Passion’s Rapture, Penelope Neri’s first book, is a bodice-ripper where the heroine falls in love with her rapist, the hero. The best thing said about her 1981 debut is that Neri could never write anything worse. 1.5 Stars
Category: 1 star
Historical Romance Review: Waves of Passion by Casey Stuart
Blue Falcon reviews Waves of Passion by Casey Stuart, another subpar early-era Zebra historical. But at least it has a pretty cover! 1 Star
Historical Romance Review: Passion Flower by Jennifer Horsman
This review is of Passion Flower by Jennifer Horsman, a 1983 Zebra historical romance set during the colonial era in Jamaica and Virginia.
Historical Romance Review: Wild Island Sands by Sonya T. Pelton
This review is of Wild Island Sands by Sonya T. Pelton. It is a hot mess of tens of thousands of words–over 526 pages–yet saying absolutely nothing. 1 Star
Historical Romance Review: Sweet Savage Surrender by Kathryn Hockett
Sweet Savage Surrender, a Zebra Lovegram that was written by mother-daughter duo Marcia Hockett and Kathryn Kramer, aka Kathryn Hockett, is a romance between two star-crossed lovers from different worlds. .5 star
Historical Romance Review: Love’s Fiery Jewel by Elaine Barbieri
This review is of Love’s Fiery Jewel by Elaine Barbieri, a bodice ripper that Zebra books published in 1982. Right after I finish posting this review, this “romance novel” is going into my trash bin. 0.75 stars
Historical Romance Review: Comanche Love Song by Cheryl Black
This review is of Comanche Love Song a standalone Zebra Heartfire from June 1989 by Cheryl Black. Comanche Love Song by Cheryl Black has now passed Eugenia’s Embrace by Cassie Edwards as the worst book I’ve ever read. .5 stars
Category Romance Review: Glory Days by Marilynne Rudick
Glory Days by Marilynne Rudick is a Harlequin Temptation from the early 1990s. It’s one of the few books from that line that I truly disliked. Why? Because it was so dreadfully dull. 1 star
Category Romance Review: A Naked Flame by Charlotte Lamb
Sad to report, but A Naked Flame has to be the worst Charlotte Lamb book I’ve read so far. It features a wishy-washy, stupid heroine who wouldn’t know her butt crack from the Grand Canyon. 1 star
Historical Romance Review: Angel’s Caress by Deana James
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
Historical Romance Review: Heather by Cordia Byers
In Heather by Cordelia Byers, stuff occurs while characters are like marionettes being pulled by strings to the next scene. 1 star
Historical Romance Review: Yankee Mistress by Ashley Snow
This review is of Yankee Mistress a standalone from May 1989 by Ashley Snow, published by Zebra/Kensington as a Zebra Heartfire. 1 star
Historical Romance Review: Charlotte by Amanda Hart Douglass
Charlotte by Amanda Hart Douglass takes place during the Civil War in New York City and it’s not worth your time. 1 star
Historical Romance Review: Colorado Jewel by Cate Brandt
This review is of Colorado Jewel, a standalone by Cate Brandt. (Zebra Heartfire, April 1989). The book opens in Colorado, early September 1878 1.11 stars.
Historical Romance Review: When Lightning Strikes by Kristin Hannah
Kristin Hannah is a successful author of women’s fiction. It’s fortunate she found success in that genre because her romances I’ve encountered are–sad to say–lacking in excitement. When Lightning Strikes is a time travel romance that starts out promisingly but takes a boring turn into snoozeville with its drawn-out plot. This should have been a category-length romance of 190 pages not 400 pages long!