Heart of Fire (Pocket Books Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author) "Jillian Sherwood was tight-lipped with anger as she let herself into her condo..." (more)
Key Phrases: Ben Lewis, Stone City, Rio Negro (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Archeologist Jillian Sherwood attributes her lackluster professional reputation to the fact that her late father, also an archeologist, was notorious for his supposedly crackpot theories, such as one about a lost city in the heart of the Amazon jungle that was home to a band of Amazon women warriors. Equipped with a map from her father's papers, Jillian is determined to find the lost city, thereby salvaging her father's reputation and her own. She is accompanied on the two-month expedition by Rick, her half-brother, who still resents her being daddy's favorite; Steven Kates, an unprincipled crook who has money to fund the venture and plans to steal anything valuable that turns up; Ramon Dutra, a jungle-wise thug; and Ben Lewis, an experienced guide who is more macho than any human being needs to be. Unfortunately, the more intense their adventures, the less realistic they appear because the characters have charmed lives. A pirate attack, an encounter with a jaguar and a hazardous walk along the side of a mountain give Howard's ( The Touch of Fire ) romance an adventure-yarn feel, but since Jillian seems to be virtually indestructible and Ben, as her only possible love interest, is inevitably guaranteed survival, the book lacks real suspense.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

A fabulous lost Amazon city once inhabited by women warriors and containing a rare red diamond: it sounded like myth, but archeologist Jillian Sherwood believed it was real, and she was willing to put up with anything to find it -- even Ben Lewis. Ruffian, knock-about, and number one river guide in Brazil, Ben was all man -- over six feet of rock-hard muscles that rippled under his khakis, with lazy blue eyes that taunted her from his tanned face. Jillian watched him come to a fast boil when she refused to reveal their exact destination upriver in the uncharted rain forests -- and resolved to stand her ground. Neither of them could foresee what the days ahead promised: an odyssey into the fiery heart of passion and betrayal, and a danger that would force them to cast their fates together, immersed in the eternal, unsolved mysteries of love....

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671019740
• ISBN-13: 978-0671019747
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #33,538 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely riveting, exciting romance!, June 20, 2000

By	"makeupgirlie" (USA) - See all my reviews

Heart of Fire is the first book by Linda Howard that I have read and it will be the first of many, if this book is any indication of her talent. From the beginning, the legend of the Empress diamond and the lore of the Amazons grabs your attention and you are hooked. I found I could not read fast enough, to find out what would happen next. I think it is proof of Howard's writing abilities that she makes this story believable... it's an adventure, plain and simple, but it also has an amazing love story, that of Jillian and Ben. To me, Ben seems the ultimate in masculinity: strength, confidence, a surprising sense of caring, everything you could want in a male lead character and then some. His determination to win Jillian begins as a plot to bed her but slowly he realizes he's attracted to her mind and strong sense of purpose as well as her body. Jillian is also a great character. She has brains, strength, and a wonderfully saracastic sense of humor. Her love for her father and desire to prove his professional credibility, even though he has been dead for years, are what drives her to seek out the Anzars and the Empress diamond... and this trip in the jungle is what draws she and Ben together. The sexual tension between them can only be described as electric. And when this tension finally becomes something more... all I can say is that you'll need a fan to cool yourself down! Linda Howard has written a great story, and if you are a reader of romance, you should read Heart of Fire. You will not be disappointed.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Romancing the Stone meets Indiana Jones, May 12, 2005

By	Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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In an effort to reestablish her deceased father's reputation, archeologist Jillian Sherwood and her half-brother get financial backing from a shady character to search for a lost civilization buried deep in the Amazon and falls for her American ex-pat river guide, Ben Lewis. Of course, it's hate at first sight for both of them. Overly macho Ben doesn't want to take a woman into unchartered territory, but on the other hand, he doesn't trust the locals to not harm her either, so he reluctantly agrees, and makes several attempts at wooing her. Jillian is no shrinking violet, and she can more than hold her own on the expedition, especially since she is the only one who can read the map.

Jillian and Ben has so much chemistry oozing off the pages, and their romance really sizzles. This is one of Linda Howard's better pairings, as the hero and the heroine are definitely equals (and can banter better than most duos). It's a great adventure ride with lots of twists and turns and plenty of romance.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors, February 1, 1998

By A Customer

Full of humor, adventure, and sizzling passion, "Heart of Fire" is one of Linda Howard's best (and that's saying a lot!). Gillian Sherwood is an archeologist on a quest for a legendary red diamond and proof of the Amazons' exsistence. Ben Lewis is a ruffian, scoundral, and the best river guide in Brazil. When they team up to lead an expedition deep into the heart of the Amazon's rainforest, they must face the perils of the jungle, out-manuver murderous thugs, and then find their way back to civilization again.

Wonderful characters, snappy dialogue, exotic locations, this book has it all. This is a multi-read, pass-along book, a definite keeper. Enjoy.

Nina M.