Historical Romance Book Club discussion

For March 2020 we are reading HRs featuring Wallflowers.

Rules of Nominations :
Not more than 2 nominations per member.
No book we have read as a group read in the last 2 yrs. (Please check the group's Bookshelf)
No author we have read in the last one year.
*NEW* Nominations must be seconded to go in the poll.


Here are the lists to help you:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...


Nominations end on January 15.

Authors not eligible for March 2020 Group read

Teresa Medeiros - February 2020
Amanda Quick - February 2020
Sabrina Jeffries - January, 2020
Eloisa James - December, 2019
Kerrigan Byrne - November, 2019
Tessa Dare - October, 2019
Olivia Parker - September, 2019
Carolyn Jewel - August, 2019
Julia Quinn - July 2019
Lisa Kleypas - June 2019
Sarah MacLean - May 2019
Julia London - April 2019
Elizabeth Hoyt - March 2019

Nominations (bolded books have been seconded):


Wickeds Scandal by Kathleen Ayers (seconded)
The Bride Thief by Jacquie D'Alessandro
Highland Outlaw by Monica McCarty
After Innocence by Brenda Joyce (seconded)
Love and Other Scandals by Caroline Linden (seconded)
The Duchess War by Courtney Milan (seconded)
What a Wallflower Wants by Maya Rodale (seconded)
Thunder & Roses by Mary Jo Putney (seconded)
My Lady Thief by Emily May (seconded)
Winning Miss Wakefield by Vivienne Lorret (seconded)
The Rake and the Wallflower by Allison Lane
Guilty Pleasures by Laura Lee Guhrke (seconded)
Temptations of a Wallflower by Eva Leigh

My Noms for March. Two new authors

1. Wickeds Scandal by Kathleen Ayers

2. The Bride Thief by Jacquie D'Alessandro

My Nominations are

Highland Outlaw by Monica McCarty

After Innocence by Brenda Joyce

I second Wickeds Scandal

BTW are there any rules about the seconding of nominations? Such as a limitation on how many seconds we each are allowed to make?

Cath wrote: "I second Wickeds Scandal

BTW are there any rules about the seconding of nominations? Such as a limitation on how many seconds we each are allowed to make?"

No, you can second as many as you would be interested in reading.

I second After Innocence....its been on my TBR for awhile.

I second After Innocence also...Brenda Joyce is a new author for me.

Most of the obvious choices for this trope are ruled out because they're by popular authors we've already had in the last twelve months.

I'm not sure what to nominate. I've had a look at the lists, but not all of the books listed appear to be actual 'wallflower' books. Nothing is jumping out at me to nominate just yet.

I'm looking forward to seeing what does get nominated by others.

I nominate two of my faves by two of my favorite authors:

Love and Other Scandals by Caroline Linden

The Duchess War by Courtney Milan

OK, after a bit of browsing, I have decided to nominate What a Wallflower Wants by Maya Rodale. I have read one book by her (Duchess By Design, from another series) which I was a bit lukewarm about, but am prepared to give her another try.

BTW, this one's #3 in a series, but according to some reviewers, it's the best in the series and has some depth to the storyline.

Jan wrote: "OK, after a bit of browsing, I have decided to nominate What a Wallflower Wants by Maya Rodale. I have read one book by her (Duchess By Design, from another series) which I was a bi..."

I think my favorite of that series is the first one, but I like this one too. It's certainly different, particularly the story telling. The second book was not one I enjoyed.

I nominate Thunder & Roses by Mary Jo Putney.

Okay, Joanna, let me get this right. Seconding is not considered nominating and is hence unlimited? Is there any point in seconding books already seconded unless it is just to express your interest?

Wickeds Scandal is on Kindle Unlimited and I wouldn't mind trying out a new- to- me author, so I guess I'm seconding it too.

I'll nominate My Lady Thief by Emily May or Emily Larkin and Winning Miss Wakefield by Vivienne Lorret.

Jultri wrote: "Okay, Joanna, let me get this right. Seconding is not considered nominating and is hence unlimited? Is there any point in seconding books already seconded unless it is just to express your interest?"

There is no particular reason to second a book that has been seconded, but I am keeping track. It might be useful in future if we don’t like the way the second book is chosen or if we don’t like having a second book.

Also I second My Lady Thief. It is on my TBR.

Darbella wrote: "I need a little clarification on what wallflower trope is for this month. I have a selection the below selection in mind but not sure if it counts because it is more of a diamond in the rough kind ..."

Hi Darbella! I too was curious about what wallflower meant - b/c I thought it'd be fun to see if I could find an HR w/ a male wallflower (which after a very short google search I don't think seems to exist, or maybe they're called something else... so oh well...) - and it seemed to me that a wallflower is a shy or unpopular or awkward female that no one asks to dance! So I guess there could be some latitude in interpretation.

But, having read Something Wonderful a few years back, I think of the h as a tomboyish type, who was young and unsophisticated. She was spunky and didn't really strike me as shy IIRC, so I didn't think of her as a wallflower. Just my 2 cents! Someone else may have a different take...

I second Love and Other Scandals - didn't really like the only other Linden I've read, so I'd like to have another go at her - and also Thunder & Roses - I've heard good things about this one and I've had a copy on my shelf for a while now.

Cath wrote: "I second Love and Other Scandals - didn't really like the only other Linden I've read, so I'd like to have another go at her - and also Thunder & Roses - I've heard g..."

Thunder & Roses ...ditto on good things heard. Challenging self with newbies in 2020 although I like MJP. Liking line up of books to read😊

Darbella wrote: "Hmmmm, so far I am not digging the seconding thing going on. I foresee in the future the seconding turning into people unknowingly selecting the popular members choices and the wallflower members n..."

I kinda feel like everyone who nominates a book, or 2, should at least have 1 book that gets put on the poll, so if seconding is unrestricted, then that's my plan:)

I hate to think someone would feel left-out or "rejected" by not having at least 1 of their noms be seconded and make it to the poll, but after further reflection, I think it would be wrong of me to just go behind and second someone's book just to get them to the poll. I read all the thought & discussion that went into trying to figure out how to make the BOTM discussion more active. And I realize the point of seconding was to help winnow the field to books that people are more interested in and more motivated to vote for /read (thus, the seconding). I don't want to do something that is counter-productive to what mods are trying to do.

Cath wrote: "Darbella wrote: "Hmmmm, so far I am not digging the seconding thing going on. I foresee in the future the seconding turning into people unknowingly selecting the popular members choices and the wal..."

If we don’t like it, we can change. This is not set in stone. I think the main thing is that we’d like to have a few less books in the poll. I doubt we’ll have a situation where seconding causes folks to be left out. Just second the books that you would be interested in reading.

Also, I am wondering if people are feeling like wallflowers. Is this a concern based on observation and just future concerns? Is there something we can do to make members feel more included?

I was a bit unsure about what a 'wallflower' book is too. Some of the books I looked at on the lists seemed to be more about spinsters or lonely single women rather than what I would actually consider to be a 'wallflower'. I agree that Something Wonderful isn't really (to me) a wallflower book. I decided to play it safe and chose to nom a book with wallflower in the title. LOL.

I agree with Cath and Joanna. The main point here is to allow the books that more people would like to read, to go to the final polls. Being a readers group, I believe our members always prioritise a book and not the member who nominated it. We any way have buddy reads if members would like to read their favourite books together.

I accidentally deleted someone's post(Jan?). I don't know whose post it is, but I think they seconded 'winning Miss Wakefield'.
I am sorry for deleting it. Can you please post your comment again?

It was Jan seconding Winning Miss Wakefield. I was just reading the post on my phone which I opened but didn’t read a few hours ago. I tried to go back to it but it has disappeared. 😊

Jultri wrote: "It was Jan seconding Winning Miss Wakefield. I was just reading the post on my phone which I opened but didn’t read a few hours ago. I tried to go back to it but it has disappeared. 😊"
Thank you Jultri.

Joanna, please consider Winning Miss Wakefield seconded by Jan. I accidentally deleted her post.

I second Love and Other Scandals.

Darbella wrote: "I need a little clarification on what wallflower trope is for this month. I have a selection the below selection in mind but not sure if it counts because it is more of a diamond in the rough kind ..."

I agree with Cath's interpretation of a wallflower. I feel that it is someone who is less popular and neglected by the opposite gender during social gatherings. Could be due to appearance, reputation, family background etc. So a spinster who lives in isolation (forced or otherwise) or someone who elects not to enter the marriage market or has their social debut delayed is by my understanding not a wallflower.

I'd like to second The Duchess War.

Also, just to clarify - we can second any number of books and additionally nominate two right?

Darbella wrote: "My nomination is The Rake and the WallflowerAllison Lane I have not read it, but there is Wallflower in the title. Not many bird watching heroines so I thought that w..."

Thank you for explaining it, Darbella. Please feel free to voice your opinions anytime. Discussions like these help us to understand members' interests better and allow us to keep updating the group activities. As Joanna said, nothing is set in stone. We could always change things.

Tanya wrote: "I'd like to second The Duchess War.

Also, just to clarify - we can second any number of books and additionally nominate two right?"

Yes! You get to nominate two and second as many other member's nominations as you like.

Thanks Priya! Wallflowers are my ultimate favorite tropes so I have an entire shelf for this.

I'd like to second The Duchess War (Because awesome) and Winning Miss Wakefield (On my TBR forever)

Here are my two nominations:

1. Guilty Pleasures
2. Temptations of a Wallflower

Ha ha ha. Never mind that my comment was accidentally deleted - accidents happen LOL. Yes, I wanted to second Winning Miss Wakefield cos I haven't read this author, and the book has lots of great reviews. Tanya obviously is keen to read it too :)

Lots of discussion and nominations. Wallflower are going to be popular!

Priya wrote: "Darbella wrote: "My nomination is The Rake and the WallflowerAllison Lane I have not read it, but there is Wallflower in the title. Not many bird watching heroines so..."

Yes, thanks Darbella! We appreciate the feedback and will keep these concerns in mind.

I'd like to second What a Wallflower Wants.

To follow up on some previous notes about this new process. I know I’m a complete wallflower. I occasionally will drop a post in a group or like in our Romance Across The Ages but I’m not chatting back and forth constantly and often feel out of the loop so I just post/comment and move on.

I think the seconding can help with the goal of cutting down books for voting if some parameters were set.
Like you can either nom a book or second but you can’t do the both in the same month.
Or have 2 rounds of voting to limit the books as contenders for the BOTM. In my in person book club this is how we nom books and vote.

Hopefully February will be a learning month and the seconding or changes to voting will be ironed out in March. It’s a fun theme and I can’t wait to see what our book to read is.

I am totally confused , and will go with the flow LOL

Midniteillusion (Desiree) wrote: "To follow up on some previous notes about this new process. I know I’m a complete wallflower. I occasionally will drop a post in a group or like in our Romance Across The Ages but I’m not chatting ..."

Thank you Desiree for the feedback! There are definitely times the conversation moves quickly and it can be hard to follow. Your comments as they come (pop in/out) are always welcome!

I think these are good ideas, and I do think this will be a learning month.

Shaz wrote: "I am totally confused , and will go with the flow LOL"

Sorry it’s been a confusing change/discussion!

Darbella wrote: "Nevermind. Just going to go join Shaz and try to go with the flow. LOL"

:-) ... I am pretty certain there was more at one point but sounds like a plan for now

One more day second (or nominate)!

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Shaz wrote: "I am totally confused , and will go with the flow LOL"

Sorry it’s been a confusing change/discussion!"

LOL

I second Guilty Pleasures because LLG is almost always a pleasure to read and I wouldn't mind rereading this one again.

I'd like to nominate:



and

☘Katie☘ wrote: "I'd like to nominate:



and

"

Are these Wallflower themed? The descriptions don’t really sound like it.

Jultri wrote: "I second Guilty Pleasures because LLG is almost always a pleasure to read and I wouldn't mind rereading this one again."

I haven’t read this one so I am interested in it too.

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "☘Katie☘ wrote: "I'd like to nominate:



and

"

Are these Wallflower themed? The descriptions don’t really sound like it."

I had the same question, Joanna.