A Fire in the Blood (Leisure historical romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Shirl Henke (Author)

Book Description

Series: Leisure historical romance | Publication Date: January 2000

When half-breed Jess Robbins rides into Cheyenne to chase down a gang of cattle thieves, he is sure of three things: The townsfolk will openly scorn him; the women will secretly want him; and the rustlers will definitely fear him. What he doesn't count on is a flame-haired spitfire named Lissa Jacobson, who has her own manhunt in mind.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Leisure Books (January 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0843946725
• ISBN-13: 978-0843946727
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #589,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hot, Slizzling, and Suspenseful!, September 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Fire in the Blood (Leisure historical romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book starts out with Melissa Jacobson (Lissa) a cattle baron's daughter having an attraction to Jesse Robbins (Jess) a half breed part greaser gunman that her father has hired to take care of rustlers. Soon Lissa catches Jess's attention and their relationship begins. They're many people and obstacles the couple has to overcome to be together. The racism and bigotry of Lissa's family and "friends" causes problems from the beginning. But there are a few true friends that help along the way after they are won over by the love the couple shares. The love scenes alone are worth the read! Shirl Henke has written a real winner.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SENSUAL LOVE SCENES AND EVERLASTING LOVE, February 29, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: A Fire in the Blood (Leisure historical romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

In my opinion this was the best book that Shirl Henke ever wrote! Lissa & Jess were explosive together. Their love scenes have you frantically turning the page wanting more! But what excited me the most was Lissa's determination to have Jess at all cost... even being labeled "a fallen woman" because of her love for him. Trials after trials mostly because of Jess stubborness eluded this couple. But love conquered all in the end. It's a buy and keeper!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A love story with substance, drama and tension., March 25, 2011

By 

LaylaReader - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Fire in the Blood (Kindle Edition)

I was irritated by the Prologue which is a snippet from the middle of the story and I think best avoided. Simply start at Chapter 1 and enjoy the flow of the story.


The main characters are Jess and Lissa, but there are several other players with depth to add to the story.
Lissa is the daughter of a rich rancher. She is indulged, used to the finer things in life and generally getting what she wants. There is so much more to her though as we see throughout the story. She is fearless to the point of being reckless. She is courageous and honest and willing to fight for what she believes in. Her initial infatuation with Jess may be the lure of the forbidden, but it develops into a Romeo & Juliet grand passion (without the tragic ending).

Jess is definitely from the wrong side of the track, a bounty hunter and gunman with Indian and Mexican blood. He is paid by Lissa's father to solve a serious rustling problem. Jess is comfortable in his own skin and the insults and rudeness of the supposedly better white society slide off him like water off a duck's back. He has had his share of heartache and disillusionment and now single-mindedly pursues his goal of setting up a small ranch of his own. That is...until Lissa breaks into his life like a thunderstorm.

Lissa is determined to get his attention and he is equally determined to avoid her and the trouble inevitably involved in crossing any society lines.

The attraction starts like a game of cat and mouse but develops to become a `Fire in the Blood'. They are drawn to each other despite the opposition around them. The biggest battle, however, is Jess' internal battle with himself.

The love story faces a rocky ride, with plenty of tension in the relationship and the events and characters around Lissa and Jess. This is not a simple historical western romance, but a story of love, bigotry, racism, greed and social hypocrisy.

A page-turner and a story I will definitely revisit. I was sad to reach the last page and would have loved to spend more time with these wonderful characters.