Blades of Passion

I discovered this book when it first came out in the 70s. It is still by far the most exciting romantic fantasy I have ever read. I loaned it to a friend who was away at college. I got it back 6 months later as a bunch of loose pages in a bag along with thank you notes from every girl in her dorm. To date everyone I have given this book to tells me it's a delight of passion and sex. Yes real Sex!! Shocking. This is why I call it "Porn for women" It is rich in plot without all of the silly polite conventions most writers of romance novels wallow in. When a man visits his mistress in this book he doesn't sit in the parlor and drink tea. Kate the main character is superbly written. She is innocent without being stupid. She grows in character and strength as the story grows and Lord Mannering will have you looking at Pirates and Gentlemen in a completely different way.