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
Tag: medieval
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: 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: 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, is the first in Roberta Gellis’ Medieval Song trilogy. 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: 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: 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 a Harlequin Historical by Barbara Leigh. This unique tale is about a woman in Medieval England raised alongside her brother as a boy and eventually becomes a knight. 4 Stars
Historical Romance Review: Tara’s Song by Barbara Ferry Johnson
Tara’s Song by Barbara Ferry Johnson is yet another middling Viking romance that disappoints. Written in the late ’70s at the height of the bodice ripper era, you’d expect this Viking romance to rapacious and fun, but I found it rather ho-hum. 2 stars
Historical Romance Review: Viking Rose by Ashland Price
In this Zebra Lovegram historical romance, Viking Rose by Ashland Price, Irishwoman Alanna is taken captive by a Viking.