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Sweet Savage Flame

Old School Romance From Avon to Zebra

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silver storm

Historical Romance Review: Silver Storm by Cynthia Wright

Posted on April 15, 2021April 13, 2023 by IntrovertReader

Silver Storm by Cynthia Wright would have been excellent if not for the slow start. However, once it gets there… Oh my. 3.5 Stars

whitney my love

A Closer Look At Pocket Books

Posted on April 14, 2021February 5, 2022 by jdiazsweetsavageflame

Every few weeks, we’ll highlight institutions or people I’ve archived. So let’s begin at the beginning with the originators of the paperback movement, Pocket Books.

purity's ecstasy harry bennett

Historical Romance Review: Purity’s Ecstasy by Janette Seymour

Posted on April 14, 2021November 11, 2022 by IntrovertReader

Michael Butterworth’s (aka Janette Seymour) second entry into his Purity trilogy, Purity’s Ecstasy, is a tawdry, rollicking ride filled with just about every ‘ripper trope and then some. 3 1/2 stars

tara's song ziel

Historical Romance Review: Tara’s Song by Barbara Ferry Johnson

Posted on April 14, 2021December 17, 2022 by IntrovertReader

Tara’s Song by Barbara Ferry Johnson is yet another middling Viking romance that disappoints. Written in the late ’70s at the height of the bodice ripper era, you’d expect this Viking romance to rapacious and fun, but I found it rather ho-hum. 2 stars

elegant barbarian

Category Romance Review: Elegant Barbarian by Catherine Spencer

Posted on April 13, 2021November 28, 2023 by IntrovertReader

Harlequin Presents #1682 Elegant Barbarian by Catherine Spencer is a sweet little read. 5 stars

update lettering text on black background

Updates #3

Posted on April 13, 2021September 4, 2023 by jdiazsweetsavageflame

I’ve added a bit more to the site: more book reviews, more cover artists, and more information regarding publishing houses, author biographies, and backlists. Plus I’ve expanded the scope of the site to include other genres of romance that were published in the post-Flame and the Flower era up until the turn of the millennium. I really want this site to be a valuable source of historical information for romance bibliophiles.

a pirate's love hero rapes heroine mcginnis

Historical Romance Review: A Pirate’s Love by Johanna Lindsey

Posted on April 13, 2021November 10, 2022 by IntrovertReader

In a Pirate’s Love by Johanna Lindsey Bettina Verlaine travels across the sea to an unwanted fiance when she is captured by the pirate Tristan Matisse. 1 star

This Triumphant Fire

Historical Romance Review: This Triumphant Fire by Anne Carsley

Posted on April 13, 2021November 19, 2022 by IntrovertReader

Anne Carsley’s This Triumphant Fire is an ok bodice ripper with a more interesting villain than hero. 3 1/2 stars

the eden passion

Covers of the Week #1: Stunning Romance Covers

Posted on April 12, 2021November 27, 2023 by jdiazsweetsavageflame

For our first edition of Covers of the Week, we’re posting four beautiful romance covers for you to enjoy.

moment of desire

Historical Book Review: Moment of Desire by Rachel Cosgrove Payes

Posted on April 12, 2021June 3, 2023 by IntrovertReader

In Moment of Desire the heroine Mellie Wilton is forced to sell her body. When true love goes awry, she plots revenge against those who brought her down. 5 Stars

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