Welcome Guest Blogger Ellen Hartman!
Kiss and Tell
Hi, everyone. It’s my first time posting here so I’m going straight for the juicy stuff. I want to know the intimate details of your first time. Oooh, that’s right, baby! I’ll tell you if you tell me.
So let’s go.
What was the first romance you ever read?
What? What did you think I was asking about? Some people.
My mom had a pretty serious depression during the tail end of my teenage years and she self-medicated with romance. I was a voracious reader and these books were lying all around so inevitably I picked one up. Lavyrle Spencer’s Hummingbird was my first. I loved it, and I never looked back.
At first I read what my mom brought home so it was a lot of regencies. I still have my treasured shelf of old Mary Balogh Signet Regencies. My first Harlequin was a Nora Roberts Special Edition—one of the MacKade brothers. I saved that series too. I discovered Superromance much later. Kathleen O’Brien’s The Homecoming Baby was my first Super. I got snagged by the cover picture and the blurb. Thank goodness I did. Sam Hunter recently seduced me into reading my first Blaze. Thanks, Sam!
I read a lot of books but a good portion of them are romance. I think for me the main appeal of romance is watching people put it all on the line for what they believe in. (I’m also a fan of westerns and fantasy—you see the common themes, right?) I’m a complete sucker for banter and romance is the place to find that!
I’m glad I read that Lavyrle Spencer way back when. For my first time, she was pretty awesome. What about you? Who was your first and why did you come back for more?
I’m giving away two copies of my May release, His Secret Past. See the funny trailer on my website. The first book will be given via random drawing to someone who leaves a comment. The second book will go, again via random drawing, to someone who leaves a comment and who has never read a Superromance before. You must be registered at Cigars to be eligible to win.
Hello Ellen, It's Ellen
I've never been a guest blogger before and this post has been sitting here with no comments for like FIFTEEN minutes so I'm responding. Yes, I'm responding to my own post. Don't think I won't give myself the prizes too.
I started thinking about this topic because I was inscribing books for my critique partners. We're meeting next week and I just got my author copies. I remembered when I did the same thing for my first book and they all said, "Huh. I've never read a Harlequin before." My reaction was "You poor things are missing out."
I feel like my first times were all such great experiences they led me back for more. I'm trying to do the same thing for my critique partners. I'll be the one-woman Harlequin pied piper. Hey! Harlequin should pay me for this. Oh right....
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
Thanks
Thanks for blogging with us!
I remember my first romance was Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwss. I took it from my mom and read it in secret in my room... I liked it a lot but found it quite osé! My mom was so furious when she discovered that I had read it!
Another K.W. fan
Hey, looks like Kathleen got around. She brought a lot of readers into this lifestyle, didn't she?
I was just mentioning below that although my mom had all of the Woodiwiss library, I never tried to sneak them. I was a middle child and my brother and sister hated me for being so nicely behaved. ;-)
I'm glad Cigars invited me to play. This was a very fun day!
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
Deleting this
I put the winners comment here accidentally but no one will see it. Moving it down.
Oops,
Ellen
Welcome, Ellen!
My first was a Georgette Heyer that I picked off the paperback rack in the public library. It was called Regency Buck, and since I knew nothing about the Regency, had no idea that a buck was anything other than a dollar, an action a horse makes, or a male deer, I thought it was a stupid title. I read it anyway, since the cover looked kind of cool and was hooked. I plowed through the Georgettes, then one day decided I'd see what the Harlequin Romances were like. This was back in the day when they had these ridiculous covers (I think all the cover artists have long since retired) with not very realistic people (Barbie and Ken), but the story was great! Hooked again, lol. I was so glad when the covers improved, though.
Great to have you here, Ellen!
Hey Ellen,
I was typing the first post, and a kid came to get me to unlock the locker room. Otherwise, I would have made the fifteen minute deadline. Drat.
Nice save, Jeannie
I can tell you're a good mom. That story about the locker door is good enough that I almost believe you. If I show you my drawings will you know instinctively which way is right side up even if no one else does? ;-)
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
Yes.
Yes.
Yes
I knew I could count on you.
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
Heyer
Hi Jeannie,
Can you believe I've never read her? My regency period was dominated by my mother's choices because she was the one getting the books. I'll have to ask her why this gap in my education. Then I'll have to read some Heyers because I really love regencies.
Regency Buck. HAHAHAHA. Seriously? Oh, man. It's like they're asking people to poke fun.
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
Read The Grand Sohpie and
Read The Grand Sohpie and These Old Shades. Two very different books, but fun. There are others I really like, but will have to try to remember the titles.
Welcome Ellen!
You kill me... people will come, promise. We are all such book sluts here, and you are giving away TWO -- very generous...
But a fun topic, too... I have read Harlequins all my life (since about 12 years old, with about one 10 year hiatus between the mid 20s and mid 30s) but I can't recall the first ones I read. I know it must have been a Presents or Desire from the 70s...
My mom used to read them, too -- I found two old ones in her bedstand last year, and I don't have the titles by me now, but it was fun to find those old books.
I read a lot of stuff, too, mostly paranormal, mystery/thriller, and some nonfiction, but I always have some romance planted in there as well. For me it's always about character, I love good character development, and also the world that romance lets you escape to for a while, and there's comfort in knowing that all will work out in the end. :) Different kinds of books give us different things, and romance is uplifting, always.
So happy to have you here!
Sam
Book sluts, oh no!
Sam, you didn't tell me this site was full of book sluts? How will I ever fit in? Heh Heh. <--that's my cheesy pick up line laugh.
Wow. You were reading romance really young! I was absolutely still a Black Stallion girl at 12. I moved from horses to men who ride them (Louis L'Amour and Max Brand--I'll never forget you!) and finally to romance.
I do love the comfort of romance. I like knowing that there's always going to be some layer of respect between the characters too. Even if they're fighting, they won't brutalize each other. I love all kinds of books (except mysteries for some reason) and I definitely choose different things at different times.
Thanks for the welcome!
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
My first
I actually started out on a Phyllis Whitney I checked out from the library when I was probably around 13. I guess I was probably about 16 when my friend's mother loaned her monthly shipment of Harlequins to me and I devoured them. Been hooked ever since. I enjoy many of the different lines . . . Blaze, Superromance, Intrigue.
Ken Burns
Hi Cheryl,
I'm fascinated with the paths we take to romance. I'm imagining a Ken Burns documentary, Romance Novels: The American Woman's Great Escape or something. So in the documentary spirit...when you checked that first Phyllis Whitney out, did you know it was a romance and/or what that meant? Did you feel like you were crossing into a new world?
I remember a transitional library period when I was checking books out of the children's room and the adult room. I don't think I felt fully comfortable in the adult room but the children's room was too small and too finite and I wanted MORE.
Cheers--Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
I'm a bad reader...
I don't really remember my first. (Boy, that DOES make me a book slut!) I know I checked it out of the library or traded chores so my sister would. (The library had a policy that kids under 8 had to read only age 8 books...bastids. The older girls had freer rein and I played Cinderella for my reading material.) I also know it was followed by way more books and the flow of HQs and more has been going steadily for over 20 years.
Scary! LOL!
Dee
(who is off to order more.)
Starting to wonder what I've stepped into...
Hi Dee,
So if you worked for your sister and she paid you in books, was she a book pimp? A library book pimp, no less! Good thing the funding agencies didn't know this type of activity was going on.
I can't imagine how horrible that librarian must have been to make up such a ridiculous policy. Isn't the point of books that you can follow your interests and dreams? Even if you have twelve-year-old dreams in an eight-year-old body?
Cheers,
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
My cherry was popped many
My cherry was popped many moons ago...I was about 11 (sixth grade) when I read my first Presents...I THINK it was a Presents...it was definitely a sweet...and definitely a Harlequin...I'm not even really sure where it came from... My mom loved romance, but she trended toward historicals, which era or titles I couldn't tell you because I've never read a historical...
I VIVIDLY remember taking one of her books, TENDER BETRAYAL, to school in sixth grade and the male teacher taking it away from me and returning it to my mom in a sealed envelop because he didn't think it was appropriate for me.
My love affair with romance has had some starts and stops...I liked the concept, but the alpha male traditional sweets weren't to my taste. I read a line called First Love by Silhouette for most of my high school years and not much pleasure reading in college...
Finding contemporary romance was a blessing! I LOVE contemporary romance...one of the earliest Supers I read was by CJ Carmichael...couldn't tell you the title...but I knew this was the romance for me!
I read a LOT...nonfiction and popular fiction, along with love stories...a smattering of chick lit and biographies...
Loved Ellen's first book...can't wait to read this one!!
Brown paper bags
Hi Ronda--good to see you!
I'm trying to get the idea here. You were already reading a book and the teacher took it away and sealed it up. Because...??? Sealing it would make you forget what you'd already read? Sealing it would make it less attractive to you?? Argh.
It's a wonder any of us found romance with all the taboos and obstacles people put in the way.
I'm an alpha-male avoider, myself. I love that there are so many different love stories being told so we can all find our happy place!
Thanks for the compliment on Wanted Man. I love that book too. (Not in a conceited way--more in doting mother way. I raised it up over many long years from a poorly executed idea full of head hopping and lacking conflict to be...published. Sniff. )
Thanks for coming by!
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
I read First Love, too!
I know it wasn't my first romance novel, but I still have "Nightshade" from that line buried in a chest somewhere. I'm sure it isn't nearly as good as I thought it was then, but I have a thing about getting rid of books I've loved. :)
My mom was a big romance reader--mostly the books with the Indian warrior and the buxom redhead on the cover. She didn't let me read those until I was older--and found out I didn't really care for them--but she would pick up Desires for me at rummage sales and whatnot. It was kinda fun, because, like Sam, I can across some old Desires last year and couldn't resist reading them. I think I read both of them in one afternoon and surprisingly, they weren't half bad. :)
These days, I'm getting back into the Desires again, but I think my heart will always belong to Blaze. :) I read Supers, too, and am waiting for my girlfriend to drop a box of them off for me to devour this summer.
Fun post, Ellen! :)
First Love
Hi Sassa,
I was so backward in high school I didn't read romance. I think I missed out on this First Love thing. I'm laughing about the redhead comment. Before I started going gray, I was a redhead and I'm not fiery or wild. That cliche is so odd.
I reread favorite books a lot. I think some couples in my favorite romances take on the feel of old friends or family stories. I'm reading to remind myself of their relationship and hear them tell those familiar stories one more time. With non-romance I reread for different reasons, I think.
Thanks for sharing your first!
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
HELLO ELLEN IT'S ELLEN no
HELLO ELLEN IT'S ELLEN no it's not you it's me ellentoo. Don't put me in your contest because I already have a copy of "His Secret Past". Oh yeah and I've read it too. I loved the book, recommend everybody should read it.
To answer your question----I have no idea what the first romance I read was. I don't even remember when I started reading them. Ok old age is catching up with me. But I do remember the circumstance in which I read my first one. I was in college and really, really sick and I had a suitemate who read romances so I borrowed one of hers to read since I was confined to bed.
Thank goodness it's not me again!
Hi Ellen,
I remember that very first book discussion thing I did on eHarlequin and no one showed up but suddenly you were there. My lifeline! Thanks for stopping by here.
Your first time is making me wish for a sick day and a good book. Isn't that the best? A day when you have nothing to do except read? My son and I were at the mall buying a birthday gift for his cousin last night. He noticed that the latest book in a series he loves is out so we picked that up. Surprisingly he was too ill to go to school today. ;-) As a book supporter, I didn't ask too many questions. We all need a little break sometimes.
I'm glad you enjoyed His Secret Past. Thanks for your note!
(Writer) Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
I didn't think there was
I didn't think there was anyone who had never read a Superromance!
I don't remember the name of the first romance I read. I'm sure it was by Barbara Cartland.
No Supers?
Hi Estella,
I was surprised to find out some people haven't read Supers. I was reading another blog this week about Supers (The Good, the Bad, and the Unread) and saw comments from people who hadn't tried them. There seemed to be an anti-baby bias among the comments. I'm not a fan of baby books or pregnant heroines so I wanted to encourage them to take the line for a test drive. Supers aren't all about babies. I can pretty much guarantee that's territory I'll never cover. ;-) (Not that there's anything wrong with babies...I just don't think I could write an authentic romance with a baby or a pregnancy. ;-))
Barbara Cartland...there's a blast from the past!
Cheers,
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
First Time
Hi Ellen,
My first romance was "The Bride" by Julie Garwood. After I went through her books, I started reading Judith McNaught and Jude Devereaux. I still read historicals, but my favorite genres include paranormals and romantic suspense. I'm a big fan of Heather Graham, Karen Rose and Colleen Gleason.
Hi Jane
Hi Jane,
I love Julie Garwood. I'm not much of a suspense fan but every time I see Colleen Gleason's name I think I should look her up. I went to elementary school with a girl named Colleen Gleason. What are the odds two of us would end up in romance?
Cheers,
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
My first...
I'm pretty sure my first romance was a serialized version of "A Rose in Winter" by Kathleen Woodiwiss when I was in either 7th or 8th grade. I read the rest of her books at the library (shocked the librarian, let me tell you - remembering this brought back her disdain for my choice of reading material) Shortly after that, 9th or 10th grade?, I discovered Linda Howard's "Against the Rules" at the public library. This was back in the dark ages before Amazon's used books, and I scoured garage sales for years until I found a copy of my own (still remember that day, too).
I have several Superromances but haven't read any of them yet - they're in my TBR pile.
Margaret
Kathleen W.
Oooh, Margaret, would you believe I've never read Kathleen Woodiwiss? My mom had them all but she kept them in her closet, far away from all the other books in the house. I was such a sickeningly well-behaved child I never even snuck a peak. But that's a very good idea. I think I'll add her to my must-read-this-year list!
Crack those Supers! You'll love them.
Cheers,
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
Hi, Ellen! I can't remember
Hi, Ellen! I can't remember my first romance, but I do distinctly recall buying every Johanna Lindsay I could get my hands on!
M
Read in bed!
www.meganhart.com
first romance?
Geesh...not sure, too far back! I do remember reading Bethany Campbell's A THOUSAND ROSES and it was a Harlequin. I still have it and it's a treasured favorite on my keeper shelf. I was mostly a historical romance fan for ages until I discovered the delights of contemporary.
There is a book I loved, though I don't know if you could classify it as romance. It was called SWEET CAROLINE and it was a historical novel set in the slave era of the south. This poor beautiful mulatto who could pass for white but was forever tainted by her black heritage was kidnapped and raped at a very young age and then sold over and over again until she became a high class courtesan. But it was discovered that she may indeed be WHITE!! because she may be the infant that was stolen years ago from a plantation owning family...it was very detailed and full of intrigue and yet the man she loves...I don't think they end up together...not sure. It's been too long but I'd love to read it again. It's out of print and I can't seem to find it. :-(
Kim
Keepers
Hi Kim,
When I moved recently I had to examine my keepers pretty carefully because we were leaving a place with lots of built-in bookcases and going to a place with none. Funny, I kept almost all my romance keepers. Other genres got weeded out. I think the romances are so personal I couldn't bear to give them up.
Good luck on your quest for that other book. When I first discovered the internet (shortly after Al Gore invented it), I did book searches for the 5 or 6 books I'd checked out of the elementary school library over and over. I found all but 1. I've enjoyed sharing those books with my boys.
Thanks for stopping by!
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
Read in bed...
Dear M,
I like that tag line. ;-)
I don't know why my first stuck out in my mind. Maybe I was surprised to find this genre because I'd been reading so much man-centric stuff before that, mainly westerns and fantasy. (Fantasy has changed a lot since the 80's when I got into it.)
It's funny how we find our favorites and keep going back!
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
The first one that I count
The first one that I count is The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss. I had read some Rosemary Rogers and Harold Robins but that's all that was really out there at the time. After Kathleen Woodiwiss I was totally spoiled.
I'm really glad
I'm glad we had this conversation because I never thought about reading Kathleen Woodiwiss, I don't know why. My mom is moving this summer and I'm sure she's got her copies stuck away somewhere. I've been dying for a really good book!
(I like that "the first one that I count" idea. I think a lot of people needed a do over with their official first before it got good!)
Cheers,
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
my first
My very first was a harlequin titled The Honey is Bitter. Can't remember the author. After that I moved on to Anne Mather and Charlotte Lamb, Barbara Cartland and Kathleen Woodiwiss(Ashes in the Wind). I really loved LaVryle Spencer. I've read all of them except Small Town Girl and Then Came Heaven, the latter being on my TBR pile.
LindaC
oh my gosh!
Linda - mine was too! I can't believe I didn't see your post first! I think "The Honey is Bitter" was a lot of people's first romance - I think it's fun because I read it so long after it was first published :)
The Honey is Bitter
Hi Linda and aliquis,
The Honey is Bitter is quite a title. I may have to look this one up because it seems to have been pretty influential!
Thanks for sharing your firsts! ;-)
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
'Chuckle*
Hi Ellen!
Thanks for visiting - haha, you're all so tricky with the lead in! Hm... I think the first "actual" romance I read was "The Honey is Bitter" by Violet Winspear. I think the next few I read were also Harlequin Presents- then I didn't read romances for a few years -and discovered Barbara Cartland in high school. Unfortunately by that time they were very difficult to find. After high school I went with romances only - and that's how it's been :). Congratulations on the new release!
And the winners are...
Thanks again for this fun conversation!
Sasa and Margaret
If you send me your addresses, I'll send you a book! My email is:
ellen@ellenhartman.com
Cheers,
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
:)
I think you mean me! :) Woohoo!
I remember now the very first romance I read--I found it when I went to pull out the First Love book I had stashed away. The first was Summer of '42 and my mom gave it to me. It was one of her favorites as a teenager. :)
And...I went to a rummage sale yesterday and picked up Kathleen Woodiwiss's "Ashes in the Wind", because I too have never read her!! Such a shame, I hear. :)
Thanks so much...I'll email you ASAP. :)
Sorry
Hi Sassa,
You know, when I volunteer in my sons' classes on writing day I always tell the kids, "Don't worry about spelling. I'm a terrible speller and they still let me be a writer."
Sorry I misspelled your name. That's embarrassing. :-( I got your email though and will get the book out this week!
Take care,
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com