Sunday, December 18, 2011

Let It Snow V

My final shopping trip for the holidays took me a few towns over to the nearest mall, where I stopped by a BAM that was twice the size of mine. The bargain tables were chock full of neat stuff, and I picked up three remaindered hardcover copies of books I wanted to read but missed them when they released: Rainwater by Sandra Brown ($6.97), Chalice by Robin McKinley ($4.97) and The Angel by Carla Neggers ($4.97).

I also raided the 2012 calendar shelves, the magazine racks and the humor section to pick out some gifts for the non-readers on my list. I am committed to making non-readers read, and I've found humor or a mag on their favorite subject usually does the trick. For those who won't read those, I get a block-type desk calendar with funny jokes or quotes on each page that I know they'll read when they're bored at work (my guy reads his Jeff Foxworthy calendar quote to me every day.)

While browsing I found some new widgets at this BAM that weren't at mine:

1. BAM's Bookmark pen, a pen encased in a flat faux alligator bookmark with a small crystal embellishment ($4.99)

3. Folio's set of 8 Get to the Point magnetic reusable page markers in a nice rainbow of colors ($3.99)

3. BasicFun.com's six pack of Unravels crayon pencils, each wrapped in 30 little messages with lucky fortunes, jokes & riddles and friendship themes ($5.99)

4. Andrews + Blaine's trio of monogrammed magnetic bookmarks ($4.99)

At this BAM I was able to put together some novel series gifts, as they keep a decent stock of backlisted titles. I find it's easier to hook people on an established series if you give them the first three novels all at once. I often stockpile extra copies of the first three books in any series I really love to save for future gifts (as well as investing in a series I want to keep reading.) Series in paperback are the most affordable, as you can buy up to three for the price of one hardcover. As gifts this year I'm giving away series by Gail Carriger, Emma Holly, Larissa Ione, Sofie Kelly, Marjorie M. Liu, Anne Stuart and Rob Thurman.

Today I'm also adding to the Let It Snow tote a now very hard-to-find hardcover copy of my SF novel Blade Dancer; Soulless, the first novel in Gail Carriger's extraordinary Victorian fantasy series; and a mini Snowflake Origami kit (they shimmer!) Two more books will also be going in the tote, and the hint for them is that they're also novels by one of the series authors I've mentioned in this post.

If you'd like a chance to win this giveaway, in comments to this post name any novel series you think would make a great gift (or if you're not into series, just toss your name in the hat.) I will draw one name at random from everyone who participates by commenting on this or any of my other Let It Snow giveaway posts from now until midnight EST on Wednesday, December 21, 2011, and send the winner the tote with all the contents. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Added: Swiped this very cool heads up from Gerard over at The Presurfer: today if you go to Google's search page and type the words "let it snow" in the box, it (virtually) will snow, frost over your results and give you a chuckle.

48 comments:

  1. hmmm... probably the Dresden Files because it's a series that has something for everyone. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

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  2. Anne V.1:47 AM

    Shannon K Butcher's Sentinel Wars books. Each can stand alone, but they all tie together.

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  3. I love the Psy-Changling series and the Guildhunter series by Nalini Singh, another great series is the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews and I always read the Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs....I read a lot of paranormal:)

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  4. I am giving my son a books by Deborah Cooke Flying blind and winging it. I think he'll like them they are about dragons and i love her adult series so we'll see.
    great prizes there so far.
    scrtsbpal at yahoo dot com

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  5. It of course depends on what the reader's interested in- I do Jennifer Crusie's 'Welcome To Temptation' series for contemporary romance readers; and Robert Crais' 'Evis Cole' series for mystery readers (how can you not at least try a book called 'The Monkey's Raincoat'?).

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  6. Did you know that Suzanne Collins wrote a series before Hunger Games about a boy who falls down a hole into the underbelly of the world? He has a lot of adventures and such, and I have to say that that series (Gregor the Overlander) is a wonderful and fun series I would totally give to pre-teens. One of the things I loved about it was how Gregor, the main character, is brave and has a good sense of responsibility -- and is very protective of his little sister. It made me think, "If I had children, I would read this to them."

    I inhaled all the books in the series in a week.

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  7. Sheila7:14 AM

    Kenyon's Dark Hunters
    J R Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood
    An old series that has come to an end but that I love is Maggie Shayne's Wings in the Night series
    one more...
    Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel series

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  8. The Harry Dresden series by Jim Butcher is wonderful. The Harper Connelly series by Charlaine Harris is great as well.

    I just read Soulless and the rest of the books out so far in that series. I love her take on vamps. Very different.

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  9. Seanan McGuire's October Daye series makes an awesome gift for any adult. Or if you're looking for gifts for kids, try Brandon Mull's Fablehaven series. =o)

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  10. Shannon D.9:09 AM

    The only series I can recall reading was the Gunslinger series by Stephen King. I enjoyed it so much that I should probably look into reading another series.

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  11. My favorite series when I was a kid was Anne of Green Gables. I hope my daughter loves them as much as I do. Currently I'm loving Sookie Stackhouse, Anita Blake, Mercy Thompson...and I just noticed the pattern of strong, funny heroines.

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  12. I think Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series would be a great gift for anyone who appreciates urban fantasy, but would also be great for maybe a guy on your list who might be a reluctant reader.

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  13. Preston and Childs' Pendergast series starting with Relic.

    Moning's Highlanders

    Gracie's Perfect

    Can't think of any others right now.

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  14. I'd like to nominate Donaldson's Mordant's Need series. While he may have some, um, personality quirks, those two books seriously rock. :)

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  15. My favorite seres of all time is Anne of Green Gables which I read when I was very young in hardcover from the library. Each book was a revelation for me.

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  16. A series that I have been enjoying these past few years is the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear. Memorable and special.

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  17. Definitely the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh, and Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole.

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  18. I'd say either Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series (coz they rock)
    or Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid series. It's hilarious! I mean come on there's a funny 'talking' dog and a sexy 2000year old Druid who looked like a 20 years old. Best new series of 2011 for me. =)

    pattepoilue(at)gmail(dot)com

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  19. Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series (she's currently writing book 8) would be a great one to give.

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  20. For someone who likes a little bit of humor with their paranormal romance, I would recommend Lysay Sands' Argeneau Vampire series or Kerrelyn Sparks' Love at Stake series. I got hooked on the first book of each.

    My daughter introduced me to JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series and I love them, too. In fact, I gave them as a gift to my sister. Very addicting series.

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  21. My latest "get my brother hooked on a series" book was A Madness of Angels" by Kate Griffin. I have a couple more offerings for him this year, to see if some more will take.

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  22. Tammy S2:19 PM

    Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series
    Nalini Singh's Psy-Changling series
    Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs
    In Death series by J D Robb

    But it all depends on the reciepent and their likes.

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  23. Anything by David Weber and Mercedes Lackey.

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  24. Keri Arthur's Riley Jensen series.
    Elizabeth Hoyt's Maiden Lane series

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  25. I'm tossing my name into the hat. Thanks.

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  26. James Patterson's Women's Murder Club series

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  27. GayLee5:40 PM

    I have already gifted Ilona Andrews' Magic series and Edge series. I enjoyed the Jumper series by Stephen Gould (he's writing the third book now). The Darkyn (oh, such a blatant suck-up! but true) Meljean Brooks' Iron Seas. Diana Galbaldon's Outlander books. Wen Spenser's Tinker books (I so wish she'd write another)

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  28. Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series.

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  29. I guess it would depend on their lines and dislikes...so I'm just going to throw my name in the hat this time.
    Thanks so much!

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  30. I really enjoy your blog entries, though I have never responded before.
    Although I live in Australia, one of my favourite series of books is the North America's Forgotten Past series by Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear.
    This couple are both deeply immersed in archaeology and anthropology, and the series is a fictionalised version of the native American history that has been unearthed by archaeologists.
    There are about 18 books in the series, so it would make a great 'series' of gifts over a year or two.

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  31. I have two trilogies that would make presents.

    1) Hunger Games
    2) The Steig Larrson books that starts with "The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo"

    as for longer running series I am a big fan of J.D. Robb's Dallas books and Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld books are fantastic.

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  32. I recommend:

    1. The Dark-Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon

    2. The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward

    3. The Virgin River series by Robyn Carr

    4. The Bishop series by Kay Hooper

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  33. Anonymous3:30 AM

    The Harry Dresden series by Jim Butcher also I have just chewed through the Kate Daniels "Magic" series by Ilona Andrews - it was great to be able to go onto the next one straight away - until i caught up! I highly recommend this series and this (these as husband and wife duo) author.

    Heather of OZ

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  34. Fran Kane4:55 AM

    Larissa Ione's Demonica series, followed by her Lords of Deliverance.
    Christine Feehan's Carpathians.
    Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters.
    Nalini Singh's Psy-Changling series.
    Lynn Viehl's Darkyn & Kyndred.
    Katie Macalister's Dragons.
    G A Aiken's Dragons.
    I could go on and on .... !!

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  35. A great series?
    Harry Connelly's Twenty Palaces books are pretty great!

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  36. Anonymous8:41 AM

    Lynn,
    Well, I am late reading posts, but I had to respond to this one. Last year for Christmas I gave my mom your StarDoc series for Christmas! She read right through them all and loved them!
    Tami
    Jacksonville

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  37. Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward
    or Magic series by Ilona Andrews

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  38. Shizuka9:11 AM

    The Stieg Larsson trilogy for someone who likes dark, socially complex books or the Sookie Stackhouse books for someone who wants humor, romance, and mystery all in one series. I love both, but every time I read one of the Larsson books I wish Larsson had started publishing novels earlier. I think he had a lot more to say.

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  39. Helen9:45 AM

    For urban fantasy lovers the Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow can't be beat. I have actually given this series away as a gift to all my friends who love UF.

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  40. Darkfever series by Karen Marie Moning (read the last one months ago and I'm still obsessed and spread the obsession is much fun)

    The Millennium Series by Stieg Larsson (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, etc)

    The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evonovich (given several copies of "One for the Money" to friends)

    The Hitchikers Guide the the Galaxy (do I need a reason?)

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  41. A nice gift would be the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones or The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning.

    I just read a trilogy called the Fifty Shades Trilogy by E.L. James. The first book was Fifty Shades of Grey. It was very intense. It is a series for those who love emotional and intense series.

    Thank you for the giveaway.

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  42. For a futuristic long-running series: J.D. Robb's In Death

    For a dark, gritty urban fantasty: Karen Marie Moning's Fever

    For sweet and romantic: Susan Wiggs's The Lakeshore Chronicles

    For YA paranormal: L.J. Smith's The Secret Circle or The Vampire Deries.

    There are tons of wonderful books out there :)

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  43. Athena W.6:20 PM

    I really liked Amanda Hocking's Tryell series, The Bishop sereis by Kay Hooper, Jill Kismet series by Lilith Saintcrow and the Cassandra Palmer books by Karen Chance

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  44. LaurieF10:40 PM

    I love reading series so they make up a large portion of what I read,
    including all the Kyndred and Darkyn books :)
    I've also enjoyed:
    -Lee Child's Jack Reacher books.
    -Ilona Andrews Edge & Magic series.
    -Robert.B.Parker's Spenser books.
    -JD Robb's In Death series.
    -Kim Harrison's Hollows series.
    -Ivy Alexander's Guardians of
    Eternity series.
    -Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden books.
    -Nalini Singh's two series, the
    guild hunters and the
    psy-changelings.
    -Julie Anne Long's Penny Royal
    Green series.

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  45. So many awesome suggestions! I have a few new authors to check out!

    I just gave a young lady the Dragonriders trio by Anne McCaffrey as well as the Crystal Singer Trilogy. She's going through some hard times, and has lost faith in herself. Those two series got me through some pretty rough times.

    My son just mentioned giving the Hunger Games trilogy to a friend.

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  46. Anonymous5:18 AM

    I'm going to say Anne Stuart's Ice series and Sydney Croft's ACRO books.

    Lia

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  47. A few favorites
    Kerrelyn Sparks Love at Stake series
    Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swenson mysteries
    Christine Feehan's series (Dark, Leopard, Drake Sisters, Ghost Walker, Sea Haven)

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  48. I would have to go with the Cypress Hollow Yarn series by Rachael Herron. It's well written with enjoyable, relate-able characters. I just all around love these books and recommend them to everyone.

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