TAG - YOU’RE IT! New Goddess contest
Jul 15th 2007
Nicole JordanGoddess Readers Speak Out
You know those little tag lines on the front cover of some romances? The short phrases that encapsulate the essence of a romance plot and indicate the tone of the story at the same time?
Example: Sabrina’s latest bestseller, BEWARE A SCOT’S REVENGE, is about a revenge abduction, so the tag line reads, “He wickedly captured her, body and soul…but her passion will enslave his heart.” Isn’t that great? It sure made me want to read the book! (Which I did and loved).
Well, I need three good tag lines for The Courtship Wars books, my upcoming Regency historical trilogy.
Usually a publisher’s copy department writes tag lines when they develop the back cover copy. But since I want them to be stellar – and knowing how clever and creative my fellow goddesses are – I thought I would give y’all the chance to shine.
So… here’s a new contest to challenge your wit and romantic sensibilities!
Come up with a tag line for any of my three new books based on my short blurbs below, and if Ballantine decides to use your tag line on the cover, you’ll get a signed copy of the trilogy when it comes out early next year. And in the meantime, I’ll award anyone whose tag gets chosen, plus the creators of my three favorite entries, their choice of a book from my in-print backlist, so you don’t have to wait for prizes.
Book 1 – TO PLEASURE A LADY
When a newly titled earl develops an unexpected passion for his beautiful ward, he wagers he can seduce her into accepting his proposal of marriage – a wager she’s just as determined he won’t win.
Or a shorter description: Sparks fly when a handsome earl attempts to woo his eldest ward.
Book 2 – TO BED A BEAUTY
Harboring a secret passion for a neighboring earl, a charming beauty asks a cynical duke for lessons in how to kindle a gentleman’s ardor – not realizing she’s opening her heart to unexpected love with her arousing tutor.
Or… Passion collides when a duke wants a beauty who has set her sights on another nobleman entirely.
Book 3 – TO SEDUCE A BRIDE
To escape a seductive nobleman’s unwanted courtship, a spirited hoyden takes refuge in a London pleasure house, where her determined suitor must woo her under the eagle eyes of her protective courtesan friends if he hopes to make her his bride.
Or… Desires clash when a seductive nobleman proposes marriage to a beautiful hoyden.
The rules: You can make your entries witty, sexy, fun, lively, romantic, sensual… anything that works with the blurbs. And if you want to submit something funny just to give us some laughs, that’s okay too. Shorter is probably better, since there’s limited space on the cover. You can submit as many entries as you want. And you can ask me questions if you need more info about the stories or characters. Resident Goddesses are eligible (and welcome!) to submit ideas but not win prizes. My editor at Ballantine will make the final decisions about what goes on the covers. And I’ll decide on my three favorites, whether they make the covers or not. Deadline for submissions is Tuesday at midnight CST. So may the best tag line win!
******************************
Thank you for all your great ideas, goddesses! I have a list of 28 excellent tag lines to submit to my editor. It was so very hard to choose my favorites since everyone who participated had one or more entries that I loved. But I wound up with 6 winners based on the following criteria:
a) I could see that tag line on the cover of my books b) I wish I had been clever enough to think of it, orc) It was just too good to pass up without singling it outEveryone on my submissions list gets an honorable mention! And the 6 winners get a choice of a signed book from my in-print back list.
I’ll post the list below, along with info on how the winners can collect their prizes.
Thank you! You goddesses really are the best!
*****************
And the winner is… Darla!! Her tag line was the one my editor chose for the cover of Book 1, TO PLEASURE A LADY. To see it as well as the tag lines for Books 2 and 3, see comment #81 below.
84 Comments »
84 Responses to “TAG - YOU’RE IT! New Goddess contest”
pri.r. on 16 Jul 2007 at 3:46 am #
book 1- a handsome earl. a beautiful woman. a wager both defy as passion ignites.and love blossoms.
hmm that’s my first one still thinking about the other two… please don’t laugh at my lame attempts
pri.r. on 16 Jul 2007 at 4:05 am #
book 2 -
misunderstood love, when a cynical duke realises that he wants more than to bed this charming beauty. But can this duke tutor her in the ways of love?
pri.r. on 16 Jul 2007 at 4:07 am #
nichole i think my submissions are stupid
Maureen on 16 Jul 2007 at 5:30 am #
Book 2:
This beauty’s heart is set but can she be taught a different lesson?
Maureen on 16 Jul 2007 at 5:35 am #
Book 1:
Can two stubborn hearts both win at this game?
Maureen on 16 Jul 2007 at 5:41 am #
Book 3:
She leads him on a chase but he leads her to love and passion.
Elora on 16 Jul 2007 at 6:26 am #
Remember English is not my native language:
Book one:
Is it worth winning a wager when she already lost her heart?
Book two:
His lessons in love made her forget her love for another
Book three:
Hiding in a pleasure house, she can’t hide her pleasant feelings.
Nicole Jordan on 16 Jul 2007 at 9:12 am #
Hey, I like these! You guys are doing great.
There’s no such thing as lame ideas when you’re writing copy, Pri! I love “Can this duke tutor her in the ways of love?” It’s very romantic.
The thing about tag lines or writing back cover copy is that you usually start out with something dry and literal and then spice it up with different adjectives, hooks, phrases. And words and ideas tend to build on each other. So, for example, if I have a snippet of an idea, then I can often combine it with another snippet.
When I’m working on copy, it helps me to go read the back copy of fifty romance novels so I get in a certain mindset. Same thing with tag lines. So please keep the ideas coming!
NicoleJ
Nicole Jordan on 16 Jul 2007 at 9:21 am #
I wanted y’all to see one of my favorite tag lines. It’s from Jillian Hunter’s The Wedding Night of an English Rogue.
“The marriage will be bliss– if they survive the courtship.”
For some reason that strikes me as really fun and intriguing.
Also, the Harlequin/Silhouette editors are great a writing back copy, probably because they’ve been doing it forever! The text ususally starts with a header/tag in bold. Here’s a header from contemp author Karen Kendall’s Midnight Touch, which is about a female massage therapist.
“Some men know exactly how to touch a woman.”
That suggests some great possibilities to me! lol
NicoleJ
Kasey on 16 Jul 2007 at 9:35 am #
Book 1: He wagers he can wed his ward…a wager she will do anything to win.
Book 2:She wants lessons in seduction, but learns her tutor is the only man she wants.
Book 3:An unwanted courtship makes her run, but he goes after her, determined to win her heart.
Kasey on 16 Jul 2007 at 9:42 am #
Another one for Book 3:
To get the bride he seeks, he must find her and win her heart.
Darla on 16 Jul 2007 at 11:25 am #
1. Love is a wager hes not willing to lose.
2. Love Lessons…can he teach her, he’s the one she really wants.
3. She escaped to the house of pleasure, but she can’t hide from love.
Nicole Jordan on 16 Jul 2007 at 12:07 pm #
>> determined to win her heart.
>>To get the bride he seeks, he must find her and win her heart.
I love that concept, Kasey! It takes a true romance reader to identify what’s important to a love story. I just finished fixing the back cover copy for all three books, and while the copy dept did a great job of synopsizing the plots, they left out the “love” part. Which is pretty darn important to a romance, lol. And for the last book, they left out any mention of a bride, so I put that in too. And tag lines are even harder than blurbs since they have to be so much shorter.
Wow, Dana, you have a real knack for this! I especially love ” Love is a wager he’s not willing to lose.” It’s short and sweet and says a bunch about the romance plot. Thank you!
I’m excited about your submissions, ladies! And I greatly appreciate your efforts. I think we’ll have some great lines by the time we’re through.
NicoleJ
Nicole Jordan on 16 Jul 2007 at 12:18 pm #
Yikes, sorry about the wierd color and formatting for the home page for the past 2 hours! Our server did an automatic reset so our Webmistress had to go in and reset our template.
This look is a lot more user friendly!
NicoleJ
Kasey on 16 Jul 2007 at 1:23 pm #
Two more attempts:
Book Two:
A young beauty asks the duke for lessons to catch another man, but he must teach her that he is the man she loves.
Book One:
He wagers he can win the lady’s heart, but will she let him?
Kasey on 16 Jul 2007 at 1:36 pm #
Book 2 (for some reason I am having a hard time shortening this one down so here are some more attempts…it is more fun than working…which I should be doing)
A duke falls for a young beauty, and gives her lessons in love.
To capture this beaty for himself, he tuturs her in love.
EllenElyse on 16 Jul 2007 at 1:40 pm #
Hi ladies! Hi Nicole! Ok… I think I have a thing with the word “Master”
but here goes…
Book 1:
In this high stakes wager of love, can he claim the ultimate prize? or…
He may be her guardian, but can he master her heart?
Book 2:
He’s a master in the art of love, but she’ll teach him a lesson in desire.
Nicole Jordan on 16 Jul 2007 at 2:02 pm #
Oh, I really like these, Kasey and EllenE!
My faves in this last batch:
He wagers he can win the lady’s heart, but will she let him?
To capture this beauty for himself, he tutors her in love.
He may be her guardian, but can he master her heart?
He’s a master in the art of love, but she’ll teach him a lesson in desire.
There’s some great stuff here! Thank you!
NicoleJ
ladydawgfan on 16 Jul 2007 at 2:27 pm #
For book #1:
“An unexpected passion yields an unacceptable wager. Can the result be an undying love?”
For book #2:
“A charming beauty, a cynical Duke . . . a lesson in love that neither expects.”
I’m still working on #3. I will also probably have more for the other two.
ladydawgfan on 16 Jul 2007 at 2:46 pm #
For Book #3:
“She led him on a merry chase. Can he lead her down the aisle?”
More coming later . . .
twolilhahas on 16 Jul 2007 at 3:08 pm #
Book#2: “Determined to learn the language of love, love’s teacher shows her that hearts have minds all their own.”
ladydawgfan on 16 Jul 2007 at 3:17 pm #
More from me . . .
Book #1:
“He wagers that they’ll marry. She wagers that they won’t. Then, Love ‘ups’ the ante.”
Book #2:
“His lessons in love prove that you CAN teach a cold Duke new tricks!”
“He tutored her heart and tasted her passion. Can he also claim her love?”
Still working on #3. More to come . . .
twolilhahas on 16 Jul 2007 at 3:17 pm #
Book 2: again lol “He set out to teach an innocent the language of love, never dreaming he had the most to learn.”
I’m not sure if this would fit or not, but I was thinking about adding, “And to lose” on the end of that. Like, “He set out to teach an innocent the language of love, never dreaming he had to most to learn, and to lose.” Or “…and to lose if his instruction proved successful.”
twolilhahas on 16 Jul 2007 at 3:19 pm #
ladydawgfan, I love your #2…the first one. So cool!
twolilhahas on 16 Jul 2007 at 3:23 pm #
Oh, wait…you have more posts than I thought, ladydawgfan. I love this one: “His lessons in love prove that you CAN teach a cold Duke new tricks!” That is so funny and good!
twolilhahas on 16 Jul 2007 at 3:28 pm #
ok for #3:
She thought a pleasure house was the safest place to hide from love and learns that being wrong is sometimes very right!
Nicole Jordan on 16 Jul 2007 at 4:01 pm #
Those are great, ladies!
I laughed out loud at the “teach a cold duke new tricks.” Expecially since it’s so appropriate to his personality. In fact yesterday I added a line to the back cover copy that says “he begins her schooling while coolly guarding his heart.”
I also really like:
She led him on a merry chase. Can he lead her down the aisle?
he had to most to learn, and to lose.
and learns that being wrong is sometimes very right!
shows her that hearts have minds all their own.
Those are all very catchy.
Nicole
MizMacgyver on 16 Jul 2007 at 5:05 pm #
Ladydawgfan, I love this one!
He wagers that they will marry. She wagers that they won’t. Then Love ups the ante.
They are all good but I think that one is just super.
foreverdelayed on 16 Jul 2007 at 5:15 pm #
Book 1.
She might not want to lose the wager of a lifetime, but can her heart afford to win?
Book 2. She is learning the art of seduction, but will her heart lead her into the arms of her teacher?
Book 3. She wanted the carefree life, he wanted her for his wife. Will his love be enough to tame her?
Pam P on 16 Jul 2007 at 5:43 pm #
How will you ever choose from all these, Nicole?
For Book 1:
Who will win this game of hearts? Will she succumb to his passionate seduction, or will he have to forfeit to win her love?
Keri Ford on 16 Jul 2007 at 5:53 pm #
Okay, glad we’re back online and here’s mine:
Book1
She wagers she can resist his hand, but can he pleasure her into rethinking that wedding offer?
Book2
He wants her. She wants somebody else. While schooling her in seduction, can he seduce her into his bedroom?
Book3
Will she find safety in a pleasure house from his seductions?
This has been fun!-keri
Nicole Jordan on 16 Jul 2007 at 6:20 pm #
>>>How will you ever choose from all these, Nicole?
Great question, Pam! Luckily for me the final decision will be up to my editor. But I still have to pick my 3 faves. And that may be impossible since I like so many of them!
My faves in this bunch in no special order.
=Who will win this game of hearts?
=Will his love be enough to tame her?
=Will she find safety in a pleasure house from his seductions?
Nicole Jordan on 16 Jul 2007 at 6:21 pm #
Don’t know if this will help spark ideas for tag lines, but my editor just approved this back cover copy this morning.
Book 1 TO PLEASURE A LADY
A strikingly handsome aristocrat with a wicked reputation, Marcus Pierce inherits guardianship of spirited Arabella Loring and her two younger sisters——and immediately declares his intention to marry them off. Instead, enchantingly defiant Arabella sparks something rebellious and deeply erotic in Marcus. After matching both wits and swords with her, the possessive nobleman concludes this beautiful foe must be his.
Having sworn off marriage and men, Arabella wishes to be left alone to run her finishing school for young ladies. To that end, she boldly accepts Marcus’s intimate challenge: if he can woo and win her in a fortnight, she belongs in his bed as his wife. However, if she can resist his considerable charms, the Loring sisters will be granted their independence. Thus a tantalizing game of seduction and pleasure begins, where the cherished prize could be their very hearts….
Nicole Jordan on 16 Jul 2007 at 6:23 pm #
Book 2 TO BED A BEAUTY
Clever and charming Roslyn Loring, the middle of three beautiful, independent sisters, knows true happiness lies in a marriage of the heart——and she has hers set on a love-match with a neighboring earl. Yet her sharp mind has observed an undeniable truth: gentlemen lavish passion on their mistresses, not their wives. Roslyn realizes that to win her future husband’s devotion, she must learn the secrets of kindling a gentleman’s ardor. Fortunately, she finds a willing tutor in the Duke of Arden, a notorious rake whispered to be London’s most magnificent lover. If his searing kisses are any indication, Drew Moncrief is the ideal man to teach her how to be the perfect mistress.
Drew begins her schooling while coolly guarding his heart. But as best-laid plans are thwarted by unexpected events——a night of unforgettable passion and a hurried betrothal——Roslyn and her wickedly arousing tutor discover how easily lessons in pleasure can become lessons in love….
Nicole Jordan on 16 Jul 2007 at 6:24 pm #
Book 3 TO SEDUCE A BRIDE
Spirited beauty Lilian Loring wants nothing to do with men——especially eligible noblemen who want to court her! Love, she believes, guarantees heartbreak and is best avoided entirely, even if her unwanted suitor is the dangerously tempting Heath Griffin, Marquess of Claybourne. But Lily’s protests fail to convince the persistent rogue, who can’t believe any woman could resist his seductive charms. After all, didn’t Lily melt under his scorching kisses? So why does she flee from him to hide out in the last place a gentleman would look for a lady: a house of scandalous repute?
In bold pursuit, Heath discovers his enchanting spitfire cheerfully instructing the demimonde in the art of deportment and manners. Now, the thrill of the chase is exceeded only by his powerful need to possess Lily as his bride. But their game of temptation and courtship has high stakes: Victory demands not only winning Lily’s luscious body but her elusive heart as well….
Keri Ford on 16 Jul 2007 at 7:53 pm #
#2 for book2:
In a lesson of seduction and love, the teacher becomes the student.
Keri Ford on 16 Jul 2007 at 8:13 pm #
Here’s a few more for #3. Something isn’t hitting just right for me, but they might sing for you! (as you can tell by the amount, I’m dancing right around what I’m looking for)
Freedom’s at her fingertips, but will love conquer?
At the chance for freedom, does she choose love instead?
It’s the wager of a lifetime to gain her freedom, but will she lose that for love?
She’s after freedom and he wants love. At end of this wager for desires, who’s the loser?
No rules apply in a wager for freedom or love.
It’s a dangerous wager when hearts are at stake.
Triste on 16 Jul 2007 at 8:25 pm #
Book 2
She wanted to learn the art of seduction…instead he will teach her the art of love.
Stacy S on 16 Jul 2007 at 8:44 pm #
These are great. I’m no good at this, but its fun reading what everyones coming up with.
Nicole Jordan on 16 Jul 2007 at 10:26 pm #
I’d say you’re on a roll, Keri! After a while this becomes sort of addictive, doesn’t it? It’s like solving a puzzle you know you should be able to solve.
I love that “art of seduction, art of love” theme, Triste!
And I agree, Stacy, it’s fun reading all these execellent ideas. Now do you want to help me choose? That’s going to be so hard!
Also, now I hope everyone sees some of what goes into writing a romance novel. It’s not just coming up with a story and characters and putting it down on paper. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes. And the main reason we had to finish the cover copy today was because the sales meetings were held today. Where sales and marketing puts together info to sell the books to accounts. And that’s a whole huge other side of the business from editorial.
NicoleJ
Dot C on 17 Jul 2007 at 12:53 am #
#1 - Somewhere between possession and independence is a blinding passion waiting to be released.
#2 - Because gentlemen love a lady in the livingroom and a freak in the bed!
LOL, j/k on the last one!
Dot C on 17 Jul 2007 at 12:59 am #
#3 - Love will come for her, no matter where she hides…
pri.r. on 17 Jul 2007 at 8:10 am #
*drowning* indeed it is true fellow readers, i’m drowning in all your brilliance to write these lines!!… especially ladydawgfawn….
i’d just like to say, that all of you should be writing the BOOKS instead of the bylines!
srsly your all that good!
Susan K on 17 Jul 2007 at 9:05 am #
Wow. These are so good. I haven’t had time to work on any myself. Figures when something fun comes along they bury me at work. But I sure am enjoying reading all the ones you guys are coming up with.
Oh and Nicole, I absolutely can’t wait until these books come out! I read chapter one of the the first book and I wanted more! I can already tell these will be keepers.
SuzyQ on 17 Jul 2007 at 9:17 am #
Well Nicole, after reading the books descriptions, I just can’t wait to read them! I’m not much of a writer so here it goes anyway:
Book 1: Two stubborn hearts battle in the game of love
Book 2: He thought he could teach her seduction but she gave him a lesson in love.
Book 3: She is determined to guard her heart . . . he is determined to win it.
Nicole Jordan on 17 Jul 2007 at 9:19 am #
>> Because gentlemen love a lady in the livingroom and a freak in the bed!
LOL, Dot! That’s the theory I was going for in Book2.
And I think this one is great: Love will come for her, no matter where she hides…
That’s my premise for Book3 but you put it so beautifully and it’ll help guide me as I’m writing the last 3/4’s.
Pri, I agree with you! And thanks bunches for getting this all started.
Sorry about your workload, Susan! And do so appreciate the kind words about the books. Now I hope they live up to your high expectations.
We still have till midnight tonight for submissions, so I’m looking forward to seeing more tag lines. Even if it will just make my decisions that much harder, lol.
NicoleJ
Darla on 17 Jul 2007 at 11:25 am #
1. Will his wager of pleasure end in I DO?
2. Will his turoring help her warm anothers bed?
3. She won’t marry him, will the house of pleasure change her mind?
Darla on 17 Jul 2007 at 11:47 am #
Book 1. A wager to woo…will it end in I Do?
Nicole Jordan on 17 Jul 2007 at 2:04 pm #
SuzyQ, all of those are excellent!
And Darla, I love “Will his wager of pleasure end in I DO?”
You goddesses are making my life so much harder, lol.
NicoleJ
Susan K on 17 Jul 2007 at 2:10 pm #
Nicole - Of course it will live up to my expectations! Cause I already know that all 3 books will be wonderful stories.
Darla on 17 Jul 2007 at 2:17 pm #
Book 3. Will a cathouse courtship end up as a marriage made in heaven?
twolilhahas on 17 Jul 2007 at 3:23 pm #
Here’s a shot at #1: “On the table the bet lies large, he plays his aces only to lose his heart.”
twolilhahas on 17 Jul 2007 at 3:49 pm #
Book#1: “He’s playing his Aces, but she’s no joker, she just wants her freedom, he just wants to hold her.” lol Ok, so that was my hand at rhyme!
Darla on 17 Jul 2007 at 4:17 pm #
Book 3. Her bridesmaids wore lace and not much else!
Nicole Jordan on 17 Jul 2007 at 5:10 pm #
Darla and Twolil, those are just so funny. And a couple of those would be perfect for a Western romp.
Thanks for making my day.
NicoleJ
Kasey on 17 Jul 2007 at 5:34 pm #
Book 3:
She could run, but she couldn’t hide from love.
MizMacgyver on 17 Jul 2007 at 6:12 pm #
#1 They make a wager but when Love enters the game all bets are off.
#2 What happens when the tutor becomes the student?
#3 His powers of seduction have never failed…..until now.
Darla on 17 Jul 2007 at 8:34 pm #
Thanks Nicole…Its been a good day to stay inside and play on my computer. This has been fun, I can’t wait to read the books!
doglady on 17 Jul 2007 at 9:28 pm #
Here goes nothing, Nicole. And can I just say that I LOVE your books!! My friends all know this because they are on my “no, you cannot borrow this book” shelf!
#1 - His heart is on the table, her independence is on the line, and winner
takes forever.
#1 - When betting on love, never wager more than you can afford to lose.
#2 - Who needs the earl next door, when you can be teacher’s pet?
#2 - His lessons in seduction become her lessons in love.
#3 - His pursuit. Her pleasure. Tally ho!!
#3 - When in pursuit of a lady’s pleasure, take care her pleasure doesn’t
catch you!
Nicole Jordan on 17 Jul 2007 at 10:35 pm #
Another good one from Kasey!
And MizMac and doglady, too!
This one is really cute! Who needs the earl next door, when you can be teacher’s pet? This would be great for a contemp romance.
I’m so pleased you like my books enough to restrict loaning them out, DL. That is high praise indeed.
Now I’ve gotta try to sort through all these excellent entries. Sheesh.
Thanks soooo much for all your great particpation, fellow goddesses! I’ll get back to you Wed with my faves. My editor will take a little longer, but I’ll send the list to him tomorrow, so hopefully we’ll know by early next week.
NicoleJ
pri.r. on 18 Jul 2007 at 6:44 am #
*sigh* i envy you excellent by-line writers. and sadly though i got this whole thing started with my rather lame attempts and as more and more of your wonderful and inticing entries come in i see the finish line further and further away,i’m like that kid in those athletic races at schools who finishes last and doesn’t win a medal but get’s like the ‘pity prize’, whether it be a lollypop or a pathetic scrap of paper commending me for my excellent “participation” skills :P.
Nicole Jordan on 18 Jul 2007 at 10:37 am #
Thank you for all your great ideas, goddesses! I have a list of 28 excellent tag lines to submit to my editor. It was so very hard to choose my favorites since everyone who participated had one or more entries that I loved.
But I wound up with 6 winners based on the following criteria:
a) I could see that tag line on the cover of my books
b) I wish I had been clever enough to think of it, or
c) It was just too good to pass up without singling it out
Everyone on my submissions list gets an honorable mention! And the 6 winners get a choice of a signed book from my in-print back list.
I’ll post the list below, along with info on how the winners can collect their prizes.
Thank you! You goddesses really are the best!
Nicole Jordan on 18 Jul 2007 at 10:38 am #
Here are the tag lines I’m going to submit to my editor for consideration. These are all excellent, and he may have different favorites than I do. But I’ve starred my favorites and highlighted them in bold italics. I’ll put the prize info in another post.
pri.r.
2- But can this duke tutor her in the ways of love?
Maureen
1- Can two stubborn hearts both win at this game?
3- She leads him on a chase but he leads her to love and passion.
Elora
1- Is it worth winning a wager when she already lost her heart?
***Kasey
3- To get the bride he seeks, he must find her and win her heart
3- She could run but she couldn’t hide from love.
***Darla
1- Love is a wager he’s not willing to lose.
1- A wager to woo…will it end in I Do?
***EllenElyse
1- In this high stakes wager of love, can he claim the ultimate prize? or…
1- He may be her guardian, but can he master her heart?
***ladydawgfan
3- She led him on a merry chase. Can he lead her down the aisle?
2- His lessons in love prove that you CAN teach a cold Duke new tricks!
***twolilhahas
2- [Sometimes] hearts have minds all their own.
2- He set out to teach an innocent the language of love, never dreaming he had to most to learn, and to lose.
3- She thought a pleasure house was the safest place to hide from love and learns that being wrong is sometimes very right!
foreverdelayed
2- She is learning the art of seduction, but will her heart lead her into the arms of her teacher?
3- Will his love be enough to tame her?
Pam P
1- Who will win this game of hearts?
***Keri Ford
3- No rules apply in a wager for love.
3- It’s a dangerous wager when hearts are at stake.
Triste
2- She wanted to learn the art of seduction…instead he will teach her the art of love.
Dot C
3- Love will come for her, no matter where she hides…
SuzyQ
1- Two stubborn hearts battle in the game of love
2- He thought he could teach her seduction but she gave him a lesson in love.
3- She is determined to guard her heart . . . he is determined to win it.
MizMacgyver
1- They make a wager but when Love enters the game all bets are off.
doglady
2- Who needs the earl next door, when you can be teacher’s pet?
2- His lessons in seduction become her lessons in love.
Nicole Jordan on 18 Jul 2007 at 10:43 am #
So the winners of the MY FAVORITE TAG LINES are Kasy, Darla, EllenEllyse, Ladydawgfan, twolilhahas, and Keri Ford. My editor my have others, and I hope to have his decisions back by early next week. Meanwhile, to collect your prize:
-Go to http://www.nicolejordanauthor.com
-Click on the NOVELS button, so you can figure out which book from my in-print backlist you want me to send you. (Clicking on the covers will show you a long blub about each book.)
-Click on the E-MAIL NICOLE button so you can send me an e-mail. (hope you don’t mind but I hate to publish my e-mail addy on public bulletin board since the spam harvesters will snap it up.)
-Send me your snail mail addy and your choice of book.
- I’ll send you an e-mail confirming your choice.
- If you haven’t heard back from me in a couple of days, it’s possible your spam filters ate my reply, so give me a yell under this blog and I’ll e-mail you again.
Congratulations to all the winners! For all the honorable mentions, check back here in a week to see what my editor decided. And thanks so very much for all the terrific participation!
NicoleJ
Julia London on 18 Jul 2007 at 11:38 am #
These are all fabulous! I don’t know how you chose, Nicole — they’re all great.
Congrats you guys! I’m going to have a contest next: Write the first 400 pages of my book!
twolilhahas on 18 Jul 2007 at 11:50 am #
I’m so excited! This is simply the neatest thing ever. Thanks for letting us participate.
Sabrina Jeffries on 18 Jul 2007 at 12:49 pm #
Wow, what wonderful tag lines! Y’all can write mine anytime!!!
Darla on 18 Jul 2007 at 12:58 pm #
Great contest Julia…sounds like loads of fun! LOL
Thanks Nicole, its been great fun! Have a great day all!
EllenElyse on 18 Jul 2007 at 1:21 pm #
THANK YOU!!! How very exciting to think that my favorite author actually likes something that I wrote! What fun!
Thank you Nicole! I can’t wait to choose one!! 
I think I’m only lacking 4 or 5 of them! 
ladydawgfan on 18 Jul 2007 at 1:28 pm #
Ooooh, THANK YOU, Nicole!!!!
:) 
*Jumping up and down in my chair* Lemme check my list to see which of your backlist books I have yet to purchase.
Sabrina, just let us know when you need our help. That’s what we’re here for, ya know!!
Triste on 18 Jul 2007 at 2:33 pm #
*Does the happy dance* woohoo..i’m an honorable mention
SuzyQ on 18 Jul 2007 at 2:45 pm #
Thanks, Nicole! I’m just going to add my smiley face to all the others
Congrats to everyone!!!
Pam P on 18 Jul 2007 at 2:51 pm #
LOL, Julia! Sabrina, glad to help you out any time, this was fun.
Congrats winners!
Kasey on 18 Jul 2007 at 4:17 pm #
Thanks Nicole! It was so much fun! I can’t wait to choose a book. I’m going to go figure out which ones I need/want!
MizMacgyver on 19 Jul 2007 at 6:33 am #
How cool! And to think I had changed number 1 3 times before I posted it.
doglady on 19 Jul 2007 at 9:36 pm #
How cool is this?? Two of mine made the honorable mention list!! Thanks, Nicole, this was fun! I am trying to finish my first novel, and I never realized how hard it is to come up with those blurbs! Hats off to the people that do it for a living! Congrats to the six winners. You guys should be doing this professionally. Great stuff!
pri.r. on 20 Jul 2007 at 2:22 am #
OOOOOHHH honorable mention!!!! thank you sooo much nichole, i’m 16 and i find that a huge achievement…all 5 words that i wrote
but i srsly second doglady’s notion *nods*
Nicole Jordan on 20 Jul 2007 at 8:50 am #
Pri, that’s amazing that you wrote your excellent entry at your age! I’m even more impressed.
And doglady, this IS hard, isn’t it? Try writing your own back cover copy or fixing the sad copy your pub’s copy writers give you! My first experience was when my dh was in the hospital after surgery for a badly broken femur. I had to come up with something good when my mind was sooo not on being romantic and sensual. But I’ve had to do it a lot since then, so luckily for me it gets easier with practice. And I’ve gotten in the habbit of writing my synopses with a little flair, so the copy department can take ideas straight from there without having to read the entire ms.
You obviously have a knack for writing tags, so that bodes well for your writing. It’s a lot easier to write a 400+ page ms if you have a theme/premise you’re working from.
As for the winners, I’ve heard from everyone but Ellen, so if you’ve already written me, Ellen, your e-mail got eaten! Would you please try again?
Again, thanks bunches to all the particpants!
Nicole
Karen Hawkins on 20 Jul 2007 at 9:03 am #
Wow! Those are AWESOME! Wtg, ladies!
EllenElyse on 20 Jul 2007 at 12:10 pm #
Hi Nicole! I did finally decide, and sent you an email last night… I’ll re-send it immediately!
THANK YOU!!
Nicole Jordan on 26 Jul 2007 at 4:38 pm #
And the winner is… Darla!! Her tag line was the one my editor chose for the cover of Book 1, because it was better than the tags either I or the copy department came up with.
TO PLEASURE A LADY
“Love is a wager he’s unwilling to lose.”
For Books 2 and 3, we settled on the following tag lines:
TO BED A BEAUTY
“He gave her lessons in pleasure… but learned about love.”
TO SEDUCE A BRIDE
“Love is a game he’s uwilling to lose.”
So congratulations to Darla! When the trilogy comes out early next year, I’ll be sending her signed copies of all three books. And thanks so much for the great efforts of all the rest of you goddesses.
You’re the best!
NicoleJ
Darla on 26 Jul 2007 at 7:20 pm #
OH WOW, that is soooo COOL! ~*~*~*Happy Dance*~*~*~ I feel very honored…Thank you so much! BIG GRIN!!!
Kasey on 27 Jul 2007 at 10:39 am #
Congratulations Darla!
SuzyQ on 27 Jul 2007 at 2:56 pm #
Way to go Darla!!!