Medieval England Archives

Historical Romance Review: Defy Not the Heart by Johanna Lindsey

March 16, 2022May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Defy Not the Heart is a favorite of mine. It's a wonderful, funny, and romantic medieval historical romance by the late, great Johanna Lindsey. 5 stars Read more

5 stars, Avon, Book Review, Elaine Duillo, Historical Romance, Johanna Lindsey, year 1989

Historical Romance Review: The King’s Pleasure by Shannon Drake

November 2, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Shannon's Drake's (aka Heather Graham) The King's Pleasure is set amid the intense medieval backdrop of the Hundred Years' War and the Black Death. It's a solid romance in a historical age that always grips my attention. 4 stars Read more

4 stars, Book Review, Franco, Historical Romance, Kensington, Romance, Zebra Historical Romance

Historical Romance Review: The Lord of Hawkfell Island by Catherine Coulter

October 1, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader 1 Comment

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 Read more

2 stars and a half, Bodice Ripper, Book Review, Catherine Coulter, Historical Romance, Jove/ Pyramid, Romance

Historical Romance Review: Hearts of Fire by Anita Mills

September 19, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Hearts of Fire is a more satisfying sequel to the first installment of Anita Mills' medieval romance series, Lady of Fire, than its second outing, Fire and Steel was. The forbidden romance between Richard and Gilliane de Lacey is stellar. 4 stars Read more

4 stars, Bodice Ripper, Book Review, Gregg Gulbronson, Historical Romance, Onyx, Romance

Historical Romance Review: An Offer of Marriage by Jo Ann Ferguson Review

September 10, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader 3 Comments

Books like Jo Ann Ferguson’s An Offer of Marriage suffer from being published during a time of change. When Kensington’s Zebra historical romances died, they didn’t go quickly (actually, Zebras are still around, but they’re not the same as they used to be in the 1980s and 1990s). 1 star Read more

1 star, Book Review, Historical Romance, Kensington, Romance, Zebra Precious Gem Historical

Historical Romance Review: Siren Song by Roberta Gellis

May 30, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Siren Song, the first in Roberta Gellis' Medieval Song trilogy, takes us to 13th century England. Lady Elizabeth is not a beauty, but she is intelligent, capable, and now heiress to vast lands, with her brothers and father recently deceased. Elizabeth is married to Mauger, a cruel, murderous lord who wishes for nothing more than to aggrandize himself by whatever means necessary. Mauger has the looks of an angel yet the disposition of a demon. There is no deed too vile for him, as he eagerly breaks every Commandment. 4 stars Read more

4 stars, Book Review, Historical Romance, Romance

Historical Romance Review: Fires of Winter by Roberta Gellis

May 26, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Told through alternating first-person perspectives, Roberta Gellis's Fires of Winter starts with a bang but ends with a whimper. 3 stars Read more

3 stars, Book Review, Historical Romance, Jove/ Pyramid, Pino, Roberta Gellis, Romance

Historical Romance Review: Uncommon Vows by Mary Jo Putney

May 24, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

I've read Mary Jo Putney's Uncommon Vows several times and have always loved this passionate medieval story about obsessive love. Read more

5 stars, Book Review, Gregg Gulbronson, Historical Romance, New American Library, Onyx, year 1991

Historical Romance Review: Lovespell by Deana James

May 23, 2021May 5, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Lovespell is yet another great romance by the eclectic Deana James. Gillian is an English fletcher who poses as twins, the male Gil & female Gillian. 4 1/2 stars Read more

4 stars and a half, Book Review, Deana James, Historical Romance, Kensington, Pino, Romance, year 1984, Zebra Historical Romance

Historical Romance Review: Lady of Fire by Anita Mills

May 18, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

The action-packed and romantic medieval Lady of Fire by Anita Mills features one of the greatest villains ever in a historical romance novel. 5 stars Read more

5 stars, Bodice Ripper, Book Review, Gregg Gulbronson, Historical Romance, New American Library, Onyx, year 1987

Historical Romance Review: Winter’s Heat by Denise Domning

April 20, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

A medieval romance that takes medieval life seriously is usually one I enjoy, but Denise Domning's Winter's Heat fell a bit flat for me. 2.5 stars Read more

2 stars and a half, Book Review, Historical Romance, John Ennis, Topaz

Historical Romance Review: To Touch the Sun by Barbara Leigh

April 19, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

To Touch the Sun is an older Harlequin Historical by Barbara Leigh. This is the unique tale about a woman in Medieval England who is raised alongside her brother as a boy and eventually becomes a knight. Read more

4 stars, Book Review, Harlequin, Harlequin Historical, Historical Romance, year 1991

Historical Romance Review: The Innocent by Bertrice Small

April 9, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

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 Read more

1 star, Ballantine, Bertrice Small, Book Review, Elaine Duillo, Erotic Historical Romance, Historical Romance

Historical Romance Review: The Black Lyon by Jude Deveraux

April 6, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

The Black Lyon was my first Jude Deveraux read. I loved the first half, but the second half faltered a bit as a devious woman's scheming separates the two protagonists. Read more

4 stars and a half, Avon, Bodice Ripper, Book Review, Historical Romance, Jude Deveraux

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