Historical Romance Authors Archives

Historical Romance Review: Shanna by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss

May 7, 2022May 21, 2022 IntrovertReader

In 1977 Kathleen E. Woodiwiss’ long-awaited third novel made romance history as Avon released Shanna in trade paperback edition. I've long had a tenuous relationship with Woodiwiss' romances., but I am glad I read Shanna. 3.74 stars Read more

3 stars and a half, Avon, Bodice Ripper, Book Review, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, Romance, Tom Hall, year 1977

Historical Romance Review: These Golden Pleasures by Valerie Sherwood

April 22, 2022May 21, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

What can I say about Valerie Sherwood's These Golden Pleasures? Well, this 512 page epic starts out wonderfully but then falters then lags in the middle, and is rushed at the end. Read more

3 stars, Bodice Ripper, Book Review, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Valerie Sherwood, Warner Books

Historical Romance Review: Angel’s Caress by Deana James

April 18, 2022May 21, 2022 Blue Falcon No Comments

This review is of Angel’s Caress, book #4 in the “Texas” series by Deana James. (Zebra/Kensington July 1989). The book begins on a farm in Tennessee during the Civil War. 1 star Read more

1 star, Bodice Ripper, Book Review, Deana James, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Kensington, Romance, year 1989, Zebra Historical Romance

Historical Romance Review: Defy Not the Heart by Johanna Lindsey

March 16, 2022May 21, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Defy Not the Heart is a favorite of mine. It's a wonderful, funny, and romantic medieval historical romance by the late, great Johanna Lindsey. 5 stars Read more

5 stars, Avon, Book Review, Elaine Duillo, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Johanna Lindsey, year 1989

Historical Romance Review: Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey

March 9, 2022May 21, 2022 IntrovertReader 2 Comments

In Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey, her popular Malory series romance, ex-pirate James Malory meets his match in Georgina, an American girl disguised as his cabin boy! 5 stars Read more

5 stars, Avon, Book Review, Elaine Duillo, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Johanna Lindsey, year 1990

Historical Romance Review: Captive Angel by Deana James

February 24, 2022May 21, 2022 IntrovertReader 3 Comments

Deana James' romance Captive Angel was an emotional, turbulent Zebra Lovegram romance with a heroine who was forged in fire and a hero not worthy to lick her boots. One of the best non-romance romances 5 stars Read more

5 stars, Book Review, Deana James, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Kensington, Pino, Romance, year 1988, Zebra Historical Romance

Author Spotlight: Jennifer Wilde (aka Thomas E. Huff)

February 15, 2022February 15, 2022 jacquelinediaz 2 Comments

Of all the men who have written romance novels, “Jennifer Wilde” stands out, and not only as the first male to garner blockbuster success in the post-Woodiwiss era. He was also an advocate of the genre and a fierce supporter of women’s liberty. Hence, he earned the right to bear the moniker of one of “Love’s Leading Ladies.” Read more

Authors, Discussion, Jennifer Wilde, Romance

Historical Romance Review: Skye O’Malley by Bertrice Small

February 12, 2022May 21, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

In Skye O'Malley by Bertrice Small a beautiful Irish woman in the Elizabethan Tudor era experiences adventures and love with many men. Read more

4 stars, Ballantine, Bertrice Small, Bodice Ripper, Book Review, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, year 1980

Historical Romance Review: Stranger in My Arms by Louisa Rawlings

January 23, 2022May 21, 2022 IntrovertReader 1 Comment

Harlequin Historical #90 Stranger in My Arms by Louisa Rawlings is a book I've read many times, and I love it more today than ever. Absolute perfection. 5 stars Read more

5 stars, Bodice Ripper, Book Review, Harlequin, Harlequin Historical, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Sylvia Halliday, year 1991

Historical Romance Review: Angel in Scarlet by Jennifer Wilde

December 28, 2021May 21, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Angel In Scarlet isn't a bodice ripper. It's a Georgian-Era chick-lit. This is a hard one to categorize. It's not just a romance, but more of a heroine's journey through life and her relationships with several men she meets along the way. 4 stars Read more

4 stars, Avon, Book Review, Elaine Duillo, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Jennifer Wilde, Romance

Historical Romance Review: The Present by Johanna Lindsey

December 23, 2021May 21, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Over 22 years and under two different publishers, Johanna Lindsey wrote 12 romances about the Malory & Anderson clans. These books were massive hits with her many fans. Her novel, The Present, is moderately short at just over 300 pages. It tells two parallel love stories set in different eras in England, portraying the Malory clan in the past and the "present." For no matter how time changes, the love lives of the family remain the same. 3 1/2 stars Read more

3 stars and a half, Avon, Book Review, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Johanna Lindsey, Romance

Historical Romance Review: The Silver Devil by Teresa Denys

November 29, 2021May 21, 2022 IntrovertReader 2 Comments

I've put off posting an analysis of Teresa Denys' first book, The Silver Devil, for a long time because I didn't quite know how to critique it. If you're a hard-core lover of old-school romance or bodice rippers, you might be familiar with this legendary novel. 4 1/2 stars Read more

4 stars and a half, Ballantine, Bodice Ripper, Book Review, Gothic Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Romance, Teresa Denys, Tom Hall

Historical Romance Review: Crimson Obsession by Deana James

November 11, 2021May 21, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

I've read about half of the romances Deana James published and I must say Crimson Obsession is probably my least favorite of her works. It's not a bad romance, but it pales in comparison to her other books. Due to my high expectations of James' writing, Crimson Obsession was a bit of a disappointment, although if penned by another author, I daresay I might not have been so critical. 3 & 1/2 stars Read more

3 stars and a half, Book Review, Deana James, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Kensington, Pino, Romance, Zebra Lovegram

Historical Romance Review: Secret Fire by Johanna Lindsey

October 8, 2021May 21, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Secret Fire was, I think, the second Johanna Lindsey romance I read which cemented her works among my favorites. Published in 1987, this book was written during Lindsey's peak years of output. 5 stars Read more

5 stars, Avon, Book Review, Elaine Duillo, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Johanna Lindsey, Romance

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

September 27, 2021May 2, 2022 jacquelinediaz No Comments

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

Historical Romance Review: Tender is the Storm by Johanna Lindsey

September 22, 2021May 21, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

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

3 stars, Avon, Book Review, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Johanna Lindsey, Robert McGinnis, Romance

Historical Romance Review: Rangoon by Christine Monson

August 22, 2021May 21, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Christine Monson was best known for her infamous, shocking bodice-ripper Stormfire, which is legendary for the protagonists' extremely abusive revenge-based romance. Her second book Rangoon significantly turns down the crazy factor, but still retains the sensitive writing that made Stormfire so haunting and memorable. 3 1/2 stars Read more

3 stars and a half, Avon, Bodice Ripper, Book Review, Christine Monson, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Pino, Romance

Historical Romance Review: Speak Only Love by Deana James

August 3, 2021May 21, 2022 IntrovertReader 1 Comment

Speak Only Love is yet another Deana James treat. This Zebra romance takes us to Regency Era England and the story of tumultuous love between two uniquely original characters. 3 1/2 stars Read more

3 stars and a half, Book Review, Deana James, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Kensington, Romance, Zebra Historical Romance

Historical Romance Review: Chance the Winds of Fortune by Laurie McBain

July 25, 2021May 21, 2022 IntrovertReader 2 Comments

Chance the Winds of Fortune is the sequel to Laurie McBain's Moonstruck Madness, a romance about a gender-bending highwayman (girl) who falls for an arrogant, scarred Duke, notorious for his dueling skills. I LOVED Moonstruck Madness... The follow-ups to that wonderful book about their daughter, Rhea Claire, Chance the Winds of Fortune & Dark Before the Rising Sun, though...ugh. 2 stars Read more

2 stars, Avon, Book Review, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Laurie McBain, Romance

Historical Romance Review: So Speaks the Heart by Johanna Lindsey

July 17, 2021May 21, 2022 IntrovertReader 3 Comments

It's fair to compare So Speaks the Heart (which should be subtitled: Medieval Norman Psychopath Falls for French Co-Dependent and Fellow Anger Management Classmate) to another of Johanna Lindsey's works, A Pirate's Love, which had a similar captor/captive trope. 4 stars Read more

4 stars, Avon, Bodice Ripper, Book Review, Historical Romance, Historical Romance Review, Johanna Lindsey, Robert McGinnis

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