Looking for a vintage romance blog covering old-school novels from the 1970s through early 2000s? Start here at Sweet Savage Flame, then explore the other romance blogs and reader resources below.
Sweet Savage Flame: A Vintage Romance Blog
We review vintage historical and contemporary romances, from sweeping bodice rippers to Harlequin and Silhouette category favorites. Our focus is on books published from the 1970s through early 2000s—the era the books came from, whatever century their stories take place in. We also explore the genre’s history through its authors, publishers, cover artists, and unforgettable paperback covers. Come for a familiar favorite; stay to discover an old-school novel you missed the first time around.
- About Sweet Savage Flame — Meet the people behind the blog and learn about our love of old-school romance.
- Historical romance review archive — Browse our reviews of historical love stories.
- Romance author directory — Explore writers, biographies, and backlists.
- Romance publisher directory — Read about the publishing houses and imprints behind the books.
Other Old-School Romance Blogs and Reader Resources
These third-party blogs and reader communities offer their own reviews, research, and opinions. Their coverage varies: some specialize in older books, while others include newer releases. A quiet archive can still be a treasure trove for an old-school romance reader!
The resources below are separate from Sweet Savage Flame’s own reviews and historical coverage. Blogs and research sites come first, followed by reader discussion groups. Links reviewed October 15, 2026.
- Historical Romances, Reviewed — A review archive with a dedicated bodice-ripper list and books from the 1970s onward. The latest homepage post is dated January 2023; browse it for its older reviews rather than frequent new posts.
- Historical Romance Review with Regan Walker — Historical-romance reviews and themed reading lists, including bodice rippers and classic favorites alongside newer books. Posts were appearing in October 2026.
- History in the Making: Rob Imes’s Guide to Category Romance Series (1965–1989) — A research resource for vintage publishers, imprints, and numbered romance lines. This guide was updated in June 2026.
- Collecting Romance — A resource for collecting vintage and rare romance novels, with guidance on editions, printings, book values, and caring for a collection, plus links for further research.
- Goodreads: Bodice Ripper Readers Anonymous — A reader discussion group for bodice rippers, with bookshelves and past conversations to explore. This is a community forum, rather than a review blog.
- Goodreads: Zebra Romance — A specialist group for Zebra novels, including Heartfire, Lovegram, and Splendor. Many visible discussions are older, so it is especially useful as a discussion and bookshelf archive.
- Private Facebook bodice-ripper groups — Readers also gather in private Facebook groups to discuss old-school romance. Their posts and conversations are visible only to members; check each group’s rules and membership requirements before requesting to join.
A note on earlier recommendations: Cads N Whores returned a “not found” page when checked on October 15, 2026, and the former Readasaurus link redirected to a Google sign-in page. We have left them out of the current recommendations because their public content could not be accessed.
Discover more from Sweet Savage Flame
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.