Historical Romance Book Club discussion

This challenge is meant to help you climb your TBR Mountain and get those books finally read.



This will be a quarterly challenge, with a new theme each quarter. This year our first theme will be Decade/New (What does this mean? Choose books that are published and/or set different decades, or alternatively "New." New author, New in the title, or even a debut work. )


HOW IT WORKS:
1) The first poster will post 5 book titles that they pick from their TBR shelf.

2) The next poster will choose 2 books from the first poster's titles and choose 5 book titles off their own TBR. The first poster will then choose to read at least 1 of the 2 books chosen.

3) The third poster will choose 2 from the second posters list .... and so on.

4) Each participant will have the entire quarter to read their book(s), post their rating and review. And tell us what you think of your book in this thread.

5) You are not limited to 1 time. You can return to select and post more options as often as it suits you.

Hopefully this makes sense! Here's mine (a mix of decades & a NTM author (though there are two here):
(2019)
A Beastly Kind of Earl, Mia Vincy (2019)

The Rake Mary Jo Putney (1989)

For my lady’s Heart (1993)

Let me be the one Jo Goodman (2003)

Love and other scandals (NTM Author, 2013)

I accidentally moved this into the Goal. Sorry!

Sam, I choose for you:

For my Lady's Heart
Love and Other Scandals

My five are being chose from my TBR-new author shelf, and I am trying to choose different time periods.

1. The Chief by Monica McCarty (yr. 1305)
2. Tabor's Trinket by Janet Lane (1400's)
3. Innocent in the Sheikh's Harem by Marguerite Kaye (early 1900s)
4. My Dearest Enemy by Connie Brockway (Victorian)
5. A Scarlet Woman by Lorna Peel (1880)

No problem, I think it might have been me. I'm functioning at about 30% today. Very excited for my picks, thank you!

Aha! Maybe this will force me to read a book or two that I keep moving to the bottom of my TBR stack.

Joanna, for you I choose:
Tabors Trinket and My Dearest Enemy

I'm going to go with the "different decades" criteria:

1. The Wicked Marquis (1974) by Barbara Cartland
2. Isabella (1987) by Loretta Chase
3. Bewitching (1993) by Jill Barnett
4. The Marriage Contract(2001) by Cathy Maxwell
5. The Earl Next Door (2019)by Amelia Grey

Darbella wrote: "Cath, I choose for you:
Bewitching by Jill Barnett
The Wicked Marquis by Barbara Cartland

Thanks Darbella!

Darbella wrote: "Cath, Bewitching is one of my all time favorites. I just love the heroines sweetness and the gruff hero. (Be prepared, I know sweet heroines is not everyone's cup of tea so wanted you to be armed w..."

Thanks for the sweetness trigger warning, lol. I think sweet & gruff can be a good combo for romantic chemistry. I was a bit wary of this book b/c of the h having special powers, which I'm not a big fan of when the setting is the "real" world, but now I'm excited after hearing that you really liked it (it was also on a list of best romances that I found on a site a while back so there's that as well...). Who knows? Maybe I'll get ambitious & tackle both of these since the Cartland isn't too long

Darbella, I select Chasing Cassandra and How to Wake a Sleeping Lady for you. I hope you enjoy your reads.

Here are my five. I am going with new-to-me authors.

1. The Charmer by C.J. Archer
2. Stone Devil Duke by K.J. Jackson
3. Forgotten & Remembered: The Duke's Late Wife by Bree Wolf
4. Love and Other Scandals by Caroline Linden
5. Stolen Hearts - anthology by 4 new-to-me authors

Priya, for you, I choose The Charmer and Love and Other Scandals.

I also am going with new-to-me authors.

1) The Spinster and The Earl by Beverly Adam
2) Chronicles of Love and Devotion by Abigail Agar
3) A Mountain Among Many by James Agee Jr.
4) The Fall of Lord Drayson by Rachael Anderson
5) His Ruthless Bite by Brooklyn Ann

Mariana, I choose for you, The Spinster and the Earl and His Ruthless Bite.

I'll be back later with my list.

Edit: New-to-me authors.

1. After the Kiss by Joan Johnston.

2. Snowbound with the Baronet by Deborah Hale.

3. The Duke's Bride in Disguise by Claudia Stone.

4. Lord Lightning by Jenny Brown.

5. Burn On, Sweet Fire by Sandra Dubay.

Missy wrote: " I'll be back later with my list."
I think I'd like to get on this, I skipped all challenges last year and this seems like a doable start for them for this year.
I'll pick when you are ready Missy.

Kay here goes, all of them are paper backs I already own and haven't read yet.
1. The Earl, by Katharine Ashe (New to me author)
2. Lord Langley Is Back in Town, by Elizabeth Boyle (New to me author)
3. Garters, by Pamela Morsi ( Published in 92 )
4. You and No Other, by Cynthia Wright ( Published in 84 )
5.My Scandalous Viscount, by Gaelen Foley (New to me author)

Missy wrote: "Mariana, I choose for you, The Spinster and the Earl and His Ruthless Bite.

I'll be back later with my list."

Thanks!

Lorien wrote: "I'll pick when you are ready Missy."

Hi, Lorien, I've edited my comment above, so you may select your two picks for me now. Thanks in advance.

Missy wrote: "Lorien wrote: "I'll pick when you are ready Missy."

Hi, Lorien, I've edited my comment above, so you may select your two picks for me now. Thanks in advance."
For you Missy I pick:
Lord Lightning and Burn On, Sweet Fire (because that old school cover is delicious ).

Hi Lorien I will pick for you

The Earl and My Scandalous Viscount

1 Upon a Moon Dark Night by Rebecca Bradewyne
2 Least Likely Bride by Jane Feather
3 Sierra by Connie Mason
4 The Truth about Leo by Katie Macalister
5 And then he Kissed Her by Laura Lee Guhrke

Thanks, Lorien. I wasn't expecting Burn On, Sweet Fire to be selected because of its cover. lol.

Shaz wrote: "Hi Lorien I will pick for you

The Earl and My Scandalous Viscount."
Thanks Shaz.

And Missy, I mean how could I not?

Missy wrote: "Mariana, I choose for you, The Spinster and the Earl and His Ruthless Bite.

I already finished The Spinster and The Earl. I'll post my thoughts later this week.

Hi Shaz--it's been quiet for a couple days so I'll pick for you tomorrow if no one else jumps in by then. :)

Thanks Sam, Look forward to your pick.

Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "Hi Shaz--it's been quiet for a couple days so I'll pick for you tomorrow if no one else jumps in by then. :)"

Shaz wrote: "Thanks Sam, Look forward to your pick."

Sam & Shaz, do you mind if I butt in & pick for Shaz?

(Sorry--I'm doing this all backwards. Thought posted 'hello' when joined group in Dec but nope, bypassed Hyde Park & perused challenge threads.)


If OK, then Shaz, hope you enjoy these 2 :)

1) And Then He Kissed Her
2) The Truth About Leo

**will edit post w/ my TBR after calibre check*

Karma♥Bites ^.~ wrote: "Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "Hi Shaz--it's been quiet for a couple days so I'll pick for you tomorrow if no one else jumps in by then. :)"

Shaz wrote: "Thanks Sam, Look forward to your pick."

Sam & Sh..."that's PEEFECT!... same to you, if you aren't hearing and it gets quiet just lmk

Thanks Karma.
Just reading my Mad About of Series challenge. 1 and half books to read. Then I will read your Picks.

Shaz wrote: "Thanks Karma.
Just reading my Mad About of Series challenge. 1 and half books to read. Then I will read your Picks."

No worries :)
______________

My 5 TBR Mountain possibles (all NTM authors):

✔ 1) A Daring Arrangement by Joanna Shupe

2) The Heiress He's Been Waiting For by Kaitlin O'Riley

3) The Look of Love by Julia Kelly

4) The Art of the Scandal by Suzanne Tierney

✔ 5) Mistress Suffragette by Diana Forbes

I cannot pick for you Karma,
Your books are all new authors to me. Will take a look at them.

I don't want to delay too long, and this has really wound down so I pick
A DARLING ARRANGEMENT & MISTRESS SUFFRAGETTE
For you Karma
these are all new to me too!

Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "I don't want to delay too long, and this has really wound down so I pick
A DARLING ARRANGEMENT & MISTRESS SUFFRAGETTE
For you Karma
these are all new to me too!"

Sam, you mind reader you--picked top 2 of my renewed/re-jogged interest. Thx :)

As this is quarterly challenge, these 2 will be p/o my Feb reads. (gotta get to some early-yr ARCs first)

Sam wrote: "I don't want to delay too long, and this has really wound down so"

Maybe we put a deadline on the next quarter to give people plenty of time to read? Like a week or so in.

The nice thing is people can repost for this challenge, so not sure how to implement a deadline in conjunction with that. When I did this once someone forgot to pick for me, and totally fine for someone else (mod/first post) to pick when things slow down.

I can make a note next quarter for anyone who feels it's taking too long to nudge for the initial post or mod to pick for them.

Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "The nice thing is people can repost for this challenge, so not sure how to implement a deadline in conjunction with that. When I did this once someone forgot to pick for me, and totally fine for an..."
ah gotcha.

Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "The nice thing is people can repost for this challenge, so not sure how to implement a deadline in conjunction with that. When I did this once someone forgot to pick for me, and totally fine for an..."

If it is taking too long, whoever posted first or any one of the mods can pick.

Maybe I missed the answer to this question, but how long do each quarterly challenge last? 3 months?

Just started to read my fist book from Karma pick.
And Then He Kissed Her, by Laura Lee Guhrke.
It has started off well. Sensible Emmaline Dove, Viscount Marlowe. and his interfering sister's.

Missy wrote: "Maybe I missed the answer to this question, but how long do each quarterly challenge last? 3 months?"

Oops, yes, I was tired writing up my response-quarter is 3 months.

Shaz wrote: "Just started to read my fist book from Karma pick.
And Then He Kissed Her, by Laura Lee Guhrke.
It has started off well. Sensible Emmaline Dove, Viscount Marlowe. and his interfering sister's."

And Then He Kissed Her is on my series challenge. Good to know it is likeable so far.

Mariana wrote: "Missy wrote: "Mariana, I choose for you, The Spinster and the Earl and His Ruthless Bite.

I already finished The Spinster and The Earl. I'll post my thoughts later this week."

I finally took the time to write my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I failed to mention that the story is set in Ireland, which is rare. The writing style (other than editing errors) and setting are the best parts. The hero is an ex soldier who is an ass. The heroine is financially smart but emotional. As another review put it, "she's spunky but kind of an idiot." There is also superstition and a faerie coin which supports the Irish setting but no actual supernatural events.

And Then He Kissed Her by Laura L G. Started off well, got a bit boring, ended ok Stars 3

Shaz wrote: "And Then He Kissed Her by Laura L G. Started off well, got a bit boring, ended ok Stars 3"

Yep, I'm with you. I rated it 2.5 stars.

So finished The Earl, by Katharine Ashe.
Over all I really liked it, but this was one book were I should have read the series in order. I got 95% of what was going on, but it could have been clearer.
This was my first Katharine Ashe book and I found her writing style a little incoherent? Or messy. Like it felt like a few things were needlessly repeated, things were phrased oddly. Characters said things out of context?

Lorien wrote: "So finished The Earl, by Katharine Ashe.
Over all I really liked it, but this was one book were I should have read the series in order. I got 95% of what was going on, but it could have been cleare..."

It's interesting that you mention that bc there's some authors whose story telling process does not work for me at all for these types of reasons. I don't need chronological and can handle many characters but at times, something's off.

I hope your next read works better!

Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "I don't need chronological.."

Yeah I don't need it either, (I've lost count of how many books I read or started a series with out of order). But this was the last of 5 I think and I think it was partially written to help help wrap it all up.
And the oddities with her writing style was separate from all of the references I didn't get.
Over-all I still liked it the heroine was awesome, so I'll read her again for sure.

Shaz wrote: "Just started to read my fist book from Karma pick.
And Then He Kissed Her, by Laura Lee Guhrke.
It has started off well. Sensible Emmaline Dove, Viscount Marlowe. and his interfering sister's."

Shaz wrote: "And Then He Kissed Her by Laura L G. Started off well, got a bit boring, ended ok Stars 3"

Shaz, belated but I’m so disappointed that pick #1 lost steam for you as well. :(

Now that you’ve finished, I can confess that LLG is hit-or-miss author for me (alas, more latter than former). Like Mariana, I rated ATHKH as 2.5, rounded up to account for my personal quirks. I’ve always thought that I was outlier in being meh.

Not ‘knowing’ you on GR, keeping my fingers crossed that you enjoy pick #2 (The Truth about Leo) much more. IIRC, humour more evident in that one. But it, too, is one of those ‘either/or’ books.

As for my 2 picked by Sam, both still on stand-by until next week. A Daring Arrangement (by Joanna Shupe) is also p/o Mad About Series challenge so reading all 3 back-to-back.

For Mistress Suffragette (by Diana Forbes), plan on audio :)

Karma♥Bites ^.~ wrote: " I can confess that LLG is hit-or-miss author for me (alas, more latter than former). Like Mariana, I rated ATHKH as 2.5, rounded up to account for my personal quirks..."

I gave it 2 stars!

I gave for My Lady's Heart 3 stars. The narration was amazing of course, but the hero was a little boring and the heroine a bit too cruel. It was just too lopsided.

Priya wrote: "Karma♥Bites ^.~ wrote: " I can confess that LLG is hit-or-miss author for me (alas, more latter than former). Like Mariana, I rated ATHKH as 2.5, rounded up to account for my personal quirks..."

I gave it 2 stars!"

*nods* Even now, every time I come across title, c/n figure out how book was miss for me. Almost tempted to re-read to see if different result yrs later, but then another new HR pops up :)

@Sam, can I be total PITA and swap out one of my/your picks? Whilst updating potential reads for Romance Across the Ages challenge, saw that I slotted in A DARING ARRANGEMENT for August (Americana/Gilded Age). That timing is better for me b/c I plan on 3-bk series read.

So OK (even if defeats entire point of another doing pick) if instead, I read THE ART OF SCANDAL (#4 in my original post)?

Lol, of course! It's still in spirit:)

Karma♥Bites ^.~ wrote: "@Sam, can I be total PITA and swap out one of my/your picks? Whilst updating potential reads for Romance Across the Ages challenge, saw that I slotted in A DARING ARRANGEMENT for August (Americana/..."

What does PITA stand for? Also DIK and YMMV from your other post in RAA challenge thread. My acronym knowledge is limited to LOL! :)

Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "Lol, of course! It's still in spirit:)"

TY :)