Shannon Stacey is a frequent visitor to the pond and the author of romantic suspense, western historicals, and paranormal erotic romance. Given the diversity of her published work, it shouldn’t be too big of a surprise that Shannon is a big fan of the Silhouette Special Editions. Read on on to find out why Shannon loves SSE. Plus, she’s willing to spread the love (hint, hint)…Take it away, Shannon!
What is that special something that makes Silhouette Special Edition stand out from the other series offerings from Harlequin/Silhouette? The answer can be found right in eHarlequin.com’s series description: A woman in her world—living and loving the magic of creating a family and developing romantic relationships.
Special Editions feature real, practical women already juggling life and family when love comes knocking at the door. While the hero of an SSE definitely lives up to the title of romantic hero, the story is carried by the strength and character of the heroine. She has neither the time nor the patience in her world for grand gestures and she’s not looking for a white knight to sweep her off her feet. She’s looking for a partner to share her life with—a man worth coming home to at night.
That’s not to say Special Editions aren’t romantic fantasies at heart. Within the SSE line a reader will find all of the delicious hooks that have been making readers sigh with contentment for decades—babies (secret or otherwise), cowboys, weddings, billionaires and more. As of right now, the two top-selling SSEs on amazon.com are Susan Mallery’s The Sheik and the Pregnant Bride and The Sheik and the Christmas Bride. The heroes range from the sweet guy next door to the cold and ambitious billionaire, but an SSE man is grounded in a reality that allows him to make a life with a woman who isn’t any man’s doormat. When a reader reaches the end of a Special Edition, she can believe the couple will truly live happily ever after.
If somebody were to twist my arm, hold a match to my TBR pile, and tell me I could only read one series line for the rest of my life, I would have to choose Special Edition. To me, they are romance novels in purest form—straight contemporary stories of a man and a woman trying to balance, as the series tagline says, life, love and family. Sometimes they’re funny, sometimes they’re heartbreaking, but SSEs are always intensely emotional. Mostly I find them real—real women, real men, and real life, with that dash of romantic fantasy that gets us through the day. We know these women. You might even be that woman.
So tell us what you love about Special Editions! And if you haven’t read a Silhouette Special Edition, I hope the Spotlight will shine on one or two that entice you enough to give them a try. Once you do, I hope you love them as much as I do.
Contest Alert!! To help spread the love, at the end of this Spotlight, I’ll randomly draw two names from the comments (of all the SSE Spotlight posts combined) and send each winner the April ’08 Silhouette Special Edition (print) release of his or her choice.
Thanks, Shannon!
I have read quite a few SSE, but right now the one closest to the top of the TBR mountain is Karen Templeton’s Baby, I’m yours.
I confess that usually the shorter length in categories tends to worry me, but well written books always manage to make me forget about page count. And there’s something soothing about reading a story that could happen anywhere around me. Next door, across the street, with people who juggle the same responsibilities I do, and struggle to make the best possible decisions in their lives.
There’s something about sinking into an SSE that’s so comfortable. It’s like a warm blanket, a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night, and favorite friends in your neighborhood. Warmth and romance and a guaranteed HEA. I love these stories.
::favorite friends in your neighborhood::
LOL, Jaci — SSEs as the Applebee’s of romance!
Which is fine by me, I love Applebee’s.
KT – Applebees of romance. Love it! Would make a nice quote on a book cover. 😉
I thought the reason they were called special edition was because of the authors. I didn’t realize that they were focusing on the heroine in the story. I haven’t read one for a while but I have enjoyed them in the past.
Jaci–That’s exactly how I feel. It’s not a guilty pleasure exactly, but a comfort treat. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese. Yummy and satisfying.
It sounds like an interesting line. Surprised I haven’t looked at it before. Looks like I need to check out some books. 🙂
I have read quite a few of the SSE books because I can read one in a couple of hours and I don’t have to read alot of description and filler that alot of books have in them. I have added Shannon Stacey as an author to read on my Author’s list.
I haven’t read one in a while, especially since I discovered e-books, but I do love them. I recently discovered you can get them in e-book too! They are a fun escape and a nice comfortable warm and fuzzy.
😀
Valerie
I just finished Karen Templeton’s Yours, Mine…or Ours? There is something about reading SSE. Do love the feelings from reading them.
I grew up on Silhoutte – Special Editions, Desires, Intimitate Moments. I stared reading romance when I was in my teens I’m a couple years away from 40 now. When I read one now I have a feeling of coming home, comfort, security and that no matter how bad things are everything will work in the end with a HEA.
It’s been a while since I read an SSE. Any recommendations?
I haven’t read any SSE books, but they do seem like an interesting read.
I have read a lot of SSE, unfortunately I always discover new authors where most of the backlist is out of print.
I have been reading SSE for years. I love them. They are great heartwarming reads.
Me too, Greta. My mom used to buy them at the UBS by the armload. Then I would take them and read them. Another line she used to buy a lot was Temptation (Harl or Sil?). Desire has changed so much. BJ James, Lass Small, Laura Leone…good times.
I read alot of SSE and have loved all of them. You can always count on the SSE books to be good reads. My mom is also a fan but I was the one who turned her onto them. Before I did she thought of them as what she calls non serious romance but she has really changed her tune. We both buy them and share them with each other now. I have only one word left to describe the SSE books: fabulous!
Caitlin
Oh good point, Shannon – I love how the women in these books are normal – and real. You could find someone just like the heroine within your group of acquaintances. It’s also nice, though, to see some fantastic things happen to her, and the HEA.
I have recently started picking up SSE. I don’t tend to read Category but Jessica Bird put out a few that are a spin off of her Moorehouse series and I had to read them.
I love Susan’s books. I didn’t know she wrote for the SSE line.