I have yet to read one that really grabbed me either, not counting the “In Death” books. I do have fond memories of the naked portrait drawing in Born in Fire though. If I had to choose one title to recommend, I would go with For the Love of Lilah, not because it’s all that great, but because I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the intellectual Beta hero and the flirty heroine.

Thanks for the rec, Willaful — I have Roberts’ paranormal trilogy (Morrigan’s Cross, etc.) in my TBR pile, but no desire to read it.

Born in Fire was one of the first romances I read which I didn’t know then. It didn’t look like it, more like women’s fiction. Anyway, I think you summed up what makes this novel stand out rather well because these are the things for which I remember this novel. I liked it well enough then but your post made me wonder how I would read it today, after having met my fair share of feisty heroines and Neanderthal alpha heroes.

I went on and read a few other novels by Roberts. I appreciate Roberts as a skilled writer and I know I’ll get a competently written story when I read one of her novels, but I have yet to read one that totally grabs me. So sorry, no recommendation, but thanks for for reminding me of this novel.