Thursday, July 1, 2021

Beach Read Mania With Free Book by @JoanReeves #RomanceGems

Looking for great romance novels to read at the beach?

You've come to the right place. Our theme for July is Beach Read Mania!

Whee! I need a whole bag of books to help me escape the mania of moving!

Luckily, I've been stocking up because the wonderful authors of Romance Gems have been publishing non-stop this year. I think the majority of us all have at least one new book.

I've published 3 books since January, and several of my friends have published even more. Whether you like it hot and steamy or sweet and mild, we have books to make you smile.

Who Invented Beach Books?

Believe it or not, there is actually a history of the Beach Read. I found a good resource at Literature Lust

Katy Waldman in a New Yorker article, The Invention of the Beach Read, wrote that railroads and steamships made travel easy and those who worked in the city had enough income to abandon the city and escape to coastal towns during the summer.

Book publishers jumped on the band wagon and created special lists of summer reads for affluent vacationers.

Publishers promoted their backlist books as summer reads. One might say they were milking the cash cow since those books probably had already earned out. They also created a series of beach reads for an entire summer season at the shore.

What is interesting is that publishers targeted the monied society-folk. They succeeded and changed the perception of reading fiction which was previously considered vulgar and tasteless.

Donna Harrington-Lueker wrote an in-depth study of this phenomenon in Books for Idle Hours: Nineteenth-Century Publishing and the Rise of Summer Reading. She also discusses the backlash against beach reads.

What Backlash?

Isn't it odd that fiction was considered tasteless until the wealthy class started enjoying it.

Now, it seems to have come full circle with many using the phrase beach book or beach read as a pejorative.

For my money, I'll take a wonderful romance with a happily ever after any day of the year and be glad to read it. What do you think?

Romance Gem Blog Updates

For July, I have a couple of notices for you.

(1) The Feedburner gadget, Follow By Email, has been discontinued by Google. If you previously received notice of new posts by email, that will cease in July.

In the left sidebar, scroll down until you see Subscribe to Romance Gems. Below that, you will see Posts and Comments. Click Posts and/or Comments to subscribe to our feed.

(2) No Author Spotlight because I've been sick since last weekend after receiving my 2nd CoVid immunization. I'm still feeling wiped out so am slow to getting things done.

(3) At the top of my list of things to get done is packing to move. We have to be out of here in 2 weeks, and I'm woefully behind.

(4) Quotes and Graphics have changed so check out the new ones scattered on the Home Page.

For Your Consideration

Deceptively Yours, my beach book, set on Last Chance Beach, is still only 99cents until July 4. Price rises then to $4.99. 

Deceptively Yours, a passionate Romantic Suspense about a woman and a man destined to be together—if their love can survive lies and deception.

Free Book for You

Remember above when I asked, "What do you think?" The subject was your opinion of beach books. Fun, wonderful, or embarrassing to be caught reading one. You don't have to post a comment to receive a free book, but I really would like to know what you think about beach books.

Normally when I give away a book, I select a winner by random draw. This month though, I'm giving away free copies of The Trouble With Love. The story begins in a small Texas town and travels to a Gulf Coast beach resort.

Hang on to your Stetson as the fun and games begin in a sexy romantic comedy hotter than a bowl of Texas chili!

Review

HOT, HOT, HOT with a side of funny.

I enjoyed this book for quite a few reasons. First, I loved the characters and how there were multiple relationships showcased.

Susannah and her mother Rory both have issues when it comes to love and they may both be wrong. Then there is that little almost one night stand Susannah had with the man standing in the little town's police station, where she just happens to work. Hogan is a hot as can be 'consultant' or is he? There is heat, passion, forgiveness, trust issues, and lots of fun. —Southern Yankee

Yep, Totally Free

No hoops to jump through. You don't have to do anything to get your free Kindle copy except go to The Trouble With Love on Amazon.

This free book offer starts Thursday, July 1, 2021, at 12:00 AM PDT and ends Friday, July 2, 2021, at 11:59 PM PDT.

Get your free copy today! Oh, and please, if you like my book, please leave a review. Even a couple of sentences help others find my books, and that helps me as an author.



Subscribers are the first to know about New Books and Giveaways.
When you confirm your subscription, you'll receive a link for a free ebook.

If you have any difficulty with the Free Book Link
please email me.
JoanReeves @  outlook dot com

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9 comments:

  1. This was so interesting! How sad that people screwed their noses up at reading fiction! I'm so glad I live in this time period. Thank you for the sale!

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    1. I know, right? What's so bad about feel-good books?

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  2. I love a great story well told anytime of year,,,and the idea of beach reads make total sense. Some people are so busy all year long that their vacation is the only time they can focus on reading.

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    1. I definitely need a vacation. We're looking at houses again today. I'm tired of saying, "Yes, we'll buy this one." only to be told they have multiple offers on it already. Just take it off the market if that's the case. *totally disgruntled* See why I need a vacation?

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  3. I love your writing. Thanks for the book!

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  4. Beach reads ALL THE WAY for me! And, of course, a happily-ever-after. I'll see you on Last Chance Beach, Joan. Your new book cover is one of my favs!

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  5. Thank you for the book, Joan! I look forward to reading and reviewing it. I think Bonnie had an interesting point. A lot of people only read on their vacations because they can't find the time to relax with a good book otherwise. But the beach isn't the only place we vacation. Why isn't it a mountain read? Or a Paris read? Or even an airplane read? (That's what it usually is for me as even when I reach my vacation destination I don't often have time to read.) Thanks for sharing this. I would have never guessed there'd be a history behind the beach read!

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  6. Who doesn't like a good beach read, especially a feel good book? Even better than chicken soup. Feel better and good luck with your move.

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