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Post by Ladybug on Mar 2, 2020 17:47:51 GMT -4
Loud Mouth by Avery Flynn might work. I haven’t actually read more than the sample, but it’s both snowed in and enemies to lovers. I’ve read four or five of hers and Avery Flynn is usually a strong B/B+ for contemporary romance for me. Good dialogue, interesting characters who aren’t too stupid to live, etc. I pre-ordered this one! I read Awk-weird and it had a sample at the end of the book. Awk-weird was ok, but it is one of those books where everything could be sorted out if the main characters could just sit down and communicate with each other. |
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Post by chonies on Mar 2, 2020 17:52:52 GMT -4
Loud Mouth by Avery Flynn might work. I haven’t actually read more than the sample, but it’s both snowed in and enemies to lovers. I’ve read four or five of hers and Avery Flynn is usually a strong B/B+ for contemporary romance for me. Good dialogue, interesting characters who aren’t too stupid to live, etc. I pre-ordered this one! I read Awk-weird and it had a sample at the end of the book. Awk-weird was ok, but it is one of those books where everything could be sorted out if the main characters could just sit down and communicate with each other. That's kind of Avery Flynn's 'twist' unfortunately--someone overhears something and misinterprets it, and then oh no and then it's resolved. I read the Muffin Top, Butterface, and maybe Tomboy all in a row and I was like ENOUGH ALREADY!!!! That said, I think the real strength of that series is the friendships between the women, and whatever they end up painting at their sip 'n paint nights. |
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technicolor
Lady in Waiting
Posts: 337
Nov 22, 2010 9:41:42 GMT -4
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Post by technicolor on Mar 5, 2020 6:04:23 GMT -4
Yeah, as I said, I really like Kleypas. But so many of her books have useless "twists" like last-minute kidnappings, poisonings, dramatic fights, injuries etc. OMG, no one needs that! It actually really weakens the rest of the story. But then, perhaps that is expected in the genre and I just have ridiculous expecations for my fluffy stories.  Another classic romance writer who I think is really as good as her reputation: Mary Balogh. I've read some clunkers by her (I mean, she's been at it for a really long time, there's bound to be weaker stuff), but her best is super strong and IMO transcends the genre. I thought the Survivors' Club Series was universally strong and dealt with rather serious issues very well. Her newest series is also good, though she falls too much into endlessly explaining and recapping the familial connections between all the Westcotts. I don't need to know that the aunt over there is someone's second cousin twice removed. Enough already, Mary!  Her Bedwyn series is very uneven, but "A Summer To Remember" and "Slightly Dangerous" are two of the best romance novels I've read. Really outstanding work and she doesn't fall into various cliches in those set-ups, but creates believable three-dimensional characters instead. "Indiscreet" is another favourite, such a good book. And I kinda admire that the main male character isn't very nice and even after he's gained some self-knowledge and been "redeemed", the book doesn't clobber the reader over the head and demand that he's now lovable and must be forgiven or anything. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 28, 2024 5:39:54 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2020 23:39:19 GMT -4
Agree Mary Balogh is one of the best. It's been awhile since I've read her books, but I was a big fan of her "Slightly" series back then. I also liked the spin off series (I think it was the "Simply" series) which was about the former governess of one of the heroines of the Slightly series.
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Post by Carolinian on Mar 6, 2020 0:29:22 GMT -4
I'm new to the romance genre so appreciate the author suggestions. I listen to audiobooks via Scribd while I work to keep me focused and enjoyed the two by Loretta Chase I've listened to. OTOH I listened to The Duke I Tempted by Scarlet Peckham and thought it was dreadful- the female lead runs a plant nursery and it was obvious the author did minimal research. I'm looking forward to listening to Mary Balough.
Suggestion-- I read a chick lit romance, Well Met by Jen DeLuca. Romance at the Renn Faire. Sweet and frothy, no surprises but a pleasant journey.
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roseland
Sloane Ranger
Posts: 2,039
Mar 7, 2005 17:11:37 GMT -4
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Post by roseland on Mar 6, 2020 4:54:45 GMT -4
Agree Mary Balogh is one of the best. It's been awhile since I've read her books, but I was a big fan of her "Slightly" series back then. I also liked the spin off series (I think it was the "Simply" series) which was about the former governess of one of the heroines of the Slightly series. The Berwyn series is a great series and worth reading simply for the last book in the series. I really ached for the male main character and how misunderstood he was. But you won’t empathize so much with him if you don’t read the previous books and see how he is viewed by his siblings. It’s not that they don’t love him, he’s just larger than life. And he really just wants to be close to them but because he’s head of the family he often has to make the hard decisions. I also enjoyed the faint Pride and Prejudice vibes. |
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technicolor
Lady in Waiting
Posts: 337
Nov 22, 2010 9:41:42 GMT -4
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Post by technicolor on Mar 6, 2020 6:17:43 GMT -4
Agree Mary Balogh is one of the best. It's been awhile since I've read her books, but I was a big fan of her "Slightly" series back then. I also liked the spin off series (I think it was the "Simply" series) which was about the former governess of one of the heroines of the Slightly series. The Berwyn series is a great series and worth reading simply for the last book in the series. I really ached for the male main character and how misunderstood he was. But you won’t empathize so much with him if you don’t read the previous books and see how he is viewed by his siblings. It’s not that they don’t love him, he’s just larger than life. And he really just wants to be close to them but because he’s head of the family he often has to make the hard decisions. I also enjoyed the faint Pride and Prejudice vibes. Yeah, "Slightly Dangerous" is the bestest thing ever.  Wulfric is a brilliantly realized character and it's nice that Balogh provides him with what has been missing from his life all along: Someone treating him as a human being and not as a symbol/head of the family. And I liked that Christine isn't some manic pixie dream girl, but that she has various issues and neuroses of her own and they really only come together by acknowledging each other's humanity and supporting each other emotionally. That book could have been so horrible, but Balogh did almost everything right. |
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Post by chonies on Mar 6, 2020 12:01:52 GMT -4
I'm new to the romance genre so appreciate the author suggestions. I listen to audiobooks via Scribd while I work to keep me focused and enjoyed the two by Loretta Chase I've listened to. OTOH I listened to The Duke I Tempted by Scarlet Peckham and thought it was dreadful- the female lead runs a plant nursery and it was obvious the author did minimal research. I'm looking forward to listening to Mary Balough. Suggestion-- I read a chick lit romance, Well Met by Jen DeLuca. Romance at the Renn Faire. Sweet and frothy, no surprises but a pleasant journey. I started the Duke I Tempted but didn't get very far myself. When she unpacked the magnolia plant, I decided I needed to move on--that's personal, though, because I'm on a native gardening phase right now. I just loved A Delicate Deception by Cat Sebastian. I don't know if I've ever read anything quite like, and it made me want to read everything else by her. Here's the Smart Bitches review. And maybe it's too much Greecie screen time, but I totally pictured Adam Driver as Sydney, the male lead. |
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Post by Carolinian on Mar 6, 2020 13:55:45 GMT -4
The magnolia tree didn't bother me. I read Founding Gardeners a few years ago and learned about the interest gentlemen of the time had in the natural world (Jefferson was not alone in his horticultural pursuits) and how there was a steady trade in plants from the Americas to England. Virginia dogwoods were especially popular. However in TDIT the bouquets of wildflowers that don't bloom at the same time drove me crazy, as did the inaccuracies of clothing.
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Post by chonies on Mar 6, 2020 15:50:41 GMT -4
Oh, right. I was just personally offended for stupid reasons. Thanks for the book recommendation, too. I love that sort of thing (in non fiction).
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Wulfric is a brilliantly realized character and it's nice that Balogh provides him with what has been missing from his life all along: Someone treating him as a human being and not as a symbol/head of the family. And I liked that Christine isn't some manic pixie dream girl, but that she has various issues and neuroses of her own and they really only come together by acknowledging each other's humanity and supporting each other emotionally. That book could have been so horrible, but Balogh did almost everything right.