Romance Across the Ages - 2024 Challenge

[Jan]

I read Too Scot to Handle by Grace Burrowes for Scottish/Highlander. Unfortunately it wasn't very Scottish. The hero was a Scot and he wore a kilt a few times and had a bit of a brogue. But it took place entirely in London and didn't feel very Scottish. LOL. Oh well, I'm still going to count it.


For November my plan was to read Promise of the Rose by Brenda Joyce for medieval. But I also wanted to read another Brenda Joyce before the end of the year for the Pirate theme on my Bingo challenge, A Lady At Last. Not sure how I'll go with two by Brenda Joyce. We'll see.

[🐝 Shaz 🐝]

Hope your next book is better Jan.

Was he a lowlander. Not many Highlander went to London in them those days 😄😉

[Jan]

🐝 Shaz 🐝 wrote: "Hope your next book is better Jan.

Was he a lowlander. Not many Highlander went to London in them those days 😄😉"

Thanks Shaz. Yes I'm not even sure where he came from. Could have been a lowlander LOL.

[Lauren]

I read The Highlander's Promise by Lynsay Sands for October's Highlander category. This is book #6 in the series and while its Ok, there is nothing original abut it. In fact, all of the books in the series that I've read are basically carbon copies of each other.

I think I'm calling it quits on this series.

[Lauren]

I read:
Regency: Scandal Becomes Her by Shirlee Busbee
Medieval: A Love So Bold by Annelisa Kamada

[Jan]

I have struggled a bit to find a medieval for November that I'm in the mood to read. So I counted a Regency I read this month instead, The Beast Takes a Bride, the new one by Julie Anne Long. I enjoyed it. 4 stars.


For December I'm planning to read The Lady Tempts an Heir by Harper St George for Gilded Age. I don't think I've read anything by this author before. I hope it's good.

[Lauren]

I read The Proposal by Mary Balogh for the Regency category. The heroine is a recurring character in Balogh's series, and I had previously found it difficult to warm up to her. Nevertheless, in this book, she is very approachable. The hero is an absolute delight, and its worth reading the book just for him.

[Susan]

The final month and I am just starting Magnate by Joanna Shupe for the Gilded Age.

[Jan]

Susan wrote: "The final month and I am just starting Magnate by Joanna Shupe for the Gilded Age."

Hope you enjoy, Susan. This is one of her earlier books, and I liked it. Somehow I don't seem to enjoy her later books as much, but for me this was a good one.

[Xee]

Jan wrote: "Susan wrote: "The final month and I am just starting Magnate by Joanna Shupe for the Gilded Age."

Hope you enjoy, Susan. This is one of her earlier books, and I liked it. Somehow I..."

Joanna Shupe just does not do it for me and i really want to like her coz i love love love gilded age and not many people write that much these days. With her, something just feels missing.

I finished Lisa Kleypas Love Come to Me for the December category , looks like I will only be doing that one for December.. i need better planning for next year, I started off ambitious , got swept up and then lost track all in the first quarter of the year...lol

[Jan]

Xee wrote: "i need better planning for next year, I started off ambitious , got swept up and then lost track all in the first quarter of the year...lol"
'
Ha ha. Yes, it happens. Never mind, there's always next year :)

I know what you mean about Joanna Shupe. Magnate is definitely a cut above her later books for me, though, and IMO well worth reading.

[Lauren]

I read:
American/gilded age: The Heiress Swap
Any hr on tbr: The Earl Kisses A Thief

[🐝 Shaz 🐝]

I have finished my challenge for this year, 19 books in total.

[Jan]

🐝 Shaz 🐝 wrote: "I have finished my challenge for this year, 19 books in total."

Yay Shaz! Well done!!

[🐝 Shaz 🐝]

Thank you Jan

[Jan]

Yay I finished the challenge today, with my read of Laura Lee Guhrke's The Wicked Ways of a Duke, one of the books from my TBR. I gave it 3 stars. All in all I read 13 books for the challenge, which I have enjoyed and hope to join again next year :)

[🐝 Shaz 🐝]

Well done Jan 👏👏👏

[Jan]

🐝 Shaz 🐝 wrote: "Well done Jan 👏👏👏"

Thanks Shaz :)

[Susan]

Well done Jan.

[Jan]

Susan wrote: "Well done Jan."

Thanks Susan. It's been a fun challenge, making me look for different books I mightn't have otherwise picked up.

[Lauren]

Well done, Shaz and Jan! I finished the year with 20 RATA books this year. I'm happy with that and I look forward to next year!

[Lauren]

Well done Jan and Shaz!

[Lauren]

I'm also done for the year. I read 11 books - I couldn't get into the book for Bodice Ripper category. My reading tastes have changed so much since I would devour these books as a teen.

I read A Very Bellamy Christmas by Minerva Spencer for December's any historical romance book category.

[Padma]

January
Edwardian - Forbidden Fire by Heather Graham
Ancient World / Prehistorical - The Gladiator's honour by Michelle Styles

February:
Viking- The Norse King's daughter - Sandra Hill
LGBTQ+

March:
Georgian - Silk & Steel- Kat Martin
American Revolution- Liberty's Lady- Karen Harper

April:
Pirate - The Pirate Prince- Gaelen Foley
Diversity (featuring at least one lead character with diverse racial/ethnic background)- The Viscount made me do it- Diana Quincy

May:
Western -The coming home place- Mary Spencer
Restoration / Stuarts- Darling Jasmine- Bertrice Small

June:
Your Choice - Freedom Flame- Caryn Cameron
Renaissance / Tudor - So worthy my love- Kathleen Woodiwiss

July:
Time Travel- To conquer a scot - Tamara Gill
Around the World (other than Britain or American)- Tender Fury- Connie Mason

August:
Bodice Ripper- Dreaming of you- Jennifer McNare
Native American-The savage heart-Diana Palmer

September:
Victorian -Dreaming of you -Lisa kleypas
Civil War / Pre-Civil War - captive- Heather Graham


October:
World Wars I to WWII - Morning glory - Lavyrle spencer
Scottish / Highlander Taming the highland bride- Lynsay Sands

November:
Regency - To pleasure a lady- Nicole Jordan
Medieval- Bliss - Lynsay Sands

December:
Americana/Gilded Age- Mail Order Prairie Bride- Julianne McClean
Any Historical Romance on -The countess - Lynsay Sands

Completed the challenge spanning 23 themes. Thoroughly enjoyed. Looking forward to 2025 challenge.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a happy new year

[Jan]

Nice work Lauren and Padma!