Ride the Fire (Leisure Historical Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Pamela Clare (Author)

Book Description

Series: Leisure Historical Romance | Publication Date: November 2008

Pregnant and alone on the wild frontier, a woman must decide whether to allow a wounded, buckskin-clad stranger into her cabin--and eventually into her heart.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sexy, sensitive and resourceful frontiersman Nicholas Kenleigh, Clare's gloriously larger-than-life hero, will seduce readers as he wins the heart of young widow Elspeth Stewart. Elspeth is eight months pregnant and struggling to survive without the help of a man when a wounded Nicholas comes along and demands her aid. Smart enough not to say no to a scruffy-looking trapper with a revolver, Elspeth takes him in, tends to his wound and then ties him up for her own protection. What follows is a taut, sensual adventure during which the two protagonists find love and discover that braving the many hardships of the frontier (and the dark corners of their pasts) is best done together. Through her tight plotting and deft descriptions of the Ohio wilderness, Clare keeps the suspense level high. As her characters state often throughout, the first rule of the frontier is survival, and Clare does an excellent job of depicting the constant struggle to stay alive.
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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Leisure Books; First Edition edition (November 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0843954876
• ISBN-13: 978-0843954876
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #327,069 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Colorado author Pamela Clare began her writing career as a columnist and investigative reporter and eventually became the first woman editor-in-chief of two different newspapers. Along the way, she and her team won numerous state and national honors, including the National Journalism Award for Public Service and the Keeper of the Flame Lifetime Achievement Award. A single mother with two college-aged sons, she writes historical romance and contemporary romantic suspense within view of the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply OUTSTANDING, February 28, 2005

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ride the Fire (Leisure Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Setting - Ohio wilderness, 1757 --- Nicholas Kenleigh had served in the army, been captured and tortured by the Indians, and then escaped. The things he'd done and been forced to do, the killing or be killed - the will to survive, had changed him. He'd gone home but, dead inside, he felt for the sake of his family he'd be better off alone. Six years roaming the wilderness he was attacked once more, killing his attacker but left with a mortal wound that would surely have killed him had he not happened upon the farm of the widow Elspeth Stewart.

Elspeth, better known as Bethie, was widowed, pregnant, and trusted no man, given her history of abuse at the hands of her step-father and step-brother. She'd been married off to a man old enough to be her father who though treated her kindly, did so without any great affection. When Nicholas appeared -- looking as much like a savage as any others she'd seen, she didn't trust him at all, particularly when he stuck a pistol to her temple, forcing her to help him. Nicholas, weak from loss of blood, and after having his wound cauterized found himself at her mercy once Bethie was able to slip him a drug to knock him out. As he convalesced, Elspeth came to accept his presence, and thankfully he was there to help with the complicated delivery of her baby or both she and the child would have died. Unfortunately, their peaceful co-existence would be shattered when an old enemy came to call and they would have to rely on each other as they raced just ahead of marauding Indians in search of safety. Somewhere along the journey, Elspeth had slipped into Nicholas' heart bringing him back to the land of the living, and Nicholas knew he would do whatever it took to give her all the love in his heart as he began the slow process of healing both her heart and soul.


**** WOW! Captured by savages, whose method of torturing their enemies was probably more detailed than I needed to know, the author pulls you into an amazing, sensually romantic adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning! As the second novel I've read by this author, I have to say she positively rocks! The historical events are well researched and the characters are brought to life with a perfectly sumptuous sensuality that will raise your temperature and send you in search of your partner for some loving of your own. Nicholas' body and soul had been brutally bruised yet he was able to help Bethie back from her trauma to begin the healing in her, thereby healing himself - awesome! Whew, this was one deliciously steamy and exhilarating read that I highly recommend!
--- Marilyn, for www.romancedesigns.com ---

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best yet! Magnificent historical romance!, February 25, 2005

By 

Suzanne Tucker "Reviewer" (Anoka, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ride the Fire (Leisure Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

His body was on fire as burning embers were placed in pockets cut deep into his flesh, just the first of many insults dealt to his body by the Wyandot Indians. It took every ounce of strength, every bit of courage he possessed, but Nicholas Kenleigh would not utter a sound as he suffered pain and torture far worse than any man should ever have to endure. He had all but resigned himself to death. But there was only one rule on the frontier - SURVIVAL.

Even though Nicholas already felt dead inside, there still beat the heart of a man strong with principles, a man who could show kindness and compassion, all the feelings deeply buried from a childhood of privilege and filled with love. It took the chance meeting of Elspeth Stewart to awaken him and direct him on the path of rebirth.

Bethie is a widow, alone on the frontier, expecting her first child and very much afraid. Nicholas rides into her small homestead, half dead, pointing a gun at her and threatening her safety. He swears not to harm her or her unborn child. And for the short time she shelters him, to protect her at all cost. Then he will leave and return to the only life he is fit to live.

But as Nicholas and Bethie spend time together, the healing begins and their desire for each other grows. They both have their own shadows, their painful pasts. Nicholas wants to be the man who heals her, soothes her fears, teaches her about pleasure. Could Nicholas, the man who trusts no one, win Bethie's trust? Could Nicholas, with his scarred body, heal her hidden wounds?

Nicholas awakens longings in Bethie she didn't know she possessed. She soon finds it safe to touch him, to want him, to give herself to him without hesitation, without pain, without fear. Bethie cannot image a single sunrise without her Nicholas. Heaven and earth sing when they touch each other; these two beautiful and gentle tortured souls. Together they heal and love and RIDE THE FIRE.

When I first read about Pamela Clare in RT announcing her debut novel, SWEET RELEASE, I knew I had to read it. And read it I did. It overwhelmed me. I was overjoyed to find out there was going to be a sequel, CARNAL GIFT. I was left breathless once again. I didn't think stories could get any better; not until I read RIDE THE FIRE, the perfect ending to a remarkable trilogy. Words cannot express how magnificent it is. The passion with which Ms. Clare writes is overwhelming, humbling, incredible. RIDE THE FIRE is a brilliant masterpiece to be savored like a fine wine. It is a journey to hell and back, with characters so rich, so endearing, you can almost hear their voices, smell their scent, feel their heartbeats. You glory in their strength, celebrate their joy, feel their love; a true journy of the heart. If you read only one author in 2005, give yourself a gift and make it Pamela Clare. Even though RIDE THE FIRE stands alone in its beauty and magnificence, treat yourself to the whole trilogy. I will hold these stories in my heart forever. You will, too.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Two wounded souls that will grab your heart from the start!, October 7, 2005

By 

Michelle Crisp "goodonewilson" (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ride the Fire (Leisure Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

I really liked Ride the fire. Granted, the tortue scene was graphic, but to me that made it all the more gut wrenching. It made me FEEL. Whether it's a good feeling or a bad one, empathy is a driving force in all fiction be it romance or otherwise.
I liked the way Pamela Clare drew out the mystery surounding the hero and heroine's past, giving away just enough to make want to know more.
Bethie was a lovely character with a lot of heart and I liked her imediately. Nicolas was fantastic! Anyone would be hard pressed to not love him. His chatacter was so earthly and believable - given the circumstances.
Overall, a fantastic read, with chatacters that will grab your heart and not let go!