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.
Passion’s Paradise by Sonya T. Pelton
Rating: 
Published: 1981
Illustrator: TBD
Imprint or Line: Zebra Historical Romance
Published by: Kensington
Genres: Antebellum Southern Romance, Historical Romance, Bodice Ripper
Pages: 544
Format: Paperback
Buy on: Amazon, AbeBooks
Reviewed by: Blue Falcon
The Book
This review is of Passion’s Paradise by Sonya T. Pelton. This review is part of Sweet Savage Flame’s Dueling Reviews series, so look for Introvert Reader’s review for a different opinion.
The Plot
Angeline Katrina “Angel” Sherwood, the heroine of Passion’s Paradise, is traveling by ship to America with her mother, Christine, and her father, Beldwin. The trip is not a pleasure cruise by any means.
On their way to America, their ship is waylaid by pirates led by Captain Tyrone Michael Hunter, the hero.
Tyrone takes Angel and Christine to Barataria, the island home of the infamous pirate Jean Laffite. It is here that Tyrone rapes Angel, and they become lovers.
Passion’s Paradise later moves inland to New Orleans proper. Angel discovers she’s pregnant with Tyrone’s child. However, another man, Wesley Gayerre–who has a long-standing beef with Tyrone–proposes marriage.
When Tyrone discovers that Angel is “enceinte,” he forces her to marry him instead.
Even though Angel gives birth to a son, Brian Ross, the marriage between her and Tyrone becomes even less happy than their relationship prior to matrimony.
It is only at the end of the book, after secrets are revealed that Tyrone and Angel find their Happily Ever After.
The Upside
I finished the book.
Beyond that, I’ve got nothing.
The Downside
I didn’t really like either Angel or Tyrone that much.
I’m not a fan of rapist “heroes,” which Tyrone is.
Angel is too whiny for my taste. The characters are not developed in any way, and Ms. Pelton never made me care for them.
The biggest issue I have with Passion’s Paradise is a common trope used by Ms. Pelton: lack of communication. In too many of her books, her characters spend copious amounts of time getting angry with each other over issues that could easily be resolved if they just TALKED with each other.
Instead, Ms. Pelton’s readers are treated to books filled with conjecture, innuendo, speculation, and assumptions.
Sex
The love scenes are full of purple prose and are far from erotic or exciting.
Steam Factor:
Purple and bodice ripper warm.
Violence
Assault, battery, one “off-screen” killing, and one written about killing. The last of these violent events is somewhat graphic.
Bottom Line on Passion’s Paradise
Sonya T. Pelton’s Passion’s Paradise isn’t a great romance, but it is a good cure for insomnia.
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| Overall: | 1.3 |
Synopsis
As the beautiful, fair-haired Angel Sherwood sailed from England to Louisiana, she sensed that her destiny flowed with the rough waves of the ocean. Frightened by the harsh sea, Angel prayed that perhaps, just perhaps, she would find happiness and romance in her new home.
PASSION’S PARADISE BY SONYA T. PELTON
But Angel’s fate changed course when she was kidnapped by the cruel, yet captivating pirate, Captain Ty. And even though her future was suddenly in the balance, Angel was strangely warmed by his manly touch. Her strong captor stirred in her a delcious pleasure, a burning fire that made her whole body tingle with precious thrills.
Captain Ty’s black heart was softened, too by her golden presence; she was an untouched treasure, full of charm, wit and innocense — a jewel that he feverishly desired. But rather than taint his savage and foreboding name, he kept his feelings hidden. First he had to be sure that her heart belonged to him–and then he would send her to PASSION’S PARADISE!
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