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Thursday, April 24, 2014

My Favorite Book Couple with Anna Campbell


ANNA CAMPBELL has written eight multi award-winning historical romances for Grand Central Publishing and Avon HarperCollins and her work is published in sixteen languages. Anna is currently engaged in writing the "Sons of Sin" series, which started in 2012 with SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE’S BED. Look out for WHAT A DUKE DARES in August 2014. Anna lives on the beautiful east coast of Australia where she writes full-time.

Places to find Anna:

From Russia With Love! By Anna Campbell

Hi Dani! Thank you so much for inviting me to participate in this fun blog event where we get to talk about our favorite book couple. You come up with the most interesting themes! Like most writers, I’m first and foremost a reader, so I love the chance to talk about great books.

Picking a favorite couple is actually rather tough, but I’ve decided to talk about the hero and heroine of the book I unfailingly turn to for a comfort read. I must have read it twenty times! And I never fail to close it with a big smile on my face and a big sigh of satisfaction.

My favorite book couple are Countess Anna Grazinsky and Rupert, the Earl of Westerholme, from A COUNTESS BELOW STAIRS by Eva Ibbotson. ACBS was the original title when the book was published as general fiction. It’s since been re-released as a YA book (as far as I know without changes) under the title THE SECRET COUNTESS, which I don’t think is nearly as interesting.

ACBS was published in 1981. I found it completely by chance one afternoon when I was combing the old Brisbane City Council Library. I’d never heard of the author or the book, but the title, with its hints of Upstairs, Downstairs and aristocratic masquerades caught my attention. I borrowed that particular book at least five more times and then, luckily, I found my own copy at a book sale. We forget in these days of one-click book buying how tough it was to track down books in the ‘old’ days! As you can tell, I was immediately captivated and I hope you will be too.

Anna, our plucky, great-hearted heroine, leads an enchanted life with her brilliant, eccentric, aristocratic family in pre-revolutionary Russia, but her world falls apart when the Bolsheviks take over and like many upper-class Russians, she flees to London. There she has to cope with grief and poverty and homesickness.

To support her family, she finds work as a maid in the beautiful old stately home Mersham. Here she meets wounded, clever, compelling Rupert, the gallant younger son who inherited after the death of his older brother in the trenches of World War I France. Rupert, too, has been ripped away from the future he’d dreamed of, as an archaeologist and academic. Instead, family duty compels him to save his inheritance for posterity in a new world where noblemen seem like an anachronism.

So we have two lovely characters, both of whom have to meet their unwelcome fates with courage and initiative, both of whom recognize the other as a kindred spirit from the start. Both of whom are people of unflinching honor – which is a problem when Rupert is engaged to the awful Muriel Hardwicke whose fortune will save Mersham and all those who rely on the house for their livelihood and emotional wellbeing. Ouch!

This book is unashamedly romantic. Sometimes spine-tinglingly so – I dare you to read the scene where Rupert and Anna waltz at the ball without goosebumps and a lump in your throat. It’s also funny and sad and wise and unforgettable. While the secondary characters are beautifully done and are all memorable in their own right, Rupert and Anna’s deep and abiding love remains at the center of the story. I’d love them to move in next door. That’s how much I love these characters!

If you haven’t read this, I hope you’ll be Russian to your nearest book retailer to grab a copy!
Do you have a romance that gives you a lump in the throat? What’s your favorite comfort read, the book you turn to when the world just seems a little bit too full of hard edges?



A delicious historical romance perfect for fans of Downton Abbey and "Upstairs, Downstairs." After the Russian Revolution turns her world topsy-turvy, Anna, a young Russian countess, has no choice but to flee to England. penniless, Anna hides her aristocratic background and takes a job as servant in the household of the esteemed Westerholme family, armed only with an outdated housekeeping manual and sheer determination.

Desperate to keep her past a secret, Anna is nearly overwhelmed by her new duties--not to mention her instant attraction to Rupert, the handsome Earl of Westerholme. to make matters worse, Rupert appears to be falling for her as well. As their attraction grows stronger, Anna finds it more and more difficult to keep her most dearly held secrets from unraveling. And then there's the small matter of Rupert's beautiful and nasty fiancee. . . .

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |


It Takes a Lady…

Brilliant scholar Genevieve Barrett knows how to keep a secret. Her identity as the author of her father's academic articles has always been her greatest deception-until a charming housebreaker tries to steal the mysterious Harmsworth Jewel from her. She doesn't reveal that she recognizes her father's devastatingly handsome new student as the thief himself. For Genevieve, this will be the most seductive secret of all...

..To Catch a Thief!

Sir Richard Harmsworth has been living a lie, maintaining a rakish facade to show society that he doesn't care about his status as a bastard. Yet long haunted by his unknown father's identity, Richard believes the Harmsworth Jewel will confirm his claim as the rightful heir. But when Richard sets out to seduce the bookworm who possesses the stone, he instead falls for its beautiful owner. But even as she steals Richard's heart, Genevieve will be in greater danger than her coveted treasure...

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |

Check out the Sons of Sin series:
  


 Check out what's up for grabs.

Up For Grabs:
  • 1 copy of A Countess Below Stairs + A Rake's Midnight Kiss

To Enter: 
  • Please answer Anna's question: Do you have a romance that gives you a lump in the throat? What’s your favorite comfort read, the book you turn to when the world just seems a little bit too full of hard edges?
  • Please leave your email address along with your comment to enter.
  • Choice of print or eBook copies.

**Don't forget to enter the grand prize giveaway!


Good Luck! 

Special thanks to Anna Campbell for sponsoring this giveaway.

112 comments :

  1. Gallant Waif by Anne Gracie. I cry every time I read it. Definitely one of my comfort reads as is Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey (another Anne. There's a definitely commonality here)

    thumbelinda03@yahoo.com

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    1. Linda, that's a lovely book, isn't it? One of her best. Great choice. I only ever read one Anne McCaffrey. I must dig out some more of hers.

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  2. Oh my gosh! I heard that book was fantastic, Anna!! I have it on my TBR list for a while now but I just might have to push it up a couple of notches!!

    Well, to answer the question.... I haven't been re-reading so I'm not sure which book I'll pick to escape to. Maybe something new....

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    1. Kipha, lovely to see you here. So glad you've already got Countess on your radar. It's a real charmer! I find I do quite a lot of re-reading. Picking up an old favorite is a sure-fire way to get me out of a reading slump. Or sometimes if I've read something new that's fantastic, it's nice to go back to an old treasure just to give the next new book a chance to stand on its own merits!

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  3. Anna, I LOVE Countess Below Stairs but I don't have my own copy, sigh. Sadly I can't be in the running to win since I've already read your fabulous 'Rake's Midnight Kiss'. What a brilliant giveaway.

    It's so hard to choose one stand out couple but I must say Miss Bennett and Mr Darcy are still up there for me.

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    1. Annie, isn't the Ibbotson gorgeous? I laugh and I cry and I sigh. Pretty much everything you want from a great romance, isn't it? And thanks for saying such nice things about Rake! I actually wouldn't be at all surprised if Lizzie and Darcy make an appearance in this event of Danielle's. They're such favorites for everybody. It was actually quite hard choosing a couple - Rupert and Daphne from Mr. Impossible ALMOST made the cut, but I'm pretty sure I've talked about that book here before so decided to go for something new.

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  4. Hi, Anna! I, too, adore Countess Below Stairs -- just delightful! As a child, my comfort book was Black Beauty. I can pretty much recite every line after all these years. I might just revisit it this long weekend!

    (No need to enter me in the draw as I have your Rake's Midnight Kiss', but thanks anyway!)

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    1. Vanessa, another Countess fan? Thanks so much for swinging by. I remember crying my eyes out of Black Beauty. That bit where he's harnessed to the hansom cab. Whaaaaaaahhhh! I think my comfort read when I was a kidlet was the Secret Island by Enid Blyton. I think I knew that one by heart. Not quite sure why the idea of running away from my loving family was so fascinating! :-)

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  5. I have just added that book to my wish list, thanks for the recommendation. The book I can read over and over is Jane Eyre. There is something about gothic romance and a brooding hero with some serious secrets. Love your books!

    sheryll1974@netscape.net

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    1. Thanks so much, Sheryl! As you'd know if you're a gothic fan, there's quite a lot of gothic in a lot of my stories. My teenage reading was littered with Victoria Holt although I agree, nothing in that field matches up to the fabulous Jane Eyre. One of my favorites too. They could have featured as my favorite couple too!

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  6. Hi Anna, I have heard you mention A Countess Below Stairs several times, but thought it was out of print. Great to know it's available.
    I don't tend to re-read books I'd always rather read a new one. However when I was younger I did read Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca several times, I loved the dark, Gothic-ness of it! Please don't put me in the draw for A Rake's Midnight Kiss as I already have a copy of this delightful story. And I'm looking forward to What a Duke Dares!

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    1. Thanks so much for swinging by, Kandy. I'm getting excited about WHAT A DUKE DARES too. I've got some ARCs to give away over the next couple of months so watch out for that, people. Oh, Rebecca! I was crazy about that, and then I wasn't. It was a set text for speech and drama and I got a bit sick of it. Talk about re-reading! I must re-read it to see what I think now. Did you know it's a take on Jane Eyre?

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  8. I love "The Wild Child" by Mary Jo Putney (or any of her books, really, just this is the best one). I love Meriel, wandering in her own world, and I love Dominic, wishing he (basically) had a job. But most of all, I love the fact that he takes the time to rescue her, and that she eventually allows him into her world. it can take a lot of courage to do that.
    In general, I prefer books set in the past, and I like good, strong, reliable heros who either rescue the heroine, or add to her (as Rothgar in Jo Beverly's "Wicked").
    And I LOVE electronic books. I ran out of shelf space a long time ago. Woe is me, because I love to read in the jacuzzi!
    patty.denke@gmail.com

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    1. Ha ha, Patty, I'm laughing at your electronic/jacuzzi dilemma. Oh, the troubles! And the bubbles! I thought I'd read all of MJP's historicals but that one doesn't ring a bell. Clearly I need to pick it up.

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    2. the China Bride and The Wild Child go together. There COULD BE one more to the group, as the brothers have a sister... The China Bride is the current tub book. along with The House at Tynford by Natasha Solomons.

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    3. I've definitely read and loved the China Bride. Wonder how I missed TWC!

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    1. hmmm...I can't think of one at the moment that leaves me with a lump in my throat. I love anything Austen and can re-read all the time.
      dholcomb1 @ aol.com

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    2. I've been gradually re-reading the Austens. Next one off the rank is Northanger Abbey. Persuasion was my my recent JA read and that definitely left me with a lump in my throat. It has such a lovely ending!

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  10. Hi Anna, I don't really have a re-read book to turn to in my hours of need but I like any romance that has that right mixture of heartache and comic relieve, after a real massive tear jerker some extremely funny conversations or situations are a good combination for me to enjoy a book. I have been thinking about a couple that I would call my favourite but I cannot come up with one as I like a lot of them. I also find, that after years of breathing in any historical and regency romance novel, I finally start to enjoy contemporary, western and contemporary western as well. For a long time I had no inclination to read those at all.
    But now that I thought about it I finally found a couple that is in my top 5. Angelica Cynster and Dominic, Earl of Glencrae from Stephanie Laurens' book the Capture of the Earl of Glencrae. I haven'r re-read the whole book as it is the third of her trilogy but I love the scene where he asks her to let go because otherwise he would take her down with him over the cliff. It always gets my heart going when I read that. :)

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    1. Ooh, Fluser, love the sound of that Stephanie L. Love it when the chips are down and the hero/heroine takes the bullet for the other one. I agree with you about the mixture of tears and laughter being wonderful. I find Susan Elizabeth Phillips does that beautifully in a contemporary setting.

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  12. Anything by Kristan Higgins! Her books always make me laugh/cry/jump for joy. When I'm in a reading rut, she's who I turn to.

    AquarianDancer at gmail dot com

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    1. Aquarian, isn't it wonderful when we find an author who speaks to us so directly. Kristan's great!

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  13. Well, another book to add to my ever groaning, ever growing TBR shelves...but that's ok...always room for another good book, or two! LOL I found a copy of ACBS and ordered it from a Paperback Swap trader...just in case I'm not lucky enough to win this copy from you!

    kareninnc at gmail dot com

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    1. Karen, hope you enjoy Countess. It's definitely on the sweet end of the spectrum but there's so much emotional punch and romance in it, I don't think you'll mind the lack of steam. I agree - always happy to hear about a great new book!

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  14. Hi Anna, I read "The Making of a Gentleman" by Shana Galen, and absolutely cried my eyes out. I could feel Armand's pain. I also loved the hot sex between him and Felicity.

    I haven't read "A Rake's Midnight Kiss", and would love to read this. I would also love to read "A Countess Below Stairs". It sounds really good. I only read print books.

    dpd333(at)aol.com

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    1. Diane, love Shana's books. It was such fun to collaborate with her on a Christmas anthology last year. By the way, if anyone wants a fun free read, check out A GROSVENOR SQUARE CHRISTMAS. It's a bit out of season, but does that matter? Good luck in the draw!

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    2. Thanks Anna. BTW, I have "A Grosvenor Square Christmas", and loved it.

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    3. Thanks so much, Diane. So glad you enjoyed it. That was a fun one to work on.

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  15. Well, here we are again, Anna. Another wonderful blog tour. You sure do get around, don't you? :-) Love it. Love your books. And a terrific surprise today: an introduction to Eva Ibbotson. I had never heard of her or her writing before now, but that's about to change. Thank you so much for telling us about her story, A Countess Below Stairs. But as to a romance that brings a lump to my throat, I always turn to Catherine Anderson's Comanche series, especially Comanche Heart. I like your phrase "when the world just seems a little bit too full of hard edges." Seeing hardships and tragedies on the news and in our neighborhoods today sometimes is just too much and a soft romance does just the trick for relaxation before I turn out the lights. Thanks for asking. jdh2690@gmail.com

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    1. Forgot to mention that I am a Kindle gal too. :-)

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    2. Janice, there are times when escaping to somewhere when you know there's a happy ending makes all the difference, doesn't it? I treasure some letters I've had from readers who have found solace in my books when they're nursing a loved one or when they've been battling troubles of their own. I don't think romance gets enough credit for quite how much comfort people can find in the pages of a good love story. Oh, I hope you check out EI. I think she's wonderful. My favorite is still Countess but she wrote some great love stories. You know, I don't think I've read Catherine Anderson. I must check her out.

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    3. To escape the hard edges of the world. the exact reason I read romances. thank you for the wonderful phrase.

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    4. Janice, so glad that struck a chord. It's how I feel sometimes and a wonderful book with a happy ending just takes the bitter edge off!

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  16. this is the first I've come across this book! I've already added it to my amazon want list ;) Ummm... I'd have to say any of Julie Garwood's historicals. They are sweet, romantic and good as a pick me up for any mood! I think they are my romance standbys b/c they were my gateway. Congrats to Anna on the newest release and thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thanks, Erin. Oh, Julie's books are classics, aren't they? And she's another example of laughter and tears in the same story. Hope you enjoy Countess! I think it's just a gorgeous read. And the subsidiary characters were so wonderful, I wanted them all to have their own books. Isn't that the sign of a great story?

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  17. Ruthless by Anne Stuart always gets to me and one of my comfort books is the lighthearted Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase.

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    1. Oh, love Anne Stuart. I think my favorite book of hers is A Rose at Midnight. See if you can find that, it will blow your mind! And Lord of Scoundrels is an all-time classic. I think my favorite Loretta Chase, and the book that NEARLY made an appearance here today instead of the Ibbotson is MR. IMPOSSIBLE. That's such a gorgeous book!

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  18. Hi Anna! Thanks for the introduction to a COUNTESS BELOW STAIRS. I haven't reread books for many years since I have so many of them. However, I do enjoy your books, Sue-Ellen Welfonder's, Karen Ranney's, Carly Phillips, Kristan Higgins, Tawny Weber's, and Rosemary Rogers. It also helps if the book has a bit of lighthearted humor and kick ass heroine in it. I prefer print books when possible. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!.

    kscathy at yahoo dot com

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    1. Hi Cathy! I love Danielle's blog - she always comes up with such interesting topics and favorite book couple is a great one to get the mind going. It was hard to pick a single book! What a great list of faves - thank you so much for including me on it. Good luck!

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  19. If I want a bit of angst with a HEA, then favorite comfort reads are books by Judith McNaught, Sherry Thomas & Lisa Kleypas. If I want a lighter mood with laugh-out-loud moments, then I turn to books written by Julie James and Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

    penfield716(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

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    1. Kim, great list. I haven't read Judith M for years. Must drag them out again. There was a stage when they were my favorite comfort reads. I must have read Whitney, My Love fifty times! Great choice of contemps too!

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  20. I seek out Jane Eyre or Pride and Prejudice when I need comforting angst. I now have to be Russian to check out ACBS! I read either PB or Kindle.

    emmasmom AT wi DOT rr DOT com

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    1. Ha ha, love the Russian joke! I don't think you can go past the classics. Did you see it was Charlotte Bronte's birthday this week? I just love Jane Eyre! And Pride and Prejudice has such a great love story, love that too.

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  21. There are a lot of books that give me a lump in my throat. My favs are The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley and Paradise by Judith McNaught.

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    1. Email: lorimeehan1 at aol dot com

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    2. Judith McNaught definitely has that lump in the throat quality, doesn't she, Lori? I haven't read Ian Mackenzie although it's on my wishlist. So many people just adore that book!

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  22. Mary, you had me at hello on your post. Not just because you're an equal fan (please note equal!) of A COUNTESS BELOW STAIRS but because you mentioned the favorite of my books, MIDNIGHT'S WILD PASSION. I just loved those characters so much, I wanted to move in with them! Great choice of other re-reads. I think Connie Brockway in particular is a bit of a hidden treasure Bridal Season is such a classic. Lovely ending!

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  23. There are many! I like to re-read Simply Irresistible by Rachel Gibson, Natural Born Charmer and Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, among some of them.

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    1. Chanpreet, two great suggestions there. Love both SEP and Rachel G, especially SEP. I think her books are just marvelous!

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  24. A Countess Below Stairs sounds like a great read, Anna! Your post has put it firmly on my must-get list!

    No need to put me in the draw because I already have your fabulous book, A Rake's Midnight Kiss (that will be on my future list of comfort reads!), and what an absolutely wonderful giveaway for one lucky commenter

    As for current comfort reads - I have lots of books in that category too! Including yours - especially Untouched - so hard to go past the gorgeous Matthew! Another that springs immediately to mind is Nora Roberts book, The Last Honest Woman.

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    1. Sharon, thank you for those kind words about Rake. And definitely give Countess a go! In fact, if you promise to treat it like gold, I may even lend you my copy! Wow, how wonderful about Untouched being one of your go-to reads. I think those books are so precious. I know I treasure my particular favorites. I must hunt down that Nora!

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    2. Anna, you're such a sweetie! If I hadn't already treated myself to a Kindle copy, I'd be around on your doorstep!

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  25. Both books sound great. As for lump in my throat books.....I honestly can't think of one at the moment.

    Comfort reads as a child were the Little House on the Prairie series (yes all of them). Now I use reading as a comforting escape all the time. I've got a bad habit of re-reading a series when I get a new book in the series just because. :-)

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    1. oh and glendamartillotti@gmail.com

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    2. Glenda, I hear you on re-reading the series when a new one comes out, especially if it's a complicated plot and it's been a while since the previous book appeared. I don't think that's silly at all! I never read the Little House on the Prairie books although I have friends who loved them. One of my English friends did a special trip out to where the stories are set and sent me a postcard which I treasure.

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    3. Anna, my grandmother got me Little House in the Big Woods for Christmas one year and I was hooked. :-) It took awhile for me to collect the series, but I got them from the library! I wanted to do the whole trip thing, but never did. Maybe one day. . . :-)

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    4. Glenda, my friend had the most wonderful trip. They went to Mount Rushmore and a whole stack of other great places out that way.

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    5. Oh Wow. Sounds great. One day, I'll do it. :-)

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  26. Hi Anna. I've never heard of A Countess Below Stairs, but it sounds like a great story.

    One book that always grabs my heart is Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros. It's one of the very few books that I've reread and it still gets to me every time.

    Marcy Shuler
    bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi Marcy! Oh, wonderful - I've introduced you to a fab new book. I haven't read that book by Teresa - sounds like I should!

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  27. The most recent romance I've read that really gave me a lump in my throat was J.R. Ward's Lover Awakened. I don't really have a favorite comfort read.
    jmcgaugh (at) semo (dot) edu

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    1. Oh, great choice. Although I have to say my fave of that series is Rhage's story. Thought that was such an emotional rollercoaster. Thanks for swinging by.

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  28. Definitely go to anything by Jill Shalvis! I just love to reread her books again and again (kmichels06@gmail.com)

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    1. Jill's books are so heartwarming, aren't they, Krysten? Great choice.

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  29. I usually feel that way when I read Eloisa James' stories. I don't have a favorite comfort read, anything I'm reading at the time will take me away to another place - and I've always got at least one book, most of the time two, that I'm reading, so I find plenty of comfort when needed. :D
    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

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    1. Barbara, I love Eloisa's stories. The last one I read was her re-telling of Beauty and the Beast with a hero taken straight from House. Great book!

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  30. I like such a wide variety of books, but I reread Jane Austen Persuasion. It definitely leaves a lump in my throat.

    Ann(dot)sheiring(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Ann, I've read Persuasion again within the last year and yes, it definitely gave me a lump in the throat. I love the ending of that - it's so sigh worthy!

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  31. I really can't decide I love so many romance books that i can't even count!! Ayalamarcya@aol.com :)

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    1. Marcy, great answer. There are so many great books out there, it's hard to pick sometimes, isn't it? I had trouble picking just one for my fave book couple!

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  32. Hi, Anna!

    My favourite comfort reads, aside from historical romance novels, are cookbooks! I especially love Ina Garten's and Nigella Lawson's books. I'm not a good cook, but it makes me happy to read about how they've cooked, fed and entertained friends and families with their food. ^_^

    Thank you for the chance to win your book!

    - khriscc (at) yahoo (dot) com

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    1. Tin, what a great answer! I can understand why you find cookbooks so restorative. I have to say I find books about beautiful houses have the same effect on me, especially beautiful old houses.

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  33. It is hard to choose one favorite comfort read, because I have many books which I love reading.
    olga_sergejeva (at) hotmail.co.uk

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    1. Hi Olga! We're spoilt for choice when it comes to good books, aren't we? I have so many new books to read that sometimes I feel a bit guilty reading the old ones again!

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  34. I love anything romance. I rarely read the same book more than once. As long as it has a happy ending, that is my go to comfort read.

    suegaluska (at) yahoo (dot) com

    Print copy please.

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    1. Sue, the happy ending's vital, isn't it? I always feel cheated if I pick up something billed as a romance and it doesn't end well!

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  35. There are so many great recommendations on this comment thread!

    The romance novel that gives me a lump in my throat is Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas. Millie's secret love for her husband is so heart-wrenching! I read it, along with 9 Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake over and over again as total comfort-reads.

    - varellano [at] gmail [dot] com

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    1. Oh, and I have a preference for e-books in Kindle format :-)

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    2. Veronica, we like to keep you busy! I've picked a few recommendations myself. I haven't read the Sherry Thomas but 9 Rules is wonderful (loved 10 Things too!). Thanks for swinging by!

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  36. Oh, like so many others, I have too many but my absolutely favorite one is Persuasion. It's the one that I could read and re-read and still fall in love with Capt. Wentworth. And I feel so compelled to hug Anne and tell her that everything will be ok and she will find her HEA... and it gives me hope that everything will be ok for me as well when my world is not so ok either ;)
    Thanks for the giveaway!

    Joanna M, I prefer prints, please
    annaoj(at)mortes(at) gmail(dot) com

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    1. MsAwesome (awesome name!), I just adore Persuasion. I actually think it's my favorite Austen, hard as it is to go past Pride and Prejudice. As you say, there's so much heart in that story. Captain Wentworth is absolutely gorgeous and I really would love to know Anne in real life. I think she's a wonderful creation. Great choice!

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    2. I've been meaning to change it but I'm afraid that if I do then no one will know who I am ;) ... P&P is the reason I was introduced to Romance but Persuasion is the definitive HEA for me. Lizzy was a strong lady and that makes me think she would have found happiness elsewhere if not with Mr. Darcy (not that I would have want that!) but Anne, dear Anne, we know she really, really, really deserved Capt. Wentworth.

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    3. Mrs Awesome (and please don't change it!), Anne faded away, didn't she? It's too cruel to imagine her not getting her happy ending. It's funny - thinking about your comments about Lizzie, I think that's true about Jane Eyre too. She had the strength to go on and thrive, even if she did have a broken heart.

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  37. I very rearly read one book more than once,but I have two favorite books - my comfort read - "Dream a Little Dream" by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and "The Bride" - Julie Garwood :)

    bubacka07@outlook.com

    Thank you for the recommendation and wonderful post Anna :)

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    1. Bube, I love Susan Elizabeth Phillips. It's wonderful how often she's popped up here. My first SEP was Lady Be Good and I recently re-read that - still as funny and heartfelt as ever. I read the Bride but a long time ago. I should probably dig it out again!

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  38. JANE EYRE is one I turn to. It always moves me.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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    1. Mary, I love, love, love Jane Eyre. I think I like it even more than the Austens which is saying something. I think I'm due for a re-read, thanks for the reminder.

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  39. ACBS sounds like a great read. Thanks for the opportunity. I read so many books it's almost impossible to choose just one but if I had to it would be Jamie and Claire Fraser. Such a love.
    Thanks for the post.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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    1. Carol, I hang my head in shame but I've never read the Diana Gabaldon books. I know, I know - everyone tells me I'd love them. But I really don't like stuff set in the Jacobite rebellion and that turns me off. It's all too sad for me!

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  40. any of the BDB books

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  41. I don't actually have a book where I turn to to basically calm and relax myself. I just pick whatever book I remember had the funny scenes that I enjoy while reading it and just read it again. I always switch around

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    1. I forgot my email. Sorry. paaj(_)xyooj(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    2. Sandy, picking favorite scenes is definitely a great way to escape any bad stuff in the world. I have a couple of favorite scenes I turn to as well! Although what usually happens then is that I end up reading the whole dang book!

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  42. I read so many books it's almost impossible to choose, i enjoy any books as long as there are HEA. thank you for the opportunity to win.

    sunshine_pinkystar(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. My pleasure, Olivia. Thanks for swinging by. I think when we're looking for a comfort read, a happy ending is absolutely required!

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  43. Replies
    1. Molly, I"m actually surprised there haven't been more Lizzie and Darcy fans! Great choice,.

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  44. Anne of green Gable's. So many sweet and tender moments with Gilbert and Matthew and Diana.

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    1. May, I have so many friends who adore that book. I never read it as a kid (well, I remember reading the first 100 pages, no idea why I didn't finish it). Maybe I should try it now.

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  45. I love Lynn Kurland's books for a sweet romance read. Julia Quinn is great when I need some humor - she writes such great dialogue! And Mary Balogh's books are just plain classy.

    Your Sons of Sin series looks great - I'm going to check it out!


    gtharman *at* verizon *dot* net

    print please

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    1. Hi Gretchen, well, that's a fabulous list of historical authors you mention. Have you tried Liz Carlyle and Loretta Chase - think you might like them too! Thanks for saying you'll check out the books!

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    1. Veronica, so many people have recommended Beautiful Disaster to me. I'll have to check it out. Oh, dear, so many great books, so little time!

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  47. Get your Klennex's ready when you read When You're Ready by J.L. Berg. It is funny and sexy and catches you by the heart. I don't have a go-to book. I haven't read anything twice....I recently (March) started reading again so after a couple of decades I have A LOT to catch up on! Thanks for the chance to win these books.

    msdmacs at gmail.com

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    1. Wow, Mrs D, decades without reading? I'd go absolutely mad! So glad you came back to it - hope you're picking up some gems. There's lots of gems out there. I haven't heard of the J.L. Berg - I'll have to check it out, sounds fab.

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  48. Thanks, everyone, for the great chat. I've so enjoyed hearing about your favorite comfort reads and my TBR pile is groaning as a result. Thanks, Dani, for hosting me. You run the best events!

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