done well is hard to beat. Thanks for coming by. Hope to see you again soon!

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    2. Janice, I read Gone With The Wind when I was in junior high and then my mother took me to see the movie in the theater. It was so good. I really enjoyed it.

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  42. There are so many great ones. But I have a fondness for The Princess Bride. My mom read it to me when I was younger and I loved watching the movie so Its always been a favorite for me.
    -Amber
    goodblinknpark(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

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    1. Oh yes! That's a great one. Thanks for adding it to our list! Hope to see you again soon.

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  43. Too many too choose from, but Lisa Kleypas's The Devil in Winter is one of my all-time favourites

    golden_tear44@hotmail.com

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    1. That's one of my fav books of hers. In fact, the whole series is just awesome. Thanks for coming by and hope to see you again soon!

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  44. GWTW is my all time favorite.

    Lori P
    jlipayer (at) charter (dot) net

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  45. Impossible to name only one favorite. bdraymond@comcast.net

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  46. Pride and Prejudice Elizabeth and Darcy. Love the romances that are began in arguing

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  47. pride and prejudice

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  48. Favorite love story? Hard to choose... If I had to pick though it's any story based on Beauty and the Beast (my favorite of those that I've read is Robin McKinley's "Beauty".

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  49. I love historical, contemporary and paranormal. I enjoy blogs such as these because I am exposed to new authors who open new horizons for me.

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    1. So glad we can introduce you to new authors and new books. We have a great line-up tomorrow and Sunday, so be sure to come back!

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    2. This is a great blog. I get to visit ever so often and I just love the interaction here with readers.

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  50. I really can't pick a favorite. There have been so many wonderful love stories written by Nora Roberts, Kristan Higgins, Julie James, Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, Mary Balogh, etc., etc. Impossible to pick just one.

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    1. castings at mindspring dot com

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    2. It is hard to pick a favorite. So many wonderful love stories out there! Thanks Cheryl, for stopping by. Hope to see you again soon.

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    3. Ohhhh Cheryl, you picked two of my favorites Kristan Higgins and Julie James. I loved her book Practice Makes Perfect. Two lawyers going at it all the time...loved it. Anything by Kristan Higgins is great.

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  51. LOVE STORY by Erich Segal. This book/movie is my very favorite. An estranged son from his father, his wife dying from leukemia and he is now unable to pay for the correct treatment. He goes to his father and does not say why is needs the money. Don't want to tell entire story in case any one would like to read the book. A memorable statement is ""Love means never having to say you're sorry...".

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    1. Oh wow. Thanks for reminding me about this book and movie. It is a classic. Great add to our list! Thanks for coming by. Hope we'll see you again soon.

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  52. Still think Gone with the wind is the best, at least it was one of the first love stories I liked -- altho i didn't get around to actually reading the book until i'd seen the movie several times!

    sandyhaber@yahoo.com

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  53. Favorite romantic movie: Zorro
    Book: The Scarlet Pimpernel

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    1. Yay! I thought I was the only one who still loved Scarlet Pimpernel

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  54. It is just impossible to name just one..though Outlander is up there in the top 10

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    1. I'd agree with you there. I read Outlander (several times). And I'm loving the series on television.

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  55. One favorite (of a long list of favs) is Silver Lining by Maggie Osborne. It's a Cinderella-type love story with a plain, tough heroine and a handsome hero who comes to love her despite having to marry her against his wishes.

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    1. Maggie is awesome, and Silver Lining is a great love story. Thanks for adding to our list!

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  56. Pride and Prejudice and Julie Garwood historicals
    Happy Valentine's Day!
    bossu49 at aol dot com

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    1. Yay for Julie! Honor's Splendour is one of my favorites of hers.

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    2. Julie Garwood Historicals are the best.

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  57. My favorite love story is Gone with the Wind...it's classic!

    Barrie
    books4me67 at ymail dot com

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  58. Persuasion is one of my favorite stories.
    ingakaye @ yahoo. com

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  59. Cinderella!!! I love the fact that she is such a good person despite the hard life she has. And of course the prince who swoops in and takes her away. Aaaah! And than there is Julie Garwood, her books make me sigh as well. Happy Valentine's Day!

    c3freas@yahoo.com

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    1. Yes to another fairy tale! And yes to Julie Garwood! Both awesome!

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  60. There are so many that I love, but I'd have to say that Gone With the Wind is my all time favorite.

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  61. Beauty and the Beast. I love how it tells you that someone might not be how they appear on the outside.

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  62. Green Darkness by Anya Seton is still one of my favorites.

    gibsonbk at hiwaay dot net

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    1. Green Darkness was one of the very first romances I ever read. Loved it

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  63. Great group of authors. My favorite would is Ashes In The Wind by Kathleen Woodiwiss. theresafischer(at)bellsouth(dot)net.

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  64. My favorite is Sense and Sensibility ... I love to reread it!

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  65. SCARLETT by Alexandra Ripley... I have read it so many times my copy is falling apart.
    greenshamrock at cox dot net

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  66. There are so many. I love the musicals. Sound of music, based on a real situation.The Trouble is I keep reading new books and finding great new ones and after 50 years of reading, they start to blend a little bit. Anyway I just love to read and of course sing with the musicals.

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  67. Anything by Mercedes Lackey, Stephanie Lauriens, Lisa Kleypas, the nerd series, and so many others.

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  68. I love An Affair to Remember, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Pride and Prejudice. So many great love stories!

    Marcy Shuler
    bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  69. I just read The Crimson Cord by Jill Eileen Smith. This wonderful romance about Rahab was just released. jacquir613@gmail.com

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  70. Rhett and Scarlet in Gone With the Wind yenastone at aol dot com

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  71. Pride and Prejudice is one of my all time faves.
    Laura
    lkslider@gmail.com

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  72. Anything historical by Catherine Coulter and Julie Garwood.

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    1. Forgot email! Sorry about that - lvsgund at gmail.com

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  73. i dont have a favorite love story but i love teresa medeiros and nora roberts.

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  74. Gone with the Wind, of course!

    pricousins at aol dot com

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  75. Gone With The Wind! Thanks for the giveaway!
    southern_babe08 (at) Hotmail (dot) com

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  76. I like Jane Eyre. Thanks
    r.d1@myfairpoint.net

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  77. Thank you for featuring these terrific books! My favorite love story is "Pride & Prejudice."
    smhparent [at] hotmail [dot] com

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  78. It's very hard for me to choose a favorite love story, because there are always new ones to read and fall in love with. How about all of them? :D
    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

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  79. Gone with the Wind.
    nanze55(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  80. I don't have a favorite love story, but I love the romance genre in general!!!

    jessiethacker@rocketmail.com

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  82. I love historical and paranormal romances however I will read others as well. nancyannjones@hotmail.com

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  83. My favorite would be my first romance Wings of the Falcon by Barbara Michaels

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  84. Lizbeth Selvig is new to me but thumbing through The Rancher and Rock Star has perked me up for a cowboy. I love new authors, thank you for sharing your talent.

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  85. One favorite is The Wolf And The Dove by Kathleen Woodiwiss

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  86. I love all the versions of Cinderella movies.....Enchanted, Everafter, Cinderella Story, Another Cinderella Story, and others.....they each have moments of pure enjoyment and are able to make you believe in a HEA.
    grandmabkr at yahoo dot com

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  87. Pretty Women with Julia Roberts and Richard Geer. Thanks for the excerpt it was great!!!

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  88. Love Story. Bobbipad at gmail dot com

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  89. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  90. I don't know that I can pick just one...I have so many authors I love: Nora Roberts, Diana Palmer, Liliana Hart, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Catherine Coulter, Jill Shalvis, Carly Phillips, Kristen Higgins, Violet Duke, just to name a select few...just give me a HEA, a strong Alpha, and a good woman who will stand up to him when needed, but be there for him when he needs her to be, and I'm happy!

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  91. Mmm... too many to pick from! Movie wise, To Have and Have Not, because Bogie and Bacall are wonderful in it. Or It happened One Night. That is also a ton of fun.

    Book wise, I don't want to cop out and say Pride and Prejudice because I feel like that is such a popular answer. Maybe Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott. I do like that one quite a bit.

    rbarckhaus (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is still a favorite of mine. I have my original copy that my grandmother gave to me for Christmas and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

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  92. Scarlett and Rhett from Gone with the Wind, Roslin and Adama from Battlestar Galactica or Kitty and Matt in Gunsmoke :) love a good love story.

    amy2read (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  93. My favorite Love Story is Always, by Carol Rose. That is one terrific love story.

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    1. She my critique partner. I just sent her an email and to let her know that she was mentioned with all these fabulous authors.

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  94. The love story isn't the center of the novel, but Heinlein's "The Door Into Summer" is an amazing treatment of time travel that ends with a romance.

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  95. Gosh, reading all these comments has given me some great books to put on my TBR and TBR Again lists! Thanks to everyone who share their favorite love stories!

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  96. This is my favorite book as well as my favorite love story; Remembrance by Jude Deveraux.

    kekerenee70 @ Gmail

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  97. There are many love stories out there worth mentioning by many authors. The one that made me feel, sob and react was an author I don't consider for this genre, James Patterson. The book is "Sunday at Tiffanys".

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  98. There are so many romance stories and authors I like that it would be hard to name just one. I haven't read E E Burke but hope to as I like historical's about the old west.

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  99. It's impossible to pin point just one. I've come across so many wonderful stories and authors. There are many who are auto buys for me; "oh look she has a new release!" & click buy :p

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  100. One of my favorite love stories both book & movie is The Notebook. I couldn't help but just feel touched by that story. Another is Remembrance by Jude Deveraux & P.S I Love You by Cecelia Ahern.

    jeanlhm18 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  101. Gone With the Wind is a favorite classic and more recently, Sweet Home Alabama was sweet.

    penfield716(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

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  102. I love to read historical romances and have too many favorite authors to pick just one. Several of my favorites are included on this blog.

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  103. Love historical romances.
    onorman (at) arlibrary (dot) org

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  104. These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer. Classic Regency romance.
    Clare O'Beara

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  105. I don't see any way to subscribe to this site without going through sites that I do not use. So my edress (for comment above) is silvertrees [at] eircom [dot] net
    Clare O'Beara

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  106. I loved the love story of Diana and Matthew in the trilogy by Deborah Harkness beginning with A Discovery of Witches!

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  108. My favorite love story is Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Their ending was sad but boy did they love.
    RC- Tara Woods
    mizztuts AT bellsouth DOT net

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  109. I love Julia Quinn's Bridgerton Family Series.

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  110. So many great books! Thanks! janaleah64 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  111. How can anyone pick just one? I love 'em all. Nice giveaway.

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  112. Today you have some of my favorite authors! (And introduced me to a couple of new ones) 7 brides for 7 brothers is one of my favorites. My kids were not interested in watching it when they were young until they realized there was something for everyone on it. I still remember my boys laughing at the fight scene!

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  113. Great write up. Enjoyed reading about all you and the blurps.

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  114. I have a lot of favorites. It's hard to choose. I love Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Such a big heart!

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  115. I thought I already posted a comment but maybe I didn't, don't see it anyway. It would be very hard to choose a favorite as I read many, many books and usually like them all. Since I just read JD Robb's latest In Death I think I'll say Roarke and Eve.

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  116. What a great giveaway. It's exciting to get some new book ideas, and learn about authors that I don't know. I love reading novels, especially historical.
    davisbk121@gmail.com

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  117. Pride and Prejudice. There is something about it, especially the letter that calls t me.

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  118. It's hard to pick! I usually like the Regency Historicals the best. However, I really loved the "Deadly" series by Brenda Joyce.

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  119. Can't wait to read all of these!! šŸ˜˜šŸ˜˜šŸ˜˜
    Merelyn reads {at} gmail {dot} com

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  120. growing up I have always love Beauty and the Beast.but in booksI love everything buy Christine Feehan.
    sasluvbooks at yahoo dot com

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  121. My favourite love story is The Notebook. Gotta love Noah and Allie!

    Also thanks for the suggestions. My tbr is bursting
    Xo_veronica16(at)hotmail(dot)com

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