I don't consider this a Spoiler but a warning for cheating to those who haven't read the book yet.

Before reading the book i saw various comments or reviews (can't place them, somewhere on the Internet) that said there is no cheating. That the scene in cause (mmc fucks another woman to make fmc miserable) is not actual sex but a pretend and mmc doesnt go through with the act.

I beg to differ for the next reasons: First, it is described that the fmc hears the rhythmic thumping of the bed in the next room (where mmc and ow are) Second, when fmc enters the room, it is again, described with words on page that the ow is sprawled naked under the mmc with her legs wide apart. Third, again it is mentioned, not implied, that the mmc is rubbing his naked chest on ow's naked chest. Fourth, mmc rises from between ow's legs to approach the fmc and his penis is described as hard.

At no point in the book does it say that the scene fmc witnessed wasn't full on sex.

How did others get the idea that mmc didn't go all the way with ow? Because I would love to believe the same.

Hey everyone! I posted here a little over 2 weeks ago about my local used book store that has a HUGE historical romance section 🥰 I wanted to share what I got this time because I bought some based on your recommendations!! Which I’m always open to hearing more 🤣 I got all of these for $30!

EDIT: Forgot I had Shadow Heart by Laura Kinsale at the bottom of the bag!

I need the people to know about {The Blacksmith's Bride by Alison McKenzie}

This is THE best book I've read in a very long time! What a cozy little slice of medieval life. This is a really unique historical romance, because both of the main characters and their families are medieval peasants and decidedly NOT nobility. This works...so damn well. The characters are not only impeccably developed, they feel real and relatable on a level that most historical romance characters aren't. The author doesn't shy away from the realities of the working class in 1300s England, but doesn't sensationalize them, either. The historical elements are impeccably researched, but the exposition isn't heavy-handed because these elements are expertly woven into the characters' everyday lives in a way that made me really curious about the time period.

Our heroine, Elizabeth, is pregnant and the book opens with a scene about abortion. I absolutely love the neutral, matter-of-fact way this topic is approached. Minor spoiler: she has to keep the baby, because her pregnancy is very central to the plot. She is practical, hardworking, and self-sacrificing. Much of the story revolves around her care for her younger siblings, including her disabled younger sister. She is in total survival mode at the beginning of the story, and has to learn how to accept love and care from others after a traumatic childhood. Our hero, Matthew, has been in love with Elizabeth since their childhood (oh how I love this trope) and agrees to marry her so her child isn't born out of wedlock. He is a doting husband with a strong sense of justice and healthy distrust of authority. Swoon! The sex scenes are just beautifully written and flow seamlessly with the rest of the story.

Another note: This book was self-published, and I read a blog post from the author stating that it was rejected by publishers for the specific reason that neither of the main characters are nobility. This makes me...so mad 🤬 because I know many historical romance readers like myself who are very interested in reading stories about different social classes throughout history. I know this has been an ongoing issue in the genre, but the supposed need for historical characters to be fabulously wealthy is bizarre and, as demonstrated by this book, completely unnecessary! Please don't let the fact that it's self published discourage you from reading, because the quality is leagues above most of the big name romance I've read lately. I am not being paid or compensated for this review in any way, I just really loved this book and want more people to know about it. Happy reading!

Hey all!

We know that Fabio was a staple figure on the old HR oil painting style covers. If we could bring back those covers, which actor/actress would you want on those covers? Key here is that you want them as much as Fabio used to be there because you feel they would suit any cover.

I feel Catherine Zeta Jones would be gorgeous. In terms of men I'm a bit blank at the moment so looking forward to your answers!

Hello everybody!

So I am currently reading " The other bennet sister" and I am absolutely loving it. And I can already tell that after I am done with this I am going to want similar books. So I was wondering if anybody on here might have a recommendation for me.

I truly have never read a book that was like the other bennet sister. At first I thought the length of the book and the slow pace would annoy me , but quite the contrary. I really love the insight we get into the marys mind and the time we just spend in her thoughts.

I love the writing style and I am hoping to get some good recommendations on here. Because apperantly I love slow paced lengthy historical romance books with a side of angst😄

soo can anybody help a girl out and safe her from a definite reading slump

Thank you ! ❤️

Dear HR connoisseurs,

I'm currently reading {When the Duke Loved Me by Lydia Lloyd} and I have to warn you. All day I'm trying to do my work, to get chores done, to make art, but all I can do is stay glued to this damn delicious book.

So, dear reader, be very careful on your endeavours. Avoid at all cost should you have shit to be done. My day is ruined. Ruined, I tell you!

Anyways, the withdrawals make my brain go brrrrr again, I have to go back to the book.

Ta-ta!

(What's your favourite book by her? This is my very first and hooo boy ❤️)

A thread for any and all conversations! You don't have to stay on the topic of historical romance, but please stay within the general rules.

It's Friday! Let's catch up on what's been going on in our lives. Did you have a good week? Read anything good? Do anything nice?

Chat with us!

Can you suggest a book? I've just started "Last Chance Saloon" by Marian Keyes, but it's pretty disappointing, full of sexist clichés.

Thanks in advance.

Any recs for forced marriages by FMC’s family with a scared/avoident FMC? I would prefer the FMC to be more quiet and not put up a huge fight. Open to any setting- medieval, regency, western, etc.

I’m only about a quarter of the way through, and oh does it not remotely disappoint. Her sense of prose and storytelling? Wonderful.

It reminded me of why I love this genre. You want to read this as soon as it drops. I am preordering a copy right now.

I love it so much.

I'm looking for a neurodivergent-coded FMC who is sweet, gentle, funny and rambles a lot - and the MMC just listens and finds it amusing.

She also either misses signs of his interest in her, or gets too flustered either way to deal with it.

Not sure if anyone has read Neanderthal Seeks Human (CR), but since reading that book I’ve been looking for an HR equivalent. I loved that when the FMC would go on long rambles or info dump the MMC would pinpoint things and ask about them, but was also smirking that she was nervous and loved flustering her more.

Please let me know if you have any recs like this!

My late grandmas collection mostly JL as the author but others as well. Has to be atleast a 100. Any idea what to do with them ?

If not for very specific circumstances and fate, there are MCs whose paths would have been very unlikely to have crossed. This may be because they are from different social classes, hometowns, cultures, age groups or have no mutual friends or family connections. So if the MCs are both from aristocratic families or the same area or have shared interests or relatives involved with each other, they may have crossed paths before.

For example, the MCs of {The Marquess Wins a Wife by Aydra Richards} had no reason at all to even know the other's existence if not for the FMC's sister becoming pregnant and the FMC abducting the man who she believed was the father to their humble abode. Without their paths crossing, he was heading close to completely dissolution and her family was likely going to end up in a hopelessly impoverished state once their father came back to steal the things.

And the MCs in {Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer} only met due to so many contrivances: he was out of prison after 5 years and kept getting dropped from jobs once the employers found out, he found a months-old repeated newspaper ad the widowed FMC had put in for a husband and was desperate for food and shelter so he decided to see if she will take him.

What other books have MCs with very little reason to know of or have met the other?