Seize the Fire [Mass Market Paperback]

Laura Kinsale (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2008

The plump, innocent, exiled princess of a tiny country seeks help from a jaded, cynical Naval hero with post-traumatic stress, who thinks to steal her jewels as well as her innocence, and finds himself immersed in a love so deep it threatens to tear them both apart.

"A writer who always provides a triumphant novel."-Affaire de Coeur (20081001)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Laura Kinsale's SEIZE THE FIRE is a royal tale unlike any other I've read. It is wonderfully broad in scope, taking the reader on an unforgettable adventure. (Kay James Romance Reader at Heart )

Another great from the great. In intensity and sense of rollicking adventure... (Jessica Miller Racy Romance Reviews )

From the Author

Update on Kindle editions 10/2010: Some of my ebook editions have been removed temporarily while the copy errors noted by alert readers are being corrected and new digital covers created. The affected books are THE PRINCE OF MIDNIGHT, UNCERTAIN MAGIC, MIDSUMMER MOON, SEIZE THE FIRE, and THE HIDDEN HEART. My thanks to readers for bringing my attention to this problem. I appreciate your patience! We'll have the New and Improved editions available soon and I'll note that here. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402213964
• ISBN-13: 978-1402213960
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #818,911 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Finally, my Medieval Hearts series is now available for the Kindle. Looking for an unusual romance where the dark, tortured character is the heroine instead of the hero? FOR MY LADY'S HEART is Melanthe's story. Then in SHADOWHEART, the assassin Allegreto will take you deeper into his black heart than you may have thought you were willing to go...

I've designed the new covers myself, and it's been great fun. One of the perks of ebooks is a bit more author input on covers. Wait till you see the new MIDSUMMER MOON cover...hedgehogs anyone?

***
Laura Kinsale is a New York Times bestselling author and both winner and multiple nominee for the Best Book of the Year award given by the Romance Writers of America. Her novel FLOWERS FROM THE STORM was chosen by readers of Glamour Magazine and the Washington Post as one of the Greatest Love Stories of All Time.

Laura believes that a romance novel can be more. More fascinating characters than you ever anticipated. More unexpected depth. Emotion to engage your heart and your mind. Stories that keep you awake and words you will remember long after you close the book.

Whenever readers list their "Desert Isle Keepers," the books they couldn't live without, Laura Kinsale's award-winning historical romances are included near the top.

Why a puppy for an author photo? There have been a few fake author pages on the web purporting to be Laura. So whenever you see a picture of Ventoux the Peter Pan of Great Pyrenees dogs, you know it's authentic Laura Kinsale.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An unforgettable, intense book--my favorite by Laura Kinsale, May 18, 2004

By 

Casey V (London, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seize the Fire (Paperback)

Usually I give a plot synopsis of the book under review, but I think in this case I'll just give my reactions to the protagonists, because that's what the book is basically about: Sheridan Drake, naval hero, blackguard, and secret musician, and Olympia, exiled princess and misguided, naive revolutionary. Sheridan is the very flawed but very vulnerable hero of STF. He can act so despicably that he leaves other alpha jerks in the dust, but there are glimpses of deep nobility in him that prevents him from being a total villain. As the story progresses, his actions make it obvious that he is inherently honorable (and this is important--Kinsale *shows* rather than simply telling that he's decent), but that life has given him hard knocks and he's had to do make difficult choices in his life just to survive. His life up to when he meets Olympia has been aimless, but being with her causes him to re-evaluate his life and to believe in goodness again.

Olympia by herself is not an instantly loveable character, but then I don't think she's meant to be. In the beginning, the best thing that can be said about her is that she has principles and that she tries to stick to them. She's very aware of her shortcomings and we sympathize with her when she feels hopeless to reach Sheridan when he retreats into himself. Her experiences with him make her stronger and slowly remove her rose-colored glasses. Both of them gradually show incredible depth. Their relationship as a couple--how they struggle to help each other overcome their demons, and also how they bring out the best in each other--is truly beautiful and poignant. They know that they love each other, but just knowing that is not enough, and they have to fight and go through a lot of pain in order to stay together. This is what elevates the love between these two above and beyond what is normally encountered in romance novels. They are two outsiders who will probably always remain outside of society, so basically they have the world in each other. That may sound extreme but it's entirely fitting for both characters.

The pacing of the plot in this book is less than stellar, and some aspects of the Turkish slavery/Arabian capture were confusing. However, by this point, I was too engrossed in their relationship to really care. Ms. Kinsale is one of the best authors out there when it comes to exploring a relationship; she finds ways to describe human emotions that just grab you and make them seem real. Normally I'm not a weeper, but I'll be darned if this book didn't make me cry two--OK, three times. I re-read it and it still moves me. Seize the Fire may not be for everyone, and you have to be in a certain mood to really get into it, but do give it a try; it's sure to be a memorable experience.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lesson One : The Hardest One to Learn., September 22, 2004

By 

M. I. "krushedvelvet" (Old Bridge, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Seize the Fire (Paperback)

Olympia St. Ledger is a princess. A princess in trouble. She is being forced into marriage with her uncle so that he may gain the throne.

Alone and afraid, Olympia seeks out the help of Sir Sheridan Drake, a decorated war hero. Sheridan agrees to accompany her and offer his aid in a mission to save both Olympia and her country. Sheridan's and Olympia's relationship blossoms into an intense love affair as together they survive many hardships at the hands of those who want to stop them. It is during this journey that Olympia learns not only of loyalty and courage, but that things are not always as they seem.

"Seize the fire" was an AMAZING read. It was a very emotionally intense story that left me feeling a bit drained and sad at times, but wow was it worth it. I loved The characters of Olympia and Sheridan. Sheridan especially was unforgettable. He was so tortured, and clever, and cynical to the point where it was amusing. His personality was brilliantly created by Kinsale.

"Seize the Fire" is yet another example of Laura Kinsale's unbelievable talent. I have read much of her work, but I have to say that this may very well be her best IMO.

A DEFINITE keeper.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars anguished anti-hero, December 14, 2004

By 

J. Garza "alittleniu" (Honolulu, HI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seize the Fire (Paperback)

Sheridan is a more realistic character than I've run across in any romance book. He has fears and nightmares and though it may be selfish he survives for himself. You want to hate him for his callousness but at the same time he's slowly revealed to us as a man who was forced into ugly realities of war at the age of 10. He survives through guilt and the tortures of his past and nightmares of the present by being the way he is. On the outside he's labelled a hero for his deeds but he feels no glory in it as many veterans don't. He doesn't go looking for it but it seems to follow him none the less Like many of Linda Kinsales characters he has many many layers.

The Princess I didn't like in the beginning because she was naive to the point of being annoying but through out the book she grows and then I did come to like her and found her to the perfect chink in Sheridan's imperfect armor. He may not be a great hero but he's her hero.

A truly emotional read and the kind romance I love.