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Fire #3
Hearts of Fire
"I like what you do to me, Richard," she whispered, as he explored the softness of her skin with his lips and his hands, until she thought she would shatter into pieces...
Fiery-haired Gilliane de Lacey was as proud as she was beautiful. She defied the King of England himself when he commanded her to wed a lord she despised. The one man she did want she could not have as a husband. Richard of Rivaux's passion for her had ignited her burning need, but he was honor-bound to wed another.
Yet as he defied death to rescue Gilliane from royal wrath...and as he drew her into the perilous swirl of conflict between England and Normandy, Gilliane and Richard knew that nothing would ever stop them from risking all for love and giving all to desire...
Fiery-haired Gilliane de Lacey was as proud as she was beautiful. She defied the King of England himself when he commanded her to wed a lord she despised. The one man she did want she could not have as a husband. Richard of Rivaux's passion for her had ignited her burning need, but he was honor-bound to wed another.
Yet as he defied death to rescue Gilliane from royal wrath...and as he drew her into the perilous swirl of conflict between England and Normandy, Gilliane and Richard knew that nothing would ever stop them from risking all for love and giving all to desire...
431 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 6, 1989
10 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Anita Mills
44 books66 followersA former history and English teacher, Anita Mills turned to writing in the mid-1980's. After her regency romance SCANDAL BOUND was published followed by her highly acclaimed LADY OF FIRE, Anita Mills went on to enjoy an award filled career. Her historical novels and regency short stories are ranked among the best in their respective genres. The parents of four children, Anita and her husband Larry find peace on a small farm near Plattsburgh, Missouri. This former teacher has drawn upon her love for both history and English to enrich her novels.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 19, 2022
Read: 11/18/22
I was a little disappointed with this addition to the series. It wasn't bad, it just couldn't compete with the first 2 books in the series. The MC lacked commonsense at times and I had trouble connecting with their romance.
Still, it was a pretty good book!
Useless historical fact: I noticed in a lot of medieval books that they use spider webs on wounds to stop the bleeding. What I didn't know was that spider webs have a natural antiseptic and antifungal properties, which can help heal wounds and prevent infection. I just found that fascinating and wanted to make a note.
I was a little disappointed with this addition to the series. It wasn't bad, it just couldn't compete with the first 2 books in the series. The MC lacked commonsense at times and I had trouble connecting with their romance.
Still, it was a pretty good book!
Useless historical fact: I noticed in a lot of medieval books that they use spider webs on wounds to stop the bleeding. What I didn't know was that spider webs have a natural antiseptic and antifungal properties, which can help heal wounds and prevent infection. I just found that fascinating and wanted to make a note.
August 31, 2021
MINI REVIEW:
"Hearts of Fire" is a much more satisfying sequel to "Lady of Fire" than its predecessor "Fire and Steel." The grandson of Robert Bellesme and his beloved Eleonor, Richard of Rivaux is a wonderfully complicated hero. He has his grandfather's darkness but is not wholly consumed by evil. He kills for his woman, yet he's a tender lover. The forbidden romance between him and Gilliane de Lacey is stellar...when they're together, that is.
I would have given this book 5 stars if not for the long separation when the heroine is married off to some beast of a man who rapes and abuses her. It added nothing to the story. I can see that Mills was trying to parallel "Lady of Fire" with this book, as in the former, the heroine was captured and violated by the villain. But it doesn't work, as Robert Bellesme was such an integral part of "Lady of Fire" and the abusive other man here is really unimportant to the plot. That came off as filler.
The moment when its book shines is when Richard is around. I LOVED Robert Bellesme in "Lady of Fire" and although he was a thoroughly wicked villain, he was so multi-faceted and charismatic, I wished Robert could have had some tiny bit of happiness and love.
Through his grandson Richard and Richard's epic love for a woman beneath his class, this achievement is fulfilled.
4 1/2 stars
"Hearts of Fire" is a much more satisfying sequel to "Lady of Fire" than its predecessor "Fire and Steel." The grandson of Robert Bellesme and his beloved Eleonor, Richard of Rivaux is a wonderfully complicated hero. He has his grandfather's darkness but is not wholly consumed by evil. He kills for his woman, yet he's a tender lover. The forbidden romance between him and Gilliane de Lacey is stellar...when they're together, that is.
I would have given this book 5 stars if not for the long separation when the heroine is married off to some beast of a man who rapes and abuses her. It added nothing to the story. I can see that Mills was trying to parallel "Lady of Fire" with this book, as in the former, the heroine was captured and violated by the villain. But it doesn't work, as Robert Bellesme was such an integral part of "Lady of Fire" and the abusive other man here is really unimportant to the plot. That came off as filler.
The moment when its book shines is when Richard is around. I LOVED Robert Bellesme in "Lady of Fire" and although he was a thoroughly wicked villain, he was so multi-faceted and charismatic, I wished Robert could have had some tiny bit of happiness and love.
Through his grandson Richard and Richard's epic love for a woman beneath his class, this achievement is fulfilled.
4 1/2 stars
July 7, 2025
This one just kinda hurt.... Like the angst was unmatched and felt like she just went through absolute hell 3x over. I don't know, I would've had to just move out the country at this point because why everyone calling me a harlot?? 🤨
November 12, 2008
Fiery-haired Gilliane de Lacey was as proud as she was beautiful. She defied the King of England himself when he commanded her to wed a lord she despised. The one man she did want she could not have as a husband. Richard of Rivaux's passion for her had ignited her burning need, but he was honor-bound to wed another. Yet as he defied death to rescue Gilliane from royal wrath... and as he drew her into the perilous swirl of conflict between England and Normandy, Gilliane and Richard knew that nothing would ever stop them from risking all for love and giving all to desire...
We jump another generation and now follow Catherine and Guy’s son though his adventures. This book is somewhat different in tone from the two previous books. Richard is not yet a leader of men like his father and grandfather were and he feels he is always under his father’s shadow. He doesn’t have an easy relationship with him, as both like to have their own way, and is thinking of supporting a different claimant to England’s throne. Richard wants to support Robert of Gloucester and his father feels duty bound to honour his oath to the Empress Matilda. Richard’s defiance of his father has even leaded him to negotiate a betrothal between him and another noble house against his father’s wishes.
Gilliane de Lacey has just lost her older brother who was attacked by a neighbour who wants their lands. She mistakes Richard’s approaching forces for her brother’s killer only to realize her mistake. Richard was her brother’s friend and can’t help feel a bit responsible for Gilliane and her family since England is at the time a lawless place without a uniform authority and likely they will be attacked by Stephen’s men soon. He also feels very attracted to her and makes that fact known.
Richard is unable to offer Gilliane marriage even after he realizes he would like to make her his wife because he bound to another and is next to impossible to dissolve betrothal bonds. Even despairing of their happily ever after I thought Mills introduced them importance of church and it’s power in society very well in this situation. Gilliane struggles with her situation of being Richard’s leman, she is a young lady of good family and her moral code goes against what she feels. In fact on two occasions she is publicly humiliated for being what she is to him and on the second situation she is attacked and almost killed for it. Although she is accepted by his family who treat her like a daughter she feels bitterly that she can never be his wife. When she finally becomes pregnant she refuses to have the stigma attached to her child and chooses to runaway and marry another to give her child a name.
Gilliane and Richard’s life apart is not easy for any of them and sometimes it felt that Gilliane might have made the wrong the decision, she made her child legitimate but her actions brought heartache to others as her new husband was never happy and that reflected on others. In a way both of them, Richard and Gilliane, are a stark contrast to the previous two generations. They are not loud, determined to get their way against all odds. They wait and resist till they find a way to get their heart’s desire. It surprised me at first to find them so different and it took me a while to warm up to them and understand them but I guess now I do.
Grade: B
We jump another generation and now follow Catherine and Guy’s son though his adventures. This book is somewhat different in tone from the two previous books. Richard is not yet a leader of men like his father and grandfather were and he feels he is always under his father’s shadow. He doesn’t have an easy relationship with him, as both like to have their own way, and is thinking of supporting a different claimant to England’s throne. Richard wants to support Robert of Gloucester and his father feels duty bound to honour his oath to the Empress Matilda. Richard’s defiance of his father has even leaded him to negotiate a betrothal between him and another noble house against his father’s wishes.
Gilliane de Lacey has just lost her older brother who was attacked by a neighbour who wants their lands. She mistakes Richard’s approaching forces for her brother’s killer only to realize her mistake. Richard was her brother’s friend and can’t help feel a bit responsible for Gilliane and her family since England is at the time a lawless place without a uniform authority and likely they will be attacked by Stephen’s men soon. He also feels very attracted to her and makes that fact known.
Richard is unable to offer Gilliane marriage even after he realizes he would like to make her his wife because he bound to another and is next to impossible to dissolve betrothal bonds. Even despairing of their happily ever after I thought Mills introduced them importance of church and it’s power in society very well in this situation. Gilliane struggles with her situation of being Richard’s leman, she is a young lady of good family and her moral code goes against what she feels. In fact on two occasions she is publicly humiliated for being what she is to him and on the second situation she is attacked and almost killed for it. Although she is accepted by his family who treat her like a daughter she feels bitterly that she can never be his wife. When she finally becomes pregnant she refuses to have the stigma attached to her child and chooses to runaway and marry another to give her child a name.
Gilliane and Richard’s life apart is not easy for any of them and sometimes it felt that Gilliane might have made the wrong the decision, she made her child legitimate but her actions brought heartache to others as her new husband was never happy and that reflected on others. In a way both of them, Richard and Gilliane, are a stark contrast to the previous two generations. They are not loud, determined to get their way against all odds. They wait and resist till they find a way to get their heart’s desire. It surprised me at first to find them so different and it took me a while to warm up to them and understand them but I guess now I do.
Grade: B
January 14, 2018
The third novel in the series, this is the story of Guy and Catherine's son - Richard, from the second novel and Gilliane de Lacey. This was a great follow up after fire and steel.
The novel began with a misunderstanding and love began to spark immediately after.
The author continues to do what she does best - well drawn characters with depth, great secondary characters and description of 12th century Europe. She has shown how limited the options for women are in that time. Without family, husband or money, it is difficult for a woman to survive on her own without harassment.
The forbidden love between Richard and Gilliane was well written and made me feel sad. The way it was written was well done and didn't make me feel anybody was cheating on anyone.
Warning - strong level of domestic violence in the last 25% of the novel. It's not pleasant but necessary to get the story moving.
The novel began with a misunderstanding and love began to spark immediately after.
The author continues to do what she does best - well drawn characters with depth, great secondary characters and description of 12th century Europe. She has shown how limited the options for women are in that time. Without family, husband or money, it is difficult for a woman to survive on her own without harassment.
The forbidden love between Richard and Gilliane was well written and made me feel sad. The way it was written was well done and didn't make me feel anybody was cheating on anyone.
Warning - strong level of domestic violence in the last 25% of the novel. It's not pleasant but necessary to get the story moving.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2014
My first book by this author! And what a lovely novel set in medieval times. Beautifully written and with such passion it is difficult to let if go. 4 stars because unfortunately I did not care for a certain part of the book. But still it is wonderfully written and I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the series!
September 23, 2020
3.5 stars
Good plot, good characters ... the story has everything it needs.But every conversation started with words nay, aye and tis. I know it should have been like that because it was talked about at that time...It becomes so confusing at some point it was hard for me to concentrate what I was reading.. literally.Because it started to annoy me and with that it distracts me from the book.And because of that I awarded less stars otherwise the book deserves more.
Good plot, good characters ... the story has everything it needs.But every conversation started with words nay, aye and tis. I know it should have been like that because it was talked about at that time...It becomes so confusing at some point it was hard for me to concentrate what I was reading.. literally.Because it started to annoy me and with that it distracts me from the book.And because of that I awarded less stars otherwise the book deserves more.
August 1, 2023
In the end I really liked this book. At the beginning i kept thinking poor Cicely so young, not wanted, and will never be given the chance at a happy life. Then we meet here and do not care. Gilly and Richard go through enough you can see they have an enduring love. In the beginning Richard came across and very reckless, selfish, and overindulged. He was struggling with always being in his father’s shadow, trying to make his own way and I didn’t like him much.
January 29, 2014
The background of this book is very complex, rich and conflict-oriented. The hero living in the shadow of his noble father's glory--the heroine trapped in ignominy of her status. She might have ended her days as his concubine under any other period of English history, but these were disturbed times in the late Norman period.
Random note: the very best cover in historical romance. I wish I knew who the artist is.
Random note: the very best cover in historical romance. I wish I knew who the artist is.
September 22, 2013
liked and will read the next book in the series
June 16, 2014
Great story!
January 16, 2021
Wonderful story or love!!
I have read this book many times over and enjoy every time like it’s the first time! Would recommend to anyone!
I have read this book many times over and enjoy every time like it’s the first time! Would recommend to anyone!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews