Wild Western Bride by Rosalyn Alsobrook features an unconventional couple who form an unconventional family. It’s not a great romance, but Alsobrook fans should find it enjoyable. 2.5 Stars
Tag: 2.5-star rating
2.5 star rating
Category Romance: Elusive as the Unicorn by Carole Mortimer
Elusive as the Unicorn by Carole Mortimer is another mediocre romance that Harlequin publishers bafflingly honored with their so-called Award of Excellence. 2.5 Stars
Historical Romance Review: Rapture’s Rendezvous by Cassie Edwards
Rapture’s Rendezvous is not one of Cassie Edwards’ bests. The characters vacillate between whiny and likable in this historical romance. 2.5 Stars
Historical Romance Review: Bold Texas Embrace by Victoria Thompson
This review is of Bold Texas Embrace, #4 in the “The Cowboy and the Lady” series by Victoria Thompson (Zebra/Kensington December 1989).
It is my least favorite book in the series. 2.66 stars
Historical Romance Review: Dakota Flame by Sonya T. Pelton
This review is of Dakota Flame, a standalone novel from July 1989 by Sonya T. Pelton. (Published by Zebra/Kensington). The book begins in Mankato, Minnesota, December 1862. 2.52 stars
Historical Romance Review: My Steadfast Heart by Jo Goodman
There are some good elements in My Steadfast Heart, but the laborious writing style Ms. Goodman uses and the overall complexity of the story brings the grade down a bit. 2.57 stars.
Category Romance Review: Lovers Touch by Penny Jordan
For me, Penny Jordan is an author who’s all over the place. One book can be great, another full of crazy-sauce, others on the blah side. Sadly, her Lover’s Touch is kind of blah. The two protagonists are kept apart by big misunderstandings and lack of communication, which is never fun. 2.5 stars
Historical Romance Review: Texas Fire by Caroline Bourne
This review is of Texas Fire by Caroline Bourne. This book, published by Zebra/Kensington in March 1989, is the sequel to her book Texas Conquest. 2.5 stars
Historical Romance Review: The Lord of Hawkfell Island by Catherine Coulter
In The Lord of Hawkfell Island by Catherine Coulter Mirana is a young, unmarried woman who lives with her brother in a massive fortress. When he’s away, their home is attacked by Viking raiders seeking vengeance against him, as the Viking leader Rorik blames him for the death of his wife and child. Usually, a hero grieving over his lost love is grounds for me to dislike a historical romance, but thanks to Rurik, I had plenty of other reasons to despise this “love story.” 2 1/2 stars
Historical Romance Review: Virginia Vixen by Kay McMahon
This review is of Virginia Vixen by Kay McMahon. Published in May 1989, this book is part of a series connected to four other books by Ms. McMahon. The book begins in Williamsburg, Virginia, circa 1774. Rebecca Wilde, a reporter for the Virginia Gazette and the heroine of the book, is investigating the murder of a slave who was a childhood friend of hers. Arriving at the same time is Alec Stone, the hero of the book, who has come to Virginia from England for two purposes; to find his father’s identity and to investigate the disappearance of one of his employees. 2 1/2 stars
Category Romance Review: Tangled Tapestry by Anne Mather
Anne Mather’s Tangled Tapestry is a1969 Mills and Boon that may offend some readers’ sensibilities. Or, if you’re twisted like me, make you laugh! 2.5 Stars
Category Romance Review: Sunday Kind of Love By Lois Faye Dyer
Lois Faye Dyer, who would go on to produce numerous Special Edition romances for Silhouette Books, was one Kismet’s more prolific writers. Her romance Sunday Kind of Love is book #2 in a series about 4 siblings. 2 1/2 stars
Category Romance Review: Whisper to the Stars by Hettie Grimstead
Whisper to the Stars is a vintage-contemporary romance that revolves around a trope hard to find nowadays: unrequited love. It starts out strong, with the promise of a deeply moving emo story. And it delivers, up to a point. Then it falters. Somewhere in the middle, it loses sight of what a romance is supposed to do: to engage and enthrall the reader. 2 1/2 stars
Category Romance Review: Trust in Tomorrow (aka Cherish Tomorrow) by Carole Mortimer
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?
Category Romance Review: Lightning That Lingers by Sharon and Tom Curtis
Lightning That Lingers by Sharon and Tom Curtis. It wasn’t the worst thing I’ve come across, not by any means. But neither was it was I’d call an enjoyable book. Lightning That Lingers by Sharon and Tom Curtis has received acclaim from many readers. By no means was this a terrible piece of fiction, but I found it didn’t mesh with my personal tastes. It was…not subtle. 2 1/2 stars