Night of Fire [Mass Market Paperback]

Barbara Samuel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2000

Lady Cassandra St. Ives had sworn off marriage ever since becoming a happy widow, but lately her affections have been engaged by a mysterious, long distance correspondent. Cassandra has shared her soul with her far-off admirer, and whe he invites her to visit his home she accepts the invitation gladly. Expecting a kindly of gentleman, Cassandra is stunned to find that Count Basilio Montevarchi is a virile man in his prime who knows her heart's most intimate desires--and is only too willng to fulfill every one...

The moment Basilio sets eyes on the vibrant beauty he recognizes a soul mate he will never be able to claim as his own. A long-standing betrothal--and the honor of his family--dictate that Basilio must deny himself Cassandra's love. Still they cannot deny the force of their passion until the confines of responsibility finally force them apart. Now Basilio must find a way to keep his heart's desire--before he loses her forever.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"She is one the most gifted romance writers." -- --Mary Jo Putney

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon Books (December 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061013919
• ISBN-13: 978-0061013911
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,255,734 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Barbara Samuel has won the highly prestigious RITA award 6 times, and has been a finalist many times more. She has more than 30 books to her credit, including 8 titles of women's fiction.

She has made her way by writing since she was eighteen, penning newspaper and magazine articles, columns and opinion, before settling in with an ancient IBM typewriter and even more ancient house, rescued from the wrecking ball, to write fiction.

She also writes as Barbara O'Neal for Bantam books, and you can read more of her blogs and stories at www.awriterafoot.com and www.barbaraoneal.com.

Barbara lives in Colorado with her partner Christopher Robin, a British endurance athlete who insisted Barbara could learn to orienteer (the jury is still out), a high strung and beautiful chow mix, and two cats, all rescues. Her great passions are reading and writing, walking and travel, and she's happiest when she can combine them all in some exotic locale.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good characters worthy of a better book, December 18, 2000

By 

Tate (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night of Fire (Mass Market Paperback)

I feel that I should have liked this book a lot more than I did. Indeed, I liked the first half a lot, but became disenchanted with the role they played in the book as it went on.

Lady Cassandra St. Ives and Count Basilio Montevarchi have become pen pals of sorts after the Italian count read one of her essays. He invites her to his villa, believing her older than she is, and is immediately attracted to this young woman who seems to understand his poet's soul. Although Cassandra has vowed never to fall in love or put herself in a man's power again, she can't help but fall in love and desire this gentle man who recognizes and appreciates her intelligence. However, Basilio is engaged to another woman which prevents them from immediately acting on their attraction for each other. But after several days in each other's company, they can't help succumbing to their mutual feelings. Basilio vows to break off his engagement, but because of a series of unfortunate events, ends up marrying the young woman.

The second half of the book is dedicated to the struggle of Basilio, Cassandra, and Basilio's wife to come to terms with their present while wishing for a different future. Basilio's wife has always wanted to be a nun and was forced in to marriage by her ambitious father. Basilio wants to write poetry more than run his father's business interests, and Cassandra wants to get back to the independent life without emotional attachments she had before she met Basilio.

I liked the premise of this book, for it is somewhat different than the usual totured hero who needs to be saved by the heroine. Cassandra and Basilio actually heal and free each other from their emotional pasts before they are eventually forced to part. But the book went downhill after that. I am not sure why the book failed to engage me after that, it may be that a book that had been intensely intimate in the first half, failed to be so in the second. I felt that I had lost the Basilio and the Cassandra that I began to know when they were in Italy. In the end, I urge you to try the book for yourself, for it is definately better than a lot of the novels out there today.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful stoy and writing, December 5, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night of Fire (Mass Market Paperback)

After exchanging letters for two years on various subjects such as the work of Boccaccio, Basilio Montevarchi invites Cassandra St. Ives to visit him in Italy. Both think the other is much older than they really are and are delightfully surprised by their mistake. They are immediately attracted to one another, but he acts honorably because he is betrothed to Analise diCanio, an engagement arranged by their parents.

However, unable to deny his love for Cassandra, Basilio sends letters to his father and Analise announcing the end of his engagement before finally making love with Cassandra. However, he is forced to stick with his commitment to Analise. Basilio marries her while a sad Cassandra returns to her home in England. Basilio and his wife travel to England where he realizes he still loves Cassandra, but knows they have no future together.

Award winning author Barbara Samuels writes a powerful historical love story that emphasizes romance. The entertaining Georgian romance stars three honorable individuals struggling with commitments and honor. The heart of NIGHT OF FIRE is the romance that leaves the audience wanting more from this multiple RITA winning writer.

Harriet Klausner

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, June 2, 2004

By 

SusieQ (New York) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Night of Fire (Mass Market Paperback)

Finally, after reading through an ocean of 2- & 3-star crapola, I've found an author who combines romance with sensuality. This one is a keeper, absolutely. Beautiful plot & believable characters you can care about! It's like a miracle. Thanks, Barbara Samuel!