Historical Romance Book Club discussion

Discussion thread for August 16 to 31, 2017 BOTM. Please remember to use the spoiler tags when necessary! (Please see 'some html is ok' for instructions)

Happy reading:)

Eye of the Beholder


Mary Peters despairs that she will never marry. At nineteen, she has no prospects of finding a husband, so she takes matters into her own hands and becomes a mail-order bride. When she arrives to Omaha, Nebraska to meet the man she's due to marry, he takes one look at her homely appearance and rejects her.

But fate has other plans for Mary. Dave Larson happens to be nearby and thinks she will make a good wife. Though she is stunned that someone as handsome and as kind as Dave would ask her to marry him, she accepts. She knows that this marriage will not bear the fruits of love. Love, after all, is for beautiful women. Isn't it?

I loved this book! I hope that everyone will enjoy it too :) I'll follow this discussion to see what you think of it.

I've read this one. What an uplifting and fun story.

Is it based in England?

Mahak wrote: "Is it based in England?"

No. It's been a while since I've read it, but I think it's based in Nebraska... what I'm sure of is that it's in America not England :)

Buying the Kindle eBook now and ready to start reading in a couple weeks!

I am excited to start reading on Wednesday. Anyone else planning to start on the 16th?

Lacey wrote: "I loved this book! I hope that everyone will enjoy it too :) I'll follow this discussion to see what you think of it."

Would you consider it stand alone?

Well, I read the three books in the series before this one (all free); but I have not started this one yet.

Anyone else planning on reading?

I don't think the mail order bride is a favorite...or maybe it is just the time of year.

I didn't realize the first three were free. Did you find that this one was as well? I think I saw it for 0.99. Have you thought the first ones well connected? I didn't think I would have time if I needed to read the first ones. August is a hectic month.

Joanna wrote: "I didn't realize the first three were free. Did you find that this one was as well? I think I saw it for 0.99. Have you thought the first ones well connected? I didn't think I would have time if I ..."

The first three were free, and this one was $0.99. I thought books 2 and 3 interconnected but 1 was not. These books are all set in the same town and primarily feature one family with four sons and two daughters, but I definitely think this book could be read as a standalone. Dave Larden is the third son, and all I have learned about him is that he is quiet and serious. Mary Peters has not been introduced.

I went ahead and picked it up and the previous ones. If I like this one, I will probably go back and read the others, but I will start with this one to read along with you and anyone else that joins in.

I am enjoying this one more than the others.

I know many readers do not enjoy a heroine who is not beautiful. For me, it depends on how the author handles it. Since beauty in the "Eye of the beholder" is the very point of the book, that may be another reason for less participation in this read.

That sounds nice to me. I don't mind plainness of an h or h, so long as it's well handled.

I think it's also hard for these group reads when the book is a sequel.

Joanna wrote: "That sounds nice to me. I don't mind plainness of an h or h, so long as it's well handled.

I think it's also hard for these group reads when the book is a sequel."

Yes, that is frequently as issue for me as I feel I need to read the previous books in the series. I am always glad when we vote book 1 in a series. If I like it, I can continue on. If not, I found out.

Mariana wrote: "Joanna wrote: "That sounds nice to me. I don't mind plainness of an h or h, so long as it's well handled.

I think it's also hard for these group reads when the book is a sequel."

Yes, that is fre..."

I am obsessed with reading previous books in the series. I had to skip a few previous group reads because of that. As we are going to have one whole month to read BOTMs hereafter, I think I would have time to read the prequels too.

Priya wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Joanna wrote: "That sounds nice to me. I don't mind plainness of an h or h, so long as it's well handled.

I think it's also hard for these group reads when the book is a sequel."

..."

Yep, good point Priya. Another benefit to the recent changes.

I did start this today. Not far into it and I may not finish by month's end.