Carole Mortimer’s Red Rose For Love is one of my favorite Harlequin Presents, mainly for the gentle hero in pursuit of a heroine with a troubled past.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Sweet Savage Flame earns a small percentage from qualifying purchases.
MILD SPOILER ALERT
The Book
Red Rose For Love is probably my favorite book by Carole Mortimer, but again, I go against the crowd, as it seems to have so-so ratings on review sites. This Harlequin Presents was an unusual deviation from Mortimer’s early romances.
The Great Hero
Usually, Carole Mortimer‘s heroes are cruel and overbearingly “Alpha.” In Red Rose for Love, the hero-in-pursuit starts out dominant and determined, but then he realizes how hurt the heroine’s been in the past. He does a 180° turn and changes course: he woos her gently and lovingly.
He’s a rarity in the Harlequin Presents line: a beautiful, green-eyed blond who’s not a man-ho and is a genuinely nice guy! Yes, he’s overbearing, macho, and all that jazz, but beneath, he’s sensitive to Eve’s needs. The only bad thing I can say about him is that his name is Bart.
The 2015 e-book release versions of Red Rose for Love.
The Plot
Eve is a singing sensation. Her audience adores her, and quite frankly, so does Bart Jordan. He’s intrigued by Eve’s beauty, but once he gets to know her, it’s her delicate vulnerability that strikes a chord within him, forcing him to readjust his perspective and take a closer look at the woman he admires.
One silly peeve was with Eve’s wardrobe. What was up with all those slinky black catsuits she wore? Sure, it’s the 70s, but that glam rock-star look was the wrong choice.
Eve is attracted to Bart, despite her instincts. Years ago, she had been “involved” with a man who raped her. Of course, this left a devastating mark on her. Eve was wary of men for their physical nature. Even more so, she was especially wary of wealthy men who thought they could have any woman they wanted with a snap of their fingers. Men like Bart Jordan.
While at first, it seems like Bart is a jerk pursuing the heroine because he lusts after her, his perspective changes upon getting closer to her and understanding her past. He truly cares for Eve. But Bart courts Eve in an understanding and sweet manner once he knows the facts of her past.
Final Analysis of Red Rose For Love
Without a doubt, Red Rose for Love is the best book by Carole Mortimer I’ve ever read. There’s no love triangle, no creepy incest angle, no hateful ass-hat hero.
Sure Bartholomew Jordan is overbearing and filthy rich. Regardless, he is one of the most decent Alpha heroes I’ve read in a long time. He was very understanding and caring for the emotionally damaged heroine.
What a great read!
| Rating Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Plot | |
| Characters | |
| Writing | |
| Chemistry | |
| Fun Factor | |
| Cover | |
| Overall: | 4.7 |
Synopsis
Love led only to heartbreak.
Eve had survived the ordeal of Carl Prentiss, but the experience left her a sadly changed woman. Her trusting young heart was now safely buried.
Never again would she love–least of all a rich man who thought his money could buy him everything, including her. So, despite his persistence, Bart Jordan didn’t stand a chance with Eve.
She was allowing stubborn bitterness and fear to ruin her life, but if Bart were to treat her as Carl had done, the result would be the same anyway.
Red Rose for Love by Carole Mortimer
What’s the spice level of this book? Not familiar with this author.
I was not familiar with that one. I read good old fashioned Harlequins and the Presents line and historicals back in the 1990s but then gave 99.9% away when I moved.