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passion flower walter popp

Historical Romance Review: Passion Flower by Jennifer Horsman

book review historical romance
Passion Flower by Jennifer Horsman
Rating: one-half-stars
Published: 1983
Illustrator: Walter Popp
Imprint or Line: Zebra Historical Romance
Published by: Kensington
Genres: Historical Romance, Romance with Rape Element, Bodice Ripper, Colonial Era Romance, Forced Seduction
Pages: 473
Format: Paperback
Buy on: AmazonAbeBooks
Reviewed by: Blue Falcon


Historical Romance Review: Passion Flower by Jennifer Horsman

TOTAL SPOILER ALERT ⚠

The Book

This review is of Passion Flower by Jennifer Horsman, a Zebra historical romance from 1983.

The Plot

Passion Flower begins with introductions to the heroine of the book, Catherine Mary “Jasmine” O’Neil. She is so nicknamed due to the fragrance her late mother wore, which comforted Jasmine after her mother’s death.

Jasmine lives in Jamaica with her grandfather, Franz, a physician. Later, she meets Captain Johnathon Mahn, an English ex-pat and the hero of the book. Johnathon is asked to root out arms smuggling in Jamaica, which is how he and Jasmine come to meet.

Jasmine and Franz accidentally find out about the illegal activity. Franz is killed, and Jasmine is taken captive. She is told she can gain her freedom if she spies on Johnathon.

He finds her spying on him, and they become lovers. Both later escape Jamaica and set sail for Johnathon’s plantation in Virginia.

In Virginia, Jasmine gets a job as a physician’s assistant. What she doesn’t know is that the job–and her home and many other things–are due to the largesse of Johnathon.

Jasmine also attracts many male admirers. These admirers arouse Johnathon’s jealousy, which later leads him to rape Jasmine. Jasmine and Johnathon later marry once it is known that she is pregnant.

One of the soldiers from Jamaica finds Jasmine in Virginia and kidnaps her. In the end, she is saved, and Jasmine and Johnathon then have their Happily Ever After.

The Upside

The most interesting character in the book, in my view, is Bear Dog, a half-bear, half-wolf who befriends Jasmine on the ship voyage to Virginia and saves her when she is kidnapped.

The Downside

When the most interesting character in the book has four legs and fur, that is a stinging indictment of the human characters. Neither Jasmine nor Johnathon are particularly deep characters, although Jasmine is more so than Johnathon.

The storylines are flat and lifeless. The “Jamaican Gun Smuggling” trope is so lame Ms. Horsman may as well not have included it.

Then there is Johnathon’s rape of Jasmine. No romance hero ever redeems himself with me if he sexually assaults a woman.

There is very little to no romance between Jasmine and Johnathon.

Sex

There are a handful of sex scenes, none of which are graphic or interesting.

Violence

In addition to Franz’s killing, there are scenes of attempted rape, rape, assault and battery, shootings, and killings. None of the violence is graphic.

Bottom Line on Passion Flower

Jennifer Horsman has enough items on the menu of Passion Flower to make a good meal. Instead, she produces a book that’s raw, like sushi.

Rating Report Card
Plot
1.5
Characters
1.5
Writing
2
Chemistry
1
Fun Factor
1
Cover
4
Overall: 1.8

Synopsis

CATEGORIES: , , , , , , , , ,

***

GARDEN OF LOVE

Gorgeous Jasmine O’Neil never meant to fall in love with the insolent handsome captain. His voice was commanding, his reputation was roguish, and his manner was much too imperious. But despite all his drawbacks, the innocent beauty couldn’t resist the spell of masculine charm and tingling pleasure he cast upon her. Suddenly, she knew she was in love – and she was certain that his declarations of desire were undying promises of matrimony.

PARADISE OF ECSTACY

Captain Johnathon Mahn couldn’t deny himself the untouched woman’s beckoning curves. He tangled himself in their sweet tormenting rapture. Nothing could ever make him give up this mistress – but nothing would ever compel him to wed! He was a man of independence who took what he wanted…and he craved his fragrant Jasmine, his velvety blossom, his delicate PASSION FLOWER.

Passion Flower by Jennifer Horseman
silver storm

Historical Romance Review: Silver Storm by Cynthia Wright

Silver Storm by Cynthia Wright would have been excellent if not for the slow start. However, once it gets there… Oh my.

silver storm cynthia wright
Silver Storm by Cynthia Wright
Rating: three-half-stars
Published: 1979
Illustrator: Unknown
Book Series: Rakes & Rebels: The Raveneau Family #1
Published by: Ballantine
Genres: American Revolution Romance, Historical Romance, Bodice Ripper
Pages: 342
Format: Paperback, eBook
Buy on: AmazonAbeBooks
Reviewed by: Introvert Reader


Historical Romance Review: Silver Storm by Cynthia Wright

MILD SPOILERS 😉

The Book

I started reading Cynthia Wright‘s Silver Storm, a historical romance set during the American Revolution, then put it down.

It was sweet, but sometimes too sweet, and I had enough cavities. Then about halfway through, it changes in tone.

Our previously gentlemanly hero does a 180 and turns into a lecherous jerk. It was great, and I wanted more!

silver storm sweet bodice ripper

The Plot

The first half of Silver Storm features a sensuous French privateer named Andre Raveneau. He is escorting orphaned Devon Lindsay to her fiancé in Virginia after the end of America’s War of Independence from Great Britain.

The girl is obviously not in love with her missing man. However, she is devoted to him out of a weird sense of commitment.

All the while, this tall, gorgeous, gray-eyed Frenchman plays nice with her. Devon stomps her foot and plays hard to get. Andre was such a nice gentleman–I wondered where this was going.

But oh, he has a plan–a cunning plan–to trap his strawberry-haired prey. And when he finally gets what he wants, Andre plans to just as cruelly get rid of her, eagerly awaiting his next new lay.

In one scene, Andre attempts to seduce his ex-mistress while her brother and new husband play cards downstairs, and Devon, his current mistress, naps in her room.

But poor Devon wakes up and witnesses the dog’s hounding!

It had been so long. He pulled her gown open and her breasts spilled out like ripe, round melons…

Andres is a jerk, all right, but he’s French, so it evens out. I enjoyed the break from the English heroes that dominate Historical Romancelandia. There’s something about a Frenchman that’s so sexy. I can listen to Eric Ripert recite recipes all day…

The second half of this book takes on Devon and Andre’s passionate adventures. That was fun to experience.

Ah, Andre, what a hero!

silver storm sweet bodice ripper

Final Analysis of Silver Storm

Silver Storm by Cynthia Wright would have been excellent if not for the slow start.

However, once it gets there… Oh my.

Years ago, I read a book that designated romance novels, specifically bodice rippers, into two genres: “Sweet” or “Savage.” (Even though it was Kathleen Woodiwiss who started the bodice ripper genre, it was Rosemary Rogers that gave it a name.)

“Sweet” is defined as a story with a hero who may be cruel, callous, forceful, or cheats, but he is the heroine’s one and only.

In a “Savage” styled-romance, anything and everything goes.

In Silver Storm‘s case, although here the heroine is almost raped, her bodice ripped, she is abandoned and cheated on… it’s still sweet.

But it’s very spicy too!

One nit to pick: a reference to “Empire”-styled gowns in the early 1780s when Napoleon wasn’t crowned Emperor until 20 years later.

All in all, a decent old-school romance, maybe not a keeper, but I had fun with it.

silver storm sweet bodice ripper
Rating Report Card
Plot
3.5
Characters
4
Writing
3.5
Chemistry
4
Fun Factor
3.5
Cover
2.5
Overall: 3.5

Synopsis

A RECKLESS NOW ENGLAND BEAUTY…A DAUNTLESS FRENCH BUCCANEER…THEIR LOVE BLAZED TO FIERCE FULFILLMENT!

UNTAMED INNOCENCE
Devon Lindsay was a restless, high-spirited girl when she met Andre Raveneau, a notorious sea captain whose pirate’s plunder aided the American Revolution. But his first careless caress stirred Devon to a woman’s wanton needs…

AN ECSTASY SHARED
Theirs was a wild, impulsive passion that swept them into wartime espionage and dangerous intrigue. Yet, even in the throes of ecstasy, their willful hearts would not speak of love–until deceit and treachery threatened their life together!

Silver Storm by Cynthia Wright