Monday, October 1, 2012

Favorites From... Jennifer Estep



Jennifer Estep

Greetings! First of all, I want to say thanks to Jen for hosting me on her blog today. Thanks so much, Jen!

So today, Jen asked me to recommend a book or series that I enjoy. I write the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series, so you might think that I would be recommending an urban fantasy or paranormal romance series. I do enjoy reading in those genres, but you know what? I really like reading contemporary romance too, so that’s what I’m going to recommend today.

One of my favorite authors for contemporary romance is Lisa Kleypas, especially her Travis series, which includes Sugar Daddy, Blue-Eyed Devil, and Smooth Talking Stranger. The books take place in Texas and focus on the lives and loves of the Travis family.

Why do I like these books so much? The answer is simple: the voice. All of the books are written in first-person and focus on three very different women with their own sets of issues, problems, and heartaches. But Kleypas’s writing just makes these characters come to life, and they seem so real that you could picture yourself having coffee and chatting with any one of her heroines. Plus, the heroes and the secondary characters are also interesting and entertaining. Kleypas’s writing is so elegant, and yet it seems so smooth and effortless at the same time. The words just flow, and you want to keep reading just to see what happens next.

I like the whole series, but if I had to pick, I’d say that my favorite book of the three is Sugar Daddy, the first one in the series. Sugar Daddy focuses on Liberty Jones, a girl who grows up in a trailer park and has a crush on the bad boy next door. A lot of bad and tragic things happen to Liberty over the years, but she always keep struggling and fighting to make the best of things. She works hard to take care of herself, her mother, and her younger sister, and when Liberty finally gets her happily ever after, well, it makes you cheer and close the book with a contented sigh. For me, seeing a character get her happily ever after is one of the reasons that I read books in the first place.

So if you like contemporary romance, give Kleypas’s books a try, especially Sugar Daddy.

What about you guys? What are some of your favorite books and series to read, contemporary romance or otherwise?


A big thanks to Jennifer Estep for sharing one of her favorites with us! I asked Jennifer to be a part of this feature because I am a big fan of her Elemental Assassin books.  Her heroine, Gin Blanco, is an awesome, kick-ass killer-for-hire who wields the power of multiple elements. She takes up causes for people in need and shows that she is a really good person beneath all that killing.  Gin has a wonderful support network that showcases her ability to love and be loved, despite the loner she thinks herself to be. Click here for more on the Elemental Assassin books.

In the meantime, this is your chance to try out Jennifer's recommendation, Sugar Daddy.  To enter the giveaway, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. You can also enter to win Jennifer's latest book, Widow's Web.  U.S. residents only.

Be sure to check out all of the Favorites From My Favorites posts and giveaways this month, by clicking here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*"Favorites from..." photo: Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos  

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16 Comments:

At Monday, October 1, 2012 at 8:11:00 AM CDT , Blogger Joanne said...

I love anything by Jennifer Crusie, especially Anyone But You and Bet Me, the Sweet series by Maya Banks, the Elder Races series by Thea Harrison, and the Kaye Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell. Thanks for the giveaways.

e.balinski(at)att(dot)net

 
At Monday, October 1, 2012 at 8:49:00 AM CDT , Blogger JenM said...

I'm not entering because I already have my own set of the Travis series, but I just love Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series. It's the perfect mixture of fun banter and serious romance with absolutely drool-worthy heroes and usually strong heroines.

 
At Monday, October 1, 2012 at 10:06:00 AM CDT , Blogger Sarah said...

I'm not entering either but I LOVE Lisa Kleypas from her historicals to the Travis' ...Love Love Love. I can't pick a fav of the three in the Travis series...I've bought them in both e & print! I haven't read any of Jennifer's books but I'll have to check them out since she has such great taste!

 
At Monday, October 1, 2012 at 10:20:00 AM CDT , Blogger Maris said...

I haven't read Sugar Daddy, but I did read Blue Eyed Devil and loved it. I loved the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs and Karen Chance's Cassie Palmer series. I also like Monica McCarty's Highland Guard series. I enjoy reading from different genres; usually switch between paranormal, historical, contemporary and romantic suspense. Lots of good stories out there - not enough time :) Thanks for the giveaway.

Damaris (Maris)

 
At Monday, October 1, 2012 at 11:55:00 AM CDT , Anonymous Jennifer Estep said...

Hi, everyone. Thanks for commenting on the post and sharing your recommendations. And thanks to Jen for asking me to guest blog. I think this is a cool feature, and I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone recommends.

 
At Monday, October 1, 2012 at 12:08:00 PM CDT , Blogger Jen at Red Hot Books said...

Thank YOU, Jennifer. You and the other participating authors have been so awesome!

Tomorrow's recommendations come from Elizabeth Hoyt. :)

 
At Monday, October 1, 2012 at 3:48:00 PM CDT , Blogger Jennifer @ The Book Nympho said...

Even though my go to genres are UF and PNR I loved this series! I listened to them on audio and there were times I was almost in tears listening to these heartbreaking stories. I actually picked up one of Kleypas books from my local used bookstore over the weekend.

 
At Monday, October 1, 2012 at 3:50:00 PM CDT , Blogger Jennifer @ The Book Nympho said...

Ok forget to mention that my current favorite UF series is Estep's Elemental Assassin series. I'm currently listening to book 4 and loving it.

 
At Monday, October 1, 2012 at 3:51:00 PM CDT , Blogger Jen at Red Hot Books said...

Woot! A woman with impeccable taste.

 
At Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 11:58:00 AM CDT , Blogger Monica said...

Thank you Jennifer! I am excited to read your Elemental Assassin series and your recommended book -- Sugar Daddy.

 
At Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 6:53:00 PM CDT , Blogger erin said...

Thanks for a great post and congrats to Jennifer on the success of her series. I love them!!!!

I haven't read Kleypas... she's on my To Read list :)

 
At Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at 6:01:00 PM CDT , Blogger justpeachy36 said...

I don't read a lot of contemporary romance but I like Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove series and Lori Wilde's Twilight Texas series. Both are very clean, good reads, but I totally agree that Lisa Kleypas is fantastic whether it's her contemporary romance or historical romance novels you are talking about.

 
At Saturday, October 6, 2012 at 9:04:00 AM CDT , Anonymous Jennifer Estep said...

Hi, again, everyone. I just wanted to say thanks for all the nice words about my books. I really appreciate them, and I'm glad everyone enjoyed the recommendation post. I think this is a really fun feature to be a part of. Happy reading!

 
At Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 8:55:00 AM CDT , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I don't read much in the way of comtemporary romance. I like paranormal and urban fantasy. I will read the occasional regency romance...sometimes.

sheryll1974@netscape.net

 
At Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 8:13:00 AM CDT , Blogger Tina B said...

Hmm...I do not read a lot of contemporary, but I really enjoy PNR and Highlanders among others. :)
Some of my favorites are Tempted by Elisabeth Naughton (though I love the whole series), Demon From the Dark by Kresley Cole (though I also love this whole series too), Highlands Trilogy by K.E. Saxon and The Macleods of Skyhe by Monica McCarty to name just a few. :)
I have actually never read a book by Lisa Kleypas but have heard wonderful things about them.
This one sounds interesting.
Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

 
At Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 1:31:00 PM CDT , Blogger Jolene and Family said...

I love Contemp., romantic suspense, YA and paranormal. Some of my fav. authors are Susan Elizabeth, Rachel Gibson, Susan Andersen, Linda Howard, Larissa Ione, Adrian Phoenix, Jocelynn Drake....I could go on :) Thanks for the great giveaway

 

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