It's Not Jane Austen, But It's Really Good

[Sophia]

While we love our Jane Austen, most of us read a variety of books, topics, genres, etc and we like to share about them with our fifty best reading buddies. Here is a place where you can recommend non-Austenesque books or start a discussion about non-Austenesque books. I do ask you to please remember to be courteous b/c everyone has their own tastes and please limit discussion/recommendation of Non-Austenesque books to here. Thanks!

[Talia]

Lovely!

Just finished and loved the first Outlander. I have ordered the next book in the series. Hoping to see the show on DVD.

[Talia]

Sophia wrote: "While we love our Jane Austen, most of us read a variety of books, topics, genres, etc and we like to share about them with our fifty best reading buddies. Here is a place where you can recommend ..."

Thank you!

[Sophia]

Not a big deal, Monica! I actually got the idea from watching you and Talia's Outlander enthusiasm. I love that series too. I still need to read the most recent book. I'm doing a slow re-read of the series by listening to it on audio. I'm still on book two. ;)

Sometimes a book is so good that we will burst if we don't share so I was glad the idea popped into my head.

I also love Georgette Heyer books and have started reading Julie Klassen so it will be fun to see what everyone else's non-Jane enthusiasms are. ;)

[Ceri]

If you like Austen you might also like Georgette Heyer, I love her Georgian/Regency romances.

Also, this is a bit obvious but how about going towards Victorian times and reading some Bronte? My favourites include Jane Eyre by Charlotte and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne. Also North and South

[Sophia]

Lucky you!!!! Hope you like them. I read Secret of Pembrooke Hall and really liked it.

[Sophia]

I love all those too, Ceri! I think I binge read Georgette Heyer books for about a year a few years back. ;) And then I had to read three Elizabeth Gaskells in a row after watching Wives & Daughters when it first came out.

[Ceri]

I first read Jane Austen as a teenager, and I read them pretty much one after the other. So when I'd read them all I asked my mum, who was an English teacher, what I should read next, and she put me onto Georgette Heyer. I have read most of them many times over the years, she is a real favourite of mine. A while ago I posted my top 8 or so Heyer reads and I have been thinking of posting a part 2 with my next top 8 Heyer reads, I have that many favourites.

[Sophia]

I would definitely have to create a part two list if we're talking GH favorites. There weren't many I didn't absolutely love. And I have definitely read a few many times. I'll look forward to that post.

[Ceri]

If you ever have the time free (because it takes a fair bit of contemplation to narrow down your favourites!) then I'd love to see your list of favourite Heyers, Sophia.

[Sophia]

I'll work on that. It's been a while since I gave it some thought. Might even have to do a re-read or two, perish the thought. Haha!

[Ceri]

There are certainly less enjoyable ways to spend your time than doing a Georgette Heyer reread! In some respects it's not a bad thing to do a list of favourites a while later, see which ones stuck in your memory more.

[Sophia]

True! I was having similar thoughts as I stared at my bookshelf.

[Shannon]

Monica wrote: "I recently won paperbacks of all Julie Klassen's books in her blog tour giveaway so I'm eager to start reading those, as I've not read her yet. But I've heard nothing but amazing things."

I love Julie Klassen! I think you will enjoy her work :)

Great idea Sophia! I have been reading more non-Austenesque books than usual lately. They are all still historical fiction though and I have really been enjoying some of them. I really liked the Everstone Chronicles by Dawn Crandall (e-book only).

I still haven't read Georgette Heyer yet. I really need to get on that as she has been on my to-read list for forever.

I also have Outlander on my to-read list. I first heard about it when the TV series came out (which I haven't watched that either).

So much to read with so little time!

[Sophia]

Dawn Crandall? I need to investigate. I'm always up for a new to me author.

Glad Julie K. is high on your list. Do you have a favorite one?

Hope you like Georgette H. when you try her books.

[Georgiana]

What about Poldark series by Winston Graham? (Ross Poldark). I'm watching the TV series on streaming, but I still remember the wonderful TV series of 1977. The best BBC series before P&P 1995.

[Sophia]

I loved the older version of Poldark too, Georgiana. I haven't watched the newer one.

[Ceri]

I went to add Dawn Crandall to my Amazon wishlist and her books are already on there, so somebody must have recommended them to me in the past as well.

[Shannon]

Sophia wrote:
Glad Julie K. is high on your list. Do you have a favorite one?


My top 3 (in no particular order) are Maid of Fairbourne Hall, The Silent Governess and Secret of Pembrooke Park.

I would definitely be interested in everyone's top Georgette H books so I can pick which one to read first :)

[Abigail]

Hi, Shannon, my favorite Heyers are The Unknown Ajax, Frederica, and Sylvester. Or maybe Devil's Cub and Arabella! Or or—there are so many.

[Sophia]

Shannon wrote: "Sophia wrote:
Glad Julie K. is high on your list. Do you have a favorite one?

Thank you, Shannon!

Ceri wanted to know my Top List of GH books too and I was working on it. And I think I would need two posts to list all these too, Ceri. Haha! Here's what I've got:

Madcap Fun: Frederica, The Unknown Ajax and The Grand Sophie

Georgian Best: These Old Shades, The Masqueraders, The Convenient Marriage

Medieval: Simon the Cold Heart

Napoleonic War: The Spanish Bride, An Infamous Army

Regency Romps: Cotillion, Venetia, Bath Tangle, Arabella
and Regency Buck

And this one is very different from her usual heroines, but I loved The Civil Contract for having hidden depth.

I haven't read any of her mysteries yet.

[Beth]

If I had to choose my favorite romantic hero I would claim Hugo Darracott in The Unknown Ajax. He far exceeds Mr. Darcy in my admiration.

I think Eustacie in the Talisman Ring is one of the funniest characters I have ever read. She is very similar to Eugenie in These Old Shades, but even more exuberant.

I like True Colours because it took into account love and marriage for older characters. It actually became a treatise on the many reasons people marry.

Frederica and her brothers were a hoot.

Venezia's disabled brother is a very endearing character and there is more that a hint of feminism in the plot.

My Mr. Darcy Likes it Wild was definitely inspired by The Corinthian.

The Spanish Bride and An Infamous Army led to a plot bunny I am working on where Lydia follows the drum and grows up.

I adore Georgette Heyer, and as I said before I love Hugo Darracott better than Mr. Darcy

[Sophia]

Yes, I love several of her heroes better than Mr. Darcy too, Beth. But then again, it doesn't feel traitorous on my tongue to say so b/c Mr. Darcy isn't my favorite of Austen's heroes. Haha!

I look forward to my read of Mr. Darcy Likes it Wild more than ever now. And that would be splendid to see Lydia grow in a story set against the wars. Do you mean False Colours btw? It did speak to a 'why folks marry' theme.

[Beth]

Yes, I definitely mean False Colours.

[Ceri]

I love Hugo Darracott. He's a wonderful hero. I blogged about my top 8 previously, here: http://babblingsofabookworm.blogspot....

But there were some wonderful reads that I couldn't include, I could easily have done a top 15 or twenty :)

[Sophia]

Fantastic post, Ceri!

You asked in your post if there were other regency authors that we liked and I forgot to mention that I love Carla Kelly's stories (she's an American author) that focus more on the influence of the Napoleonic war. Some are better than others, but I do love those too.

Has anyone here read Carla Kelly's books?

[Ceri]

I haven't read her work, Sophia, I'll have to have a look at her books.

[Ceri]

She's lovely isn't she! It doesn't show up with a giveaway for me, is it US only? I read the other version of this, The Road to You and I really enjoyed it. I'd like to read this version too :)

[Ceri]

LOL! It took me to the right book, I'm not sure what happened there!

[Sophia]

Nice share, Monica! I like her books too. This is a good place to put non-Jane Austen books that are still a strong recommendation. I saw one a few weeks back that was a retelling of Sound of Music story, but didn't share b/c it wasn't JA. Great idea!

[Carmen8094]

Ceri wrote: "If you like Austen you might also like Georgette Heyer, I love her Georgian/Regency romances.


Some years ago I read "Il Dandy della Reggenza" (Regency Buck) by Georgette Heyer, and I liked all the descriptions, but I didn't like the story very much (too much mystery). But all of you made me eager to have another try with her books (oh, and now I want to read the story with Hugo Darracott!!).

[Ceri]

The one with Hugo is one of my very favourites, Carmen! It's The Unknown Ajax. Although I think it only fair to warn you that there is mystery in this book too but I think Hugo is a more likeable hero than Lord Worth and the heroine more likeable than Judith too.

[Carmen8094]

Ceri wrote: "The one with Hugo is one of my very favourites, Carmen! It's The Unknown Ajax. Although I think it only fair to warn you that there is mystery in this book too but I think Hugo is a m..."

Thank you, Ceri, I'll try to find it in Italian! :)

[Georgiana]

Carmen8094 wrote: "Ceri wrote: "The one with Hugo is one of my very favourites, Carmen! It's The Unknown Ajax. Although I think it only fair to warn you that there is mystery in this book too but I thin..."

Here it is:

even if I don't know if it is still available and unabridged.
There is this version, too:

but I'm afraid this one is abridged...

[Ceri]

Higher up the thread we were talking about Dawn Crandall and there is a giveaway of one of her ebooks here: http://heatherdaygilbert.com/2015/04/...

[Carmen8094]

Georgiana wrote: "Carmen8094 wrote: "Ceri wrote: "The one with Hugo is one of my very favourites, Carmen! It's The Unknown Ajax. Although I think it only fair to warn you that there is mystery in this ..."

Grazie, Georgiana :)

[Sophia]

That's the one I need to read too, Monica. Thanks!

[Ahnya]

I have to space out my Outlander reading. I love it, but it is so big, and intense(for me) that when I finish a book I have to take a break, and then come back to it. I am that way with Frank Herbert's Dune series as well.

[Sheila]

Where would I find this give away? I am only on book 5 but intend to read all the books.

[Sheila]

Thanks for the link - good luck on reading straight through. I found the first four easy to read straight through but this fifth one is not as mesmerizing.

[Sophia]

They are heavy hitters and looonnng, Ahnya. I have experienced post book depression with nearly every one of them.

[Sheila]

Oh, there are parts I go back and re-read, i.e., the 20 year reunion or when he sends her back the first time and she decides to stay - oh, so romantic.

[Sophia]

Oh yes, Sheila, those are great moments!

[Ceri]

I can't remember whether we've mentioned this author already, but I've read a few books by Karen Witemeyer which I've really enjoyed. They are set in late 1800s US, Christian, but not preachy. I noticed one of her books was free earlier (in the UK, but quite possibly elsewhere too). I haven't read this one so I can't vouch for it, but I've read about four of her other books and they were all excellent. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Win-Her-Heart...

[Sophia]

Hey, these are new to me. I'll have to check them out, Ceri. Thanks!

I also have one to add. I have recently read three Deeanne Gist books that focused on the 1893 Chicago World's Fair: It Happened At the Fair, Fair Game, and Tiffany Girl.

I thought they were great for being meticulous about telling a unique time period and place in American History with some cute sweet romances.

Just to clarify, I know she wrote a ton of Inspirational fiction for a different publisher and these do have light inspirational themes, but with this other publisher, I think they are more Sweet Historical Fiction/Romance.

[Sheila]

Free in the U.S.A, with 196 five-star reviews.

[Ceri]

I'll have to check out those books, Sophia.

Sheila, I would recommend Karen Witemeyer wholeheartedly, I've so enjoyed her books, they are really hard to put down.

[Sheila]

I did "buy" that free one so we will see...

[Ceri]

I hope you enjoy it. As I said, I haven't read that one yet, but the books of hers I have read have all been very good.

[Sophia]

I know it's late in the day for the Daily Deal, but I just found out about this sale on Georgette Heyer's Sprig Muslin at Audible.com. $3.95 US today only

http://www.audible.com/pd/Classics/Sp...