July 2022: Sweet Savage Flame Wrap-Up
It's a new month! We've created a wrap-up of Sweet Savage Flame's posts in July 2022 for your convenience. Read more “July 2022: Sweet Savage Flame Wrap-Up”
Historical Romance Review: Love’s Fiery Jewel by Elaine Barbieri
This review is of Love’s Fiery Jewel by Elaine Barbieri, a bodice ripper that Zebra books published in 1982. Right after I finish posting this review, this "romance novel" is going into my trash bin. 0.75 stars Read more “Historical Romance Review: Love’s Fiery Jewel by Elaine Barbieri”
Covers of the Week #67
Judy York has been a book cover illustrator for nearly thirty years. She produced artwork for many publishers, including Ballantine, Berkley, Dorchester, Harlequin, and Zebra. Read more “Covers of the Week #67”
Category Romance Review: Once More With Feeling by Nora Roberts
Once More With Feeling is the second outing from the Silhouette Intimate Moments line. Nora Roberts' category romance tells the love story between two musicians, one a rising star and the other an established musician, who knew each other in the past. Now they must try to make beautiful music together again--literally. Only later does the situation take a turn for the metaphorical. 3.5 Stars Read more “Category Romance Review: Once More With Feeling by Nora Roberts”
Category Romance Authors Who Made It Big
Many famous and popular authors of mainstream fiction got their start writing series or category romance. Category romances are a staple of the industry. The following 7 authors got their start with Silhouette, Harlequin, Loveswept, or Dell Candlelight romances. Read more “Category Romance Authors Who Made It Big”
Historical Romance Review: Ride the Free Wind by Rosanne Bittner
This review is of Ride the Free Wind book #2 in the “Savage Destiny” series by Rosanne Bittner. Ride the Free Wind begins shortly after the first book, Sweet Prairie Passion, ended. Abigail “Abbie” Trent Monroe and her husband, “Cheyenne” Zeke Monroe, are traveling to find Zeke’s Cheyenne mother and three Cheyenne half-brothers. 5 Stars Read more “Historical Romance Review: Ride the Free Wind by Rosanne Bittner”
Covers of the Week #66
For the week of Monday, July 11, 2022, to Sunday, July 17, 2022, here are some romance covers designed by artist Charles Gehm. Read more “Covers of the Week #66”
Historical Romance Review: Night Fire by Catherine Coulter
Night Fire by Catherine Coulter features one of her few truly nice guy heroes. This romance was a pleasant surprise--despite it dark themes--due to charming Burke Drummond. 4 stars Read more “Historical Romance Review: Night Fire by Catherine Coulter”
Flashback Friday: Class of 1997
It's Flashback Friday, and Sweet Savage Flame looks back to 1997, a quarter of a century ago. We look at fashion, events, tv & movie and books! Let's focus on popular trends in romance novels for 1997. Read more “Flashback Friday: Class of 1997”
Category Romance Review: Savage Possession by Margaret Pargeter
Harlequin Presents #366 Savage Possession by Margaret Pargeter Ryan is Melissa's parents' landlord. He demands Melissa pay up! 4 stars Read more “Category Romance Review: Savage Possession by Margaret Pargeter”
Historical Romance Review: Comanche Love Song by Cheryl Black
This review is of Comanche Love Song a standalone Zebra Heartfire from June 1989 by Cheryl Black. Comanche Love Song by Cheryl Black has now passed Eugenia’s Embrace by Cassie Edwards as the worst book I’ve ever read. .5 stars Read more “Historical Romance Review: Comanche Love Song by Cheryl Black”
Covers of the Week #65
This week, we're posting images of books that include American flags to celebrate this nation's official day of inception. For Monday, July 4, 2022, to Sunday, July 10, 2022, our Covers of the Week spotlights Old Glory on romance covers. Read more “Covers of the Week #65”
Poll: Favorite Romance Author (Contemporary or Series)
Who is your favorite author of old-school, vintage, or retro-contemporary romances? Whether series or full-length romance, we want to hear your choice! Read more “Poll: Favorite Romance Author (Contemporary or Series)”
June 2022: Sweet Savage Flame Wrap-Up
It's a new month! We've created a wrap-up of Sweet Savage Flame's posts in June 2022 for your convenience. Read more “June 2022: Sweet Savage Flame Wrap-Up”
Category Romance Review: Glory Days by Marilynne Rudick
Glory Days by Marilynne Rudick is a Harlequin Temptation from the early 1990s. It's one of the few books from that line that I truly disliked. Why? Because it was so dreadfully dull. 1 star Read more “Category Romance Review: Glory Days by Marilynne Rudick”
Category Romance Review: The Italian’s Wife by Lynne Graham
Lynne Graham’s The Italian’s Bride is unusual from her other books I’ve read in the past.
Holly Samson is the first Graham heroine I can recall who was not a virgin, and who’s borne another man’s child. The hero is typical of her heroes: dark-haired, ultra-masculine, ridiculously wealthy, smitten with the heroine, and of Italian descent. 3.62 Stars Read more “Category Romance Review: The Italian’s Wife by Lynne Graham”
Reading Slumps and How to Get Over Them
So you're in a reading slump. What can you do? In many cases, losing your reading mojo is a normal experience for people who read books on a regular basis. We know a few methods to reignite your love of fiction. Read more “Reading Slumps and How to Get Over Them”
Historical Romance Review: Cherish Me, Embrace Me by Sylvie F. Sommerfield
This review is of Cherish Me, Embrace Me by Sylvie F. Sommerfield. The book begins in 1851 in France. The coming revolution forces Jules Dubonne, his wife Marie, and their three children, sons Alexander and Dante, and daughter, Celeste, to leave France. They journey to a new home they believe will be free from war and violence, America. They will soon discover the fallacy of that belief. 4.80 stars Read more “Historical Romance Review: Cherish Me, Embrace Me by Sylvie F. Sommerfield”
Covers of the Week #64
It's June and what would June be without a rainbow? The rainbow is a symbol of the Divine, hope, and of love. This week we've got romance covers with rainbows! Read more “Covers of the Week #64”
Romance Cover Model: Rob Ashton
Fabio officially retired from modeling for romance covers--except for the books "he wrote"--in 1993. In the 1990s and the 2000s, Rob Ashton was one of the cover models who took his place, even earning the title of "New King of Romance Novels." Read more “Romance Cover Model: Rob Ashton”