Driving Force, a Sally Wentworth Harlequin Presents, offers few surprises but is a satisfactory read regardless. West Marriot– our hero, not a 3-star hotel but a famous race car driver–was terribly injured in a race several months ago. Madeleine French, a nurse and physiotherapist, had been married to West for four years. 3 1/2 stars
Viking Magic by Angela Welles was the entry for the nation of Denmark in Harlequin Presents’ line 1990s Postcards from Europe mini-series. Viking Magic features a nice guy hero and a neurotically insecure heroine (aren’t they all?) united on a quest of sorts. 4 stars
An Anne Mather Harlequin Presents is what I considered to be an “old reliable.” In this category romance, Sirocco, Anne Mather employs one of her commonly used tropes: a hero in pursuit of an already “attached” woman. 3.5 stars
Harlequin #232 Bride at Whangatapu includes the hallmark of almost every one of Robyn Donald’s books, as it intimately details the natural environment of New Zealand. Whether her books were set on a sheep station, on a yacht in the Pacific, or just a tropical backdrop, you could see the bright green grass, feel the ocean spray on your face or smell the hibiscus blossoms (which don’t even have much a scent, do they?
Harlequin Presents # 522 Usually, Mortimer’s heroes are cruel and overbearingly alpha. While in Red Rose for Love the hero-in-pursuit starts dominant and determined, when he realizes how hurt the heroine’s been in the past, he changes course and woos her in a gentle and loving manner. 5 stars
Harlequin Presents #105 Anne Mather’s No Gentle Possession consists of two plot points she’s employed many times in her works: separated lovers and cheating.
Well, in this book, it wasn’t so much a case of separated lovers as two people who briefly dated in the past. The heroine broke it off with the hero when she thought his relationship with his young stepmother was a bit too close for comfort and creepy. 3 1/2 stars
Harlequin Presents # 804 What can I say about Carole Mortimer’s Trust in Tomorrow (originally published as Cherish Tomorrow in the US & Canada)? Sadly, that I wasn’t really feeling this one. The romance aspect of the book was fine, kind of adorable, actually, with a very young heroine, Chelsea, in pursuit of the much older hero, Lucas. She knows she wants her man and is willing to fight for him. I really wish Chelsea and Lucas could have had a better plot to go along with their romance. The romance was fine, but it was the story that had me going, huh?
Holly Witchell, the heroine of Penny Jordan’s Beyond Compare, suffers a bit from an overinflated ego combined with an oblivious nature. Thankfully, Drew, the wonderful hero of this book, sorts matters all out for her. 4 stars
In Anne Mather’s The Waterfalls of the Moon the teenaged heroine is in pursuit of a much older man, but the hero’s not taking what she’s offering so easily. 3.5 stars
Harelquin Presetns #1840 Dark Fever was part of a series of Harlequin Presents by Charlotte Lamb about the Seven Deadly Sins. The sin is lust, but this is not a sexy book.
Harlequin Presents #200 Show Me Janet Dailey An embittered husband returns back home to face the wife and child he never wanted. 2 stars
Asking for Trouble by Miranda Lee a beautiful, yet virginal woman and a burn-by-love playboy find passion together. Is it enough to last? The problem with reading a much-beloved author almost 50 times is that their books begin to blend together. Plotlines get replayed. And replayed. 2 stars
Harlequin Presents #1321 In Catherine George’s Come Back to Me, revenge is the on the agenda for the heroine when her sister dies after having a baby. 1 1/2 star
Harlequin Presents #428 Seduction Charlotte Lamb features a ridiculously innocent and sheltered heroine and a hero that is so crazy and obsessed, he kidnaps her! 5 stars
Harlequin Presents #629 Shattered Dreams by Sally Wentworth is a legendary train wreck romance read. 1 1/2 stars
Harlequin Presents #892 Darkness into Light by Carole Mortimer Freespirited Danny falls in love with Pierce, who’s been hurt by love before. 3 1/2 stars
Charlotte Lamb Harlequin Presents #380 A Frozen Fire is a strange romance about a married woman with a cheating husband. She falls for her coworker but she can’t be with him.
Harlequin Presents #344 Stay Through the Night by Flora Kidd is a romance about big misunderstandings, adultery, & kidnapping. A solid vintage romance.
Harlequin Presents #948 Don’t Ask Me Now by Emma Darcy features a unique love triangle about one woman, her ex-lover, a rich playboy, and her nice best friend. Guess who wins? 5 stars
Harlequin Presents #662 Set in Ceylon/ Sri Lanka The Lion Rock by Sally Wentworth is an average romance read with weird overtones. 3 stars
