Mixed Genre Authors Archives

One Book: Multiple Covers #2: Highland Velvet

April 19, 2022April 20, 2022 jacquelinediaz No Comments

A few weeks ago, we highlighted the many covers for the alternate and foreign editions of Jude Deveraux's The Velvet Promise. As a result, we decided to continue displaying the multiple covers for the book's sequels. Today, we focus on Highland Velvet which we previously reviewed It is one of our favorite books. Read more

Covers, Discussion, Historical Romance, Jude Deveraux, Romance

Historical Romance Review: Rebel Vixen by Dana Ransom

March 26, 2022May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

In Dana Ransom's Zebra Heartfire romance, Rebel Vixen a Southern woman and Northern soldier find love during the Civil War. As the Civil War rages throughout the United States, Miss Savannah Russell is on a ship in the Caribbean where she saves a Yankee sailor's life. 5 stars Read more

5 stars, Bodice Ripper, Book Review, Dana Ransom, Historical Romance, Kensington, year 1987, Zebra Heartfire

One Book, Multiple Covers #1: The Velvet Promise

March 24, 2022March 24, 2022 jacquelinediaz 3 Comments

We're introducing yet another new feature here at Sweet Savage Flame! This One Book, Multiple Covers series will look at the original cover art for a popular romance novel and then compare it to re-issues and foreign language or alternate editions. Today, we're focusing on The Velvet Promise by Jude Deveraux. Read more

Covers, Discussion, Historical Romance, Jude Deveraux, Romance

Historical Romance Review: And Gold Was Ours by Rebecca Brandewyne

February 18, 2022May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader 1 Comment

And Gold Was Ours is a sequel of sorts to Rebecca Brandewyne‘s Love, Cherish Me. I’d consider this more of a companion piece. While both novels have Brandewyne’s hallmark baroque-gothic atmosphere, And Gold Was Ours is not as dark and emotional as its predecessor. 3.63 stars Read more

3 stars and a half, Book Review, Elaine Duillo, Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance, Rebecca Brandewyne, Romance, year 1984

Category Romance Review: Lovers Touch by Penny Jordan

January 28, 2022May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Whenever I see an "Award of Excellence" ribbon on a Harlequin-published romance, I know I'm in for a mediocre read. For me, Penny Jordan is an author who's all over the place. One book can be great, another full of crazy-sauce, others on the blah side. Sadly, her Lover's Touch is kind of blah. The two protagonists are kept apart by big misunderstandings and lack of communication, which is never fun. 2.5 stars Read more

2 stars and a half, Book Review, Category romance, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Penny Jordan, Romance, year 1989

Historical Romance Review: Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers

January 20, 2022May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader 2 Comments

Ooh boy, where to begin with this review? Sweet Savage Love by the great Rosemary Rogers is--along with The Flame and the Flower--the blockbuster historical that launched a new genre: the modern romance novel. Published in 1974, this doorstopper epic was a monumental game-changer in an era of social transformation. 4.24 stars Read more

4 stars, Avon, Bodice Ripper, Book Review, Historical Romance, Romance, Rosemary Rogers, year 1974

Category Romance Review: Guilty Love by Charlotte Lamb

January 4, 2022May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Charlotte Lamb's Harlequin Presents romance Guilty Love is so crazy and full of over-the-top drama. I loved every wild moment of it. As always, YMMV, although this sort of book is right up my alley. But a word of warning: it handles a dark subject that may cause readers some discomfort. 5 stars Read more

5 stars, Book Review, Category romance, Charlotte Lamb, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Romance, year 1994

Category Romance Review: Stranger in the Night by Charlotte Lamb

October 28, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Charlotte Lamb's Stranger in the Night deals with a sensitive topic she's approached several times: rape. No, it does not employ the controversial trope of "dubious consent" found in many Harlequins from the 1970s and 1980s. This is a healing love story about a traumatic assault that upended a woman's life and affected her relationships with men. 5 Stars Read more

5 stars, Book Review, Category romance, Charlotte Lamb, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Romance, Vintage romance

Historical Romance Review: Kiss of the Night Wind by Janelle Taylor

October 27, 2021May 2, 2022 Blue Falcon No Comments

This review is of Kiss of the Night Wind, #3 in the “Western Wind” series by Janelle Taylor. Kiss of the Night Wind is a good book, but has too many issues to be great. 3.72 stars Read more

3 stars and a half, Book Review, Historical Romance, Janelle Taylor, Kensington, Romance, Zebra Historical Romance

Historical Romance Review: Passions Wild and Free by Janelle Taylor

October 14, 2021May 2, 2022 Blue Falcon No Comments

This review is of Passions Wild and Free, book #2 in the “Western Wind” series by Janelle Taylor. Randee Hollis, the heroine of the book, has plans to go after the Epson Gang, a ruthless band of killers who killed her aunt and uncle... 3 stars Read more

3 stars, Book Review, Elaine Duillo, Historical Romance, Janelle Taylor, Kensington, Romance, Zebra Historical Romance

Author Spotlight: Charlotte Lamb

October 2, 2021February 18, 2022 jacquelinediaz No Comments

Sheila Holland nee Coates, known to most readers of romance as Harlequin/ Mills & Boon author Charlotte Lamb is one of my favorite writers, period. Although she wrote seemingly simple category romances, her books were much more than that. She wrote like few others in her field could: fully inhabiting her characters' minds and giving them larger-than-life personalities. Read more

Charlotte Lamb, Discussion, Romance

Historical Romance Review: The Lord of Hawkfell Island by Catherine Coulter

October 1, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader 1 Comment

In The Lord of Hawkfell Island by Catherine Coulter Mirana is a young, unmarried woman who lives with her brother in a massive fortress. When he's away, their home is attacked by Viking raiders seeking vengeance against him, as the Viking leader Rorik blames him for the death of his wife and child. Usually, a hero grieving over his lost love is grounds for me to dislike a historical romance, but thanks to Rurik, I had plenty of other reasons to despise this "love story." 2 1/2 stars Read more

2 stars and a half, Bodice Ripper, Book Review, Catherine Coulter, Historical Romance, Jove/ Pyramid, Romance

Historical Romance Review: First Love, Wild Love by Janelle Taylor

September 29, 2021May 2, 2022 Blue Falcon 2 Comments

This review is of First Love, Wild Love by Janelle Taylor. The book begins begins in Texas, where Calinda Braxton, the heroine, has come from England to investigate the disappearance of her father... 4 1/2 stars Read more

4 stars and a half, Book Review, Historical Romance, Janelle Taylor, Kensington, Romance, Zebra Lovegram

Author Spotlight: Janelle Taylor

August 2, 2021February 5, 2022 jacquelinediaz 1 Comment

Janelle Taylor was part of the pantheon of the Zebra romance's "Leading Ladies of Love." Her Native American, Fantasy, western and contemporary romance novels sold millions. Read more

Authors, Discussion, Janelle Taylor, Romance

Covers of the Week #17

August 1, 2021January 30, 2022 jacquelinediaz 4 Comments

I enjoy playing the game of "I Spy" with my vintage book romance covers. Can you guess this week's theme? For the week of Aug 2 to Aug 6, here are some contemporary and historical covers for you to look over and play "I Spy." Read more

Anne Mather, Catherine Coulter, Cover Artists, Covers of the Week, Don Sinclair, Elaine Gignilliat, Will Davies

Contemporary Romance Review: A Violation by Charlotte Lamb

July 31, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

A Violation, a full-length novel by category author Charlotte Lamb, isn’t a straightforward romance, somewhere more between women’s fiction and romantic fiction. Like so many of her works, the major themes are the philosophy of love and what are the defined roles of being a man and a woman, especially when it comes to amorous relationships. 3 stars Read more

3 stars, Book Review, Charlotte Lamb, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Romance

Historical Romance Review: Savage Ecstasy by Janelle Taylor

July 30, 2021May 2, 2022 Blue Falcon No Comments

This review is of Savage Ecstasy (Ecstasy/Gray Eagle, #1; the series is known by two different names) by Janelle Taylor. There’s a lot to unpack here. The year is 1776, and English expatriate Alisha Williams, 20, the book's heroine (and the first four books in the series), has journeyed west to find happiness with her only surviving relative, her uncle Thad. One day, the “men” in her settlement bring a captured Oglala Lakota Indian brave into their camp; that brave is Gray Eagle, the “hero” of the book. Gray Eagle and Alisha develop romantic feelings for each other. 3 stars Read more

3 stars, Book Review, Historical Romance, Janelle Taylor, Kensington, Romance, Walter Popp

Author Spotlight: Penny Jordan

July 18, 2021February 5, 2022 jacquelinediaz 4 Comments

Penny Jordan was an immensely popular author for Mills and Boon/ Harlequin. She wrote romantic love stories that readers have enjoyed for 40 years. Penny Jordan was not her real identity but one of her many pseudonyms. Let's take a look back at the career of this talented author. Read more

Authors, Discussion, Penny Jordan, Romance

Historical Romance Review: Savage Conquest by Janelle Taylor

June 5, 2021May 2, 2022 Blue Falcon No Comments

This review is of Savage Conquest, the 9th and final book--although the 6th published--in the “Ecstasy/Gray Eagle” series by Janelle Taylor. 4 stars Read more

4 stars, Book Review, Elaine Duillo, Historical Romance, Janelle Taylor, Kensington, Romance, Zebra Historical Romance

Category Romance Review: Beyond Compare by Penny Jordan

May 28, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader 1 Comment

Holly Witchell, the heroine of Penny Jordan's Beyond Compare, suffers a bit from an overinflated ego combined with an oblivious nature. Thankfully, Drew, the wonderful hero of this book, sorts matters all out for her. 4 stars Read more

4 stars, Book Review, Category romance, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Penny Jordan, Romance

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