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Nebraska Fire
Lisa Wentworth realizes that taking her best friend's place as tutor to handsome Alex Cameron's nephew was a bad idea when it becomes plain that Alex's disdain of her is equal only by his desire
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 15, 2021
This review is of “Nebraska Fire” by Lauren Wilde.
The book starts with Elizabeth “Liza” Cameron, the heroine of the book, looking back on how she came west. (Backstory: Liza is an English emigrant, who sailed from England after her parents passed. Her brother, Dan, died on the trip to New York. Liza arrives in New York and meets a woman, Anne Garrett, and becomes friends with her. Anne accepted a job as a governess for the nephew of Alex Cameron, a rancher from Nebraska. When Anne was killed in an accident, she asked Liza to take her place). Thus, as the book begins, Liza finds herself in Nebraska, where she meets Alex, the hero of the book.
Alex is NOT happy to see Liza, for several reasons. One, she’s younger than he expected. Two, he questions her qualifications to be a governess to his four year-old nephew, Andy. And three, and most importantly, he’s attracted to her (Liza is also attracted to Alex).
Peril soon finds Liza as she is abducted by Kiowa Indians. Alex rescues her and they become lovers. We also learn more about Alex’s history (his parents are deceased. His brother Rob, a ne’er do well, is also deceased. Rob’s wife, Marilee, Andy’s mother, left two years ago).
As they spend more time together, Liza and Alex fall in love. However, he doesn’t tell her that he loves her; this inability to say those three words will cause a rift between them. Liza leave Alex, but this turns out to be a mistake as she is accosted by one of his former hands, who tries to rape and kill her. (Alex fired the man after an earlier rape attempt against Liza and beat the man senseless). Liza is taken in by Rita, the owner of a brothel, and Liza discovers she is pregnant with Alex’s child. Liza will later give birth to a son
Alex finds Liza, he tells her he loves her and their son, and they resolve their issues (Alex left Liza a note stating that he was going to find someone to marry them and that he loved her; she didn’t see the note and thought he was leaving her. It was all a misunderstanding and lack of communication). Alex and Liza marry and have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: Ms. Wilde is a very good atmospheric author; she made me feel as though I was watching her character's lives as opposed to simply reading a book. Liza and Alex are both well-developed characters; Liza is very likeable.
Downside: Alex is a bit all over the place. He starts as an obnoxious boor, becomes nice at times, then is obnoxious again and is nice toward the end; these mood swings are jarring and not explained at all. It makes him a somewhat unlikeable character.
Sex: A few love scenes are short and rather rudimentary, a few are more expansive. Ms. Wilde is a practitioner of what I call “soft erotica”. Her writing wouldn’t be called erotica today, but for a mainstream mass-market romance novel, she writes some of her love scenes with enough pepper in the soup to be good.
Violence: Most of the violence takes place “off-screen”. However, there are scenes of assault, attempted rape, and battery. The violence is not graphic.
Bottom Line: “Nebraska Fire” is not a flawless book, but it is good enough to warrant a 4 star grade; if Alex were a nicer, better hero, it might have crept into 5 star range.
The book starts with Elizabeth “Liza” Cameron, the heroine of the book, looking back on how she came west. (Backstory: Liza is an English emigrant, who sailed from England after her parents passed. Her brother, Dan, died on the trip to New York. Liza arrives in New York and meets a woman, Anne Garrett, and becomes friends with her. Anne accepted a job as a governess for the nephew of Alex Cameron, a rancher from Nebraska. When Anne was killed in an accident, she asked Liza to take her place). Thus, as the book begins, Liza finds herself in Nebraska, where she meets Alex, the hero of the book.
Alex is NOT happy to see Liza, for several reasons. One, she’s younger than he expected. Two, he questions her qualifications to be a governess to his four year-old nephew, Andy. And three, and most importantly, he’s attracted to her (Liza is also attracted to Alex).
Peril soon finds Liza as she is abducted by Kiowa Indians. Alex rescues her and they become lovers. We also learn more about Alex’s history (his parents are deceased. His brother Rob, a ne’er do well, is also deceased. Rob’s wife, Marilee, Andy’s mother, left two years ago).
As they spend more time together, Liza and Alex fall in love. However, he doesn’t tell her that he loves her; this inability to say those three words will cause a rift between them. Liza leave Alex, but this turns out to be a mistake as she is accosted by one of his former hands, who tries to rape and kill her. (Alex fired the man after an earlier rape attempt against Liza and beat the man senseless). Liza is taken in by Rita, the owner of a brothel, and Liza discovers she is pregnant with Alex’s child. Liza will later give birth to a son
Alex finds Liza, he tells her he loves her and their son, and they resolve their issues (Alex left Liza a note stating that he was going to find someone to marry them and that he loved her; she didn’t see the note and thought he was leaving her. It was all a misunderstanding and lack of communication). Alex and Liza marry and have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: Ms. Wilde is a very good atmospheric author; she made me feel as though I was watching her character's lives as opposed to simply reading a book. Liza and Alex are both well-developed characters; Liza is very likeable.
Downside: Alex is a bit all over the place. He starts as an obnoxious boor, becomes nice at times, then is obnoxious again and is nice toward the end; these mood swings are jarring and not explained at all. It makes him a somewhat unlikeable character.
Sex: A few love scenes are short and rather rudimentary, a few are more expansive. Ms. Wilde is a practitioner of what I call “soft erotica”. Her writing wouldn’t be called erotica today, but for a mainstream mass-market romance novel, she writes some of her love scenes with enough pepper in the soup to be good.
Violence: Most of the violence takes place “off-screen”. However, there are scenes of assault, attempted rape, and battery. The violence is not graphic.
Bottom Line: “Nebraska Fire” is not a flawless book, but it is good enough to warrant a 4 star grade; if Alex were a nicer, better hero, it might have crept into 5 star range.
March 21, 2023
Wow! For what looks like an unassuming story it certainly wasn’t. The heroine who lives in New York takes her best friend’s place as a tutor to a young boy on a ranch. The hero thinks she’s too young and beautiful and wants her to leave … then the story heats up with the sparks flying between two well rounded characters. It includes more than the usual number of scorching descriptive sex scenes for an 80s bodice ripper. Interesting story that spans two years… life on a cattle ranch, Native American friends, nearby Army fort, a tragic separation and the impending war between the states. Really a terrific read!
November 21, 2020
i just love the story
June 7, 2009
This book took place during cowboy and indian times before the Civil war. I had never read one of these, but quite enjoyed myself. I was really able to "escape" from my own life to a different time period.
Liza goes to Nebraska to tutor a young boy. Only when she gets there Alex doesn't feel she is qualified. He wants to send her back east, but the stage only goes once a week. During her week there they agree to live together so how things work out. Alex was doubtful that she would last the rough winter. She is a spunky red head.
She gets kidnapped by Indians. And spends quite awhile in their camp recovering. Alex stays with her. They discover they are soul mates. They return to the ranch and the story continues on.
Liza goes to Nebraska to tutor a young boy. Only when she gets there Alex doesn't feel she is qualified. He wants to send her back east, but the stage only goes once a week. During her week there they agree to live together so how things work out. Alex was doubtful that she would last the rough winter. She is a spunky red head.
She gets kidnapped by Indians. And spends quite awhile in their camp recovering. Alex stays with her. They discover they are soul mates. They return to the ranch and the story continues on.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews