Customer Reviews

The Fires of Paradise

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Of all of the Bragg saga novels that Brenda Joyce has written, Fires of Paradise is the most heartstopping, erotic and sensual. It combines romance, passion and history with flair. As a historian, I was enthralled not only by the settings of the story, but by the accuracy with which Joyce portrayed the Spanish-American War, along with the troubles of Cuba. The characters of Shoz Cooper and Lucy Bragg are two of the most well-rounded of characters Joyce has thus introduced. Their love story is one of pure enjoyment to read over and over. It is the story of the spoiled little rich girl who falls in love with the mysterios stranger with a dubious past. Of course, Shoz was not good enough for Lucy, according to her family. It amazes me that a number of my friends and colleagues who read romances have not enjoyed perusing the works of this extremely talented writer.

Brenda Joyce is a new author to me but I am quickly buying up everything she has written. This book is so different from the typical prudish english girl and the "rake". Lucy is headstrong and follows her heart, ignoring her mind, instead of the other way around. Shoz is mean-tempered and cruel, but you come to love him as much as Lucy. I laughed, I cried and I hated for it to end! I read constantly - Jane Feather, Jude Deveroux, Elizabeth Lowell, Nora Roberts, Jayne Ann Krentz... But Joyce is fast becoming my favorite - her detail on the historical part is so real! I can see myself there, feel the heat in Death Valley.. smell the food in the kitchen. I can't say enough good things about this book!

Shoz and Lucy were attracted to each other right away. They are so perfect for each other. Lucy was brave, going after what she wanted and the consequences be damned. She follows Shoz from the borders of Mexico to the hot fires of Death Valley, to the turbulence of war in Cuba, to find Paradise in Texas. She throws away all her sophisticated life in New York just for the love of a outlaw with no future. Shoz was the brave half-breed that looked mean, vicious, and dangerous on the outside, but was a kind, soft heart real hero inside that helped liberty for the people. Although he knew Lucy, the rich princess was out of his reach, but he would walk the fires of paradise for her when he risk his life to save the only woman who broke through his tough mean heart and teach him the meaning of love. This one is definitely one of the hottest Bragg series emotionally and physically that will leave your pages going up in flames.

This is one of the best BJ novels I have read, probably my favourite after The Conqueror and The Game.
The chemistry between the H&H was awesome, the storyline was good and the ending was very sweet. I only wish BJ's steamy scenes were a bit longer, though I am not complaining. She can create such a marvellous chemistry between the H&H that half a page of a steamy scene makes you hot and bothered!

I can't say enought good things about this book. I read is several years ago and it is still ringing in my head. A true sizzler, this book will have you loosening up your clothes and taking cold showers!! While the sex is wonderful the story itself is terrific! Fires in Paradise combines sizzling sex, compassion, family loyalty, and a true tenderness of heart all in one book!! Shozkay is one of the best hero's ever! Read it and prepare a spot on your keepers shelf!!!!

From Texas, to Mexico, to Cuba to New York, this book takes you everywhere. Shoz and Lucy... what a passionate couple. I stayed up all night reading this book. I loved it! I have read all of Brenda Joyce's books and she is ASTOUNDING AS USUAL! I just bought "THE RIVAL" and have no doubt in my mind it will rate "5 Stars"!

This was the first Brenda Joyce book that I ever read and I LOVED IT!! Ever since then I have read all her books. I must say that I have yet to find any of them lacking!! This book is so good that I have read it more than once. A truly great read!!

The Fires Of Paradise was a most riveting novel. It holds your attention from start to finish. As a reader it brings out various emotions as you read on. From laughter, to sorrow, to even wanting to strangle Lucy with your bare hands. This in itself is the mark of a great novel. The ability to invoke such emotions with mere words. Great job! Looking forward to more like it.

The Fires of Paradise is a roller coaster ride filled with danger, passion, love, revenge and an intense couple who are caught in one high drama after another. It is one of my favorite reads and well written with a bad boy hero who shows surprising vulnerability.

Lucy Bragg is a wonderful heroine who is bold, and progressive thanks to her suffragette mother, but she is also somewhat traditional. She and her friend attempt to drive, yes drive, the auto is new in the late 1890's, to her grandfather's ranch from the train station in Texas. The car breaks down and she is rescued by reluctant hero Shoz Savage.

Shoz is part native American, a barrister and full of passion and vengeance. A former paramour had him falsely accused of theft and he was arrested, now that he is out of prison he is distrustful and a bit self serving. He knows Lucy's type and will not bow to her wishes.

Lucy is flummoxed about Shoz's hostile attitude and gives into temptation with him. He even shows up at her grandfather's ranch which disrupts her life even more. He is accused of horse stealing, a crime he did not commit and busts out of jail taking Lucy with him as a hostage deep into Mexico to his hideout home and it is in Mexico, away from family that Lucy and Shoz really connect emotionally. Shoz introduces Lucy to his adopted son and he really drops his guard while Lucy frees herself from all her family expectations.

This idyll comes to a close with Shoz and Lucy being separated and Lucy's family shipping her back to her native New York but fortunately Lucy has a mind of her own and she knows she wants Shoz. This takes her to Cuba where Shoz is fighting for Cuban Independence. Again we see a different side of Shoz, one of noble hero but also as protector. He is more guarded here and Lucy has to really fight his past and mistrust but she is more than up to the challenge.

This is a favorite novel for so many reasons but mainly I love the personalities of the leads. They are so well matched. Both are strong willed, confident and adventurous yet are also vulnerable. I like that Lucy takes charge of her own destiny and knows her strengths and weaknesses. Finally Shoz is a perfect romantic hero, a real bad boy but with a soft side that appears unexpectedly.

As this book started I felt my heart sinking. Yet another book with unlovely hero and heroine who spend their whole time alternately shouting at each other or having sex. The first quarter of the book I found tedious, putting it down several times to read other books instead. The heroine, Lucy Bragg, was a spoiled, naïve girl who appeared to care for nobody except herself, including behaving quite inappropriately and potentially causing great worry to her family. The hero, Shoz Cooper, was shown to be a womaniser who seemed pretty heartless, who was rude to Lucy and her friend when finding them stranded with a broken-down car, and who deflowered our heroine shockingly quickly. I was pretty gloomy about the whole book, really, feeling that it wasn't something I was enjoying reading and that I couldn't care about these two nasty characters at all.

And then the story picked up, considerably. Shoz was arrested and taken to the police station in the town of Paradise, where Lucy and her family were staying, and he breaks out of the prison using Lucy as a hostage. He and Lucy travel from Texas to Mexico, suffering through the exhausting journey, followed by bandits, struggling in the appalling heat of Death Valley. And yet something more is going on between them than their initial interactions suggested and both Lucy and Shoz show different sides to their natures. Lucy is installed in Shoz's house in Death Valley and has to deal with harsh treatment from the woman Lucy assumes is Shoz's wife. Lucy learns to clean and cook and serve as well as learning to fight and to stand up for herself against the unpleasant Carmen. When Shoz returns their relationship reaches a new stage but when Lucy's pursuers catch up with them it all seems to be going wrong again. Misunderstandings abound and it's only when becoming involved in the uprising in Cuba under José Marti that Lucy and Shoz really begin to understand what is between them.

Overall this was an enjoyable book once I was able to plough through the first quarter. Neither main character was ever particularly appealing to me; Shoz because of his morals and attitude towards a naïve young girl, Lucy because of her egocentric nature and her lack of care for the feelings of her family. However, like 'real' people, they both had multifaceted characters and there was also some things to like about them - Shoz's skills as a father and Lucy's tenacity. The hostage section of the book was exciting and the description of their journey through Texas and Mexico was excellent, the Cuba section seemed to go past pretty quickly but the latter half of the book was good enough to make me stay up late at night to finish it. This book was originally published in 1992 and sometimes that showed with a rather different attitude towards strong men than in more recent books (heroes threatening to rape heroines doesn't go down too well now really) but the underlying setting of this story was good and it's worth reading for those who like this genre.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008