Comments on: TBR Challenge 2012 – How Did This Get Here?

By: Elaine C.

Elaine C. — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 19:34:16 +0000

Lynn, I agree about Barbara Michaels’ books. I think I both have and read them all. Searched so hard to find them in used book stores, I haven’t wanted to give them up. Then I moved to all her Elizabeth Peters’ books. She’s been a favorite of mine for thirty years. Her books are mysteries with strong romantic elements. I have loved them!

Now I read mostly historical romances and need a bookkeeping system to keep the titles straight. Even a lot of the covers are trendy and I’ll look at one and find another with the same models and poses and even dress colors.
It’s rare to see a cover that portrays the woman as she is described in the book, wearing a dress from the time period. I just use my imagination.

By the way, have AAR reviewers given up reviewing European Historicals? The last was back in June – “The Thief of Shadows”.

By: VictoriaVa

VictoriaVa — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 22:57:04 +0000

Frankly I am fascinated about a TBR. Who has room or time? I buy or borrow from the library. If I do not read it immediately it is back to the library or a DNF. So I cannot think of a book that has been around that I have not read. Love this website for making a TBR unnecessary.

By: Amber

Amber — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 22:13:00 +0000

Well, at least the title is unusual! I get so sick of cookie cutter titles that I can’t remember, or worse confuse with 20 other books with similar names.

This sounds like a miss, unfortunately. Although now I want to find a gothic romance to read, too. I haven’t read one in forever.

By: Maggie AAR

Maggie AAR — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:28:58 +0000

@ell Simone St. James The Haunting of Maddy Clare. Strong heroine, great love story and amazing ghost tale. I don't know how strong the heroine was but I enjoyed Sea of Secrets by Amanda DeWees. It definitely had some flaws (the solution to the mystery is a big one) but I enjoyed the story enough I would give it a b.

By: AAR Lynn

AAR Lynn — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:00:39 +0000

@ell – True – there are a lot of spineless heroines in gothics. Still, some of Barbara Michaels’ books have a gothic touch to them and most of her heroines definitely have their spines intact. And even though I’m not sure I’d call them gothics because they’re really almost in a category of their own, there is a moody quality to Susanna Kearsley’s books that makes me think gothic fans would like them. The Winter Sea was wonderful.

By: ell

ell — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:54:11 +0000

Ha! I do this too. A friend, a sister, y’all (!) will recommend a book, and I’ll buy it without getting to it for awhile. When I finally do, I will sometimes find myself wondering: Did I actually PAY for this?
I still prefer real books to my Kindle, but I have to say, this kind of thing is a big plus on the Kindle side of the equation. SO much easier to return it.

Also: growing up, I loved gothics. I guess they are virtually impossible to write if you have a heroine with a spine, still I wish somebody would figure out a way to write one. Any recommendations?

By: Leigh

Leigh — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:06:33 +0000

That is funny Lynn. I wonder what else you have waiting for you in your pile. You deserve kudos for finishing it especially since you don’t even remember choosing it