Spotlight: Historical Romance

There's nothing wrong with wanting to read a book just for fun, whether it has wizards on boats, clever amateur detectives, rugged adventurers, or horrific monsters. The Adult Services team here at Carnegie-Stout loves books of every genre, but we all have our favorites. Personally, when I'm feeling stressed and need an escape, I turn to Historical Romance (or military science fiction). Sometimes I like to read a book that's fun, sexy, and ends with Happily Ever After.

What is Historical Romance? It depends on who you ask, but typically the phrase is used to describe steamy stories set in the late 18th or early 19th centuries, most often in England, and feature at lead one protagonist from the upper reaches of society. Although there is a growing popularity for titles set during the Victorian period. Romances with an American setting during this time period tend to be more in the style of a pioneer or old west story, or set during the Civil or Revolutionary War.

It's been a while since we posted our first Read Alike list (for Julia Quinn), or last year's experiment in reading all of the nominees for the RITA's Historical Romance category. Both of those lists are full of excellent books and authors for fans of Historical Romance, but there wasn't room for all of my old favorites or the newer authors just entering the world of Romance so I've gathered a few more suggestions below. If you happen to prefer Contemporary Romance, check out this post from earlier this summer.

The Heir by Grace Burrowes

I recently picked up Ms. Burrowes' first novel, The Heir, at the suggestion of a patron, and I tore through the 400+ pages in a single weekend. It's set during an unusually hot summer (sound familiar?) and the sparks between the characters are equally combustible. The Earl of Wyndham is a determined bachelor whose father has an overbearing need for grandchildren, his housekeeper, Anna, is capable, intelligent, attractive, and obviously born to something better than a servant's life. The story has a slower pace, which allows their relationship to develop more naturally, and Anna's mysterious past keeps the tension high.


A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant 
I just love it when a romance turns my expectations on their head. Ms. Grant's first novel, A Lady Awakened, seems to have a predictable set up, a newly widowed and childless Martha and the irresponsible rake next door come up with a bargain to save her husband's estate from her dastardly brother-in-law. The surprise is that the sex isn't instantly mind-blowing, though not for lack of trying on Theo's part. The focus on the characters' growing emotional and intellectual connection, along with their colorful country neighbors, makes this book more than a little heartwarming.





Goddess of the Hunt by Tessa Dare
Ms. Dare is another relatively recent addition to the romance shelves, and her charming characters and witty writing has earned her a 2012 RITA Award. Her first novel, Goddess of the Hunt, is the story of Lucy, who's a bit of a tomboy. Lucy attempts to win the heart of her childhood crush by seducing another man, and finds rather more than she expected.






Some Enchanted Evening by Christina Dodd
Ms. Dodd has been writing for two decades now, and while in recent years she's expanded into romantic suspense and paranormal titles, she's still a master of the steamy historical. Try Some Enchanted Evening, which adds a bit of fairy tale to the mix. Clarice is a princess in hiding in Scotland, where she sells cosmetics to support herself and her younger sister. Until Robert Mackenzie, Earl of Hepburn catches sight of her and realizes she's more than she appears.




Love Only Once by Johanna Lindsey

Ms. Lindsey has been writing steamy historical romances for almost thirty years now. Over the years she's written a wide variety of romances (including some with elements of Science Fiction), but all of her novels feature strong men, spirited women, and the clash of wits that comes with passion. Love Only Once is the first novel in her popular Malory Family series set in Regency era England. Regina Ashton is kidnapped by a handsome stranger and finds herself drawn to him in spite of her pride and his troubling past.

And if you can't get enough Historical Romance, here's another five authors worth checking out:

• Loretta Chase
• Vicky Dreiling
• Laura Lee Guhrke
• Madeline Hunter
• Courtney Milan

Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!

Four! Golf Digest & Golf Magazine are September's Magazines of the Month

In honor of the 2012 Ryder Cup - the biennial golf event that pits the best pro golfers of the U.S. against the best of Europe and hosted this year in Medinah, Illinois, Sept. 28-30 - we've selected Golf Digest and Golf Magazine as our Magazines of the Month.

Both periodicals offer news and commentary from the professional golf world, plus tips and advice on improving your own game, the best courses to play and how to find the right equipment. And, of course, fashion tips for style-conscious golfers.

Stop down at the library and check out these two magazines and you can also pick up some great books and DVDs about golf as well!

Database Spotlight: Mango Languages

Are you planning a vacation to foreign shores? A long weekend relaxing on a the beaches of Cancun or taking romantic strolls through Paris? Has it been a while since you studied a French or Spanish in high school? Or maybe you're just starting your studies in German or Japanese?

Carnegie-Stout has a database that can help you out! Mango Languages offers interactive, introductory level language practice in 46 different languages. Anyone can access Mango from one of Carnegie-Stout's computers, or from your home if you have a full service library card.

To find Mango, go to the library's homepage: www.dubuque.lib.ia.us and click on the "Research Tools" link on the left-hand side of the screen. This brings you to an alphabetical list of our research databases from which you will be able to open Mango. If you are outside of the library, you will be prompted to enter the bar code from the back of your library card and your PIN (usually the last four numbers of your phone number).

Once Mango loads, you'll be asked to Log In, Create a Profile, or Start Learning. (Note: you can enlarge the images by clicking on them)

You do not need to create a profile or log in to use Mango, but if you do, Mango will track your progress and allow you to pick up where you left off. To create a profile, simply register with an email address and the password of your choice.

Once you have selected Start Learning or logged in, you'll see a screen with all of the available language courses.

In addition to the 46 languages available, there are English courses for non-native speakers. These English courses are designed for people from 15 different language backgrounds. You can select the English courses from the left-hand side of the screen, or you can select the language of your choice from the list in the middle. For today's example, we'll be looking at French.

The French lesson offers some basic information about the language and where it is spoken, in addition to the three language levels: Basic, Complete 1.0, and Complete 2.0. Today we'll be looking at Basic. To start this level, push the button next to Basic which says "Launch." This will open a new window. (Note: you may need to update Adobe Flash Player)

Each level is split into Chapters, and the Chapters into Lessons. If you have created a profile and logged in, Mango will remind you which lessons you have already completed. Although you are more than welcome to repeat any portion you might like to revisit! We'll start with Chapter 1, Lesson 1; to start this lesson we click on the number one under Chapter 1.

Each Lesson starts with an overview of what topics will be covered, and what concepts we'll be learning. Each lesson will include conversations that teach you useful phrases, grammatical concepts, and vocabulary. The text will be shown in English and, in this case, French. You'll want to make sure you have your computer speakers turned on or your head phones plugged in so that you can hear the proper pronunciation. At the end of the lesson there will be questions to help you test your knowledge and review what you've learned.

You may've noticed that at the top of the screen there is an option which says "Translate." This will take you to a feature similar to Babelfish or Google Translate, where text typed in one box will be translated into the language of your choice in the next box. While these tools can be helpful, be warned that the translations are not always perfect.

If this isn't quite your speed or level, Carnegie-Stout does have a good collection of language learning materials in both print and CD Audio. You can find this material in our catalog by doing a subject search for: French language -- Self-instruction (or replace "French" with the language of your choice), or come in and browse the 400s! Or if you're planning a trip, most of our travel guidebooks can be found between 910 and 917 (you might also want to check the DVDs).

Et nous vous souhaitons bon voyage!