Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Firelight by Kristen Callihan

London, 1881
Once the flames are ignited . . .
Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman. 
They will burn for eternity . . .
Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.
This is essentially a story about two tortured souls. Both find themselves having big secrets about who they are for survival purposes. When they find each other, they are also forced to hide those same parts from the other. Neither seems to be able to trust that someone would accept the whole of themselves. I mean if they can't accept their own self wholly, how can they ask another to do the same?

There is also a mystery involved. One that has Lord Archer fully within it's grasp. However, Miranda is no shrinking violet, and to tell her to stay out of it is really an invitation for help. So despite a few bungling attempts at trying to get to the truth the answers remain elusive. Both are equally matched and even though the mystery and the intrigue was not well paced, it still gave a good background for the love that starts to develop between Archer and Miranda. In fact, that path to true love between the two characters makes this book worth reading.

For example, how Miranda felt about Archer even though she never saw his face:
"...In truth, she could not dissect Archer into parts. She saw him as a whole. She thought of Archer not in pictures but with feeling. Archer was warmth, laughter, kindness, and excitement."
And how Archer felt about Miranda:
"...no one has made me feel the way you do, as if every day is an adventure. You make me laugh. And I never laugh. I go around smiling like a witless fool. So yes, I kept it from you, because I am so desperately in love with you that the knowledge that you might love me too was irresistible. And I was afraid it would turn to dust should I take off that mask."
These feelings came out of getting to know each other. Seeing past the lust into the soul of the person they wanted to get to know. And despite the secrets, each got to know each other in a way no one had ever had before. The passion was there, but the time they allowed it to take in developing a friendship first make that passion burn brighter when they finally admitted their love. Yes, the romance is well written. You can take that from a cynic. ;)

I give this adult book 4 stars. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance despite the mystery and the events surrounding them were unevenly paced. It still did not distract the love connection the two main characters developed within the story. 

24 comments:

  1. I love your review, it's like a little story. You're right it was very interesting to discover these two characters. I'm glad you enjoyed this book as much as I did.

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  2. So it is PNR not UF? I wasn't sure and couldn't tell by the blurb. I will have to put this on the wishlist!

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    1. There are UF elements to it, but to me, you could lift it out and put something else there to enhance tension. The romance just rules in this book.

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  3. I'm not usually drawn to the romance side of PNR, but I have to admit those quote seem really sweet - and more adult than a lot of stories. Hmmm...definitely a book to consider in more details!

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    1. It is possible that you may not like this one as much as me, but I do think that the next one in the series might be more your taste. However, still...the romance in this one was written better than most PNRs I've read.

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  4. Now this is one I do like the sound of as the characters sound wonderful AND I love the book cover. Thanks for a great review, I'll add this to my wish list.

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  5. While I love me a good ol'romance, I don't know if I would be able to deal with the fact that the mystery/ events are kinda wonky on the pacing.... Hmmmmmmm...? ;)

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    1. It just depends. I kept thinking that this will start to grate one me and distract me from the story, but it didn't. I couldn't say if it would be the same for you.

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  6. I do like the idea of two tortured souls :o Great review :D

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  7. The quotes make the romance seem very sweet. I like how they get to know each other. Has a Beauty and the Beast feel to it. Loved the review!

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  8. Okay that quote from Archer? I need to write it down, hand it to my husband and make him recite it. It won't have the same meaning since it will just be read, but it would be nice to hear just the same:) I'm a sucker for the tortured souls, so I think I'll love this book!

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  9. Stop making me wanna read more books!!! You are evil *shifty eyes*

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    1. Back at ya! ;) You have no idea how many books I have on my wishlist or in my bookshelf because of you! :)

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  10. This sounds fantastic and I agree with Jenny on the quote!
    Loved your review-as always and I think I'll be reading this one :o]

    *nodding enthusiastically with Blodeuedd!

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  11. *Stops by to feed your fish*

    I think I'd like to read this one, but I'm worried that what you think of as "no shrinking violet" will appear, to me, as a modern-age girl plunked into Victorian London. And that, my friend, is a pet peeve of mine. I like historical heroines to be spunky, but true to their time periods.

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    1. It very well may that you see her as a modern-age girl plunked down. Our definitions on what would fit there may differ greatly. However, her view of the world has reason behind it and it fits within the time (for me). I'm not convinced she would have had the same societal acceptance but then it was Archer's circles they cavorted. :) If you read it then... read it for the romance. The history is not important but only as a setting for the two main characters. :)

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  12. I've been curious about this one because of the Beauty and the Beast aspect of it and your 4 stars is really pushing me to reading it!

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  13. This sounds a little Beauty and the Beast, but I thought of Phantom of the Opera at first. Been listening to the music a bit too much lately. It actually sounds very good. I think I'll put it on my TBR list. I need some adult fare once in awhile!

    Heather

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  14. You a cynic? Nahhhhh!

    I could definitely deal with a bit of uneven pacing if the romance is steamy! I'm really shallow that way. LOL

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  15. I like the story more than the romance in a book, so if the romance is the better part, I am not sure about it anymore. I do so love the cover though.

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  16. Is this steanpunk or fantasy? Either or, I so want to read it.

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  17. Oh I'm hearing great things about this book. So glad to see you enjoyed it as well. :O) Thank you!

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  18. I'm about half-way through this book but I got kind of sidetracked for a while since the I'm finding the story kind of boring. In the beginning it showed a lot of promise but then it turned into a generic historical romance. I'll have to go back to it and see if it improves.

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  19. YAY!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it as much as I did! You explained exactly why I enjoyed watching their romance play out. I also LOVED how strong Miranda was as a heroine, and enjoyed the secondary characters, like her sisters. Can't WAIT for Moonglow now!

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