BOTM August 16 to 31 - ??? (Regency)

[Kat, Baroness (in her own right)]

You must be wondering about the "???" Let me explain...

Because we have three tied up books that is supposed to be our second BOTM for August and we don't want to hassle anyone to vote again, so decided we'll let you choose one of the three runner ups to read...

A Lady Awakened
In Cecilia Grant’s emotionally rich and deeply passionate Regency romance debut, a deal with a rumored rogue turns a proper young woman into . . . A Lady Awakened.

Newly widowed and desperate to protect her estate and beloved servants from her malevolent brother-in-law, Martha Russell conceives a daring plan. Or rather, a daring plan to conceive. After all, if she has an heir on the way, her future will be secured. Forsaking all she knows of propriety, Martha approaches her neighbor, a London exile with a wicked reputation, and offers a strictly business proposition: a month of illicit interludes . . . for a fee.

Theophilus Mirkwood ought to be insulted. Should be appalled. But how can he resist this siren in widow’s weeds, whose offer is simply too outrageously tempting to decline? Determined she’ll get her money’s worth, Theo endeavors to awaken this shamefully neglected beauty to the pleasures of the flesh—only to find her dead set against taking any enjoyment in the scandalous bargain. Surely she can’t resist him forever. But could a lady’s sweet surrender open their hearts to the most unexpected arrival of all . . . love?

* * * *

To Love a Thief
Ensnared!
Lily Masters has a gift for picking pockets and telling stories—skills that come in handy for surviving London's slums. She's proud of providing for herself and her lively young sister, Alice, and she's never been caught. Well, there's always a first time.

Enticed!
Gideon Cole is a brilliant barrister with an unfortunate weakness for clients who can't pay. His latest charitable misstep: buying the freedom of a daring, beautiful thief. To repay the debt, Lily agrees to his proposition: pose as the object of his desire and help him snare a wealthy bride. All he has to do is transform the impudent Lily into a diamond of the first water.

Enthralled!
But the education of Lily could cost Gideon his carefully planned future. While she plays cards with his invalid uncle, and Alice charms the servants, the honorable Gideon is harboring less than honorable thoughts. For sweet, stubborn, and sensual Lily has a way of slipping past a gentleman's defenses—especially when she's stealing his heart.

* * * *

The Wild Child
Dominic agrees to take his twin brother's place at Warfield Manor, where he is to pay court to Lady Meriel Grahame, the orphaned heiress that brother Kyle intends to marry. Dominic tries to resist the intoxicating beauty out of a sense of duty. But what if her untamed spirit proves more powerful than Dominic can resist?

And if you want a "mini challenge", read all three during this period! :)

Please remember to use the spoiler tags when necessary! (please see "some html is ok" for instructions)

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

I'll definitely be reading this one as its been on my TBR for ages. and I'd like to read the Julie Anne Long if I have time.

[Daniella]

I read A Lady Awakened already, and I didn't like it. Like I said in my review, the writing was just weird. :(

But I leave the choice to you guys. :D

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

To love a thief eBook was the least expensive, so I'm going with that.

Edit.

Also I've been wanting to Try JAL. The good thing about this book is that it doesn't seem to be a part of a series.

[Kat, Baroness (in her own right)]

I'll try to read all three. Not sure about the Putney book yet, so I'll just see when I've finished the two other books.

[Leslie]

Kat Desi wrote: "I'll try to read all three. Not sure about the Putney book yet, so I'll just see when I've finished the two other books."

I was thinking the same thing. The other two sound good but not sure about this one. I am going to finish another book first, so I guess I will start with whichever has the most members reading it.

[Debbie]

I started with since the library had it available. I agree with Daniella that the writing is a bit different. Some of the banter between the two seems contrived, but interesting enough to keep going. about 35% right now. Hoping to get the other two books in also.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

I will get to this next week. Curious now to read it.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

I thought "To Love a thief" was the next BOTM selection. Am I wrong?

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

There are three choices Andrea. The Cecilia Grant, The Julie Anne Long and one other..

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

What was the poll for then? I thought were were voting on one title to read.

[Kat, Baroness (in her own right)]

These three books ended up in ties during the poll. We didn't want to hassle anyone by asking them to vote again so we thought that we could let you all choose.

[Kat, Baroness (in her own right)]

Also, when discussing a particular book, let us know in your comment which book you're reading and not to forget to use the spoiler tags! :)

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Oh, thanks for clearing that up.

[Kat, Baroness (in her own right)]

We hope to avoid this in future polls, though. When Suzie and I saw the results we didn't know what to do! Haha!

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Now that I know the reason, a three-way tie is a little amusing. Ha

[Kat, Baroness (in her own right)]

I know. I was staring at it like, o_o again? seriously? Because we had a tie last month too but just two books.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Maybe if there is another tie and you don't want to run an additional poll just make the executive decision that the author whose surname is first alphabetically wins. Just a suggestion.

[Kat, Baroness (in her own right)]

Hey, what a great idea! I'll run this over with Suzie and see what she thinks. Thank you so much!

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

And just to be fair if you have a tie in subsequent months you could change it to the surname of the author who is alphabetically last.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

I started this last night and read the first four chapters.

This is my first Cecilia Grant and so far, so good. Really liking her writing style and the premise of the story.

(view spoiler)[ It's a bit different, the heroine Martha just wants to fall pregnant to secure her future and protect her late husband's estate. She picks the hero just for convenience and even though they've been intimate twice she isn't immediately falling for his considerable charms. In fact, her thoughts on the male equipment are quite amusing. I think it will be an interesting journey as they fall in love and lust together. (hide spoiler)]

[Leslie]

I started to Love a Thief today. I am at Chapter 8. I am really liking it. My favorite quote ( and I didn't write it down so it isn't exact but it went something like) "We will return her to the wild after 30 days."

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Leslie, I'll be starting "To Love a Thief" tomorrow. I'm glad to learn that you enjoy it!

[Leslie]

at 51% and she is trying to choose a dress appropriate to go visit the pigs------I know wow-------------anyway she starts to wonder about starting a trend of having a dress for this and that and she wonders about a reading dress.

So what do you think a Regency reading dress should look like?

[Giaghazal]

To love a thief is the only Julie Anne Long novel that I haven't read yet. So I am reading this and then I will read the wild child.

[Giaghazal]

And then I will read the third one. They are all on my to read shelf, so I better get crazy.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Anyone else reading?

I'm up to Chapter 10 now.

(view spoiler)[ It really is a slow unwinding of the romance. So far Martha still isn't feeling Theo's charms. Attraction is all tied up with her feeling that the man is "worthy" and is quite unusual for a historical romance. But I think she is softening towards him and he is trying to become a better person. (hide spoiler)]

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Leslie wrote: "at 51% and she is trying to choose a dress appropriate to go visit the pigs------I know wow-------------anyway she starts to wonder about starting a trend of having a dress for this and that and sh..."

I always imagine Regency dresses like the ones depicted on various productions of Pride and Prejudice. Are they called Empire Line the ones that fall straight from under the bodice and often the fabric is decorated with flowers or lacey inserts?

[Kat, Baroness (in her own right)]

Finished To Love a Thief. I liked it but I'm torn with how I feel about Gideon. I kinda like him but I also kinda don't.

After I finish this book I'm currently reading, I'll move onto A Lady Awakened

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Georgie wrote: "Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Anyone else reading?

I'm up to Chapter 10 now.

[spoilers removed]"

I just finished this book this weekend and immediately had to..."

Oh I won't give up Georgie. I'm one of those sad people who once they start a book always finish, no matter what. And I do like iit's differences. Just having a slight break because I have to finish another pending challenge book but I'll be back in a couple of days.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

I started reading this again last night and ended up finishing it. The second half was so much better than the first.

(view spoiler)[ I agree with Georgie, Martha was not a character a reader immediately warmed to although she did have a lot of good traits such as intelligence, loyalty and compassion. Cecilia Grant did a good job depicting how Martha as a woman of this time had to supress her real feelings, thoughts and emotions and this carried over in her relationships with people. Theo was initially depicted as someone who appeared quite shallow, this was definitely a story where two people who were quite opposite in temperament brought out the best in each other.

This is a novel which grows on you the more you think about it. I'm going to give it 4 ★ rounded down to 3.5 because it was a bit laboured to begin with. (hide spoiler)]

[Kat, Baroness (in her own right)]

About to start reading A Lady Awakened! :)

[Kat, Baroness (in her own right)]

I'm 40% in... whew, this book is a bit odd but so far so good. I'm very curious to see what happens next...

[Giaghazal]

Done with ' to love a thief', now half way through 'the wild child'.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Kat Desi wrote: "I'm 40% in... whew, this book is a bit odd but so far so good. I'm very curious to see what happens next..."

It all comes together in the second half, Kat. But I agree it is quite different and perhaps if the author had paced it more evenly it would have been even more enjoyable.

[Debbie]

Finished A Lady Awakened and agree with others. I didn't really like the heroine at first but ended up happy for her in the end.

Almost finished with Wild Child - still not sure how I feel about it.

Definitely both have been good choices because they nudge me to read something a little different that I might not have chosen otherwise.

[Kat, Baroness (in her own right)]

I finished A Lady Awakened but I'm with Danielle on this one... Odd book... I'm glad you ladies liked it though! :)

[Kat, Baroness (in her own right)]

Yeah, Georgie. Unfortunately I ended up not liking it.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

I started Julie Anne Long's "To Live a Thief" today--the first I've read of her work.

I'm at 33% and I'm liking it.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Andrea, If you enjoy her writing style you have her wonderful series to look forward to.. Pennyroyal Green. The first book is

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Andrea, If you enjoy her writing style you have her wonderful series to look forward to.. Pennyroyal Green. The first book is "

I'm scheming to buy more of her books to try.

Allromanceebooks.com I think might have a 50% off sale around the holiday season. I plan to buy more titles.