Historical Romance Book Club discussion

This challenge is meant to help you climb your TBR Mountain and get those books finally read.



This will be a quarterly challenge, with a new theme each quarter. Our first theme will be NEW TO YOU AUTHORS.

HOW IT WORKS:
1) The first poster will post 5 book titles that they pick from their TBR shelf.

2) The next poster will choose 2 books from the first poster's titles and choose 5 book titles off their own TBR. The first poster will then choose to read at least 1 of the 2 books chosen.

3) The third poster will choose 2 from the second posters list .... and so on.

4) Each participant will have the entire quarter to read their book(s), post their rating and review. And tell us what you think of your book in this thread.

5) You are not limited to 1 time. You can return to select and post more options as often as it suits you.

Okay, here are five books on my TBR list by authors I have never read.

1) Lily: Desparate Measures by Danielle Gray

2) Heart of Eden by Caroline Fyffe

3) Ian's Rose by Suzan Tisdale

4) A Chance at Love by Beverly Jenkins

5) Beloved Beulah: Strong Heart: Open Spirit by Danni Roan

Mariana,

My picks for you are:

1) Lily: Desparate Measures by Danielle Gray; and

4) A Chance at Love by Beverly Jenkins

My Five (Some Of them are very long. I intend to spend the quarter reading the long ones if they’re selected):

1) Velvet Chains by Constance O'Banyon

2) Adora by Bertrice Small

3) Island Flame by Karen Robards

4) This Other Eden by MarilynHarris

5) Caribee by Christopher Nicole

For Andrea I pick Island Flame and Caribee enjoy!

New to Me Authors
1. The Parfit Knight Stella Riley (#1 Rockliffe )
2. Duke of Depravity Scarlett Scott (#1 Sins and Scoundrels)
3. An Earl by Any Other Name Lauren Smith (#1 Sins and Scandal)
4. The Spy Who Seduced Her Christi Caldwell (#1 The Brethren)
5. A Soupçon of Poison (#0.5 Kat Holloway Mysteries) (I have read her PNR, but not her historicals)

Loriidae I'll pick The Spy Who Seduced Her and The Parfit Knight.

Here are books by authors I've never read before:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Tanya, I pick Always a Scoundrel and The Wicked Wyckerly for you.

Here are 'New to me' authors from my TBR:

1.Violet

2. MacFarland's Lass

3. Intentions of the Earl

4. Georgiana Darcy's Diary: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Continued

5. Tender is the Knight

Hi Darbella,

I pick Heart of Eden and Ruined by Rumor for you. Hope you find a good one from your recent adds!

Here’s my list:

1. Beau Crusoe

2. When Harry Met Molly

3. Innocent in the Sheikh's Harem

4. In for a Penny

5. To Steal a Heart

Joanna, I pick Beau Crusoe and To Steal a Heart for you.

Here are 5 from my list:

The Duke's Holiday by Maggie Fenton

Claiming Her by Kris Kennedy

Beautiful Bad Man by Ellen O'Connell

The Wind Dancer by Iris Johansen

Lord Ruin by Carolyn Jewel

This sounds great! Glad I caught it....Cath, I pick the O'Connel & Kennedy for you.

Bliss by Judith Ivory
Fortune Favors the Wicked by Theresa Romain
Let Me Be The One by Jo Goodman
Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins
The Lotus Palace by Jeannie Lin

Marian, do you want to pick Sam's books since you posted first and didn't get to pick? Otherwise, I am happy to.

Sorry for the delayed response.

Sam, I pick Fortune Favors the Wicked and/or Forbidden.

I finished my Q1 book. It was only a novella. I rated it 3 stars. Here are my thoughts.

Mariana's Reviews >
Lily: Desparate Measures (Four Seasons Sisters #1)
by Danielle Gray

Author new to me

I think the main negative for me is the length of the book. Since it is a novella that seems to be tackling a full-length story, I could not get enough character development or background to fully engage with the story.

Lily is the daughter of a family who used to be wealthy Plantation slave owners. After the South lost the Civil War, all of their Plantation was split and sold for very small amounts. Apparently none of the slaves would stay to be paid servants. Maybe I don't know Civil War history that well, but I thought most plantation owners managed to retain at least a portion and hire people to work it. This setup would lead me to believe they were extraordinarily cruel Masters. The brief glimpses into her parents' behavior would make them seem the opposite. The lack of going through exactly how that happened did not set up the story well for me.

I did appreciate that the story actually included some of the correspondence between Lily and Abner. Very few mail order bride books focus on months worth of communication prior face-to-face meeting.

Something that I found odd and didn't feel historically accurate to me (even though I am certainly not a historian) is that the hero paid to bring Lily and her sister as a chaperone to meet him. Then he paid all their living expenses for a minimum of three months so they could court in person. In everything I have ever read before, the hero paid for a bride. No round trip ticket.

Another drawback to the length of the novella is the inability to tell anything after the marriage other than a couple of sexually explicit erotic scenes. I guess I just wanted more than correspondence courtship and sex scenes, which is about all I got with this one.

I would read more by the author if it were available for free. I would even read book 2 if it were cheaper. However, it seems to cost $2.99 for only 37 Pages. That's too expensive per page for me.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Mariana wrote: "Sorry for the delayed response.

Sam, I pick Fortune Favors the Wicked and/or Forbidden."

Thanks!

Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Sorry for the delayed response.

Sam, I pick Fortune Favors the Wicked and/or Forbidden."

Thanks!"

Hope you enjoy whichever one you choose. Look forward to reading your review afterward.

Wow! Mariana and Darbella, you finished the q1 challenge in just one week.

I finished reading my q1 book, Tender is the Knight. It was an average read, to me. The kindle version I own seems to be poorly edited. It has grammatical errors, missing or wrong prepositions and pronouns, which pulled me out of the story. The MCs are likable but the story dragged in the second half of the book. There are more descriptive passages than conversation. I am not inclined to try her other books anytime soon.

It is certainly a gamble to purchase a book by an author you have never read before. That is one reason why I am enjoying the quarter one mountain climbing Challenge. Fortunately, I picked up my book for free. Thus far it doesn't seem any book recommends itself to purchase at regular price.

Darbella wrote: "Priya, Thanks for the heads up about Tender is the Knight being an average read. I have not read any of that authors books so was very interested in hearing how it went since I selected that for yo..."

You finished all five! Super!

Thanks to Bond street thread and bookbub, most of my kindle books by new-to-me authors are free or bought at a sale price. I am reading these books for this and the Rata challenge.

★★★✰✰
My first Christi Caldwell. I discovered afterwards my first Christie Caldwell was the beginning of a series that was actually set in the same world as several other series and a lot of things from the previous series were alluded to and while they were explained briefly, it felt glossed over. I think I will start at the beginning of the first series and give this author another try but I was concerned about the repetition for example the phrase "with a babe in her belly" was repeated eleven times by several different characters, there were a lot of other repetitions. Also, I was not a fan of the internal monologue style of writing. I did like that the hero was 45 and the heroine 43.

Loriidae wrote: " ★★★✰✰
My first Christi Caldwell. I discovered afterwards my first Christie Colt Caldwell was the beginning of a series that was actually set in the same..."

The one I tried by Caldwell was a first in series but same thing. It was set in the same world as other books and it was too confusing that I decided to quit reading. I thought I might try her first book also nut not very motivated to do so.

Loriidae wrote: " ★★★✰✰
My first Christi Caldwell. I discovered afterwards my first Christie Caldwell was the beginning of a series that was actually set in the same worl..."

Christi Caldwell is well known for repeating certain phrases multiple times in a book. That, and slightly rushed endings are my biggest complaints about her books. My favorite of her books is still For Love of the Duke

I have read one Christi Caldwell book. It was not memorable, but I would give her another shot.

Had to bail onForbidden

Narrative style drive me nuts. Lack of editing too.

Am i too late to join? The Shutdown put a damper on my reading a bit.😕

Debby "Piene Raven" wrote: "Am i too late to join? The Shutdown put a damper on my reading a bit.😕"

Nope! Go ahead and post your five, Debby!

I am getting ready to start on mine, but I know others have finished. Anyone ready for a second round?

Excellent plan. My next five:

For --- I pick --- and ----

New to Me Authors
1. Wed to a Spy Sharon Cullen (#1 All the Queen's spies)
2. Duke of Depravity Scarlett Scott (#1 Sins and Scoundrels)
3. An Earl by Any Other Name Lauren Smith (#1 Sins and Scandal)
4. The Smuggler Wore Silk Alyssa Alexander (#1 Spy in the ton)
5. A Soupçon of Poison (#0.5 Kat Holloway Mysteries) (I have read her PNR, but not her historicals)

Debbie picks and for me.

Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "Had to bail onForbidden

Narrative style drive me nuts. Lack of editing too."

Oh no! I have this on my TBR list and was hoping you would love it.

1, Rosalind (#1 Four Sisters Series - Audrey Harrison)

2. When to Engage an Earl (Sally MacKenzie)

3. What a Gentleman Wants (#1 Reece Family Trilogy - Caroline Linden)

4. A Noble Masquerade (#1 Hawthorne House - Kristi Ann Hunter)

5. The Bad Luck Bride (#1 The Cavensham Heireses - Janna MacGregor)

Loriidae, I'm going to pick 2 from yours.

Duke of Depravity and An Earl by Any Other Name

Thanks Debby. Looking forward to both.

Debby "Piene Raven" wrote: "1, Rosalind (#1 Four Sisters Series - Audrey Harrison)

2. When to Engage an Earl (Sally Ma..."

Debby, I choose for you:

What a Gentleman Wants (whose surprised I would pick that?)

A Noble Masquerade

My next five:

1. Boundless

2. When Harry Met Molly

3. Innocent in the Sheikh's Harem

4. In for a Penny

5. The Earl and The Enchantress

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Debby "Piene Raven" wrote: "1, Rosalind (#1 Four Sisters Series - Audrey Harrison)

2. When to Engage..."</i>

Ugh! [book:What a Gentleman Wants is one of my top top TOP reads of last year! God I loved that book.

Tanya wrote: "Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Debby "Piene Raven" wrote: "1, Rosalind (#1 Four Sisters Series - Audrey Harrison)

2. [bookcover:When to Engage an Earl|3..."

Looking forward to reading 😊

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Debby "Piene Raven" wrote: "1, Rosalind (#1 Four Sisters Series - Audrey Harrison)

Thanks Joanna. This is one of my goals for this year. First time authors.

Joanna picked Caroline Linden .... nah didn't see that one coming ... lol

Joanna, if no one has chosen your next two books, then I choose for you: Boundless and The Earl and The Enchantress.


I best get in on this before the new quarter/theme begins.

New-to-me authors


1. The Duke's Cinderella Bride by Carole Mortimer

2. Lady Folbroke's Delicious Deception by Christine Merrill

3. Frederica in Fashion by Marion Chesney

4. The Bride Wore Blue by Cheryl Bolen

5. How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling.

A Noble Masquerade----3.5 Stars
The story was a historical mystery/suspense romance with bit of Christian faith. It was a fun and enjoyable read, however not much "heat" between H/h because the Christian theme came late in the story which explained why. The narrator was British and she did a good job.

On to What a Gentleman Wants...looking forward to heated H/h as the last three novels I just finished were all Christian-based romances. 😁😁😁

Debby "Piene Raven" wrote: " A Noble Masquerade----3.5 Stars
The story was a historical mystery/suspense romance with bit of Christian faith. It was a fun and enjoyable r..."

I very much enjoyed both of these books.

I finished the first round, my first Theresa Romain Fortune Favors the Wicked, which I really enjoyed and would rate about 3.4 stars. Since my DNF was Beverly Jenkins, I might try one of the others from my list too... If I get around to it 🙂

Lorii - do you want to pick for Missy? It doesn’t look like we have any other takers for round 2 for now.

Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "I finished the first round, my first Theresa Romain Fortune Favors the Wicked, which I really enjoyed and would rate about 3.4 stars. Since my DNF was Beverly Jenkins, I might try o..."

Bummer on the DNF, but glad you liked the Romain. It was the first one I had tried by her too but haven’t liked any others in the series.

Debby "Piene Raven" wrote: " A Noble Masquerade----3.5 Stars
The story was a historical mystery/suspense romance with bit of Christian faith. It was a fun and enjoyable r..."

Glad you enjoyed the first one! And I think you’ll find the heat you’re looking for in the Linden one. :)

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "I finished the first round, my first Theresa Romain Fortune Favors the Wicked, which I really enjoyed and would rate about 3.4 stars. Since my DNF was Beverl..."

I'm seeing the same thing and have hesitated to add additional books to my TBR.

Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "I finished the first round, my first Theresa Romain Fortune Favors the Wicked, which I really enjoyed and would rate about 3.4 s..."

I have It Takes Two to Tangle on my TBR. I think she must be an author that I would like to check out her back list but am going to stay away from the latest releases.

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Lorii - do you want to pick for Missy? It doesn’t look like we have any other takers for round 2 for now."

I am delighted to. :)

For Missy:

I used to read a lot of harlequin / mills and boon when I was younger and I always liked Carole Mortimer's contemporaries and on the other side I like Marion Chesney's cosy mysteries as MC Beaton so I have chosen:
and enjoy.

Thank you, Loriidae.

I completed The Duke's Cinderella Bride just a few days ago. It was a 1 star rating for me, because the heroine was too argumentative. The dialogue sounded too modern for me, which I didn't enjoy.

I will begin Frederica in Fashion sometime this week.

Today was our third day in a row of 38 degrees C (almost 100 F) very unusual weather for us. I stayed inside in the air conditioning and alternately played with my current artwork and read. I read the second of Tanya's picks in a single day. I haven't done that for a very long time.

The Parfit Knight Stella Riley

I adored this book. An older HR set in the Georgian period, the writing style was reminiscent of Georgette Heyer, a delightful twisting tale of misunderstandings without an excess of angst. The fact that it is a clean romance in no way diminished the attraction / interactions between the hero and heroine. I also found after some research that parfit is a very old French variant of perfect. This was a keeper for me. 5 stars