The gothic romance The House of Shadowed Roses by Carol Warburton is a paint-by-numbers dull experience that is neither romantic nor thrilling.
1 star
Historical Romance Review: Ecstasy’s Treasure by Jean Haught
Ecstasy’s Treasure by Jean Haught gets better in the second half after a lackluster first, but the ending is too rushed to create a satisfying narrative. 1 Star
Dueling Review: Passion’s Paradise by Sonya T. Pelton, #2 (Blue Falcon)
In this Dueling Review segment, Blue Falcon gives a big thumbs down to Sonya T. Pelton’s Passion’s Paradise, where big misunderstandings drive the plot of this romance. 1 Star
Historical Romance Review: Passion’s Rapture by Penelope Neri
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
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