Romance Across the Ages - 2021 Challenge

[Lauren]

Sandra, if it doesn't have to MJP, I would recommend 'The Sometime Bride ' by Blair Bancroft. I loved it and it taught me all about the Peninsula War.

[Lauren]

It takes place in Portugal but expands to Spain and England. If your a histoy fan then this will teach you about the Regency area. Also even though Alex is a control freak Kat gives him his just dessert.
The Sometime Bride

[Sandra]

Lauren wrote: "Sandra, if it doesn't have to MJP, I would recommend 'The Sometime Bride ' by Blair Bancroft. I loved it and it taught me all about the Peninsula War."

Thanks Lauren I think I´ll read the 2 :)

[Sandra]

I know I've already read one book that had some of the plot in Portugal, the main characters enjoy one day in Lisbon, I think... but I have a terrible memory, so I don't remember very well

[Sandra]

Sandra's list Romance Across the Ages - 2021 Challenge

January
Around the World (other than Britain or American): The Sometime Bride read September | 6 stars ;)
Native American: X

February
Pirate: The Other Miss Bridgerton read < April
Western: Night in Eden read November | 4 stars

March
World Wars I to WWII: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society read November | 5 stars
Restoration / Stuarts: ] The Marigold Chainread December | 4 stars

April
Viking: X
Civil War / Pre-Civil War: An Extraordinary Union read December | 5 stars

May
Time Travel: Highlander's Captive read December | 4 stars
Edwardian: Wedding of the Season read December | 4 stars

June
Scottish / Highlander: In Bed with a Highlander read July
LGBTQ: The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting read October | 4 stars

July
Diversity (featuring at least one lead character with diverse racial/ethnic background): Mine Till Midnight read < April
Any Historical Romance on your TBR: Where the Stars Meet the Sea read August | 5 stars

August
Bodice Ripper The Conqueror read December | 4 stars
Regency: Georgana's Secret read July | 5 stars

September
American Revolution: The Colonel's Lady read September | 4 stars
Renaissance / Tudor: The Game read December | 5 stars

October
Americana/Gilded Age The Heiress Gets a Duke read December | 4 stars
Ancient World / Prehistorical X

November
Victorian: The Highwayman read October | 5 stars
Medieval Promise of the Rose read December | 4 stars

December
Georgian The Venetian Mask read December | 5 stars
Your Choice Ever Yours, Annabelle read May | 5 stars

[Jan]

Lauren wrote: "Sandra, if it doesn't have to MJP, I would recommend 'The Sometime Bride ' by Blair Bancroft. I loved it and it taught me all about the Peninsula War."

I'm going to have a look at this one, Lauren. Sounds intriguing. Thank you.

[Sandra]

This one must be a good for time travel:

[Sandra]

Jan wrote: "I finished my first book for this challenge -yay! I read Night in Eden by Candice Proctor (aka C.S.Harris). This was my Around the World book - set in colonial Australia. It was real..."

Strait to my wishlist!

[Mariana]

Sandra wrote: "Mariana,
Maybe it's this one Once a Soldier by Mary Jo Putney, I'm found this and this Island Flame by Karen Robards, happening in Portugal. The second one as a lot of bad reviews, so maybe I'm try..."

Yep, that's it. It was not my favorite by MJP, but it was okay.

[Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels]

Sandra wrote: "My list Romance Across the Ages - 2021 Challenge

January
Around the World (other than Britain or American)
Once a Soldier
or
The Sometime Bride

Native American

F..."

Welcome to the challenge Sandra! I added your post’s link to first page of this thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Sandra]

Thanks Joanna!

[Christine]

I ended up reading before (not sure if I'll get to it in time). It was surprisingly well written, but like I mentioned in my review, the author wrote a lot of social aspects with a 21st century viewpoint. Despite that, I liked how she delved into Vauxhall and entrepreneurship. I also really enjoyed the rags to riches trope, and how Jessica took on a different identity. She was a very strong protagonist.

[Merry]

Christine good review on Would I lie and the info on the writing style. I am currently in a slump in the historical romance world as I have been picking the wrong books and too many are written with the 21st century viewpoint.

[Christine]

Merry Jewelhound wrote: "Christine good review on Would I lie and the info on the writing style. I am currently in a slump in the historical romance world as I have been picking the wrong books and too many are written wit..."
Yeah, sometimes it's fine as it's fiction after all, but it can be frustrating if you're in the mood for a specific style. I'd recommend Beverly Jenkins, Abigail Wilson, or Julianne Donaldson if you want to avoid the 21st century viewpoint. I learned a lot of history from BJ's books.

[Sandra]

In what way: "written with the 21st century viewpoint"? in a literary or historical way?

[Sandra]

Christine L. wrote: "Merry Jewelhound wrote: "Christine good review on Would I lie and the info on the writing style. I am currently in a slump in the historical romance world as I have been picking the wrong books and..."

I enjoyed immensely the Julianne Donaldson's books I've read. I don't know the other two authors. Do you recommend some specific book?

[Padma]

What books have you all planned for September theme?

[&#x1f41d; Shaz &#x1f41d;]

Is Lisa Klaypas book Only With Your Love good to read for American Revolution. ??
As it appears on the list of books for the theme.

[Sandra]

I don't think the book about the American revolution, maybe the story it's in that time frame. I've read it and I don't remember to have references to the revolution.

[Merry]

@Sandra I think its just me lol.

I looked at some old lists of books and have chosen Dawn's Early Light It was written in 1934.

[Jan]

Shaz wrote: "Is Lisa Klaypas book Only With Your Love good to read for American Revolution. ??
As it appears on the list of books for the theme."

I read this one in Feb for the pirate theme. I don't think it's really about the American revolution. It's an early Lisa Kleypas and very different in style from her more recent books. It felt very old school - like a bodice ripper, with some dubious consent scenes.

For American Revolution, have you read The Mistress of Tall Acre by Laura Frantz?


I liked it. Marriage of convenience, a bit of a mystery, a clean read, quite gripping and well-written.

I plan to read another of her books for the September read for American Revolution: The Colonel's Lady.

[Christine]

Jan wrote: "Shaz wrote: "Is Lisa Klaypas book Only With Your Love good to read for American Revolution. ??
As it appears on the list of books for the theme...."
Hey Jan, I'm also planning on The Colonel's Lady! Will send you a PM to see if you'd like to do a buddy read.

Sandra wrote: "Christine L. wrote: "Merry Jewelhound wrote: "Christine good review on Would I lie and the info on the writing style. I am currently in a slump in the historical romance world as I have been pickin..."

Also Sandra, with Beverly Jenkins, you can't really go wrong, but my favourite so far has been Destiny's Captive. I loved the chemistry in it, and the main characters in Forbidden were great, too. For Abigail Wilson, I'd suggest The Vanishing at Loxby Manor, although In the Shadow of Croft Towers is quite fun despite being a little predictable. For Would I Lie, I found the way the author describes a lot about sex and gender is very 21st century-like, and I rather doubt that a girl in Jessica's situation would be as half aware of how she is with all of that.

[Sandra]

Sometimes, I also wonder about some of the sex scenes in some books, because it seems like an modern kind of relationship, like so we can't even be in the same room alone but then we kiss, fingers touch (everywhere) and lose virginity in 5 minutes. I think it's kind of weird because even if that happens the characters have no problem whatsoever and don't even question?! of course that doesn't happen in all books but some authors do that in all the books

[Sandra]

Christine, thanks for your suggestions!! I'm going to look at them.

[Sandra]

Lauren wrote: "Sandra, if it doesn't have to MJP, I would recommend 'The Sometime Bride ' by Blair Bancroft. I loved it and it taught me all about the Peninsula War."

Lauren, I start reading The Sometime Bride it seems pretty detailed, spite the portuguese names are sometimes spanish, eheh

[Christine]

Sandra wrote: "Sometimes, I also wonder about some of the sex scenes in some books, because it seems like an modern kind of relationship, like so we can't even be in the same room alone but then we kiss, fingers ..."
Haha! Yeah,there does seem to be that mixed message there sometimes. My main issue with that lately has been when the sex overshadows the plot (happens in fantasy too like Game of Thrones), and I end up forgetting the conflict sometimes. I get that everyone has their own level of desired spice, though.

[Sandra]

Lauren wrote: "It takes place in Portugal but expands to Spain and England. If your a histoy fan then this will teach you about the Regency area. Also even though Alex is a control freak Kat gives him his just de..."

Lauren, I've just loved the book you recommended to me!! There's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thanks a lot for the recomendation. Did you read some other book from this author?

[Sandra]

Jan wrote: "Lauren wrote: "Sandra, if it doesn't have to MJP, I would recommend 'The Sometime Bride ' by Blair Bancroft. I loved it and it taught me all about the Peninsula War."

I'm going to have a look at t..."
Jan, you have to read it! ;)

[Sandra]

Christine L. wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Sometimes, I also wonder about some of the sex scenes in some books, because it seems like an modern kind of relationship, like so we can't even be in the same room alone but then we..."

Totally agree! II like to read the entire series straight away and when I like the author I like to read all the books. I don't remember which author I had to stop reading the books because it seems I always read the same thing all over again, ipsis verbis ... also in the sex scenes. One thing I liked for instance in Julia Quinn´s books, like The Bridgertons, was that she wrights about the same family, mainly the same story "girl meets boy" in all the books serie, but always in a diferent way in each book and each couple. Not every author manages to do that.

[Christine]

Sandra wrote: "Christine L. wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Sometimes, I also wonder about some of the sex scenes in some books, because it seems like an modern kind of relationship, like so we can't even be in the same r..."

Yeah, I can't blame you. Once you find an author you enjoy it's hard not to want to binge read their entire back log. Julia Quinn's one of the few prolific authors I've done that with, and Lisa Kleypas. Mainly because they've been around for a while, so they have quite a few books.

[Sandra]

I've read first Julia Quinn, then I read almost all Lisa Kleypas, after that I've started the Tessa Dare series, I've enjoyed but it's not like the first two authors.

[Padma]

I finished Runaway by Heather Graham for September American Revolution theme. Was a very good read

[Christine]

Padma wrote: "I finished Runaway by Heather Graham for September American Revolution theme. Was a very good read"

I'll have to check that one out as I tend to like Graham's historicals. For September, I had a really fun time reading The Colonel's Lady with other participants. Learned a lot! I can't wait for October as I chose Hearts Aflame. Someone else read it already for this challenge, so it made me want to read it more.

[Padma]

Hearts Aflame is a good read Christine

[Padma]

Read A knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux for Tudor theme.
It was very good and the story takes us between the Elizabethan period and the 20th century.
Though would have liked an epilogue for this telling us more about the HEA of the heroine and the reincarnated hero.

[Sandra]

Padma, I've read the resume and it caught my attention. It's possible to read only this book or I should read the serie (it's huuuuge!)?

[Padma]

Hi Sandra- did you mean Runaway? It's the first book in the series . So no worries

[Padma]

Or Knight in Shining Armour? It's a standalone. So you can read it

[Sandra]

Hi, I was talking about Knight in shining armour. The serie it's enormous. Thanks maybe I will read it for the Tudor theme as well

[Christine]

I didn't realize that was set during the Tudor time period, that's awesome. Will have to try it out sometime. Time travel is always fun. You could also do the second book in the All Souls Trilogy, Shadow of Nightas they go back in time in the Elizabethan period as well (though you'd want to start off with the first one, and it's not historical).

[Mariana]

I finally updated my tracking post - hadn't done so since June. I think I'm just going to skip Bodice-Ripper and Renaissance/Tudor this year. Those are two of the most difficult ones for me to find books I will enjoy.

[Merry]

The weather has turned fantastic! I am only on p19 of my early America book.

[Jan]

Merry Jewelhound wrote: "The weather has turned fantastic! I am only on p19 of my early America book."

I'm going pretty slowly on mine too. I've picked it up again after a break and I want to finish it before the end of the month. I'm determined!

[Jo]

Question on October Ancient World
Would a book taking place in 1375 work?
I am thinking of reading,The Wolf & the Witch but I dont know if it fits.

Thank you to anyone who knows :)

[Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels]

Jo wrote: "Question on October Ancient World
Would a book taking place in 1375 work?
I am thinking of reading,The Wolf & the Witch but I dont know if it fits.

Thank you to anyone who knows :)"

Not really, as it is in medieval time period. That would be good for November’s medieval category.

There are some lists in the third post with suggestions that should help hopefully.

[Jo]

Thank you! I did not think it would. I will look for something else.

[Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels]

Jo wrote: "Thank you! I did not think it would. I will look for something else."

I haven’t tried it but I have been recommended Transcendence by Shay Savage.

[Jo]

Thank you...I will give it a try...appreciate your time!

[Jan]

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Jo wrote: "Thank you! I did not think it would. I will look for something else."

I haven’t tried it but I have been recommended Transcendence by Shay Savage."

I read and liked Transcendence a few years ago. Not sure how I'd find it now but I enjoyed it at the time. It's a very different romance. The hero is kind of an actual 'caveman' and the heroine is a modern woman trapped in the past. The time travel isn't a big part of the story, though. It's all about the romance/relationship between a modern woman and a man from prehistory. Interesting.

[Jan]

I finished my September read for American Revolution just in time for the end of the month. The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz. It was just OK for me and I give 2.5 stars. At least I finished it LOL.


I've just started my October read for Americana/Gilded Age. It seems decent so far. The Rogue of Fifth Avenue by Joanna Shupe. This writer has been hit-or-miss for me but I haven't read any of this series, so we'll see!


What is everyone going to read for October?