Customer Reviews

Heaven's Fire

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I loved, loved, loved this book. The story itself is described above, so I won't go into the details other than saying it's about a woman (Constance/Corliss) who is hiding from an evil man who wants her for his own sadistic purposes, and the struggling priest (Rainulf) that protects her. Both main characters in this book are exquisite. I loved their humor, their sincerity, their honesty, their complexity, and the sweet love that develops between them. Constance/Corliss (she changes her name and poses as a boy to hide) is one in a million. She is not the typical romance heroine. She is smart and intellectual, has a wonderful sense of humor, and is refreshingly honest and open. Rainulf - as the priest who is suffering a crisis of faith - is equally wonderful. He is gentle, caring, and surprisingly innocent in comparison with most virile, sexual, aggressively male characters in this genre. Yet he still possesses passion, desire, strength, and masculinity. The two do not consummate their love until after almost 200 pages, but once they do, it is sensual, romantic - some of my absolute favorite scenes I've read. Usually I am impatient for the hero and heroine to make love because it seems that in most romance novels, that's where the intensity of the plot really grabs you and the emotional investment you have in the characters escalates. However, I found myself so caught up in this story and the evolution of the sweet love between Corliss and Rainulf that I knew things could only unfold as they did. And when the two finally give in to their love and their desire for each other, it is all the sweeter for the journey it took to get there.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I enjoyed every word on every page. The scene in the church when Corliss and Rainulf sneak in to hear the music and must hide from the abbot made me laugh out loud. The night that Corliss is attacked and nearly raped and killed, Rainulf gently tends to her and as she sits in the tub and sobs, he comforts her. I literally cried with her. That was one of the most beautiful scenes I've ever read in any novel.

I will be keeping this book on my shelf and going back to it often.... You must NOT miss this wonderful story....

This is one of the best books I have ever read! I am baffled at the news that it is out of print. What is wrong with the reading public? The story was so touching, so filled with emotion and tenderness. I loved it and hope I did not give away my copy.

Excellent medieval fiction, wonderful storyline. For those of you who want stories written about how women would have really behaved during these times - well, this isn't your story. But Ryan has a wonderful knack for taking characters from this time, making then adapt some "modern" characteristics - but in a way that melds them seamlessly into medieval society. I'd read two others by her - Sun and the Moon and Silken Threads (both wonderful) and tracked this one down. It was worth the effort. Corliss and Rainulf are spectacular, two individuals who need to be their own person but also need each other. The supporting characters create a fascinating story that will keep you up late at night, not wanting to put the story down. Ryan also does a fabulous job of building the passionate tension between Corliss and Rainulf and bringing them together in a memorable fashion.

It is the twelfth century when women are usually treated as objects to serve men. Reading about true love is rare and times are harsh. Marriages among high society are usually arranged and rarely do you hear of love between a commoner and someone from the upper class.

Young Constance attracts the evil Sir Roger's attention and agrees to live with a much older man and a member of the cloth. She loses her virginity to pay the price of being safe. During this time she is taught to read.

Some years later the pox is going around and the priest dies. Rainulf Fairfax, a scholar and visiting priest, meets the young woman during this time. Constance catches the illness and Rainulf helps her. He finds her special and kind. Believing her to be on the mend, he continues on his way not realizing how much she has affected him. In the meantime, Constance finds out that Sir Roger still wants her but not for a healthy relationship. She fixes her 'death' and takes off.

In the meantime Rainulf is shocked when he hears that she passed away. Hiding her identity now, Constance is now Corliss and looks like a boy. She meets Rainulf again and he guesses who she is and decides to protect her. Though no longer a priest he has plans that will take him higher up the ladder in the church. Celibate for years he must continue sexual abstinence if he wants the position he covets. Corliss' actions and wisdom slowly chip away at Rainulf's shell. Can he protect her from Sir Roger? Is he willing to give up his dreams and love another above what he wants the most?

While an enjoyable romance, some elements were hard to believe. This is a difficult time to write about since many people were illiterate and it is an era where much about the lay people is not known. It took me over a week to finish the story. There was some bite to the plot but I can't say I remembered the characters long after I completed the book. Hence, why I rated it three stars.


It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are. ~Roy Disney

I must admit, I mainly get on here to write reviews when I've finished a totally awful book, mostly to warn people so they do not waste their time. However, then there are times like now (rarely) where I'm just amazed at a book and I just want to tell EVERYONE how wonderful it was. This is one of those how-spectacular-I-found-this book moments.

HEAVEN'S FIRE, is a emotional, angst filled love story about a low-born peasant girl falling in love with a high-born devouted priest. Great writing, wonderful character development, highly sexual when they do end up in bed and just "interesting"...

To add further info to this very unusual love story, the heroine is 23 yrs old, by this time she's already berried a husband (older man)... been a mistress to another priest for 4 years.... The hero is very devout, a true hero in every sense.

If you're looking for a romance book where you see the H/H in bed every 5 pages, skip this... what you'll get from reading this is a great love story. They do have passionate sex, but not until much later ( then they go at it like rabbits lol ).... and then, you'll cry some, then cry some more because you'll be happy for them.

I haven't been this impressed with a romance book in SO long.. THIS book was absolutely wonderful.

This is SO worth reading. The characters are not your typical romance novel ones who see each other and are attracted to each other for no reason. In fact, they meet each other when the woman is dying of the pox. The priest helps her to dig her grave and nurses her while she has a high fever. THe woman is not the requisite virgin who keeps herself pure until she meets the man who will forever change her. Instead, she's a pluck, independent lass who simply wants to live her life as she believes she has the right to. This independence gets her in trouble, but not annoyingly so.

This is a true love story between two characters who don't WANT to love each other, but who can't help it because they've grown to love each other.

Definitely worth reading. While the characters do not hop into bed immediately, when they do, it's hot, hot, hot. :o)

This book was absolutely incredible. I could not stop reading I stayed up all night just to finish it. LOVE IT!

....to read a book set in this time period. And with a unique storyline involving the two main characters. Never a dull moment. This was my first Patricia Ryan book and I will definitely be reading more.

This is one of the best and the most original romance you could find on the market. It's gritty, real, spellbinding and moving all in one. This author will move you to tears in joy and anger.... I highly recommend this book!

I wish this author wrote romance again, please, Ms Ryan, we need more authors with your talent in this genre! Please write more romance novels!

I won't review the plot as it has been done very well by the other reviewers.

I will just say that I loved this book - Rainulf was the perfect hero and Corliss was well written.

I wasn't sure I would like Corliss (based on her past) but I ended up loving her and rooting for her to get her happy ending.

In short this book made me laugh, cry, gasp and sigh!