Historical Romance Book Club discussion
Gaol/BOTM
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BOTM 1 - February, 2020 - Charming the Prince
"I never dreamed she would join forces with those mischievous imps of mine to teach this cynical warrior just how sweet surrender can be."How cute!
Ok so I was against the norm when I gave Yours Until Dawn 2 stars, but everyone else in the BR enjoyed so I am willing to give TM another chance.
This one definitely has mixed reviews.
Mariana wrote: "This one definitely has mixed reviews."Yes, it does, Mariana. Including some very harsh one star, don't-waste-your-money reviews. Eek! But then there are five star reviews too. Seems like a love-it-or-hate-it book, maybe.
I did not really love the last Medeiros book I read (Yours Until Dawn, BOTM Aug 2018), and I see in my review I recommended to myself not to bother with this author in future. LOL. I'm not usually a fan of the light humorous style of HR either, which I suspect this one is.
So, I'm not going to join in with this read. I might pop in to the discussion for a bit of lurking to see how people find it, though. Hopefully people enjoy the read. We all have different tastes and that's part of the fun of GR!
I probably won't read the other February BOTM either as it's not available on kindle.au. *shrugs* Let's see what March will bring.
Loriidae wrote: "Ok so I was against the norm when I gave Yours Until Dawn 2 stars, but everyone else in the BR enjoyed so I am willing to give TM another chance."Good on you, Lorildae. I'll be interested to see how you find it.
She is a new-to-me author. The blurb is funny and so I placed an order for this book. I hope it reaches in time to start with the others.
I managed to get it from my local library, so I'm in.
I already had this book on my bookshelf. As Jan said it is a love or hate book, it should be interesting to see what everyone thinks.
//wanders inOh hey cool more plot moppets~
Mod
I was not a big fan either. I think I ended up with 3 stars. Will see about this one.
I’m in, since I quite enjoyed her books in the past. I haven’t read this one and maybe my taste has changed. We’ll see.
I’m in and already got the book. I haven’t read any books from her and I’m willing to discover her writing.
I have enjoyed most of TM books... not all. Curious to see how I like this one. I loved Yours Until Dawn.I'll be joining.
I'll be joining as well-I just checked it out!
I'm in. Just downloaded the book and will begin reading this week. I joined the last group read and liked Yours Until Dawn. This will be my second book by Teresa Medeiros.
I googled it, too, Darbella! I don't particularly like Cinderella-inspired HRs, because I get angry when the heroine is treated unfairly by her stepmom and step-siblings.
Darbella wrote: "Finished prologue. The year is 1347 in England and my heart aches for Willow already. I also have to admit that I had to google kirtle to remind myself what it looks like."I also finished the prologue and quite like it already... The storytelling is engaging, and as is mentioned above, Willow is easy to identify with.
I started today and read the prologue and chapter 1 so far. I actually had to go look to remind me that this is a Cinderella story. It's recognisable with the wicked stepmother, but her father is still alive and can't love her?! Poor girl can't get a break. Her "Prince" is no better than all the miserable family members she's leaving. This seems it may be a love it or hate it book.
Due to this being a yellow cover I'm probably going to end up reading this at the end of the month.it's because i have a challenge in another group which may require a yellow cover
Mariana wrote: "I started today and read the prologue and chapter 1 so far. I actually had to go look to remind me that this is a Cinderella story. It's recognisable with the wicked stepmother, but her father is s..."I had to do the same! I was confused for a second expecting Beauty & The Beast
I wasn't expecting the time period to be in the 1300s. It's a nice change from the regency eras I've been reading lately. I like that the hero has a sense of humor.
Ch.6 quote: (view spoiler)
I completed chapter 12 but don't really have anything to comment (yet). I'm just waiting patiently for the romance to blossom.
Got a late start last night due to other library books, I thought the flax wheel was maybe a hint at Sleeping Beauty ?
Missy wrote: "I wasn't expecting the time period to be in the 1300s. It's a nice change from the regency eras I've been reading lately. I like that the hero has a sense of humor.
Ch.6 quote: Willow: “After y..."
Missy, I'm with you. Enjoying the medieval time period and the humor, not only with the hero but the whole battle between his men and the children. I'm enjoying the story but not much to comment until more romantic development.
Just finished Chapter two and I'm hooked thus far. It is light and humorous but also heartwrenching at the same time, and the author has done a fabulous job in striking this delicate balance early on. Loving the heroine. She's got me rooting for her already. Despite the adversities, she's not giving in to self-pity or allowed her spirit to be repressed and intimidated. I've never heard a female thought of as "bovine" in a complimentary way! I'm not so sure of the hero. I know we're in the Middle Ages but damn, that double digit number of children already (some of which are illegitimate?) and the careless disregard he had for them and his wife, when she was still alive, does not so far give me a character to respect and sympathise with.
I'm not sure that the author intended this to be a Cinderella inspired story. The series is Once Upon A Time, and I think it is just fairy tale inspired rather than a specific fairy tale necessarily. We have definitely many elements of typical fairy tales, the caricatural evil stepmother, the down-trodden good-hearted heroine and a hero who is going to come to the rescue, although I have a feeling the heroine is perfectly capable of rescuing herself.
I'm at the same place, though I like the hero with his sense of humor. I thought I caught when they took the last child in that there's a whiff of him taking kids that possibly aren't his as well? I have similar doubts re inspiration!
Jultri wrote: "I'm not so sure of the hero. I know we're in the Middle Ages but damn, that double digit number of children already (some of which are illegitimate?) and the careless disregard he had for them and his wife, when she was still alive, does not so far give me a character to respect and sympathise with. ..."I'm kind of feeling the same thing so far, it's making it hard to care about him.
Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "I'm at the same place, though I like the hero with his sense of humor. I thought I caught when they took the last child in that there's a whiff of him taking kids that possibly aren't his as well? ..."I missed that the first time around as I was too sleepy to pick up the hint, but I reread that part where the latest addition to the household was acknowledged by him and I see now, that there's likely more to the story and to the hero than just serial inseminations of his wives and other women around him. I will not judge him too hastily at this stage.
It remains very funny. (view spoiler)
Jultri wrote: "I'm not so sure of the hero. I know we're in the Middle Ages but damn, that double digit number of children already (some of which are illegitimate?) and the careless disregard he had for them and his wife, when she was still alive, does not so far give me a character to respect and sympathise with. ..."I'm kind of feeling the same thing so far, it's making it hard to care about him.
Jultri wrote: "I guess it is true to the period in terms of the regard of women as men's possessions and not with a will of their own or a right to autonomy...."I got the feeling this had more to do with the whole, I want her but I won't take her, but I also won't share thing hero's like to do in books.
So we learn why he takes in children left at his door in chapter 26. So sad! TT_____TT
I finished the book a few days ago. I enjoyed it but I could see how others may not. The hero is pretty unlikable at first and 12 children is just too many! I really felt for Willow and wanted to cry for her six year-old self. If you read the story as just a light-hearted parody of fairy tales, it comes across a lot better. In other words, don't take it too seriously.
Completed the book! I agree with Jessica that it's best not to take this book too seriously.
Finished the book. Agree with Jessica and Missy. While I was reading I couldn’t stop imagining the characters as animated ones. It’s actually like a fairy tale, just rated PG15. I haven’t read any other book by the author, I’m not sure I’d read the rest of the series. However, I might read another of her books to see if her style is always like this or it was just because this was a reimagining of fairy tales. I’ll give it 3 stars just because it caught me at some point and laughed a lot. Yet, By chapter 27 I was really hoping it to finish; couldn’t keep going.
Hi, Cat. One of my favorites written by Teresa Medeiros is Yours Until Dawn. It's also kind of a light romance.I thought Charming the Prince was a little long, too.
I finished reading and like the book. Especially Willow (at times I felt she is too forgiving), the gang of kids and the light banter between the MCs. Despite the long wait for the romance to bloom, it had been sweet when it developed.
I’m halfway through and losing interest a bit. It is getting too farcical. I need a heavier dose of emotions to ground it. We’re just getting some romance between the protagonists or rather lust. Can’t say it’s romance because they really have not interacted much on a personal level prior to this stage.
Ah, the slipper scene. We moved so far from any Cinderella origin, that this scene took me by surprise. Thankfully, the story is less fluffy and slapstick and more heartfelt now.
finished it, and overall I enjoyed it, it did make me laugh out loud a couple of times, and it definitely wasn't a heavy book. I think it did drag just a little at the end (as someone else mentioned). And it really only had the smallest echo of the classic cinderella story in it. But I was fine with that.
Will most likely read more of her books after this.
Started few days ago. So far I’m on chapter 9 and I am intrigued. Willow is really good with her banter. I can’t wait though to get to know Bannor a little more and for romance to develop.
I finished this about a week ago.It was a reread for me and I was worried I wouldn't enjoy it as much two decades later. Happily though I absolutely did.
I knew/remember some of the spoilers going in so I think I had more empathy for the hero and an understanding that is hard to muster the first time around when we don't know everything yet.
I loved the two side romances too and wish this had been a series that then showed those two developing instead of just being part of the fairy tale retelling series this author wrote.
I read a lot of this author back in the early 2000 in college and just out of it. I want to go back and finish her back log of books that I haven't read and probably reread the rest of the ones I have.
I'm glad to see others liking this as well. :)
I wish the heroine's father would have gotten more of a comeuppance than he did. He didn't really do much to redeem himself but this is also a lighter story so maybe the author was looking for harmony at the end.
I finished this a few days ago. I really enjoyed the start but it fizzled out in the middle and got too farcical for my taste. It regained it's heart a bit towards the end, not just that the feelings between the protagonists became more developed, but also that between Bannor and his children esp Desmond. I like the growth of Desmond as a character throughout the book. There were definitely many laugh out loud moments, but at the sacrifice of the central romance, which was not substantial enough for me. I also really hate (view spoiler).I agree, Midniteillusion, the heroine's father got off lightly. His negligence of her emotional and physical needs was inexcusable because she trusted his words and his ability to protect her forever, and he failed dismally in his duties as a parent. His was the greatest crime of them all, especially after the heartbreaking opening scene of her innocent, unquestionable faith in him. But in fairy tales, there's only good and evil and nothing in between.
Jultri wrote: "Missy wrote: "Oh! I didn't even catch that!"He was left holding her slipper [spoilers removed] ."
Oh, Yeah! I didn't even relate it to the Cinderella trope.
I am tapping out! It's having too much trouble holding my interest
I was patient with this book hoping for romance. But there was very little romance. I also feel that our heroine is just giving and giving and not getting much back. Also did anyone else found the writing style hard to get into? It’s not drawing me in at all. I am left cold and I don’t care about these characters.
I apologize to everyone who really enjoyed the book ahead.
I am about to start reading the book tonight. After reading your posts. It sounds like it's a book with humour, which I like.
Going from daddy's little princess to dogsbody to her stepmother's family. You hope live would treat her better. But she get's a bold knight who turns out to be a wimp. Poor Willow. Now reading chapter 11. Hoping he may get his comeuppance.
Historical Romance Book Club
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Happy Reading!
Charming the Prince
He never lost a battle until he met the one woman who might succeed in...Charming the Prince.
Dear Reader,
My enemies know me as Lord Bannor the Bold, Pride of the English and Terror of the French. Never in my life have I backed down from any challenge or betrayed so much as a hint of fear—until the war ended and I found myself a reluctant papa to a dozen unruly children.
Realizing that I couldn't lop their little heads off or throw them in the dungeon, I sent my steward out to find them a mother and me a bride—an attractive, meek, maternal creature too plain to tempt me to get her with child. You can imagine my horror when he returned with Lady Willow of Bedlington, a spirited beauty who made me think of nothing else!
With her cloud of dark curls and the sparkle of passion in her eyes, Willow was everything I'd sworn to resist. I never dreamed she would join forces with those mischievous imps of mine to teach this cynical warrior just how sweet surrender can be.
Bannor the Bold,
Lord of Elsinore