2012 READING CHALLENGE

[Sabrina]

I have a question for Emery . . Hello! I apologize in advance if this is discussed somewhere above, I haven't had an opportunity to read all of the posts. . .
But, I really wanted to read The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman for my ancient Rome book. It's not on the bookshelf though, so I'm not sure if I can include it. Please let me know.

Thanks
:-) Sabrina

[Larisa]

Sabrina - I have that on my TBR list too and have been baffled by what to read for an ancient book. Here's hoping!

[Emery, GROUP FOUNDER]

Hi Sabrina and Larissa-
truly does sound fascinating, and by the description, I would say it fits our group. However, I cannot shelf the bok until one of our members has actually read and nominated it. To answer your question, I will allow it for the reading challenge as long as you nominate it after reading. (One caveat- It must contain sufficient romance!)

[Bonnie]

I read it, but would not call it romantic historical fiction. There is sex and relationships. Some might feel differently than me, but I found the relationships anti-romance. Maybe because the historical part was so honest and men and women were not even treated as the same species back then and there.

[Larisa]

@Bonnie - ouch. That doesn't sound enjoyable to read. Would you still say Dovekeepers is worth reading? 4 stars is my theoretical minimum to try and keep my TBR pile at less than 300 books.

[Bonnie]

I think if you are more into the historical aspect it is good. If you need reality prettied up a bit and some romance in your escape (reading) I don't think you'd enjoy it. Like all of her books though, it is well written and well paced.

[Sabrina]

Thanks Everyone. Silly me, I did't even think of the romantic aspect when asking about this book- I am just so eager to read it. But for this challenge I will pick something else.

[Gaile, co-librarian]

Has anyone read the Bernard Cornwell books? I am wondering if they would be appropriate for the group but so far I haven't read his books.

[Maggi]

I've read quite a few on the list. I'm planning to read India Black. India Black Anyone read it?

[Larisa]

Loved both India books! She has the best smart-mouth and inner dialogue.

[~Leslie~]

Gaile, this is just my opinion on Bernard Cornwall books, but I don't think he has enough romance to qualify. I would shelve them as strictly historical fiction. But again, that is my opinion. But I love his books!

[Maggi]

Thanks Larisa I''ll try it.

[Larisa]

Anyone who refers to Queen Victoria as "Ole Vicky" has moxy. Also may make tea spew, just a warning. :p

[Bonnie]

A Reluctant Queen: The Love Story of Esther

I read this one for my ancient eras. It was pretty good. Kind of simple. I gave it 3 stars anyway.

Bonnie

[Emery, GROUP FOUNDER]

Bonnie wrote: "A Reluctant Queen: The Love Story of Esther

I read this one for my ancient eras. It was pretty good. Kind of simple. I gave it 3 stars anyway.

Bonnie"

Thanks for sharing Bonnie!

[Jackie]

Leslie wrote: "Gaile, this is just my opinion on Bernard Cornwall books, but I don't think he has enough romance to qualify. I would shelve them as strictly historical fiction. But again, that is my opinion. But ..."

I have to agree with you on this one.

[Patricia]

I enjoy Bernard Cornwell's booksBernard Cornwell, but I agree there's not much romance in them. The Sharpe series as dramatized on PBS was highly romantic, but I don't know how close that was to the actual books. The series about the Vikings in the 9th century(?) was not at all romantic.

Patricia Wynn

[Gaile, co-librarian]

Patricia wrote: "I enjoy Bernard Cornwell's booksBernard Cornwell, but I agree there's not much romance in them. The Sharpe series as dramatized on PBS was highly romantic, but I don't know how close..."

Why am I having trouble finding your titles?

[Melanie]

Maggi wrote: "I've read quite a few on the list. I'm planning to read India Black. India Black Anyone read it?"

I loved it! I also read the second one. I was lucky enough to win an advanced copy of it last fall. Oh that Mr. French!! ;->

[Sabrina]

When I couldn't read Dovekeepers for my ancient Rome/Egypt book, I picked from the bookshelf. I thought it was fantastic. . . .!!!!!!! and wanted to share in case anyone else was having trouble picking a book. Enjoy Reading!

[Melanie]

Thanks for the hint Sabrina. I think I will go for the Heretic Queen as my ancient book too then.

[Lindy-Lane]

Bonjour! I just joined the group and have set up a GR bookshelf for the RHFL 2012 challenge. I set my goal for 20 total books for this challenge (aiming for 2 in each of the 10 eras). My overall GR 2012 reading goal is to read 200 books this year. I'm giddy with excitement over the prospect of all this reading!!!

Wishing everyone many reading adventures and blessing for this year.

[Emery, GROUP FOUNDER]

Lindy-Lane wrote: "Bonjour! I just joined the group and have set up a GR bookshelf for the RHFL 2012 challenge. I set my goal for 20 total books for this challenge (aiming for 2 in each of the 10 eras). My overall..."

Hi Lindy-Lane! You're just our kinda Gal! LOL!
Welcome to the group!

[Emery, GROUP FOUNDER]

Lindy-Lane wrote: "Bonjour! I just joined the group and have set up a GR bookshelf for the RHFL 2012 challenge. I set my goal for 20 total books for this challenge (aiming for 2 in each of the 10 eras). My overall..."

Hi Lindy-Lane. I tried to add you to the group email list but you must "friend me" first. I only use this to send out special announcements about once per month.- Emery

[Rebecca]

Hoping someone could help me with my 2012 RHRL Challenge. The book I was going to read for Regency and Napoleonic period (late 18th to early 19th century) is only on Kindle and I don't have a kindle. It's from the Napoleonis period. There are only 2 books from that area on the bookshelve. How do I know if a book is from the Regency period. I'm not seeing a bookshelve for that peroid. And when I'm in the 18th century I'm not sure which books would fall under Regency. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[Gaile, co-librarian]

I have asked Emery to put a Georgian romance and a Regency romance category on there so we don't get so mixed up. the gilded age is the early twentieth century before WWI The Mauve age is in the 1890's but usually after 1840 to 1890 it's called the Victorian age except for novels about the civil war. Also she doesn't have Native American romances on there which I absolutely love!

[Rebecca]

I'm hoping this book falls in Regency period The Girl in the Gatehouse.

[Emery, GROUP FOUNDER]

Rebecca wrote: "Hoping someone could help me with my 2012 RHRL Challenge. The book I was going to read for Regency and Napoleonic period (late 18th to early 19th century) is only on Kindle and I don't have a kindl..."

Hi Rebecca! Did you know you can download the Kindle application to both computer and smart phone (for free)? I read books on my phone all the time. Regency is early 19th century if that helps at all. The book description on Goodreads should help as to exact era.

[Emery, GROUP FOUNDER]

Rebecca wrote: "I'm hoping this book falls in Regency period The Girl in the Gatehouse."

Yes- It says Jane Austen era which was the Regency.

[Rebecca]

Emery wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "Hoping someone could help me with my 2012 RHRL Challenge. The book I was going to read for Regency and Napoleonic period (late 18th to early 19th century) is only on Kindle and I do..."

I thought that I had downloaded the kindle application to my computer and it wanted me to register a kindle. I'll have to do some more checking.

[Genevieve]

Larisa wrote: "Anyone who refers to Queen Victoria as "Ole Vicky" has moxy. Also may make tea spew, just a warning. :p"

bwahahahaha

[Genevieve]

Rebecca wrote: "Hoping someone could help me with my 2012 RHRL Challenge. The book I was going to read for Regency and Napoleonic period (late 18th to early 19th century) is only on Kindle and I don't have a kindl..."

Have you read Joanna Bourne 's books? She's fantastic. So smart, so romantic, so dark, and yet so fun. My Lord and Spymaster

[Rebecca]

It sounds familiar but, No I don't believe I have read that one.

[Larisa]

Probably sounds familiar because any of us who've read it repeatedly squee over it while waving a copy at you.

[Genevieve]

Larisa wrote: "Probably sounds familiar because any of us who've read it repeatedly squee over it while waving a copy at you."

squeeeeeeee! I have about 10 pages go to on Black Hawk. I LOVE 'AWKER! :)

[Gaile, co-librarian]

Genevieve wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "Hoping someone could help me with my 2012 RHRL Challenge. The book I was going to read for Regency and Napoleonic period (late 18th to early 19th century) is only on Kindle and I do..."

Is My Lord And The Spymaster by Joanna Bourne on Emery's list?

[Larisa]

Yep!! All of her books are on the group shelf.

[~Leslie~]

Sabrina wrote: "When I couldn't read Dovekeepers for my ancient Rome/Egypt book, I picked from the bookshelf. I thought it was fantastic. . . .!!!!!!! and wanted to share in c..."
thanks Sabrina. I am going to change my ancient rome/egypt selection to this also. Looks really good. This is not a time period I normally read, so I was really challengedto find something I would like.

[Bonnie]

Genevieve wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "Hoping someone could help me with my 2012 RHRL Challenge. The book I was going to read for Regency and Napoleonic period (late 18th to early 19th century) is only on Kindle and I do..."

I loved it- and have The Forbidden Rose for my #6- Napoleanic read.

[Maggi]

I am reading a great Regency spy novel. M M Bennett's Of Honest Fame.Of Honest Fame

[Bonnie]

Maggi wrote: "I am reading a great Regency spy novel. M M Bennett's Of Honest Fame.Of Honest Fame"

Is it romance too Maggie or just spy/mystery/historical?

[Bonnie]

I'm going to add 2 books and do the bonus years (WW-I and II.)

[Emery, GROUP FOUNDER]

Bonnie wrote: "I'm going to add 2 books and do the bonus years (WW-I and II.)"

Great! We've had some recent additions to the book shelves in those categories.

[Bonnie]

yep, I looked at them and picked out two that looked really good. BTW Emery, just read your book (I was so excited my local library offered it on e-book check out) and really liked it. In fact, I read it in 3 days!

[Emery, GROUP FOUNDER]

Bonnie wrote: "yep, I looked at them and picked out two that looked really good. BTW Emery, just read your book (I was so excited my local library offered it on e-book check out) and really liked it. In fact, I r..."

Thank you so much, Bonnie! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Were you are that FORTUNE'S SON is a prequel/sequel to THE HIGHEST STAKES? Most people aren't aware as it's impossible to tell by the way the two books were packaged, but Philip and Sukey were important secondary characters in THS. Hope you'll check it out as well if you have not read it.

[[deleted user]]

I just signed up for the challenge but I have no idea how to actually add books to it that I've read/reviewed.

Also, I have read The Traitor's Wife: A Novel by Kathleen Kent which is set in the frontier period. It mainly is about the developing love and relationship between two main characters but I'm not sure if it's romantic enough.

[Victoria]

Lila wrote: "I just signed up for the challenge but I have no idea how to actually add books to it that I've read/reviewed.

Also, I have read The Traitor's Wife: A Novel by Kathleen Kent which is set in the fr..."

Hi Lila! Just go to the main group page and lok where it desribes our challenge. It asks you to create a bookshelf and name it. Do that and then add the books to that shelf that you wish to read for the challenge.

[[deleted user]]

Thank you, Victoria.

[Amber]

Would you consider The Looking Glass for the American frontier category of the challenge? I was also wondering about The Stolen Crown: The Secret Marriage that Forever Changed the Fate of England for a 15th century read. I read her novel Hugh and Bess: A Love Story (which I'd also like to submit as a romantic read for 15th century) and I loved it.

[Emery, GROUP FOUNDER]

@ Amber, Absolutely on THE LOOKING GLASS. I'll add it to our shelf as your nomination.I will also add HUGH AND BESS. Is THE STOLEN CROWN enough of a romance for this group? From the reviews I have read it seems a bit too heavyt on the history (confusing to people who aren' familiar with the era)