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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Surprisingly addicitive!, July 14, 2000
This book is, on first appearances, far less a part of the Fallen Angels series than any of the others, except perhaps Angel Rogue. Kenneth's claim to being a part of this series lies in his minor role in Shattered Rainbows (a much less significant role than Robin's in Petals in the Storm). Kenneth, in Rainbows, was an officer promoted from the ranks and a friend of Michael's - though not a close friend. We also learned that, although he hid it, he was the son of a viscount. In River of Fire, Kenneth has inherited the viscountcy, but with it a mountain of debts and a mortgaged estate. His principal creditor offers him the bargain which other reviews have explained, and out of desperation he accepts. The relationship between Kenneth and Rebecca is fiery and difficult, but it quickly turns to passion, a passion reflected in their paintings. I have to admit that I found their rationale for not wanting marriage to each other, first raised fairly early in the book, a little far-fetched: while Kenneth was certainly deceiving Rebecca, he was already confident that Sir Anthony was not what his brother suspected, and so it wouldn't have been too difficult to tell at least part of the truth and make it clear that a betrothal wasn't anathema to him. There are cameo appearances aplenty by other characters in the Fallen Angels series, which was good to see; Rafe in particular plays a highly typical and very funny role, and Michael and Lucien use their talents to good effect. Incidentally, the book summary displayed above is incorrect. Kenneth was never a spy; he was a reconnaisance officer, which is not the same thing. The 'master spies' in this series were Lucien, Robin and Margot.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An exquisitely emotional read, January 8, 2000
Kenneth Wilding, Viscount Kimball, a former reconnaisance officer for Wellington, is hired to infiltrate Sir Anthony Seaton's household and discover if Sir Anthony is responsible for the death of his wife the previous summer. He hates to take a position of spying on people, but his late father and his wife impovishered the family estate, so much so that there is not even a dowry left for Kenneth's sister. Kenneth sees no other way to save his family's estate, so he applies for the job of personal secretary to Sir Anthony, who is a well-known artist. Kenneth was interested in art when he was young, and showed some talent, but his father felt that drawing and painting were not acceptable diversions for gentlemen. Now, however, Kenneth's knowledge helps him get the job. Sir Anthony's daughter, Rebecca, is a spinster who was ruined by a foolish elopement attempt years ago when she was only seventeen. Since then, she has shunned Society as it has shunned her, and has preferred only to paint in her attic studio. Society is also not ready to accept that a woman can be a gifted artist, but Rebecca tells herself it doesn't matter; her art is only for herself. Kenneth is intrigued by Rebecca, whose ideas and personality are different from those of any other woman he's ever met. He feels worse and worse about the deceit he is using against her and her father--but there must be justice, and if Sir Anthony killed his wife, justice must be served. If only there could be any other ending than Rebecca hating him once she finds out why he is really in her home... RIVER OF FIRE is intense and emotional, at time dark, but never depressing. Putney has done wonders at revealing the soul, creative insight, temperament, and world of visual artists. This is only the second novel I've read (THE PORTRAIT by Megan Chance was the first) that so inspired me that I, not a visual artist, was moved to try to put my emotions on paper with color and form via a visual medium--and it was exhilarating. That's how exquisite RIVER OF FIRE is. Kimberly Borrowdale Under the Covers Book Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This is more like it!, June 6, 2006
After waiting for two years to collect the Fallen Angels books (so that I could read them all in a row), I've been very dissapointed in the series so far, with the exception of THUNDER AND ROSES. Now, after reading RIVER OF FIRE, my faith in Putney's writing ability is restored.
My main complaints with a lot of the other books in the Fallen Angels series was that the love story would get shoved onto the back burner while the mystery/intrigue took centre stage. This really annoyed me, as I want the romance to be the central theme in the story. That's why I read romance, and not historical fiction, because I want a story that is primarily a love story. RIVER OF FIRE delivers on that front. However, if you want a mystery where the villian is less obvious, then you might be a bit dissapointed. Yet, even though I had a pretty good idea who the villian was, Putney still kept me turning pages. The final showdown with the villian was well-executed. When I reached the last few chapters of the book I just couldn't put it down.
The characters were both well-drawn, and ones that I cared about. I cheered for them to get together. They were both flawed in human ways, but not overly flawed as to be unlikeable. That's a difficult balance for an author to strike, and I applaud Putney for a job well done. I also liked the peek into the art world. As someone who has studied music, much of what she said about painting (like how the desire to create art is like a fire in the blood) made sense to me. The way Putney used a shared love of art to draw the characters together reminded me a lot of the way she used nature to to do the same thing in THE WILD CHILD.
It should be noted that while this book is part of a series (book six), RIVER OF FIRE also works as a stand-alone. Though characters from previous books do make appearances, the reader won't be left feeling confused at all. And there are no loose threads to be tied up in the next book. I wasn't left with any questions at the end.
Not the best work Putney has ever done, but RIVER OF FIRE is a very enjoyable read, and I do recommend it. Other worthy works by this author include THE WILD CHILD, THE RAKE, and SILK AND SHADOWS.
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