The Forever Tree by Rosanne Bittner is a gut-wrenching historical romance and yet another excellent book by an author who rarely disappoints. This heartbreaking read will leave you in tears despite its happy ending. 4.5 Stars
Genre: Romance with Rape Element
The heroine or hero is sexually assaulted. This is not the forced seduction sub-genre, which is a trope. Both elements may exist in a romance, but they are not the same.
Historical Romance Review: Passion’s Pleasure by Valerie Giscard
Passion’s Pleasure by Valerie Giscard is a 1982 historical romance novel featuring a turbulent love story, marked by violence and dramatic twists, set in Paris and Louisiana. 1 Star
Historical Romance Review: Rapture’s Heaven by Cyndy Carpenter
Rapture’s Heaven by Cyndy Carpenter features a heroine who navigates through betrayal, love, and adversity, ultimately finding love despite numerous challenges.
Historical Romance Review: Golden Gypsy by Wanda Owen
Golden Gypsy is the first in a trilogy by Wanda Owen. Lamentably, this Zebra historical romance series is off to a mediocre start. 3 Stars
Historical Romance Review: Erin’s Ecstasy by Sylvie F. Sommerfield
Erin’s Ecstasy by Sylvie F. Sommerfield’s first published book, is a solid start, but not up to par with the author’s later romance novels. 3 Stars
Historical Romance Review: Eugenia’s Embrace by Cassie Edwards
From the start, Eugenia’s Embrace by Cassie Edwards is a disaster with a hapless fool for a heroine and a cheating slimeball hero. However, it does end with a surprising Sapphic twist. 1 Star
Historical Romance Review: Passion’s Rapture by Penelope Neri
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
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: 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. 5 Stars
Historical Romance Review: Tazia’s Torment by Sylvie F. Sommerfield
Sylvie F. Sommerfield’s California-set bodice ripper Tazia’s Torment is not a bad book, but it’s not as good as it could have been. 3 Stars