Green Fire

by Stephanie James, Jayne Ann Krentz

STRAY CAT STRUTFlint Cottrell had been driven all his life by a restlessness that didn't allow any peace. He chased legends and treasures, wrote about them, sold his stories to magazines when he could, did odd jobs when he couldn't. But the night Rani Garroway opened her door, he knew he'd found that elusive "something" he'd been searching for.Rani stared at the handsome, thoroughly rain-soaked stranger, who looked like a battle-scarred alley cat demanding shelter. As his exotic green eyes locked with hers, she realized that he could set her safe, risk-free life on fire - green fire - and the flames were already licking ather heart.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Category Romance, Mystery, Fiction

Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 1986

About the author

Jayne Ann Castle was born on 28 March 1948 in Borrego Springs, California. Her mother, Alberta Castle, raised her with her two brothers, Stephen and James. In 1970, she obtained a B.A in History at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and later she obtained a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University, where she met Frank Krentz, an engineer. After her graduation, they married and moved to the Virgin Islands. She worked in the Duke University library system, where she began to write her first romance novels. The marriage moved to Seattle, Washington, where they continue living.

Now, Jayne Ann Castle Krentz with her seven pennames is considered a pillar in the contemporary romance genre. For some years, she only uses three pennames for each of three different periods from time: "Jayne Ann Krentz" (her married name) from the present, "Jayne Castle" (her birth name) from the future and her most famous penname: "Amanda Quick" from the past. She is famous for her work ethic, beginning her writing by 7 am six days a week. Her heroins never are damsels in hardships, they are often heroes. Her novels also contain mystery or paranormal elements.

Enthusiastic of the romantic genre, she has always defended its importance. To help educate the public about the romantic genre she became the editor and a contributor to Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women: Romance Writers on the Appeal of the Romance, a non-fiction essay collection that won the prestigious Susan Koppelman Award for Feminist Studies. She established the Castle Humanities Fund at UCSC's University Library to allow the library to purchase additional books and has given money to 15 Seattle-area elementary schools to enhance their library budgets. She is also a member of the Advisory Board for the Writers Programs at the University of Washington extension program.

Psuedonyms:

Jayne Ann Krentz
Amanda Quick
Jayne Castle
Jayne Bentley
Jayne Taylor
Amanda Glass

Reviews

[Azet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The legend tells,that every woman who owns the emerald Clayborne ring will meet her one true soulmate.That soulmate listens to her every command, and she will also try to resist his love until he makes love to her-then she becomes completely his. Our heroine Rani Garroway don`t like the man who interrupted her vacation,the rough adventurer Flint Correll who wants to write an article about the emerald ring on Rani`s finger. But their fascination and attraction in each other grows stronger-and it doesn`t take long until Flint stakes his claim.

"Green Fire" is a funny,charming and exciting love-story, and Stephanie James (aka Jayne ann Krentz) never fails to deliver with her smart and fast-paced writing. A Smitten Hero,independent Heroine,wannabe OM,intriguing legends about emerald treasures...and NO Wannabe OW...yeah i just love this!

[*CJ* · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Green Fire" is the story of Rani and Flint.

Meet a strong librarian h, a journalist H who doubles as a gardener, a legend of an emerald ring which binds them together, a moody house-cat, some evil schemes, a blooming love and a heartwarming ending.

I really liked how the gentle coaxing of the H met the fiery stubbornness of the h, and sparks definitely flew!

Enjoyed it!

Safe
3/5

[fulano · Rating 3 out of 5]

TW/CW:
Attempted murder, sex under false pretenses.

This was actually pretty quick to get through because of its length and the pacing was better than the previous book I read by this author. The heroine is Rani and the Hero is Flint. Rani is on vacation and is the owner a very legendary ring, albeit a supposed fake. The hero finds her because he wants to write an article about it. They develop a relationship right from the start. Flint is ready to have the heroine but the heroine won’t settle for anything less than 100% commitment since the hero is the type of guy who moves around from place to place. Both of them have to work around what suits them best.

For the most part I enjoyed it but I had issues throughout. The heroine would rightfully scorn toxic masculinity, but sometimes that would go unchallenged. And towards the end the hero mentions the “biological clock” in regards to having children which is pretty gross but it didn’t bother me as much since he doesn’t mention it just because of her but also because of himself. I still wish it wasn’t included.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

The heroine is a very controlled reference librarian at a public library who's on vacation with her cat. (Say what you will, but she's self aware and a grown up, which is more than I can say for the heroine in the last UF novel I read.)

The hero is an ex-drifter who alternates between stalwart protector and crazy stalker dude. He mostly made me laugh, but sometime his alpha-douchecanoe tendencies got a bit tiresome.

In other words, fairly standard early JAK. Kind of reads like a test run for Gift of Gold in some ways.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid trashy romance, but a bit of a silly story line. Ok, more so than the usual trashy romance. But an engaging read all the same!

[Daniell Marsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mixed feeling about this book. I liked the overall story and it did pick up at in parts. I guess I didn't really see the connection between the main characters as much as I would like. It just didn't flow for me in that respect. Over all the story was interesting and I am glad that I read it. I liked the cat in the story, as for me if animal is added correctly ( not killing off or torturing) it is a bonus. I did like the story even with the things that I listed above. I would say give it a try and see how you feel.

[Mara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretty dumb setting/plot

[Cruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Author: Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Stephanie James
First published: 1986
Length: 171 pages
Setting: Contemporary.
Sex: Explicit. Reasonably frequent.
Hero: Jack-of-all-trades come myth debunker
Heroine: Librarian

I kept thinking this is a cross between a Criminal Minds episode and an Old West Romance.

Old West: Disreputable hero appears on heroine's doorstep to do odd jobs for his keep. He has a a secret agenda and a deep desire to get in her bed.

Criminal Minds: Mysterious man appears on her doorstep and takes over her life. He tells her who to see, moves his clothes into her closet, sleeps with her, has her make breakfast the next morning. Is he a serial killer?

In reality: Simple mid-80s romance with a controlling but respectful and emotional Hero who saves her, whether she wants him to or not.

Straightforward story but vaguely creepy Hero.

Of it's time.

References:
Author's website: http://jayneannkrentz.com/green-fire

(Read in Body Guard & Green Fire ISBN 978-1-741-16554-8)

-CR-

[Michelle Reddy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a favorite, cant say that it stands out.

[SaturNalia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rani is a librarian on vacation in a cabin by a lake. Flint is a journalist and vagabond who shows up at Rani's door at night. In exchange for free lodging, he is the new handyman for Rani's cabin, hired by the owners. Flint was creepy and strange. He skulked outside Rani's window at night, climbed in through her window uninvited, moved in to her bedroom after one night of sex. Rani was waspish and argumentative, judgmental about his lifestyle. One look at Rani and Flint was ready to give up his hobo ways, and he was confused as to why she wasn't falling at his feet. I didn't like the characters and the intrigue about Rani's ring came out of nowhere in the end.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just plain fun. I did so enjoy the hero's obvious ploys to get the heroine to pay attention to him. I smiled almost through the whole book. A definite keeper.
Second reading - just as much fun the second time. Wish it would come out in Kindle, then I wouldn't have to worry about the book getting old.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Published in 1986, I expected this book to be a little closer to Jayne Ann Krentz's later work, but it was a bit disappointing in that respect. The plot, dialogue, and characters were more developed than in some of her previous books, but somehow they did not work as well for me.

[Mollie *scoutrmom* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flint Cottrell is an amazing antihero. He shows up uninvited, and like a strat cat, makes himself at home. After managing to help the heroine defeat the villian, he shows that it was love at first sight for him.

[Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Her characters are always different than expected. I enjoyed all of her 80's books and took them for the era they were in and what was selling. I do wish they were all in Kindle Format!

[Jadzia · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books by Ms. Krentz published by harlequin. The hero was pushy, but not too pushy and the heroine didn't behave as if she were a naive virgin. Very nice read.