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: Original Publication Year
Master category designing the year a romance book was originally published.
Category Romance Review: The Dream by Barbara Delinsky
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
Historical Romance Review: Captive Ecstasy by Elaine Barbieri
Captive Ecstasy, Elaine Barbieri’s first book, is unique in that it features four possible love interests for the heroine, and all the men are written with strong emotions.
Historical Romance Review: Dawn of Desire by Joyce Verrette
Dawn of Desire by Joyce Verette was written in 1976 when sensual historicals and bodice rippers were the hottest books in romance. Alas, this book qualifies as neither. 3 stars
Historical Romance Review: Ecstasy’s Conquest by Kay McMahon
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
Category Romance Review: Impulsive Butterfly by Kay Gregory
Impulsive Butterfly by Kay Gregory features, quite frankly, a rather skeezy romance where an engaged owner of an employment agency tries to find work for a woman he’s attracted to. 3 Stars
Historical Romance Review: Wild Western Bride by Rosalyn Alsobrook
Wild Western Bride by Rosalyn Alsobrook features an unconventional couple who form an unconventional family. It’s not a great romance, but Alsobrook fans should find it enjoyable. 2.5 Stars
Historical Romance Review: Sun Woman by Lindsay McKenna
Sun Woman, a Harlequin Historical by Lindsay McKenna, features a wonderful Native American heroine and an equally excellent American soldier who come together despite a world that seems determined to keep them apart. 4.5 Stars
Historical Romance Review: Meet the New Dawn by Rosanne Bittner
In Meet the New Dawn, the penultimate book of her “Savage Destiny” Western historical romance series, author Rosanne Bittner brings the reader to tears with lots of love, drama, and deaths.
Category Romance Review: Night Light by Jennifer Greene
In Night Light by Jennifer Greene, a surly man opens his home to a stranded woman during a thunderstorm. She stays for the night. That’s when things get weird. 4 Stars
Category Romance Review: Wrong Address, Right Place by Lass Small
Wrong Address, Right Place has a paper-thin plot that would be difficult to swallow if written by most writers. Thankfully, in the hands of seasoned funny-lady Lass Small, this romance is an entertaining and zany read. 4 Stars
Historical Romance Review: Love’s Reckless Rebel by Gina Robins
Love’s Reckless Rebel is yet another hilarious and wonderful romance by Gina Robins–aka Connie Finch. It’s one of Blue Falcon’s favorites! 5 Stars
Historical Book Review: When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke
When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke is a charming inspirational romance with an enjoyable love story for both genre fans and those new to it.
Historical Romance Review: Tender Ecstasy by Janelle Taylor
Tender Ecstasy, the fifth book in Janelle Taylor’s Ecstasy series published by Zebra, is not as fun as its predecessor, but still a worthy entry in the series. 4 stars
Category Romance Review: The Reluctant Lark by Iris Johansen
The Reluctant Lark, a Bantam Loveswept romance by Iris Johansen, is so over the top with its possibly offensive 1980s themes that I had a blast reading it. 4 Stars