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River of Passion
Boston born and bred, Dr. Amanda Jane Lawton sets out to find her long-lost brother, a quest that takes her to the wilds of Africa with a tattered, unshaven boat captain. Original.
399 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1993
66 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Hockett
49 books8 followersKathryn Hockett is the pseudonym of a mother-daughter writing team from Boulder, Colorado.
Kathryn Kramer published her first romance in 1985. Since her debut, she has been nominated four times for, and has twice won, the Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer's Choice Award. She has also published under the name Katherine Vickery.
Her mother, Marcia Hockett , began her writing career by aiding her daughter in the historical research for her romances. After partaking in eight books, she decided to begin writing her own stories.
Kathryn Kramer published her first romance in 1985. Since her debut, she has been nominated four times for, and has twice won, the Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer's Choice Award. She has also published under the name Katherine Vickery.
Her mother, Marcia Hockett , began her writing career by aiding her daughter in the historical research for her romances. After partaking in eight books, she decided to begin writing her own stories.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 20, 2020
The above book blurb says the heroine is from Boston, but in the book she's British.
As HR readers will probably admit, Zebra publications aren't exactly the cream of the crop. We love them just the same, though, and this lil' book is actually pretty good. It puts me in mind of one of those B-movie jungle adventures. You've got attacking wildlife, attacking villagers, and attacking insects, as well as searching for both a lost missionary and a lost diamond mine. There's plenty of action and adventure.
I give extra points for the author(s) for using an often ignored setting for their story. I mean, besides the North African sheiks running around abducting their heroines, you don't often find an HR taking place on this continent.
Lastly, if you are from Belgium you may want to skip this Zebra as you are the villain with a capital V in this story.
Update: I have since read King Leopold's Ghost and now understand why Belgium is a villain with a capital V.
As HR readers will probably admit, Zebra publications aren't exactly the cream of the crop. We love them just the same, though, and this lil' book is actually pretty good. It puts me in mind of one of those B-movie jungle adventures. You've got attacking wildlife, attacking villagers, and attacking insects, as well as searching for both a lost missionary and a lost diamond mine. There's plenty of action and adventure.
I give extra points for the author(s) for using an often ignored setting for their story. I mean, besides the North African sheiks running around abducting their heroines, you don't often find an HR taking place on this continent.
Lastly, if you are from Belgium you may want to skip this Zebra as you are the villain with a capital V in this story.
Update: I have since read King Leopold's Ghost and now understand why Belgium is a villain with a capital V.
February 20, 2019
Какво друго човек да прочете след Стефан Цвайг, освен "Аманда"(авторката я е кръстила "Река на страстта" :)
То не бе страст не бе чудо. Малко ме изнерви по някое време , щото след близо 200 страници не му се получаваше работата на Данте, но после внезапно проби всички прегради.
И аха да потече мед и масло, тя пък Аманда взе че се заинати. Добре , че баща й взе в свои ръце работата и я побутна по верния път.
Освен много страст , се оказа че има и борба за мир и свобода , и какво ли още не.
Минавайки по диагонал по страниците обаче, открих и някои интересни съждения.
"Християнството извира от същия източник, както и колониализмът. Църквата се е превърнала в съдружник на правителството в управлението на хорските дела и толерирането на политика на потискане и експлоатация."
То не бе страст не бе чудо. Малко ме изнерви по някое време , щото след близо 200 страници не му се получаваше работата на Данте, но после внезапно проби всички прегради.
И аха да потече мед и масло, тя пък Аманда взе че се заинати. Добре , че баща й взе в свои ръце работата и я побутна по верния път.
Освен много страст , се оказа че има и борба за мир и свобода , и какво ли още не.
Минавайки по диагонал по страниците обаче, открих и някои интересни съждения.
"Християнството извира от същия източник, както и колониализмът. Църквата се е превърнала в съдружник на правителството в управлението на хорските дела и толерирането на политика на потискане и експлоатация."
April 14, 2016
Amanda comes to Africa in order to find her missing father. She enlists the guide services of Dante to bring her up the Congo River. Tons of African wildlife appear in the book, some beautiful and some threatening. The descriptions in the story are amazing and pull you right there. The story is full of adventure with giant python attacks, friendly and unfriendly natives, witch doctors, malaria, hungry hyenas, betrayal, and more. I will definitely be reading more Kathryn Hockett books.
October 2, 2024
Before Reading: I bought this novel as a joke. I read the back and giggled when it mentioned the MMC throwing the MFC's corset overboard to show her whose boss. Plus there is the fantastic cover that is a definite throw back to all the romance novels I smuggled out of my Mom's room as a youngster.
This book did NOT disappoint me for entertainment.
During Reading: I had SO many thoughts during the reading of this book. SO many. I will try to order them the best way I can. Firstly the book is set 1886 - 1896 but I have no idea how that time actually breaks down within the book. I spent a lot of time trying to sort the 90s nonsense from the 1880s nonsense.
When Hockett referred to Hippos as gentle I knew I had bought the right book. Hippos are terrifying and aggressive but they were portrayed as rolly polly water puppies. Later on in the book there are hyenas in the jungle ... which I'm pretty sure is factually incorrect.
Trying to ignore all the "real woman", "a woman's place", and "manly men don't cry" rhetoric was an experience. There was a lot of eye rolling. Hockett tried to offset some of that by making Amanda a doctor, which I appreciated, but she did less doctoring and more fawning in the novel. Having a man and having sex for the first time seemed to be more of a self-esteem affirmation than, you know, getting her doctor's degree.
The trip through the Congo was a TRIP. In the course of 400 pages the characters were: attacked by a python, taken prisoner by two different tribes, got their boat trapped in a whirlpool, got their boat stolen, had malaria, had to hide in a swamp breathing through reeds while being feasted on by leeches, and were attacked by the Belgian military. I mean. I feel like a relationship forged under those conditions might be more trauma bonding than a relationship?? I have no idea the timeframe in which all these things happened. When the book started it is 1886 during the epilogue its 1896 those are the only two time references. So .... no idea.
The main drive for Amanda to go into the Congo was to find her father. She does. In the last twenty pages. She gets MAYBE a half hour with him during which there is a battle between the tribe he lives with and the Belgian military before he puts her in a canoe (picks her up and places her in it) and sends her after Dante (There is also a hilarious part here where Amanda's father tells her that Dante Roth is all man). On top of that her father asks her to not tell her mother where he is! The man has been missing since Amanda was a child then she braved the Congo to meet him and he puts her in a boat after thirty minutes! Amanda's mother was neglectful and emotionally abusive towards Amanda (taking out her anger at her husband on her daughter) and then her Dad not only sends her away but asks her to keep lying to her mother about. But ... you know ... we aren't going to touch THAT trauma.
If that wasn't bonkers enough when they are getting married in the epilogue her father tells her that good daughters listen to their wise fathers which is why she is getting married to Dante. The last 20 - 30 pages of this book gave me a headache from eye rolling and face palming.
After Reading: That was a hilarious experience. While I wouldn't tell my friends to read the book I am glad I did because it did bring me joy and laughter as I shared excerpts and commentary with my friends.
Also .... Hockett really REALLY likes the word "virile" and all its modifiers.
This book did NOT disappoint me for entertainment.
During Reading: I had SO many thoughts during the reading of this book. SO many. I will try to order them the best way I can. Firstly the book is set 1886 - 1896 but I have no idea how that time actually breaks down within the book. I spent a lot of time trying to sort the 90s nonsense from the 1880s nonsense.
When Hockett referred to Hippos as gentle I knew I had bought the right book. Hippos are terrifying and aggressive but they were portrayed as rolly polly water puppies. Later on in the book there are hyenas in the jungle ... which I'm pretty sure is factually incorrect.
Trying to ignore all the "real woman", "a woman's place", and "manly men don't cry" rhetoric was an experience. There was a lot of eye rolling. Hockett tried to offset some of that by making Amanda a doctor, which I appreciated, but she did less doctoring and more fawning in the novel. Having a man and having sex for the first time seemed to be more of a self-esteem affirmation than, you know, getting her doctor's degree.
The trip through the Congo was a TRIP. In the course of 400 pages the characters were: attacked by a python, taken prisoner by two different tribes, got their boat trapped in a whirlpool, got their boat stolen, had malaria, had to hide in a swamp breathing through reeds while being feasted on by leeches, and were attacked by the Belgian military. I mean. I feel like a relationship forged under those conditions might be more trauma bonding than a relationship?? I have no idea the timeframe in which all these things happened. When the book started it is 1886 during the epilogue its 1896 those are the only two time references. So .... no idea.
The main drive for Amanda to go into the Congo was to find her father. She does. In the last twenty pages. She gets MAYBE a half hour with him during which there is a battle between the tribe he lives with and the Belgian military before he puts her in a canoe (picks her up and places her in it) and sends her after Dante (There is also a hilarious part here where Amanda's father tells her that Dante Roth is all man). On top of that her father asks her to not tell her mother where he is! The man has been missing since Amanda was a child then she braved the Congo to meet him and he puts her in a boat after thirty minutes! Amanda's mother was neglectful and emotionally abusive towards Amanda (taking out her anger at her husband on her daughter) and then her Dad not only sends her away but asks her to keep lying to her mother about. But ... you know ... we aren't going to touch THAT trauma.
If that wasn't bonkers enough when they are getting married in the epilogue her father tells her that good daughters listen to their wise fathers which is why she is getting married to Dante. The last 20 - 30 pages of this book gave me a headache from eye rolling and face palming.
After Reading: That was a hilarious experience. While I wouldn't tell my friends to read the book I am glad I did because it did bring me joy and laughter as I shared excerpts and commentary with my friends.
Also .... Hockett really REALLY likes the word "virile" and all its modifiers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2025
DNF at 34% - if you like the old bodice rippers, you will probably love this adventure romance in an unusual HR setting of Africa. The writing is actually wonderfully descriptive, bringing to life the sights, sounds and smells as you follow them along their journey on the Congo River. Warning: there will be sweltering humidity, bugs, spiders, snakes!
⛵️Daniel Rothfield, a scruffy steamboat owner originally from the US, was hired to guide a woman doctor down the river in search of her missionary father. He was NOT excited to let a female on board his steamboat, especially one as starchy-collared and tight-lipped as Amanda.
👩🏻⚕️Dr. Amanda Jane Lawton, had sailed on a cargo ship from England to Africa in hopes to find her missing father. Unfortunately (for me) Amanda was a ding bat. She was too stubborn and prideful to dress appropriately for the sweltering heat, insisted on looking professional in layers of wool dresses, vests and coats, and refused turpentine drops to ward off insects. One would think if she’s adventurous and independent enough to travel alone to Africa, she wouldn’t be so uptight about following high society rules in the middle of a jungle. And if she did need to be slow to relax those ingrained habits, why make her so snobby and unlikable about it?
🐆 I was so excited to try this story, as it reminds me of Disney’s The Jungle Cruise movie. The adventure itself was exciting, but the romance was the weak link.
29% - first off page sex scene. Hero with his port side mistress (daughter of an Englishman there to build a railway thru the jungle per King Leopold’s demand).
34% - hero and heroine’s first kiss, that came out of nowhere. Completely lacked any build-up and the kiss itself was Eh. Soap opera reactions, but lacking any real emotions to me. I’m wasn’t buying their sudden feelings towards each other, other than insta-lust. But…. Less than 12 hours before, he had just made out with his mistress right in front of Amanda, she even walked in on him naked with his mistress.
Disappointed.
⛵️Daniel Rothfield, a scruffy steamboat owner originally from the US, was hired to guide a woman doctor down the river in search of her missionary father. He was NOT excited to let a female on board his steamboat, especially one as starchy-collared and tight-lipped as Amanda.
👩🏻⚕️Dr. Amanda Jane Lawton, had sailed on a cargo ship from England to Africa in hopes to find her missing father. Unfortunately (for me) Amanda was a ding bat. She was too stubborn and prideful to dress appropriately for the sweltering heat, insisted on looking professional in layers of wool dresses, vests and coats, and refused turpentine drops to ward off insects. One would think if she’s adventurous and independent enough to travel alone to Africa, she wouldn’t be so uptight about following high society rules in the middle of a jungle. And if she did need to be slow to relax those ingrained habits, why make her so snobby and unlikable about it?
🐆 I was so excited to try this story, as it reminds me of Disney’s The Jungle Cruise movie. The adventure itself was exciting, but the romance was the weak link.
29% - first off page sex scene. Hero with his port side mistress (daughter of an Englishman there to build a railway thru the jungle per King Leopold’s demand).
34% - hero and heroine’s first kiss, that came out of nowhere. Completely lacked any build-up and the kiss itself was Eh. Soap opera reactions, but lacking any real emotions to me. I’m wasn’t buying their sudden feelings towards each other, other than insta-lust. But…. Less than 12 hours before, he had just made out with his mistress right in front of Amanda, she even walked in on him naked with his mistress.
Disappointed.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews