Desert Fire

McCall #1

by Marcia Lynn McClure

She opened her eyes and beheld, for the first time, the face of Jackson McCall. Ruggedly handsome and her noble rescuer, she knew in that moment, he would forever hold captive her heart, as he then held her life in his protective arms.

Yet, she was a nameless beauty, haunted by wisps of visions form the past. How could she ever hope he would return the passionate, devotional love she secreted for him…when her very existence was a riddle?

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Clean Romance, Westerns, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction

199 pages, Paperback

First published June 13, 2003

About the author

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Marcia Lynn McClure grew up influenced by the reminiscent stories of rugged, rural Colorado farm life fascinatingly recounted to her by her parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts…tales of runaway buckboards, mule-drawn plows and dust pneumonia; verbalized images of stream-flooded meadows, frozen over in winter, where a child could peer through the crystal clear ice in wonder at the small fish, snakes and mice sealed in the meadow grasses beneath; stories of hardship and tragedy, love and loss. But always the stories, and the people telling them, bore evidence of the wonder and worthiness of simpler, yet sometimes brutal, times.

These influential people and the family legends they detailed, coupled with her own life experiences and utterly romantic nature, led Marcia to begin writing novels as Christmas gifts for her closest friends…friends who long for a breath of the past and miss the romance of bygone eras; friends searching for moments of distraction from the stressful, demanding times we live in.

And so, knowing that it is the breath of the past and the "take me in you arms and kiss me" kind of moments that so many women long to relive, Marcia spins her tales of love, life and laughter…adventures woven around those compelling, romantic instances that most appeal to a woman's loving heart. Marcia feels that if her readers close one of her books with a contented sigh and a delighted smile, feeling rejuvenated, cheerful and edified, then she has achieved what she set out to do…shower refreshment and happiness on anyone having experienced the story.

Marcia lives in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. There she writes her stories surrounded by her beloved friends and family...and the beautiful desert landscape of New Mexico!

Reviews

[Leona · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 2.5 stars. Entertaining, but I kept wanting more depth

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

09/2013: This was a quick, Sunday afternoon read. Jackson is yummy and a hero over and over again... All the McCall brothers were... :)

Reread 10/2014: : Oh those McCall boys do not disappoint!!! Loved it even more this time.

Nov. 2015 : Marcia Lynn McClure's books are always a great "go to" when I need a pick me up. Desert Fire (aka "The Foundling") was just what I needed. :)

Aug. 2016: My husband actually let me read this to him while we were driving back from vacation. He enjoyed it too!!!

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is like crack!! SO ADDICTING!! I just love her books. I love that they take me some place happy and that they all end happily ever after! Why can't life end that way?

This one was truly awesome. I have said it before and I will say it again. I love me some cowboy romance! I loved the angle in this one and the fact that "Annie" couldn't remember who she was. I loved the brothers and their Mama!

Great, fun, sweet, romance. Can't get enough!!

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malania (I think I liked Annie better) wakes up in the middle of the desert with amnesia. Luckily, it’s the ruggedly handsome Jackson McCall who finds her and brings her home to his charming family. I love the McCalls, how lucky to be welcomed into their home. As time passes Malania starts to regain different memories, but still doesn’t know who she is. Malania keeps winding up in trouble time and again, and Jackson keeps coming to the rescue.

I liked this one, I thought it flowed well and I liked that things weren't rushed and the reasons for Jackson holding back made sense. I liked Annie and Jackson and thought they had some fun interactions. It's has a fun western setting and you can't help but love the McCalls.


Content Rated PG
Romance: Kissing
Language: None that I remember
Violence: Mild - a couple attempted kidnappings

[Ashley Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book considering I read the whole thing tonight! Don't worry it's not that impressive, it's only a little over 200 pages. I just needed a little pick me up so I decided to read something light and extra cheesy. This book was just that. I'm not embarrassed. A fantastic little romantic adventure to help escape from reality from time to time is okay by me.

[Zoe and the Edge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit nervous about this book because it started with a lot of superlatives and ridiculous phrases. The heroine thinks everything is oh so beautiful, the people oh so kind, the clothes oh so comfortable and the food oh so delicious. Everything is perfect except she doesn't even know her own name. She does realise that she is much more proper and reserved than the McCalls. She is also extremely timid. After she gets used to Jackson's harshness, she gets some claws and I enjoyed their sparring matches.

Once I got into the flow of it, I really enjoyed it. Best of all the amount of chemistry is spot on. Some seriously hot moments without a hint of a sex scene.

Annie loves living with the McCalls. Her new family consists of three brothers and their widowed mother, Maggie. I loved Maggie's fierceness and her relationship with her boys. Jackson's the oldest and he's supposed to be gruff, but he's just blunt and hilariously sarcastic. Baker is supposed to be the charming one but he's made interesting by his tragedy. Matt is the quiet one and in love with the neighbour's daughter. All in all, they're a wonderful cast of characters that developed throughout the story.

I just have to say this about the ending: What. The. Hell. The end of the book is a true show of a rescue gone wrong and an over the top HEA.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these short clean romances! Once again Marcia has created a story of love in a fun way. Malaina was found in the colorado desert near dead from dehydration when Jackson McCall found her. Her dress was proper although torn and she didn't remember a thing. He takes her home where she is adopted into the family of 3 boys and their mama who is readily willing to claim her as her own, they name her "Annie" until her memory comes back. Jackson is a tease in trying to get Malaina's dander up with being too forward in word and improper in keeping his shirt off while working, but really he wants her for his own but is afraid that she already has a man in her life. danger follows her though in the form of a scorpion on the desert, an Indian that wants to claim her, a gun for hire to take her back to collin, and then Collin himself that comes to claim his "property" as she is from Loisiana. Jackson saves her from them all and then tells her of his love for her. Mary, a neighbor thinks that she is in love with Jackson until she finds that he doesn't return the attraction and then is turned toward Matthew the younger brother who has always liked Mary due to Malaina's suggestions in that direction. Great love story that continues in the next generation in the book "To Echo the Past."

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great. I loved it from start to finish. There was humour, romance, mystery, and delightful banter between Jackson McCall and Malaina, the girl he brought home to his family after finding her alone in the desert with no memory of how she came to be there.

Jackson and his brothers Baker and Matthew were good-natured, kind and irresistible. I loved their playfulness and how close they were to their mother who constantly worried over her rugged "baby boys". The McCalls were warm and welcoming. They treated Malaina as if she were a member of their family.

Jackson mercilessly teased Malaina about what he perceived as her "high and mighty" attitude, but she gave back as good as she got once she recovered from the shock of his carefree ways. There were some exciting, passionate moments between the two of them, but true to Ms McClure's style, always clean.

I could not put this book down. It was such a fun story. In fact, all of Ms McClure's westerns which I have read so far have been fun and memorable! Her leading men are so swoon-worthy - Jackson (Desert Fire), Ransom (The Visions of Ransom Lake), Ryder (Dusty Britches) and Slater (Weathered too young)- just to name a few of my favourites. Sigh.

[Mummy Cat Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out of all the McClure books I have read so far (not even half) this is by far my least favorite. I felt it isn't comparable to the other books.
I liked Jackson and his family. I felt they had good banter and I did laugh while reading this book.
The reason it wasn't my favorite book is because I felt it was too short. There wasn't enough depth to Annie's memory loss/regaining her memory. It was gone and then it was there. Strange.
The story was good but by the end I just wanted more. More depth in the characters, more information about them and more humor that McClure is good at. The ending of the book came really fast and ended just as fast. The introduction of a new character was shocking. So much so I had to go back and re-read it. Did I miss something? No. Really, this could have become a better story had there been more time spent on developing the story more and adding more to the book.
Also, Annie started to become a big whiner. I understood what she had to say and it made sense but ugh it was the same broken record.
Overall, Desert Fire was still a fun read but compared to the other books I have read by this author it wasn't the best.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read. I give 5 stars for Jackson's character...LOVED HIM! My favorite scene that sticks with me is when Jackson gets shot so Melaina is going to ride his horse home, and he says the horse won't let anyone but him ride it, but secretly he knows the horse WILL let her because he noticed the horse likes her, he just doesn't want to admit it! But she knows he wouldn't have given in and let her take the horse if it really would have hurt her....SO CUTE! But I give 3 stars for Melaina, I really didn't like her too much. So I rounded it to 4 stars. Heroines that seem too goody-goody, ones that are always crying and saying they have to leave because they are causing everyone too much trouble just drive me crazy! And then when everyone around them just seem to love them to pieces annoys me for some reason. And then she just needed saved too many times to be believable. This isn't in my top favorites, but still good.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes all I need is a short sweet romance. It's sort of like a literary dessert for me after I've had a meal. Marcia Lynn McClure is one of the best authors I've found to provide this (another is Georgette Heyer, though hers aren't necessarily short). Desert Fire was a nice quick read (which is good because I have a book waiting that is due at the library fairly soon). It was also a prefect read to pick up when I was up at 4 in the morning and unable to go to sleep. Marcia has mastered the sweet romance. She is able to make the characters and plot interesting, and she fits in the perfect amount of passion. I love how she writes a kissing scene and doesn't make it go too far. Such a fun read and exactly the dessert I needed for this morning.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4/17/13 - Just what I needed, a weekly dose of McClure. Why can't they all be McCall boys?

8/2/12 - Now, this is what I am talking about it. Hot cowboys, rugged and strong. A damsel in distress. Great chemistry. A little peril. Read it in one sitting, couldn't put it down. Great stuff! Can't wait to read the sequel Echoes of the Past.

Moral Note: Some mild violence, passionate kisses, I don't remember any language in this one.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ashley says I'm not suppose to admit on goodreads when I read a romance of any kind, but if I don't write them down I forget I've ever read it! And I limit my friends to people who I trust won't judge me. That being said- this was a fun little story that I read today while nursing (aka a really quick read). And it was cheesy and cute and way better than I thought it was going to be. Also- totally clean.

[Angie Cornelison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sigh! Smile! This made my day! Marcia's Books always leave me with a ping in my heart and a skip in my step. This novel was no diffrent. I'll leave you with this...Malaina saying to Jackson..."You smell like heaven," she said smiling. "You're every girls dream...handsome, strong, intelliget,and a surviver."...Well, you'll just have to read the rest!:)

[Amanda Caswell · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I remember liking the book, I actually remember very little about the book only two weeks later as I'm trying to write my review. That's not a good sign. It was fun, it was interesting, but I haven't read much that pulls McClure out of the "mediocre author" category. But there's still a lot to be said for new clean romance in a genre of smut.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think she said this was one of her first ever books. And definately a good one to read. A girl with amnesia who finds herself in the middle of nowhere with nothing and is rescued by a handsome cowboy. When something starts out like that, you can't help but love it!

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another thoroughly satisfying Marcia western! I love, love, love the McCalls--they remind me of Louis L'Amour's Sackett family. Marcia always manages to weave a bit of mystery into her tales, too, although who am I kidding--I'm reading for those "Queen of Clean" kissing scenes!

[McKenzie Dygert · Rating 5 out of 5]

i also loved this book. i think it's the first book of the love notes series. it was really interesting and this book also kept you on your toes.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute book with a little POW. My Favorite book she's written.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me from page one. I loved it all the way to the end. I was very sad when I was done. There is a scene in this book that I will never forget. MLM has done it again.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book with the McCall family. I really enjoyed it! I love Marcia's westerns. They are so entertaining!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute! This books made me smile. I love Marcia Lynn McClure's romances. This is the 4th one I've read this week.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good clean romance. Stayed up with a flashlight to finish it. =)

[Angeline Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE anything by this author! Her books make me laugh out loud and they are clean, quick wonderful reads!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another delightful, fun, clean romance by Marcia. Once again she made me smile. I thought the "boys" interactions and teasing were fun.

[Valerie Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh Swooning!! I LOVED this cowboy romance! So dang good!!!

[Aly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her books!!

[Louie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the very 1st romance book I had ever read. It was also the very 1st book by MLM I had ever read. I give full credit to this book for getting me interested in romance and my love of reading still to this day 15 years later. I was but a nerdy Awkward 14 year old who had yet to learn of escapism through novels.

My sister was the one that got me reading this book. She was currently reading the sequel to this book and she refused to let me borrow it until I read the 1st book. So I did, and ever since I've been hooked.

MLM is a great author if you're looking for wholesome but still passion filled books. Having read thousands of books in my lifetime and seeing the way authors write differently from one another I will say that Marcia has a very unique style of writing. She has such an interesting vernacular and unfortunately I have heard people are bothered by that. I've seen reviews that think that her style of writing is juvenile or too Y/A. But quite frankly I think that is what makes her books so great and so special. She enables you to to revert back to your younger self when you used to fantasize about boys and didnt have to worry about the day to day struggles of adult hood. She has a way of making all of her heroines very youthful and innocent in their spirit. She writes about relatable worries and anxieties and wants and desires.

Her books are also really great for both adults and Y/A because she never ever puts smut in her books. So if you are bothered by sex in books, with Marcia, don't be. I think parents can sit comfortably knowing that if their teenage daughters are going to be reading romance novels (like I did at that age) they are gonna be getting really wholesome romantic content from MLM.

This is not my all time favorite MLM book, however I absolutely adore this book simply for the nostalgia factor. It's short and sweet and it and an easy read and I think it's a really great introduction to who Marcia is and what kind of books she writes. In Desert Fire You get humor, You get tears, You get suspense, You get the damsel in distress and most importantly You get a HEA.

[Tristine Fjerstad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Malaina can’t remember a thing. So when she is woken up in the middle of nowhere by a handsome, rugged cowboy she is terrified. He then brings her home to his mama where she finds a real home that her heart dared not to dream of.

This is a cute, short story. I enjoyed it. But I also wanted a little more about Jackson, and also why Malaina even comes to care for him. My favorite part was the ending.

[Monica Partida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it again!

I must’ve read this book about five times already. I love the story. Marcia is an excellent author and storyteller. I can’t wait to read the other books in the series again. You can always go back to any of her books and be thrilled with the stories just as you were the first time you read them!