Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

My picks are Frederica, The Grand Sophy, Devil's Cub, The Masqueraders and, of course, the Unknown Ajax, plus about another 5 books!!

I second all Jane's picks Dee, they're all good!

Off to put 316 pages in for Grand Sophy.

If anyone wants a look at the cover, with Miss Wraxton looking after Lord Bromford -

Thanks Sandra! Shame I couldn't get the angle right so that the book looked even... ...I don't really understand that!

borders didn't have fredericka and since I was specifically on the look for an F book, I got Faro's Daughter - anyone read it? she seems like she might be an interesting character

Yes - I think I last read that about 10 years ago. I used to really like it. The heroine is strong and resourceful, and the hero arrogant but rather yummy all the same. I can't remember if the book is littered with all the funny/interesting/idiosyncratic characters that I always enjoy in GH's work, but I'm sure you will enjoy it regardless.

I'm reading/listening to The Foundling for my 'F'...

Faro's Daughter is another of my favourites, I'm sure you'll enjoy it Dee!

Sandra - was my summary on Faro's Daughter about right??

Of course Jane :)

My hero memory was a little shaky! I should reread this sometime. (What an excuse!)

All I should say is Max Ravenscar. Hawt!!! In a surly kind of way.

Hmmm - just as I thought! Just had a look on my bookshelf. I think I've given my book away :( I'm sure my library will have one though :)

I couldn't imagine an Aussie library that didn't have access to all her works. They've never been out of print here.

Sandra wrote: "I couldn't imagine an Aussie library that didn't have access to all her works. They've never been out of print here."

Same for New Zealand. I love going into our library's stack area and just looking at her shelves...

I'm very grateful I read The Private World of Georgette Heyer, as I'm still only partway through The Black Moth - I'll keep you posted!

Sending HUGS to our Queensland mates again. :(

Yes, Qld's copped it again. Thankfully, no loss of life so far. Fingers crossed.

stay safe in Queensland!

I picked up False Colors at the used bookstore yesterday - and the owner is going to be on the look ot for any more that come in for me - specially those in the new release format that are available

Yay, Dee!!

Thanks everyone! But we are sufficiently south that there is hardly a breath of wind here - it is stinking hot!! Poor old North Queensland though. Looks like they might get out it all OK thank heavens.

Good news Dee!

We should all try to co-ordinate one GH book sometime in 2011. If I get time, I'll have a quick flick through everyone's selections and see if we have come common ground... If we are lucky, Dee might also pick it up.

Good idea Jane, you know me if you find a book & its not on my list, I'll add it in. I've got 2 emplty slots ready for impulse reads.

OK - I've had a quick squiz. The following books are being read by at least 3 of us:

The Corinthian
The Quiet Gentleman
Powder and Patch
Sylvester

Unfortunately this doesn't coincide with any of Judy's or Niquae's. However Niquae's only in for a couple, and Judy may have room for one that we choose. Charlotte doesn't really have a list either.

The main ppl overlapping with these books are BJ, Sandra, Annie and me.

My suggestion is that we target The Corinthian, 'cos this one isn't one Sandra chose and she has room for two optional reads. What do you all think?

Corinthian is fine with me.

For those hesitating, it should be a quick read as my copy is only 207 pages. LOL.

Once we determine the book, the next question is: when (which month) should we read it?

Assuming the The Corinthian is fine (and I am quite OK with going with something else...): March is Marzo in italian so it doesn't fit into that month's spell challenge. It will fit the May (Maggio) and June (Giugno) months (and July, August and December). It doesn't fit any of the seasons. And who knows for the monthly challenges?!! :)

Coordinating a read of The Corinthian is fine with me!

I just finished A Blunt Instrument - the first time I read a GH mystery. I've always been so immersed in her regencies that I was taken aback to read on the very first page about PC Glass picking up the telephone. So by the time we got to Sally smoking cigarettes, I was somewhat acclimated to the later setting. A good mystery - she had me going for much of the book; but the strength of the book, as always, is in her characters.

@BJ: I read a few of her mystery books in my 20s and remember enjoying them. I may have to slot in one of those sometime this year as well!

OK - assuming Annie is right to go and hasn't started to read The Corinthian, let's set it aside to all read in June. That gives Judy and Dee time to 'acquire' (buy, beg, borrow or steal - OK, not steal) the book. And Niquae and Charlotte to consider it. We can always push it back another month or two if there is a problem.

Anyone else (any lurkers/'new to the thread' out there), feel free to join us! :)

Sounds good :)

I've marked it down for June - now, will I remember?!

Great!

BJ - I'm sure there will be enough 'noise' for you to remember. At the worst - I'll pester you! :)

Judy - I'm sure you'll enjoy it. ...Excuse me while I go and read the back of my copy to refresh my memory... Oh yeah - it's a good, amusing story. It will be a fun read. :)

i'll make a note of it for june...if nothing else, Yz always leaves the reader's choice category that you can use for anything

That's what I've used so far, too.

June it is!

okie dokie...lol!

A Year of Georgette Heyer UPDATE!
1 January - 31 December 2011

Completed: 2/13

1. Bath Tangle (1955) or The Nonesuch (1962)
2. Black Sheep (1966)
3. The Corinthian (1940)
4. The Foundling (1948) - √ 12-Feb 3.5 stars
5. The Grand Sophy (1950) - √ 26-Jan 5 stars!
6. Lady of Quality (1972)
7. The Quiet Gentleman (1951)
8. Sylvester (1957)
9. The Talisman Ring (1936)
10. The Toll-Gate (1954)
11. The Unknown Ajax (1959)
12. Venetia (1958)
13. The Private World of Georgette Heyer
Bonus: Powder and Patch (1923)('cos it is so short!!)

I liked The Foundling but it was a bit long-winded and over-emphasised! She has better stories IMO... :)

i tried to get some heyer from PBS, but no joy...all long waiting lines...i guess i'll hit up ebay next...my OCD wants me to only get the new releases that have come out - the sourcebooks one, because i like them to all the same ;)

I like my books to match as well! :)

Jane (PS) wrote: "I like my books to match as well! :)"

Matching books... For some reason that seems worse than my matching clothespegs... to stop my obssessing with that, I only have one colour of pegs :)

LOL! I know another person who has to match clothes pegs! Until she mentioned it, it hadn't occurred to me... Fortunately my OCD doesn't kick on clothes pegs.

...I like having the same edition in a series... I nearly replaced 2 Feehan books 'cos they are different to the rest of my Carpathian books. Fortunately I decided my money could be better spent! :)

lol...haha, glad i'm not the only OCD person here!

has anyone read her historical fiction books - I grabbed The Spanish Bride because I needed a book set in Spain and/or Portugal for another groups challenge and figured I could fit it in here too

When buying books I often go with the 'need it now' theory - and just bought the edition I could afford, as soon as I could afford it :) Or, sometimes, what's available in New Zealand - often a bit haphazard :(

Doesn't everyone do the matching clothes pegs? LOL. It's just become a habit now, one I find very difficult to break. But as I'm the only one that knows *shush* ...

Most of my GH's match but I'm not super obsessive about it.

I haven't ever finished The Spanish Bride (I feel like I'm confessing a terrible sin here)... But I understand it is actually pretty good - one of my friends at school loved it. She also loved Cotillion and that is a really good Heyer book.

Oooh - just noticed that Sandra only gave 3 stars to The Spanish Bride... Sandra? Over to you...

I wasn't going to mention this, but what the hey!! I've come across another 'secret' OCD habit that I share with a surprising number of other ppl when discussed in a group - like over 50%. My toilet paper has to roll from the top... I change it over if someone puts it on incorrectly, and I have a lot of trouble not correcting it in other houses!!

lol...it looked interesting...I went on amazon and got Friday's Child; The Spanish Bride; The Corinthian; These Old Shades

Jane (PS) wrote: "I wasn't going to mention this, but what the hey!! I've come across another 'secret' OCD habit that I share with a surprising number of other ppl when discussed in a group - like over 50%. My toi..."

Yep, another one of my vices foibles exposed.

I think the reason I wasn't keen on Spanish Bride is that I just didn't feel the connection between them. Even though it is based on a true story and I know times were very different, she's just too young. Don't let me put you off the story, it's well written and like I said based on real people.

Love all the others you mentioned Dee.

So glad I share my habit with others! ;)

I love all the books you mention too Dee...

Jane (PS) wrote: "So glad I share my habit with others! ;)

I love all the books you mention too Dee..."

Opposite roll for me, but still have to fix it :)

LOL!

Annie (a mad hamster) wrote: "Jane (PS) wrote: "So glad I share my habit with others! ;)

I love all the books you mention too Dee..."

Opposite roll for me, but still have to fix it :)"

LOL :D

3/3: You'll note that percentage wise, we are going well for this little compulsion... I wonder who else will care to reveal??...