Sea Jewel by Penelope Neri is a bodice-ripper Viking romance with a resilient heroine. While it also has some troubling problematic plot elements, it ultimately deserves a five-star rating. 5 Stars
rape in romance
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: Emmie’s Love by Janette Seymour
Emmie’s Love by Janette Seymour is a saucy romance novel from 1980 with some entertaining elements but minor gripes. 3.5 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: Surrender to Love by Rosemary Rogers
In Surrender to Love by Rosemary Rogers an independent woman from Ceylon travels the world looking for love. 2 1/2 stars
Category Romance Review: Dark Fever by Charlotte Lamb
Harelquin Presetns #1840 Dark Fever was part of a series of Harlequin Presents by Charlotte Lamb about the Seven Deadly Sins. The sin is lust, but this is not a sexy book. .5 star
Historical Romance Review: Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell
I’m not a fan of the execution of Claiming the Courtesan. However, I thought it was refreshing what Anna Campbell tried to accomplish in her first book. I categorize this style of romance as a neo-bodice ripper, in that it attempts to capture the sexual power struggles contained in those older books, but it’s very modern in its presentation. 2 stars
Historical Romance Review: Raven by Evelyn Rogers
Raven, Evelyn Roger’s 2nd installment in her Chadwick sisters trilogy is steamy Zebra romance about an actress haunted by her past who meets an English Lord who heals he soul. 4 1/2 stars
Historical Romance Review: Wicked Loving Lies by Rosemary Rogers
Wicked Loving Lies is “The Queen of Historical Romance” Rosemary Roger’s best book! It’s a bodice ripper classic, not for the faint of heart.
Category Romance Review: Love Unspoken by Carole Mortimer
Harlequin Presents #636 Carole Mortimer’s Love Unspoken is one of those infamously controversial Harlequin Presents where readers can’t stop talking about it. 4 1/2 stars