reviewblog 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

Category Romance Review: Moon Witch by Anne Mather

March 4, 2022May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Harlequin Presents #38 Moon Witch by Anne Mather In this vintage romance, a much older man falls for his younger ward. It's an uncomfortable, but compelling read. 3 1/2 stars Read more

3 stars and a half, Anne Mather, Book Review, Contemporary/Category Romance Authors, Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Romance, year 1970

Historical Romance Review: Dark Before the Rising Sun by Laurie McBain

November 6, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Dark Before the Rising Sun, is the last installment in the Laurie McBain trilogy that began with Moonstruck Madness. It is a direct continuation of its sequel, Chance the Winds of Fortune. 1 1/2 stars Read more

1 star and a half, Avon, Book Review, Historical Romance, Romance, Tom Hall, year 1980

Contemporary Romance Review: A Violation by Charlotte Lamb

July 31, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

A Violation, a full-length novel by category author Charlotte Lamb, isn’t a straightforward romance, somewhere more between women’s fiction and romantic fiction. Like so many of her works, the major themes are the philosophy of love and what are the defined roles of being a man and a woman, especially when it comes to amorous relationships. 3 stars Read more

3 stars, Book Review, Charlotte Lamb, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Romance

Historical Romance Review: Chance the Winds of Fortune by Laurie McBain

July 25, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader 2 Comments

Chance the Winds of Fortune is the sequel to Laurie McBain's Moonstruck Madness, a romance about a gender-bending highwayman (girl) who falls for an arrogant, scarred Duke, notorious for his dueling skills. I LOVED Moonstruck Madness... The follow-ups to that wonderful book about their daughter, Rhea Claire, Chance the Winds of Fortune & Dark Before the Rising Sun, though...ugh. 2 stars Read more

2 stars, Avon, Book Review, Historical Romance, Laurie McBain, Romance

Dueling Historical Romance Review #1: Desperado Dream by Karen A. Bale

July 20, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader 9 Comments

In this new segment, we have two reviewers offering their opinions on a single romance. Here, Introvert Reader explains her negative perspective of Karen A. Bale's historical romance, Desperado Dream. Blue Falcon, on the other hand, gave it a positive review and found the book emotionally captivating. 1 star Read more

1 star, Book Review, Historical Romance, Kensington, Romance, Zebra Lovegram

Historical Romance Review: Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas

July 11, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader 3 Comments

The heroine of Lisa Kleypas' Then Came You was, at the time of the book's initial release, a unique female protagonist. Today, Romancelandia is replete with hoydenish, unmarried non-virgins who thumb their nose at society's rules. Back in 1993, the wild Lily Lawson was, for the most part, unusual for a historical romance heroine. 5 stars Read more

5 stars, Avon, Book Review, Max Ginsburg, Romance, year 1993

Historical Romance Review: Moonstruck Madness by Laurie McBain

July 9, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader 2 Comments

Moonstruck Madness was Laurie McBain's second and, in my opinion, her best book. I adored this book. the first time I read it, I was in my twenties and loved it. The second time, I was in my thirties and enjoyed it a little bit less, but still found it a thrilling read. 4 1/2 stars Read more

4 stars and a half, Avon, Book Review, Historical Romance, Laurie McBain, Romance, Tom Hall

Historical Romance Review: Texas Storm by Deana James

July 1, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader 3 Comments

It's the mid-1830's and Scottish immigrant Reiver MacPherson has been granted lands by the new Texas government...So begins Deana James' Texas Storm. Read more

3 stars and a half, Book Review, Deana James, Historical Romance, Kensington, Pino, Romance, Zebra Lovegram

Historical Romance Review: Once a Princess by Johanna Lindsey

June 22, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader 3 Comments

Once a Princess was not one of my favorites by Johanna Lindsey. I'd put this in the unremarkable category with books like Glorious Angel and Tender is the Storm. Not her worst, by any means, but not her best either. 2 stars Read more

2 stars, Avon, Book Review, Elaine Duillo, Historical Romance, Johanna Lindsey, Romance, year 1991

Historical Romance Review: The Heir by Johanna Lindsey

June 5, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Was this tepid, dull romance actually penned by Johanna Lindsey? The Heir was Lindsey's first book where I noticed a weird change. Previously, if there was a Lindsey I didn't like, it was due to a meandering plot or excessive fighting between the leads. There is friendship for sure in this one, but romantic isn't what I'd call the relationship between Duncan and Sabrina. 2 stars Read more

2 stars, Avon, Book Review, Elaine Duillo, Historical Romance, Johanna Lindsey

Category Romance Review: Trust in Tomorrow (aka Cherish Tomorrow) by Carole Mortimer

June 4, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Harlequin Presents # 804 What can I say about Carole Mortimer’s Trust in Tomorrow (originally published as Cherish Tomorrow in the US & Canada)? Sadly, that I wasn’t really feeling this one. The romance aspect of the book was fine, kind of adorable, actually, with a very young heroine, Chelsea, in pursuit of the much older hero, Lucas. She knows she wants her man and is willing to fight for him. I really wish Chelsea and Lucas could have had a better plot to go along with their romance. The romance was fine, but it was the story that had me going, huh? Read more

2 stars and a half, Book Review, Carole Mortimer, Category romance, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Romance

Historical Romance Review: Sweet Savage Heart by Janelle Taylor

June 3, 2021May 2, 2022 Blue Falcon 3 Comments

Janelle Taylor's Sweet Savage Heart, a Zebra Lovegram historical romance, begins in Dakota Territory, May 1867. It is here that an Oglala Indian maiden, Wild Wind, the heroine of the book, is troubled, for she is arguing with her brother, Lone Wolf, over her future. Bottom Line: Sweet Savage Heart is one of Janelle Taylor’s best books. 5 stars Read more

5 stars, Book Review, Historical Romance, Kensington, Romance, Zebra Historical Romance

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: Halfway to Paradise by Emily Bradshaw

May 29, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

The best thing about Emily Bradshaw's Halfway to Paradise is its stunning cover, 2 stars Read more

2 stars, Book Review, Dell, Elaine Duillo, Historical Romance, Romance

Category Romance Review: Beyond Compare by Penny Jordan

May 28, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader 1 Comment

Holly Witchell, the heroine of Penny Jordan's Beyond Compare, suffers a bit from an overinflated ego combined with an oblivious nature. Thankfully, Drew, the wonderful hero of this book, sorts matters all out for her. 4 stars Read more

4 stars, Book Review, Category romance, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Penny Jordan, 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: Tender Feud by Nicole Jordan

May 25, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Tender Feud by Nicole Jordan is one of the better Scottish clan feuding & kidnapping love stories I've read. 4 1/2 stars Read more

4 stars and a half, Book Review, Harlequin, Harlequin Historical, Historical Romance, Pino, Romance

Category Romance Review: Mansion for My Love by Robyn Donald

May 24, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader No Comments

Harlequin Presents #567 Mansion for My Love is one of those Robyn Donald books where you can't believe what the supposed hero does to the heroine. 3 stars Read more

3 stars, Book Review, Category romance, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Robyn Donald, Romance, year 1990

Category Romance Review: The Dedicated Man by Lass Small

May 23, 2021May 2, 2022 IntrovertReader 1 Comment

The Dedicated Man by Lass Small is a sweet romance between a slightly older man and a young girl just starting to grow her wings. Read more

3 stars, Book Review, Candlelight Ecstasy Romance, Category romance, Contemporary Romance, Dell, Romance

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