So… Johanna Lindsey’s Tender Is the Storm. If you’re familiar with your romance history, then you must know of this book, even if you haven’t read it. The cover is the infamous one designed by Robert McGinnis with the naked hero standing tall as the heroine kneels before him, her ample breasts pressed firmly against his–er…dongle. 3 stars
Duncan’s Bride has an old-school plot, even by the standards of romances written in…1990. In Silhouette Intimate Moments #349 by Linda Howard, a 28-year-old beauty from New York City travels across the country to become the mail-order bride of a hero who’s damn lucky to get her. 4 stars
Speak Only Love is yet another Deana James treat. This Zebra romance takes us to Regency Era England and the story of tumultuous love between two uniquely original characters. 3 1/2 stars
Ruth Langan’s Highland Heather is the sequel to her previous Scottish romance, Highland Barbarian. I liked this Harlequin Historical much more than its predecessor. Why? I enjoyed the conflict between the hero and the heroine and the English setting, plus introducing Queen Elizabeth I to a story always makes things interesting. 4 1/2 stars
Dakota Dreams is a good romance by Constance O’Banyon for the Zebra Lovegram line. But it could have been so much more. 3 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?
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
Told through alternating first-person perspectives, Roberta Gellis’s Fires of Winter starts with a bang but ends with a whimper. 3 stars
Highland Velvet by Jude Deveraux is the second in the Montgomery brothers series featuring a Highland lass forced to wed Stephen Montgomery. 5 stars
Harlequin Presents #200 Show Me Janet Dailey An embittered husband returns back home to face the wife and child he never wanted. 2 stars
Harlequin Historical 5#7 In Kristin James’ (aka Candace Camp)Â The Yankee, Andrew Stone is a former Union soldier now living in Texas.
Silhouette Special Edition #290 After Erik is left at the altar, Colleen gives him comfort. But when his ex-fiancee returns, then what? 3 stars
Simply Irresistible Miranda Lee The Australians Vivien and Ross’s one night stand turns into more than they bargained for!
It was a bad sign that Bertrice Small’s The Innocent features one of her dullest covers ever. The lone positive was that it was designed as one last created by legendary artist Elaine Duillo for her dear friend Bertrice. 1 star
For me, Devil’s Desire was a bland Regency romance written by Laurie McBain. 2 1/2 stars
