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Firebird
Rona's new job, looking after an enchanting little girl on a glamorous Greek island, sounded fabulous, and she set off in the highest spirits.
But until she arrived on the island no one had told her about the legend of the Firebird...
But until she arrived on the island no one had told her about the legend of the Firebird...
First published January 1, 1975
22 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Stratton
81 books22 followersRebecca Stratton wrote two books as a Harlequin Presents author. Writing for the Harlequin Romance imprint, she published 43 novels. She also wrote under the name Lucy Gillen. She passed away in 1982.
Biography from Harlequin Romance #2489 The Golden Spaniard
"When one happens to be an unmarried woman of forty-five and apparently fixed for the rest of her working life in a safe and settled job," Rebecca Stratton says of herself, "it is apt to be regarded as bordering on the insane to suddenly give it all up and become a full-time writer."
But that is precisely what British-born and -bred Rebecca did one August day in 1967. Writing had always been her ultimate aim, and she felt that if she didn't make the move right then and there she'd end her days as "one more elderly lady sighing for what might have been."
When Rebecca Stratton's first attempt at a romance novel was accepted, she didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. So she did both. Then she celebrated with friends and relatives. And then sat down to the job of writing more books - and reveled in it!
Biography from Harlequin Romance #2489 The Golden Spaniard
"When one happens to be an unmarried woman of forty-five and apparently fixed for the rest of her working life in a safe and settled job," Rebecca Stratton says of herself, "it is apt to be regarded as bordering on the insane to suddenly give it all up and become a full-time writer."
But that is precisely what British-born and -bred Rebecca did one August day in 1967. Writing had always been her ultimate aim, and she felt that if she didn't make the move right then and there she'd end her days as "one more elderly lady sighing for what might have been."
When Rebecca Stratton's first attempt at a romance novel was accepted, she didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. So she did both. Then she celebrated with friends and relatives. And then sat down to the job of writing more books - and reveled in it!
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 27, 2020
I'm not sure what was worse:
-The heroine's continual stuttering & trembling while getting turned on by the hero's brusque treatment just as much as his gentler moments.
-The hero's blackmailing her into marriage because of some dippy island myth.
-The heroine's self-reproaches because she should be MOAR submissive than she already is -- maybe instead of a doormat she could be a shoe-scraper?
-The hero's arm-grabbing & manipulation of a naive girl who can barely feed herself. What a hunk! Not.
-The heroine's husky voice. (<--repetitious adverb alert)
-The hero's pathetic jealousy when this twit holds reasonable conversation with other men in his own family.
-The heroine falling for the most obvious scheme ever to discredit her promises...in the final 10 pages.
Also, here's a sample of their dynamic relationship:
"You do not sound very enthusiastic," he said shortly. "Have you something against learning our language?"
"No, of course I haven't." She tried vainly to do something about the way her pulse was responding to the firm hold he had on her arm, the strong fingers so tight as to be almost a warning about stepping out of line, a gesture she resented but at the same time found disturbingly stimulating to her senses.
...This occurs after she dares to gently suggest that she would prefer to discuss future life details in a pretense of choice, rather than someone informing her that she will learn Greek because Damon says so. But don't worry -- that little rebellion died quickly. No matter how submissive you are, ladies...it's not enough! YOU CAN DO BETTER!
🙄
Turns out the awesome vintage blouse on the front cover really was the best part. Humbug. >:P I still have another Stratton; hopefully it's better.
-The heroine's continual stuttering & trembling while getting turned on by the hero's brusque treatment just as much as his gentler moments.
-The hero's blackmailing her into marriage because of some dippy island myth.
-The heroine's self-reproaches because she should be MOAR submissive than she already is -- maybe instead of a doormat she could be a shoe-scraper?
-The hero's arm-grabbing & manipulation of a naive girl who can barely feed herself. What a hunk! Not.
-The heroine's husky voice. (<--repetitious adverb alert)
-The hero's pathetic jealousy when this twit holds reasonable conversation with other men in his own family.
-The heroine falling for the most obvious scheme ever to discredit her promises...in the final 10 pages.
Also, here's a sample of their dynamic relationship:
"You do not sound very enthusiastic," he said shortly. "Have you something against learning our language?"
"No, of course I haven't." She tried vainly to do something about the way her pulse was responding to the firm hold he had on her arm, the strong fingers so tight as to be almost a warning about stepping out of line, a gesture she resented but at the same time found disturbingly stimulating to her senses.
...This occurs after she dares to gently suggest that she would prefer to discuss future life details in a pretense of choice, rather than someone informing her that she will learn Greek because Damon says so. But don't worry -- that little rebellion died quickly. No matter how submissive you are, ladies...it's not enough! YOU CAN DO BETTER!
🙄
Turns out the awesome vintage blouse on the front cover really was the best part. Humbug. >:P I still have another Stratton; hopefully it's better.
January 24, 2010
Typical vintage Harlequin, full of lush description but predictable fluffy plot.
October 23, 2024
This is a weird novel with weird characters. The hero is almost as old as heroine's father. The heroine at one time is pursued by 3 guys - hero,his brother and his nephew and she seems interested in all 3 of them. What was unbelievable was the rich hero falling for heroine who has neither talent nor skill only a little beauty.
May 23, 2020
Copyright 1975. Very not politically correct. Rebecca Stratton was always my favorite Harlequin author.
July 22, 2014
Another old Harlequin that grabbed me. I liked the setting, the legend surrounding this little island and the family that lived there.
September 18, 2020
A nice story
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews