medieval time period, please and thank you!

[Eliza]

I have a hankering for a good medieval romance story. BR preferably with one of those really terrible alpha males who doesn't want, appreciate or like the heroine...until he does.

What I am not in the mood for is a headstrong, stupid heroine. You know the kind that is always pissing the hero off and making dumb decisions? I'll take a quiet, gentle heroine that wins the hero over with her kind heart. :)

I've read several Catherine Coulter but she's not one of my favorites.

[[deleted user]]

I can only think of a few romances off the top of my head which don't have a stupid and headstrong female lead lol

So I can't promise you a heroine who isn't annoying.

You've already read Woodwiss, my other top medieval recs are The Conqueror and Keeper of the Dream

A few other medieval books I've enjoyed.
Daggers of Gold
Bold Conquest
Lord of Midnight
Lord of My Heart
Dark Champion
Winter's Heat
So Speaks the Heart

[Eliza]

Thank you! I almost listed The Conqueror on here because I love that damn book, but the heroine drives me nuts in that book.

I'm going to look at all of these!

[[deleted user]]

I know what you mean.

It just one long quest to find the ones where the good parts out weigh the bad.

[Morena]

I call these heroines chin-thrusters and the only reason why I've finished some of these romances were the heroes. I am also on the lookout for medieval romances where the heroine is a normal woman that fits the time-period, and not some willful, fiercely independent primadonna. The only medieval romance where the heroine behaved gently and was of quiet nature was Bond of Blood
I still gave it a low rating because Gellis's prose reads clunky to me.

I've enjoyed only 2 books by Coulter, most of her books are fail for me, but the heroine in Earth Song was tolerable and amusing,

[Eliza]

great way to describe these women!

[Grace]

“My Gallant Enemy” would fit that description I think, or any of that author’s medieval books (I’m totally spacing on her name, it’s like Roxanne or something)

[Grace]

“For My Lady’s Heart” by Laura Kinsale - sorry not technically a bodice ripper and the hero doesn’t really match the chin thruster (lol) description but the heroine Melanthe is an absolute force to be reckoned with and ruthlessly intelligent, but not in the annoying “headstrong” way. IMHO it’s one of the best medieval romances I’ve ever read, the story is super unpredictable.

[[deleted user]]

Chin thrusting and foot stamping!

The 70s in general might be more likely to have the female lead you're looking for. However the 70s romances were a bit more historical, and the medieval era wasn't popular until the 80s.

[Lauren]

@ Grace Peck, My Gallant Enemy is by Rexanne Becnel. I love her books, but I don't think I'd put it in the Bodice-ripper category. Same with Heather Graham and Samantha James's books. All good books, though.

A medieval Bodice-rippers is one of my favorite categories. Rose Of Rapture by Rebecca Brandewyne is a good book and it is now available on Kindle. Previously, I had to search for it and order the hardback. Just my luck!

[Jericho]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

This thread is great! I'm always looking for "average" girls in books too. Ones I can relate to, not ones who know kung-fu and are amazing at literally everything.

[Eliza]

Amen, Jericho. 👏

[Jericho]

Eliza wrote: "Amen, Jericho. 👏"

🤭😊

I'm so glad im not the only reader left who feels that way. 🤩

[Lauren]

Definitely, not the only one. A mature h is hard to find

[Eliza]

I find that the abused heroines that get married off and then suddenly become feisty and stupid are the ones that ruin the books for me. I don't mind a heroine that was raised to be a strong fighter, but the timid ones who somehow magically find a backbone make zero sense to me. It's unrealistic, uncharacteristic and add nothing to the plot expect a headache.

[Lauren]

That drives me crazy too, Eliza.

[[deleted user]]

Lauren wrote: "Rose Of Rapture by Rebecca Brandewyne is a good book and it is now available on Kindle. Previously, I had to search for it and order the hardback. Just my luck!

Please remember to be careful when buying ebooks of old books on Amazon. The ebook of Rose Of Rapture on Amazon isn't legit, it's another rip off. Thieves are taking OCR epubs of book scans and profiting on Amazon.

The fakes are easy to spot.
- Bad formatting and spelling mistakes
- No Publisher name
- No proper cover or using a picture of the original cover

Don't give money to a thief and or this terrible company.

[Eliza]

I'm giving Winterbourne a try!! I like the plot, don't like that they spend a lot of time apart, but we shall see how it goes!

[Jericho]

Omg you guys are the best! Yes to all these things! 🤩🤩🤩

[Lauren]

Thanks for the info, Ann!

Eliza, I liked Winterbourne

[Nabilah]

Eliza wrote: "I'm giving Winterbourne a try!! I like the plot, don't like that they spend a lot of time apart, but we shall see how it goes!"

I just finished reading it yesterday. Highly recommended! The second half isn't as great as the first, but this book is way better than what's being put out there nowadays. The author paid a lot of attention to the historical details, and the characters acted appropriately for the period.

[Morena]

Has anyone read Annelise's Kamada trilogy "Hiraeth"? It's set during the reign of Edward II. The main heroine is gentle (for the most part) so you may enjoy that bit. I am on the second book now A Banner Red and Gold. I like that this is also a historical fiction with political conflict, but the prose is overwritten, there are wonky transitions, silly descriptions, boring main characters... which is a pity because the BR scenes are raunchy, and I enjoy Kamada's portrayal of Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer. I'll share with you one BR scene that made me nostalgic for good old BRs. (this is an abridged version of the scene)

"I warned you, you damn slut, that I owned you till I was done with you. You were to give yourself to no one else---no one!"....His hand lashed out, striking her face a stinging blow.
Her head snapped back with the force of a second blow and the pain brought tears to her eyes..... Still [clutching] the goblet in her hand, she threw its content [at his face]... 
Wiping the wine from his livid face, he saw her eyes blazing with hurt fury and in that instant he forgot Isabella. He reached out for her, tangling his fingers in her long hair to pull her flailing body back. She fought him with all the strength she had, but he slammed her down hard, pinning her to the bed with one knee. 
"Whoreson!..." She screeched at him. "No woman is safe from your lustful appetite---yet you dare accuse me of the same...Do you also believe such behavior from your lady when you leave her for so long time? I hear she is most comely. I'm sure there are many men who would gladly share her bed." Jehan burst into tears as he caught hold of her with hard ungentle hands.
His face livid with rage, the dark eyes glowing with murderous light. "Never mention my wife to me... she has naught to do with you...naught!" His wine drenched hair fell about the high cheekbones in sodden disorder and his mouth drew back in a furious snarl as Jehan fought his hands, bruising her...

You can guess what he does to her next :)

[Cyn]

THis is a great re=read that involves the crusades and some serious OW drama. The H only has eyes for the h. The Hero is a is alpha in choosing his lady and shunning the others but he's also good to her. Two Brides for Ewan de Buchan. The beauty in the growth of their relationship, the draw that starts when she's healing him, I can't do it justice. Not a BR, but they learn to love each other has their on journey home and he makes her the lady of his house, and sticks it to the OW. I loved that she thought she got her way, but he now had the power to say what happened with her life.

Gallows Pole Dub con warning.

Prisoner of My Desire. In this case it's the FMC who Non-cons the MMC. She is being threatened by her step-brother. MMC vows revenge.

The Silver Devil

Ruthless TW: Age gap, coercion, and more. Good re-read.

[Lauren]

Morena wrote: "Has anyone read Annelise's Kamada trilogy "Hiraeth"? It's set during the reign of Edward II. The main heroine is gentle (for the most part) so you may enjoy that bit. I am on the second book now [b..."

That sounds interesting. I'll give it a try.
One of the best books are [book:In the Shadow of the Storm|30963899] and His Castilian Hawk by Anna Belfrage. The former book starts crazy but is fantastic! I wouldn't label it as a bodice ripper but both are great medieval series'!

[Lauren]

Cyn wrote: "THis is a great re=read that involves the crusades and some serious OW drama. The H only has eyes for the h. The Hero is a is alpha in choosing his lady and shunning the others but he's also good t..."

The Two Brides For Ewan De Buchan sounds very familiar. The plot reminds me of Captive Rose by Miriam Minger. I enjoy E.Elizabeth Watson. I look foward to trying this book.

[Cyn]

Lauren wrote: "Cyn wrote: "THis is a great re=read that involves the crusades and some serious OW drama. The H only has eyes for the h. The Hero is a is alpha in choosing his lady and shunning the others but he's..."

I hadn't heard of Captive Rose. Thank you for the suggestions. I've only read 2 of Ms Waton's books but I really enjoyed them both. The cover of 2 Brides changed from the woman with the beautiful red dress to the half naked highlander :(

[Lauren]

Cyn, I just read Two Bride's For Ewan De Buchan, and I really enjoyed it. I like the friendship that developed between the two MC. I appreciate the nomination. I also reread Capitive Rose. it wasn't as good as I remembered, but the book is still very similar except the H doesn't marry the h until they arrive in England and there isn't the OW problem. Both are not Bodice-rippers, but they were fun reads.

[Lauren]

Morena wrote: "Has anyone read Annelise's Kamada trilogy "Hiraeth"? It's set during the reign of Edward II. The main heroine is gentle (for the most part) so you may enjoy that bit. I am on the second book now [b..."

I just read [book:A Love So Bold|6102107] but the 2nd book sounds terrible. Are the orginal characters in the book? I wonder if i can skip this book and just read the 3rd book, except i can't find it. Do you know if was ever published?

[Morena]

Lauren wrote: "I just read A Love So Bold but the 2nd book sounds terrible. Are the orginal characters in the book? I wonder if i can skip this book and just read the 3rd book, except i can't find it. Do you know if was ever published?..."

I don't think that there is a third book. I only read this for Roger Mortimer. Once he is out I am out :)

[Lauren]

Morena, Goodread shows a third book but no picture. I would have loved to continue the story with the 1st book characters. :(

I understand why you like him.Roger Mortimer was definitely an interesting character in history. I think you would really like The Shadow of The Storm series by Anna Belfrage. The MMC is loyal to Roger Mortimer, and it follows from his daring escape from the Tower to his horrific death. The romance was wonderful too

[Morena]

Lauren wrote: "Morena, Goodread shows a third book but no picture. I would have loved to continue the story with the 1st book characters. :(
I understand why you like him.Roger Mortimer was definitely an interes..."

Thank you for the rec. Already have that book in my TBR. While I don't like Kamada's prose and her main characters, she had done some things right and didn't shy away from hard, disturbing scenes. It's weird how her books are completely obscure. I came across her work purely by chance. I guess no publisher has rights to her works so it cannot even be republished electronically. I think she also wrote this book
Where nobles tread The book is also set in the 14th century and the writers name, Janet Kilbourne, is too close to Kamada's hero name, James Kilburn, to be a coincidence. But this book is also completely gone. Nowhere to be found.

[Lauren]

Morena, That's sad to hear because I liked her book. Though, if you hadn't mentioned the 2nd book in this group,I wouldn't have known this author existed. I can't find any other books. It's like she wrote 2 or 3 books and then dropped off the face of the planet. It's a shame! I'm happy when I find an author who doesn't shy away from the hard, disturbing scenes. One of the biggest reasons I prefer Bodice-rippers/older books is because they aren't PC and stick closer to history and the people of that era.