Secret Santa gift exchange! discussion

Say hello to your fellow participants and talk a little bit about what kind of books you like and what you might be interested in trying!

I was just thinking about this and was updating my to buy shelf!!! Now I need to transfer it to Elfster :)


I'm Teresa, btw and can be found in Alberta, Canada!

Teresa wrote: "I was just thinking about this and was updating my to buy shelf!!! Now I need to transfer it to Elfster :)


I'm Teresa, btw and can be found in Alberta, Canada!"

You're so fast! I'm just updating everything and I was going to send out invites later in the week!

I need to update my elfster wishlist as well.

Yay! I can't believe it's already that time of year again! Woot!

Hi 'ya. I'm April.
I read both mf & mm.
My preferred genres are science fiction, paranormal, fantasy, & dark romance-erotica.

Teresa wrote: "I was just thinking about this and was updating my to buy shelf!!! Now I need to transfer it to Elfster :)


I'm Teresa, btw and can be found in Alberta, Canada!"

I need to start planning my list too! ;)

Am4u ❀ ~ AprilMarie4u ~ ❀ wrote: "Yay! I can't believe it's already that time of year again! Woot!

Hi 'ya. I'm April.
I read both mf & mm.
My preferred genres are science fiction, paranormal, fantasy, & dark romance-erotica."

I'm just playing around, but I can't wait for it this year! I need it more than ever with everything crappy happening in the world!

I'm Sandra, and I'm super excited to be playing Secret Santa again this year!!!

I like M/M romances, fluffy ones and not so fluffy ones, in all forms except sci-fi/fantasy.

Can't wait to get started - we need some happy in this crappy year.

I should add I mostly read mm - sci-fi, paranormal, fantasy but also enjoy a good contemporary with sexy men.

I'm Lisa, I mostly read m/m. I like most subgenres with YA/NA and BDSM being my least favorites

I'm Ami, from Jakarta Indonesia ... I've been doing this since 2013 I think (wow time flies!). I love romance (both MM/MF), urban fantasy, paranormal ... as well as some good ol' mystery/suspense. Those are my favorite genres.

Yaaay! I'm so excited. I can't wait to make more friends. I'm Shari-amor. I love anything horror, urban fantasy, dark paranormal or dark fiction. ^_^

I'm Heather! I live about 14 miles outside of NYC (which takes about 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the time of day!).

I read M/M and M/F. I love romance, urban fantasy, and historical. I'm not a high fantasy or steampunk fan, and I really don't go for suspense in any way.

I've been running this exchange for FIVE years, and it just gets more and more fun!

I was wondering why I kept getting messages about updating Elfster lists :)

I think this is my fifth year with Heather and it just gets funner? I've tried other exchanges (this past summer exchange was fun because it was a lot of the usual suspects) and this one is just the bestest.

I'm a m/m lover with sub-genres of fantasy, contemporary, romance, humorous; don't read much na/ya, like mature men (although I just finished the Cyberlove series and Adulting 101).

Waving at new friends and old! (friends!)

Hi, my name is Sarah and I'm back for my third year (plus Christmas in July).

I read all romance - MF, MM, FF, and every combination. I read pretty much every subgenre, but my least favourites are dark and BDSM (they tend to feature sex scenes that lean too far toward rape or abusive heroes). There must be a HEA/HFN and no one I'm meant to feel sympathy for is allowed to rape anyone or verbally/emotionally/physically abuse a romantic partner (there's no coming back from that). I also read pretty much all other genres, as well - fantasy, sci-fi, history, crime, horror.

I live in Melbourne, Australia with my parents, two dogs and a cat.

Hi everyone Angela I live in California about 2 hours away from LA I read all types of erotica with mmf being my favorite. This year has went by so fast. I am looking forward to giving and receiving so good books.

Hi, I'm Isaiah. I am a big fan of YA, Romance, Fiction, Horror, and graphic novels. The darker the book, the more I tend to like it. Though I do have a soft spot for Fannie Flagg!

I live in Topeka, Kansas and work in the law world. I try to avoid books with crime or mystery as it either is super obvious or I get annoyed at how badly the whole situation is portrayed (or it just makes me feel like I am at work longer than I should be!). My grandmother is trying to convince me I need to read Danielle Steel, but I haven't branched into that yet as most of my romance is M/M or BDSM focused, accidentally (mostly).

Hello, my name is Christelle and I'm so glad to participate for the 2nd year : I had a blast last year and ended up not only with wonderful gifts but also some great new GR friends.
I only read MM romance nowadays, mostly contemporary.

As I'm from France, I still have to find a way to send gifts (the legal restrictions are quite a "huge" challenge, but I have not said my last word : this SS exchange is so much fun that I don't want to miss it. And thanks to Heather for organizing it, once again :-)

Shari-amor wrote: "Yaaay! I'm so excited. I can't wait to make more friends. I'm Shari-amor. I love anything horror, urban fantasy, dark paranormal or dark fiction. ^_^"

Hello Shari, my partner in crime from last year :-) Looking forward having some fun with you again !!

Hi, I'm Lisa and this is my third year joining the madness and fun! I can't wait. *blows kisses at all the lovely people!*

Great job with the picture for the group this season (I'm assuming that was you Heather? I love it!).

So I'm Trio and I read MM almost exclusively - the darker the better. My favorite genres are BDSM where there is an intense power exchange, some sci-fi and shifter stuff, oh and I love stories about polyamorous relationships.

Hi, and I'm looking forward to chatting with everyone xo!

Isaiah wrote: "Though I do have a soft spot for Fannie Flagg!..."

I didn't see Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe in our book compare. I loved the movie and the book and even have Ghost Train in my Spotify and Slacker playlists. And I even have FGT quotes liked.

“Face it girls. I'm older and I have more insurance.”

Welcome, early birds! I’m going to send out a big message to invite everyone else either tomorrow or early next week!

~ Lei ~ Reading Is An Adventure ~ wrote: "Isaiah wrote: "Though I do have a soft spot for Fannie Flagg!..."

I didn't see [book:Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe|937..."

I have read every book out by Fannie Flagg, weird that it didn't pop up. That movie has been one of my favorites since I was a freshman in high school. I have been guilty of yelling "Towanda" while doing crazy things even!

Hi! this is my first year participating so a big THANK YOU to Sarah for inviting me. Mystery/suspense was my preferred genre but I also get annoyed for the same reasons Isaiah mentioned so I usually take breaks. On my last break-up with mystery I discovered romance and haven't looked back.
I like them dark and twisty or sweet and fluffy but my very VERY favorite feature kilted men. (And for the record I've never even read the most famous of them all - Outlander). When I'm not reading HR it's usually Urban Fantasy and I love all things Ilona Andrews.

I'm excited to be involved : )

I literally looked at the calendar this morning and thought, "Ooo, Heather will set up the Goodreads secret santa email any day now!" I love it every year, thanks, Heather!

I'm Torey, a NYer living in Canada. I'm pretty basic in my book preferences- chick lit all the way, and historical fiction, but I'm always up for reading something new! Can't wait for this year :)

Torey wrote: "I literally looked at the calendar this morning and thought, "Ooo, Heather will set up the Goodreads secret santa email any day now!" I love it every year, thanks, Heather!

I'm Torey, a NYer livin..."

Yay!! :D

Hey! This is my first year doing this! It sounds fantastic!
I'm Vir, from Spain and I read Romance (MM and MF) and also sci-fi and thriller.
Excited to be doing this for the first time!

Vir wrote: "Hey! This is my first year doing this! It sounds fantastic!
I'm Vir, from Spain and I read Romance (MM and MF) and also sci-fi and thriller.
Excited to be doing this for the first time!"

It's so fun every year!

YAY!!! IT'S BACK!!!!! :-)

I'm Kendra from Connecticut, and I have loved doing the Secret Santa exchanges over the past few Decembers, so I decided to start one up for the Summer as well. If you want any info about the Christmas in July Exchange group, let me know. :-)

I am a mom of 3 awesome kids, two who play travel hockey and one who is learning to skate. I basically have no life from September to March that isn't in a rink. lol

I pretty much read only M/M romance. Those are my favorites!

Hooray for SS gift exchange! I'm Shee, and I'm in the U.K. *waves*

Vir wrote: "Hey! This is my first year doing this! It sounds fantastic!
I'm Vir, from Spain and I read Romance (MM and MF) and also sci-fi and thriller.
Excited to be doing this for the first time!"

YES !! So glad you're joining, Vir :-)
I will send you a PM this week-end !!

Kendra wrote: "YAY!!! IT'S BACK!!!!! :-)

I'm Kendra from Connecticut, and I have loved doing the Secret Santa exchanges over the past few Decembers, so I decided to start one up for the Summer as well. If you wa..."

I'm originally from CT, near UCONN. Hopefully you are close to Book Barn!

Lisazj1 wrote: "Hi, I'm Lisa and this is my third year joining the madness and fun! I can't wait. *blows kisses at all the lovely people!*"

I knew you will join again :-) So glad !!!

Casey wrote: "Hi! this is my first year participating so a big THANK YOU to Sarah for inviting me. Mystery/suspense was my preferred genre but I also get annoyed for the same reasons Isaiah mentioned so I usuall..."

Hey! So glad you decided to join. You are going to have so much fun!

Me! Me! Me! :D I wouldn't miss for for anything!... Well, maybe for a very long LOTR-like movie about Sam and Dean Winchesters, but possibilities are remote, so here I am again! :)

My name is Tamara aka M'rella and I live about 40 min west of Boston, MA (originally from Moscow, Russia).

My favorite genres are science fiction, fantasy, mystery-suspense and historicals (1900 and earlier). I started reading M/M exclusively in 2005. Before that - mostly bromance: Sherlock Holmes, Three Musketeers, Lord of the Rings, Till Eulenspiegel and the like.

I am a GR member since 2010. Not sure how many years I've been participating in this Gift Exchange. 4? 5? That's not mentioning this past summer event. I lost count!

Anyway, I am very happy to see all of you old friends and new people!

Heather, thank you bunches for getting us together again! ♥ :)

Hi everyone

Hi everyone. This is my first time. Thank you Heather for inviting me; this looks like fun.
I live in far away in the crazy land in the desert (can you guess?).
These days I mainly read MM fiction. If the book has a mystery I'm so in. Insta-love makes me cringe. But series make giddy with delight. If the MCs are older its even better; I get tired of confused college kids.

*waves* glad to be here :)

Isaiah wrote: "I'm originally from CT, near UCONN. Hopefully you are close to Book Barn! ..."


How fun! I went to UCONN for my undergrad. :-) Surprisingly, I have never been to the Book Barn. Someone I work with was just telling me about it this summer. I'm hoping to make it out there one of these days. I'm actually more in the central/western part of CT, but it's not like that's too far since CT is so small. haha

Hi! This will be my 2nd year with this exchange and I LOVED the first one.
I recently lost my husband (8 days ago) so I'm currently avoiding sappy romance novels but my true passion is dark erotica and anything involving and MC or over the top dominant alphas.
I am looking forward to new GR friends and lots of new books!

Hey Guys,
Thanks for the invite. This is my first online gift exchange and it doesn't it any better than being book focused. I read M/M with a light sprinkling of M/F. Oh yeah, I'm from Florida.

Ooh, it's _that_ time of the year again! I love this event. <3

I'm going to have one of the oddest wishlist for sure, so just pick anything from it and I'll love it. =D

I love fantasy and sci-fi but also true crime books and weird stories about chemistry, poisons and the latest fun, forensic pathology. So it will be very eclectic mix of stuff, but rest assured, I have put them there for a reason. x)

I am SO sorry for your loss, Dusti.

Hi all and thank you, Santa Heather, for the invite. Mary Calmes is my favorite author and I love shifters, supernatural, and paranormal. I'm a big Teen Wolf fangirl.

Sending you tons of hugs Dusti. <3

Sorry for your loss, Dusti.

Hi all, I'm so excited to participate in this wonderful event again this year! I love to read most any type of story except horror. Not a fan of Stephen King or most of those kinds of books. Give me a good old fashioned romance with an awesome HEA and I'm a happy girl. ;)

So sorry for your loss Dusti. Sending you all the hugs!

I'm here if you want to talk, Dusti!

Hello All! I am Camylle and I LOVE the color orange. I spending 90% of my free time reading and the other 10% sleeping lol.

I really love a lot of genres but space odysseys are my favorites. I like IR, MM, Romance, Humor, Graphic Novels (I call em comics) and pretty much anything with humor and snarky characters.

** Please note snarky DOES NOT mean annoying. **

Lost in a Book wrote: "Hey Guys,
Thanks for the invite. This is my first online gift exchange and it doesn't it any better than being book focused. I read M/M with a light sprinkling of M/F. Oh yeah, I'm from Florida."

Hey, I know you, LOL !! So glad you can join. It's my second year and I'm impatient to give it a go again !!