2017 Year Long Reading Challenge - Conquer Historical Romance

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Priya wrote: "I am at 40%(6 books). 9 more books to read in 9 months. I have books of 3 subgenres already on my kindle. I am going to read those and then decide on the other 6 subgenres."

Sounds as if you are in good shape with this challenge?

[Mariana]

Yes, it seems we all are.

I remember I lost steam in July last year, so I am trying to read as much as I can in the first half of the year.

[Priya]

Yes, we are making good progress. Hope the pace continues till the year end:)

[Priya]

I have my Time travel and Tudor books since January, but so far I put off reading. I will see if I can read those books in April.

[Mariana]

Yeah, I also need to read Time travel, Tudor, and Western.

[Priya]

Ally wrote: "OK, I grabbed an Elizabethan. Will start that one instead of the Tudor or Western."

Ally, which book is it?
I need some recommendations for Elizabethan.

[Mariana]

I need to read an Elizabethan too! I wouldn't think the time period would be so challenging!

[Priya]

I agree with combining Tudor and Elizabethan.

[Mariana]

Tudor period includes Elizabethan, right?

"The Tudor period is the period between 1485 and 1603 in England and Wales and includes the Elizabethan period which ends with the completion of the reign of Elizabeth I in 1603. "

I rely too much upon google!

[Mariana]

Ally wrote: "It should but for the purpose of this challenge, the two have been separated. Killer, right?"

Yeah, and somehow I have not read an Elizabethan or Tudor when I need to read two of each!

[Priya]

I found a book in my library today which I can read for Elizabethan. It is The Magnificent Rogue by Iris Johansen and set in 1587. Finally I decided on a book for this subgenre. So I am going to postpone reading Tudor and Time travel. Again:)

[Mariana]

Priya wrote: "I found a book in my library today which I can read for Elizabethan. It is The Magnificent Rogue by Iris Johansen and set in 1587. Finally I decided on a book for this subgenre. So I ..."

My library has a copy as well, and one of my friends gave it five stars! I think I'll pick it up this weekend.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

"Magnificent Rogue" DOES look good.

The two of you are lucky that your library has this.

My (dratted) library routinely throws away both books they consider old and well-used paperbacks.

[Priya]

Ally wrote: "Priya wrote: "I found a book in my library today which I can read for Elizabethan. It is The Magnificent Rogue by Iris Johansen and set in 1587. Finally I decided on a book for this s..."

Planning to start reading today. Will let you know for sure.

[Gio]

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: ""Magnificent Rogue" DOES look good.

The two of you are lucky that your library has this.

My (dratted) library routinely throws away both books they consider old and well-used paperbacks."

My head just exploded!!!

[Priya]

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: ""Magnificent Rogue" DOES look good.

The two of you are lucky that your library has this.

My (dratted) library routinely throws away both books they consider old and well-used paperbacks."

My library too throws away books, but they throw away least used books:)

[Gio]

Our library takes the old books and puts them in the Free Libraries around town.

[Priya]

Gio wrote: "Our library takes the old books and puts them in the Free Libraries around town.

"

Wow! That is a wonderful idea.

[Gio]

Priya wrote: "Gio wrote: "Our library takes the old books and puts them in the Free Libraries around town.

"

Wow! That is a wonderful idea."

I know right??? Every town should have these.

[Priya]

Mariana wrote: "Priya wrote: "I found a book in my library today which I can read for Elizabethan. It is The Magnificent Rogue by Iris Johansen and set in 1587. Finally I decided on a book for this s..."

Hi Mariana. Did you read The Magnificent Rogue?.

I finished it today. The book was slow paced and I felt the main characters had the same discussion over and over. Other than that, I liked this book.

[Gloria]

I'm reading all your four and five star recommendations. So not quite in the challenge but loving your reviews!

[Jennifer]

I just joined this group is it to late to sign up for this challenge?

[Priya]

Jennifer wrote: "I just joined this group is it to late to sign up for this challenge?"

Welcome to the group Jennifer!
It is never too late. You have 8 more months to go. Feel free to join. Post which level you chose and I will add your name in the participants list.

[Jennifer]

I'll go with level 1 for now. Can I level up later if I read more then expected.?

[Priya]

Jennifer wrote: "I'll go with level 1 for now. Can I level up later if I read more then expected.?"

Yes. You can level up anytime. You can post a comment with subgenres, so that you can edit the same post when ever you read a book for the challenge. Check out our posts in the first page to get a clear idea.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Jennifer wrote: "I just joined this group is it to late to sign up for this challenge?"

Howdy Jennifer!

I'm not doing this challenge this year but good luck with it!

[Mariana]

Priya wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Priya wrote: "I found a book in my library today which I can read for Elizabethan. It is The Magnificent Rogue by Iris Johansen and set in 1587. Finally I decided on a..."

The hold became available Sunday, and I picked it up. I have not started reading yet however. I will definitely finish within the three weeks before it is due back.

[Mariana]

Jennifer wrote: "I'll go with level 1 for now. Can I level up later if I read more then expected.?"

Welcome Jennifer!

I did that very thing. I initially signed up for level 1, but decided to move up to 2.

[Priya]

Mariana wrote: "Priya wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Priya wrote: "I found a book in my library today which I can read for Elizabethan. It is The Magnificent Rogue by Iris Johansen and set in 1587. Finally ..."

Oh good. Let us know what you think of it.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Which categories do you dread?

Last year when I did this, I dreaded time-travel. Then something in KU showed up in my amzn spam and I was surprised that I liked it.

I think I also dreaded the category of "western," but I found something good for that too.

[Mariana]

Priya wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Priya wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Priya wrote: "I found a book in my library today which I can read for Elizabethan. It is The Magnificent Rogue by Iris Johansen and set i..."

I am about halfway through. It is a slow read for me--only two chapters today. More thoughts at the end.

[Mariana]

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Which categories do you dread?

Last year when I did this, I dreaded time-travel. Then something in KU showed up in my amzn spam and I was surprised that I liked it.

I think I also dreaded the cat..."

Yes. Those are my two dreaded genres. Time travel and western. Last year I couldn't finish the time travel book, and the western was mediocre at best.

Last year I was concerned about Civil War but ended up discovering a new favorite. Always to Remember

[Priya]

The genres I dread most are Time Travel and Tudor. Thats why I am putting them off to the last:)

[Mariana]

Priya wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Priya wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Priya wrote: "I found a book in my library today which I can read for Elizabethan. It is The Magnificent Rogue by Iris Johansen and set i..."

I finished it. I do not plan to read more books by this author. The first 2/3 was a little melodramatic for me. So many depraved characters and yet I felt little emotional turmoil. I did enjoy some of the intrigue in the last part of the book.

[Priya]

Mariana wrote: " I finished it.."
Yes. I agree about the depraved characters. I am not going to read this author again. I am beginning to hate Tudor and Elizabethan books.

[Priya]

Ally wrote: "Priya wrote: "Mariana wrote: " I finished it.."
Yes. I agree about the depraved characters. I am not going to read this author again. I am beginning to hate Tudor and Elizabethan books."

Have you ..."

Haven't read Native American yet, but have a book on my kindle. Cheyenne Captive
Bought this one after your post in Bond street.

Yes. This challenge needs some serious editing for next year.

[Mariana]

Ally wrote: "Priya wrote: "Mariana wrote: " I finished it.."
Yes. I agree about the depraved characters. I am not going to read this author again. I am beginning to hate Tudor and Elizabethan books."

Have you ..."

Have you read any of the Comanche series by Catherine Anderson? I read and enjoyed them all.

[Mariana]

I need to pick the next book to read. What genre do you plan to conquer?

[Priya]

I have planned to read Time travel and Native American in June. This month I am reading 3 books for NERFA contest.

[Mariana]

Ally wrote: "Mariana wrote: "I need to pick the next book to read. What genre do you plan to conquer?"

I need to get going with my Elizabethan book. What about you?"

I read one Elizabethan and now need to find a second. I'm thinking I need to finish my BR or time travel. I started both weeks ago but just couldn't finish.

[Priya]

Ally wrote: "Priya wrote: "I have planned to read Time travel and Native American in June. This month I am reading 3 books for NERFA contest."

What is NERFA? And what books?"

National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards. I volunteered to be a reader judge.
I read Lana and the Laird and have to read Devices & Desires and Wilder Hearts- A Western Hearts Novel for the contest before 22nd May.

[Priya]

Tbr list challenge sounds good, but I don't think we should include tropes in year-long challenge. We pick tropes for our monthly group reads, so it might sound repetitive.
I think we can have the same sub genres, but let the participant choose any 12 for the challenge. That way we get to keep the original challenge and read our favourite sub genres. How does it sound?

[Priya]

I read Lisa Kleypas's Prince of Dreams and it happened to have a bit of Time travel. I didn't like the book though. So, for now I consider it as my TT book for the challenge, but if I have time at the end I would read another book.

[Mariana]

I am STILL trying to finish my second bodice ripper! It started as a buddy read but fell apart.

I plan to read my second Elizabethan and first Medieval next. My goal is to complete these three by the end of July.

[Mariana]

For 2018, I think we should add Edwardian. Maybe we could also add locations such as US, England, Scotland, France, continental Europe, and/or more recent HR time periods such as WWI, 1920s, Great Depression, WWII, or 1950s.

[Mariana]

Ally wrote: "Mariana wrote: "I am STILL trying to finish my second bodice ripper! It started as a buddy read but fell apart.

I plan to read my second Elizabethan and first Medieval next. My goal is to complete..."

The Black Lyon was easy as a bodice ripper compared to Stormfire!
The kindle edition was very generously shared with me; but if constant rape and torture is not your thing, I doubt you would want to try it.

[Mariana]

Ally wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Ally wrote: "Mariana wrote: "I am STILL trying to finish my second bodice ripper! It started as a buddy read but fell apart.

I plan to read my second Elizabethan and first Medieval..."
I would recommend the Pirate and Native American I read; but I have yet to read Viking. I didn't last year either.

[Priya]

Ally wrote: "I have Pirate, Native American, BR and Viking....."

Wow! You have only 4 books left to complete the challenge!

[Priya]

Ally wrote: "Ok, I managed a bodice ripper with The Wedding - some may argue it's BR worthiness and that is just fine with me. Enough people voted it onto the BR GR list that I am going with it.
..."
Agree with you on tweaking this challenge.

[Mariana]

I am so dreading Tudor and Viking. I have not made any progress. Fortunately, I have more than half the year left, and I am almost 3/4 finished. Next update in six weeks.