Thursday, November 3, 2011

First Impressions...Guess That Book!



Today our 2nd anniversary celebration continues with another game that we love to play: Guess that first line! We all know how important a good “first impression” is, especially while reading. Well, PJ, Gannon, Buffie, and I have searched far and wide to come up with the most unique, attention-grabbing first lines from some of our favorite romance novels. Test your skills and see if you can guess which book these first lines are from!





1. "So, Grimsborough, this is your little bastard."


2. The decapitated, plastic pink flamingo, standing ass-feathers deep in what looked like poison ivy, was _____ ______'s first clue that doom had followed her from New York.


3. If she didn't have sex with something soon, she would burst out of her skin.


4. She was willing to die, of course, but she had not planned to do it so soon, or in such a prolonged and uncomfortable fashion, or at the hands of her own countrymen.


5. Each summer in the village of Hadley Green, the residents looked forward with eager anticipation to two significant events: the first was the week in June in which the vicar put his gout-ridden body into a borrowed coach and took leave of his flock to call upon his aging sister in Shropshire.


6. _____ ______'s ideal Saturday was pretty simple—sleep in, be woken by a hot, naked woman for sex, followed by a breakfast that he didn't have to cook.


7. This story begins with a carriage that was never a pumpkin, though it fled at midnight; a godmother who lost track of her charge, though she had no magic wand; and several so-called rats who secretly would have enjoyed wearing livery.


8. It wasn’t every day a guy saw a headless beaver marching down the side of a road, not even in ____ ________’s larger than life world.


9. On Monday, ______ ____ _________ ______ bleached her hair blonde, had her navel pierced, and got a tattoo on her right ass cheek.


10. ______ ________, the Countess of _________, was staring at the man like a three-penny whore.


11. Thirty thousand hotel rooms in the city of Chicago, and _______ ______ managed to find one next door to a couple having a sex marathon.


12. Four plus six plus eight plus seven plus one plus one plus one, mark down eight, carry the two...


**Note—hero/heroine names have been removed to make it a bit more of a challenge**


Post your guesses in the comments section and one random commenter (living within the United States) will win a prize pack full of books and goodies! International readers, don’t feel left out as you will be entered in one of three drawings especially for our International readers! Please be sure to include U.S. or International at the end of your comment so we know which prize drawings to enter you in. Winners will be posted Saturday! Good luck!


~Andrea

94 comments:

  1. I haven't the slightest clue but they sure are interesting ;) I'll be disappointed in myself it I read any of them & still didn't recognize it.

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  2. Yikes! Let's see if I can do them all.
    1. TAKEN BY THE PRINCE by Christina Dodd
    2. SUMMER AT SEASIDE COVE by Jacquie D'Alessandro
    3. SEA WITCH by Virginia Kantra (love this one)
    4. THE SPYMASTER'S LADY by Joanna Bourne
    5. THE YEAR OF LIVING SCANDALOUSLY by Julia London
    6. LOL!! ANIMAL MAGNETISM by Jill Shalvis
    7. A KISS AT MIDNIGHT by Eloisa James (you left off - once upon a time, not so very long ago ...)
    8. Had to look this one up [shrug]
    NATURAL BORN CHARMER by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
    9. TALK OF THE TOWN by Karen Hawkins (one of my faves)
    10. SECRETS OF A PROPER COUNTESS by Lecia Cornwall (best 1st line ever)
    11. SOMETHING ABOUT YOU by Julie James (gotta read this one!)
    12. Easy one - - HOW TO MARRY A MARQUIS by Julia Quinn

    amyvalentini@aol.com USA
    http://unwrappingromance.blogspot.com/

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  3. I only recognized a few right away.
    8. Susan Elizabeth Phillips' "Natural Born Charmer"
    11. Julie James' "Something About You"
    12. Julia Quinn's "How to Marry a Marquis"

    U.S.

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  4. Now this is my kind of game. What fun!

    1. Taken by the Prince, Christina Dodd
    2. Summer at Sea Side Cove, Jacquie D'Alessandro
    3. Sea Witch, Virginia Kantra
    4. The Spymaster’s Lady, Joanna Bourne
    5. The Year of Living Scandalously, Julia London
    6. Animal Magnetism, Jill Shalvis
    7. A Kiss at Midnight, Eloisa James
    8. Natural Born Charmer, Susan Elizabeth Phillips
    9. Talk of the Town, Karen Hawkins
    10. ? I don’t think I’ve read this one.
    11. Something About You, Julie James
    12. How to Marry a Marquis, Julia Quinn

    Now I have one for y'all:
    "Penises. Everywhere."

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  5. ouw.. ouw...

    only know 1 book

    12. how to marry a marquis by julia quinn

    if amy's guess is right, i haven't read those book except julia quinn, susan elizabeth phillips and eloisa james.

    poor us because all those author's book have not been publish in my country.

    hem.. i just remember one publisher has publish julie james's book. i will buy the book soon, because i'm not in central city, so the book has not been distribute to our city

    i'm hope many author's book will be publish in my country *pray =D

    INT

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  6. @Janga,
    I am totally stumped by that 'first line'!! If that's the first line, I'd be interested in reading the rest. : )

    amyvalentini@aol.com USA
    http://unwrappingromance.blogspot.com

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  7. I don't recognise all of these lines maybe because I mostly read in other languages & they sure doesn't sound familiar to me. But there are some really good ones that made me curious to read the rest of the books I haven't.

    I know for sure only these:
    4 - "The Spymaster's Lady" by Joanna Bourne
    8 - "Natural Born Charmer" by SEP
    9 - "Talk of the Town" by Karen Hawkins
    11 - "Something about you" by Julie James

    Internaltional entry

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  8. Great game I have no idea LOL although I am sure that no 5 is one of The Pennyroyal books by Julia London

    Have Fun
    Helen
    Int

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  9. The only ones I have read are;

    4. The Spymaster's Lady - Joanna Bourne

    5. The Year of Living Scandalously - Julia London

    12. How to Marry a Marquis - Julia Quinn

    Congratulations to everyone who knows them all, they're awesome.

    INT

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  10. 1. Taken by the Prince, Christina Dodd
    2. Summer at Sea Side Cove, Jacquie D'Alessandro
    3. Sea Witch, Virginia Kantra
    4. The Spymaster’s Lady, Joanna Bourne
    5. The Year of Living Scandalously, Julia London
    6. Animal Magnetism, Jill Shalvis
    7. A Kiss at Midnight, Eloisa James
    8. Natural Born Charmer, Susan Elizabeth Phillips
    9. Talk of the Town, Karen Hawkins
    10. Secrets of a Proper Countess by Lecia Cornwall
    11. Something About You, Julie James
    12. How to Marry a Marquis, Julia Quinn

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  11. Forgot to add: INTERNATIONAL

    hilaryrules91@hotmail.com

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  12. That's my type of game! :) As they are all already mentioned correctly above I won't post them again.
    Still laughing about the SEP book! One of my favs by her! And of course, How to Marry a Marquis, one of may all-time favourites.

    INT

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  13. I know most of them have even won a couple here....LOL Guessed at a couple, might have the right author but wrong title, I do get confused, often.

    01. Christina Dodd, Taken By the Prince

    02. Jacquie D'Alessandro, Summer at Seaside Cove

    03. Virginia Kantra, Sea Witch

    04. Joanna Bourne, The Forbidden Rose

    05. Julia London, The Year of Living Scandalously

    06. Jill Shalvis, Animal Magnetism

    07. Eloisa James, A Kiss at Midnight

    08. Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Heaven, Texas

    09. Karen Hawkins, Talk of the Town

    10. Lecia Cornwall, Secrets of a Proper Countess

    11. Julie James, Something about You

    12. Julia Quinn, How to Marry a Marquis

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  14. LOl, I was pretty much stumped. Great guesses, everyone. :)

    INT

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  15. Wow! Y'all are doing a great job guessing...and it's not even 9 a.m.! LOL

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  16. 1) Taken By the Prince- Christina Dodd
    2) Summer At Seaside Cove-Jacquie D'Alessandro
    3)Sea Witch- Virginia Kantra I had to look this one up.
    4) The Spymaster's Lady (first line)-Joanna Bourne
    5) The Year of Living Scandalously- Julia London
    6) Animal Magnetism- Jill Shalvis HOT!!! I read all of her books!
    7) A Kiss At Midnight- Eloisa James
    8) Natural Born Charmer- SEP The guy was Dean Robillard! I enjoy her books.
    9)Talk of the Ton- Karen Hawkins- Love her Scotsmen too
    10)Secrets of a Proper Countess -Lecia Cornwall I had to look this one up. I do not know her.
    11) Something About You - Julie James (Laurie Damron got me to read her books)
    12) How To Marry a Marquis- Julia Quinn One of the first books of hers that I read.

    WOW! Amy must read a lot!!

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  17. gamistress66, I've forgotten some first lines from books I've already read, so don't feel bad.

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  18. Jane, some lines just stick with you, don't they. :-)

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  19. Janga said: Now I have one for y'all:
    "Penises. Everywhere."



    LOL, Janga! That's a line you just can't forget. *g*

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  20. I only know a few for sure. I don't think I've read the others.

    2. Summer at Seaside Cove by Jacquie D'Alessandro
    6. Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis
    9. Talk of the Town by Karen Hawkins
    11. Something About You by Julie James

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  21. gamistress66, aren't they great first lines? Great first lines really hook me!

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  22. Jane, I believe those are some of the most popular first lines out there!

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  23. Oh my gosh, Janga, I have no idea, but want to read that one! Haha!

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  24. I hope they're published in your country soon, Eli!

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  25. Natalija, I hope you get the chance to read the rest. They're terrific!

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  26. LOL, Helen! You've probably read them all, too! ;-)

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  27. Great guesses, romanceaddict91!!

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  28. ClaudiaGC, I still have not read an SEP book. One of these days!!

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  29. You are so, so close, Dianna! And you got more than I would have! ;-)

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  30. Laurie G, I love Jill's books, too. So yummy! And HTMAM by JQ was the first book I read of hers. :)

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  31. Okay, everyone -- If you have a special first line to post, post away! I'm sure we all would love to try to guess at it!

    And Janga, I'm still stumped at yours!

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  32. i really hope so Andrea and now i think is my turn to persuade the publisher to publish it (i will ask my friend to help) =D

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  33. Wow, what a fun and tough game! Here are my best guesses
    7. Eloisa James' A Kiss at Midnight
    8. SEP's Natural Born Charmer
    11. Julie James' Something About You
    12 JQ's How to Marry a Marquis

    Going to have to work on track down the rest! lol
    US

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  34. I couldn't say for certain any of them, but #8 I know I've read and I think it's by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. 2,3 and 6 sound very interesting.

    acm05atjuno.com
    US

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  35. Love this post - not good at this game, but the lines made me smile and appreciate the amazing creativity of our favorite authors!

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  36. Great game…I enjoyed reading these books and so many of them have great covers!

    1.no clue....lol
    2.Summer at Seaside Cove by Jacqieu D’Allesandro
    3.Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra
    4.The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne
    5.nope haven't read this one either
    6.Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis
    7.A Kiss At Midnight by Eloisa James
    8.Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
    9.Talk of the Town by Karen Hawkins
    10.Secrets of a Proper Countess by Lecia Cornwall
    11.Something About You by Julie James
    12.How to Marry a Marquis by Julia Quinn


    And I have one for you too...

    "The phone rang out like an air-raid siren causing ______ to nearly dump her ramen noodles onto the dining nook floor".

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  37. I'll be back later to guess, but I have a question. Besides the title are we suppose to fill in the blanks?
    US

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  38. Wow. What fun. There are a couple i want to read now -- just based on the first line!!! Great post!

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  39. Good luck, Eli! As I like to say, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease." ;-)

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  40. Great job, Lisa! I know--I need to track down the ones I haven't read, too. :)

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  41. LOL, Anne. SEP's is one of the best first lines ever!

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  42. Christy P said: Love this post - not good at this game, but the lines made me smile and appreciate the amazing creativity of our favorite authors!

    Thanks, Christy! I agree...and it makes me wonder how many of those first lines came to the author easily/quickly. *g*

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  43. Maria said: "The phone rang out like an air-raid siren causing ______ to nearly dump her ramen noodles onto the dining nook floor".

    Oh my gosh, Maria, this one sounds familiar! The "ramen noodles" part is screaming that I should know it. LOL!

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  44. Penfield said: I'll be back later to guess, but I have a question. Besides the title are we suppose to fill in the blanks?

    No, you don't have to, Penfield...unless you want to. We just wanted to have fun figuring out the titles. *g*

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  45. TrishJ said: There are a couple i want to read now -- just based on the first line!!!

    I know, Trish!! They're so catchy!

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  46. I don't have a clue, I guess I could copy off of someone else but that would be cheating. I will have to say I don't usually remember first lines in books, sorry.

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  47. @Laurie G - "WOW! Amy must read a lot!!" I do and have to if I'm going to write about it on my blog, UNWRAPPING ROMANCE ... have to admit that NATURAL BORN CHARMER is the only one I don't have on my bookshelf.
    Got one for everyone - I'm featuring this one in an upcoming post on Regency Romance ... see if you know it!
    "She was to be given to him as a gift - a plaything for some powerful, dark stranger."

    Gotta go but have fun!

    http://unwrappingromance.blogspot.com

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  48. What fun! I’m interested in learning the rest. The only ones I can guess at are:

    5. The Year of Living Scandalously, Julia London
    7. A Kiss at Midnight, Eloisa James
    8. Natural Born Charmer, Susan Elizabeth Phillips
    11. Something About You, Julie James
    12. How to Marry a Marquis, Julia Quinn

    US

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  49. @Janga!!! I asked a friend is she recognized your first line - she did!! It's from YOUR SCANDALOUS WAYS by Loretta Chase. Adding to TBR list. : )

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  50. I love first lines! The only ones that I knew right away, though, were 8 and 11. These 2 opening lines were real attention-grabbers!

    US

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  51. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  52. 1. Taken by the Prince by Christina Dodd
    2. Summer at Seaside Cove by Jacquie D'Alessandro
    3. Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra
    4. The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne (This is a terrific series.)
    5. The Year of Living Dangerously by Julia London
    6.Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis (I just picked up the sequel)
    7. A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James (A fairy tale)
    8. Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (If you haven't read SEP, run to the bookstore)
    9. Talk of the Town by Karen Hawkins
    10. Secrets of a Proper Countess by Lecia Cornwall
    11. Something About You by Julie James (A great book & lovely cover.)
    12. How to Marry a Marquis by Julia Quinn (I've never read her pre-Bridgerton books. I'll have to get them)

    US

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  53. Sorry i just keep forgeting to put US on my post, must be old age.

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  54. 1. Taken by the Prince
    2. ???
    3. ???
    4. The spymaster's Lady
    5 ??
    6???
    7. A kiss at midnight
    8 -11 ???
    12. How to marry a marquis

    This is hard!

    International.

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  55. The only one I know for sure since I am just now reading it is:

    1. Taken by the Prince by Christina Dodd

    Like someone else said, it would be esay to copy others answers, but that would be cheating, and I don't cheat. Good luck, everyone!

    US

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  56. I only know 3 without having to research. Sad.

    7. A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James
    10. Secrets of a Proper Countess by Lecia Cornwall
    12. How to Marry a Marquis by Julia Quinn


    But I have a first line to share ;)

    “I find that a Ming bowl is like a woman’s breast.”

    INT

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  57. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  58. How do ya'll come up with these brain teasers? I'm getting some real laughs out of them and they are all familiar...but the only one I know for certain is #8, SEP's NATURAL BORN CHARMER.
    Looking forward to tomorrow's blog!

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  59. I think I am missing out because I don't recognize any of these lines but after reading a few of the answers I've chosen some books to my TBR pile. Will probably add more when the titles are revealed. Some are quite intriguing.

    INT

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  60. I love your honesty, Virginia!!

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  61. "She was to be given to him as a gift - a plaything for some powerful, dark stranger."

    Okay, Amy, I'm stumped!

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  62. They certainly are attention-grabbers, cheryl!!

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  63. Penfield said: (I've never read her pre-Bridgerton books. I'll have to get them)

    Oh, Penfield, I heartily recommend HOW TO MARRY A MARQUIS! Terrific book. :)

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  64. What a coincidence that you're reading that one right now, Cathy!

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  65. Ooooh, Antonia, I know that one!! It's THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN MACKENZIE. Awesome book!

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  66. I'm getting some real laughs out of them...

    Good! Then we have succeeded, Flora. *g*

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  67. Na, I hope you are able to read a few of them soon! :)

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  68. Lots of great first lines!

    1. Taken By the Prince by Christina Dodd
    2. No clue..
    3. Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra
    4. The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne
    5. The Year of Living Scandalously by Julia London
    6. Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis
    7. A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James
    8. Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
    9. Talk of the Town by Karen Hawkins
    10. Secrets of a Proper Countess by Lecia Cornwall
    11. Something About You by Julie James
    12. How to Marry a Marquis by Julia Quinn

    US
    marieimy (at) gmail (dot) com

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  69. Here are the answers:

    1. Taken by the Prince by Christina Dodd

    2. Summer at Seaside Cove by Jacquie D’Alessandro

    3. Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra

    4. The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne

    5. The Year of Living Scandalously by Julia London

    6. Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis

    7. A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James

    8. Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

    9. Talk of the Town by Karen Hawkins

    10. Secrets of a Proper Countess by Lecia Cornwall

    11. Something About You by Julie James

    12. How to Marry a Marquis by Julia Quinn

    Great job to all who knew them and thanks to everyone who played!!

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  70. The only one that looks familiar is #4 which I'm guessing is The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne.

    US

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  71. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  72. Re-entered the comment. Didn't read the full directions.

    I recognized #1, and knew #8 was from SEP. I've read #12-and loved it!
    What a fun game!!

    forgot the last part--US =)

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  73. I recognized a few of the lines from excerpts I have read, but can't remember the book.
    #1 is maybe IN BED WITH THE DUKE by Christina Dodd, I think.

    #5 Is from THE SECRETS OF HADLEY GREEN series by Julia London, most likely A YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY.

    #7 sounds like Eloisa James' A KISS AT MIDNIGHT.

    They are all good lines and looking at some of the other people's guesses, I recognize many books from my Wish List.

    A fun exercise.

    US

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  74. I'm happy I got three. This game was hard.

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  75. @Andrea - I can't believe I stumped you with that one.
    "She was to be given to him as a gift - a plaything for some powerful, dark stranger." - first line of MY DANGEROUS DUKE by Gaelen Foley.
    Great game today and congrats on 2 great years and may you have many, more - thanks ladies.

    USA

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  76. I can see I need to read more. What a fun idea though.

    INTERNATIONAL

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  77. Whoo Hoo! I only guessed at one, SEP's NATURAL BORN CHARMER, but I'm jazzed that I have read eight out of these twelve books. And one of them, "Secret's of a Proper Countess," I loved it and I won on TRD! You ladies rock!

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  78. 1. TAKEN BY THE PRINCE by Christina Dodd
    0h - looks like Amy listed them all already - what a great bunch of books - I've wanted to read a lot of them, but you've added a few to my TBR list.
    US

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  79. The only one I knew was number 11 which I know is Something About you by Julie James. I only know the title because I looked it up. My memory is terrible and since so many books have similar titles it makes it impossible for me to remember.

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  80. This was so much fun. Please do it again soon. I knew #7 (James' A Kiss At Midnight) and #8 (SEP's Natural Born Charmer)right away, but although I have read several of the others, I didn't recognize the quotes until I saw some of the other posts.

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  81. Yikes, in such a hurry to get my post done, I forgot that pesky note about country. I am in the
    US.

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  82. 1. Taken by the Prince - Christina Dodd
    2. Summer at Sea Side Cove - Jacquie D'Alessandro
    3. Sea Witch - Virginia Kantra
    4. The Spymaster’s Lady - Joanna Bourne
    5. The Year of Living Scandalously - Julia London
    6. Animal Magnetism - Jill Shalvis
    7. A Kiss at Midnight - Eloisa James
    8. Natural Born Charmer - Susan Elizabeth Phillips
    9. Talk of the Town - Karen Hawkins
    10. Secrets of a Proper Countess - Lecia Cornwall
    11. Something About You - Julie James
    12. How to Marry a Marquis - Julia Quinn

    INT

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  83. I'm horrible at this kind of thing. I could probably cheat and copy others but I'll be honest and admit I really don't know lol.

    u.s.

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  84. The only ones I think I know are
    5. THE YEAR OF LIVING SCANDALOUSLY by Julia London
    7. A KISS AT MIDNIGHT by Eloisa James
    and 12. HOW TO MARRY A MARQUIS by Julia Quinn

    Loved these!
    And I am going to have to read #9: TALK OF THE TOWN by Karen Hawkins (I have not read her contemps but love her historicals!)

    US resident

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  85. I only know one of them:
    Number 7 - A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James! I don't think I read the others. A lot of them musst be comtemporaries and I don't read those.

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  86. Darn it! I've been out of town all during your anniversary celebratino week and have been posting on the tiny keys of n=my iphone. I keep forgetting to state that I'm from the good old USA!

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