Customer Reviews

Night of Fire

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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

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!

I enjoyed Basilio so much that it made me mad. I know that romance novels are about wish fulfillment, but Barbara Samuels literally left me aching because Basilio is way too wonderful to be true.

That said, what a sensuous, enjoyable read! The settings are so vividly detailed that I felt I had been to Italy, and stood on the balcony with Cassandra (nice touch on her name, although this Cassandra finds an audience for her truths). My only complaint is that the ending was not as vivid, detailed, and thought out as the rest of the book, which makes for a real letdown for a book that you don't want to end.

I have read dozens of historial romances, and this is by far one of the best. 'Night of Fire' held me captivated from the first page to the last. This love story is so beautiful and pure!!! I was physically moved by the passion and love between Cassandra and her Basilio. I am so very glad that I picked up this book. It will hold a place as one of my favorites, and I am sure to read it again and again.

This is one of the most beautiful, heart rending love stories I have ever read. Two wonderful people and so much in love. As a hero Basilio is one of the strongest, yet gentlest, with a beautiful heart. Loved every word and the biblical verse she refers to is one of my favorites including the 11th Commandment. A definite keeper and recommended read.

Cassandra St. Ives is somewhat enigmatic in the first book, The Black Angel. You might have thought her a bluestocking with her salons and translations. The second book, Night of Fire, brings her more to life.

Like in the previous novel, Barbara Samuel uses exquisite poetic language that evokes all five senses: "brown liquid like chocolate in the sun," "the light around her splintered, turned gilded, bathing her heart, her mind, he soul with it," "gossamer light of a full moon," and "a breath of sea-scented wind flutters over a candle and threatens to put me in the dark," are just teasers for the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches. The theme of poetry continues in the letters between Basilio and Cassandra, as well as the poems he writes for her, and the dialogue between them. The author also knows when to stop: she can take a piece of poetry before it gets overdone and then change into the narrative of the characters' feelings.

There is a sense of foreboding, and then heartache right from 20% into the book that is not relieved until 95%. In the meantime Cassandra and Basilio have romantic encouters that include beautiful but not explicit sex scenes. One thing I don't like is her use of the word 'sex' where most historical fiction writers would use the words 'love-making' or similar phrase. Back then, sex implied only gender.

The author has incorporated a lot of ideas that are correct for the period, for example, that many people would be scandalized by a woman writer.

There were some spots were the POV changed quite abruptly and I had to go back to reread it to figure it out. Also, the writer does not get into the fact that it would have been incredibly difficult for Analise to find a Catholic church in the late 18th century in England.

There. I have found a few nit-picking details to balance out an otherwise gushingly admiring review.

This book is definitely worth way more than the 99 cents I paid for it. It is definitely better than the first book which I also loved. I'm waiting for another St. Ives book. After all, there are five sisters!

I don't think i have read a book that had me so full of emotions. this book was like a good suspenseful movie. I just could not stand it and had to fast forward about 3/4 of the way through. I just had to know if they ended up together... i could not stand it any longer. I usually don't skip in a book, but i was so in love with the characters i had to know the end. The author is so good and pulling at your emotions and making you fall in love with the characters. I give this book at 4.5 b/c it was tooo emotional for me...lol!

I can only thnk to compare this story to Romeo and Juliet with a happier ending. What a romantc pleasure. To love and to be loved like this... oh my!

This story, set in Tuscany and London, is very different from the historical romances I have read by Barbara Samuel. The focus is almost entirely on the love and passion between Cassandra and Basilio - a deeply personal and intense journey, rather than one forced by dramatic historical events.

They are already familiar, having enjoyed intellectual exchange in many letters written over 2 years. Assuming that she is an older widow, Basilio invites her to Italy and she accepts, also assuming that he is an older man and therefore `safe'.

As soon as they see each other it is clear that their attraction is not limited to the mind. Each one feels drawn to the other in a sensual and passionate response.

As a widow, Cassandra is free and has no intention of marrying again. Her late husband was a cruel man and she suffered physical abuse that has left her nervous and sceptical about any new lover. She is also reluctant to relinquish her freedom and independence.

Basilio is betrothed to a young girl although neither one wants the marriage. He cares about Analise and wants to spare her a worse fate than marrying him. She is a devout and unworldly girl, brought up in a convent and her dearest wish has always been to become a nun.

Cassandra and Basilio become lovers but events drive them apart as they have too much integrity to hurt others, especially the innocent Analise.

Cassandra, Basilio and Analise are all caught in a web that is not of their making and their story is very moving.