Monday, June 25, 2012

Blogoversary Giveaway: Four Weeks, Four Genres! (Week 4)


Prepare to get wild! It's Erotica Week here at TBQ's Book Palace as part of my 4 year blogoversary celebration!

This post kicks off the rest of the week's events. Plus, did I mention there's a giveaway involved? :) Read on!

Oh, and for all my international readers--check out this post for your chance to win during my blogoversary. :)


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Erotica--the mere word sends some readers running, others cringing. Why? Well, one of two reasons. 1) They don't know what the genre is really about (hint, the answer is not, surprisingly, sex) or 2) They've had a bad experience with an "erotica" novel in the past.

For the longest time, I wouldn't touch an erotica novel. It wasn't necessarily the idea of tons of hot, explicit sex that turned me away, but rather a few bad examples that I saw at the time. I don't recall author names or titles, but they were ones I found on Amazon while searching through the erotica page.

Let me tell ya, if you are ever bored out of your mind and you need something to take your mind away, search through erotica on Amazon--they have some freaky ones on there! I'd never read any of them, but it's comical and yet scary-weird to see some of the titles and covers that these books get.

Anyway, it wasn't until I started talking to other readers that I started to experiment (hehe) in erotica novels. At first, the novels I read were more of what some would term as "really sexy romances" rather than erotica.

But that brings up the question of "What makes a book 'erotica' and not a 'steamy romance' instead?", and I'm not going to go there--not today at least, as that is a whole post by itself! :)

Soon, I was reading a few of the dirtier books out there. ;)

But I have to say, I only read certain erotica novels. Just like with any other book, if it has flaws, if it's not well written, if something is brought up in the book that I personally cannot stand, I won't read it. Sometimes, even in erotica, I can't stand seeing nothing but sex, with no storyline, no character development, nothing. When I see a book that is like that, I see "porno", not erotica. Maybe that's just me, though...

Finding a good erotica novel is, perhaps, a bit harder than finding a good historical, but there are tons of books out there to choose from. One just has to be willing to look, to ask their friends and fellow readers, to take a risk on a book, even if it's just once. If you don't know what you like (or don't like) how can you expect to find a good book in this deeply pleasurable genre? ;)

Earlier this year I read a book for NOR. It was one that I requested, and I don't know what made me decide to read it--the cover or the summary. Both are great! :)

The book in question? Spliced by Robin Leigh Miller.

As soon as I started reading it, I never looked back. I think I put the book down only a few times, and then only because I *had* to. I was hooked! The story was great, the emotions were real, the lovin' was oh-so-sexy! I was crying, I was panting, I was all over the place--and loving every minute of it!

By the end, I was literally worn out, but in a good way. I had to sit for a while, think about what I had just read. It took me more than a week to write that review, and I still don't think it did the book justice!

I even contacted Robin after my review went up, asking if she'd be a guest here on the blog. Robin is great, very kind, and she agreed to do not only an interview but a guest post as well. Thanks again! :)

I loved this book, and while I haven't yet done a re-read, I know I will!

Picking a prize for erotica week was hard--I haven't read that many, to be honest, and some of the ones I have read and loved have been read by many already. I wanted to showcase one that was, perhaps, a bit less well known, and this one seemed like the perfect choice. I could have done one of Lora Leigh's many books, or Emma Holly's, or...well, you get the point.

Instead, I went with a novel that I really loved, and one that I hope you will, too! :) Happy Reading!

Oh, one more thing: Erotica is obviously not for everyone, and that's okay. But if you've been interested in trying it, well, I don't think you could go wrong by starting with this book.

And I don't think I need to say it, but I will: Only if you are over 18. :) Every post this week will be very sexy, so if you are under 18, leave now please!

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To celebrate Erotica Week during my blogoversary, I'm going to give ONE lucky reader a special prize pack!






Prize Pack Includes:
~ONE E-COPY* of Spliced by Robin Leigh Miller

~ONE Erotica Lover Journal (see picture of it here!)
 

*This book is only available as an e-book at this time. Winner will choose either a NOOK or Kindle edition. IF they have a different e-reader, they may receive a copy from the publisher or ARe instead.




OPEN TO U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY!


How to Enter:
Mandatory: You must leave a comment on this post--Do you love erotica romances? If so, why? If not--what is it about them that you don't like?


Mandatory: You must fill out the Rafflecopter's first option (all other options are for extra entries and therefore are not required).


^A note on email addresses: Your email address must be visible to be entered into this contest. Why? This makes it easy for me to contact the winner and therefore get the prize out! Visible means: a) Email is left in your comment (ninja style is perfectly fine); b) Email is visible on your Blogger profile (or other such website--Twitter, Facebook, Blog, etc); or c) Email is used to log-in and fill out the Rafflecopter.



Giveaway open June 25th through July 1st! I will pick and announce the winner Monday morning (July 2nd). Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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See what else is going on for Erotica Week!
Enter the Erotica Week Giveaway (US)





Enjoy!


Until Next Time,
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*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

8 comments :

Texas Book Lover said...

Yes, I like erotica. I love the stong alphas and the deep connections and loyalty they have for those they love. The smoking hot men and sex don't hurt either.

The_Book_Queen said...

:) Well said--Amen! Lol.

Enjoy,
TBQ

Unknown said...

Erotica is by far my most favorite genre to read. Not only does it keep my mind off of my daily life as a stay at home mom (which is NOT an easy job), but it opened my mind to things I never considered or even knew about before I bought my Kindle. Once I read my first one, Mari Carr's Tequila Truth, I was hooked!

I haven't seen this book before, surprising since I stalk Ellora's Cave almost daily lol, but it's definitely being added to my TBR list. Thanks!

Anna @ BLM

June M. said...

I love all kinds of romances, and erotica just adds more heat. I guess I love it so much because it is a great outlet/way to explore fantasies. A couple of my faves are BDSM and menages.

Megan@Riverina Romantics said...

I love erotica and erotic romances. I love the extra steaminess that they usually have.
I especially love M/F/M and M/M reads.

Unknown said...

I LOVE erotica and erotic romances!! A good HEA with amazing sex always makes it better. It is a great way for me to escape the mundane of life or relieve the stress.
Mel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com

Shadow said...

What dont i love? Great plot, explosive romance, hot sex, awesome plots! Yummy covers...need i go on? lol
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

Erotica next to Paranormal romance is one genre that I can always count on to help me get away from everything.