HELP!! What's That Book Again??

[Chelle]

Judy wrote: "Yay! Glad you found it. I know the distraction that eats at you when you can't find the name of a book.
:=) "

True story, I had a hard time sleeping last night trying to think of it.

[Brian]

Answer forms part of a sermon
This book opens shortly after WWII; an Israeli settler turns wasteland into fertile farmland as an Arab looks on. He sold the "worthless" land to the settler, but has seller's remorse triggered by the settler's success.
My first guess was Leon Uris's "Exodus," but I think that's a dry hole.
Ideas?

[Petra]

Brian wrote: "Answer forms part of a sermon
This book opens shortly after WWII; an Israeli settler turns wasteland into fertile farmland as an Arab looks on. He sold the "worthless" land to the settler, but has ..."

Leon Uris' The Haj? If I remember correctly, there was a lot of that sort of going on in The Haj (wasteland sold to Israelis, who make good of it, and the Arabs getting jealous).

[C.P.]

Someone wrote to me from Singapore asking for the title of a book from 2013 or 2014. The book cover features a woman's back (like 500,000 others!) and a title consisting of four nouns, each representing an aspect of the main character. Any ideas?

[Margaret]

Having read the Almond Tree I would love to read the Haj. But there does not seem to be a kindle version. Such a pity. It sounds very interesting...

[Margaret]

Having read the Almond Tree I would love to read the Haj. But there does not seem to be a kindle version. Such a pity. It sounds very interesting...

[C.P.]

C.P. wrote: "Someone wrote to me from Singapore asking for the title of a book from 2013 or 2014. The book cover features a woman's back (like 500,000 others!) and a title consisting of four nouns, each represe..."

Turns out we found the title to this one, which turned out not to be fiction after all. So no need to reply.

[Becky, Moddess]

What was it?

[Pinky]

Hi read this historical a few months in 2013 first quarter. it was an e book.where girl already engaged to an earl. But a duke becomes attracted to her and tried convincing her to break off. She keeps resisting. They meet at some exhibit where he pulls her in a dark corner where he makes love to her hoping she will realize she is attracted to duke and demands she break betrothal to the earl; when she refuses ; they are almost discovered .Duke realizes with only a few days left for her wedding to the earl only way to make her break the betrothal is to compromise her. Duke invites her to a party arranged at his country state or home where he arranges for his mother to discover them in a compromising position. Just before the set up scene the h walks in on the earl abusing a maid sexually (i recall he was beating her buttocks with a whip or stick. and the earl tries to attack girl too so she is compromised and forced to marry earl for money i think. but duke comes to rescue and marries girl next morning. i have searched the net and gone through hundreds of blurbs but still cant find please help. tia

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Okay I read part of a book excerpt but I don't remember the name of the title. It was about this guy Lars that marries this woman Cynthia. It takes place in Minnesota. He and Cynthia work in the same restaurant and they have a four month old girl named Eva. It's a fairly new book.

[Nancy from NJ]

Brian wrote: "Answer forms part of a sermon
This book opens shortly after WWII; an Israeli settler turns wasteland into fertile farmland as an Arab looks on. He sold the "worthless" land to the settler, but has ..."

It doesn't sound like Exodus although the native born Israeli has an Arab man he considers his best friend in Exodus.

It might be Harvest by Gloria Goldreich, if I remember correctly.

[Laurel]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "Okay I read part of a book excerpt but I don't remember the name of the title. It was about this guy Lars that marries this woman Cynthia. It takes place in Minnesota. He and Cynthia work in the sa..."

Kitchens of the Great Midwest

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

that's it, thank you. I couldn't think of what it was called.

[Sally]

I'm trying to find a book written back before 1970 and set in the time of Elizabeth Tudor. The viewpoint character wasn't Elizabeth herself. One minor character was Penelope Rich, who was described as a brown-eyed blonde. In one scene a character remarks "Her voice was as rich as her name." Another minor character was Philip Sidney, and there is a lengthy scene of the battle in which Sidney was killed I've tried "The Queen's Favorite" by Constance Heaven, "Queen of This Realm" by Jean Plaidy, and "My Enemy the Queen" by Victoria Holt. All mention Sidney's death, but none go out of England to the actual battle. Any ideas from fans of the period?

[Eileen]

Sally wrote: "I'm trying to find a book written back before 1970 and set in the time of Elizabeth Tudor. The viewpoint character wasn't Elizabeth herself. One minor character was Penelope Rich, who was describ..."

I don't know that book, but I did just finish by Elizabeth Fremantle, which was entirely about Penelope Rich. However, even it doesn't include a scene with Sidney's death.

I read the authors you mentioned voraciously when I was younger, and I don't recall such a scene. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

[Sue]

I read a short series of books about 20 years ago. They were set in India and I had thought the titles all included "Peacock Throne". I've searched online but, unfortunately, peacock throne is a common term amongst books about India! These were fiction and followed a set of characters through a couple (or more?) generations. Not exactly romantic fiction, but it did follow their relationships as well as a little about the historical and political context of the period.

Does this ring a bell with anyone? I'd love to read them again but just cannot trace them anywhere.

[Phair]

Does anyone recall a HF title that takes place during the construction phase of the 1915 Pan-Pacific International Exhibition in San Francisco? All I can remember is there was a lot about the Italian & other immigrant artisans who worked on the architectural details of the Fair buildings. This was probably written in the 80s or 90s or possibly a little earlier.

[Janet]

Hello all, I'm trying to find a book that I read many years ago, and can't seem to remember any of the easily searchable details. I've tried scouring some historical romance sites for the book, but I can't seem to find it. I remember several important bits of the plot that I think are accurate. Also, the book would have been written before 2005 for certain. I posted this in the Historical Romance group, and they think it is probably classified as a Historical Fiction book, so I'm posting this here as well.

The protagonist is a French (noble?)man, and it's written mostly from his point of view. He gets into some trouble back home and is forced to leave, so he flees to the Louisiana area. I believe the time period may be during French control of the region, so colonial times.

When he gets there, he starts working his own farm/plantation. He's a pretty upright guy and is a sympathetic hero. I'm not certain about the love interests, but I know he has at least 2, maybe 3 wives throughout the story, but they all die. One of the wives is a native american woman.

At some point he has a son, and the son is a bit of a bad seed. I believe the last wife dies from childbirth. In the later part of the book he takes his son to a brothel in town, and his son ends up hurting one of the girls there.

For the life of me, I can't remember how the book ends, which is one of the reasons I want to find it so badly. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Zoe]

Hi I am trying to find a series of books set in mull, Scotland they are I guess historical romance and I just want to find the author so I can read the series again I just can't for the life of me remember the authors name or the title of the books (yes I know very helpful... Not) also I think it's quite an old book not really really old just maybe around 1980s please please if there's anyone who knows or has read them or can let me know how to search for them let me know lol thanks

[WyoLady 93]

Zoe wrote: "Hi I am trying to find a series of books set in mull, Scotland they are I guess historical romance and I just want to find the author so I can read the series again I just can't for the life of me ..."

Just did a quick search and found these 2 sites that you can look at to see if you find them there.

http://www.scottishromance.com/
http://www.paperbackswap.com/Scottish...

[Zoe]

Thank you thank you soo much lol I have found the books series woooop

[Becky, Moddess]

What was it, Zoe? (I'm always curious about the books that stick in people's minds!)

[WyoLady 93]

Zoe wrote: "Thank you thank you soo much lol I have found the books series woooop "

Glad to help :)

[Zoe]

Lol sorry it was Rhanna by Christine Marion Fraser and it's not set on mull it's an island in the hebrideans that is based on mull

[Olanrewaju]

This book is one of the first historical romance I read. One of those that made me like that particular genre.

I think it is a series and it is set in the regency era. It is about the third of three sisters who own a gentleman club. The elder sisters are already married. In comes a Duke who already made a wager at another club (White's, I think) that this young lady will never marry only for him to start spending time with her and well, we can all guess how the rest goes.
And the Duke's bet turned out to be a pittance and which he paid up on his wedding day (I think) with his wife at his side much to the dismay of a butler who insists a lady can't be in the club.

I have tried finding this book, but I don't even have an inclination of the title. Just the plot summary.
I would appreciate it if someone can help me find this book.

[Hamid]

hi- when have you read this book and when it had been written?
Can it be ((A Duchess to Remember)) by Christina Brooke (2012) ?it is in series ((Ministry of Marriage))

[Olanrewaju]

@hamid, thanks for your reply but that isn't it.
I read the book either in 2009 or 2010.
I don't know when it was written but I can guess that is is before 2006.

[Maggie]

What is the Zane Grey Western where the hero is a shy fellow [maybe named Cole?} and the heroine is an Eastern girl who is too flirty for the cowboy community and gets a bad repulation. He sort of kidnaps her and they end up in a forced, but sham, marriage. Eventually of course, she falls in love with him and the marriage become real.

[Sarah]

I'm looking for a book I read once when I was younger. It was set during the Civil War and it was more of a narrative/recounting, third person, kind of textbook style. For some reason, I remember that the edition I had, had a red and white cover. And also I want to say the title had the word 'journey' in it, and alluded to the Confederacy. I never finished it and I'd like to, if I knew the name :( But...it sounds like what I described could be anything

[Sue]

Ok, I thought I had the correct title for this book but every copy I come across is the wrong one. It was a novel about the Children's Crusade in the 1200's (which is what I thought it was called) and was quite thick - 500p maybe? I thought it was by a female author but not sure and it would have been published prior to 1984 - possibly in the 70's or earlier. There were 3 main characters the story focussed on that I recall - the 2 boys that we know of from history, Nicholas and Stephen - and a fictional girl who's name I can't remember. I believe the story followed the 2 boys together rather than them leading separate crusades as I believe was the case historically. Hope someone can help - I'm almost wondering if I imagined reading it.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

This rings vague bells.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Is it Army Of Children? Published 1978.

[Sue]

I think you nailed it Susanna. I just looked An Army of Children's bibliographic details and it has approx 450 pages and ticks most of the other boxes I listed. Those it doesn't tick are likely from my imperfect memories - I must have read it about 30 or so years ago. Thanks so much for you help - and such a quick response!

[Stef]

HELP!
I read this book way back in 2011 or 2012, and it was set in probably medieval times. There's a young girl whose family sells her to their liege lord because they are destitute. She works as a weaver for his wife. While doing so she discovers a plot of an unsavoury villain to put himself on the throne and falls in love with a stable thing. I thought this novel was awesome back then, and I'd really like to read it again, only I conveniently do not remember the author or title. :/

[Linda]

Sue wrote: "Ok, I thought I had the correct title for this book but every copy I come across is the wrong one. It was a novel about the Children's Crusade in the 1200's (which is what I thought it was called) ..."

To me it sounds The Heirs of the Kingdom by Zoe Oldenbourg

[Deborah]

A book whose title/author we're trying to recall is a diary or letters by the wife of John Cabot (or similar figure) from the Age of Exploration. Evidently not Mrs Cook: The Real and Imagined Life of the Captain's Wife. Your help is appreciated!

Edited to add: It's In the Hands of the Living God by Newfoundland author Lillian Bouzane.
QUERY CLOSED

[Elizabeth]

I'm searching for a book I bought in a sale at the library around 10 years or so ago. Lent/gave it to my Mum and I think she's gotten rid of it, but she doesn't recall even reading it; I've been wanting to reread it for a few years now. I can remember quite a lot of detail, including spoilers, but just not the name of the book.

Setting: WWII, in a big city in England (I think Birmingham, might be London or somewhere else)

Main Character: A young woman (I forget her name) who is training to be a nurse. I think she's Irish/of Irish heritage, but other than a quick visit, the book does not take place in Ireland. If I recall the cover correctly, she has auburn hair.

The book starts when she starts nurse training. There are several young women in her dorm, one of whom becomes her best friend. I ~think~ the best friend's name is Elsie.

Elsie's cousin, Paul (he is definitely called Paul) is one of the doctors at the hospital where they all work. The student nurses are not allowed to date the doctors, but the main character and Paul fall in love and get married -- she gets out of trouble over it when they announce their engagement by explaining that it's Elsie's cousin, that they have been socialising in a group, that even the first time they saw each other by themselves it wasn't a date, and that they continued getting better acquainted in a group setting until they realised love had snuck up on them and they wanted to get married.

Paul's family are well off but he doesn't get on with them very well. Elsie's father owns a department store. Elsie gets married to Paul's best mate around the same time, and the four of them move into a big house with two sitting rooms. Elsie's father told her to choose all her furniture out of the shop as her wedding present, and Paul's parents match the offer, but Paul doesn't want to accept, until Elsie's guy points out that it's hardly fair on the heroine to move into a house with them and they have all new furniture and Paul+wife are scratching by with the bare bones of second hand stuff, and Paul relents.

It's also quite a big plot point that they are Catholics, but they decide they will go ahead and use condoms anyway because she doesn't want to stop working. Until he has a big row with his family and forgets to buy any.

The guys have been called up for service, and the above happens the day before he leaves for war. She gets pregnant but he doesn't get to meet his daughter. He is killed in action. At some point a massive bomb falls on the hospital and half of it is blown away -- two of the other roommates the nurses had in the beginning were killed.

The main character eventually meets and marries someone else, but there's a big hoo-hah because he's a protestant. But her mother says that Catholic or protestant isn't the main thing, whether or not he is a good man is the main thing, and references her own marriage to a (Catholic) violent drunk for a contrast, so she goes ahead. This is the bit when she goes to Ireland. She and new hubby have a son, daughter is probably five years old by now, and the war is over and everyone is picking up the pieces.

SPOILER!!

Paul comes back, turned out he hadn't died he was just seriously injured, but he had been taken prisoner of war, and his hair has all turned white. He's grumpy as sin and throws the new husband out of the house, and wants to throw the son out too, but the main character won't let him, and everything is very difficult all round.

MORE SPOILERS!!

Paul dies within a year or so of getting back and leaves letters with the solicitor to pass on afterwards; the last, several months later, tells her to find love again and the solicitor tracks down hubby#2 and they get married again and they all live happily ever after.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

It sounds like an interesting book :)

[Linda]

I hope it is Ok to post this question here, I didn' see anywhere else. I'm in a couple of challenges for 2017 .. One I have to read 10 books set in the rgency period, any genre. I had Pride & prejudice on the brain when I thought to enter. Turns out P&P qualifys for a different challenge! Any suggestions? Help please! Thanks! :)

[Kelly]

Looking for an historical novel set in England in the 18th century. Written by a contemporary author. Must be written in the first-person. Could be letters or diary, but really looking for a life story.

Thank you

[[deleted user]]

Katie wrote: "I'm searching for a book I bought in a sale at the library around 10 years or so ago. Lent/gave it to my Mum and I think she's gotten rid of it, but she doesn't recall even reading it; I've been wa..."

Sorry...i dont know the name of this book...but if you find out please tell me! Its sounds amazing!

[Eileen]

Linda wrote: "I hope it is Ok to post this question here, I didn' see anywhere else. I'm in a couple of challenges for 2017 .. One I have to read 10 books set in the rgency period, any genre. I had Pride & preju..."

Georgette Heyer's

[Eileen]

Kelly wrote: "Looking for an historical novel set in England in the 18th century. Written by a contemporary author. Must be written in the first-person. Could be letters or diary, but really looking for a life s..."

Well, there's always Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series.

[Linda]

Eileen wrote: "Linda wrote: "I hope it is Ok to post this question here, I didn' see anywhere else. I'm in a couple of challenges for 2017 .. One I have to read 10 books set in the rgency period, any genre. I had..."

Thank you sooo much! I will look this one up right away. Only 8 more to find! I didn't think this would be hard!!

[Annette]

Help! I've been trying fruitlessly to remember the title of a book I read about ten years ago. I can only vaguely recall the cover and remember no specific character names or events. I keep thinking the title is something along the lines of "The Secret Dress Society" or perhaps "The Girl in the something something Coat". Super helpful, I realize. The book tells the story of a girl in her early twenties (??) and is set in 1950's/60's London. The main character makes a new friend one day in a shop where she either works or patronizes and their friendship is somewhat unlikely. From what I recall, our protagonist lives in a once grand, now floundering country estate and her new friend is a glamorous girl of the city. I seem to remember an overly formal yet endearing mother character and a brother who is very interested in American Greaser culture. Ahh!! Any help from you lovely Fictionistas would be most appreciated.

[Pam]

Annette wrote: "Help! I've been trying fruitlessly to remember the title of a book I read about ten years ago. I can only vaguely recall the cover and remember no specific character names or events. I keep thinkin..."

Annette, I'm stumped, but you might try here:
http://whatwasthatbook.livejournal.com/

[Annette]

Thank you so much, Pam! I'll give that a go!

[Carolyn]

I can't remember the name of this book! Can you help?? I read a novel about an american girl who marries communist and moves to Europe> she becomes a nurse and moves to italy. Her husband leaves and she stays. She falls in love with an italian medic, he is killed. She goes to live with his family because she is pregnant and his mother drugs her and alienates her from her son. She flees to the US, and near the end of her life tells her granddaughter that she had a son and the granddaughter travels to italy to try to reunite them

[Linda]

Carolyn wrote: "I can't remember the name of this book! Can you help?? I read a novel about an american girl who marries communist and moves to Europe> she becomes a nurse and moves to italy. Her husband leaves an..."

Don't know but I want to read it. Sounds good.

[Julia]

Hi All,

I'm trying to track down a book which I previously had in my bookcase, and which I've realised must have been chucked out.


Potential title: Letters, Night, Desire (??) (I've tried googling without success).
Publish date: Possibly 2002-2003. The version I had was a galley proof. In the novel storyline, I've included spoilers.
HF Era: Late 18thc-19th c
Location: North America
Paperback: Note, I had the galley proof, not the final published version.
Dust jacket illustration: Blue book cover - shades of blue and white with an illustration of woman with dark hair styled in a low bun, wearing 18/19thc garb, some kind of white corsety/top thing and long dress.
Main character: Female, possibly Nora, Louisa or Rosetta.
Novel structure: First person narrative, interspersed with letters written to/from the main character, from a man.

SPOILERS FOLLOW
Story line: 'Nora' is a frustrated teacher or governess who has to travel across country Northern America. The story is partly told through dramatic narrative and partly through use of letters/diary entries in which she is writing to/from her beau/lover/friend (I can't remember which). For the majority of the novel, their correspondence makes you wonder if they'll ever meet up again or if they will be thwarted by tough circumstances. Very good literary writing style, not pulp fiction at all.

The character development is really about her experience of traveling across country and facing dangers as a woman alone, negotiating with people coming across her path. In the latter third of the book, she meets up with her lover/friend/beau and they have a dangerous moment where guns are fired but they survive even though he is seriously wounded. The fact there are guns makes me think the era the novel is set could be quite wide (I can't remember if it was a rifle or 12-gauge or a reloading or musket. I suspect it was a reload, not a musket fire). However, the gun used wasn't a pistol, because they needed something suitable for hunting.