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Joy
First published 1988 · 309 pages
A breezy, sun-drenched romantic adventure where two sensible people accidentally win a mysterious jewel and tumble headlong into danger and passion.
What it feels like
Reading this vintage romantic adventure feels like stepping into a sun-drenched, breezy 1980s escapist fantasy. The narrative moves at a brisk, playful clip, sweeping the reader away from the mundane and into a world of tropical danger and high-stakes glamour. It is a story about the sheer delight of breaking out of a rut, watching two fiercely sensible, dependable people completely lose their heads to spontaneity and passion. The prose is snappy and dialogue-driven, carrying a lighthearted yet thrilling tone that perfectly balances romantic tension with caper-style suspense. Fans of classic Nora Roberts or Linda Howard will devour this delightful romp, reveling in the nostalgic charm of a vacation romance that unexpectedly spirals into a wildly entertaining, jewel-chasing adventure.
- Mood
- sun-drenched
- breezy
- escapist
- thrilling
- Tone
- playful
- adventurous
- wry
- romantic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- breaking out of a rut · second chances at love · embracing spontaneity · the thrill of the unknown
- The writing
- Snappy and dialogue-driven, infused with the lighthearted, glamorous flair of 1980s romantic suspense.
- The arc
- The characters journey from cautious and predictable routines to a wildly liberated, passionate embrace of life and each other.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave vintage, escapist romantic adventures where sensible protagonists are thrown into glamorous peril.
Content notes
- mild peril
- dated cultural references
About the book
The Montclair Emeralds and Joy
Solid, dependable types - that was how Virginia Middlebrook and A.C. Ryerson saw themselves. Far from daring usually, they decided to take a chance and explore their friendship. And sharing a Caribbean holiday seemed a perfectly sane way to get better acquainted.
But there, in a high-stakes poker game, they won a bracelet of uncommon beauty, a mysterious talisman. From that moment on they barreled recklessly into love - and adventure. Never before had they abandoned themselves to such joy. Or exposed themselves to such danger.
Description from Open Library.
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