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Hidden Fire
An Australian–set paranormal drawing on the Aboriginal Dreamtime in a hot, suspenseful series debut.
Gili Adams is willing to do anything to protect her parents, even travel to Australia in search of the mythical opal, the Dreamtime Fire. But her resolve is tested when she has to enlist the help of anthropologist Morgan Hunt, the Guardian of the opal and the man who once accused her of using her feminine wiles to steal a priceless artefact. She's faced with an impossible lie to the man she never wanted to lose or risk her parents' lives.
Nothing can be allowed to stand in her way... not even her own heart.
Gili Adams is willing to do anything to protect her parents, even travel to Australia in search of the mythical opal, the Dreamtime Fire. But her resolve is tested when she has to enlist the help of anthropologist Morgan Hunt, the Guardian of the opal and the man who once accused her of using her feminine wiles to steal a priceless artefact. She's faced with an impossible lie to the man she never wanted to lose or risk her parents' lives.
Nothing can be allowed to stand in her way... not even her own heart.
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2013
21 people want to read
About the author
Alexis Fleming
29 books36 followersMulti-published author Alexis Fleming's first book was a bedtime story for her children, written and illustrated totally in crayon. She hooked her children in and created a new career for herself, a career that gives her immense satisfaction and a lot of fun. She now writes her own bedtime stories, but be warned - these are strictly adults only!
Alexis' first love has always been romance, whether on this world or the next. Hot, sizzling relationships with a dash of comedy and a few trials and tribulations thrown in to test her characters. Alexis writes sassy, fun, erotic contemporaries, as well as paranormals and fantasies where you'll find yourself coming face to face with anything from sexy shifters to beings from other planets.
When she isn't tied to her computer creating sizzling stories to tempt her readers, she helps run a busy motel set on the edge of a national marine park in Australia.
Alexis' first love has always been romance, whether on this world or the next. Hot, sizzling relationships with a dash of comedy and a few trials and tribulations thrown in to test her characters. Alexis writes sassy, fun, erotic contemporaries, as well as paranormals and fantasies where you'll find yourself coming face to face with anything from sexy shifters to beings from other planets.
When she isn't tied to her computer creating sizzling stories to tempt her readers, she helps run a busy motel set on the edge of a national marine park in Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 17, 2013
Gillian "Gili" Adams is an American archaeologist who quit an Iranian archaeological dig when her employer, Jeremy Grissom, stole an artefact from the dig leaving her to take the blame. As a result, her relationship with the expedition leader Morgan Hunt, who was also her lover, ended badly and Gili returned to America to attempt to rebuild her life and career.
Six years later, Gili's father is in hospital after being pushed in front of traffic, with a text message making it clear Grissom was behind it. When Gili confronts Grissom, he threatens her with worse for both her parents if she doesn't help him retrieve the Dreamtime Opal from the Australian Aborigines. Gili reluctantly agrees, only for things to get even worse when she finds out the guardian of the opal is Morgan Hunt. Gili knows Hunt won't be happy to see her again, but she'll do whatever it takes to save her family.
This was a well written romance, with paranormal aspects, set in the Australian Outback. As an Australian, I enjoyed the way Fleming displayed both the beauty and danger of the Outback through Gili's experiences as an American trying to make her way to a remote station.
The characters seemed well thought out and portrayed, from Gili and Morgan as the main characters through the supporting characters Charlie & Narri, although I wish we'd gotten a bit more insight into Whitey's motivations. Likewise, the romance between Gili and Morgan, with paranormal assistance, progressed logically from an initial basis of betrayal and mistrust through to its steamy consummation.
The plot was simple but satisfying - Gili's previous employer threatens her family unless she retrieves the gem - and consistent throughout the story, including a suitable conclusion.
I had a few issues with the story though, the first being how so much of the story and tension relied on Gili and Hunt not communicating (or Gili not going to the police when Grissom threatened her family). Whilst I can understand Gili's motivations, as set out by Flemming, they felt a bit artificial to me.
The second issue was the involvement of aboriginal culture, combined with the "White Saviour" or "What These People Need is a Honky" trope. The fact that an American was chosen for the Aboriginal Dreamtime magic was just a bit off putting for me, and smacked a little of cultural appropriation.
It's those two things which shifted my rating of it from 3 to 2 stars.
Overall, if you like romance stories with a twist of the paranormal, this is a well written and engaging tale set in the Australian Outback. If that's not your thing, there are plenty of other books on the shelves!
prk.
Disclaimer: Whilst I read this as a judge for the 2013 Aurealis Awards, this review is my personal opinion and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging co-ordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.
Six years later, Gili's father is in hospital after being pushed in front of traffic, with a text message making it clear Grissom was behind it. When Gili confronts Grissom, he threatens her with worse for both her parents if she doesn't help him retrieve the Dreamtime Opal from the Australian Aborigines. Gili reluctantly agrees, only for things to get even worse when she finds out the guardian of the opal is Morgan Hunt. Gili knows Hunt won't be happy to see her again, but she'll do whatever it takes to save her family.
This was a well written romance, with paranormal aspects, set in the Australian Outback. As an Australian, I enjoyed the way Fleming displayed both the beauty and danger of the Outback through Gili's experiences as an American trying to make her way to a remote station.
The characters seemed well thought out and portrayed, from Gili and Morgan as the main characters through the supporting characters Charlie & Narri, although I wish we'd gotten a bit more insight into Whitey's motivations. Likewise, the romance between Gili and Morgan, with paranormal assistance, progressed logically from an initial basis of betrayal and mistrust through to its steamy consummation.
The plot was simple but satisfying - Gili's previous employer threatens her family unless she retrieves the gem - and consistent throughout the story, including a suitable conclusion.
I had a few issues with the story though, the first being how so much of the story and tension relied on Gili and Hunt not communicating (or Gili not going to the police when Grissom threatened her family). Whilst I can understand Gili's motivations, as set out by Flemming, they felt a bit artificial to me.
The second issue was the involvement of aboriginal culture, combined with the "White Saviour" or "What These People Need is a Honky" trope. The fact that an American was chosen for the Aboriginal Dreamtime magic was just a bit off putting for me, and smacked a little of cultural appropriation.
It's those two things which shifted my rating of it from 3 to 2 stars.
Overall, if you like romance stories with a twist of the paranormal, this is a well written and engaging tale set in the Australian Outback. If that's not your thing, there are plenty of other books on the shelves!
prk.
Disclaimer: Whilst I read this as a judge for the 2013 Aurealis Awards, this review is my personal opinion and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging co-ordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.
May 15, 2013
This book reminds me of an Indiana Jones type jewel hunt meets adult romance novel. This book was action packed with romance, Australian outback, native aboriginal paranormal spirits, humor and suspense.
While Morgan had serious anger issues over Gili along with false accusations over their past, six years later they end up stuck together and realize this hunt was her destiny and there is nothing Morgan could do about it.
To protect her parents Gili had no choice to find the Fire Opal, but it quickly changes from stealing it to save her parents when she realizes she cannot take this native artifact from the aborigines and the people she has grown to love.
Several adult only scenes some were romantic others started out comical, but all in all I really enjoyed this book.
I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley for my honest opinion.
While Morgan had serious anger issues over Gili along with false accusations over their past, six years later they end up stuck together and realize this hunt was her destiny and there is nothing Morgan could do about it.
To protect her parents Gili had no choice to find the Fire Opal, but it quickly changes from stealing it to save her parents when she realizes she cannot take this native artifact from the aborigines and the people she has grown to love.
Several adult only scenes some were romantic others started out comical, but all in all I really enjoyed this book.
I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley for my honest opinion.
May 24, 2013
I was so excited when I received this book, I love books set in Australia and it is rare to find one thats plot is focused on the mythology and legends of the Australian Aboriginal.
Hidden fire is about a woman called Gili whose parents are being threatened by bad men, if Gili doesn't travel to Australia and retrieve the Opal called the Dreamtime Fire, which is an important piece of Aboriginal heritage and legends.
To retrieve the Opal, Gili meets up with ex boyfriend Morgan, who is against helping Gili retrieve the Opal, and after Gili gets stranded and Morgan comes to the rescue, things heat up between them, and spooky funness occurs.
This is a fun light Adventure read about the Aussie Outback and Aboriginal mythology. I would really recommend it.
Hidden fire is about a woman called Gili whose parents are being threatened by bad men, if Gili doesn't travel to Australia and retrieve the Opal called the Dreamtime Fire, which is an important piece of Aboriginal heritage and legends.
To retrieve the Opal, Gili meets up with ex boyfriend Morgan, who is against helping Gili retrieve the Opal, and after Gili gets stranded and Morgan comes to the rescue, things heat up between them, and spooky funness occurs.
This is a fun light Adventure read about the Aussie Outback and Aboriginal mythology. I would really recommend it.
August 17, 2015
I was excited about this, thinking I would actually learn something about Australia & the people/culture of the area plus a bit of the mythology about opals. Nope. Nada. Zilch. It was a rather immature pair of in lust's who had a massive misunderstanding that was only superficially dealt with between bouts of sex. No development, no history, no nothing. Decent story and great for a beach or bath tub read, but not anything fantastic.
July 23, 2016
Katharine is a judge for the Aurealis Awards. This review is the personal opinion of Katharine herself, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews