@Marilyn, thanks for the literature maps! Some of the connections struck me as funny, as they seemed like a bit of a stretch. Like going from Rumer Godden to Andrew Greeley…or L.M. Montgomery to Henri Nouwen… 
I’ve never read any JD Robb – all I know is that she is Nora Roberts. I’ll have to give one of the Robb books a try.
It’s kind of funny — I have read a few Nora Roberts romances but started noticing the formula very early in the book and lost interest. I tried JD Robb and it didn’t hold my interest either. But now my H has started reading again and picks his books by going to the library bestsellers wall — so naturally a lot of JD Robb, James Patterson and Michael Connolly. He seems to enjoy all of their books and has almost convinced me to give them a try.
If reading JD Robb, you do have to start at the beginning and go in order because the characters and situations build on prior books. I finally stopped because they started seeming too formulaic. Also got tired of torture and death. I was reading the third of Nora Roberts most recent trilogy (fantasy) but stopped because it had very little plot. I did like the first two books.
Torture and death? Maybe I’ll just re-read Pride and Prejudice or Little Women 
.
Jennifer Cruisie’s books are lighthearted romances and quick reads.
Sounds good to me! I was able to get on the library list easily for Horse.
The main character in the In Death series (JD Robb) is a police lieutenant in future NYC. Each book focuses on one case. That one solved and then the next book, next case. Are all the books equally good - no - but that’s true of any series.
Main character Eve meets romantic interest Roarke in the first book as a suspect. They split up in the second book, I think, and then marry in either the third or fourth. They’re husband and wife in the rest of the books. Close friends build over the series also.
If I remember correctly, the murder(s) in the first book is(are) gruesome but you’re looking through the eyes of the police … not there when it happens.
Anyway @Singersmom07 referenced #56 in the series and that’s where I am also. I do think I would have burned out if binge reading them. Roberts writes two a year - Sept/Oct and Feb. Enough time in between to look forward to another.
I will have to look into JD Robb. My library system has them!! None of the libraries in the system had “Horse”, so I had to purchase it. I will probably donate it after we are done.
Can you edit to take out spoilers for those who plan to read the series, i.e. relationship advancements?
I had a project to read some of the classic authors of sci fi and tried to read Samuel R. Delaney’s Triton which was a nominee for the Nebula Award. The even longer Dahlgren (also nominated) was sitting on my nightstand, but when my husband who reads twice as fast as I do said he couldn’t finish it, I decided it was time for fun stuff.
As a palette cleanser I reread Georgette Heyer’s Cotillion because someone asked Lois McMasters Bujold what one of her favorite books was. That was not a GH I’d have ever thought of putting high on the list, but it was charming, and the heroine, although young, also is reasonably sensible.
I also just finished A Trap for Fools a Kate Fansler mystery by Amanda Cross, the pen name of Carolyn Heilbrun (the first woman to receive tenure at Columbia). It’s certainly not her best in the series, but I am always amused by Kate’s cranky overly intellectual take on the world.
I’m also getting back to The Dresden Files, which I’d dropped when I felt like there were too many monsters and too much plot, but after a long hiatus it looks like he’s finishing up the series soon, so I’m catching up.
Done. 
@silverlady: I’m always glad to see you’ve joined a discussion, even though you’ve had to purchase the book. I take getting a copy from the library for granted and I shouldn’t.
Bet your library system loves your donations. 
I’m very surprised that you guys can’t get books as quickly as I can. I put a hold on Horse on Thursday and they told me on Friday it was ready for me to pick up. I can delay for a few days, which I plan to do, since I have other stuff on my nightstand waiting for me.
Read slowly!
I placed a hold January 8th when I read an article on Horse. I am now 203rd with an estimated 6 weeks. I should make it this time.
Here’s the new thread: Horse - April CC Book Club Selection
In early January, I did read Demon copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver, and once I got through the continuous horrid situations, Damon, endured, the book became a page turner, and enjoyable. Highly Recommend.
Listened to audio books bought for my sight impaired 93 year old mother…….who has limited interests. So when in a reading slump, an ———-option is to ——-listen,—— instead.
Spare- Prince Harry is an excellent narrator, enjoyed this audible selection, and recommend listening to him tell his story, Amazing a 12 year old boy, didn’t shed a tear about his mother’s death, in fact didn’t quite believe she was dead, for many years, I hope He has found lasting happiness,
The Magnificant Lives of Majorie Post - I’m up to her second husband, EF Hutton, and keep nodding off. I’m new to audio books, and don’t care for this reader.
Dad is a Fat- Jim Gaffigan Don’t recommend unless you are knee deep in diapers and it’s Covid confinement humor you like.
Left on Tenth- read by author Delia Ephron! Excellent reader, and harrowing, I mean, Harrowing details about her battle with cancer. She is a survivor, and her bone marrow donor, a twenty year old from Florida, unknown to her, truly a hero !
I’m now reading
The Marriage Portrait—— Maggie O Farrell, so far, I’m hooked.
Sorry to arrive so late (thought it’s not uncommon for me), but at the end of January, just as Margaret’s mother was dying in the book, my mother passed away, too. My mother’s passing was more sudden, and she was 93, with a happy life right up to the end. Instead of being difficult for me to read, I found that section of the book comforting, and it certainly gave me sympathy for Margaret, losing her mother so young. But it did slow down my reading for a few weeks, especially since we did not have a Dixon to clear out the apartment and sell the furniture.
I’ve just read through all the wonderful comments and sidebar additions–one of the best things about this group is even when we “miss” the meeting, we’ve never really missed the meeting! I liked the political themes in this book more than the romantic ones, and I’m also not surprised this makes me a socialist. It was slow going for me, but I loved it. A couple of things I didn’t see anyone mention:
Who knew there were water-beds in the 19th century? I certainly didn’t.
One of my favorite little parts was when Mr. Hale goes off to visit Mr. Bell at Oxford, and Margaret has time to herself! Of course, Martha and Dixon were still around. But still:
It was astonishing , almost stunning, to feel herself so much at liberty; no one depending on her for cheering care, if not for positive happiness; no invalid to plan and think for; she might be idle, and silent, and forgetful,–and what seemed worth more than all the other privileges–she might by unhappy if she liked.
So much freedom and solitude we take for granted these days.
I look forward to “Horse.”
Sincere sympathy on the loss of your mother. I love that she lived “a happy life right up to end.”
Glad to see your comments about North and South.
And we all could use a Dixon at certain points in our lives.
Oh @buenavista, I’m so sorry to hear about your mother! It’s truly a blessing that she was happy right up to the end, but what a loss for you. I know from my own experience (my mom died of Covid in 2020 at age 97) that age doesn’t really matter when you lose a loved one. We miss our moms no matter how old they (or we) are. May perpetual light shine upon her! You and your family are in my prayers.