[issybird]

Sounds as if the guys need the excuse of a book club to explore the realm of muscled chests and heaving bosoms.

Having read Outlander, I can assure you that there's some of that, although proportionally much less than in a typical bodice-ripper, but it's definitely a romance in the traditional swashbuckling sense. On the other hand, I found that Gabaldon's much-vaunted research left a lot to be desired. I started finding errors in the first page or two--in fact, I was sufficiently annoyed that I abandoned it the first time I tried it. I tried it again when I was in the mood for something mindless and it turned out to be an entertaining read. It was a freebie a ways back, I think when RH released the digital editions of the books.

I'm staying with Tender is the Night. I think I was too young to appreciate it the first time I read it and I've always meant to revisit.