What themes/ideas for books would you like to see in historical/or Victorian romance novels?

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

This is sort of a jumpoff from the themes we love thread.

Are there themes you'd like to see more of, or would like to see at all?

I'd like to see a hero who is a mad scientist or Sherlock Holmes, master of all trades type. Or a heroine, for that matter.

Are there any historical superhero type books? I can't think of any (not counting the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen).

[Verity]

Prolly 'cuz I haven't read that many w/ this, I'd luv to see more books featuring female physicians & show the trials & tribulations of having to overcome people's judgmental / pessimistic attitude towards female docs.

Also, a reformed abusive hubby a la Mary Jo Putney = The burning point. I didn't quite believe that the hero will never raise a hand again when induced by alcohol, but I enjoyed the book - tho' the technical parts 'bout the explosive demolition got too detailed & long-winded.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Oh that would be cool to see some female physicians in historicals.

Wow, that's a tough subject. I like that MJP will write risky stories like that. I think I'll have to read The Burning Point. Thanks for the heads up, V.

[Sharon]

Verity wrote: "Prolly 'cuz I haven't read that many w/ this, I'd luv to see more books featuring female physicians & show the trials & tribulations of having to overcome people's judgmental / pessimistic attitude..."

There were not very many female physicians in Victorian times about which one could write because they were not permitted into the profession very often. Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell was the first one in the US. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/changingthefac... . Nursing was viewed as an occupation for slatterns and prostitutes until Florence Nightengale's reforms -- and Dr. Blackwell was viewed very much as a novelty when she visited England.

I don't like to sound discouraging at all where ideas are concerned, but knowing the history of the period as I do I can say that a story about a woman physician in the Victorian era would cause me to raise an eyebrow.

[FlibBityFLooB]

I think that not only physicians would be interesting, but other professions regarding a college degree. The women's college I attended was open in the 1800s, and there were women studying and obtaining advanced degrees at that time. I love to read about the trials/tribulations that women had to endure to become intellectuals!

Someone should write a romance novel about one of these women:
http://www.agnesscott.edu/LRiddle/women/firstPhDs.htm

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I agree with you, Flib. I've read up a bit on women's education back in the day, and I was surprised at what I found out. You're right, Sharon. It was very hard for women to pursue higher education, but there were a few that managed. I'd like to see that they are not lost to history. I've seen some US western historicals with women physicians, and I found it very well done in those. I like to write about educated women, and I certainly like to read about it.

[new_user]

I'd like to see any kind of physician. LOL. They're always written as dummies, LOL.

There were also some women taught at home. I'd like to see those too.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Funny you should say that, NU. That's the route I went with my NaNoWriMo story. Her parents and grandfather are scholars, so they tutored her, even in the medicinal arts. She sat in on some classes at a local college, but couldn't have gotten credit for them because of her race and ethnicity. She's biracial.

[Sharon]

Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "I agree with you, Flib. I've read up a bit on women's education back in the day, and I was surprised at what I found out. You're right, Sharon. It was very hard for women to pursue higher educatio..."

Wholeheartedly concur that writing about educated women is important. I realized upon my re-read that I wasn't very clear about it. I think that a great deal of research into the educational systems of the time would be imperative.

Heck, as recently as the 1970s (when I was in middle school), there were some curricula set aside as being "boys only" (woodshop) and "girls only (home ec). Title IX came about when I was in the 8th grade, and the "scandal" of having boys in the cooking classes was large. So, go back 100 years earlier in time to a period when women were supposed to be interested in nothing but marriage and childrearing (to the extent that men whose wives did not wish to have children were advised by doctors to kill the family cat or dog so that the woman would "want something on which to dote") and you see an enormous obstacle to higher education.

Throw in that "femme couvert" laws meant that you were one legal entity upon marriage -- and that legal entity was the husband. So many confounding factors to the situation!

[Christy]

Poor people.

Historical romances are so aristocrat heavy...There need to be more about people who are just people; dying of communal diseases and all.

[FlibBityFLooB]

I'd like to see a story that focuses on the staff that run some of these houses. Maybe a romance between a footman and a lady's maid? I don't know.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Hi Christy. I can probably scare up a couple of books that have impoverished protags. Do you mind if they are impoverished aristocats (*mispelled on purpose, LOL)?

Flib, the first story in Christmas Ball is the romance between a maid and a stablehand.

[Christy]

I'll take poor people any way I can get them lol

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Christy, you always brighten my day. :)

[Christy]

lol I am here to serve you

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Hey Christy, you'd like the last story in The Heart of Christmas A Handful of Gold\The Season for Suitors\This Wicked Gift. Both the h and h are working people. Great story, delicious hero!

[Christy]

Thanks, I'll add it!

[Verity]

I also luv improbable romance / H/H from different social classes / heroes who are common / working men :
- Elizabeth Hoyt = The Leopard Prince (Georgina hires Harry as her steward)
- Julie Beard = The duchess' lover (Will is Livie's garden designer / portrait artist & 15 yrs younger).
- Madeline Hunter = Secrets of surrender (Kyle is a man of affairs & places a winning bid on Roselyn when her lover auctions her 'cuz he's been Rose's secret admirer)
- Madeline Hunter = The romantic (Julian is a solicitor & has been pining for Penelope 4ever)

[Christy]

Thanks!

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I love books where the hero has been pining for the heroine, and I love self-made men (and women). Probably why Lisa Kleypas heroes tend to be near the top of my favorites list.

[Nisha]

Christy wrote: "Poor people.

Historical romances are so aristocrat heavy...There need to be more about people who are just people; dying of communal diseases and all."

It would be a nice change to see hardworking, ambitious people. The Brits were always ambitious, so why does it get lost in HR? They conquer or invent or something a lot during this time.

I love to see social differences and working women. This is why I love governesses and teachers as heroines. The gentlemen spies just have to go. Its too painful for me to read another book with them.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Yes, the gentlemen spies are old. I like All Through the Night because it makes sense for Seward to be a spy. He was in the army, and never a gentleman, so he was thought of as expendable to be used for his country in some rather nefarious ways.

I like seeing independent heroines, very much in fact.

[Nisha]

Are there any paranormal HR?

[Christy]

Nisha wrote: "Are there any paranormal HR?"

Soulless is the best one I've read.

[new_user]

[image error] [image error]

I read all but the last four, and I would definitely recommend the first three books. Definitely check them out. I also plan to check out Susan Squires. I've read a little of her work and enjoyed it so hopefully her novels are good too. :) I didn't include historicals with just a "touch of magic" or time travel. If you don't like medieval, skip the Immortal Warrior and Come to Me.

Some historical urban fantasy romance (that means the HEA is not in the first book):


I really like the first one. There's a lot of sexual tension, interesting love interests, and suspense along with Victorian life, etc. :D

[Nisha]

NU, I love you. Thanks. I might skip the medieval though. Thanks for the heads up.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Ronda Thompson has a good werewolf HR series:

[new_user]

LOL. Np, it's one of my fave genres. When done right, it's the best of both worlds. :D