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McCalls #1
Fever
Perfectly content to let her art be her only passion, alabaster sculptress Paige Mattheson unexpectedly falls desperately in love with drifter Jesse Dallas after a six-week beachfront affair and fears she cannot let him go as he sets out to move on. Reissue.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
57 people are currently reading
408 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Lowell
208 books1,921 followersIndividually and with co-author/husband Evan, Ann Maxwell has written over 60 novels and one work of non-fiction. There are 30 million copies of these books in print, as well as reprints in 30 foreign languages. Her novels range from science fiction to historical fiction, from romance to mystery. After working in contemporary and historical romance, she became an innovator in the genre of romantic suspense.
In 1982, Ann began publishing as Elizabeth Lowell. Under that name she has received numerous professional awards in the romance field, including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Romance Writers of America (1994).
Since July of 1992, she has had over 30 novels on the New York Times bestseller list. In 1998 she began writing suspense with a passionate twist, capturing a new audience and generation of readers. Her new romance novel Perfect Touch will be available in July of 2015.
To get a full list of titles as well as read excerpts from her novels, visit www.elizabethlowell.com.
In 1982, Ann began publishing as Elizabeth Lowell. Under that name she has received numerous professional awards in the romance field, including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Romance Writers of America (1994).
Since July of 1992, she has had over 30 novels on the New York Times bestseller list. In 1998 she began writing suspense with a passionate twist, capturing a new audience and generation of readers. Her new romance novel Perfect Touch will be available in July of 2015.
To get a full list of titles as well as read excerpts from her novels, visit www.elizabethlowell.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
November 8, 2016
This year's inductee into the Diana Palmer Gloriously Bad Hall of Fame.
Fever gives us a wealthy ranch owner who hates all women except perhaps his sainted, dearly departed mom, and maybe his sister. Every other woman is a gold-digging, man-eating, waste of hair spray although he is not above taking them for his sexual pleasure for a while and then sending them unceremoniously on their way with a diamond bracelet instead of a diamond ring. Let's call him The Stud.
The heroine is an amalgam of Mary-Sue-Pollyanna-Rebecca-Of-Sunnybrook-Farm-Little-Orphan-Annie-Beth-March, but we'll just call her Tiny-Tim for short.
Tiny Tim skips around the meadow examining grass seeds, creating stone-age utensils out of discarded antlers, and mending the many patches on her second hand jeans. Tiny Tim is a gorgeous, blonde, blue-eyed, virginal, pure, sweet, intelligent, non-mercenary, American girl who has lived an unconventional life following her anthropologist parents around the world before being sent on assignment to The Stud's property, a magical meadow where there is no time, only forever. She has no concept of time, money, or materialism, and no marital designs on anyone although she dreams of a Prince Charming who will sweep her off her feet.
The Stud decides that this infant has been planted on his property to lure him into a ball and chain. He will teach her a lesson, pretending to be a poor, downtrodden ranch hand and not the Big Cheese, and the laugh will be on her.
It works! Not only does the Stud have her eating from the palm of his hand, but he promptly deflowers her and then keeps her as his convenient side-piece in the remote cabin in the boondocks of his property where he can come satisfy himself whenever he wants and best of all, not having to give her anything and not seeing any dollar signs in the gleam of her doe eyes. Follow extremely over long, purpletastic sex scenes that were unintentionally hilarious. I believe the words "velvet fever" were used more than once.
Tiny Tim thinks she is in love. When she finally finds out that all summer, her ranch hand has been playing a big practical joke on her, she doesn't get angry, or even leaves. Her little Tiny Tim heart just shrivel up a little more. The Stud yells at her for putting on a wounded innocent act and tells her he has nothing to feel guilty about since he only took what she was offering. Tiny Tim looks at him with her big eyes and nods.
In the end, Tiny Tim leaves not because she hates the Stud for what he has done and how he continues to behave, but because she is not good enough for him, being so poor, and does not belong in the sophisticated, glitzy, glamorous world of Utah ranch life.
The Stud begrudgingly stops her from leaving a few lines before the end of the book, not because she is smart, beautiful, compliant, eager, sweet, etc. It's because he has found a spectacular shirt of grey, blue, and green linen stitched by fey fingers and adorned by antler buttons that she sewed, cut out, polished and even ironed (with an antique flat iron no less!) by herself. THIS is the catalyst for him falling in love with her and deciding he will keep her at his ranch for many, many, more years of stone-age fashion designs. No doubt she will always keep him looking fly.
I had a good laugh, I'm not gonna lie, but it was overly long, with a lot of space-fillers and dizzying repetitions about the timelessness of the magical meadow, and the curtain of her soft, silver, flowery, blonde hair, that he was frankly so obsessed with that I thought he was going to scalp her and wear it under his cowboy hat himself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2017
3.5 stars
Unfortunately it had taken Rye two weeks to convince Edward McCall II that his son would not, repeat not, marry some useless Houston belle just to get his hands on the Angus bull.
Oh '80s books, never change.
"Little girl, you've got a lot to learn," he muttered under his breath. "And you've come to just the man who can teach you."
Umm, maybe do.
This one obviously had some dated problems and the hero clung to his "woman only want me for my money" bitterness for far too long. Lisa's actions didn't warrant it and it made that drama feel forced.
Even with those issues though, I really enjoyed this one. It scoots along pretty quickly and the dry sense of humor was delightful. I also want to claim Lisa as my buddy if there is ever an apocalypse, girl can get it done. Her background makes her sweet innocence believable and not icky and we do get glimpses of her backbone; I want a novella of these two from down the road where Lisa puts Rye even more in his place.
Rye needed to grovel just a bit more but the emotion he shows at the end (he cries!) gave an unexpected heartwarming ending. This takes place on a cattle ranch and I enjoyed the western touches and the feeling of being transported to a different place. You'll have to gird your loins for the term "Velvet Fever" to be used incessantly but hey, who couldn't use another euphemism for sex in their back pocket.
Bottom line, this was a little bit of a gem and if you ever see it at a garage sale or used book store, scoop it up.
"I've been missing you all my life and didn't even know it."
Unfortunately it had taken Rye two weeks to convince Edward McCall II that his son would not, repeat not, marry some useless Houston belle just to get his hands on the Angus bull.
Oh '80s books, never change.
"Little girl, you've got a lot to learn," he muttered under his breath. "And you've come to just the man who can teach you."
Umm, maybe do.
This one obviously had some dated problems and the hero clung to his "woman only want me for my money" bitterness for far too long. Lisa's actions didn't warrant it and it made that drama feel forced.
Even with those issues though, I really enjoyed this one. It scoots along pretty quickly and the dry sense of humor was delightful. I also want to claim Lisa as my buddy if there is ever an apocalypse, girl can get it done. Her background makes her sweet innocence believable and not icky and we do get glimpses of her backbone; I want a novella of these two from down the road where Lisa puts Rye even more in his place.
Rye needed to grovel just a bit more but the emotion he shows at the end (he cries!) gave an unexpected heartwarming ending. This takes place on a cattle ranch and I enjoyed the western touches and the feeling of being transported to a different place. You'll have to gird your loins for the term "Velvet Fever" to be used incessantly but hey, who couldn't use another euphemism for sex in their back pocket.
Bottom line, this was a little bit of a gem and if you ever see it at a garage sale or used book store, scoop it up.
"I've been missing you all my life and didn't even know it."
April 11, 2021
He was awful macho full of himself and she was incredibly naive doormat and I still shed tears theirs sickeningly flowery tale. 🤪
January 3, 2016
Let's get one thing straight: I hate read this book in one sitting. I loved Lisa and hated Rye. He's not worth a damn. I hate how this book ended also, he got off too easy.
But Elizabeth Lowell can sure as hell write a good story, so I'll be reading more from her. Preferably books with less of an asshole/misogynist male lead (I care very little for his remorse) and maybe more of a stand-up-for-yourself-girl heroine (although I can sort of understand Lisa's reactions given the situation).
But Elizabeth Lowell can sure as hell write a good story, so I'll be reading more from her. Preferably books with less of an asshole/misogynist male lead (I care very little for his remorse) and maybe more of a stand-up-for-yourself-girl heroine (although I can sort of understand Lisa's reactions given the situation).
April 11, 2010
This book doesn't offer anything in the way of unpredictability or twists. However, what it does offer is a chemistry-filled love story that evokes surprisingly powerful emotions.
The story is not long, but Lowell expects readers to buy that two people who are nearly polar opposites in terms of temperament, life experiences, etc., can meet, fall in love, deal with the requisite scenario that tears them apart, and somehow find their way back to each other, all in less than 250 pages. What I didn't expect was that I *did* buy it. Lowell has created two characters who are both actually interesting. Granted, Lisa is almost too naive, innocent, and sweet, but given her past, it works. Rye is pretty much the stereotypical discontent, rich bad boy, but his behavior isn't out of line with what he's gone through, courtesy of his father. Together, Lisa and Rye are simultaneously sweet and tender, and downright steamy - their chemistry is intense and pretty hot.
The best thing about this book, though, is that their love seems completely real and organic; it's very easy to buy the depth of their emotions (which certainly doesn't hold true for every romance novel). Rye and Lisa's story is surprisingly moving and deeply romantic, so I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to read a deep, pure love story.
The story is not long, but Lowell expects readers to buy that two people who are nearly polar opposites in terms of temperament, life experiences, etc., can meet, fall in love, deal with the requisite scenario that tears them apart, and somehow find their way back to each other, all in less than 250 pages. What I didn't expect was that I *did* buy it. Lowell has created two characters who are both actually interesting. Granted, Lisa is almost too naive, innocent, and sweet, but given her past, it works. Rye is pretty much the stereotypical discontent, rich bad boy, but his behavior isn't out of line with what he's gone through, courtesy of his father. Together, Lisa and Rye are simultaneously sweet and tender, and downright steamy - their chemistry is intense and pretty hot.
The best thing about this book, though, is that their love seems completely real and organic; it's very easy to buy the depth of their emotions (which certainly doesn't hold true for every romance novel). Rye and Lisa's story is surprisingly moving and deeply romantic, so I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to read a deep, pure love story.
May 22, 2017
4 - 4.5 stars.
An oldie from Elizabeth Lowell. This book really reminded me on why she was one of my favorite authors. Her earlier works can really tuck at the heartstrings. The only negative is the sheer unworldliness of the heroine that takes quite a bit of suspension of disbelief.
An oldie from Elizabeth Lowell. This book really reminded me on why she was one of my favorite authors. Her earlier works can really tuck at the heartstrings. The only negative is the sheer unworldliness of the heroine that takes quite a bit of suspension of disbelief.
November 6, 2023
Audiobook-
This one should have been titled: In Which All Women Are Gold Digging Hoes. Ray or whatever his fracking name is not a man but a walking dollar sign. The man has never met a woman who doesn't see him as such and so he hates them all. Until he comes across a fey creature out in a meadow. Whatsherface (already forgot her name 😬) is the most innocent woman who ever lived among tribes. She spent her whole life living amongst the tribes her parents studied as archeologists but literally knows nothing about men and women . She's pretty much a fetus except she can cook and sew and do all the things a non gold digging woman would do. Ray decides not to tell her he's the bazillionaire living next door and pretends he's a poor ranch hand. She eventually finds out and is not suitably outraged and forgives him much too quickly.
I think maybe I would have liked this better if the narrator hadn't chosen atrocious pervy old southern man accents for the mmc and voiced the fmc like a child. It made for some very uncomfortable love scenes. Also, Ray was an a$$ for the entire book and didn't even grovel for a second 🙄 it had some emotional moments but overall I found the whole thing super cringe.
🌟🌟/5
🔥/5
Tropes
Fake Identity
Class differences
This one should have been titled: In Which All Women Are Gold Digging Hoes. Ray or whatever his fracking name is not a man but a walking dollar sign. The man has never met a woman who doesn't see him as such and so he hates them all. Until he comes across a fey creature out in a meadow. Whatsherface (already forgot her name 😬) is the most innocent woman who ever lived among tribes. She spent her whole life living amongst the tribes her parents studied as archeologists but literally knows nothing about men and women . She's pretty much a fetus except she can cook and sew and do all the things a non gold digging woman would do. Ray decides not to tell her he's the bazillionaire living next door and pretends he's a poor ranch hand. She eventually finds out and is not suitably outraged and forgives him much too quickly.
I think maybe I would have liked this better if the narrator hadn't chosen atrocious pervy old southern man accents for the mmc and voiced the fmc like a child. It made for some very uncomfortable love scenes. Also, Ray was an a$$ for the entire book and didn't even grovel for a second 🙄 it had some emotional moments but overall I found the whole thing super cringe.
🌟🌟/5
🔥/5
Tropes
Fake Identity
Class differences
December 31, 2010
All the things that make old school romance old school, the good, the bad, the cliches. I have a true unhealthy love for this book. If you love the alpha hero in today's books you must read this to see where he's come from.
February 17, 2013
4.5 stars
Narrated by Laural Merlington.
Great interpretation of an old favorite.
Narrated by Laural Merlington.
Great interpretation of an old favorite.
September 7, 2015
2.5*
Finished this one in a day... It was ok, but ... Meh!
The fact that it was dated wasn't even the biggest problem- it was that the heroine was completely unrelatable to and the hero was a chauvinist! Lisa, was a saint, a martyr! Plus she was totally clueless to how this world and things in it work! To make things more annoying, she didn't seem to be adapting - no, she seemed to live her life in America as if she were still part of a Zulu tribe.... And this was supposed to make her special and lovable?!? NO - it made her weird and annoying! Rye was arrogant and chauvinistic- he kept putting all women in the same category as gold diggers .... He kept saying to Lisa things like "You can get a diamond bracelet from me but never a diamond ring" and (possibly even more insulting) "Let me do the thinking".... He lied to her about his identity and NEVER apologized!
The whole story was a messed up affair that in the real world would have been doomed to fail from the start....
Finished this one in a day... It was ok, but ... Meh!
The fact that it was dated wasn't even the biggest problem- it was that the heroine was completely unrelatable to and the hero was a chauvinist! Lisa, was a saint, a martyr! Plus she was totally clueless to how this world and things in it work! To make things more annoying, she didn't seem to be adapting - no, she seemed to live her life in America as if she were still part of a Zulu tribe.... And this was supposed to make her special and lovable?!? NO - it made her weird and annoying! Rye was arrogant and chauvinistic- he kept putting all women in the same category as gold diggers .... He kept saying to Lisa things like "You can get a diamond bracelet from me but never a diamond ring" and (possibly even more insulting) "Let me do the thinking".... He lied to her about his identity and NEVER apologized!
The whole story was a messed up affair that in the real world would have been doomed to fail from the start....
March 18, 2014
Ummmm... Yeah. This book was supposedly published in 1988, but I think it was written in 1958. It contains a misogynistic "hero" who believes all women are whores and gold diggers. It contains the belief that a 20 year old girl is only interested in "catching a husband." It contains the concept that a woman should be judged by her cooking and homemaking abilities. I mean, it does not translate well to modern times.
And yet... It is compulsively readable. It is a ball of out-dated cheese, but I was happy to be dipping my crackers into it. I'm not proud of it. That is all.
And yet... It is compulsively readable. It is a ball of out-dated cheese, but I was happy to be dipping my crackers into it. I'm not proud of it. That is all.
November 22, 2023
I enjoyed this, but I felt cheated by the ending. Groveling wasn't necessary in this, but at least an apology would've gone a long way. There was no real closure and everything was still up in the air about their future, but I guess that part makes sense with the timeless, no-past-no-future theme going on. Still, this feels 75% complete and I think if the author had given just a little bit more, this story would've been amazing.
April 23, 2021
3,5 estrellas
Me ha gustado, sobretodo Lisa, pero me ha sabido a poco. Me ha gustado el estilo de la autora y seguro que leo más de ella
Me ha gustado, sobretodo Lisa, pero me ha sabido a poco. Me ha gustado el estilo de la autora y seguro que leo más de ella
October 12, 2015
I really don't get the popularity of this book. The hero is a chauvinist neanderthal who gets angry at the drop of a hat, which is exasperating especially when he is at fault. Dialogues like " Let me do the thinking" and his attitude towards the mere suggestion that Lisa is looking for a husband made my blood boil. I gave it 2 stars since Lisa's complete lack of knowledge about modern implements and the way of life were described very well. Also, other descriptions of how she measured time, how she sewed a shirt and how she made herself a knife, were amazing. However, the other stuff overshadows this so will not read it again.
March 30, 2019
I almost did not get to the end of this no story book that was so silly and totally unbelievable that it was almost funny. If she used the word FEVER one more time I was going to scream!
I've read several of Ms Lowell's books and I know that some other I did not like much, and some I did like, but this one you can skip! unless you can't sleep... this one will do the trick!
I've read several of Ms Lowell's books and I know that some other I did not like much, and some I did like, but this one you can skip! unless you can't sleep... this one will do the trick!
June 1, 2014
2-1/2 stars
July 18, 2021
This is the softest, least emotionally constipated Lowell character I’ve read yet! Still all the angst but less anger and meanness which is a nice change of pace. Lisa is such a wonderful heroine and Rye, while an idiot, is definitely a new favorite!
I’d say this one feels more modern than the other Lowell’s I’ve read (mainly due to the fact that Rye is only an ass for about a collective 10 pages). If I was to recommend an old school category to someone, this would be the one I’d point them to! In fact, I’m probably going to be shoving this one in a few peoples faces over the next few weeks because of how much I loved it and how easy it is to fall in love with (unlike “Too Hot To Handle”, which I feel like I love because it feeds my id. I would NOT recommend that one to most people because of how much of an ass ethan is, but I do love him.).
Still a few issues with it because it is an older book, but I feel like this is a tamer old school than most others I’ve read. There was no moment where I cringed like I do with most older ones so I’d count this one as a quality one.
If you’re looking into reading an older romance or just want a good cowboy romance, pick this one up! It’s a quick read and it’s one I fee like everyone should have on their shelf.
I’d say this one feels more modern than the other Lowell’s I’ve read (mainly due to the fact that Rye is only an ass for about a collective 10 pages). If I was to recommend an old school category to someone, this would be the one I’d point them to! In fact, I’m probably going to be shoving this one in a few peoples faces over the next few weeks because of how much I loved it and how easy it is to fall in love with (unlike “Too Hot To Handle”, which I feel like I love because it feeds my id. I would NOT recommend that one to most people because of how much of an ass ethan is, but I do love him.).
Still a few issues with it because it is an older book, but I feel like this is a tamer old school than most others I’ve read. There was no moment where I cringed like I do with most older ones so I’d count this one as a quality one.
If you’re looking into reading an older romance or just want a good cowboy romance, pick this one up! It’s a quick read and it’s one I fee like everyone should have on their shelf.
September 23, 2025
DNF at 96% because I kept waiting for the grovel thinking, this better be good… and it became clear that there would be no grovel. And I could not read another word from this MAN without an apology. I wanted an apology as the reader too, not just for Simple Mcwildernessface. (SMF). I didn’t love SMF but I didn’t hate her, she’s like a baby bird that literally watches grass grow for a living but also is living off the land like it’s post-apocalypse. Anyway MAN sees her and is like oh she’s obvi a whore so I’m gonna mess with her. And then messes with her for weeks pretending to be a poor farm hand. SMF literally makes him a shirt with antler buttons because she doesn’t want to inconvenience literally anyone and she clomps down to the ranch to discover that MAN is actually the big bad boss and he’s been stringing her along as a joke. And MAN starts yelling at her because she’s clearly devastated and embarrassed and he’s mad at her for some reason and then demands she goes to a hoe down with him.
So this is where I was like ok there’s going to be an amazing grovel… waiting…. Waiting…. Where is it…. Ok he finds her at the cabin and then… wait why is she doing that hold on…
Also the phrase “velvet fever” was used like 67 times and I applaud the originality but also just no.
So this is where I was like ok there’s going to be an amazing grovel… waiting…. Waiting…. Where is it…. Ok he finds her at the cabin and then… wait why is she doing that hold on…
Also the phrase “velvet fever” was used like 67 times and I applaud the originality but also just no.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2023
I do not think this aged well. I experienced feminine rage lol.
Spoilers
A rich man seduces a young, secluded, poor and naive girl under a false identity, and when she finds out the truth he insists she has no right to be mad because she "knew" what kind of pressures he was under and he made no promises. How could she... he was lying to her!
He did not love this girl. He was only concerned about his pleasure, He did not want his fantasy with this young and powerless girl to be interrupted and end. He also offered to pay her when they first met, like she was a hooker because he thinks she was sent to him by his father. But his thinking does not even make sense. This innocent 20 year old living in the wilderness WITH NO RUNNING WATER, was sent to seduce him by his father??? He came to her, not the other way around btw. The stupidity.
ALSO, when she found out he was lying to her, She didn't even get angry, she was the one who didn't feel good enough to be with him?!?! WTF?
Is this what was considered romantic back in the day? Honestly this gave me the ick. While I was reading this I felt and saw him as a predator who raped a youg girl.
Spoilers
A rich man seduces a young, secluded, poor and naive girl under a false identity, and when she finds out the truth he insists she has no right to be mad because she "knew" what kind of pressures he was under and he made no promises. How could she... he was lying to her!
He did not love this girl. He was only concerned about his pleasure, He did not want his fantasy with this young and powerless girl to be interrupted and end. He also offered to pay her when they first met, like she was a hooker because he thinks she was sent to him by his father. But his thinking does not even make sense. This innocent 20 year old living in the wilderness WITH NO RUNNING WATER, was sent to seduce him by his father??? He came to her, not the other way around btw. The stupidity.
ALSO, when she found out he was lying to her, She didn't even get angry, she was the one who didn't feel good enough to be with him?!?! WTF?
Is this what was considered romantic back in the day? Honestly this gave me the ick. While I was reading this I felt and saw him as a predator who raped a youg girl.
April 14, 2022
Un harlequín viejuno con muchas cosas detestables pero otras que lo hacen especial y por eso lo pude leer con placer. Lisa Johansen es peculiar. Sus padres antropólogos recorrieron con ella el globo, con lo cual es un poco demasiado ingenua para una sociedad occidental moderna. En un proyecto de investigación que consiste en, básicamente, ver crecer la hierba, conocerá a Rye. Este ranchero le oculta que es rico porque cree que las mujeres solo le quieren por su dinero. Encontré frases que me hicieron rechinar los dientes pero hubo bastantes momentos deliciosos en el que estas dos personas tan distintas conectan el uno con el otro. Las escenas sexuales me parecieron muy explícitas para la época. Tiene una de esas ambientaciones naturales que me encantan, con altos pastos entre montañas.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog, donde explico cómo descubrí esta historia, gracias a un podcast.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog, donde explico cómo descubrí esta historia, gracias a un podcast.
November 7, 2023
The story is dated and the male character's chauvinism was off putting but oh my word, I think I haven't had a moment of devastation with the female lead like this since Nobody's Baby But Mine by Elizabeth Phillips. The scene I'm referring to is when the male lead's parents were young and his hillbilly mom made something to sell on campus and her college student husband pretended not to know her. That scene gutted me. This story has a similar scene and I was equally gutted with tears in my eyes. This story and its characters are not perfect but it is told in a powerfully emotive way. I love angst and it delivered. I wanted ten times more grovel.
abrierto-to-read-hr-other
April 2, 2023Lisa Johansen had been raised around the world in the most primitive cultures her anthropologist-parents could reach. Finally they sent her back to the United States to find a husband. But Lisa wanted something more…
Ryan McCall had been raised with the best his wealthy father could provide. Now his father impatiently awaited the arrival of grandchildren. But Rye wasn’t interested in any of the well-trained beauties his father kept sending. Rye wanted something more…
In McCall’s meadow, both of them find the fever that burns through flesh all the way to the soul. But can that
Ryan McCall had been raised with the best his wealthy father could provide. Now his father impatiently awaited the arrival of grandchildren. But Rye wasn’t interested in any of the well-trained beauties his father kept sending. Rye wanted something more…
In McCall’s meadow, both of them find the fever that burns through flesh all the way to the soul. But can that
October 5, 2023
NO!!! BOO!!! HISS!!! I AM SO FUCKING ANGRY!!! COS FUCK THAT GUY!!!
The least Elizabeth Lowell could’ve done was make him grovel and if you tell me this was grovelling then you’re outta your damn mind. Ooh, I haven’t felt this ragey in a long time!!! 😂😤 Like, at least be man enough to say fucking sorry and do so without blaming her for your actions, mate. Ugh, NOPE. Everything about that last 30% was just a big NOPE for me, thanks. 👎🏽
Also, this Kindle cover? Why it gotta be so ugly? 😭
The least Elizabeth Lowell could’ve done was make him grovel and if you tell me this was grovelling then you’re outta your damn mind. Ooh, I haven’t felt this ragey in a long time!!! 😂😤 Like, at least be man enough to say fucking sorry and do so without blaming her for your actions, mate. Ugh, NOPE. Everything about that last 30% was just a big NOPE for me, thanks. 👎🏽
Also, this Kindle cover? Why it gotta be so ugly? 😭
December 15, 2018
To start, when reading this novel, you have to remember it was written in 1988. Though it’s not a “bodice ripper,” it could be considered dubious consent. Rye is also condescending and sexist at points, which makes him quite unlikeable. However, I enjoyed reading it, again keeping in mind that it was written in a different time for romance novels. A quick read with a sweet ending!
February 22, 2019
Enjoyable
I like this author, but some of her novels get a bit repetitious. In this I mean the love making parts are too often and too long. In real life, people would figure out their feelings out and move on. Having said that, I really like the way she uses the settings of natures beauty and elaborates on them. Her historical and mystery novels are her best works.
I like this author, but some of her novels get a bit repetitious. In this I mean the love making parts are too often and too long. In real life, people would figure out their feelings out and move on. Having said that, I really like the way she uses the settings of natures beauty and elaborates on them. Her historical and mystery novels are her best works.
August 29, 2019
Rye McCall's father wants to control his life. When he meets Lisa Johansen doing a summer research project on his ranch, he's annoyed. But Lisa is unusual. Raised by anthropologists and used to primitive conditions, she can do amazing things with very little. They fall in love, but deceptions cause their relationship to fall apart. Interesting start to the story.
June 8, 2023
1.5 ⭐️ There wasn’t anything technically wrong with it. And some of the descriptions with only the female lead were interesting. But I hated it. Male lead “just call me Rye” chauvinistic pig played a joke on poor innocent Lisa, took advantage, didn’t apologize just “let me do the thinking”. 😒
And if I ever see the words “velvet fever” again it will be too soon. 🤮
And if I ever see the words “velvet fever” again it will be too soon. 🤮
April 18, 2025
This man gaslit and lied to her for most of the book then had the nerve to get angry when she was hurt. I stayed mad the entire time I listened. I have to remind myself this was written some time ago but I’ve read a lot of older books that had questionable content but nothing like this. To tell her ranch hands to lie to her because he was “playing a joke” about his true identity is garbage.
October 21, 2018
3 1/2 stars. It is a romance written in the 90's, so you have to be prepared for that. I love Elizabeth Lowell's writing and really enjoyed this book. Rye was an idiot until the end, misunderstanding Lisa's motives.
August 26, 2017
I cannot believe Elizabeth Lowell wrote this horrible book.
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