Historical Romance Book Club discussion
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Romance Across The Ages - 2019 Challenge
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Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels
(last edited Apr 03, 2019 06:55PM)
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I haven't even picked. Anyone have any LGBTQ recommendations for me?
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Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Maybe try The Soldier's Scoundrel? It is a well-crafted story. I tried it and liked it and have seen it recommended as a place to start. I find that I am enjoying KJ Charles more th..."Thanks. I may read this one. My library has it. I was also considering KJ Charles. Have you read any F/F historical romance?
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No! And I am not sure I know of any. I have not read a bunch of LGBTQ HR yet.
I read The Pursuit Of..., M/M romance and Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure, F/F romance - both by Courtney Milan. I liked 'The Pursuit of....' and Mrs. Martin....is mostly emotional internal dialogue. I am new to LGBTQ romances and I think I need to read some more books to appreciate the theme better.
I decided to read Mackenzie's Mountain for the Native American theme; it looks pretty sweet. I found this list helpful: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...Not all are historical, but most are.
I'm optimistic that I'll read my book for this month (I'm still "currently reading" - ha ha that's code for stalled out - my books for the 3 previous months)The LBGTQ book I wanted to read - I don't think it exists :( I'd love to read a historical romance where the H is bisexual and has had a male lover in the past and it was a serious relationship, and then for whatever reason they are no longer a pair but maybe now they're still good friends, and now he's courting a young woman (not a widow, or "experienced" woman) and she's fallen in love with him and has some peripheral awareness or suspicion that he was in love with this other guy but at the same time isn't sure that could really be true (b/c she thinks how could that be?) because she's of course been shielded from knowledge of anything but conventional (at that time) relationships. Oh and of course everyone is sexy and beautiful ha ha. And maybe she feels a bit insecure about whether he loves her b/c unconsciously she picks up on something between the H and his former lover when they're around each other (hints of a triangle) but he does love her, and then in the end when H & h do end up together it is with her understanding and knowledge about the fact that he is bi and while it's difficult for her to grapple with initially, she comes to embrace him and accept him for who he is and HEA!!!
Anyway, couldn't find that book, lol, so I'm making do with a contemporary Butterfly Tattoo in which the H lost his male partner, has been grieving, then falls in love with a woman when he's never previously been romantically attracted to a woman, and I think it will be good.
Cath wrote: "I'm optimistic that I'll read my book for this month (I'm still "currently reading" - ha ha that's code for stalled out - my books for the 3 previous months)The LBGTQ book I wanted to read - I do..."
Your dream book sounds pretty good, Cath! Maybe someone will write it. The description did kinda remind me of Unmasked by the Marquess which I read last year. The H (the marquess) knows he is bi and is cool with it. The h is a crossdresser - a foundling who has been living as a boy/young man for the last few years. The plot was a little complicated, but I did kinda like it anyway.
Priya wrote: "I read The Pursuit Of..., M/M romance and Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure, F/F romance - both by Courtney Milan. I liked 'The Pursuit of....' and Mrs. Martin......"Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure looks interesting. Actually, they both seems entertaining.
Jan wrote: "Cath wrote: "I'm optimistic that I'll read my book for this month (I'm still "currently reading" - ha ha that's code for stalled out - my books for the 3 previous months)The LBGTQ book I wanted t..."
Both the dream book and the published one sound like ones I would read.
Jan wrote: "My April read is going to be An Unnatural Vice.
"That one has high ratings. Since I did not find a F/F book that appealed to me, I am going to read another K.J. Charles book, Wanted, A Gentleman.
Jan wrote: "...The description did kinda remind me of Unmasked by the Marquess which I read last year. The H (the marquess) knows he is bi and is cool with it. The h is a crossdresser - a foundling who has been living as a boy/young man for the last few years. The plot was a little complicated, but I did kinda like it anyway."Oh, this sounds good, Jan! Thanks for letting me know about it. Going to add this to my list!
Cath wrote: "Oh, this sounds good, Jan! Thanks for letting me know about it. Going to add this to my list!"Hope you enjoy.
I finished reading Wanted, A Gentleman for LBGTQ. I enjoyed it. However, next time I would like to try either a F/F (which are definitely fewer and farther between) or a M/M friends to lovers story.
I changed my April book to The Soldier's Scoundrel by Cat Sebastian for LGBTQ. I realised I already owned it and never read it, so I decided to change to that. A lovely, sweet romance with likeable MCs. It did get bogged down a little in the mystery story side of things though, which isn't my fav type of read. Overall, 3 stars.
I have not had much luck with my RATA choices thus far this year. Hoping May books are better. Starting with No Greater Glory for Civil War.
Darbella wrote: "I hope you like it Mariana. Good luck! PS. I did not nominate the Smythe-Smith Just like heaven book where the heroine falls in love with her brothers best friend because I know how much you love t..."Good call! I have not made my nominations yet.
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When I can get to it, my Civil War read will be from Alyssa Cole, A Hope Divided. Continuing the series I started last year for this challenge.
I'm falling behind in this challenge, haven't been able to read by April and March selects. Only recently finished Runabout for the february selection. Luckily, I chose A Rogue by Any Other Name for May and it just happens to be the BOTM as well. So two in one haha!
I just read a really lovely twentieth century HR. Carry the World by Susan Fanetti. Brand new book, and I really enjoyed it. I'm just mentioning it here in case anyone still hasn't decided on a book for October (looking ahead, I know), as it's set between the wars.1930s/ Depression-era Appalachians. Based around a real government initiative of the time, the 'packhorse librarians'. In the book, a lonely widower bringing up his 2 young kids in the remote mountains falls for a lonely widow who visits every two weeks (on her horse!) to deliver library books. It's a beautiful, emotional (and fairly 'clean') slow-burn story about the power of love and family.
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Glad you found a real winner Jan! Thanks for the recommendation. I have not planned that far out. Sounds great.
Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Glad you found a real winner Jan! Thanks for the recommendation. I have not planned that far out. Sounds great."Yeah it was a winner so I thought I'd share. Highly recommend.
Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "I believe I will do a reread for my Regency selection.When I can get to it, my Civil War read will be from Alyssa Cole, A Hope Divided. Continuing the series I st..."
I have been intending to read that. Let me know how you like it.
Jan wrote: "I just read a really lovely twentieth century HR. Carry the World by Susan Fanetti. Brand new book, and I really enjoyed it. I'm just mentioning it here in case anyone still hasn't ..."Added to my list. Thanks.
Tanya wrote: "I'm falling behind in this challenge, haven't been able to read by April and March selects. Only recently finished Runabout for the february selection. Luckily, I chose [book:A Rogu..."
I just can't seem to finish my Viking book. I am going to have to plan a good one for next year.
Regency month is always great for double-dipping since there are so many.
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Luckily, I chos..."
I am sorry I abandoned it. Viking seems like a difficult one to find a good one.
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Mariana wrote: "Tanya wrote: "I'm falling behind in this challenge, haven't been able to read by April and March selects. Only recently finished Runabout for the february selection. Luckily, I chos..."
I didn't even try to look for one! They've never appealed to me.
I just bought The Least Likely Bride for March sub-genre. I've only read one book by this author before and it was okay-okay.
let's hope this is better. Also, my first time ever reading a book with a pirate hero.
I'm still so far behind but I did just finish one for the February Edwardian category. Hopefully regency is next then I'll try to get a few other from the first part of the year before we head into June.
Tanya wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Tanya wrote: "I'm falling behind in this challenge, haven't been able to read by April and March selects. Only recently finished Runabout for the february selection. ..."
Pirate can be so fun. Hopefully this one is good for you.
Midniteillusion wrote: "Tanya wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Tanya wrote: "I'm falling behind in this challenge, haven't been able to read by April and March selects. Only recently finished Runabout for the februar..."I literally typed this same thing in before I read yours and decided to delete my comment. Lol.
Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Viking seems like a difficult one to find a good one. "I ended up liking my Viking one, Heart's Ease, but I read the next one in the series after that and I liked it even better: Soul's Fire. (Funnily enough, both are by the author I mentioned yesterday who wrote the lovely new book Carry the World.)
Soul's Fire is about a tough Viking shield maiden who is captured by a local English king during a raid. He takes (mistaken) revenge on her and there is a very dark part of the book. The king's son intervenes and persuades his dad he's gone overboard and he saves her. He and the Viking woman gradually fall in love.
It's a lovely read about dark ages/Viking era England, a clash of cultures, and two wonderful people who eventually form an unbreakable bond. A beautiful love story, actually.
So, if anyone still wants to try a Viking book, I recommend Soul's Fire. It would work as a standalone IMO.
Jan wrote: "Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Viking seems like a difficult one to find a good one. "I ended up liking my Viking one, Heart's Ease, but I read the next one in the series after that..."
Thanks! I added to my list for next year.
Mariana wrote: "Midniteillusion wrote: "Tanya wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Tanya wrote: "I'm falling behind in this challenge, haven't been able to read by April and March selects. Only recently finished [book:Runabout..."lol
Great minds...
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I ended up liking my Viking one, Heart's Ease, but I read the next one in the series after that..."
I may try if I get ahead or find extra reading time. Susan Fanetti is certainly on my radar to read based on your recommendation. I think I have a couple of hers on my TBR.
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Sounds good—added it to my TBR. Did you realize it was set during the British Civil War?
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Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Georgina wrote: "For the civil war theme this month I'm reading Wintercombe by Pamela Belle."Sounds good—added it to my TBR. Did you realize it was set during the Br..."
Well, I saw 'Civil War' as a theme, and being a native of Ireland, that was the civil war I thought of. I live in Kentucky now, and everyone around here uses a different phrase when they are referring to the American Civil War 1861-1865; so perhaps that's why I didn't make the connection.
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Sounds good—added it to my TBR. Did you rea..."
I noticed your profile that said Kentucky which is why I asked. What term are they calling it?
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Sounds good—added it to my TBR. Did you rea..."
Also, I am not trying to police your choice. I just was checking to make sure it was intended.
Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Georgina wrote: "Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Georgina wrote: "For the civil war theme this month I'm reading Wintercombe by Pamela Belle."Sounds good—added it to my..."
It was intended, just misunderstood. Most of the locals around here call it the 'States War' so I've come to think of it that way, too.
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Hmm, very interesting. I don’t typically hear of it referred to as anything but the civil war here (Kansas). I think it’s a good note for future to either clarify or broaden. I used one set in the British Civil War as my Restoration/Stuarts. Many of the themes/eras overlap in some way.
Georgina wrote: "... Most of the locals around here call it the 'States War' so I've come to think of it that way."Interesting fact.
This is like Vietnam War discussion in 'Young Sheldon'. In one episode when Sheldon was talking about Vietnam War, Tam(Sheldon's Vietnamese friend) calls it 'American War'. I didn't realise a war could be called by different names by different sides of the war till I watched that episode. Now I understand it is applicable to any historical event.
Historical Romance Book Club
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Bertrice Small (other topics)
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Beverley Hughesdon (other topics)
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The categories this month are:
LGBTQ
Native American
I think I will be reading something from KJ Charles, likely An Unnatural Vice. Not sure on Native American one, though. I am still working on both my March reads, but I hope to catch back up this month.