FIRELIGHT by Kristen CallihanWhere To Find Kristen: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook
FORMAT: ARC
GENRE: Historical Romance
LENGTH: 400 pages
PUBLISHER: Forever Romance (February 1, 2012)
Once the flames are ignited...Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.
They will burn for eternity...Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he give in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.
Where To Buy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook | Powell's
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REVIEW:
It's been a while since a book told hold of me, reading into the early hours before dawn. This book was like a fecking tube of Pringles. Once I started, I couldn't stop. Seriously. I got to the end and wanted more. Unfortunately, I'll have to wait until August for what looks like another exciting read. At least according to the teaser at the end.
Lord Benjamin Archer has a dangerous secret that could cost him his life as well as those around him. His fellow super secret club members are getting offed one by one. Immortality is just a kiss away. Half man and half something else, he's walked the dark streets of London trying to feed yet repress the something else before it gets out of hand. On one such night, he comes upon two boys fighting in the street on his way to kill a man who sunk his ship that was carrying something very valuable to him. Something could possibly end his curse. Something compels him to follow the boy and he ends up saving her (that's right, gotcha!) life. After finding out who her father is, he decides to spare the man's life on one condition. Sidenote: This condition is explained in the prequel Ember.
So in a very Beauty and the Beast-like way, Archer makes a deal with Miranda's father to spare his life in exchange for marrying his daughter. Miranda isn't happy with this but what is she to do? She's tired of stealing and fencing stuff for her father just to keep them afloat. She feels dirty using her femininity for such a purpose. She feels she's done enough penance for burning her family's fortune to the ground (literally). Along comes Archer to give her an out. And the adventure begins.
Miranda has heard rumors that Archer has murdered someone. She doesn't know what to make of it. She's stuck between giving him the benefit of the doubt and waiting for him to murder her in her bed. As she gets to know Archer, she realizes that there's a different side to him. There's also a secret that Archer is keeping close to his chest that she must uncover. That is the only obstacle standing between them. Well, and the fact that he wears a mask so everyone thinks he's disfigured. But something is off. How disfigured could he be since he pretty much oozes masculinity and dangerous sexuality?
Archer knows that at some point he has to tell Miranda his secret. Or at least part of it. During a night out among the ton, Miranda meets a woman from Archer's past. She's a little too friendly and Archer warns Miranda to stay away from her. There's something totally fishy about her.
When Miranda realizes that Archer was the man who saved her life three years ago (due to the coin marked with the super secret society symbol) she wonders why the heck did he choose her? After confronting him about it, he tells her that something in her called to him. He knew that she was strong enough to hold her own against him. As more men of the super secret society are murdered and Miranda and Archer's attraction to one another burns (literally and figuratively... did I mention that Miranda is like the Human Torch?), they must be willing to sacrifice their souls for each other. Only then, will they find peace with a side of happily ever after. Something about the Beast transforming into a handsome prince...
FAVORITE QUOTES(whaat?? I couldn't pick just one):
Miranda smiled against her knees. Stubborn, charming man. Beguiled by a possible killer. She belonged in bedlam.
"Christ, Miri, murder and knife-wielding assassins aside, you are the greatest adventure of my life."***quotes subject to change in finished copy***
OVERALL: Kristen Callihan has a solid debut full of action, adventure, danger, intrigue, murder, romance, heart pounding, adrenaline rushing action, immortality and surprises around every corner. Throw in a scene where Archer gets Chuck Norris'd by some guy in an alley. Yeah, I just wanted to say that. Haha. Well done Ms. Callihan, well done. Archer has the brooding hero down to a science. He's broody, moody,angsty and the only way to be redeemed is through the love of a woman. Miranda's sacrifice had me bawling like a freaking baby. Very romantic indeed. There's just so much more I want to say but it think it would be giving away a lot of spoilers. I gasped, I laughed, I cried, I sighed, my heart broke, my heart pounded, my adrenaline shot up. Can Hollywood please make a movie with this series? They're turning books into movies these days. Why not this one? I look forward to the next book in this series. A fantastic start.
***review copy provided by publisher***
