Welcome! Introductions

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Welcome to the Southern Romance Group! Introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about you and why you like to read Southern Romance novels.

[Misfit]

Me? I'm a seriously addicted reader. Always on the lookout for more, and love the southern genre. Karla's the one with the huge plantation porn shelf though.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Misfit wrote: "Me? I'm a seriously addicted reader. Always on the lookout for more, and love the southern genre. Karla's the one with the huge plantation porn shelf though."

Yes I think we need to invite her! :)

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Welcome to the group Jill!feel free to add any Southern reads you have! and join in on the chats.

Dont forget Ladies to add your books to the bookshelf too!

[Misfit]

Sandi wrote: "Welcome to the group Jill!feel free to add any Southern reads you have! and join in on the chats.

Dont forget Ladies to add your books to the bookshelf too!"

*smacks head*

Forgot about that, thank you.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Thank you!!! :) OH and add your ones..but also the "hard to find's as well!

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Also welcome to Jerelyn as well!

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Sounds good Jill! :) Thats so weird...its (10pm here) & your tomorrow..& Im still today!

[Misfit]

Sandi wrote: "Sounds good Jill! :) Thats so weird...its (10pm here) & your tomorrow..& Im still today!"

Oh I know. I'm always thrown when it's just barely Saturday AM and I look at Marg's Sunday Salon post and she talks about her SUNDAY afternoon.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

I see we have two new members! Welcome Haley & Christy! Dont be shy...feel free to join in the chats looking forward to sharing Southern Romances & other topics with you :)

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Hi Haley..what have you read? what time period do you like to read about? do you like your reads with more history & a touch of romance? Or a balance of both?

[Misfit]

Hi Hayley, I'm with you. I like history with a touch of romance.

[Misfit]

Haley wrote: "Hello Misfit. Do you have any recommendations?"

Hayley not in the Southern romance department - my mind's drawing a blank. I'm a bit distracted with some medical prep right now so my mind is not on books. Perhaps later tomorrow.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Haley..the recommends for "Southern" historcal romance are here..but if your looking for "Historical-Fiction with Romance" there are SO many that are good (and not so good) that Misfit & I can recommend, but I have a better idea..both of us belong to a group called Historical Fiction Romance (I cant do the link) maybe Misfit can help?) great stuff there..or check out Misfits blog..great stuff there too! hope this helps?

[Misfit]

Sandi wrote: "Haley..the recommends for "Southern" historcal romance are here..but if your looking for "Historical-Fiction with Romance" there are SO many that are good (and not so good) that Misfit & I can reco..."

Thanks Sandi. Haley, this is the group Sandi was talking about, Romantic Historical Fiction: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/3...

Emery's put together a great bookshelf of books with the right blend of romance and history.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Dont forget to check out Misfit's blog,she has great reviews to books you may be thinking of, or others that you see but arent sure about them..she'll give you the low-down on them..then you can decide if they are what your looking for..

[Sandy]

Hello, I am Sandy. My favorite genre to read are books that romantic novel in the civil war and antebellum period. I guess I must have live in the time period in another like. :) I also enjoy all of Danielle Steel and have read all of her book and Heather Graham many of her's that are in the civil war time period. I hope I can add to the group as I have been collecting and read these types of books for over 20 years.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Welcome Sandy!Please share any Southern romances that you have read with us, always looking for something new (or older) to read!

[Talkit]

Hello all,
I love books about the South during civil war era. I also love plantation novels, not only exclusive to the southern USA. I read historical romance as well, and some contemporary. I tend to go for the romance first and then the history. What can I say I’m a sucker for romance. :)
Last book I read in this genre was “The Last Plantation”

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Welcome Talkit to the group! Was this the book you read I have this but havent read it yet. What did you think of it?
If you have any other good ones I havent added here feel free to let us know or add to our bookshelves. looking forward to chatting up the South with you! :)

[Talkit]

Hi Sandy,
Thanks for the welcome! I really enjoyed The Last plantation and it is based off true people. Not a lot of romance, but well worth the read.
I have
but I have not read it yet.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Talkit wrote: "Hi Sandy,
Thanks for the welcome! I really enjoyed The Last plantation and it is based off true people. Not a lot of romance, but well worth the read.
I have
but ..."

Ive heard this one dosent have any romance in it,even though the cover looks like it...let me know what you think.

[Diana]

Hi-- It's great to find a group of devoted readers who love romance novels of the Old South. They have always been my favorite books--and you can't find many these days. Of course, Gone With The Wind won my heart long ago, and I read Heather Graham's books, too, and enjoyed those, but it was the sequel to GWTW, Scarlett, that made me want to write my own romance novel. I was not happy with Scarlett, the sequel. Made my blood boil. Anyway, three kids later, I finally did write my own romance novel, Thorns of Eden, and it's been published and out now. It's like a dream come true. I grew up in Virginia where distant memories of the Civil War were all around me. I even dug up old CW belt buckles and buttons in my back yard. Naturally, Virginia is where I placed my characters. It's lovely to find this group! This is the only group I've joind on Goodreads, so please bear with me while I figure out how to post. Thanks! Diana Ballew

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Welcome Diana! This is the group for sure for those who love books set in the "Old South" And you are so right it is hard to find them. The older ones even harder. Gone With The Wind one of my favorites as well..I did read the sequel..it was ok ,but somethings should just be left alone as you cant improve on such a classic.You say you wrote your own novel? We have here a thread just for authors..to talk about their books,website,promos..please let us know more about your book in that thread & anything else you have written :)Take at browse at our group bookshelf,maybe there is something there of interest.
And any recommends you have would love to hear! looking forward to chatting with you.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Your book looks good Diana! Ive added to our bookshelf. :) And Ive added to my TBR list!

[Misfit]

Hi Diana and welcome. I decided to pass on the sequel to GWTW based on the reviews, and really wish I'd not bothered with Rhett Butler's people :/

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Misfit wrote: "Hi Diana and welcome. I decided to pass on the sequel to GWTW based on the reviews, and really wish I'd not bothered with Rhett Butler's people :/"

I heard "Rhett Butler's People" was pretty bad Misfit

[Diana]

I haven't read Rhett Butler's people. Bad, huh? I just haven't had much time for reading the last couple months. First book just came out, and I finished writing my second book just a week ago. I'm going to spend some time on here and see what books you all like. I need a good ol' southern read!

Diana Ballew

[Diana]

Sandi (The Pirate Wench) wrote: "Your book looks good Diana! Ive added to our bookshelf. :) And Ive added to my TBR list!"

It is good!

I went to Barnes and Noble a while back and couldn't find a single American History Romance Novel. That's what I wanted to read. That's what I like to read--especially Civil War romances. It's funny, whenever someone asks what kind of book I wrote, I tell them a Civil War romance novel. Everyone says, "Oh, I just LOVE those!" I say, "Good. I've got one for you!" Woo Hoo! So happy to have found a group that loves to read the same stuff I do. Diana

[Misfit]

Rhett Butler's people was awful, I chucked it half way through. Kept rewriting GWTW scenes from his POV. Seriously annoying.

I love civil war romances but they are darned hard to find except for the long lost OOP's from the 70's and 80's. I did see a thread over at Amazon eons ago that publishers tend to shy away from them these days. You know - that slavery, politically correct don't use the "N" word stuff.

Diana I will look at your book later. I'm really really supposed to be working right now :p

[Diana]

Misfit wrote: "Rhett Butler's people was awful, I chucked it half way through. Kept rewriting GWTW scenes from his POV. Seriously annoying.

I love civil war romances but they are darned hard to find except for..."

It's interesting you mention that. When I first started writing Thorns of Eden, I wasn't sure if I was writing women's fiction or romance. As the story advanced, it was clear the book was a steamy romance. I did have to be careful of what words I chose and how I handled the slavery issue. I also didn't take the easy way out of having the hero and heroine on opposite sides of the war. They are both from Virgina and Confederates. But the slavery issue was never a simple one back then even for people who fought for the South. So I do explain some of that. All in all, it's a steamy tale of Southern passion during the Civil War with a hero I still dream about--yowza! OMG. I have to show you guys the book trailer--where do I post that??? The hero on the book cover is Jimmy Thomas and I used his real pic in the book trailer. I'll put it here for now until I figure out how to post on this board. There's a thread for authors? I'll find that too. OK....Let me see....here is the link for the video trailer for Thorns of Eden: http://dianaballew.com/index.php?opti...

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Diana wrote: "Misfit wrote: "Rhett Butler's people was awful, I chucked it half way through. Kept rewriting GWTW scenes from his POV. Seriously annoying.

I love civil war romances but they are darned hard to ..."

Yes there is a folder Diana for authors in this group..just look for the folder "Authors Promotions" and there is a thread for "Aspiring Authors" there you can put all your info..your book,about yourself, any promotions,release dates,trailers,where to find your book..ect..(I can get your book on Kobo).That way all "author" info is in its own place and easy for members old & new to find :)

[Diana]

Misfit wrote: "Me? I'm a seriously addicted reader. Always on the lookout for more, and love the southern genre. Karla's the one with the huge plantation porn shelf though."

Plantation porn shelf--love it!

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Ha-Ha..I have some of these too..they are indeed a little more..."spicy" and still give you a taste of the old south :D

[Diana]

I'm blushing. I think my book is going to end up on your naughty shelf ;0 Do e-readers even have naughty shelves? If they don't, they should!

Diana

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Diana wrote: "I'm blushing. I think my book is going to end up on your naughty shelf ;0 Do e-readers even have naughty shelves? If they don't, they should!

Diana"

Now Im REALLY looking forward to your book Diana.."Naughty Shelf?" I like that..I think III add that..are you telling me I need to put Thorns Of Eden there when Im done? LOL! :D

[Diana]

That's exactly what I'm saying! It's funny; I was a genealogist for 20 years before I wrote this book. With my research, I'd seen just about everything. I can tell you this: human nature is no different now than it was many years ago. All those naughty things we read about now happened then, too. We're just a more open society these days. I wanted to write a book somewhat reminiscent of romance novels written years ago, while taking it a step further--inviting the reader into the boudoir. I’ve been told by readers that it’s really steamy. I know I squirmed in my seat writing some of those scenes—yowza!
Diana Ballew
www.dianaballew.com

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Diana wrote: "That's exactly what I'm saying! It's funny; I was a genealogist for 20 years before I wrote this book. With my research, I'd seen just about everything. I can tell you this: human nature is no diff..."

Oh..I must finish up these 2 club books fast!! :D

[Kip]

Hello from Dixie.
I estimate that my southern plantation novel fix came about the age of 9 or so, when I watched Gone with the Wind on television, intrigued by the stately pillared homes, the beautiful and pampered southern belles, and the attractive way of life when Cotton was king. Years later, I still gravitate to southern plantation romances, including the the blaxploitation novels of the 1970s ("Drum", "Mandingo"). I own about a hundred plantation novels and I'm a member of two yahoo groups that fancies the genre and celebrates the lifestyle of the Old South. I realize that the plantation novel isn't politically correct (those pre-1990 or so)but I find this period in history to be extremely attractive in all of its elegance, opulence and finery. The dresses worn by the cotton-rich? Delicious descriptions of wealth packaged in taffeta, crinolines and frills. The plantations? The bigger, the better! Southern mansions? White castles of the privileged and pampered. Cotton fields? A sea of white fluffy patches covering the South. Yes, I was born in the wrong period!

[Misfit]

Hi Kip. I've recently found a UBS that has an entire shelf devoted to plantation books.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Welcome Kip! My first intro as well was when I read Gone With The Wind..then I had to look up every plantation,and would love to do a "plantation-tour" sometime down the road. Hope there are some books here that will interest you,or maybe you have some you could recommend that we dont have here on our bookshelf? Looking forward to chatting with you!

[Kip]

Thank you all for the southern hospitality of warm welcomes. I look forward to reading your archived posts as well as your insight on recommended plantation novels based on different criteria (romance, inter-racial, dynasty-aristocracy families, etc). All of these themes are great reads to me, yet the common denominator that they all have is the grandiose plantation lifestyle illustrated in pillared homes, elegant carriages, billowing hoop skirts, and blazing ballrooms of lavish display. I just indulge in the thick pages of an old plantation novel, smelling the attic enriched chemial of the pages, as I'm taken to a world of privilege for the Southern upper class made wealthy by explosive cotton production and slavery. As beforementioned, some of the content of the plantation lifestyle - particularly slavery, isn't a 'comfortable' read for some; however, you can't truly write a plantation novel without the practice. I can't imagine Gone with the Wind, North and South, or even the childrens novel "The Littlest Rebel" (later made into a 1935 film starring Shirley Temple) without the master & slave role. Denying it would be like erasing it from our US history and that wouldn't be a tragic manipulation for future generations.
RE: Misfit, do you have a link to the plantation books shelf you mentioned? (kissing your white gloved hand, "I'd be honored Miss if you could lead me to it")
RE: Sandi, most of the plantation homes today are very politically-correct; only a few actually celebrate the antebellum way of life, specifically those around the Natchez territory of Mississippi. Nottoway Plantation, a 54-room white castle mansion home to a massive cotton & sugar cane plantation worked by over 1000 negro slaves before the war, is supposed to be one of the last great plantation time estates in the region. Ballrooms, belles and beaux still make up the plantation house today which is opened during the Natchez pilgrimage tours in the spring and autumn of each year. I've personally been to Boone Hall in Charleston, SC, where North & South was filmed, home to the Mains in the film. It was fascinating to wander around the plantation, which once hosted parties, barbecues and weddings to the planter class, becoming an icon for plantation remembrance. (reaching down to kiss your white gloved hand as you fold your fan, "It would be my pleasure to chat with you too Miss")

I certainly would have loved to have been born in the Old South, the son of a great cotton plantation owner, wearing finery, courting spoiled southern belles, and fox hunting with the aristocracy in a world of gentry and opulence day after day.... This is why I'm a plantation novel aficionado.

[Misfit]

Kip, I don't have a link to the book shelf. The store is called Tacoma Book Center and you just have to walk in and explore. We've even found multiple copies of the old Angelique books there. I did pick up a few of those bondmaster kind of books.

I agree, you can't go into these books with a PC mindset, but sugar coating this period is just wrong. Should we rewrite what Hitler did to the Jews just because it's such an awful topic to discuss?

If you want to see plantation at its best, find Karla's Plantation Porn shelf. She's got just about all of them.

[Patricia]

Happy New Year, everyone! I'm new to Goodreads. I haven't made any friends yet. :-( LOL. It's just like being the new kid in town.

I'm a history buff who never thought I liked the Southern Romance genre...until I read "Gone With the Wind". How could I not love-hate Scarlett? There is very little on my to-read list because there is so much on my to-write list. I am almost finished with the second novel in a series. So anxious to get that out there. The first one in the series is "A Gathering of Light". I hope you'll have a look at it. I should point out that it is NOT a plantation setting, antebellum, hoop-skirted bodice-ripper. :D

"Cold Mountain" is one of my favorite movies so I want to read the book. I try to never watch a movie after I've read the book because I'm almost always disappointed.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Welcome Patricia! Gone With The Wind was my favorite "first"..as to recommends..what do you look for when reading a southern romance? Do you like "some" romance,and more "history" or it to be a romantic story with the back drop of the time period? I myself like just the right amount of both. We do have some recommends in our threads..browse around and also check out the bookshelf. You say you write? Southern Romance? or other? If you do..go to the "author Promotion" thread and tell us what you are writing,what your book is about,have a blog,or any promotions. Looking forward to chatting with you :)

[Misfit]

Hi Patricia, welcome to the group and welcome to GR. You'll be making friends before you know it. I recently read One Wore Blue by Heather Graham that is the first of a trilogy. It is a romance, but there's a good dose of history as well. Nothing tops Gone with the Wind though. I love to love/hate Scarlett.

[Rebecca]

Hi all, my name is Rebecca and I love American Historical Romance. Right now I am on an "All American Historical Romance" kick. I got so tired of all the Regency and Lord/Ladies romances that are published today that in the past year I have only been reading books set in Colonial American, Civil War America(Old South), Reconstruction American and the Gilded Age. So happy to have found this group! I look forward to joining in the discussion and hopefully finding more "Old South" books to read from recommendations from ya'all!

[Sandy]

Misfit wrote: "Hi Patricia, welcome to the group and welcome to GR. You'll be making friends before you know it. I recently read One Wore Blue by Heather Graham that is the first of a trilogy. It is..."

There is Heather Graham's "One Wore Grey" and then the final book in this series, "One Rode West". They were my first books by Ms. Graham and she is now one of favorite authors. She also pens under Shannon Drake.

[Misfit]

Sandy wrote: "Misfit wrote: "Hi Patricia, welcome to the group and welcome to GR. You'll be making friends before you know it. I recently read One Wore Blue by Heather Graham that is the first of a..."

I have the other two on the pile somewhere.

@Rebecca, nice to have you here.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Welcome Rebecca! Glad you could join us here & share our love for "southern romances" Check out the threads as there are a lot of great books here. Some are older ones that will need searching out,and others like Sandy just gave us that we can get in ebook. Also check out what our Authors here have to offer in the "promo" folder. Looking forward to chatting with you :)