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Old School Romance From Avon to Zebra

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arkansasannie

Contemporary Romance Review: Sometimes a Stranger by Angela Alexie

Posted on September 20, 2021June 3, 2025 by arkansasannie

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

whisper to the waves

Category Romance Review: Whisper to the Waves by Helen Beaumont

Posted on September 15, 2021April 19, 2023 by arkansasannie

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.
4 stars

black framed eyeglasses on book

Arkansas Annie’s POV: Why Do I Read Romance?

Posted on August 15, 2021June 5, 2023 by arkansasannie

Blue Falcon’s Romance Journey
In a recent post, Jacqueline asked, “The Hero, the Heroine, or the Love Story?” querying about what people read romance novels for. I answered in the comments section, but I also felt like I wanted to elaborate a bit more. Hence, this post.

Shadows on the Moon

Category Romance Review: Shadows on the Moon by Peggy Gaddis

Posted on August 10, 2021October 2, 2023 by arkansasannie

Shadows on the Moon by Peggy Gaddis is a vintage category romance novel that has been reprinted several times—and for good reason. 4 stars

univited wedding guest edited

Category Romance Review: Uninvited Wedding Guest by Marsha Manning

Posted on August 6, 2021November 16, 2023 by arkansasannie

It’s not exactly the easiest vintage romance to find, but it’s a memorable one. Uninvited Wedding Guest began as a hardcover titled Friend of the Bride, originally published in 1968.
4 stars

Whisper to the Stars

Category Romance Review: Whisper to the Stars by Hettie Grimstead

Posted on July 19, 2021November 16, 2023 by arkansasannie

Whisper to the Stars is a vintage-contemporary romance that revolves around a trope hard to find nowadays: unrequited love. It starts out strong, with the promise of a deeply moving emo story. And it delivers, up to a point. Then it falters. Somewhere in the middle, it loses sight of what a romance is supposed to do: to engage and enthrall the reader. 2 1/2 stars

This Hell Called Love

Category Romance Review: This Hell Called Love by Jane Donnelly

Posted on July 10, 2021April 19, 2023 by arkansasannie

This Hell Called Love is a remarkable example of the “such is the power of love” trope. It also deals with themes like mental illness and substance abuse. 4 stars

To see a Stranger

Category Romance Review: To See a Stranger by Kate Cartwright

Posted on July 7, 2021October 20, 2023 by arkansasannie

In a way, Kate Cartwright’s To See a Stranger is a fine novel. It’s well-written. It ticks most of the boxes. But it still disappointed me. 2 Stars

Yesterday's Love

Category Romance Review: Yesterday’s Love by Marsha Manning

Posted on July 5, 2021December 16, 2023 by arkansasannie

Yesterday’s Love is a moving romance with a rather mysterious background. It’s part of the Magnum Books imprint of Prestige Books, Inc., a small New York paperback publisher active during the mid to late 1970s.

to cherish my beloved

Category Romance Review: To Cherish My Beloved by Dorothy Heaton

Posted on June 30, 2021October 20, 2023 by arkansasannie

First published in 1976 by IPC Magazines Ltd. in the Women’s Weekly Library series, To Cherish My Beloved by Dorothy Heaton in its 1977 Magnum reprint caught my eye with an intriguing blurb and a gorgeous emo clinch cover; wish I knew who created it.

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