Customer Reviews

Winter Fire

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Set in 1763 England, Jo Beverley's Winter Fire tells the story of Genova Smith, an impoverished companion, and the Marquess of Ashart. He is a womanizing, "tortured" nobleman, who apparently is dominated by his grandmother. His plan in this book? Destroy the Malloren's, Beverley's characters from previous books.
I can't say I loved this book, but neither did I hate it. The beginning is a bit complicated, with too many things happening at once, and the author does not manage to describe the scenes well. Once I passed page 30, things started to make sense.
If you enjoy explicit sex scenes, this is not for you, there is one, almost at the end. But if light romance is what you are looking for...go ahead, and buy it.

Setting - England 1763 --- In an effort to escape the home of her father and his new wife, Genova Smith found herself accompanying the elderly Trayce ladies, Lady Calliope and Lady Thalia to Christmas revelries at Rothgar Abbey as their companion. The tedium of the journey ended abruptly as they stopped to aid another carriage on the road. Requesting assistance, the woman, identifying herself as Mrs. Dash, requested that Genova transport the woman's child and his wet nurse to the next inn to await the arrival of Mr. Dash. Mr. Dash turned out to be the dashing and devastatingly handsome Marquess of Ashart, who just happened to be the great nephew of the Ladies Calliope and Thalia. Handsome as he was, Genova was disturbed that he refused to acknowledge the child as his and seemed more intent on vexing her with some very disturbing kisses. After discovering that his Aunts were on their way to Rothgar Abbey to visit his mortal enemy and cousin, the Marquess of Rothgar, Ash agreed to accompany them the following morning.

Unfortunately, through a series of mishaps, the next morning found both both Ash and Genova in a compromising situation, which was witnessed by two other travelers. Lady Thalia quickly covered up the imminent ruin of Genova's virtuous reputation by claiming that Genova and Ash were secretly engaged. Agreeing to carrying out the façade of a loving couple for a few days before a public breakup, Genova found that there was more to the man than his purposeful attempt to destroy his mortal enemy. While playing at pretending to be in love, Genova discovered that her feelings for him had changed. Freeing him would be the right thing to do but it would leave her with a broken heart as she had fallen hard and deep in love with the dashing devil.

Although, this was Ashart's story, featured prominently as a secondary but important player in the story, was Rothgar and of course, he was as intoxicating and sexy as always. So, in effect, what the author has given us are two heroes in one amazingly wonderful story! Discovering and proving paternity of the child was secondary to the building of a peaceful pact of peace between the cousins and the dialogs and verbal duels were fabulous with all three players taking part - Ash, Genova, and Rothgar in this fully robust and skillfully plotted confrontation. Beverley is a remarkable storyteller who once more brings Georgian England to life with golden prose and emotional feeling into one more beautifully written romance. Awesome stuff from one of the stellar authors in this genre! --- Marilyn, Official Reviewer for www.historicalromancewriters.com ---

This book gave me an afternoon of pleasant reading and a fresh new story with familiar characters. I missed Rosa and Brand, but was happy for the dialogue with Portia. The style is different than the other Malloren novels, instead Winter Fire reads a lot like Beverley's Christmas Regencies such as Christmas Angel and Forbidden Magic. If you want frequent juicy sex scenes this is not the book. If you want a sweet romance that is satisfying in plot and character development (still containing a bout of sizzling sex) this is for you. I enjoyed the book and will read it again before Christmas.

As an avid reader of romance, you learn to keep the expectations low. That's why it's such a high to find a book of real quality. Beverly breaks with formulaic romantic traditions to give us a hero who is far from perfect, and a heroine with troubles that one can relate to. Both are completely likeable and engaging characters and their story is one you won't want to put down. The pleasure is only added to by the reintroduction of our favorite Mallorens, but they do not dominate the book in any fashion. We also meet new and quirky characters, but again, Beverly shows her skill as an author in that these secondary characters perfom a function other than just filling in the blank pages. If I had to complain about anything, I would say it would be nice if she could be a little more discreet in setting up the plot for her follow up book, but this is a small sin. In the final anaylsis, we have a compelling and satisfying love story with no melodrama. Finally!

In many senses, this book was not what I expected when I first learned that Jo Beverley was going to write another Malloren novel.

For one thing, I had expected, or rather would have wished, for the story to take place at least a couple of years after the end of "Devilish". Since the whole issue in that book was the fear of Rothgar of getting married and having children, I would have wanted to see him and Diana happily married after a few years and with at least one child. I wanted to see him free of his demons and as the wonderful father I know he could be. But then I had also expected Winter Fire to be the last of the Malloren books, obviously, it won't be so, so maybe in the next, we will see Rothgar as a happy father.

Another thing that dissapointed me a little was that the book was rather short. I can never get enough of the Mallorens.

I also found Diana in this book a little haughy and cool. Specially at the beginning. I was hoping to find the spirited woman that I remembered from "Devilish", but instead she was every inch the countess except for the few moments when she interacted with Bey, but there weren't many of those.

About the main characters-Ashart and Genova-I liked them, but they were not as unforgatable as the Mallorens. Maybe because this book was more like a family reunion that a real romance novel. There was romance, don't misunderstand me, but sometimes I felt that the main characters were eclipsed by the Malloren family. The story takes place almost completely at Rothgar Abbey, during Christmas, and I think that in a way the problems between the Mallorens and the Trayces took precedence over the romance.

And one last thing, please Jo Beverley, include more love scenes in your novels. I'm not saying that the book should be about this only, but it certainly spices things up a little. And only one, almost at the end of the book is not enough. Sometimes I think that if I could mix together Stephanie Laurens hot love scenes with Jo Beverley's interesting plots and some of Judith MacNaught emotionally charged scenes I would have the perfect romance novel.

But in spite of all this, I enjoyed the book very much. The dialogues were witty and charged, the book was well written and it is always nice to meet again old friends like the Mallorens. May there be many more books about them!

Genova Smith, spinster daughter of a naval captain, is befriended by the Ladies Trace and taken with them as their companion to spend Christmas at Rothgar Abbey, home of their great-nephew the Marquess of Rothgar. On the way, they are obliged to take a baby into their care, to be handed to its father at the next inn. The `father' turns out to be the Maquess of Ashart, their other great-nephew, who strenuously denies all responsibility for the child. Genova doesn't believe him, however - and Ash's behaviour is very strange, given that he freely admits knowing and having been intimate with the child's mother.

Ashart, who has been in some disfavour with the king of late, suspects a plot to discredit him - and he thinks that the plot originates with Rothgar. So he takes advantage of having been caught in a compromising position with Genova to claim that they are engaged, since this gives him an excuse to accompany his great-aunts to Rothgar Abbey.

Readers of the Malloren series will be aware that Rothgar's mother went mad and strangled his younger sister. Ashart is the nephew of the late Marchioness of Rothgar, and his grandmother, by whom he was brought up, was her mother - and it is the Dowager Marchioness of Ashart who feeds the hatred within Ash for the Malloren clan. So Ashart is far from kindly-disposed towards his cousin.

Rothgar, on the other hand, sees his cousin's presence in his home as an opportunity to heal the rift, putting past enmities behind them. As he says to Bryght, he wants to make a proper cousin out of Ash. But will he succeed?

As for Genova, while on the one hand Ash infuriates her, on the other hand she has never before been so attracted to a man. The kisses he trades with her for guineas (for the child's upbringing) make her burn in a way she has never experienced. Yet he's a marquess and she's a nobody. He also confesses to her, as they become closer and become friends, that he has to marry for money - in fact, she's well aware that his chosen bride is also at the Abbey. So their relationship has no future - unless she's prepared to accept his offer to make her his mistress.

This is another excellent book from Beverley, offering what many of her loyal readers have been asking for: a further visit to the Malloren clan. It was good to see many of the family in their married state - again, disappointingly, Fort has a very minor role. Given his animosity to the Mallorens, I've always wanted to know what made him change his mind and tell Elf that he loved her. Ash is a worthy new hero, and Genova just the match for him. Again, however, I wanted to know why Ash changed his mind in the end, something we just didn't get to see. Still, highly recommended!

wmr-uk

This story is sort of a prequel to A Most Unsuitable Man, and involves a Malloren cousin, the Marquess of Ashart. There is a small mystery involving paternity to be solved, and a happy ending for most concerned. The unhappy one has her own story told in the above-referenced title.

Winter Fire may not have been up to the previous Malloren books for intensity and romance but it still is better than most books available. The main rouge is Ashart a nephew of Rothgar and he has the usual rake qualities but deep down is a sensitive with a very good heart. The female is Genova, companion to Ash's elderly aunts - daughter of a naval captain with a wealth of life events to make her far more interesting and challenging than Ash's usual female companions. The story is set over the Christmas holidays at Rothgar Abbey and fortunately you get to revisit some of the Malloren clan again. I could have enjoyed a little more into the newly married Bey and Dianna but of course this was not their story. My only real complaint was the use of to much reference to mythology and old myths that became to confusing and not at all plot worthy to even read!! Basically it was a great Malloren novel - so if you enjoy this family as I do - you will enjoy Ash and Genova as a compliment to the "falling in love" Mallorens!!!!!!

In 1763 Surrey, Genova Smith accompanies the two elderly Trayce sisters as they journey to see their great nephew. On the way, they meet a Mrs. Dash, whose wagon is in the ditch. Mrs. Dash asks them to take her infant to her husband at the nearby Lion and Unicorn Inn, which the three female travelers do. When they arrive at the inn, they find no Mr. Dash, but a gentleman asks the innkeeper if Mrs. Dash is here. Genova talks to the man, who deserts her with a kiss as he gives chase after Mrs. Dash better known as Molly Crew, a liar who claims he impregnated her.

Before he leaves, the Marquess of Ashert learns that his two great aunts are at the inn. He goes to see them surprised they are here, but more shocked to see Genova with them. As Ashert and Genova become acquainted, they fall in love, but she thinks he sired the infant she is watching while he thinks she works for the mendacious Molly.

This Georgian romance is a fun tale that sub-genre readers will appreciate due to the strong cast. The lead couple is a fine pair that the audience will enjoy. However, it is the support characters who make the tale really work whether they are charming or feuding relatives, or a slick nasty soul willing to pull any trick to gain her desires. Historical fans will take delight with this wonderful novel.

Harriet Klausner

I picked up Winter Fire before I got on the plane for an 18-hr. ride. After a few chapters, I was snoozing. On the way back, I tried to pick it up again, and still didn't get through more than half the book. I finally finished it yesterday after a month and a half. For someone who stays up till the crack of dawn to finish various other romance books, I think this says a lot.

The Marquess of Ashart needs to marry money in order to save his estates. Genova Smith has no money. But they pretend to be engaged so that Ashart can go to his cousin's (aka mortal enemy) mansion for Christmas, in order to get revenge for an age-old mystery involving the two families. And of course, Genova and Ash end up together. However, Ash only wanted her to be his mistress because he needs to marry money. Then, the next day, he decides that he wants to marry her and the story ends.

I would say the beginning third of the book was pure, undiluted dullness. Basically nothing happened except that the main characters meet and get caught in a "bad" position and decide to be engaged. Ashart is definitely NOT my idea of a romantic hero. He is under his grandmother's power for most of the book and figures that there's no other way rather than to marry a rich heiress. He has no control of his own destiny it seems, and the hate that he has against his cousin appears to me as no more than a childish grudge that he's been brainwashed to believe by his grandmother.

Genova on the other hand, is attracted to Ash, but still hesitant to be physically close to him. However, when Ash suggests that he would give her a guinea for every kiss with her, she is not hesitant at all to provide him with those kisses (albeit the money is for Ash's so-called bastard son).

All in all, the hero is a meek man who was under the full control and influence of his grandmother until the last two pages of the book. His grandmother takes care of his estates and he basically has nothing to do. Someone who isn't his own man and doesn't have his own mind is not appealing to be in a hero. And with the addition of the murder intrigues (which haven't really been solved) and other subplots, the story had no time to develop real emotion and was a disappointment.