Best of
Historical-Romance

1985

A Splendid Defiance


Stella Riley - 1985
    Famous for his romantic conquests, Justin had never before let a woman touch his heart. But Abby was no ordinary woman. She was beautiful and she was brave. She was also young and terrfied of her brother, a religious fanatic and self-sworn enemy of all Royalists.When the rebel army unleashed its might on the castle, Justin fought tirelessly to break the siege. But even his closest friends did not know what tormented him. And Abby, as she sat with the rebel commanders at her brother's table, dreamed of a man she could not, must not love...

Gentle Warrior


Julie Garwood - 1985
    Bent on revenge, she rode again through the fortress gates, disguised as a peasant...to seek aid from Geoffrey Berkley, the powerful baron who had routed the murderers. He heard her pleas, resisted her demands, and vowed to seduce his beautiful subject. Yet as Elizabeth fought the warrior's caresses, love flamed for this gallant man who must soon champion her cause...and capture her spirited heart!

Lawless Love


Rosanne Bittner - 1985
     When Moss Tucker smelled danger he shot it. When he needed shelter he grabbed it. And when he wanted a woman's touch he bought it. But then he saw Amanda Boone's sparkling azure eyes—an innocent beauty like her would never get involved with a lawbreaking man like him. Chestnut-haired Amanda tried to keep her gaze on the vast frontier that flashed past her train window—but it kept straying to the buckskin-clad stranger. Every inch of him was virile and strong. She knew it was wrong to even think of his muscular arms crushing her soft curves in a fierce embrace. Yet she vowed that before the trip was through he would be the one to tame her savage desire with his wild and lawless love. "Bittner's characters spring to life...extraordinary for the depth of emotion with which they are portrayed."—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY "Time after time, Rosanne Bittner brings a full-blown portrait of the untamed West to readers. Her tapestry is woven with authenticity, colorful characters, intense emotions and love's power over every conceivable obstacle."—RT

Love Only Once


Johanna Lindsey - 1985
    A golden-haired seducer, Nicholas has been hardened by a painful secret in his past. And now that he has besmirched Reggie's good name, the hot-tempered lady has vowed to wed him. Her fiery beauty stirs Nicholas as no woman ever has - and the rake arouses Reggie's passion to an unendurable level. Such uncontrolled desires can lead only to dangerous misunderstandings and, perhaps, to a love that can live only once in a lifetime.

Lovesong


Valerie Sherwood - 1985
    The proud Colonial beauty, graced with silvergold hair and flashing eyes, hoped to be his bride. Then, swept into a growing storm of scandal, she was banished to Virginia. Captured by buccaneers on the high seas, Carolina became the Silver Wench of the Caribbean...and the defiant prisoner of the infamous Kells, a brooding man with insolent charm andd a mysterious past.On the island of Tortuga, where gentle winds caressed the perfumed nights and a lustrous moon whispered love's allure, Carolina must escape...to find Thomas again, and to flee Kells' passionate embrace, the rapturous temptation of his...LOVESONG

Reckless Heart


Madeline Baker - 1985
    Then Shadow and his people went away, and when he returned, it was as a handsome young Cheyenne brave. Hannah, now a beautiful young woman, had never forgotten her childhood friend—but the man who swept her into his powerful arms was no longer a child. He awakened in her a wild, erotic passion she had never known.But war was about to erupt in Dakota Territory, a war that would pit the settlers against the Indians. Both Hannah and Shadow knew they would have to choose between passion and duty, in a conflict that would test to the limit the steadfastness of their love.

Wild Sweet Wilderness


Dorothy Garlock - 1985
    Berry Warfield is only 18 when she leaves the wagon train to find her father's claim in Missouri, vowing to let no one stop her from earning her fortune.

When the Splendor Falls


Laurie McBain - 1985
    ONE MAGNIFICENT PASSION... SWEPT BY THE RAGING WINDS OF DESTINYIt was the last summer of paradise, an innocent time of picnics among the lush bluegrass and midnight balls under gaily painted Chinese lanterns. For Leigh Alexandra Travers, her Virginia plantation of Travers Hill was the only world she ever wanted. And then she met Neil Braedon...Captured by Comanches as a child, raised in their savage yet spiritual world, Neil had no use for the gentleman's role demanded by his proud Braedon birthright. Yet from the moment he held Leigh in his arms, he was possessed by her-a woman of such passion and power that no man could ever forget her.As the cruel specter of war rose across the divided land, Leigh fought relentlessly to preserve the faded shadows of her Southern past. But her future lay out West with Neil among the awesome, untamed wilderness... following a magnificent destiny that would unite two great families... triumphing in a love that would reawaken past splendors with a shining new glory.

A Woman of Passion


Virginia Henley - 1985
    So the headstrong beauty set out for London and the Tudor court, the arena for the richest, most ambitious men, none more powerful than the four men who would claim her. None more dangerous than Princess Elizabeth, who made Bess friend, confidante, then lady-in-waiting in her own glittering court...Dangerously seductive, William Cavendish, the king's dashing financial adviser, vowed to have Bess at any cost. Frail, adoring Robert Barlow offered a marriage she couldn't refuse. Newly crowned Queen Elizabeth bade her marry courtly Sir William St. Loe. But reckless passion drove Bess into the arms of George Talbot, the devastating Earl of Shrewsbury, whose wicked daring ignited in Bess the passion of a lifetime--even as it sparked the jealous interest of the most perilous ally of all: the Virgin Queen....

Arizona Bride


Rosanne Bittner - 1985
    Instantly the Army captain felt afire with desire and he resolved not to leave the Virginia belle until she completely surrendered herself to him. He gave no thought to tomorrow; a wife in the untamed West would only hamper his career. All Bryce wanted was the auburn-haired wench wrapped in his arms for the night to slake his burning need to master her...WESTERN BRUTEFrom the moment Shannon saw Bryce in his tailored captain's uniform, the innocent beauty knew he was the one man for her. Just a brush of his fingers against her cheek and she quivered with ecstasy. Just a whisper of his breath beside her ear and she swooned with passion. Though they had just met, the spirited young woman instinctively knew she would trade finery for homespun, safety for danger, comfort for hardship to savor love's sweet wild pleasures and become Bryce's Arizona Bride…

Savage Kiss


Sylvie F. Sommerfield - 1985
    Then she stumbled across the wounded white man and knew this virile stranger would transport her to unknown heights of ecstasy.