Paperback Reader

We all know erotic romance is huge right now. Sure, we don't know exactly what erotic romance is or how to define it, but that does not stop us from using the term. One thing we can all agree on: there's a lot of it (whatever exactly "it" is) out there.

This is where you guys come in. We want you to give us the titles of a few erotic romances coming out between now and then end of 2007 that you're looking forward to reading. List them here and you'll be entered to win.

The prize: copies of Trouble by Sasha White and Return to Me by Julia Templeton.

You have until October 9th to post your choices. Good luck!

We asked and, as usual, you delivered. We were looking for a few erotic romance recommendations...or whatever you want to call the genre. Now, a few of you picked out a book we had already planned to review - DECADENT by Shayla Black. We decided that sort of mind reading ability deserved a prize and randomly picked Zara to get a book of our choosing. Congratulations!!!

The winner of the actual contest with the recommendation of CAINE'S RECKONING by Sarah McCarty is: Rosie!!! Several of you chose this McCarty bookas well, so we could not resist trying it. Rosie won the random drawing from those suggesting it. Congratulations!!!! Rosie gets copies of Trouble by Sasha White and Return to Me by Julia Templeton.

Zara & Rosie - email us at pbr@paperbackreader.net so we can get those prizes out to you.

To everyone else - The Halloween Contest starts soon... Check back for details.

About a month ago we decided to do something a little different. We ran a special contest, one that required work from a few of you. Yeah, you instead of us. Some might call that lazy. We thought it was brilliant. Make you guys do the work while we watch.

See why that's so smart?

Well, whatever you want to call it, many of you took up the challenge and agreed to read a book and give us your thoughts. Brave souls... Now we kick off those guest reviews with one by Alyssa.

Thanks Alyssa!!

Halloween is now over. The piles of candy sitting in the middle of your kitchen tables should be a clue. That means it's time to put the skeletons, fake graveyard markers and orange decorations away for another year. It's also time to announce our Halloween contest winners.

Thanks to all who entered and supplied such great titles. You have us wondering exactly which ones to review here at PBR over the next few months. In the meantime...Congrats to RandomRanter and Nathalie!!!! Both of you win a stack of paranormal titles. Email us at pbr@paperbackreader.net so we can get those prizes out to you.

For everyone else, we have more contests coming up before the end of the year. That means more books for you. Stay tuned...

When we ran our guest review contest, we knew there was a chance one of the winners would end up getting a book she did not like. That meant writing a not-so-favorable review. It's one thing for us here at PBR not to like a book and say it. We have a mission statement that promises honest reviews. Along with that, we have a deeply ingrained view that open discourse about books and craft is good for the romance genre. To ask a guest revier to abide by those parameters seemed a bit, well, harsh. After all, it was supposed to be a fun contest. We did not want or intend to put anyone in an awkward position.

When Cathy turned in her contest review for Devour by Melina Morel and expressed some reservations about the book, we felt like we put Cathy in a difficult position. Then we realized Cathy wasn't complaining. She read. She reviewed. She wrote what she really felt. She was not nasty or personal. The book just didn't work for her. Simple. We admire that.

So, thanks to Cathy for being part of the contest and checking out Devour. Bigger thanks to her for keeping with the philosophy at the site.

This is our third guest review from the Guest Review Contest (or whatever we called it). For those who are confused - and we know some of you are - we ran a contest a few months back where PBR readers could win free books so long as those winners agreed to comment/review the prize book here for us. So far we've heard from guest reviewers about Devour and Caressed by Ice.

Today is Meredith's turn. This is her first review for a blog site. Huge thanks to Meredith for her hard work and honest review!

We are in the holiday spirit at PBR and want you to be as well. What better way to do that than a holiday giveaway?

Yeah, we thought so.

The rules are easy. They go like this...

Bet you thought we forgot about this contest, didn't you? That doesn't sound like us... Actually, the real problem was a mixture of holiday activities, family visits, illnesses and general end-of-the-year rushed moments. We apologize and are back on track now.

For those wondering and waiting to hear if they won, the answers to the Holiday Contest go like this:

a. Which bestselling author recently donated all of her proceeds - royalties, advances and all future earnings - from her holiday novel to MassEquality? Name the author and the book. The author is Suzanne Brockmann and the book is All Through The Night. Kudos to Brockmann for putting her money where her heart is.

b. Which bestselling author, previously a category romance favorite and now a single title bestseller, wrote a Christmas story several years ago that features a bluebird statute? Name the author and the title of the book. Note: The book was released as a standalone title and as part of an omnibus holiday collection. The author is Linda Howard and the book is Bluebird Winter. This one is a heartwarming follow-up to her popular title, Sarah's Child.

And, the winners are...Laurie G. and Cathie Morton. Congratulations!!!! Email us at pbr@paperbackreader.net with your addresses so we can get those books out to you.