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Sweet Savage Flame

Old School Romance From Avon to Zebra

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Category: 3 stars and a half

the dream cinille barbara delinsky

Category Romance Review: The Dream by Barbara Delinsky

Posted on May 24, 2023May 20, 2023 by IntrovertReader

The Dream, the first entry in Barbara Delinsky’s Crosslyn Rise Trilogy, is the story of a woman who’s the last in her once-wealthy family and tries to hold on to her familial estate with the help of her former childhood bully. 3.5 Stars

ecstasy conquest popp

Historical Romance Review: Ecstasy’s Conquest by Kay McMahon

Posted on May 15, 2023May 15, 2023 by Blue Falcon

Ecstasy’s Conquest, the second Zebra historical romance by Kay McMahon, is not the best book ever. It is, however, a far more enjoyable read than its prequel, McMahon’s first novel, Passion’s Slave. 3.5 stars

Midnight angel kleypas

Historical Romance Review: Midnight Angel by Lisa Kleypas

Posted on October 26, 2022November 12, 2022 by IntrovertReader

Lisa Kleypas’ Midnight Angel is a solid romance. A Russian noblewoman assumes a fake identity as governess to an English lord’s daughter. 3.5 stars

nancy gideon midnight

Paranormal Romance Review: Midnight Kiss by Nancy Gideon

Posted on October 20, 2022November 11, 2022 by IntrovertReader

Although I’ve read a few vampire romances, I’ve never been a sucker for them, so for this Halloween I decided to bite my teeth into Nancy Gideon’s Midnight Kiss. 3.5 Stars

lynne graham the italians wife

Category Romance Review: The Italian’s Wife by Lynne Graham

Posted on June 29, 2022November 11, 2022 by IntrovertReader

Lynne Graham’s The Italian’s Bride is unusual from her other books I’ve read in the past.

Holly Samson is the first Graham heroine I can recall who was not a virgin, and who’s borne another man’s child. The hero is typical of her heroes: dark-haired, ultra-masculine, ridiculously wealthy, smitten with the heroine, and of Italian descent. 3.62 Stars

destinys-splendor drymon

Historical Romance Review: Destiny’s Splendor by Kathleen Drymon

Posted on May 30, 2022November 11, 2022 by Blue Falcon

This review is of Destiny’s Splendor published in December 1988. This Zebra romance is book #2 in an unofficial Native American “series” by Kathleen Drymon. 3.5 stars

these golden pleasures

Historical Romance Review: These Golden Pleasures by Valerie Sherwood

Posted on April 22, 2022November 11, 2022 by IntrovertReader

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.

a lady bought with rifles jeanne williams

Historical Romance Review: A Lady Bought with Rifles by Jeanne Williams

Posted on April 13, 2022November 11, 2022 by IntrovertReader

A Lady Bought with Rifles by Jeanne Williams is a woman’s tale of being torn between two men during a Mexican war. 3 1/2 stars

Historical Romance Review: Ecstasy’s Fire by Rosalyn Alsobrook

Posted on April 11, 2022November 11, 2022 by Blue Falcon

When a book begins with a typo, that’s not a good sign, and Ecstasy’s Fire by Rosalyn Alsobrook begins with one. On the back cover of the book, the heroine is identified as Victoria Connors. In the book, she’s named VIRGINIA Connors. Not a good beginning. 3.5 stars

flora kidd beloved deceiver

Category Romance Review: Beloved Deceiver by Flora Kidd

Posted on March 29, 2022November 11, 2022 by IntrovertReader

Flora Kidd’s Beloved Deceiver still sticks out in my mind for one big reason. It’s the only Harlequin/Mills-and-Boon I’ve read to feature a hero from the Dominican Republic, which is my parents’ birth country. 3.45 stars

moon witch sinclair

Category Romance Review: Moon Witch by Anne Mather

Posted on March 4, 2022November 11, 2022 by IntrovertReader

Harlequin Presents #38 Moon Witch by Anne Mather In this vintage romance, a much older man falls for his younger ward. It’s an uncomfortable, but compelling read. 3 1/2 stars

passionate affair oakley

Category Romance Review: A Passionate Affair by Anne Mather

Posted on March 2, 2022November 11, 2022 by IntrovertReader

In Anne Mather’s A Passionate Affair, the heroine, Cassandra, is a divorcee whom the hero pursues and they engage in a…passionate affair. This was revolutionary. Before this book, lovemaking in this line had been restricted to married couples or “forced seductions” of initially unwilling virgins whose bodies “betrayed them.” A solid romance. 3.5 stars

And Gold Was Ours duillo

Historical Romance Review: And Gold Was Ours by Rebecca Brandewyne

Posted on February 18, 2022November 11, 2022 by IntrovertReader

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

raven ray kursar

Historical Romance Review: Raven by Shana Carrol

Posted on January 25, 2022November 11, 2022 by Jacqueline Diaz

Raven by Shana Carol (aka Christina Savage, aka Mr. Kerry Newcomb & Mr. Frank Schaeffer) is a riveting bodice-ripper. It’s a pirate adventure that features a kickass, resilient heroine whom I adore. It also stars a hero who isn’t worthy to lick the underside of her shoes. This is one of those books I both hate and love and wavered for a long time what rating to give it. 3.49 stars

guarded moments

Category Romance Review: Guarded Moments by JoAnn Ross

Posted on January 18, 2022November 11, 2022 by IntrovertReader

JoAnn Ross’s Harlequin Temptation, Guarded Moments, introduces us to the princess Montcroix, the haughty Chantal Giraudeau. It’s up to Special Agent Caine O’Bannion to be on call as Chantal’s bodyguard. 3.59 stars

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Books Reviewed This Year

Sweet Savage Flame has reviewed 39 books so far this year out of 100.

39%

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