The gothic romance The House of Shadowed Roses by Carol Warburton is a paint-by-numbers dull experience that is neither romantic nor thrilling.
year 1984
Category Romance Review: A Durable Fire by Robyn Donald
A Durable Fire by Robyn Donald is an intense Harlequin Presents where Arminel, a beautiful woman with no money, gets entangled in a web of emotions with a cruel hero and his family. 5 Stars
Quickie Post: Dungeons and Dragons Romances from the 1980s
In the 1980s, Dungeons & Dragons created a short-lived series of romance novels in a “Choose Your Own Adventure” style to reach a more female audience.
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: Hearts Enchanted by Penelope Neri
Penelope Neri is a versatile authors from Kensington’s Zebra imprint. Her fourth, book Hearts Enchanted, takes place in Medieval England. 4 Stars
Historical Romance Review: Ride the Free Wind by Rosanne Bittner
This review is of Ride the Free Wind book #2 in the “Savage Destiny” series by Rosanne Bittner. Ride the Free Wind begins shortly after the first book, Sweet Prairie Passion, ended. Abigail “Abbie” Trent Monroe and her husband, “Cheyenne” Zeke Monroe, are traveling to find Zeke’s Cheyenne mother and three Cheyenne half-brothers. 5 Stars
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: Midnight Fires by Carol Finch
This review is of Midnight Fires by Carol Finch. This Zebra historical romance set during the war of 1812 is a typical Carol Finch book. It’s very good, but lacking the dynamic qualities to make it great. 4 stars
Historical Romance Review: And Gold Was Ours by Rebecca Brandewyne
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. 3.5 Stars
Category Romance Review: Hard To Get by Carole Mortimer
Oh boy, when I read “the heroine in pursuit plot” synopsis for this Harlequin Presents, was I ever excited to read it. Heroines who are determined to get their men are my favorite kinds! Alas, when the object of said pursuit is a mean arsehole, the chase isn’t worth it. Still, Hard to Get by Carole Mortimer was a wild, emotional whirlwind. With a more charismatic hero, I could have loved this as opposed to liking it. 3.62 stars