breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,588 
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Aug 20, 2024 2:11:31 GMT
I’ve never understood this notion of shame around what I read. The only shame you should feel Merge is you didn’t share any of the authors of the Regency era romance and mystery novels you’ve enjoyed 😁 Ooohhh, let's see - Julia Quinn, obviously (Bridgerton started my whole interest in the genre) Lisa Kleypas, again obviously But honestly my favorites are Mary Balogh and Grace Burrowes. These are quieter and more thoughtfully written, especially their later stuff. Grace Burrowes Lady Violet Investigates series and Lord Julian mystery series are not at all steamy but very enjoyable. Mary Balogh's Bedwyn Saga series and Survivors' Club series - slightly more steamy but great characters and plots IMO. And I just finished the most recent book in Darcie Wilde's Rosalind Thorne mysteries (now A Useful Woman mysteries) - so good. Can't wait for the next one and I'm going to look for more by this author. ETA: for something very different than the usual, I loved The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton. There's a series of them called Dangerous Damsels. Call it Victorian romance meets the adults of Harry Potter. I loved them. I'm not sure if she specifically writes regency romance, but you might be interested in the author Mimi Matthews. Not steamy though. |
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Post by Merge on Aug 20, 2024 2:19:07 GMT
Ooohhh, let's see - Julia Quinn, obviously (Bridgerton started my whole interest in the genre) Lisa Kleypas, again obviously But honestly my favorites are Mary Balogh and Grace Burrowes. These are quieter and more thoughtfully written, especially their later stuff. Grace Burrowes Lady Violet Investigates series and Lord Julian mystery series are not at all steamy but very enjoyable. Mary Balogh's Bedwyn Saga series and Survivors' Club series - slightly more steamy but great characters and plots IMO. And I just finished the most recent book in Darcie Wilde's Rosalind Thorne mysteries (now A Useful Woman mysteries) - so good. Can't wait for the next one and I'm going to look for more by this author. ETA: for something very different than the usual, I loved The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton. There's a series of them called Dangerous Damsels. Call it Victorian romance meets the adults of Harry Potter. I loved them. I'm not sure if she specifically writes regency romance, but you might be interested in the author Mimi Matthews. Not steamy though. Oh, she does look right up my alley. Thanks! |
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kelly8875
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,441
Location: Lost in my supplies...
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Post by kelly8875 on Aug 20, 2024 2:20:57 GMT
I’ll read anything. I’m not ashamed, I love VC Andrews, Twilight, fluffy, scary, fast reads, romance, dark romance. Anything goes. To me hooks are like TV and movies, I love the variety. Sometimes I want a quick funny stupid sitcom, other times I want serious epic stories that make you think. Why pick just one kind of book?  |
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Post by mellyw on Aug 20, 2024 3:30:59 GMT
I’ve never understood this notion of shame around what I read. The only shame you should feel Merge is you didn’t share any of the authors of the Regency era romance and mystery novels you’ve enjoyed 😁 Ooohhh, let's see - Julia Quinn, obviously (Bridgerton started my whole interest in the genre) Lisa Kleypas, again obviously But honestly my favorites are Mary Balogh and Grace Burrowes. These are quieter and more thoughtfully written, especially their later stuff. Grace Burrowes Lady Violet Investigates series and Lord Julian mystery series are not at all steamy but very enjoyable. Mary Balogh's Bedwyn Saga series and Survivors' Club series - slightly more steamy but great characters and plots IMO. And I just finished the most recent book in Darcie Wilde's Rosalind Thorne mysteries (now A Useful Woman mysteries) - so good. Can't wait for the next one and I'm going to look for more by this author. ETA: for something very different than the usual, I loved The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton. There's a series of them called Dangerous Damsels. Call it Victorian romance meets the adults of Harry Potter. I loved them. Thank you!!! Can’t wait to get reading. |
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Post by chaosisapony on Aug 20, 2024 3:42:37 GMT
I should be ashamed of how much I loved Fourth Wing but I am not. I look at books like they are dessert. They should be anticipated, delicious, and leave you feeling satisfied. I don't need my books to be serious or challenging, I simply want something fun to read to cap off my day. The past couple of years I have read almost exclusively reverse harem and m/m romances. Just something different and fun but I will read almost anything.
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TXMary
Pearl Clutcher
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean. God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Posts: 3,035
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Post by TXMary on Aug 20, 2024 3:44:13 GMT
Well I missed all that on the Blake Lively thread but I liked Verity and I like Colleen Hoover.  |
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Post by jackietex on Aug 20, 2024 4:27:22 GMT
I love the Outlander series but I cannot recommend them because there is sooooooooo much rape.
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Post by lainey on Aug 20, 2024 6:24:31 GMT
It's never occurred to me to be ashamed of what I read. I'll pretty much give anything a go but what I can't get behind is authors who want to frame abuse and rape as romantic, something that's OK as long as the guy is hot.
I'm side eyeing you H D Carlton!
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Post by ~summer~ on Aug 20, 2024 7:12:59 GMT
I love well written fluff - loved Shoppholic series.
More recently love a steamy romance like Tessa Bailey.
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sueg
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,572
Location: Munich
Apr 12, 2016 12:51:01 GMT
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Post by sueg on Aug 20, 2024 7:16:29 GMT
My favourite genre for relaxing reading is Cozy Crime. You know - like Midsomer Murders, but in book form! I have a few at the moment on my kindle where I bought a set of 4 or 5 stories from one author and they were perfect hospital reading - no worries about being interrupted for tests and such.
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Post by littlemama on Aug 20, 2024 10:14:23 GMT
Im not ashamed of anything I read. I dont really discuss what Im reading with other people though. Not intentionally, it just doesnt come up in conversation
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dawnnikol
Prolific Pea
'A life without books is a life not lived.' Jay Kristoff
Posts: 8,556
Sept 21, 2015 18:39:25 GMT
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Post by dawnnikol on Aug 20, 2024 10:18:43 GMT
I should be ashamed of how much I loved Fourth Wing but I am not. I look at books like they are dessert. Nah. No shame in anyone's reading game. BTW, I have both of those books and the 3rd one pre-ordered. >.< I used to be able to do all the YA, but when Jay Kristoff jumped to adult, I slowly followed over. I still re-read my beloved Sarah J. Maas (currently re-reading Silver Flames, actually), but I haven't been as quick to pick up a newly released YA. I did love Hunger Games, but have yet to read the prequel and I'm not super excited about the new movie. My DD is, and perhaps that's part of it, my children are reaching that age group? Anyway. The Sookie Stackhouse books were great, I want to say I was reading them prior to the TV series coming out, but then they veered off course for so much I couldn't enjoy the TV series. At Christmas I like the fluffy holiday reads, but after that I'm back to smut & fighting. Reading has always been an escape and I'd rather read than watch tv. DH doesn't agree though, so the tv stays.. |
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Post by lesserknownpea on Aug 20, 2024 10:29:27 GMT
I’ve never understood this notion of shame around what I read. The only shame you should feel Merge is you didn’t share any of the authors of the Regency era romance and mystery novels you’ve enjoyed 😁 Ooohhh, let's see - Julia Quinn, obviously (Bridgerton started my whole interest in the genre) Lisa Kleypas, again obviously But honestly my favorites are Mary Balogh and Grace Burrowes. These are quieter and more thoughtfully written, especially their later stuff. Grace Burrowes Lady Violet Investigates series and Lord Julian mystery series are not at all steamy but very enjoyable. Mary Balogh's Bedwyn Saga series and Survivors' Club series - slightly more steamy but great characters and plots IMO. And I just finished the most recent book in Darcie Wilde's Rosalind Thorne mysteries (now A Useful Woman mysteries) - so good. Can't wait for the next one and I'm going to look for more by this author. ETA: for something very different than the usual, I loved The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton. There's a series of them called Dangerous Damsels. Call it Victorian romance meets the adults of Harry Potter. I loved them. Mary Balogh has been a favorite of mine for a very long time. There’s a depth to her characters and storylines. And I find Regencies as a whole to be so very relaxing, as what could be farther removed from our modern lives? The great Georgette Heyer was my first Regency writer. |
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Post by epeanymous on Aug 20, 2024 10:44:28 GMT
I read a lot of cozy mysteries, particularly series built around books or crafts. I don’t care that they are incredibly predictable and unrealistic.
ETA: while there is definitely a lot of poorly-written stuff out there, my maybe unpopular opinion is that the difference between “literature” and other books is largely how the publisher chooses to market it. I read a lot of literature that is … not great!
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Post by Bridget in MD on Aug 20, 2024 11:29:35 GMT
I should be ashamed of how much I loved Fourth Wing but I am not. I look at books like they are dessert. They should be anticipated, delicious, and leave you feeling satisfied. I don't need my books to be serious or challenging, I simply want something fun to read to cap off my day. The past couple of years I have read almost exclusively reverse harem and m/m romances. Just something different and fun but I will read almost anything. I think monklady123 has read FW and IF several times already! I read them as well, but I mostly read them for staying current/pop culture sort of stuff. It's not my favorite genre. |
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Post by candygurl on Aug 20, 2024 12:21:35 GMT
There are no books I am ashamed of! I’m a mood reader and just tend to read what I want and sometimes it’s the popular romance book and sometimes it’s a thriller! I’ve gotten away from the ‘shame’ that is put upon readers who read books people think are silly or lack meaning or what not.
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Post by Susie_Homemaker on Aug 20, 2024 12:32:14 GMT
Same katiescarlett I love books that are very far from reality and are entertaining. Do you have a favorite ZA book or series? I get freebies on amazon or borrow them through unlimited. I really enjoyed Undead Ultra by Camille Picott. |
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Post by monklady123 on Aug 20, 2024 12:54:06 GMT
I should be ashamed of how much I loved Fourth Wing but I am not. I look at books like they are dessert. They should be anticipated, delicious, and leave you feeling satisfied. I don't need my books to be serious or challenging, I simply want something fun to read to cap off my day. The past couple of years I have read almost exclusively reverse harem and m/m romances. Just something different and fun but I will read almost anything. I think monklady123 has read FW and IF several times already! I read them as well, but I mostly read them for staying current/pop culture sort of stuff. It's not my favorite genre. I have! And I might just buy them for myself so I can read them again. Not ashamed of them either. |
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Post by Jamie on Aug 20, 2024 13:06:33 GMT
All the "pucking around" type books or "dirty empire" types... nobody i know in real life will admit to reading *those* type books... Female with multiple partners... alone and together... or true bdsm more hard the 50 shades... not a lot of people like to read real true smut... Dark and dirty erotica Raises hand for liking the Pucking Around Series. Can't wait for the next release, but sad it's the last |
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Post by Jamie on Aug 20, 2024 13:19:49 GMT
I'm all over the board. I hadn't read for quite some time and everyone was talking about Verity and I picked it up about a year and a half ago and it brought my love for reading back. I've read a dozen or so of Colleens books now. Not the best I've read, but I'm just looking for an escape when reading and it gives me that. I've read all the Pucking Round books by Emily Rath that are out so far and looking forward to the last book in the series this fall. I'll go from reading Pucking Around to WWII. I will say that my mom will download some of the books that I have on Kindle (we share an acct). At this point she hasn't said anything, but one of these days I might ask her how she's liked a few |
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zippythebird
Junior Member
Posts: 98
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Post by zippythebird on Aug 20, 2024 13:40:39 GMT
My guilty pleasure reads are Cathrine Cookson Jackie Collins and I have been known to have a few Mills & Boon laying around  I also like authors like Kim Harrison, I have all the Hollows books, Philip Pullman His Dark Materials & Dust etc |
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Post by Merge on Aug 20, 2024 13:47:35 GMT
I love the Outlander series but I cannot recommend them because there is sooooooooo much rape. Yeah. It didn't really stick out to me so much when I was reading most of them in the 1990s, but it does now. At least she's not romanticizing it or making it a fantasy thing, but still. Lots of rape. Some of you may find this funny (has nothing to do with rape): I grew up in a very conservative family, and the only sex ed I received was "don't do it until you're married." I was also shy and introverted and didn't have friends who discussed sex openly. But I started working in an independent bookstore when I was 16, and when it was slow, I would keep a Julie Garwood novel under the cashwrap to read, and that's how I learned - sort of - about sex. At least the mechanics of it. |
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Post by katiescarlett on Aug 20, 2024 14:22:34 GMT
Same katiescarlett I love books that are very far from reality and are entertaining. Do you have a favorite ZA book or series? I get freebies on amazon or borrow them through unlimited. I really enjoyed Undead Ultra by Camille Picott. I loved the Undead Ultra series! My favorite series is by Sarah Lyons Fleming. It starts with Until the End of the World. |
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Post by malibou on Aug 20, 2024 14:39:34 GMT
My reading selections are all over the place. I loved reading young adult books to ds, and still read them myself all the time. I loved the Artemis Fowl books and the Peter and the Star Catchers books. I like those paperback mysteries from the 60s and 70s written for 8-14 year olds and won't pass up a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys book. I read loads of books about WWII. Historical fiction grabs my attention frequently. And I love those old sci-fi authors like Arthur C Clark, and Ray Bradbury, especially their short stories from Playboy back in the 70s.
I have never felt any guilt or even felt weird or out of place about books I've read.
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milocat
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,616
Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
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Post by milocat on Aug 20, 2024 15:04:17 GMT
I don't think you should be ashamed of any books. There's a reason Danielle Steel and Nicholas Sparks are still writing, because people are still reading their books. I had read a bunch of their stuff when my kids were young. The books were easy to dip in and out of and if it had been weeks since I picked up the book it didn't take long to remember what was happening. I never read Twilight because vampires don't appeal to me but plenty of adults read YA. I just read what I want and what I like.
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Post by Susie_Homemaker on Aug 20, 2024 16:38:26 GMT
Same katiescarlett I love books that are very far from reality and are entertaining. Do you have a favorite ZA book or series? I get freebies on amazon or borrow them through unlimited. I really enjoyed Undead Ultra by Camille Picott. I loved the Undead Ultra series! My favorite series is by Sarah Lyons Fleming. It starts with Until the End of the World. Yes, I loved that series too! I read it this year. |
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anaterra
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,134
Location: Texas
Jun 29, 2014 3:04:02 GMT
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Post by anaterra on Aug 20, 2024 17:16:10 GMT
All the "pucking around" type books or "dirty empire" types... nobody i know in real life will admit to reading *those* type books... Female with multiple partners... alone and together... or true bdsm more hard the 50 shades... not a lot of people like to read real true smut... Dark and dirty erotica Raises hand for liking the Pucking Around Series. Can't wait for the next release, but sad it's the last Omg thanks so much... i was beginning to feel like the only smut reader in the room... again... lmao |
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Post by Crack-a-lackin on Aug 20, 2024 19:07:10 GMT
I don’t feel anyone should be ashamed of what they’re reading but I do get mocked occasionally for my love of cozy mysteries.
Camilla Chafer, Lexi Graves series is my favorite of the cozy mysteries. Also Diane Mott Davidson, which is an older series around Goldy who is a caterer who solves mysteries. Really I enjoy most any baking/catering series that are like the Hallmark Hannah Swenson Murder She Baked movies based on Joanne Fluke’s books.
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Post by mellyw on Aug 20, 2024 19:34:10 GMT
Raises hand for liking the Pucking Around Series. Can't wait for the next release, but sad it's the last Omg thanks so much... i was beginning to feel like the only smut reader in the room... again... lmao Definitely don’t feel bad, I love good smutty books too. I’ve been laid up with Covid, this variant has given me some nasty headaches. T.V watching is out so reading has kept me entertained. I want to escape into light, fluffy smutty fun. The Pucking Around series has been great. One of the best things technology has given me in Kindle Unlimited. I’m a voracious speed reader, always have been. Between KU and my library I’m never without something to read. |
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Post by librarylady on Aug 20, 2024 20:16:40 GMT
This thread makes me laugh.
When I bought my Kindle, the first book I read on the Kindle was something totally out of character for me. I didn't want anyone to find it on my Kindle, so as soon as I finished the book, I deleted it. Later a friend of DH told DH he had done the same thing.
I cannot remember the title of the book, but it was related to politics. I think Amazon keeps a list of what we ever downloaded, but I have not looked for the title. --I think it might have been something very conservative, but I have no idea at this point.
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