Lord of Fire (Knight Miscellany)

The is the first of her novels I've read and I absolutely love this story! - the surrender to love, the determination, the triumph - everything about this story was wonderful the suspense and action had me on the edge of my seat! This romance truly was a pleasure to read - and it's on my keeper list! I can't remember the last time I read of a hero who was so passionate and emotional and intense in his honesty and love and innocence for the heroine - *sigh* absolutely beautiful . . . . words can do justice for describing the joy of reading this novel!

Can Gaelen Foley do no wrong? I read this book in one sitting. An all night one. LORD OF FIRE was so fast-paced and action packed that I could barely find a place to stop for the night...so I just didn't. The book is a balancing act of romance, angst, mystery, steamy sex, and doing the right thing. Ms. Foley balances them like a pro without losing her innate and colorful writing style. Her books always have some underlying topic of importance and are never an empty bubble of simpering heroines and jealous heroes. Oh no, LORD OF FIRE, introduces us to a heroine who may seem like a bit of a doormat at first. But lets beware of first impressions, Lady Alice has thorns that are a perfect foil for Lucien and his devilish ways. Rather than becoming a story of opposites attracting, LORD OF FIRE is a waltz between doing the right thing and doing what you want. The two end up balancing perfect...with Gaelen sweeping the reader into a fantastic romance, startling mystery, and action packed adventure. This is how a romance should be. In a time when so many of the great historical romance writers have turned to following mainstream and publishing contemporaries, I am so glad to have stumbled up on Gaelen Foley. I loved her Ascension series and THE DUKE and now LORD OF FIRE only prove how a talent can expand and blossom.

It's been a long time since I've read a book that so totally consumed me! I've read and re-read "Lord of Fire" and "Lord of Ice" and though I love both, LOF is my favourite and it all comes down to Lucien Knight.I was completely charmed and moved by Lucien's character. I think he is perhaps THE most charming male character I've ever come across in ANY novel I've yet read (though Ruark from "Shanna" by K E Woodiwiss and Alex from "Dream Island" by J Litton are up there too!). I adored him and rooted for his redemption! He was so tortured; did things he did not necessarily want to do - for his twin brother Damien he joined the Army, for his country he became a spy. No one knows the true extent of Lucien's loneliness, despair and self-loathing because he hides it so well behind his swagger, his mask of total self confidence and debauchery. But he is in reality a very charming, extremely intelligent, funny man who has done damage to his name, reputation and his soul in the name of Duty and Loyalty. And not only is Lucien spiritually damaged by his war experiences he was captured and tortured by an enemy spy. He had thought Claude Bardou was dead but learns he is quite alive and most likely on his way to England on some deadly mission. Whatever it takes, Lucien must stop him; kill him.Then Lucien meets Alice, quite by accident under less than pleasant circumstances, and he catches a glimpse of what he has been missing in his life - goodness, sweetness. But Alice was not totally "Miss Goody-Two Shoes"! She was a "good girl" but with a passionate and curious nature. I liked Alice. She was smart, sweet, open-minded and loyal.Some of the best scenes in the book are Lucien poring on his considerable charm to coax and persuade Alice to give them a chance to see if their initial mutual attraction is the real thing or just a fluke - even if his methods are not exactly "socially acceptable". His near desperation to keep Alice with him - for her goodness to rub off on him and help him to change his life is really sweet and touching.The relationship between Lucien and his twin brother Damien is also explored - their estrangement over Lucien's leaving the army, his less than honorable (at least as far as Damien is concerned) profession as a spy and Lucien's seduction of a woman Damien had planned to marry. For brothers who had been inseparable just two years before, this breach is heartbreaking.The book also introduces Damien's shellshock from the war and his doubts about his sanity which sets up the storyline for "Lord of Ice".Both books are awesome!

I just read some of the negative and so-so reviews of this book and I have to say, I am apalled! This and Lord of Ice are two of my favorite books of all time. I'm a long time historical romance reader and the Knight twins' books are some of my only "keepers." I have also read the Ascension series and The Duke, and although I liked them, they pale in comparison to Lord of Fire/Ice. Lucien and Alice were obviously meant for eachother. Alice was the pure, sweet water that assuaged Lucien's thirst (you'll understand when you read the book). They were so great together, and when Lucien made his confession about Bardou at the end of the book (I'm not really giving anything away by saying this) I found myself crying right along with them. These characters were far from flat and one-dimensional (sp?); I really felt like I knew them from reading the book. I can't give enough praise for Lord of Fire (and Lord of Ice). I hope you enjoy Foley's work as much as I did.

In 1814, the Ton compares twin brothers Lucien and Damien Knight. While Damien recently returned home a war hero, Lucien left the military two years ago. Lucien has earned a reputation as Lord Lucifer for his decadent parties while Damien seeks a wife. Lucien eliminates the widow Caro Glenwood as a spousal candidate for his sibling by sleeping with her. Alice Montague worries about her sick nephew Harry who wants his mother. She decides to go to Lucien's house of sin to bring Harry's mother Caro home with her. Instead she meets Lucien and finds herself attracted to the enigmatic male who can be so compassionate towards a little boy yet so passionate with her. Alice will soon learn the truth behind Lucien's dual nature when she becomes a periled pawn of his enemy because Lord Lucifer uses his debauchery role to hide the counterespionage ring that will insure Napoleon fails to return from Elba. LORD OF FIRE is an exciting historical romantic suspense novel that never slows down for a moment even as the story line remains within normal sub-genre boundaries. Lucien is an intriguing lead character because he displays a duality that enables the audience to understand his motivations as his two disparate lives clash between love and loyalty. Alice is a heroine whether she is fighting with her country's enemies or raising Harry. It is this lead couple that makes Gaelen Foley's novel so entertaining that the audience will anxiously await Damien's tale released in February.Harriet Klausner