historicalromance

The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love | India Holton

I only had 3 5 star reads in June, and I may still add the others in Wild Card spots. This tagged book was the most fun read and helped me get out of a reading slump. It is a delight!

Catsandbooks

43 likes

OutsmartYourShelf

The Dwelling Place | Catherine Cookson

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When her parents die from an illness, 16-year-old Cissie Brodie & her younger siblings are left penniless & homeless & facing the shadow of the workhouse. To prevent them being split up, Cissie searches for somewhere else to live but with no money they cannot afford anywhere, except a cave on the moor. Cold & drafty to start with, the local carpenter helps Cissie turn it into something resembling a dwelling place, if not a home.

OutsmartYourShelf The carpenter, Matthew, is taken with Cissie but cannot afford to help the family as business is slow. The only way he can think of helping is getting one of the older boys a job at the local mill, but to do that he would have to finally marry the miller's daughter, Rose. Just as it seems that things may work out, a confrontation between Cissie, & the son & daughter of Lord Fischel (brother Clive, & sister Isabelle) changes everything.
5d

OutsmartYourShelf Now I'm well aware that this book has problematic elements but it's one of my favourite Catherine Cookson novels, along with 'The Fifteen Streets'. It's been a long time since I last read this one but it's still as compelling as ever. I first read it after watching the 1994 adaptation & there are some differences in the book, mainly that it takes place over a much longer period of time.
5d

OutsmartYourShelf In this re-reading what really stood out was the unfairness of the time: the inequality between the rich & poor before the law, & between men & women. I felt for miller's daughter, Rose, this time as all she wanted was for her husband to love her yet he treated her with disdain because she wasn't beautiful & threatened to take away the money & property she inherited from her father because under the law then, the man owned everything. Grim. 4🌟

5d

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OutsmartYourShelf TWs: misogyny, rape, problematic themes.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7674635838
Read 24th-28th June 2025

#192025 (1971) @LibraryBelle
#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES 5d

Librarybelle I‘ve not read anything by her, but I‘ve seen some miniseries based on her books. Good choice for the challenge! 5d

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 4d

26 likes7 comments

Julsmarshall

Earl Crush: A Novel | Alexandra Vasti

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This was a lot of fun, I enjoyed the setting and the strong female characters.

ChaoticMissAdventures I thought this was fun too! Recently realized it is a series and #3 comes out in September

Ladies in Hating

27 likes1 comment

xicanti

Something Extraordinary | Alexis Hall

Here I am, trying to combat sadness with Kopiko, strawberries, and a Regency friend-romance between an aromantic woman and a gay man. I loved the hell out of the first book in this series (SOMETHING FABULOUS) but just really liked the second (SOMETHING SPECTACULAR). This shall be the tie-breaker.

Ruthiella Hope that combination works. ❤️ 1w

xicanti @Ruthiella I‘m eager to get back to the book now I‘ve been obliged to put it down and do other things, so that‘s at least a start. 1w

CarolynM This one is my favourite of the three. Hope it cheers you up💕 1w

xicanti @CarolynM I stayed up late with it last night and I hope to get some solid time with it today. 1w

28 likes1 stack add4 comments

xicanti

Once a Rogue: A Gay Historical Romance | Allie Therin

My stalwart companion as I reread ONCE A ROGUE. He‘s so red in the smokey light! I filtered him a bit to capture the colour I actually saw.

The book‘s still great. I love the way these characters bounce off each other, and Allie Therin‘s prose practically reads itself. I open my ereader and suddenly half an hour‘s gone by. I needed this, especially after I bailed on an opaque contemporary fantasy last night.

DGRachel Ahh! I have got to remember I have one of her books on one of my e-readers! I loved the book of hers I read and I‘ve been dying for more truly immersive books. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 1w

xicanti @DGRachel this series (Roaring Twenties Magic) is especially great, but she‘s always worth reading. 1w

38 likes2 comments

xicanti

Proper Scoundrels | Allie Therin

I‘m rereading PROPER SCOUNDRELS in preparation for VISCOUNTS & VILLAINY, with help from the cutest little scoundrel I know.

dabbe SIR CASEY!!!! 🖤🐾🖤 1w

Eggbeater That face! 😍 1w

37 likes2 comments

everlocalwest

Ne'er Duke Well | Alexandra Vasti

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Delightful historical romance! Just dummies in love. I love it.

21 likes

BookmarkTavern

Empire of Shadows | Jacquelyn Benson

The next Raiders of the Arcana book is coming November 2025! 🎉🎉🎉

#CoverReveal

julesG Yes!!! 2w

58 likes1 comment

big.al.reads

Only Mr. Darcy Will Do | Kara Louise

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“In the early hours of the morning the house was dark and quiet. […] and Elizabeth lay in bed wide awake. Images of Mr. Darcy‘s face, his nod, and his tall, handsome demeanour flooded her thoughts. She knew that even if she were spared these thoughts by sleep coming upon her, he would invade her dreams. And when she did fall asleep just before dawn, he was there just as she had expected.”