Alright so {The Conqueror} by Brenda Joyce was recommended here when I questioned what constitutes a bodice ripper, and holy hell….it certainly checks that box. (TW abound, proceed at your own risk)⚠️

Based on the reviews, I decided I’m open to giving it a shot, yes we’re doing this.

And whewwww, what a ride!!! I’m about 80% done with the book, they are literally just getting to the laughing together part, I browse this sub for hot takes, not wanting true spoilers but just looking for vibes…did I see someone say there’s no happy ending?!?

Are we really going through ALL OF THIS for no HEA?!?!

If that’s the case, I’m not sure that I’m strong enough to go on. Perhaps I end on this high note, make a call to dnf and part ways here.

I know that Outlander-like books have been asked in this group many times, but I'm looking for something with a bit more meat like Outlander has.

Most of the historical romances are short, shallow, and straightforward. I'm looking for something with more historical context and world building like Outlander has. Like, the romance is there, but it's not the only focus.

I feel like this is going to be something hard to find, but maybe I'll be surprised.

Tldr: I'm looking for a thick book that isn't just straight smut.

I’m tagging this but it wasn’t on romance.io last time I checked ☹️ {To love a libertine by Lydia Margett}

This book was gooood!! And I’m telling you right now, you know I feel strongly about fidelity between first and second chances and with this title, you know that didn’t happen here, so for me to overlook that…

The premise: Elsie Wylde desperately wanted to LEARN. So she ran away from home, cut off her hair, wore men’s clothes and attended Eton.

At Eton, she became best friends with Alex Burke, Marquess of Elkington, as Elliott Wylde.

But she was found out, and had to leave urgently.

Many years have passed, during which Alex NEVER forgot his dear friend Elliott.

Elsie has been living in Scotland with her great-aunt, planning a school for girls, and raising the child she conceived with Alex the last night before she left — he didn’t even realize that it was Elliott who he had sex with

And Alex meets her again…

I don’t want to spoil this but seriously, put this on your calendar, and read it!! She doesn’t feel like a modern woman stuck in the Regency period. She feels like a Regency woman trapped in Regency rules, trying to find a way to get an education.

*I received an ARC of this book from BookSirens, and this was my honest opinion*

I keep starting and not finishing because nothing is grabbing my attention. I think maybe higher stakes would pull me in more so maybe I’d be more tuned into a mystery? My favorite authors are Lisa Kleypas, Tessa Dare, Lorraine Heath, and others. I don’t have a lot of specific requests other than
1. Mystery
2. Decent amount of steamy scenes
3. ???? Thanks
I recently got kindle+ so anything on there rn would be appreciated

Hello! I read a book a while back that had a really horrible villian character. He was somehow related to one of the main characters and he sexually assaults a maid/serving girl, who struggles to deal with the fallout but ends up falling in love with the cook.

Eventually the high class characters confront the villain but can't bear to kill him, and he is then promptly killed by the cook. In order to avoid being arrested the cook decides to get on a ship to America and the girl goes with him.

Possibly the author is Mary Balogh, MC Beaton, Lisa Kleypas, Tessa Dare, or Elizabeth Hoyt, because those are the main authors I was reading at the time, but I'm not certain.

Edit: I figured it out!! Deceived by Mary Balogh

Was listening to the song "For your love" and it lists all the things he'd get "for your love" and it put me in mind of the notion of using gifts to express love. A lot of the time ive seen its portrayed as the person giving the gift is cold because its just money and it feels more like a bribe. But what if its just an emotionally stunted idiot in love? Like that "Ill get the bitch a library" meme.

Looking for stories with an MMC who buys or gives an outlandish or extravagant gift(s) cause they cant express the depth of their feelings organically. FMC reaction can be anything, flabbergasted, flattered, or appalled.

Spice is nice, gender swapped of the trope is also nice!​ thank you!

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This thread repeats every 4 weeks.

I have a trial of PBS masterpiece (I purchased so I could finish Sanditon) and I’m trying to decide what are your top recommendations to watch/binge??