Review: Good set of Old Skool romances
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 5, 2012
This is a trio of romances published by Jennifer Blake in the 70s and 80s - a period where the *forced seduction* trope was quite common. Times have changed, and like everything else, romances have become more politically correct. Nothing wrong with that, and I completely understand how some readers are going to react to events in this set, but on the other hand there are readers who are fans of Ms. Blake and/or fans of the old skool romances. There is no right or wrong in this, it's merely a matter of personal taste, and why reader reviews can be so helpful. I personally don't care for the majority of the romances being published today, since most of them are just sexed up wall paper romances. Ms. Blake does a nice job of building a good story and filling it with historical details, and that's what I prefer in a romance - it all boils down to personal preference. YMMV.That said, this boxed set containsSurrender in Moonlight, with a heroine getting mixed up with a blockade runner (see book page for reviews). Next up isThe Notorious Angel, and likely the most controversial of the three, but if you can get past the rape scene, it is a very worthwhile story centered in Nicaragua in the 1850s. Last up isGolden Fancy, and a bit different since events in this story are centered in Denver and Cripple Creek Colorado.I'd already had copies of all three obtained via library sales and/or swap sites, but was happy to get keeper copies on the Kindle. This set is nicely packaged, with navigation buttons to move between books and the author's notes (always appreciated). I did notice some odd conversation errors (missing commas and/or periods), which aren't terribly distracting. That said, I did reread the latter half of Golden Fancy and found a couple glaring ones, and was grateful to still have my original copy to refer to, or I'd never have known what word was supposed to have been there."Nathan man-rained" [maintained]"I told you, I don't give up what is [mine] easily.""then rolled down her sleeves, fastening the de-mute, lace-edged cuffs." [demure]Those quibbles aside, I think this set is a good value for the right reader and thank you Ms. Blake for working so hard to get all of your books back in print.