Sweet Savage Flame is all about old-school romance novels.
You know—those campy, smutty books your mother, grandmother, or older uncle read? Perhaps you’ve read one or two yourself!
Retro Reads and Gorgeous Clinch Covers
We adore retro reads, from sweet vintage love stories to epic bodice rippers, sensual historicals, and short and passionate category romances.
These books had their day long ago. Sometimes, their plots were shocking, titillating, or outright offensive. At Sweet Savage Flame, we look back at the past with fondness, not scorn.
Besides, we can’t get enough gorgeous clinch covers! Our Covers of the Week feature showcases stunning artwork every Sunday.
Our Mission for Old-School Romance
Sweet Savage Flame explores the history of English-language romance novels from the late 20th century into the new millennium. Our goal is to present diverse viewpoints, from scholarly analysis to passionate enthusiasm, while maintaining historical objectivity and respecting the cultural contexts in which these novels were written.
Although, be forewarned: this is a guilt-free zone. “Problematic” is not a term in our vocabulary.
So take a look around and enjoy the rompy fun.
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The Home of Romance Oldies
Sweet Savage Flame is the go-to romance website for retro readers. Our primary focus is on novels published between the revolutionary year of 1972 and the dawn of the twenty-first century.
Why is 1972 our starting point? It’s the year Avon published Kathleen E. Woodiwiss‘s groundbreaking historical romance, The Flame and the Flower. As the first bodice ripper, the novel completely transformed the genre, ushering in a golden age of old-school romances.
Is this your first time here?
We have a vast archive of pages and articles discussing genre-relevant topics, as well as the top authors (plus our personal favorites), publishers, and talented cover artists from this era.
Of course, there are hundreds of reviews of books from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
You can access the historical review archives here:
For “retro” contemporary romance, click below:
Sweet Savage Flame Quick Links
Don’t know where to start? Click on quick links to popular Sweet Savage Flame pages and articles.
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FAQ Section
Do You Provide Trigger Warnings For Off-Putting Subjects?
These retro romance books we review are products of their time. As such, many younger readers might be shocked or offended by what we read and find genuinely entertaining.
To that end, in some extreme cases, we add “content” alerts.
We also provide tags and category designations identifying subgenres, tropes, and plot elements.
Sweet Savage Flame is not a site for young children, so it’s up to each discerning individual to determine if our content is worthy of his or her time.
Do Your Reviews Contain Spoilers?
Short answer: Yes. Sometimes, a book needs to be spoiled to be properly reviewed.
A slightly longer explanation: Since the books we review are at least 50 to 30 years old, not many blogs or sites discuss them. For that reason, we like to go as in-depth as possible. We are pro-spoiler!
However, we do provide spoiler warnings for every review: “spoiler-free,” “mild spoilers,” or a “full spoiler alert.”
Does Sweet Savage Flame Review New Books or ARCS?
Sweet Savage Flame reviews vintage books, focusing on romance novels published before 2000. We don’t accept advance review copies (ARCs) because most of the books we cover are out of print. The majority of the titles we review come from our personal collections.
On the other hand, IntrovertReader has a blog where she discusses and critiques works from various time periods and genres. Please contact her there if you would like her to review your book.
Do you accept guest reviewers or bloggers?
Yes! Sweet Savage Flame welcomes new voices to share their thoughts on classic and vintage romance novels. We’re always eager to hear fresh perspectives on these beloved stories.
Our staff would be delighted to collaborate with you if you’d like to guest blog, review books, or post semi-regularly.
We ask that you provide your books, but if we have any duplicates in our collection, we might be able to obtain a copy for you.