Historical Romance Review: Captive Heart by Phoebe Conn
This review is of Captive Heart by Phoebe Conn, a Zebra Lovegram historical romance novel. Conn’s take on “Beauty and the Beast” is far from classic. 1.5 Stars
medieval romance
Historical Romance Review: Hearts Aflame by Johanna Lindsey
With her 14th book, Lindsey was on a roll, writing blockbuster romance after blockbuster romance. Hearts Aflame was the sequel to Lindsey’s third book, Fires of Winter.
Historical Romance Review: White Lion’s Lady by Lara Adrian (aka Tina St. John)
For anyone who loves historical or medieval romance, White Lion’s Lady by Lara Adrian (aka Tina St. John) is an absolute keeper. I highly recommend it. 5 stars
Historical Romance Review: Defy Not the Heart by Johanna Lindsey
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
Historical Romance Review: The King’s Pleasure by Shannon Drake
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
Historical Romance Review: Hearts of Fire by Anita Mills
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
Historical Romance Review: An Offer of Marriage by Jo Ann Ferguson Review
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
Historical Romance Review: So Speaks the Heart by Johanna Lindsey
It’s fair to compare So Speaks the Heart (which should be subtitled: Medieval Norman Psychopath Falls for French Co-Dependent and Fellow Anger Management Classmate) to another of Johanna Lindsey’s works, A Pirate’s Love, which had a similar captor/captive trope. 4 stars
Historical Romance Review: Sea Jewel by Penelope Neri
After deliberation, I decided to give Sea Jewel by Penelope Neri five stars, although I do so with some high degree of reluctance. The explanation why follows.
Historical Romance Review: Blood Red Roses by Katherine Deauxville
Blood Red Roses is understandably a difficult book for some to enjoy. It could be nostalgia goggles on this one for me, plus a love for the glorious red stepback cover. Or it could be the vivid Middle Ages setting, my favorite time period. I read this Medieval romance by Katherine Deauxville (Maggie Davis) twice: once in middle school and then years later in high school, and was swept away in the story both times. 5 stars
Historical Romance Review: Siren Song by Roberta Gellis
Siren Song, the first in Roberta Gellis’ Medieval Song trilogy, takes us to 13th century England.
Lady Elizabeth is heiress to vast lands and married to Mauger, a cruel, murderous lord. Elizabeth’s heart is for Sir William of Marlowe, her former love. 4 stars
Historical Romance Review: Fires of Winter by Roberta Gellis
Told through alternating first-person perspectives, Roberta Gellis’s Fires of Winter starts with a bang but ends with a whimper. 3 stars
Historical Romance Review: Uncommon Vows by Mary Jo Putney
I’ve read Mary Jo Putney’s Uncommon Vows several times and have always loved this passionate medieval story about obsessive love.
Historical Romance Review: Lovespell by Deana James
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
Historical Romance Review: Lady of Fire by Anita Mills
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
Historical Romance Review: Highland Velvet by Jude Deveraux
Highland Velvet by Jude Deveraux is the second in the Montgomery brothers series featuring a Highland lass forced to wed Stephen Montgomery. 5 stars
Historical Romance Review: Enchantress Mine by Bertrice Small
Despite some crazy scenes, the Bertrice Small Medieval Romance, Enchantress Mine, suffers from a too-perfect heroine and a dull hero. 2 1 /2 stars
Historical Romance Review: Storm Maiden by Mary Gilgannon
Mary Gilgannon’s Storm Maiden is a Viking historical romance novel about a captor and his captive set in medieval Ireland & Norway. It features a strong heroine, but the injured hero is too beta for my tastes. A 2 1/2 star read.
Historical Romance Review: Winter’s Heat by Denise Domning
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
Historical Romance Review: To Touch the Sun by Barbara Leigh
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.
