I need a kick in the butt to read some new historical fiction authors. I keep going back to my favorites. I know many of you are worn out with challenges but for those who are not here is an easy one.

Challenge

- Read two need to you historical novels by new ot you authors by the end of the year

-Book can be historical fiction, historical mystery or historical romance.

Let's see if we can add to our wish list by learning about new authors or maybe Christmas presents:)

Seeing it is only two books we can use this topic to discuss the new to us authors.

Alice

I like this idea!  Many of my new to me authors are from you people (and I mean that in the nicest way possible)...such as Paul Doherty, Sara Donati, and R. Garcia y Robinson...but looking over Mount TBR, I do have a few that are new and that I haven't seen discussed here.  Good idea, Alice!

I am in!

Oh, this will be a piece of cake, I'm almost finished with one that will qualify.

Wow -- finally a challenge that is reasonable, sensible, meritorious, practical, prudent, praiseworthy, commendable, and doable. I vote for Alice for...well...anything.  (Though, Alice, I do question your goal of adding to our WLs. Really? Is that necessary??)

Regardless, I created a banner that anyone is welcome to use:

(Yes, I do have things to do today but procrastination is so much more fun.)

Deb,

I like you banner I put it up already. Now which new to me author to choose. I have way too many sitting on shelf....  My WL is full and I have notebook next to my desk with 4 pages of books to add when it frees up.

Alice

Yipee I love our new banner!  Thanks Deb!

ETA  I like this challenge because it is named after my cat Itty.

I used to call my daughter Itty Bitty baby girl when she a newborn. She's 15 now would scream:)

Alice

Well, between now and the end of the year, I might be able to read two more books. I've got 5 books to finish for the other HF challenges and then 5 yet to go in the M/T challenge (not exactly thrilled about my choices in that challenge), so, I might give this a try.

(I really need to do this for my mystery books too!)

Finaly, a challenge that I can complete.  For my first book I'll finish My Name is Mary Sutter.  I had to put it down to read a book for my book club.

Good Book Donna I read that one a couple of weeks ago. Some of the hospital scenes are a bit gory but overall it is good.

Alice

OK, so they just have to be authors I haven't read before, right. On the subject of HF, HF mystery or HR.

Is this right? If so, I can dig up 2 more. (Amongst my 600 books. LOL!)

That is correct Genie an author they YOU have not read before, HF, HF mysteries or Historical romance will do fit the bill.  I am sure you have a few authors there you have not read yet.  More all need some new authors to try out.

Alice

So for my first book I am going to read  Raiders from the North: Empire of the Moghul :: Alex Rutherford   Alex Rutherford is actually a pen name for a husband and wife team Diane and Michael Preston. It is set in 1494 central Asia. I must admit it has that gold letter on it that draws me in a like moth towards light. Sounds good will report back later.

Alice

One down, Mavreen by Claire Lorrimer. A cross between HF and HR.

Oh yipee - a challenge I might actually be able to complete (seeing as how the year long challenge is not going particularly well).  Cornwell will be the first one for this challenge (assuming I finish it that is...).

I think that my 2 books will be: Isabella by Rachel Bard and By Fire By Water by Mitchell James Kaplan. Now, to see if I can get to them before the end of the year!

Ooh -- I'm volunteering at a book brunch in a few weeks with Mitchell James Kaplan -- I suppose I should read his book, which has been sitting on my nightstand for awhile and which the library is going to want back very soon because I've run out of renewals. (Our library system apparently assumes that nine weeks is long enough to keep a book -- hhmmffff!)

My first book for this challenge is Sea Witch by Helen Hollick.  I have had this book on my shelf for sometime and began it once and set it aside.  I picked it up today and it has captured my attention. 

I had to sit at doctor's offices for more than 2 hours today so I got a lot of reading done. I finished Raiders of the North by Alex Rutherford.   Set in Mongolia and India in the 1500s. Very intersting piece of history I new knew nothing about. I think the author was trying to build off Conn Iggulden's Genghis Khan series. This books is set several hunder years later. I don't like battle scenes but the rest was good. If you like unuasual history  of lands you may know little about this is a good read for you. I would read the next book in the series.

time to read some paranormal stuff now:)

Alice

I finished the Sea Witch and I really liked it.  Set in Cape Town and the Caribbean during the Golden Age of pirates.  It is a romantic fantasy/pirate tale and Hollick pulls it off beautifully.  I really cared about the characters and fell in love as you are supposed to do with Jesamiah Acorne.  Brutalized and driven from his home at 15.   He is fated to fall in love with a girl who has her own painful past and to top that off she is a very powerful White Witch on the run from those who would do her harm.  There are villains and a very interesting love triangle this is where the fantasy elements come in.  It is a fun romp and I am looking forward to the other books.

Hey - this is one that I actually can complete!  Right now I'm reading my first Jean Plaidy, Madame Serpent.  Love it!  I'm hoping the next 2 in the series are based more in Italy, since it's the Medici trilogy.  This one's based in France, and I'm enjoying it, but I love reading about Florence.

Two down. The Enchantress by Nichola Thorne. Set in England during the Jacobite rebellion of '45.

Jerelyn,  I have Sea Witch on my wishlist so I am glad to hear it is good.

Michelle,  I am a Plaidy fan and have Madame Serpent sitting on my books shelf. I keep looking at so I guess I should pick it up soon.

Cathy I never hear of Nichola Thorne. How was the book.

Alice

Alice, I hadn't either. She also writes under the name Katherine York. Book was fairly good, albeit a bit flawed. It's the first in a trilogy so I'll report back fully when I've finished it.

Karla, FYI I didn't go picking this one off your shelf this time I promise. The Enchantress Saga under the Thorne name was mentioned at HFO. I only caught the connection when I was on Goodreads and recognized that boobilicious cover from your shelf.