Month: September 2021

Historical Romance Review: First Love, Wild Love by Janelle Taylor

Posted on By Blue Falcon 2 Comments on Historical Romance Review: First Love, Wild Love by Janelle Taylor
This review is of First Love, Wild Love by Janelle Taylor. The book begins begins in Texas, where Calinda Braxton, the heroine, has come from England to investigate the disappearance of her father... 4 1/2 stars Read more “Historical Romance Review: First Love, Wild Love by Janelle Taylor”
4 stars and a half, Book Review, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Janelle Taylor, Kensington, Romance, Zebra Lovegram

Sweet Savage Flame Podcast Old School Historical Romance Book Review: Defy Not the Heart by Johanna Lindsey

Posted on By jacquelinediaz No Comments on Sweet Savage Flame Podcast Old School Historical Romance Book Review: Defy Not the Heart by Johanna Lindsey

For a while–except for maybe Jude Deveraux–there was no other mass-market romance author in the 1980s to 1990s whose prolific writing achieved such commercial success than Johanna Lindsey. Lindsey reached #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list with Defy Not the Heart.

Here we at Sweet Savage Flame we review Defy Not the Heart, which we happily rate a 5 star read!... Read more “Sweet Savage Flame Podcast Old School Historical Romance Book Review: Defy Not the Heart by Johanna Lindsey”

5 stars, Book Review, Johanna Lindsey, Podcast, Romance

Category Romance Review: Never a Bride by JoAnn Ross

Posted on By Blue Falcon No Comments on Category Romance Review: Never a Bride by JoAnn Ross
This review is for Never a Bride, book #4 in the "Bachelor Arms" series published in May 1995 by Harlequin Temptation and written by JoAnn Ross. In the first 3 books in the series, Kate Hoffmann wrote about 3 male friends who find love. In the next 3 books in the series, written by JoAnn Ross, three female friends come together for one of the ladies' weddings. 4 stars Read more “Category Romance Review: Never a Bride by JoAnn Ross”
Book Review, Category romance, Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, Romance

Sweet Savage Flame Podcast: 15 Old School Historical Romances That Revolutionized the Genre

Posted on By jacquelinediaz No Comments on Sweet Savage Flame Podcast: 15 Old School Historical Romances That Revolutionized the Genre

These 15 Historical Romances published before 2000 either caused radical changes in the romance novel industry or they are so pivotal and unforgettable, they should be considered must-reads. Please note, at SweetSavageFlame.com we may not have reviewed all books on this list, yet. However, we recognize their importance to the genre. Our aim is to review all books on this list if we haven’t already.... Read more “Sweet Savage Flame Podcast: 15 Old School Historical Romances That Revolutionized the Genre”

Podcast, Romance

Link: The Art of Robert E. McGinnis by Robert McGinnis and Art Scott

Posted on By IntrovertReader No Comments on Link: The Art of Robert E. McGinnis by Robert McGinnis and Art Scott
For lovers of throwback historical and gothic romances, vintage pulpy reads and spy thrillers, or old movies and magazines, the name Robert McGinnis might be familiar. But if it isn’t, then his works of art surely are. Read more “Link: The Art of Robert E. McGinnis by Robert McGinnis and Art Scott”
Cover Artists, Discussion, Links, Robert McGinnis

The Accidental Romance? Books From Other Genres Can Be Romances, Too!

Posted on By jacquelinediaz 1 Comment on The Accidental Romance? Books From Other Genres Can Be Romances, Too!
What defines a romance novel? Romance Writer's of America has stated the definition of romance is essentially a love story which concludes on an optimistic note for the protagonists. Either a "Happily Ever After" or "Happy For Now" ending will suffice. But labels can be limiting or deceptive. A single work of fiction can belong to multiple categories. Literature can be mystery or romance, just as romance can be fantasy, erotica, science fiction, suspense... And just about everything else. Read more “The Accidental Romance? Books From Other Genres Can Be Romances, Too!”
Discussion, Romance

Historical Romance Review: Tender is the Storm by Johanna Lindsey

Posted on By IntrovertReader No Comments on Historical Romance Review: Tender is the Storm by Johanna Lindsey
So... Johanna Lindsey's Tender Is the Storm. If you're familiar with your romance history, then you must know of this book, even if you haven't read it. The cover is the infamous one designed by Robert McGinnis with the naked hero standing tall as the heroine kneels before him, her ample breasts pressed firmly against his--er...dongle. 3 stars Read more “Historical Romance Review: Tender is the Storm by Johanna Lindsey”
3 stars, Avon, Book Review, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Johanna Lindsey, Robert McGinnis, Romance

Contemporary Romance Review: Sometimes a Stranger by Angela Alexie

Posted on By arkansasannie No Comments on Contemporary Romance Review: Sometimes a Stranger by Angela Alexie
Like big, dramatic contemporary romances set in glamorous, exciting milieus? With dynamic characters and lots of plot? Then I recommend Sometimes a Stranger. 4 1/2 stars Read more “Contemporary Romance Review: Sometimes a Stranger by Angela Alexie”
4 stars and a half, Book Review, Category romance, Contemporary Romance, Gallen Books, Pocket Books, Romance, Vintage romance, year 1981

Historical Romance Review: Hearts of Fire by Anita Mills

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Hearts of Fire is a more satisfying sequel to the first installment of Anita Mills' medieval romance series, Lady of Fire, than its second outing, Fire and Steel was. The forbidden romance between Richard and Gilliane de Lacey is stellar. 4 stars Read more “Historical Romance Review: Hearts of Fire by Anita Mills”
4 stars, Bodice Ripper, Book Review, Gregg Gulbronson, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Onyx, Romance

Category Romance Review: Whisper to the Waves by Helen Beaumont

Posted on By arkansasannie 2 Comments on Category Romance Review: Whisper to the Waves by Helen Beaumont
Whisper to the Waves is a good contemporary romance that with a little tweaking could've been an excellent one. It was published by RCA Marketing in 1982 in its Sapphire Romance series. These were American reprints of British originals; this one was first published by Hamlyn Paperbacks in 1981.  4 stars Read more “Category Romance Review: Whisper to the Waves by Helen Beaumont”
4 stars, Book Review, Category romance, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Sapphire Romance, Vintage romance

15 Old School Historical Romances That Revolutionized the Genre

Posted on By jacquelinediaz 8 Comments on 15 Old School Historical Romances That Revolutionized the Genre
These 15 Historical Romances published before 2000 either caused radical changes in the romance novel industry or they are so pivotal and unforgettable, they are must-reads. Please note, we at Sweet Savage Flame may not have read all books ourselves, but recognize their importance to the genre. Our aim is to review all books on this list if we haven’t already. Read more “15 Old School Historical Romances That Revolutionized the Genre”
Discussion, Lists, Romance

Category Romance Review: Tonight and Forever by Brenda Jackson

Posted on By IntrovertReader No Comments on Category Romance Review: Tonight and Forever by Brenda Jackson
Brenda Jackson's Tonight and Forever is her first published book and the first in her long-running series of the Madaris family. It's a Pinnacle Arabesque romance from 1995, which are category romances but are not numbered, at least not to my knowledge. What propels Tonight and Forever into a "better than good" zone is that it isn't just a romance about the healing power of love, it's a book about the power of love itself. 3 1/2 stars Read more “Category Romance Review: Tonight and Forever by Brenda Jackson”
3 stars and a half, Arabesque, Book Review, Category romance, Contemporary Romance, Pinnacle, Romance, year 1995

Free Vintage or Old School Romance Books on Amazon #2

Posted on By jacquelinediaz No Comments on Free Vintage or Old School Romance Books on Amazon #2
There are so many books listed on Amazon for free to read, that we had to post some more freebies! If you have an Amazon Prime account you can borrow up to 10 books for free at a time. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, there are many books you can read for a fixed monthly fee. Enjoy more old school and classical romances available on Amazon. Read more “Free Vintage or Old School Romance Books on Amazon #2”
Bodice Ripper, Discussion, Historical Romance, Romance, Vintage romance

Category Romance Review: Driving Force by Sally Wentworth

Posted on By IntrovertReader No Comments on Category Romance Review: Driving Force by Sally Wentworth
Driving Force, a Sally Wentworth Harlequin Presents, offers few surprises but is a satisfactory read regardless. West Marriot– our hero, not a 3-star hotel but a famous race car driver–was terribly injured in a race several months ago. Madeleine French, a nurse and physiotherapist, had been married to West for four years. 3 1/2 stars Read more “Category Romance Review: Driving Force by Sally Wentworth”
3 stars and a half, Book Review, Category romance, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Romance

Historical Romance Review: An Offer of Marriage by Jo Ann Ferguson Review

Posted on By IntrovertReader 3 Comments on Historical Romance Review: An Offer of Marriage by Jo Ann Ferguson Review
Books like Jo Ann Ferguson’s An Offer of Marriage suffer from being published during a time of change. When Kensington’s Zebra historical romances died, they didn’t go quickly (actually, Zebras are still around, but they’re not the same as they used to be in the 1980s and 1990s). 1 star Read more “Historical Romance Review: An Offer of Marriage by Jo Ann Ferguson Review”
1 star, Book Review, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Kensington, Romance, Zebra Precious Gem Historical