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
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
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
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
The Marriage War by Charlotte Lamb may not have the worst hero in Harlequin Presents history, but he certainly ranks up there in the top twenty. .5 stars
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
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
In Heather by Cordelia Byers, stuff occurs while characters are like marionettes being pulled by strings to the next scene. 1 star
This review is of Yankee Mistress a standalone from May 1989 by Ashley Snow, published by Zebra/Kensington as a Zebra Heartfire. 1 star
Charlotte by Amanda Hart Douglass takes place during the Civil War in New York City and it’s not worth your time. 1 star
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.
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!
This review is of Sunset Temptation, a standalone novel by Jane Toombs. The stultifying boredom I felt reading it means no positive grade from me. 1.11 stars
Books like Jo Ann Ferguson’s An Offer of Marriage suffer from being published during a time of change. When Kensington’s Zebra historical romances died, they didn’t go quickly (actually, Zebras are still around, but they’re not the same as they used to be in the 1980s and 1990s). 1 star
This review is of Shameless Ecstasy, a standalone from May 1989 by Thea Devine. The book takes place on Swany Island, Georgia. One of the residents there is Sarianna Broydon, the heroine of the book. 1 star
In this new segment, we have two reviewers offering their opinions on a single romance. Here, Introvert Reader explains her negative perspective of Karen A. Bale’s historical romance, Desperado Dream. Blue Falcon, on the other hand, gave it a positive review and found the book emotionally captivating. 1 star
This review is of Tangled Web a Zebra Regency romance by Janice Bennett.At the beginning of the book, Miss Celia Marcombe, the heroine, is informed by her grandfather, Roderick, that he has arranged a marriage between Celia and his godson, Lord Trevor Ryde, the hero.
Harlequin Temptation #333 I have to give it JoAnn Ross for her book Tangled Hearts, in that she tried to do something unique in a category romance novel. It’s just unfortunate for me that I didn’t like where she went with it.
Harlequin Temptation #331 Candace Schuler Easy Lovin’ is slow romance written by an author who’s produced much better books. Kate Hightower is a prim and proper miss who’s always done what’s expected of her. Except now, she’s running away from her life, having left her fiance at the altar. She’s not sure what she wants, but it’s definitely a drastic change. So she goes to New Orleans to find herself. 1 star
This review is of Captive Melody, a standalone Zebra from January 1989 by Nadine Crenshaw. If it were possible to give less than one star to a book, Captive Melody would be the one.
