Historical Romance Book Club discussion
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Almack's (General chat and socializing-all topics)
Hi Ladies!The President of Romance Writers of New Zealand (RWNZ) sent me a PM recently. They are looking for readers (NO Authors) to judge their books. I am going to post the links in the next comment. If any of you are interested, you can sign up through the links.
P.S. : We (moderators) checked the links provided and they looked legit. But if you find it to be otherwise, please let one of us know.
*Copied and Pasted from the PM sent to me*Hello, waving from NZ. I'm President of Romance Writers of NZ and we are looking for readers only (no authors) to judge our full book contests. I hope it's all right to approach your Goodreads Group or any readers you have on your blog.
We have two full book contests each year.
1. The Koru Award for published authors - help judge the best romance book
https://www.romancewriters.co.nz/judg...
2. The Pacific Hearts for the unpublished authors who are looking for final feedback before submission.
https://www.romancewriters.co.nz/judg...
If you think your Goodreads Historical Romance Club would be interested in helping pick our top romance book of the year and also help emerging authors you could direct them to our sign up forms on our website.
All books are distributed as watermarked PDF's and you can convert and send to your eReader.
Cheers
Bronwen Evans
President of RWNZ
Disclaimer: Historical Romance Book Club or the group moderators are not associated with this contest or RWNZ. We are not responsible to any issues related to the contest, sign up or any future correspondence regarding this.
Ally wrote: "So how many books do you guys think you read per month? I'm probably close to 10 on some months. Right now, I feel like I've slowed down a bit despite the fact that I'm reading some awesome books."Between 8-15 depending on real life. I tend to read more at the beginning of the year and slow down as the months go by.
Lauren,I too read more earlier in the year.
I start slowing down around September.
Hi. I want to grrrr at a group of people who may understand my frustration. I recently discovered that Catherine Coulter put out a book called the Devil's Triangle this year. Devil's Embrace and Devil's Daughter are some of my favorite HRs. Devil's Daughter had everything young me wanted in a romance - a witty heroine, a domineering dude who thinks, far-off places, etc. I'm not sure that my current self would fall in love with them (I now like my dudes to be into consent) but once I thought they were the best. The idea she'd turn the Devil books into a trilogy was grand. And Coulter? Returning to HR? Yes! I rushed to buy it.
...it's like the 15th book in her FBI series. It has nothing to do with her HR stuff. The reviews are rough. I am having an emotional reaction completely out of proportion to the problem. I feel like I just dropped an ice cream cone on a hot summer's day.
That’s very disappointing Christina.I wonder why CCoulter didn’t write an HR so that it’s a true trilogy.
Mod
I recently discovered that Catherine Coulter put out a book called the Devil's Triangle this year. Devil's Embrace and ..."
That is frustrating! When I searched for the books you mentioned, it appears they are releasing a duology bundle of the HRs. I bet you were not the only one that thought that!
Christina wrote: "Hi. I want to grrrr at a group of people who may understand my frustration. I recently discovered that Catherine Coulter put out a book called the Devil's Triangle this year. Devil's Embrace and ..."
That is very frustrating, Christina.
I gave up on Coulter's FBI books after #3 - they were simply too idiotic for words.
I love Catherine Coulter's Historical Romances. I gave up on FBI series some years ago, and I will not listen to her British FBI series because I can't stand the male narrator.I wish she’d write some new HR’s.
Is there anyone here who subscribes to Kindle Unlimited?
Mod
I signed up for the trial. I don't think I will keep it though.
Hey guys,Not sure where to put this so I thought I would just post it here in the general chat.
Do any of you have blogs/instragrams/tumblers whatever you follow that post about HR books?
If so which ones are your favs?
Ally wrote: "Guilty Pleasure Reads wrote: "Hey guys,Not sure where to put this so I thought I would just post it here in the general chat.
Do any of you have blogs/instragrams/tumblers whatever you follow that..."
I currently follow
https://www.picgrum.com/user/the_love...
https://www.picgrum.com/user/abookish...
https://www.picgrum.com/user/forthero...
on instragram. You can find me under @guiltypleasurereads too.
I'm searching for more instagram pages and blogs all the time so will keep you guys updated.
Yes Guilty Pleasure Reads that IS a great question. I'm looking forward to the answers.I'm a regular reader of Maryse's Blog. http://www.maryse.net
It's mostly CR and PNR but HR gets a look-in too. Lovely bunch of regular contributors, and no haters. Feel free to join in and add your HR booky comments.
Jan130 wrote: "Yes Guilty Pleasure Reads that IS a great question. I'm looking forward to the answers.I'm a regular reader of Maryse's Blog. http://www.maryse.net
It's mostly CR and PNR but HR gets a look-in t..."
Thank you I will Join.
Maybe we should make a new thread for this in general discussion. and ask questions like
Which format do you prefer to follow authors, bloggers and what not.
Twitter, instagram, pinterest, blogs
(Author hat on). I’m seeing y’all talk about how hard it is to find a new, good, HR. I hear you, loudly. What criteria do you use to pick your next read?I’ve always been a fan of “other people have bought” on amazon to direct my reading, but being on the other side has made me doubt that metric. (I write Gregorian London HR with a bit of sex and a dark plot. My other people have bought list is filled with sweet HR, Highlander magic romance, and romance set in the Thomas Kincaid universe.) I hear you about using reviews to guide you, but except for my one non-friend goodreads review, mine are so generic! Is there anything I, as an author, can do that will tell you if this book is your speed? While any traders are good, I want to market to those who will most love my book.
Thank you for your thoughts.
K
Jdjsjsh
(Sorry for the trash at the bottom of my post. The new good reads app for the iPhone is rough, to say the least.)
Mod
How many of you keep a reading log/journal? What kind of journals do you keep? I jotted down a few lines about the books I read in a small book, last year. This year, I am thinking of reading logs. But I am not sure how or what kind of logs are good.
Priya wrote: "How many of you keep a reading log/journal? What kind of journals do you keep?"Since I almost exclusively read ebooks, I annotate them on whatever electronic device I'm using at the moment. Mostly highlights, but occasionally comments. Since I became a regular on goodreads, some of the comments have been "3-4 stars not sure" and stuff like that.
Sometimes I yell at the characters and it's huge fun.
Sha wrote: "Priya wrote: "How many of you keep a reading log/journal? What kind of journals do you keep?"Since I almost exclusively read ebooks, I annotate them on whatever electronic device I'm using at the..."
Yelling at the characters sounds fun:)
Ally wrote: "Priya wrote: "How many of you keep a reading log/journal? What kind of journals do you keep? I jotted down a few lines about the books I read in a small book, last year. This year, I am thinking ..."
I too am a list maker. I make lists on my mobile in Note ( app)
Anyone interested in signing up as a reader judge?First Coast Romance Writers conduct an annual contest, National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. Anyone can sign-up as a reader judge for this contest. They send the books in your preferred format and Subgenre. All the reader have to do is read the book completely and enter their responses/feedback in the score sheet.
Link for sign up
Disclaimer: Historical Romance Book Club or its moderators are not associated with this contest. This is not a promotion. We posted it here to let our romance loving ladies know of this contest:)
Hey there!I have a question: are any of you reluctant to start Julie Ann Long’s “Penny Royal Green” series?
Either Last year, or the year before that, I finally read one of her books ( the name escapes me, but I think it was stand-alone) and I really, really enjoyed it. I’m pretty sure that I gave it 5-stars andcthe review itself I’m actually proud of (I’m generally kind of a bad review writer.)
I have so many “open” series in HR and in that “other” romance genre I read from, that I’m really reluctant to “open a pandora’s box” of getting “entangled” in an 11-12 book series.
Anyone else afraid to start that series?
I read the 5th book in Pennyroyal Green series, when it was our group read and continued on to read books1,2&3. But all these four books were 2/3 star reads for me and I had other books on my tbr at that time. So, I discontinued reading rest of the series and now I am 'reluctant' to re-start it. I might finish it some time later, though.
Priya wrote: "I read the 5th book in Pennyroyal Green series, when it was our group read and continued on to read books1,2&3. But all these four books were 2/3 star reads for me and I had other books on my tbr a..."Priya,
Do the books really “stand-alone” then?
Mod
Book 1 was a big part of my beginning an HR obsession. I do think the romance is not as strong as the later ones. Books 2&3 are the two weakest in the series in my opinion. You don’t have to read in order, but the end game from the beginning is the last book.
I get being intimidated by a long series. I don’t like the idea of starting from scratch with a series that gets in the double digits.
I'm reading JAL for the first time at the moment. Enjoying her CR series but liked What I Did For a Duke as well. It worked fine as a stand alone. I'm going to try some of the others in the P G series too. I may end up reading the whole series if I like the next couple I read.
Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Priya wrote: "I read the 5th book in Pennyroyal Green series, when it was our group read and continued on to read books1,2&3. But all these four books were 2/3 star reads for me and I had other boo..."Yes. They can be read as 'stand-alone'. But I guess to read the last book, we need to read atleast a few earlier books. That one is the missing/absconding heir's story.
I loved Pennyroyal Green. The first couple of books are kind of a set up for the entire series and once you get into the middle books they are five star. Especially
and
. After she completed the series she now is writing a contemporary series which I haven't started. I'd love her to write another historical romance series one day.
Hi Ladies! I am being snowed in right now. We are expecting a foot or more today. At least those of us in the U.S (Midwest) are. I really do love these kind of days. A perfect excuse to read all day! :)So I ask, what kind of weather do you enjoy when reading? Rainy days, snowy days, sunny days on the beach, any day is a great day, or something else?
Geri wrote: "Hi Ladies! I am being snowed in right now. We are expecting a foot or more today. At least those of us in the U.S (Midwest) are. I really do love these kind of days. A perfect excuse to read all da..."Any weekday is a great day because my kids would be at school and I get to read for an hour or two. Peacefully.
Geri wrote: "Hi Ladies! I am being snowed in right now. We are expecting a foot or more today. At least those of us in the U.S (Midwest) are. I really do love these kind of days. A perfect excuse to read all da..."Hi Geri...I like the snowy and rainy days the most. Have no where to go and makes for cuddling up with a good book and a nice drink.
Geri wrote: "Hi Ladies! I am being snowed in right now. We are expecting a foot or more today. At least those of us in the U.S (Midwest) are. I really do love these kind of days. A perfect excuse to read all da..."Any day is a great day but I prefer rainy days.
Mod
I’m Blanche Raven.Blanche is so old-fashioned and I don’t like “Raven” for a name!
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I came across one on tumblr, it was simply your grandmothers name and the last desert you ate. At the time I was Rose Croissant.
My name would be Carmen Wexcomb, which is terrible! My grandmother’s name and dessert would be a disaster too! Marie Honeybun. LOL
I know a game for finding your porn star name. It was your pet’s name and the name of the street you lived on as a child. Mine would be Joey Drackert. Not sure these name games work!
Lorien wrote: "I came across one on tumblr, it was simply your grandmothers maiden name and the last desert you ate. At the time I was Rose Croissant."
I'm either Fanny Rumcake or Helen Rumcake!
Hahaha. Violet Stickydate Pudding. I think NOT!!
And the other one: Wolgang McLochlan. Hahaha. Thanks for giving me a morning laugh, ladies.
Theodosia Cherish...wayyyyy toooo yuck :-)
Historical Romance Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Fires of Winter (other topics)Fires of Winter (other topics)
Isaiah & Isolde: A Pennyroyal Green Prequel (other topics)
My Lady Jane (other topics)
My Lady Jane (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Julie Garwood (other topics)Jennifer Ashley (other topics)
Johanna Lindsey (other topics)
Joanna Bourne (other topics)
Julie Anne Long (other topics)
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Then there's also Conor's Way which takes place in Louisiana after the Civil War. The hero is Irish and has some pretty severe PTSD after barely surviving the Potato Famine, and he comes across the heroine's plantation, which she's running by herself with the help(?) of her three daughters.
Juliana Gray's Affairs by Moonlight series takes place in Italy in, I believe, the late Victorian period. The first book, A Lady Never Lies, features the hero and the heroine perfecting a prototype of an automobile and racing it.
There's The Outsider by Penelope Williamson, which takes place in an Amish-like community in Montana (this isn't Christian/Inspirational). I didn't personally like the book, but there's a film adaptation that I did enjoy quite a bit.
Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas takes place almost entirely in India, and the heroine is a doctor.