Bodice Ripper Readers Anonymous discussion

I notice we never write down the Bodice-rippers we are currently reading. I would like to know. I might discover a new book.

I just read a couple of bodice-rippers. I reread: Courtly Love by Lynn Bartlett, The French Passion by Diane Du Pont, The Garden Path by Kristie Knight (not sure if it's a br), Wind Rose by Krista Janssen, These Hallowed Hills by Ana Leigh, Monique by Madelyn Cunningham, and Silk and Steel by Cordia Byers. That's just this month. It would be nice to discuss some of these books and discover what everyone else is reading.

Let me know if you agree with this idea!

I like this idea and will definitely participate! (Except I can't truly right now, I'm going through a contemporary romance phase and haven't read a bodice ripper in a while).

I found Courtly Love at my house (I forgot I had purchased it! 😂) and can't wait to start it. You also have me excited about trying Silk and Steel by Cordia Byers, since I enjoyed Love Storm by her.

Good idea Lauren! A small wall of text for the thread, because it's meal prep day, and I'm avoiding chopping all those veggies xD

I recently read Island Flame and it's sequel Sea Fire, I loved it. It's a great series if love/hate relationships are your thing. The couple flip flopping between love and hate for 800 pages. They might be a more terrible couple, than Steve and Ginny in Sweet Savage Love.

I like to just dump a pile of books on my ereader, and try not to add more books until I've worked through it. And I select my pre-1990 reads by using a random number generator.

I'm scrapping the bottom of the barrel on my ereader now. It's mostly fanfic, erotica, modern romance, some Harlequins and few historicals. Mostly stuff I started reading and didn't finish. I feel determined to give Tilthammer/Woman of Iron another chance.

The Tilthammer - The heroine reads like an author self-insert. She is too modern to be an uneducated house maid in the 1700s. Not even vaguely. And I don't find her to be a likeable character I can feel for.

The Naked Angel

Vice Avenged - When I was scanning this, Burford odd writing style was so obvious it was almost jumping off the page at me lol. I'm anticipating this one being a miss. Even though, I've defended her so hard before.

Golden Voyager - A very different kind of BR from what is normally talked about in this group. It's written by a man and obviously written for men, and intended to be erotica.

From the summary I was expecting something like Slave Girl of Gor. But Finch's books always include some dominant women along with the submissives. Which isn't to my taste, I'm struggling to get through it.

Yes, there's an element of romance in there, if you were wondering. Simon Finch is a big softie really. The ending of Slave Island was sappy.

Lessons of Love - The writing wasn't good, but I can see some redeeming elements there. I know Lisa Day and Julia Ban are always popping up as recommend in this group and elsewhere. If you enjoyed their work, you'll love Jolynn Raymond.

This Other Eden - It's a doorstopper, and I'm worried I'm going to be bored, but feel compelled to continue reading. I'm intimidated.

This other eden is so good I would 100% recommend. My first bodice ripper I ever read and it’s one of my all time favorites.

Meredith, I loved Silk And Steel! I hope you like it too

This Other Eden has been on my TBR list for awhile. I'm going to have to move it up my list. Thanks for the recommendation!

I'm now reading Into Passion's Dawn by Michele Dubarry

Grace wrote: "This other eden is so good I would 100% recommend."

Thanks! It does sound great.

Lauren wrote: "I'm now reading Into Passion's Dawn by Michele Dubarry"
IPD sounds a real keeper for me *waggles eyebrows* lol

@Ann, I feel like an idiot but what does IPD stand for?

Lauren wrote: "@Ann, I feel like an idiot but what does IPD stand for?"
Haha! I was just shortening the title Into Passion's Dawn :)

Oh, duh! Makes sense now! Lol I actually just finished and it was a total mindf**k! It has a little rape here and a little rape there (bad joke) The H does some cruel things and the h seems to like abusive men. What's crazy is that I wanted these two crazy lovebirds to end up together.

Now, I'm reading the next book in the series, Across Captive Seas . I am still shocked by my enjoyment of such a disturbing story.

I just read Gentle from the Night bynMeagan McKinney, The Marriage Prize by Virginia Hanley, Fire and Steel by Anita Mills, and Without Honor by Elizabeth Stuart. I don't know if they all count in the BR catogory or vintage.

Now I'm reading Hearts of Fire by Anita Mills

I'm also reading

The power was out last night leaving me with nothing to do but read. I made it about 1/4 through "This Other Eden" and I was kinda bored.
Neither of Marianne's love interests were appealing to me. They were betas. It sounded great, the cover is lovely and it's classic ripper, but not for me.

Ann wrote: "The power was out last night leaving me with nothing to do but read. I made it about 1/4 through "This Other Eden" and I was kinda bored. "

I read that twelve years ago and didn't like it either nor the one that comes after it, The Prince of Eden. The Eden Passion was even worse than that but the fouth in the series, The Women of Eden, got an A++++ from me.

I'm so sorry to hear about The Other Eden Ann. I was looing foward to reading it. I'm reading . I love Codia Byers but i hope it's better than the reviews.

BRNTerri wrote: "The Women of Eden, got an A++++ from me."
You're the only person I know of who agreed with me on Alyx, I'll trust your judgement and not give up on the series.

Lauren wrote: "I love Codia Byers but i hope it's better than the reviews."
The cheating h is a turn off for me, but it does sounds very interesting.

@ Brinterri, in Callista I was surprised too! For someone who just lost her virginity from rape she sure jumped into an unknown (villian) man's bed pretty quickly. I agree it was a turn off. I liked CB other books better.

I just read Where Love Dwells by Elizabeth Stuart. I'm starting to think that this author is more in the catogory of vintage than bodice-ripper. Her heroes are way too perfect and honorable. Same with Anita Mills. I finished book 3 Hearts of Fire and the H was another good guy. I'm curious what catogory others think they are.

I just finished Love, Remember Me by Bertrice Small. My historical heart loved this book! I couldn't put it down! Does anybody have another of her books to recommend that is similiar? I'm not in the mood for the books where a MC dies. I heard she has many books with sad endings.

sorry I meant @ Ann

Vice Avenged's writing was too dated for me. But if anyone else has enjoyed it; I would recommend trying the more of the 60s and early 70s historical romances before they were starting to edge into romance historical.

It was published in 1972, makes sense the writing reminded me of those books. Dance With the Devil and The Fabulous Buckingham are the names I can think off the top of my head. They had great potential but I couldn't get past the dated writing. I really love the neon covers.

Ann, those are one of the worst book covers I've ever seen. Really BAD! But they sound interesting. I'd love to read it but I don't I'll fnd it.

Lauren wrote: "Ann, those are one of the worst book covers I've ever seen. "
Your tastes are just not sophisticated enough to appreciate their beauty :P

lol, you're probably right! Damn you 80's book covers!

The 80s have ruined us! how can any cover artist compete lol

I'm reading , I don't know what kind of bodice-ripper it is but I'll find out.

I though I list the BR I've read this month. : , , , , -reread, -reread

Now I'm reading

I thought I'd list my BR this month: The Rogue and the Lily by Diane Gates Robinson (bad) My Darling Kate by Elizabeth Graham (liked), Enchanted by Penelope Neri (okay), Virtue by Jane Feather (not sure if this counts as a br but i enjoyed it), A Place Beyond Courage by Elizabeth Chadwich ( again i don't know if it's considereda br).

Right now I'm reading The Court of Love by Denee Cody and Sleeping Beauty by Judith Ivory.

If anyone has a different opions about these books i look foward to any discussion. I hope more people list the br books they are reading. I find such great books that way.

I read The King & the sequel (which is only on Patreon but will be edited and published later) and while these aren't historical books but have a fantasy setting, these really feel like bodice rippers.

The hero is a brutal asshole and there are a lot of BR tropes ... and trigger warnings.

Looks interesting Caro! What are the creatures?

Lauren wrote: "Looks interesting Caro! What are the creatures?"

Hi, the creatures are (view spoiler)[kiiiinda Shifters with extra powers I've never seen before (hide spoiler)].

It's a spoiler because their exact nature is never revealed until book 2 and even then, many details remain unknown!!

This aspect I found quite fascinating, because many fantasy authors can't wait to info-dump on their "inventions".

what an interesting bookcover! Normally, this isn't my type of book, but I admit to being intrigued. Do you have to read both books in the series?

Lauren wrote: "what an interesting bookcover! Normally, this isn't my type of book, but I admit to being intrigued. Do you have to read both books in the series?"

Hmm, personally I think Book 1 has a really satisfying conclusion for the heroine and this could be the end of it all. With that being said, you'll probably want to read book 2 at some point.