Need a good historical romance. Other genres too. discussion
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Discussion of HR and other books. And recs.
I read a book a couple of years ago where it felt like the author was ticking off the types of sex the couple could have. I didn't see any romance in being on your knees in a field.
I agree that sex in books can be overblown and overdone. I'm happy enough without any if the romance itself is written well. What I object to with Christian romance readers is that they act as if sex is a sin which must never be talked about and when they read a romance with some sex in it, will give it a one- or two-star rating just for that reason, without any regard for the plot or writing.
OLT wrote: "I agree that sex in books can be overblown and overdone. I'm happy enough without any if the romance itself is written well. What I object to with Christian romance readers is that they act as if s..."Ditto that.
Mod
Read your review. Why can't rom authors have the H do a good
grovel? It shows respect for the h & tells her the hero knows he
crossed over a line & he won't do this in future.
HR-ML wrote: "Hi Kathy, Read your review. Why can't rom authors have the H do a good
grovel? It shows respect for the h & tells her the hero knows he
crossed over a line & he won't do this in future."
Amen to that. I seldom even require one. I don't want to add a spoiler, but this guy's reasoning for doing what he did just should not have been so easily forgiven. Plus, I hate to get to the ending of a story and the ending is bad. 😡
Mod
One romance I read 20+ yrs ago had a lousy ending for a blind
heroine. I threw the book against the wall! Only time I've ever
done this. I thought this hero led her on & would do right by
the h: wrong! I can't recall title or story, just a bummer.
I just finished The Luckiest Lady in London and I didn't like it at all. If I wanted to read about a narcissist, there's a ton of books abbout Trump that I could choose from. Ick. Then throw in a nymphomaniac to add to the craziness. Was there a romance in this book somewhere? Guess I missed it.
OLT wrote: "I agree that sex in books can be overblown and overdone. I'm happy enough without any if the romance itself is written well. What I object to with Christian romance readers is that they act as if s..."I think that is arrogant. There is a whole romance category already out there that caters to them.
Fortunately, romance is such a big genre that readers are spoiled for choice. I know I've read The Luckiest Lady in London but don't remember much about it. I have several of Sherry Thomas' books but she isn't one of my favorite romance writers.
Thinking back over some of the books I've read this year, the one that immediately comes to mind is Erin Satie's Book of Love. The gritty side of women's lack of power after marriage.
Mary Balogh is no longer an auto-buy for me, and the last book I read by Anne Gracie didn't wow me either, but that may just have been me. I haven't really felt the urge to pre-order her next book, and I've been pre-ordering her books for years. :(
Mod
There were a couple of her's I liked, the rest seemed average. IMO some of her heroines put up w/ nonsense from heroes. One MC couple (Ravishing the Heiress) agreed to wait 8 yrs to consummate their marriage! Huh???
Just shows again how subjective likes and dislikes of romances are. For me, the cream of the crop in HR authors comprises Sherry Thomas, Meredith Duran, Erin Satie, Cecilia Grant, Joanna Bourne, sometimes Emily Windsor, and maybe a couple of others whose names are eluding me. I care more about the writing than the plot or what the characters are doing. Now, if the writing is only average, then I'll grouse about the plot or characters.
I'm changing my buying habits to while I may like particular books by authors, now I'll wait for reviews on their new releases, rather than pre-ordering.
HappyBookWorm2020 wrote: "I'm changing my buying habits to while I may like particular books by authors, now I'll wait for reviews on their new releases, rather than pre-ordering."I usually do that. I am also so fed up with Amazon not allow libraries to get the ebooks, that I'm trying to read more library books or now listen to the audio books of some of those authors.
Mod
HR-ML wrote: "Even a good writer can produce a klunker book."I totally agree. But the subjective part of my observation is that I loved Ravishing the Heiress and The Luckiest Lady in London and you and Carol not so much.
Mod
Yrs ago you and I both reviewed on Amazon, Dangerous in Diamonds, you were disappointed & I liked it.
As we've said many times, differences of opinion are good & healthy.
HR-ML wrote: "IMO the heroine in Ravishing...was mousy and practically threw the H at the OW. For me, low self-esteem is an overused Romanceland trope. I don't recall The Luckiest Lady. Yrs ago you and I both ..."
I can still feel that disappointment, too. In spite of my aging memory. It was the last book in that Rarest Blooms quartet and my expectations for the horndog duke's romance weren't met by the story.
Mod
I remember loving The Luckiest Lady in London. His at Night was a reread for me for a long while. I love the give and take between the H and the h in her books. She writes the most interesting characters. I may not like some of her heroines or heroes in the beginning of her books or at least some of their character traits, but I usually end up loving the way they get to their happily ever after. Another title of hers I really liked was Not Quite a Husband.I stopped reading her female Sherlock Holmes books. I did enjoy the ones I read though.
And I know I bring this up at least once every 6 months or so, but is Cecilia Grant ever going to write another HR?
Mod
Do you recall title of S. Thomas HR where the heroine was nearing
(or already had) her 3rd marriage? She met the H again on a train
but had several veils covering her face? I liked this one v much.
I got nothing tonight. Kittens have eaten my brain.
HR-ML,Wasn't it on a ship that they met? I think this was the first book in the series. I am drawing a blank on the title as well. Beguiling the Beauty?
Mod
That's the one!
HBW---
Kitten fatigue?
HR-ML wrote: "Roberta2----That's the one!
HBW---
Kitten fatigue?"
Big time. I spent 10 days giving 22 doses a day (2x11). It was tiring.
Mod
You're right, it was a ship.
HBW---
Sounds exhausting. But thanks for helping the kittens.
Mod
or trick the beautiful h. Is this interesting to mostly female
rom readers? No.
HR-ML wrote: "Roberat2---You're right, it was a ship.
HBW---
Sounds exhausting. But thanks for helping the kittens."
Aw, there is nothing sweeter than kittens. Well, all babies. All babies are precious.
I have been reading paranormal romance the last couple of days.
Has anyone read the new Warfield book? I finished it recently and thought it was good enough and the price is very, very right. It's a 3-star book for me but the story is satisfying.
The Girl in His Shadow has a bargain price today on Amazon. Takes place in 1845, about a young woman who aspires to be a medical doctor. Written by Jaima Fixsen and Regina Sirois, under the pen name Audrey Blake.
OLT wrote: "The Girl in His Shadow has a bargain price today on Amazon. Takes place in 1845, about a young woman who aspires to be a medical doctor. Written by Jaima Fixsen and Regina Sirois, u..."Will get it from hoopla. Thanks
I'm falling in love with my library! I posted a request for Miss Delectable, figuring if the ever got it (not hopeful), they would notify me. Wednesday I received an email from my library saying they would order the ebook for me if I really wanted it. Responded yes yesterday and voila, it's on my KF. Think I might need to make a donation.
Mod
Their volunteer group is Friends of the Public Library, where
I may volunteer in future?
I donated most of my books to nursing homes.
Mod
Cool!
Carol wrote: "I'm falling in love with my library! I posted a request for Miss Delectable, figuring if the ever got it (not hopeful), they would notify me. Wednesday I received an email from my library saying th..."Hope you enjoy Miss Delectable - I loved it, 5 big stars.
Mod
I'm on book 4. Reading in order. Will alternate with other books if story becomes too intense. (4 books + 3 novellas total).
For anybody who's curious about Stacey Abrams' old romantic suspense writing, there's one from 2006 sale today on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Sins-Se...
Actually, there are three available for $1.99 on Amazon. Not just Hidden Sins. Also Deception and Reckless.
Thought someone might be interested. 100 years since Heyer’s The Black Moth was published.https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/my-poo...
The Girl in His Shadow is $AUS 11.76 at my end. Is it worth that OLT?
I read People We Meet on Vacation over the weekend. I liked Beach Read and was looking forward to reading it. Lots of 4's and 5's, too. I kept hoping something interesting would happen, but alas not much did. I gave it a 3, but would have given it a 2 1/2, if I could. Glad I did not purchase it.
Danker wrote: "The Girl in His Shadow is $AUS 11.76 at my end. Is it worth that OLT?"I haven't read it yet. But, based on my experience with Jaima Fixsen and my bargain-hunting ways, I probably wouldn't buy it at that price.
Danker wrote: "Thought someone might be interested. 100 years since Heyer’s The Black Moth was published.https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/my-poo......"
I read and re-read her books so many times.
Mod
Re-reading this one. Hero was vulnerable due to past, hard life
& he'd never been in love. He was 5 yrs junior to heroine.
Work is seriously messing with my reading time. :( I'm re-reading another paranormal romance series right now. One of my favorite series. Lots of humor.Dragon Bound
Need a good historical romance. Other genres too.
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OLT, I'm okay with one or two sex scenes - although I can do without them. I'd rather see emotional intimacy and passionate attachment, rather than sex scenes where it seems the author is checking off a box. I've read books where I started skipping over them just to get back to the story.