Reading Meme

[shipperx]

What Are You Reading Wednesday Meme

What I just finished reading:
As I mentioned the other day in this post, I've been on a mid-gray too-damn-cold winter I-need-fluff romance novel kick, polishing off not one but two Sue London romances last weekend (some joyous bicker/banter, a little trope subversion, and a happy ending were what I was craving.)

Following recs made in the comments of  that post, last night  I downloaded a Courtney Milan short novella, The Governess Affair, polishing it off in a couple of hours. It was more sad than the Sue London books I read over the weekend. It had a more sad premise than those.

Here, the heroine was a governess who was raped by a titled houseguest during a house party (shades of Downton Abbey. Digression: why do does Downton HAVE house party's when someone is always being raped during one? They've had two and... well... Arguments persist on what exactly happened to Lady Mary way back when, and then more recently... ugh) Anyway, the poor violated governess lost her job and got slut shamed and it's all back story but incredibly sad. Haunted by it, she decided to win back some part of herself by forcing the S.O.B. to admit what he had done to her. (This is no 'bodice-ripper.' The rape is taken seriously. It was a violation, and she is written as a rape survivor.) The titled rapist in question appoints his 'man of business' to get rid of her no matter what it took (without telling the man of business what the bastard had done to her). And, the man of business falls in love with her instead.

It seems to have been a prequel to a novel series which I've now picked up.

What I'm reading now:
The novels that follow the Courtney Milan novella prequel mentioned above. "The Duchess War" and "The Heiress Effect"..

What I'm reading next:
 Have not thought that far ahead.

Comments

[usedtobeljs]

Milan does like her angst, but she generally tempers it well. And she does a LOT of trope subversion as she goes.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Have just finished "The Duchess War" which seems rather similar to the second Sue London novel. I think the Milan book is better written and better plotted, and the Sue London book is 'happier' and quippier, if that makes sense.

I enjoyed the Milan book very much... and my impression is like yours: she likes her angst.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

For Fluffy romance novels with little to no angst - try Eloisa James novels, Pleasure for Pleasure has a rake dress up in a pink dress to explain how to walk right to the heroine, and an older rich woman/younger and poore man (novelist) romance. She's a Shakespeare scholar, so expect a lot of references to Shakespearean plays.
Reminds me of a lustier Georgette Heyer.