Where to start to describe an experience like RARE?
RARE Paris was once again not just a signing but it was an experience unlike any other book event I've been to up to now. Since my first RARE 2017 in Berlin, I've been to London and Rome in 2018 (and didn't even write about it ...) and it's always been amazing. I've met so many wonderful people, amazing authors, found new books and made plenty of great memories.
RARE means getting to know people while waiting in line, RARE means talking books, loving books, making friends, RARE means people holding your place in the line, carrying your heavy suitcase with your books with them to hold your place, RARE means laughter and fun and getting to
know people, authors and other places.
RARE also means that I've been to London last year in February and in Rome in June - and I loved every minute of it! And -last but not least- it means that last weekend, I spent in Paris.
Thirty years ago, I spent a couple of months in Paris, studying at the Sorbonne and having fun. This year I got the chance not only to revisit Paris but to get to know many young and modern French romance authors at RARE. I loved to check out their books and brush up on my French along the way. But first, my husband and I explored Paris again.
Sure, some things stay the same but I must damit that I was a bit shocked by the number of security guards and soldiers with machine guns keeping watch at all the main points in order to prevent terror attacks and attacks by the yellow vests among others. The Eiffel tower is secured by a high fence and you have to pass a security checkpoint to get there. It was ...different..but well, things change, right.
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| The Abbey Bookshop |
Though - some things never change and I had to check out some book shops. ;) Apart from the obvious ones like Gibert jeune and
Boulinier, I had to visit
Shakespeare and Company in the
Rue de la Bûcherie in the Latin Quarter (actually, just around the corner was also my former appartement). Unfortunately I was not allowed to take photos there but if you are looking for books in English, this is definitely one of the places to go! It is an amazing, old building and it is well worth a visit!
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| The Abbey Bookshop |
The other bookshop that I had to check out, was the
Abbey Bookshop in the
Rue de la Parcheminerie not far from Shakespeare and Company. That one was also ....an experience. Very small, high piles of books, rows and rows of shelves and books. And some more books. And.... well, books. I must admit though that I didn't buy any books in those shops but some at Bouliniers and Gibert jeune. Especially as the French books are very expensive, I was very happy when I found some books written by authors who attended RARE that weekend at a discount.
And then Saturday finally arrived and it was time to get ready for RARE!
I had brought some books and as my daughter had to cancel last minute I brought some of her books as well and ...let's just say that it was good that my suitcase had wheels....
It was still a lot to carry and wheel around but, yup, it's books so...who cares. ;)
At 10 am I arrived at the hotel where RARE was supposed to take place, to stand in line for the General Admission at 11.45 am. I was not the first one to arrive but I was lucky because my husband could drive me there. The metro/underground near the hotel was closed that day and several others had problems to get there.
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| Lara Adrian |
As usual I loved the atmosphere, people waiting, having fun, talking even when waiting there outside or a bit later in the hotel till we were allowed to enter. In the end we were allowed to enter a bit earlier than planned and well, I was so overwhelmed when I realized that I was really that far at the head of the line that the ticketed authors weren't ticketed yet that I missed my chance and stood there open-mouthed, not being able to decide where to go first and whose signature to get that ...well, when I started to think again, I quickly got in line for Lara Adrian. Up to now I've read one or two of her paranormal books and some of her historical romances, which were among the first ebooks that I've read. The next book on my list is one of her contemporary romances, Run to You.
First though, I had to get my copy of her Kiss of Midnight signed, the first book in the Midnight Breed Series, a paranormal romance series with lots of hot (and not so hot but rogue and villainous) vampires (all of them of the non-sparkling kind though *sorry, not sorry*).
Waiting in Lara Adrian's line, I popped over to Jennifer Armentrout's line in order to get a ticket for her line. It took a while but some other Rarettes in the line just held my place in Lara Adrian's line for me while pushing my (HEAVY) suitcase along. That's also RARE - and I love it! (A big "Thank you" again to you, girls!)
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| Kristen Proby |
Unfortunately I didn't always take photos but I remembered to take a photo at Kristen Proby's table. So far I've only read Easy Love, the first book in her Boudreaux series but I really loved it and will definitely read more of her books!
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| Rebecca Zanetti |
From her line, I went over to Rebecca Zanetti's table where I wanted to get my copy of Justice Ascending signed.
Justice Ascending is the third book in her Scorpius Syndrome Series. I read the first book in this series a couple of week ago and went straight back to get more of those books because I just had to know what happened next and... well. At her table I also got the first book in her Deep Ops Series, a very promising sounding romantic suspense novel.
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| Ruth Cardello |
After picking up some tickets for the lines of the other authors, I started to get my signature book(s, plural as I brought my daughter's as well) signed.
The first author was one that I've met before - Ruth Cardello whose books I also really enjoy. Her contemporary romance books are highly enjoyable, well written and I've liked all that I've read up to now. Ruth Cardello is always absolutely nice and I enjoyed meeting her again.
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| Devney Perry |
Next up was Devney Perry, whose books I first read in January, then I binge-read her Jamison Valley Series , and started on her other series. The next book in her duet, Mayen Jar Series will be out in June and I can't wait, even though at the beginning I wasn't sure whether I'd like it because it sounded far too sad. It was sad - in some parts but it was also sweet and funny and I loved it. I got my copy of The Coppersmith Farmhouse signed as well and I might have bought another book at her table as well *guiltyascharged*.
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| Mariana Zapata |
Of course, I couldn't miss meeting Mariana Zapata again - and I had to get my beautiful copy of the wonderful Luna and the Lie, another amazing book that I read as soon as it ot out. I've read all of Mariana's books by now and loved almost all of them. My favorites, apart from Luna, are The Wall of Winnipeg and Me and Under Locke, I think.
Oh, and don't get me started on those audiobooks, they are absolutely great! I love them!
As usual there was a rather long line at Mariana's table as well but when you talk books, the time passes rather quickly, right?
There's always someone to talk to when you are standing in line at RARE because we all share the love for books and we all love to talk about them.
Next on my list of who I had to meet, was Amy Plum. I brought two of my books by her to get them signed. One was the German edition of Die for me ( Von der Nacht verzaubert - translated by Ulrike Brauns) with its amazing and absolutely beautiful cover and the other one was the first part of a duet After the End.
As that one ends on a cliffhanger, you should make sure that you get the second book of the duet, Until the Beginning, as well, otherwise ...well, you remember those pins and needles and the need to throw something that some people experience when a book ends on a cliffhanger? Right. Better go and get them both. I was lucky and got it at Amy's table so I left with three books instead of two.
I really enjoyed meeting her! We both agreed that the German edition of Die for Me has the most beautiful cover! Honestly, I like the English covers but the German cover is simply beautiful, isn't it? I think it's gorgeous!
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While I'm writing this, I just learned that Notre Dame in Paris is burning. This is horrible! Apparently the middle tower has collapsed and the whole roof is in flames. Thirty years ago when I studied in Paris,this place looked just like it did last weekend when I was there. Now, nothing will ever be the same. 850 years are going up in flames. A beautiful church with all its history, destroyed, it's unbelievable...at least now they say that the structure could be saved.
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| Amanda Bouchet |
Back to RARE though... As you can see, there were quite a few people around but it was fun nontheless. Due to the tickets for some of the authors, you didn't have to stand in line all the time to get there. You just had to wait till your number was called and any time afterwards you could go there. I was a bit handicapped due to the load of books and the fact that I had brought the signing books for my daughter and for me, so I always needed some time to prepare my stuff but the actual lines were okay. Nothing too bad and ususally there were always some authors who didn't have such a long line where you could just pop in and talk. I love that because that's how I found many great authors at those events. You just browse a bit and talk and get inspired.
The next author on my list was Amanda Bouchet whose Kingmaker Chronicles have been sitting on my kindle forever now so I'll have to do something about that soon, especially as she herself was absolutely nice and great to chat with but I was told that they are absolutely great and now I'll have to read them ASAP !
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| Belinda Bornsmith |
One of the French authors was next, Belinda Bornsmith, whose first book in English, The Order of the Shadows, will be released some time this year. It's the translation of the first book of Le Chaos, the first book of her series La Confrérie des Ombres. I fell in love with the cover of Rainbow, one of her French books and brought that to Paris to get it signed. It's still on my TBR but that's just due to a certain lack of time and I can't wait to read it. I love to read in french but my French is a bit rusty and it takes more time (and energy ;) ) than reading in English or, obviously as it's my native language, in German.
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| Terri E. Laine |
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| Jennifer Armentrout |
And of course, I couldn't miss seeing Terri E. Laine, whose books I adore (even though she should sell them with a pack of handkerchiefs...) and whose wit and warmth make her one of the people I always look forward to meeting again.
After having met Jennifer Armentrout in Hamburg a while ago, I already knew that she was wonderfully kind and charming but at RARE I learned how dedicated to her work and her readers she is. Long after almost every other table was cleared and people packed up and left, there was still a long line of people and she was still signing huge piles of books. I was lucky to meet her around noon and despite the long lines and the number of people, she was so nice and welcoming, it was a real pleasure to meet her again.
Every now and then, I had to get out my folder with myspreadsheets and my floor plan to make sure that I don't miss any of the authors where I pre-ordered books or brought books with me to get them signed. Usually though, I looked it up - and forget about it the next moment because...well, there was always another author to meet, some books to browse or people to talk to. Oh, and this is (a part of) what my folder contained, because, you know, a real experienced Rarette spreadsheets the hell out of it when she starts preparing for her next RARE. You need lists of your books, spreadsheets to check whose books you've read and whose you still have left to read, a floor plan for some strategical planning and copies of each and every spreadsheet and floor plan and... It's hard work, trust me. 😉
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| Ilona Andrews |
Okay, I didn't meet every author and didn't get all of my books signed but as Ilona Andrews (which is actually the pen name of Ilona and Andrew Gordon, a husband-and-wife-team who are writing their books together) will be signing in London as well, I'll just take my books there.
I took this photo while I was standing in line for Suzanne Wright.
I had pre-ordered one of her books,
Echoes of Fire
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| Suzanne Wright |
and wanted to get that one signed. Though I must admit that I almost gave up because the line was so long, got my book and planned to get it signed the next time I see her but I was lucky. The next time I passed by her line after having met some other authors, her lovely (Scottish - loved your accent, ladies! 💓) assistents convinced me to get in line and wait there and that there was still enough time.
I got one of her books at my first RARE and I was hooked. I've read all of her werewolf books and I love them! And every RARE, I get one of her books signed. Somehow, I never even started to read her Vampire books but ...well, one day. They are already on my kindle, so it's just a question of time.
It was lovely to meet Suzanne again as well and I was a bit disappointed when I realized that she wouldn't be in London in September. Fortunately, there's still Edinburgh next year, where the last, the final RARE will take place.
I met several other authors, sometimes I even thought of taking a picture (unfortunately not always) and it was so great to meet all those authors whose books I read sometimes for the first time in preparation for RARE but were not only nice and fun and a pleasure to meet but write really really awesome books! I love to find new-to-me authors and RARE is fantastic if you want to find great books and amazing authors!
Alana Scott was one of them, though despite her name and the
titles of her books, she is another one of those French authors I wanted to check out in Paris.
Louisa Méonis is another one of them. I haven't read any of her books yet but the first one of her Lola books is on my kindle. She warned my though that due to her kind of humour and the jokes in her books, they might not be the best choice if I want to brush up my French because I might have problems to understand the jokes. I promised her to mail her when I have read her book and tell her about my experience.
Emma Green, another French author with an English pen name, was missing something when I wanted to take her photo - or rather....someone. 😃
The other half of Emma Green was missing!
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| Emma.... |
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| Oh, well - they are Emma Green 😃 |
Somebody had left all her things, including her mobile and her signature book at the table and we had tried to find her - and the second half of Emma Green was still looking for her.
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| Tamara Balliana |
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| Nathalie Charlier |
Other French authors were Tamara Balliana and Nathalie Charlier - and many others.
I was really happy to see so many modern French authors and I found many interesting looking books and wonderful authors, soooo... my resolutions are good - and the books are tempting. That should be a good motivation to brush up my rusty French! 😉
Wow, this is getting longer and longer and blogger is acting up, so I'll speed up a bit...
I won't be able to mention every author whose books I've read for RARE , to whom I've talked, whom I met and...so I'll just mention a few of them.
Teri Wilson got me with titles like Unleashing Mr Darcy
How could I resist a reference to Jane Austen?
Oh, and I've read The Art of Us by her as well, so it's not just Austen and Mr. Darcy!
Julia London was sitting next to her. I turned to her books because she writes historical romance as well and I found that I really liked those but that I loved her contemporary romance books! I brought one of her historical ones to Paris to get it signed though.
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| Kristen Ashley |
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| Lauren Rowe |
I bought my first books by Lauren Rowe at her table in Berlin. Up to then, I hadn't heard from her or from her books but I liked her and her books sounded good and, well, the rest and so on. 😉
This year I found several new authors, Kristen Ashley was one of them. Her book The Hookup was on sale and I tried that one. I read it, went back, pre-ordered the second book in this series that will be out at the end of April (FINALLY!) , then I bought The Gamble. Since then, several other books of hers have joined them and the number is still growing...
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| Scarlett Cole |
Scarlett Cole is one of those authors whose books I've read and reread and I love each and everyone of them!
Her romantic suspense series Love Over Duty
and Second Circle Tattoos are amazing but I also absolutely adore her Preload Series! No matter which one you pick as your first, you simply can't go wrong!
Skye Warren is another author whose books I hadn't read till RARE. I read and enjoyed Escort but haven't read any of her (many) other books yet.
Last but not least - Jennifer Probst, another one of those author with addictive books. I read The Marriage Bargain
and loved it. Then I found her Stay Series in KU and fell in love with Ethan and Mia in The Start of Something Good. Just a couple of days before we left for RARE, I had to order it in print because I needed to get it signed. It arrived just in time and I love it! Since then I've read the second book in the series and now I am waiting for the next...
RARE Paris was amazing! Now I am preparing for RARE London in September. I won't be able to go to Rome a week later but I will be in Edinburgh in June 2020! I can't wait!
Once again a huge "Thank You!" to everybody who made this event special and helped making many wonderful memories!
