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Forbidden Fires
When Southern belle Ellyn Douglas saves a handsome Union officer from a cold river, it only takes a few kisses to overcome the legacy of bitter hatred between North and South. By the author of Forbidden Fires. Original.
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
32 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Bobbi Smith
71 books514 followersAfter working as a department manager for Famous-Barr, and briefly as a clerk at a bookstore, Bobbi Smith gave up on career security and began writing. She sold her first book to Zebra in 1982. Since then, Bobbi has written over 40 books and several short stories. To date, there are more than five million of her novels in print. She has been awarded the prestigious Romantic Times Storyteller of the Year Award and two Career Achievement Awards. Her books have appeared on numerous bestseller lists. When she's not working on her novels, she is frequently a guest speaker for writer's groups. Bobbi is mother of two sons and resides in St. Charles, Missouri with her husband and three dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 7, 2018
This review is of “Forbidden Fires” by Bobbi Smith.
The book begins just after the end of the Civil War. On a steamboat sailing out of Tennessee are a group of Union soldiers, among them Jericho “Coop” Cooper and his long-time friend, Price Richardson, the hero of the book. They are on their way back home to Illinois and their shipping business. Tragedy strikes, however, when the ship they are on blows up, killing many and seriously injuring both men.
Price is rescued from a tree by Lawrence Douglass and his granddaughter, Ellyn, the heroine of the book. Ellyn and Lawrence live at a formerly prosperous, now dilapidated, plantation, Riverwood, with Ellyn’s mother, Constance, and Ellyn’s younger sister, Charlotte. (Ellyn’s father, Thomas, and brother, Tommy, both fought for the Confederacy and were killed during the war).
When Ellyn tries to bring Price back to the main house to care for him, Constance refuses to let him in due to her venal hatred of Northerners. (What Constance REALLY hates is the loss of her cushy Southern lifestyle). Ellyn takes Price to a shack on the property to nurse him back to health, and in the process, they fall in love.
When Constance finds out about Ellyn and Price, she tries to break them up. She succeeds, for a while. Later, Ellyn discovers she is pregnant with Price’s baby and her “fiance”, Rod Clarke, returns from the war. (Ellyn and Rod were “affianced” as children, as the Douglass and Clarke plantations border each other. Ellyn no longer loves Rod-it’s not sure she ever actually did-and refuses to marry him, as she’s in love with Price). Rod later marries Constance instead.
Price returns to Illinois, and finds out two things. One, Coop is alive and well, and two, his aunt, Rachel Kent, and her son, Price’s cousin, Alex, have been living high on Price’s money, thinking that he died in the war. What Price doesn’t know is that Rachel and Alex-along with Price’s ex-mistress, Mary Ann Montague-are partners in a conspiracy to kill him and take his money. The cabal decides to step up their efforts when they discover that Price is planning to marry Ellyn, who has left Tennessee to marry him.
Two attempts are made to kill Price; neither succeed, but they do bring pain and heartache to both Ellyn and Price.
Eventually, Price discovers the conspiracy and puts and end to it, and he and Ellyn marry and have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: Ellyn and Price are fairly interesting, developed characters. Their love for each other is definitely sincere.
I also appreciate a very underrated part of Mrs. Smith’s writing: she lets readers know the motivations of her supporting characters and lets them speak in their own voices. More than a few authors don’t do this, so I appreciate Mrs. Smith’s allowing this to happen.
Downside: I find that many of Mrs. Smith’s books are stronger in the first half than in the second; this is the case with “Forbidden Fires”. When the scene shifts from Tennessee to Illinois, the book becomes less interesting. This, in my view, is because Rachel, Alex and Mary Anne aren’t as good foils for Ellyn and Price as Constance-and later Rod-were. I also didn’t like the way Price foiled the conspiracy against him; the result was highly unsatisfying to me.
Sex: Quite a few love scenes here, ranging from suggestive to very mildly erotic.
Violence: As mentioned, the ship Price and Coop is on blows up. During an argument, Rod assaults Ellyn. Price is injured during a fire at his shipping business, and later, both he and Ellyn are shot. None of the injuries are life-threatening.
Bottom Line: “Forbidden Fires” has some elements of a 5 star book, but too many drawbacks for a rating of more than 3.5 stars.
The book begins just after the end of the Civil War. On a steamboat sailing out of Tennessee are a group of Union soldiers, among them Jericho “Coop” Cooper and his long-time friend, Price Richardson, the hero of the book. They are on their way back home to Illinois and their shipping business. Tragedy strikes, however, when the ship they are on blows up, killing many and seriously injuring both men.
Price is rescued from a tree by Lawrence Douglass and his granddaughter, Ellyn, the heroine of the book. Ellyn and Lawrence live at a formerly prosperous, now dilapidated, plantation, Riverwood, with Ellyn’s mother, Constance, and Ellyn’s younger sister, Charlotte. (Ellyn’s father, Thomas, and brother, Tommy, both fought for the Confederacy and were killed during the war).
When Ellyn tries to bring Price back to the main house to care for him, Constance refuses to let him in due to her venal hatred of Northerners. (What Constance REALLY hates is the loss of her cushy Southern lifestyle). Ellyn takes Price to a shack on the property to nurse him back to health, and in the process, they fall in love.
When Constance finds out about Ellyn and Price, she tries to break them up. She succeeds, for a while. Later, Ellyn discovers she is pregnant with Price’s baby and her “fiance”, Rod Clarke, returns from the war. (Ellyn and Rod were “affianced” as children, as the Douglass and Clarke plantations border each other. Ellyn no longer loves Rod-it’s not sure she ever actually did-and refuses to marry him, as she’s in love with Price). Rod later marries Constance instead.
Price returns to Illinois, and finds out two things. One, Coop is alive and well, and two, his aunt, Rachel Kent, and her son, Price’s cousin, Alex, have been living high on Price’s money, thinking that he died in the war. What Price doesn’t know is that Rachel and Alex-along with Price’s ex-mistress, Mary Ann Montague-are partners in a conspiracy to kill him and take his money. The cabal decides to step up their efforts when they discover that Price is planning to marry Ellyn, who has left Tennessee to marry him.
Two attempts are made to kill Price; neither succeed, but they do bring pain and heartache to both Ellyn and Price.
Eventually, Price discovers the conspiracy and puts and end to it, and he and Ellyn marry and have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: Ellyn and Price are fairly interesting, developed characters. Their love for each other is definitely sincere.
I also appreciate a very underrated part of Mrs. Smith’s writing: she lets readers know the motivations of her supporting characters and lets them speak in their own voices. More than a few authors don’t do this, so I appreciate Mrs. Smith’s allowing this to happen.
Downside: I find that many of Mrs. Smith’s books are stronger in the first half than in the second; this is the case with “Forbidden Fires”. When the scene shifts from Tennessee to Illinois, the book becomes less interesting. This, in my view, is because Rachel, Alex and Mary Anne aren’t as good foils for Ellyn and Price as Constance-and later Rod-were. I also didn’t like the way Price foiled the conspiracy against him; the result was highly unsatisfying to me.
Sex: Quite a few love scenes here, ranging from suggestive to very mildly erotic.
Violence: As mentioned, the ship Price and Coop is on blows up. During an argument, Rod assaults Ellyn. Price is injured during a fire at his shipping business, and later, both he and Ellyn are shot. None of the injuries are life-threatening.
Bottom Line: “Forbidden Fires” has some elements of a 5 star book, but too many drawbacks for a rating of more than 3.5 stars.
October 22, 2021
There is plenty of action, intrigue and passion in this book. Ellyn Douglass and Price Richardson are the romantic leads but are surrounded by a number of other interesting characters who are well developed and all play a part in the events that unfold. There are several sexual encounters in the book, some passionate, others more torrid and while I don't mind this at all, some do appear as if they have just been slotted in as space fillers, when a reference would have been sufficient for carrying on the storyline. Thus would be my only criticism of what was a very enjoyable book.
May 26, 2021
2.5 stars
April 6, 2025
good read
The book was amazing they went through so much together. I am glad it had a happy ending I will definitely recommend it
The book was amazing they went through so much together. I am glad it had a happy ending I will definitely recommend it
February 9, 2014
1 1/2 stars. (Sure wish Goodreads would let us have half stars.)
At the very end of the Civil War, Yankee captain Price Richardson barely survives the Sultana disaster. He's found by Ellyn Douglass who nurses him back to health. While I appreciate this isn't one of those I hate you/I love you/I hate you kind of HR's, it still smacks a bit of insta-love. There's really not much going on. Except talking. Lots of talking. Talking, talking, talking. What should have been a quick read, then, turns into a slog and why I'm giving such a low rating. Also, the ebook version I was reading was of cheap quality.
At the very end of the Civil War, Yankee captain Price Richardson barely survives the Sultana disaster. He's found by Ellyn Douglass who nurses him back to health. While I appreciate this isn't one of those I hate you/I love you/I hate you kind of HR's, it still smacks a bit of insta-love. There's really not much going on. Except talking. Lots of talking. Talking, talking, talking. What should have been a quick read, then, turns into a slog and why I'm giving such a low rating. Also, the ebook version I was reading was of cheap quality.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews