Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

The Cynsters take the prize for "Most Humptastic" (BHB, p 110) when the Smart Bitches talk about one of the most prevalent trends of the 90s and 2000s: The Never Ending Series.

What does the concept of the series bring to the romance genre? And why do we "luuurve" ourselves some series romance?

Melody wrote: "The Cynsters take the prize for "Most Humptastic" (BHB, p 110) when the Smart Bitches talk about one of the most prevalent trends of the 90s and 2000s: The Never Ending Series.

What does the ..."


At first I thought "Humptastic" meant something else until I read the rest of your post, lol! I really need to get a copy of this BHB.

Hehe, I think your first thought was probably correct.


The Smart Bitches go on to say, "It's a wonder that none of the Bar Cynster have dropped dead from heat exhaustion. Their fiddly bits must be made from some sort of titanium-Teflon alloy..." (BHB, p 110).

:O)

Good to know my gutter mind was right for once, lol! I have got to read that book :0P

I've ordered BHB. I couldn't help it, it's all your fault I've bought another book!!!!! Can't wait for the challenge on this one.

And I agree with Melody & the Smart Bitches about the Cynsters! All of them - morning and night - how do they find the time? and how come they aren't dead with exhaustion?

Avg Rating on Goodreads: 4.09

Book description on goodreads:
To Have...
When Devil, the most infamous member of the Cynster family, is caught in a compromising position with plucky governess Honoria Wetherby, he astonishes the entire tom by offering his hand in marriage. No one dreamed this scandalous rake would ever take a bride. And as society mamas swooned at the loss of England's most eligible bachelor, Devil's infamous Cynster cousins began to place wagers on the wedding date.

...And To Hold

But Honoria wasn't about to bend society's demands and marry a man "just" because they'd been found together virtually unchaperoned. No, she craved adventure, and while solving the murder of a young Cynster cousin fit he ill for a while, she decided that once the crime was solved she'd go off to see the world. But the scalding heat of her unsated desire for Devil soon had Honoria craving a very different sort of excitement. Could her passion for Devil cause her to embrace the enchanting peril of a lifelong adventure of the heart?

TRY IT OUT:
The publisher (Harper Collins) lets you read the first 68 pages online for free :)

http://browseinside.harpercollins.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780380794560

Sandra wrote: "I've ordered BHB. I couldn't help it, it's all your fault I've bought another book!!!!! Can't wait for the challenge on this one.

And I agree with Melody & the Smart Bitches about the Cynsters! Al..."

I'm going to order BHB right now!

FlibBityFLooB wrote: "

Avg Rating on Goodreads: 4.09

Book description on goodreads:
To Have...
When Devil, the most infamous member of the Cynster family, is caught in a compromi..."

Flib, you're the devil!! Thanks for the link, I'll be buying Cynster #1 tonight or tomorrow. Plus, I think I'll get a few of the books you listed from BHB. I want to try that challenge.

I've read Bitten and Flame and the Flower, so I'm signing up for this one. I've just requested it from the library.

Wouldn't you know it, the series title is gettin' all the love. :O) Well, that and BHB. ;o)

I just checked the books under this series, and almost fainted at the number. Oh well, another long series that I might get addicted too. : )

I just purchased the first book last night. There were so many, that I was amazed too. I plan to check out the used bookstore to get more of the series.

I have a question. I have BHB on order. I ordered because I'd like to read it, and also because I'm pretty certain that someone recommended reading it in order make the most of the discussions. I just wanted to know if BHB lists specific points, or questions that we should keep in the back of our minds while reading the selected novels?

Michelle, yes, BHB gives background on the various categories of the romance genre from it's inception as well as breakdowns on the "stereotypical" heroes, heroines, and plots. The authors talk about their all-time favorites and some of their least favorites (authors, titles, & publishers). They discuss where the genre stands today and where they think it's trending. They talk about genre themes: rape, virgin heroines, plot devices, cover art. They reference literary criticism and author interviews. And they're funny throughout.

Do they offer actual questions, not exactly. But those who read BHB will gain a lot of insight into the genre...and some really hilarious terminology. :O)

Melody wrote: "Michelle, yes, BHB gives background on the various categories of the romance genre from it's inception as well as breakdowns on the "stereotypical" heroes, heroines, and plots. The authors talk ab..."

Ok thanks Melody. I'm looking forward to reading it. Merry Christmas!

Sandra wrote: "I've ordered BHB. I couldn't help it, it's all your fault I've bought another book!!!!! Can't wait for the challenge on this one...."

I found a new copy of this from amazon's marketplace for 14 cents plus $3.99 shipping. I don't think I own any of the 100 romance books you listed are in this book but perhaps the library will have a few. I am very curious to read the BHB book though. :) All your fault! lol

Briansgirl, lucky you finding it so cheap at Amazon. Unfortunately I'm in Australia so with the o/s postage that Amazon charges + book cost + exchange rate that would be close to $15. Got it cheaper from Book Depository in UK. No postage cost.

I have most of this series but have yet to read any of them. Started with her Bastion Club series first, which I liked, although I've only read a couple and a long time ago. I will have to do a re-read before I continue on with the series.

I think I'm going to have to check out this BHB book, it has me intrigued :)

I'm still trying to find the darn thing, all the local book stores are out of stock. I'm getting very antsy waiting for it to come in. hahaha

I've read all of the Cynster novels and absolutely love them all. I am very willing to re-read them though *sighs*

Renee wrote: "I'm still trying to find the darn thing, all the local book stores are out of stock. I'm getting very antsy waiting for it to come in. hahaha

I've read all of the Cynster novels and absolutely ..."

Like Briansgirl, I found a copy on Amazon.com. Except, mine is "like new" for $.05 + 3.99 s/h. None of the local bookstores in my area had it in either. I think going online for this one may be the best way to go.

Thanks, that was my next step. I figured I would give the stores a week then I was hitting on-line stores :-)

I didn't wait around, there was no way any local store would have BHB here. I hit the internet as soon as I decided I had to have it.

And I've also read 90% of Stephanie Laurens' books and am happy to re-read them.

hehehe

Michelle wrote: "Like Briansgirl, I found a copy on Amazon.com. Except, mine is "like new" for $.05 + 3.99 s/h. None of the local bookstores in my area had it in either. I think going online for this one may be the best way to go. ..."

Yeah, for an extra dime I thought I'd go for new. lol Normally new is so much more expensive, even from the marketplace that I go for used.

Briansgirl "Master Book Sale Huntress" wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Like Briansgirl, I found a copy on Amazon.com. Except, mine is "like new" for $.05 + 3.99 s/h. None of the local bookstores in my area had it in either. I think going online for th..."

I wish I was thinking like you. Whenever I go on amazon's marketplace for used books, I always go for the cheapest. I'm going to look for "new " next time. Especially since I just opened up another "like new" book that I bought a while back and there's a dead moth in it. Not the worst thing that could be in it, but still.......

Sandra wrote: "I didn't wait around, there was no way any local store would have BHB here. I hit the internet as soon as I decided I had to have it.

And I've also read 90% of Stephanie Laurens' books and am hap..."

That's good to know. I found quite a few on ebay and at the used bookstore recently and I'm looking forward to reading them.

I've already read the older ones more times than I care to remember, always a good sign.

I know I've read some of the series and greatly enjoyed them, but I can't remember specific titles. I'm looking forward to the surprise when Devil's Bride finally arrives. :O)

(On a side note, I was politely informed yesterday that this is the last time I can renew BHB...I'm going to have to see if ya'll left any 10cent copies available online!) :oP

Michelle -- dead moth in book. EEK!

Well... I'm about 1/3 of the way through Devil's Bride.

Thoughts so far:
1) Devil is arrogant. whew. Then again, I like my romantic heros arrogant sometimes, so I am not disliking him yet.

2) I find the Cynster nicknames funny. Who would nickname themself LUCIFER??????? hehehe Very weird. It reminds me of Black Dagger Brotherhood names in a way... (historical romance style)

3) I'm not in love yet with the Heroine, Honoria. But, I have not given up on her yet. We'll see if she starts to rub me the wrong way.

Incidently, I am listening to the audiobook for this one and its a British guy doing all the voices. He doesn't pronounce the "h" in Honoria. The first time I was listening to him, it sounded like her name was "anoria" or something. The reason I bring it up is because I just read a section wherein the dowager decidely cannot say the H in Honoria. I didn't know you pronounced the H. Would you all have added the H sound to her name? I figured it would be like the H in "herb" where some people pronounce it and others don't?

I'm looking forward to this one. :O) I think I'll reward myself with it when/if I finish the Howard title.

Okay.... admittedly, I have never actually been inside an orangery.

However, I have to ask:

what purpose would a full length mirror and daybed serve inside an orangery, other than horny Cynster trysts?

Am I alone in wondering about that??? :)
No other books I've read that have orangeries have mentioned daybeds or mirrors. Hmmmmmmmmm....

*giggle* How many books have you read featuring orangeries?
(I have a feeling the Cynsters are "special" is this regard.) :O)

As for your quasi-silent H, upon examination, I find that my brain voice pronounces it but my physical voice does not. Weird. :O)

hehehe. Brain voice vs. Physical voice. Interesting!

Admittedly, I have read probably 5-6 books in the past couple months with orangeries. Yet, never an orangery before that in my books.

It's the Floridian side of me inquiring about the daybed. When I think oranges, I think of my backyard, not a greenhouse worthy of sex scenes. hehehe

Hmm, now there's a topic for contemplation: best "romantic entanglement" to take place in a greenhouse vs a garden...

:O)

Alright... I'm 3/4 of the way done, and I have now have NO question why the Beyond Heaving Bosoms ladies chose to christen this "HUMPTASTIC". *laugh*

Those Cynsters must be like the enegizer bunnies! And, there were other Cynsters looking in the window at the silhouttes. Quel Scandale! ;)

Flib, I'm pretty sure the orangerie gets another run later in the series also, different couple. Definitely "humptastic", and the rest of the series is more so than the first.

Regarding "herb" if anyone said "erb" here in Australia we wouldn't know what you were trying to say. I only know cause I've seen Oprah say it. Brain voice and physical voice both pronounce the H in Honoria, for me.
:-)

Ok, I'm starting this one next (even though I have 2 other books due back to the library tomorrow)! :O)

I have read all of the Cynster books and let me tell you-I am totally astonished at some of the locations of their 'trysts'.

I am intregued by the brain voice vs physical voice; I know there are certain words that I can say with no difficulty at all using my brain voice but I will try saying it aloud with my physical voice and cannot seem to get the word out without it tripping over my tongue--hehe. One that comes immediately to mind is 'indubitably' sounds just fine in my head, not that I would walk around saying the word, I would just like to know that I could if the need ever arose. ;)

Hehe, wasn't 'indubitably' used in a disney movie once? I seem to remember my pack of immature friends walking around saying it alllll the time. :O)

I hope to be starting this one tonihgt after work. I'm looking forward to it!!!

This discussion is whetting my appetite for this book, but the library record is still saying the book is "in transit." :(

Oo, it amazes me how long a book can stay "in transit", but what I really hate is when I'm listed as "Active 1" meaning I'm next in line and it still takes weeks. :o(

Of course, sometimes something good happens. Today I get to go pick up a book that I was listed at something like 58 for that just suddenly appeared, didn't even list as in transit.

So there's always hope. :O)

I have over a dozen in this series, and read the first 9 of them, then my interest moved on to other books. According to my records, #1 & #5 were my favorites, so we'll see how Devil's Bride stands up to a reread.

Now off to read p. 110 of BHB to see what else they say about this series!

I'm only on p 69 and it's looking good for attaining re-read status. I enjoy this type of series. Hehe, I especially like how the author is introducing all these youngsters that we just know will have their own stories later in the series. :O)

How do you like Devil's arrogance so far, Melody?

I adore him. :O) It's the eyes. Honoria is able to read so much emotion there.

Ok, so I was up all night finishing this novel, not because it was sooo good, but because I wanted to cross another one off my list for the month.

While I enjoyed the hero and heroine, and really liked the opportunity to see their lives after they wed, I felt that Devil's Bride was just too long. I loved the beginning and I loved the epilogue, but a lot of the middle seemed unnecessary.

The story felt anti-climatic to me. When the hero's first shared thoughts are that he's going to marry the heroine (not that I didn't enjoy the novelty!), even if she's resistant (and she really didn't remain that way for long), the story doesn't need to be almost 400 pages.

The mystery element was unable to support the middle of the story, the murderer was easily deduced and all the hemming and hawing from Devil and Vane about their suspect when Honoria just didn't get it (and what was that, she never would have let them get away without answering that question as long as she did) was annoying.

Don't get me wrong, this wasn't a bad novel. It just wasn't great. I've liked others in this series and may yet read more. But there's always Julia Quinn's Bridgertons or anything by Amanda Quick to distract me.

It was kind of long, Melody... I agree. There were pages of never-ending sex scenes that could have been trimmed. Then again, I didn't object to reading them :)

I also agree that the mystery was thinly veiled. I still enjoyed reading the ending, though, to see what would happen with the murderer.

Well, I 3 starred it, so I did enjoy it at some level. :O)
I'm thinking my semi-negative feeling about the book stems from 1) lack of sleep and 2) a few passages in the second half of the novel that made me blink.

The first I did my best to disregard and focused most of my comments on feelings I had while reading the book.

But the second, several instances where I felt like I'd "read exactly this before" are either the author recycling scenes from elsewhere, or my having read this title before and not only totally blanked that fact, but also failed entirely to recognize it when I read it again. Neither of which is a very good sign.