Do You Like Holiday Romance Novels by Joan Reeves

Perfume Designer clueless about men!

Do you like romance novels that revolve around holidays? I have mixed feelings about the matter.

When one says, "holiday romance," the holiday in question is usually Christmas. I like Christmas romance in books and movies. I mean Hallmark must make a gazillion dollars with its Christmas movies. Right?

Christmas Romance Only At Christmas?

I like reading a Christmas romance, but the shelf life of that kind of novel is usually from early November to late January. After that, conventional wisdom is that Christmas romances languish on the shelves until November rolls around again.

Do you think that's true or do you enjoy reading a Christmas romance in July?

Valentine Romance

Valentine Romance novels are fewer because there's not as long a "shelf life" I suppose. I think that's why I didn't strongly link my romantic comedy Scents and Sensuality to Valentine's Day even though the "flowers and candy" holiday figures prominently in the story.

You see, the heroine, a perfumer by trade, is desperate to have a date for her cousin's wedding which is scheduled for, you guessed it, Valentine's Day. Even the last scene in the book takes place on Valentine's Day, at night, after all the hoopla is over.

Yet, I hesitated to brand it a Valentine romance because it sells nicely through the year, and I didn't want to change that. I did have a big promotion planned for it, but I ended up being out of town for several days and missed the romantic holiday completely. Like the song says, "That's life!"

On Sale Now

Scents and Sensuality is on sale this week for only 99cents at all ebook sellers. I'll go one even better. Leave a comment with your email address. Tell me what you think about romance novels linked to holidays. You'll be entered to win a free ebook copy of Scents and Sensuality as well as a free audio edition of the book. (Contest open until February 19. Winner chosen by random draw.)

Add to Your Library Now

If you want the book now (only 99cents through Thursday at 8pm), you'll find it at: All Romance Ebooks * Amazon Kindle * iBooks * Kobo * Nook * Smashwords.

Post Script

Joan Reeves is a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary Romance. Available as ebooks, audiobooks, and print books, her romance novels all have the same underlying theme: “It’s never too late to live happily ever after.” Joan lives her happily ever after with her hero, her husband, in the Lone Star State. Sign up for WordPlay, Joan's email list/newsletter for readers and receive a free book.

Confessions of a Binge Reader by Joan Reeves

Hi! My name is Joan, and I'm . . . a binge reader. There I said it. I feel so much better now.

All kidding aside, I've been a binge reader my entire life. I was the kid with the book and flashlight under the covers because I couldn't bear to close my book at night.

Today's ebook world is a wonderland for readers like me. This past weekend, I went to San Antonio for the opening in an art gallery of an exhibit in which my daughter contributed two pieces.

I had my trusty Kindle with me. Loaded on it was Weddings of Main Street, the romance collection box set to which I'd contributed my novella April Fool Bride. I happily read one after the other. I mean, 11 novellas for only $2.99! Paradise indeed. (Watch the Weddings of Main Street Video.)

Are you a binge reader too? Here's a questionnaire that will help you discover whether you too suffer from this obsessive behavior.

Watch the April Fool Bride Video.

Binge Reader Questionnaire

1. Are you unable to place a bookmark and close a book once you've started reading?

2. When you finish a book, do you immediately start reading another one?

3. In the rare event that you have no other books to read, do you find yourself in an online bookstore and don't know how you got there?

4. Would you rather read than watch TV?

5. Do you sneak a read when you're supposed to be doing something else like laundry, a spreadsheet that's due, or your writing quota for the day?

6. Do you stay up late at night reading when you should be sleeping?

7. Do you have stacks of books to read and a full ereading device, but you can't resist buying another book?

8. Have you ever said: I can quit any time I want?

If you answered yes to at least half of these questions, you have a problem. If you answered yes to all of them, you're a binge reader. You probably have a cluttered home and piles of work awaiting you.

Takeaway Truth

But who cares? There are worse addictions than reading. Look on the bright side. You're well-read. You can converse on many different subjects. Your kids are probably readers too, and that's helped them develop critical thinking skills. And, you're happy. If you're happy, chances are, your family is happy too. Read on!

Post Script

To win a copy of Weddings of Main Street, leave a comment with your Amazon Registered Email (written out, NOT as a hot link). The contest closes June 18, Wednesday, at 4 pm, when a winner will be randomly chosen. The winner will be notified the next morning by email.

(Joan Reeves writes Sassy, Sexy Contemporary Romance. Her books are available at all major ebook sellers with audio editions available at Amazon, Audible.com, and iTunes. Joan publishes Writing Hacks, a free newsletter for writers, and I LUV Books, a free newsletter for readers. Find Joan online: Blog, Website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube.