Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of The Rival

The Rival
The Rival
Author: Brenda Joyce
Genres: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Romance
Book Type: Paperback
reviewed on + 3389 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3


Okay, readers of romance. The reviews on this book are definitely mixed. You either love it or hate it. And I know why. For one thing, this is not your usual romance fare. This is a story with a serious plot and some serious issues. For me, it's the best Brenda Joyce book ever, even over her latest contemporary stuff. Why? Because it's truly suspenseful. The characters are developed and not fluff. There are issues, dark issues. I loved this book. It's a keeper on my shelf and I hardly ever keep my romances. I trade them. Personally, I liked the heroine. She was very conflicted in her own right. And the hero had his own problems too. It was not two people emoting over each other or yeah-yeahing for pages and pages. This is a real story, with real heart. It's dark. It's dangerous. It's sometimes sad, but it's gripping love story about two people who need to heal emotionally. Also, few supernatural elements. Nicely done, Ms. Joyce. I just wish you would do this more often in historical times and not contemporary. Forget the numbers. Follow your heart.