Archives

autumns fury merritt

Historical Romance Review: Autumn’s Fury by Emma Merritt

autumn's fury historical romance review
Autumn's Fury by Emma Merritt
Rating: five-stars
Published: 1986
Illustrator: Oliviero Berni
Imprint or Line: Zebra Lovegram
Published by: Kensington
Genres: Historical Romance, Colonial Era Romance, Native American Romance
Format: Paperback
Buy on: AmazonAbeBooks
Reviewed by: Blue Falcon


Historical Romance Review: Autumn’s Fury by Emma Merritt

TOTAL SPOILER ALERT ⚠

The Book

It’s inevitable that with all the books published each year, a quality book will fall through the cracks. Such is the case with 1986’s Autumn’s Fury by Emma Merritt, a lovely Indian romance. It has a bit of Stockholm Syndrome to it, but not as much as some other books in the genre.

The Plot

Part One of Autumn’s Fury

Catherine Graystone is an Englishwoman in the late 1500s in what is now North Carolina. She lives with her sister, Ellen, and moved to America after her parents passed away.

Catherine is beautiful, smart-she can read, write and cipher-and strong. She is skilled with bows, arrows, war clubs, etc. These days, she would be referred to as a “tomboy.”

One day while bathing, she is spied upon by Lone Wolf, the hero of the book. Lone Wolf is a war chief of the Scupperongac Indian tribe, whose land borders that of the white settlers that Catherine lives with.

They are immediately attracted to each other. However, they realize there are issues that keep them apart. One day, after one of the settlers kills an Indian maiden, who Lone Wolf was to marry, the settlers make a deal with the Scupperongacs to avoid bloodshed.

Per tribal custom, one settler would become a slave to the Scupperongacs to take the place of the dead maiden. Lone Wolf chooses Catherine as his slave, much to the dismay of her sister. Catherine, trying to avoid a further issue, goes willingly with Lone Wolf.

Part Two of Autumn’s Fury

As time goes on, Catherine becomes more involved with both Scupperongac culture and Lone Wolf and falls in love with him. She also makes friends and is an enemy of another Scupperongac warrior woman, Happy Woman.

There is one other issue separating Catherine and Lone Wolf: his promise to marry a maiden from another tribe, the Lumbroans, to unite their tribes in solidarity against other tribes.

Catherine, coming from white culture, cannot accept the idea of Lone Wolf being married to another woman. She tries to fight her feelings for him, but she loves him too much.

Eventually, the Lumbroan maiden, Little Doe, falls in love with another Scupperongac brave and releases Lone Wolf from his promise, leaving him free to marry Catherine, who is his only love.

The Upside and the Downside

While there are elements of Stockholm Syndrome in this book–at the beginning of her enslavement when Lone Wolf takes Catherine to his tribal village, Catherine objects vehemently, and there are harsh words exchanged between her and Lone Wolf–it’s not really focused on that much.

Instead, both realize early on that they are attracted to each other and love each other. Catherine earns the respect and love of everyone in the Scupperongacs, including Happy Woman, who becomes a friend and ally later on.

If one is a fan of Indian romance, then Autumn’s Fury by Emma Merritt is a good book to own. Catherine and Lone Wolf as opposed to reading a book. That is what makes this book great. Whether it’s a book, movie, or television show, the best of these genres that I enjoy the most are those that make me care about the people I’m reading about or watching.

If I don’t care about the people, then I cannot enjoy what I’m reading or watching. Ms. Merritt made me care about her characters.

Sex

A few sex scenes, which were pretty graphic for 1986, when this book was published.

Violence

There are a few scenes of violence, especially toward the end of the book, but nothing overly graphic.

Bottom Line on Autumn’s Fury

If one is a fan of Indian romance, then Autumn’s Fury by Emma Merritt is a good book to own.

4 Stars

Rating Report Card
Plot
5
Characters
5
Writing
5
Chemistry
5
Fun Factor
5
Cover
4.5
Overall: 4.9

Synopsis

SEED OF DESIRE…
Headstrong and beautiful, Catherine Graystone was determined to help establish a settlement in North Carolina despite the danger – especially to her heart. For as innocent as she was, Catherine knew her destiny from the moment she met the Indian Lone Wolf. He aroused her desire with just one kiss that seared her lips and branded her soul. She knew it was wrong to love an Indian warrior, yet Catherine was sure that it would be Lone Wolf who would teach her the joys of forbidden ecstasy…and forever ignite the flames of her love…

FLOWER OF PASSION…
Lone Wolf had known many women, but none had captured his heart the way Catherine had…Her auburn hair and ruby lips beckoned him to take her into his arms and her creamy white flesh and twinkling eyes invited his tender caress. Lone Wolf felt an awakening of desire – a hunger that he hadn’t experienced with any of the maidens of his own tribe. He would make Catherine his captive, his slave of love – until she would willingly surrender to the magic of Autumn’s Fury…

Autumn’s Fury by Emma Merritt
cherish me, embrace me berni

Historical Romance Review: Cherish Me, Embrace Me by Sylvie F. Sommerfield

book review historical romance
Cherish Me, Embrace Me by Sylvie F. Sommerfield
Rating: five-stars
Published: 1983
Illustrator: Oliviero Berni
Imprint or Line: Zebra Historical Romance
Published by: Kensington
Genres: Civil War Romance, Historical Romance
Pages: 528
Format: Paperback
Buy on: Amazon
Reviewed by: Blue Falcon


Historical Romance Review: Cherish Me, Embrace Me by Sylvie F. Sommerfield

TOTAL SPOILER ALERT ⚠

The Book

This review is of Cherish Me, Embrace Me by Sylvie F. Sommerfield, a 1983 Zebra historical romance set during the American Civil War.

The book begins in 1851 in France. The coming revolution forces Jules Dubonne, his wife Marie, their three children, sons Alexander and Dante, and daughter, Celeste, to leave France. They sail to a new home they believe will be free from war and violence, America.

They will soon discover the fallacy of that belief.

The Plot

Tragedy strikes when a storm hits, throwing Dante overboard. He is taken in by a couple, Virginia and Gregory Wakefield, who desperately wants a son. Virginia has had four miscarriages. Dante, who believes his family is dead, is adopted by the Wakefields. He takes the name Dan Dubonne-Wakefield.

The rest of the Dubonne family make their way to their planned destination, Philadelphia.

At 16, Dan meets Abby Southerland and falls in love with her. Abby, however, doesn’t share his feelings.

Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, the other Dubonnes’ lives go on, albeit with a hole in their hearts for Dante. Daughter Celeste falls in love with a young man, Wesley Rainey, whom she later marries.

Meanwhile, Alexander meets Abby at a party. They soon become lovers.

What Alexander doesn’t know is that Abby is a Confederate spy. The information she receives from him and other Northerners is used against them in the Civil War. Alexander later finds out about Abby’s activities, thus creating a major rift between them.

At one point, Alexander and Dan/Dante face each other on the battlefield, bringing home the stark point of the Civil War was “Brother against Brother.”

Cherish Me, Embrace Me concludes as the Civil War ends. Dan marries Catherine Markland, Abby’s cousin, and Alexander and Abby marry. Dan learns the truth about his past.

Finally, a figure from Alexander’s past helps the Dubonne-Southerland-Wakefield triumvirate heal the wounds. They all can look forward to a bright future and several Happily Ever Afters.

Upside

Cherish Me, Embrace Me is Mrs. Sommerfield at her best with this Civil War drama. It’s a quality Zebra romance that is very emotional. The characters find themselves dealing with changes and heartache but come out the other side stronger.

Downside

Despite the emotions displayed, I feel Mrs. Sommerfield could have gone deeper into her character’s emotions than she did.

Sex

There are several love scenes focusing on the emotional aspect of lovemaking and far less on the esoterics of the act.

Violence

Most of the violence takes place “offscreen.” There are scenes of Jules having to kill two people who try to stop the Dubonnes from leaving France.

Bottom Line on Cherish Me, Embrace Me

Cherish Me, Embrace Me by Sylve F. Sommerfield was a wonderful, highly emotional book, but there was still the potential for more.

4.80

Rating Report Card
Plot
5
Characters
5
Writing
4.5
Chemistry
4.5
Fun Factor
4.5
Cover
4.5
Overall: 4.7

SYNOPSIS

CHERISH ME
Possess me. Never let me go. These fiery words of love lingered in Abby’s heart, although she knew it was wrong to want Alexander. She’d sworn she’d never surrender to the Yankees, that she’d never let them rule her plantation or her life. But once she felt the exquisite ecstasy of his demanding lips, she damned him, despised him, yet desired him like no other man she had ever known.

EMBRACE ME
Caress me. Be mine forever. If only Alexander could convince the southern vixen that passion was more important than loyalty that together their love could conquer the war! No matter how hard she tried to fight him, he could feel her whole body respond to his touch. He would tease her with searing kisses, torture her with his flesh, make her cry out in rapture and torment.

CHERISH ME, EMBRACE ME by SYLVIE F. SOMMERFIELD
texas torment

Historical Romance Review: Texas Torment by Catherine Creel

historical romance review
Texas Torment by Catherine Creel
Rating: two-stars
Published: 1985
Illustrator: Oliviero Berni
Imprint or Line: Zebra Lovegram
Published by: Kensington
Genres: Historical Romance, Western Romance
Format: Paperback
Buy on: AmazonThriftBooks
Reviewed by: Introvert Reader


Historical Romance Review: Texas Torment by Catherine Creel

SPOILER FREE REVIEW 😊

The Book

Texas Torment, a Zebra Lovegram by Catherine Creel is set in Texas, naturally, in the post-Civil War era. In this book, Adelaide has left her husband Daniel and Daniel seeks her out again.

Catherine Creel liked using the “secretly married couple that is separated & then reunited under crazy circumstances” plot, didn’t she? She had a similar thing going on in the much more fun Passion’s Chains.

The Plot

Daniel’s a Yankee, while Adelaide’s family were Confederates. Daniel and Adelaide fell in love and eloped, but the war tore them apart.

Adelaide’s family moved to Texas to start a ranch. Daniel pursues and finds her, buying a neighboring ranch of his own. He agrees to keep their marriage a secret from her family and the townsfolk but is determined to win her love again.

Adelaide is an abrasive heroine and I really could not understand why she was so adamant against being with Daniel. He is such a better hero than she deserved.

Final Analysis of Texas Torment

I wish I knew where I put this book because I had some passages marked noting Daniel’s awesomeness. However, at almost 500 pages, this premise wore thin, leading to a so-so experience. It took me so long to finish Texas Torment that it became Introvert Reader’s Torment!

2 Stars

Rating Report Card
Plot
2.5
Characters
2
Writing
3
Chemistry
2.5
Fun Factor
1.5
Cover
4
Overall: 2.6