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Knight Miscellany #2
Lord of Fire
After years of preparation, he has baited his trap well, luring the depraved members of Society into his devil’s playground so he can earn their trust and uncover their secrets. Yet no one in London suspects that Lord Lucien Knight is England’s most cunning spy, an officer who has sacrificed his soul for his country. Now an unexpected intruder has invaded his fortress of sin, jeopardizing his carefully laid plans–and igniting his deepest desires.
Beautiful, innocent, Alice Montague finds herself at the mercy of scandalous Lord Lucien. But as he begins his slow seduction to corrupt her virtue, Alice glimpses a man tormented by his own choices, a man who promises her nothing except his undeniable passion. . . .
Beautiful, innocent, Alice Montague finds herself at the mercy of scandalous Lord Lucien. But as he begins his slow seduction to corrupt her virtue, Alice glimpses a man tormented by his own choices, a man who promises her nothing except his undeniable passion. . . .
407 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 2, 2002
149 people are currently reading
2788 people want to read
About the author
Gaelen Foley
44 books1,894 followersGaelen Foley is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author of twenty historical romances set in the glittering world of Regency England. Her books are available in sixteen languages and have won numerous genre awards, such as the Bookseller's Best, the NJRW Golden Leaf (three times), the CRW Award of Excellence, the National Reader's Choice Award, the Beacon, and the Holt Medallion.
A Pennsylvania native, Gaelen holds a B.A. in English literature with a minor in Philosophy from the State University of New York, College at Fredonia, a quaint lakeside village where Mark Twain once owned a home. It was here, while studying the Romantic poets, such as Wordsworth, Byron, and Keats that she first fell in love with the Regency period in which her novels are set. Gaelen lives in western Pennsylvania with her college-sweetheart husband, Eric, a schoolteacher, with whom she co-writes middle grade fantasy adventure novels under the pen-name, E.G. Foley. (See www.EGFoley.com.) She is hard at work on her next book.
A Pennsylvania native, Gaelen holds a B.A. in English literature with a minor in Philosophy from the State University of New York, College at Fredonia, a quaint lakeside village where Mark Twain once owned a home. It was here, while studying the Romantic poets, such as Wordsworth, Byron, and Keats that she first fell in love with the Regency period in which her novels are set. Gaelen lives in western Pennsylvania with her college-sweetheart husband, Eric, a schoolteacher, with whom she co-writes middle grade fantasy adventure novels under the pen-name, E.G. Foley. (See www.EGFoley.com.) She is hard at work on her next book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 350 reviews
August 11, 2012
First read Oct. 2007, Re-read August 2012
I finished reading this book in 1 day.
This is Lucian's story. The "fallen" twin who just never quite measures up to his brother. A spy who hosts "orgies" in his underground grotto to gain useful information for national security. A man who is the verge of personal collapse. He has seen, experienced, and performed dispicable acts of humanity and is completely disenfranchised with everyone and everything. He is alone.
Enter Alice Montague.
She is his opposite. A naive, innocent, virgin who has never seen half the things that haunt Lucian. The scene and circumstances to which they meet for the first time is perhaps my favorite meeting of all time, and there are scenes throughout this book that make it UNFORGETTABLE (ie..the rain scene, the hot springs scene, the key scene..just to name a few).
Other reviewers have mentioned the unlikelyhood that these two could ever actually get together. Others talk about Alice's naivity and purity as being annoying or stupid. I just don't agree. Alice is exactly what Lucian has been missing from his life, and if she were any different, I don't think she would've had the impact on him that she did.
I really liked Alice....I really loved Lucian. He was a unique blend of power, strength, vulnerablity, and tenderness. He is in touch with his feelings and tells Alice he loves her before she tells him. He goes to extreme measures to keep her with him, but as soon as their friendship develops past attraction, he gives her the keys (literally and figuratively) to leave. Of course by this time, WHY would she want to! This is a wonderful love story. This is really Lucian's story of his redemption and acceptance of himself...the definition of "a keeper".
I finished reading this book in 1 day.
This is Lucian's story. The "fallen" twin who just never quite measures up to his brother. A spy who hosts "orgies" in his underground grotto to gain useful information for national security. A man who is the verge of personal collapse. He has seen, experienced, and performed dispicable acts of humanity and is completely disenfranchised with everyone and everything. He is alone.
Enter Alice Montague.
She is his opposite. A naive, innocent, virgin who has never seen half the things that haunt Lucian. The scene and circumstances to which they meet for the first time is perhaps my favorite meeting of all time, and there are scenes throughout this book that make it UNFORGETTABLE (ie..the rain scene, the hot springs scene, the key scene..just to name a few).
Other reviewers have mentioned the unlikelyhood that these two could ever actually get together. Others talk about Alice's naivity and purity as being annoying or stupid. I just don't agree. Alice is exactly what Lucian has been missing from his life, and if she were any different, I don't think she would've had the impact on him that she did.
I really liked Alice....I really loved Lucian. He was a unique blend of power, strength, vulnerablity, and tenderness. He is in touch with his feelings and tells Alice he loves her before she tells him. He goes to extreme measures to keep her with him, but as soon as their friendship develops past attraction, he gives her the keys (literally and figuratively) to leave. Of course by this time, WHY would she want to! This is a wonderful love story. This is really Lucian's story of his redemption and acceptance of himself...the definition of "a keeper".
February 13, 2021
I am re-reading all my 5 star rated romance novels. There are 63 on my shelf (and counting). This is book 53.
(Tropes: Opposite Attract, Enemies to Lovers)
This is how my 53rd re-read held up.
Holy crap…. This did not hold up. It’s been several years since I read it, but even knowing this book has a happy ending the entire book gave me a frightful chill. Being blackmailed and held against one’s will, no matter how hot your captor is - is not romantic or sigh worthy, no matter how much the protagonist redeems himself. A younger me clearly thought this was romantic. In 2021, this is just terrifying. The book was written almost 20 years ago, but even then did we really fall for this??
Changed from 5 stars to 1 star.
Short summary: Lucien blackmails/forces, Alice, the sister-in-law of his former lover to stay at his house.
- She appeared somewhere between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two—a wholesome, nay, a virginal beauty of trembling purity. He instantly knew that she was utterly untouched, impossible as that seemed in this place.
- “Miss Goody Two-Shoes,” he taunted softly.
She stiffened, sliding him a frown. “I do not appreciate being called that.”
His insolent gaze traveled over her body. “I hear you’re quite the little saint.”
- “Are you going to deny that we are extremely attracted to each other?”
His brazen question, so casually delivered, left her nigh speechless. “Do you really imagine you can succeed with me after you seduced my sister-in-law?”
“Do you really think you can resist?” he countered, his gray eyes flashing wickedly.
- “You’re too young to realize it yet, but I know
what is going to happen to you.”
“You do?” she whispered, staring uneasily into his deep, crystalline eyes.
“I’ve seen it a thousand times. They’re going to make you just like everybody else, but I can protect you, your bright, beautiful soul. You’re in a cage and you don’t even know it, but I can free you. Let me take you under my wing. I can teach you how to outwit them if you’ll let me. I won’t let them turn you into another pretty, empty shell in ribbons and French silk. You are too good for that fate.”
His softly uttered words staggered her. It was as though he had looked into her soul and read her very heart. She stared at him, mesmerized. “What do you want of me?”
“The same thing you want, sweet,” he said as he stroked her hand in gentle reassurance. “Both of us, we just want someone to accept us for who we really are.”
- “One may go; the other shall stay for a while as my companion, provide me with a pleasant diversion—it grows so dull here in the country, don’t you know, but I leave it to you to decide, Alice . Who will go home to Harry and who will remain here at Revell Court . . . with me?”
- “Sit down, Miss Montague,” Lucien clipped out sternly. “You will not run away from this choice. You should be grateful I am willing to let one of you leave, for I am tempted to keep you both—but then, who would comfort poor little Harry?”
- She held her breath as he rapped softly on the door.
“Oh,Alice , my pet, come out and play,” he called urbanely.
She clutched the fire poker harder in her sweating hands. “Go away! I don’t want to see you!”
“Tut, tut, my dear, I know you are cross, but—”
“Cross?” she cried, taking an angry step toward the door, emboldened by the fact that he could not get to her, or if he did somehow, she would brain the cad. “Cross does not begin to describe my sentiments, Lucien Knight! What am I to think of you? One minute you are pointing a gun at me, the next you are reading me poetry!”
“But I thought you liked the poetry.”
- “Alice?”
She spun toward the door, her skirts whirling softly. “Yes?” she forced out.
“Do you know what I am holding in my hand?”
“No.”
“Care to guess?”
“A pitchfork?” she asked in a stilted attempt at levity, hoping to invoke his earlier, playful mood.
“No, my dear,” he answered drily. “A key to your room.”
“What?”she breathed, aghast.
“I should hate to have to use it.”
“You have a key to this room?”
“Mm-hmm.”
(Tropes: Opposite Attract, Enemies to Lovers)
This is how my 53rd re-read held up.
Holy crap…. This did not hold up. It’s been several years since I read it, but even knowing this book has a happy ending the entire book gave me a frightful chill. Being blackmailed and held against one’s will, no matter how hot your captor is - is not romantic or sigh worthy, no matter how much the protagonist redeems himself. A younger me clearly thought this was romantic. In 2021, this is just terrifying. The book was written almost 20 years ago, but even then did we really fall for this??
Changed from 5 stars to 1 star.
Short summary: Lucien blackmails/forces, Alice, the sister-in-law of his former lover to stay at his house.
- She appeared somewhere between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two—a wholesome, nay, a virginal beauty of trembling purity. He instantly knew that she was utterly untouched, impossible as that seemed in this place.
- “Miss Goody Two-Shoes,” he taunted softly.
She stiffened, sliding him a frown. “I do not appreciate being called that.”
His insolent gaze traveled over her body. “I hear you’re quite the little saint.”
- “Are you going to deny that we are extremely attracted to each other?”
His brazen question, so casually delivered, left her nigh speechless. “Do you really imagine you can succeed with me after you seduced my sister-in-law?”
“Do you really think you can resist?” he countered, his gray eyes flashing wickedly.
- “You’re too young to realize it yet, but I know
what is going to happen to you.”
“You do?” she whispered, staring uneasily into his deep, crystalline eyes.
“I’ve seen it a thousand times. They’re going to make you just like everybody else, but I can protect you, your bright, beautiful soul. You’re in a cage and you don’t even know it, but I can free you. Let me take you under my wing. I can teach you how to outwit them if you’ll let me. I won’t let them turn you into another pretty, empty shell in ribbons and French silk. You are too good for that fate.”
His softly uttered words staggered her. It was as though he had looked into her soul and read her very heart. She stared at him, mesmerized. “What do you want of me?”
“The same thing you want, sweet,” he said as he stroked her hand in gentle reassurance. “Both of us, we just want someone to accept us for who we really are.”
- “One may go; the other shall stay for a while as my companion, provide me with a pleasant diversion—it grows so dull here in the country, don’t you know, but I leave it to you to decide, Alice . Who will go home to Harry and who will remain here at Revell Court . . . with me?”
- “Sit down, Miss Montague,” Lucien clipped out sternly. “You will not run away from this choice. You should be grateful I am willing to let one of you leave, for I am tempted to keep you both—but then, who would comfort poor little Harry?”
- She held her breath as he rapped softly on the door.
“Oh,Alice , my pet, come out and play,” he called urbanely.
She clutched the fire poker harder in her sweating hands. “Go away! I don’t want to see you!”
“Tut, tut, my dear, I know you are cross, but—”
“Cross?” she cried, taking an angry step toward the door, emboldened by the fact that he could not get to her, or if he did somehow, she would brain the cad. “Cross does not begin to describe my sentiments, Lucien Knight! What am I to think of you? One minute you are pointing a gun at me, the next you are reading me poetry!”
“But I thought you liked the poetry.”
- “Alice?”
She spun toward the door, her skirts whirling softly. “Yes?” she forced out.
“Do you know what I am holding in my hand?”
“No.”
“Care to guess?”
“A pitchfork?” she asked in a stilted attempt at levity, hoping to invoke his earlier, playful mood.
“No, my dear,” he answered drily. “A key to your room.”
“What?”she breathed, aghast.
“I should hate to have to use it.”
“You have a key to this room?”
“Mm-hmm.”
March 25, 2015
Great book, though the first half is so much better than the second. Love Lucien!!!!!!!!!
Here's my favorite quote:
“You don’t know,” he said in a low, almost hostile voice. He shook his head. “I don’t even know what I’m doing with you. You’re not like anyone else who’s in my life—” He stopped abruptly. “Did you ever drink too much wine, Alice?” He held up the glass in his hand and waggled it idly, making the ruby contents swirl.
“I’m not one to overindulge.”
“No, you wouldn’t be,” he said wryly. “Allow me to explain, then, that the more you drink, the more thirsty you become. Not all the wine in the world can assuage the thirst for water. Water. Wine makes you merry, but a man needs water to keep him alive. Pure, clean, sweet water.” He sighed, silent for a moment. He stared almost bitterly into the fire. “I am parched, Alice, scorched like a wasteland, burning like a damned soul in hell. I thirst.”
April 11, 2013
I got lulled into security by reading four romances in a row where the heroes were likeable, treating heroine and others around them with respect, and not in need of reform.
But that's all right.
Things are back to normal with Gaelen Foley's Lord of Fire. What an apt name for the novel because that is precisely what I want to do to the hero - stick him into the fire and have some barbeque while he roasts.
OK, let's get down to this hypothetical. You are a young woman and this is your experience with a guy - you first see him presiding over a disgusting dusgusting orgy during which he drags you off against your will (and you fully believes for raping), sticks a pistol between your eyes, and feels you up everywhere against your will. Even when he finds out you are actually the sister-in-law of his mistress, come to fetch her to her sick child, and have never done anything improper or sexual in your life, he still offers you some sex.
Next morning, he tells you that only one of the two, you or your sister-in-law, can go to the sick kid, because he knows you treasure the child and wants to use your weakness for the kid to get you in his clutches.
OK, in this hypothetical, if you are in any way sane, are you going to (a) assume this is a horrible monster who deserves to be castrated and soon the hero of the piece will appear to help you heat the knives or (b) decide that all of this is OK because he's hot and angsty.
If you picked (a), congrats, you are a normal human being. If you picked (b), my condolences, you are Galen Foley.
I am supposed to believe the heroine feels physically drawn to him after that? In what Universe, unless she is a closet BDSM afficionado with a rape fetish?
How on earth the author expects me to root for them as a couple is beyond me. As it is, there is some evil French spy who supposedly wants to off our "hero" and I keep hoping he will succeed. I mean, when "hero" was relieving his hideous torture at French dude's hands, my reaction was not "poor woobie" but a "serves you right, you bastard!" and a fierce desire that the French Dude do it again.
I like other Foley books but wtf wtf forever about this one.
But that's all right.
Things are back to normal with Gaelen Foley's Lord of Fire. What an apt name for the novel because that is precisely what I want to do to the hero - stick him into the fire and have some barbeque while he roasts.
OK, let's get down to this hypothetical. You are a young woman and this is your experience with a guy - you first see him presiding over a disgusting dusgusting orgy during which he drags you off against your will (and you fully believes for raping), sticks a pistol between your eyes, and feels you up everywhere against your will. Even when he finds out you are actually the sister-in-law of his mistress, come to fetch her to her sick child, and have never done anything improper or sexual in your life, he still offers you some sex.
Next morning, he tells you that only one of the two, you or your sister-in-law, can go to the sick kid, because he knows you treasure the child and wants to use your weakness for the kid to get you in his clutches.
OK, in this hypothetical, if you are in any way sane, are you going to (a) assume this is a horrible monster who deserves to be castrated and soon the hero of the piece will appear to help you heat the knives or (b) decide that all of this is OK because he's hot and angsty.
If you picked (a), congrats, you are a normal human being. If you picked (b), my condolences, you are Galen Foley.
I am supposed to believe the heroine feels physically drawn to him after that? In what Universe, unless she is a closet BDSM afficionado with a rape fetish?
How on earth the author expects me to root for them as a couple is beyond me. As it is, there is some evil French spy who supposedly wants to off our "hero" and I keep hoping he will succeed. I mean, when "hero" was relieving his hideous torture at French dude's hands, my reaction was not "poor woobie" but a "serves you right, you bastard!" and a fierce desire that the French Dude do it again.
I like other Foley books but wtf wtf forever about this one.
June 7, 2020
Lord of Fire was a fabulous book that has a little bit of everything: heart-pounding action and suspense, spy intrigue, history, and best of all, swoon-worthy romance. Galen Foley's writing style contains a richness of detail that vividly brings to life the world she has created, making me feel like I had actually been transported to another time and place. It is apparent to me through reading her books and looking at her website that Ms. Foley is meticulous with her historical research, and it definitely shows in her writing. I also loved that the author kept me on my toes throughout the story. Every time I thought that she was going to resort to some well-worn plot device, she surprised me. There were many times I thought that Lucien and Alice were going to have the “big misunderstanding,” but then not long after a confession would be forthcoming. They did have a few quarrels, which can often be irritating to me, but in this case, I found them to be genuine issues that a couple in their circumstances might actually have to face, rather than just petty bickering. Even though there were a couple of things that I predicted would happen early on, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel, because there were plenty of things that didn't go as I expected. I normally am not a fan of love at first sight stories, but Ms. Foley managed to make me believe in this couple's love for one another and a lasting happily-ever-after, even though they had only know each other for a short time. She accomplished this by creating a deep emotional connection between Lucien and Alice, as well as between the characters and the reader, by having them get to know each other fairly intimately before sharing physical intimacies. Admittedly, the love scenes are few, but I found the sexual tension to be exquisite and laden with tender emotions. All in all, Lord of Fire was a very well-rounded story that kept me excited about reading it.
Lucien and Alice were a wonderful and perfectly matched couple. In spite of his charming personality, Lucien is a tortured soul. Working deep undercover as a spy for the Crown, he lives a dark, rather solitary existence. Personally knowing someone who has done deep cover law enforcement work and having heard some of his stories, I felt that the aloneness and soul-searing intensity of Lucien's work was very realistically rendered. It was a fabulous contrast of dark and light, and doing things you really don't want to for the greater good. Lucien loved his twin, Damien, deeply, and their recent estrangement over Lucien's choice of professions has left him feeling more alone then ever. Yet, Lucien has always felt like he was living in his brother's shadow and never quite measuring up. When Alice unexpectedly shows up in Lucien's life she brings the light of her innocence and goodness into his darkened world, making his heart long for things he thought lost to him forever. When Lucien used trickery and manipulation to keep Alice at his country estate, I wasn't sure I would like him, but aside from that one lapse, he behaved in a gentlemanly way for the remainder of the book, which endeared him to both me and Alice. I thought Alice was a very well-balanced heroine. She was kind, caring and intuitive, understanding Lucien in a way that most people didn't, and he reciprocated in kind. She also had spunk and spirit, speaking her mind to both Lucien and her sister-in-law, Caro, when the circumstances warranted. There were a few time when Alice's spunk led her into potentially dangerous situations, but I felt like I generally understood her reasoning and that she was usually just trying to protect those she loved. Overall, I found Lucien and Alice to be a delightful couple who were a pleasure to read.
The palette of secondary characters was varied and interesting. Lucien's rogues were charming and entertaining. The main villain, Claude Bardou, was irredeemably evil, bringing a dangerous menace to the story. There are a couple of other foreign spies, an American double-agent and a Russian woman, who added a bit of extra intrigue. Alice's sister-in-law, Caro, is very well-rendered as a flamboyant, self-centered woman who rarely thinks of anything but her own pleasures, and has little interest in even trying to be a good mother to her three-year-old son, Harry. Harry is a sweet, endearing child who charms nearly everyone with whom he comes in contact. In addition to these, there are a whole host of other supporting characters who for the most part play small roles, but manage to add a great deal of depth to the other characters and the narrative. There are even a couple of brief mentions of Lucien having met Darius Santiago (from Princess, the second of book of Gaelen Foley's Ascension Trilogy) in his undercover persona. This is something that I didn't pick up on until re-reading this book, because the first time around, I hadn't yet read the Ascension Trilogy. The most realistic and intriguing of the secondary characters though, is Lucien's identical twin brother, Damien. These two rogues may look alike, but their personalities are opposites, with Lucien being a charming, smooth-tongued devil and Damien being more staid, reserved and uncomfortable in social settings. Most interesting of all is the sympathetic portrayal of Damien as an honorable man and wounded war hero suffering from severe PTSD. I was so fascinated by Damien that I can hardly wait to read the next book in the series, Lord of Ice, in which he becomes the hero.
Lord of Fire is the second book in the Knight Miscellany series. It is preceded by The Duke, which was another wonderful book. I wasn't sure that Ms. Foley would be able to equal it, but I was mistaken. As much as I enjoyed The Duke, I actually liked Lord of Fire slightly better. The remaining books in the series are Lord of Ice, Lady of Desire, Devil Takes a Bride, One Night of Sin and His Wicked Kiss. I love Ms. Foley's writing style, and think that she has found a great balance between descriptive prose and beautiful dialog. With two keepers in a row, she has definitely earned a place on my favorite authors list. In fact, I have already ordered a copy of Lord of Ice and will be anxiously watching for it to arrive in my mailbox, so that I can read sexy, tortured twin, Damien's story and continue this enchanting and thoroughly romantic series.
Updated: 6/7/20
Lucien and Alice were a wonderful and perfectly matched couple. In spite of his charming personality, Lucien is a tortured soul. Working deep undercover as a spy for the Crown, he lives a dark, rather solitary existence. Personally knowing someone who has done deep cover law enforcement work and having heard some of his stories, I felt that the aloneness and soul-searing intensity of Lucien's work was very realistically rendered. It was a fabulous contrast of dark and light, and doing things you really don't want to for the greater good. Lucien loved his twin, Damien, deeply, and their recent estrangement over Lucien's choice of professions has left him feeling more alone then ever. Yet, Lucien has always felt like he was living in his brother's shadow and never quite measuring up. When Alice unexpectedly shows up in Lucien's life she brings the light of her innocence and goodness into his darkened world, making his heart long for things he thought lost to him forever. When Lucien used trickery and manipulation to keep Alice at his country estate, I wasn't sure I would like him, but aside from that one lapse, he behaved in a gentlemanly way for the remainder of the book, which endeared him to both me and Alice. I thought Alice was a very well-balanced heroine. She was kind, caring and intuitive, understanding Lucien in a way that most people didn't, and he reciprocated in kind. She also had spunk and spirit, speaking her mind to both Lucien and her sister-in-law, Caro, when the circumstances warranted. There were a few time when Alice's spunk led her into potentially dangerous situations, but I felt like I generally understood her reasoning and that she was usually just trying to protect those she loved. Overall, I found Lucien and Alice to be a delightful couple who were a pleasure to read.
The palette of secondary characters was varied and interesting. Lucien's rogues were charming and entertaining. The main villain, Claude Bardou, was irredeemably evil, bringing a dangerous menace to the story. There are a couple of other foreign spies, an American double-agent and a Russian woman, who added a bit of extra intrigue. Alice's sister-in-law, Caro, is very well-rendered as a flamboyant, self-centered woman who rarely thinks of anything but her own pleasures, and has little interest in even trying to be a good mother to her three-year-old son, Harry. Harry is a sweet, endearing child who charms nearly everyone with whom he comes in contact. In addition to these, there are a whole host of other supporting characters who for the most part play small roles, but manage to add a great deal of depth to the other characters and the narrative. There are even a couple of brief mentions of Lucien having met Darius Santiago (from Princess, the second of book of Gaelen Foley's Ascension Trilogy) in his undercover persona. This is something that I didn't pick up on until re-reading this book, because the first time around, I hadn't yet read the Ascension Trilogy. The most realistic and intriguing of the secondary characters though, is Lucien's identical twin brother, Damien. These two rogues may look alike, but their personalities are opposites, with Lucien being a charming, smooth-tongued devil and Damien being more staid, reserved and uncomfortable in social settings. Most interesting of all is the sympathetic portrayal of Damien as an honorable man and wounded war hero suffering from severe PTSD. I was so fascinated by Damien that I can hardly wait to read the next book in the series, Lord of Ice, in which he becomes the hero.
Lord of Fire is the second book in the Knight Miscellany series. It is preceded by The Duke, which was another wonderful book. I wasn't sure that Ms. Foley would be able to equal it, but I was mistaken. As much as I enjoyed The Duke, I actually liked Lord of Fire slightly better. The remaining books in the series are Lord of Ice, Lady of Desire, Devil Takes a Bride, One Night of Sin and His Wicked Kiss. I love Ms. Foley's writing style, and think that she has found a great balance between descriptive prose and beautiful dialog. With two keepers in a row, she has definitely earned a place on my favorite authors list. In fact, I have already ordered a copy of Lord of Ice and will be anxiously watching for it to arrive in my mailbox, so that I can read sexy, tortured twin, Damien's story and continue this enchanting and thoroughly romantic series.
Updated: 6/7/20
September 13, 2018
4.5 STARS
LOVED this one. The perfect tortured, jaded hero who is healed by the pure heart of this 'goodie two shoes' heroine. Not my words. Definitely a Hades meets Persephone love story. I absolutely loved the hero. Lucien was actually quite vulnerable, despite his jaded facade. Easy to fall in love with. Whereas the heroine was a little prickly at times. Almost indignant. I liked her, but I found her a little too holier than thou. But once she took the fall, she never looked back, and I admired her for that.
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was that I had a few issues with some of the writing. Too much discriptive flummery at times. But otherwise a great story. I am really looking forward to Damien's story.
“I should never have made you stay here," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But I could not help myself."
Alice took a step toward him. "I know. You are tired of being alone. You told me."
"You don't know," he said in a low, almost hostile voice. He shook his head. "I don't even know what I'm doing with you. You're not like anyone else who's in my life-" He stopped abruptly. "Did you ever drink too much wine, Alice?" He held up the glass in his hand and waggled it idly, making the ruby contents swirl.
"I'm not one to overindulge."
"No, you wouldn't be," he said wryly. "Allow me to explain, then, that the more you drink, the more thirsty you become. Not all the wine in the world can assuage the thirst for water. Water. Wine makes you merry, but a man needs water to keep him alive. Pure, clean, sweet water." He sighed, silent for a moment. He stared almost bitterly into the fire. "I am parched, Alice, scorched like a wasteland, burning like a damned soul in hell. I thirst."
"I know," she whispered.”
LOVED this one. The perfect tortured, jaded hero who is healed by the pure heart of this 'goodie two shoes' heroine. Not my words. Definitely a Hades meets Persephone love story. I absolutely loved the hero. Lucien was actually quite vulnerable, despite his jaded facade. Easy to fall in love with. Whereas the heroine was a little prickly at times. Almost indignant. I liked her, but I found her a little too holier than thou. But once she took the fall, she never looked back, and I admired her for that.
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was that I had a few issues with some of the writing. Too much discriptive flummery at times. But otherwise a great story. I am really looking forward to Damien's story.
December 14, 2019
No recordaba la historia pero me sorprendía mi baja puntuación a esta novela de una autora que me encanta ♥
ahora veo que le puse tan solo 3 porque la relación entre ellos no la he disfrutado. Un instalove total, en la que ambos se sienten muy atraídos sexualmente, embobados por su beldad mutua, pero poco más., ella es como la madera en medio de un río embravecido al que él se agarra para salir de su pozo, esa inocencia le conquista, esa bondad le da esperanzas, pero la relación que comparten en tan solo un par de días no me ha justificado esos fuertes sentimientos
Lo de ella, es peor, más parece que simplemente sus ojos de plata, su torso descamisado y esos ceñidos pantalones negros sean los que la conquistan, dominada por el despertar sexual, no sé, esas cosas ya no me atraen y, veo, que antes tampoco.
Por lo demás, una buena novela de aventura, de las de antes, ambientada justo en la época en la que Napoleón estaba confinado en Elba, que dan pie a tantas novelas de espías,
La trama está bien hilvanada y todo cierra de forma estupenda, aquí los malos son castigados y los tontos también.
siempre es una delicia leer a Gaelen foley, hay un par o tres escenas muy buenas y los Knight siempre son una excelente opción, pero este no es mi favorito de la serie
Quizás el año que viene me anime a leer alguno más
ahora veo que le puse tan solo 3 porque la relación entre ellos no la he disfrutado. Un instalove total, en la que ambos se sienten muy atraídos sexualmente, embobados por su beldad mutua, pero poco más., ella es como la madera en medio de un río embravecido al que él se agarra para salir de su pozo, esa inocencia le conquista, esa bondad le da esperanzas, pero la relación que comparten en tan solo un par de días no me ha justificado esos fuertes sentimientos
Lo de ella, es peor, más parece que simplemente sus ojos de plata, su torso descamisado y esos ceñidos pantalones negros sean los que la conquistan, dominada por el despertar sexual, no sé, esas cosas ya no me atraen y, veo, que antes tampoco.
Por lo demás, una buena novela de aventura, de las de antes, ambientada justo en la época en la que Napoleón estaba confinado en Elba, que dan pie a tantas novelas de espías,
La trama está bien hilvanada y todo cierra de forma estupenda, aquí los malos son castigados y los tontos también.
siempre es una delicia leer a Gaelen foley, hay un par o tres escenas muy buenas y los Knight siempre son una excelente opción, pero este no es mi favorito de la serie
Quizás el año que viene me anime a leer alguno más
June 7, 2024
Read:6/6/24
Fantastic!
Longer RTC!
Fantastic!
Longer RTC!
February 2, 2019
Goodness, I am in the minority here. This book was just horrible for me. Gaelen Foley is always a hit or miss unfortunately, and this was just such a disappointment. Shame because I loved the first one. Just read through my progression of the book and you'll see what frustrated me so much. Just terrible romance build up, terrible characters and the stupid ending was dragged on foreeevvveerrr. She always does that and it's so annoying
Behold the progression of my rage thoughts during this book:
30.0% "unpopular opinion: I don't like Lucian, and I absolutely hate characters like Alice. Where they are strong and independent IN THEIR HEADS but just melt into a puddle when the hero touches them. give me a fucking break and make him grovel for FUCKING KIDNAPPING YOU"
30.0% "wtf? What happened to hating him? I fucking hate this. where she's like I hate you! but then shes perfectly civil and theyre carrying on a normal conversation like HE DIDNT FUCKING KIDNAP HER GUYS I REALLY FUCKING HATE LUCIAN CAN YOU TELL"
34.0% ""Do you even realize how selfish you are? Are you able to see it?” She wrenched her arm out of his grasp. “If not, let me remind you that you are holding me here against my will. You forced me into this. I don’t want to be here, and I am not getting involved with a . . . a jaded scoundrel whose only wish is to debauch me!”
YASS GIRL YOU TELL THAT PIECE OF SHIT
then he's like "im lonely"
FUCK OFF I HATE YOU
50.0% "it's really farfetched and difficult for me to believe that a woman who goes to church every sunday, a paragon of pious behavior, would be so free with her person, so easily seduced after ONE FUCKING DAY OF BEING KIDNAPPED"
60.0% "Lucian is like the worst hero ever. He's bipolar. one minute hes all nice and the next, he's FUCKING YELLING AT HER, CALLIN GHER UNREASONABLE FOR WANTING HIM TO STOP HAVING ORGIES IN HIS HOUSE WHEN THEYRE MARRIED. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS GOING ON"
60.0% "SHE LOVES HIM? WHY??? WHAT HAS HE DONE TO MAKE YOU LOVE HIM? WHAT THE FUCK???"
70.0% "i hate this book im skimming at this point"
Behold the progression of my rage thoughts during this book:
30.0% "unpopular opinion: I don't like Lucian, and I absolutely hate characters like Alice. Where they are strong and independent IN THEIR HEADS but just melt into a puddle when the hero touches them. give me a fucking break and make him grovel for FUCKING KIDNAPPING YOU"
30.0% "wtf? What happened to hating him? I fucking hate this. where she's like I hate you! but then shes perfectly civil and theyre carrying on a normal conversation like HE DIDNT FUCKING KIDNAP HER GUYS I REALLY FUCKING HATE LUCIAN CAN YOU TELL"
34.0% ""Do you even realize how selfish you are? Are you able to see it?” She wrenched her arm out of his grasp. “If not, let me remind you that you are holding me here against my will. You forced me into this. I don’t want to be here, and I am not getting involved with a . . . a jaded scoundrel whose only wish is to debauch me!”
YASS GIRL YOU TELL THAT PIECE OF SHIT
then he's like "im lonely"
FUCK OFF I HATE YOU
50.0% "it's really farfetched and difficult for me to believe that a woman who goes to church every sunday, a paragon of pious behavior, would be so free with her person, so easily seduced after ONE FUCKING DAY OF BEING KIDNAPPED"
60.0% "Lucian is like the worst hero ever. He's bipolar. one minute hes all nice and the next, he's FUCKING YELLING AT HER, CALLIN GHER UNREASONABLE FOR WANTING HIM TO STOP HAVING ORGIES IN HIS HOUSE WHEN THEYRE MARRIED. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS GOING ON"
60.0% "SHE LOVES HIM? WHY??? WHAT HAS HE DONE TO MAKE YOU LOVE HIM? WHAT THE FUCK???"
70.0% "i hate this book im skimming at this point"
March 21, 2022
This book had me exercising eye-rolls. I think I actually strained an eye-muscle (if such a thing is possible).
The heroine is sooo incredibly stupid that I was wishing she'd trip, fall down the stairs and die so I could start reading a new book already.
Imagine you're a young virgin with high moral standards. You end up smack in the middle of an orgy, get forcefully dragged off by an unknown man and felt up by him, perhaps even thinking you'll get raped, threatened with a gun, emotionally blackmailed with a child you care about and then what do you do? Yes! You fall in love with the guy, ofcourse! eh okay.. didn't see that one coming. But hey, he's good looking, right? :P
She never tries to escape, she never stops to think about his actions and what that tells her about him. Her (re)actions are all over the place, she fights about things that don't matter, she accepts or ignores the things that do. Then she kills the last braincell she had by going against his wishes when he is threatened. I mean, she loves him, she knows there is a bad guy on the loose who can use her as leverage but she just *has* to prove she doesn't have to do as he tells her. How old was she again?
I don't understand the raving reviews for this book. So to compensate for at least one of them, I give you one star! Enjoy.
The heroine is sooo incredibly stupid that I was wishing she'd trip, fall down the stairs and die so I could start reading a new book already.
Imagine you're a young virgin with high moral standards. You end up smack in the middle of an orgy, get forcefully dragged off by an unknown man and felt up by him, perhaps even thinking you'll get raped, threatened with a gun, emotionally blackmailed with a child you care about and then what do you do? Yes! You fall in love with the guy, ofcourse! eh okay.. didn't see that one coming. But hey, he's good looking, right? :P
She never tries to escape, she never stops to think about his actions and what that tells her about him. Her (re)actions are all over the place, she fights about things that don't matter, she accepts or ignores the things that do. Then she kills the last braincell she had by going against his wishes when he is threatened. I mean, she loves him, she knows there is a bad guy on the loose who can use her as leverage but she just *has* to prove she doesn't have to do as he tells her. How old was she again?
I don't understand the raving reviews for this book. So to compensate for at least one of them, I give you one star! Enjoy.
September 20, 2021
For someone so prim and proper and good boarding on sainthood, the heroine is hurtful with her words and childish with her actions.
The first half of this book was quite wild to my taste. I would never accept the things the hero was doing let alone try to manipulate him like she did. They infuriated me so much that it took me 4 months to come back and finish the story. I disliked the hero for about 60% of the book, then he redeemed himself in my eyes and he ends up being tolerable. But the heroine? I wanted to strangle her for about 80% of the time.
I hated the couple but the plot was nice, the writing great.
If you read this series, do I need to read the books in order or can I just pick the ones I want as a standalone?
The first half of this book was quite wild to my taste. I would never accept the things the hero was doing let alone try to manipulate him like she did. They infuriated me so much that it took me 4 months to come back and finish the story. I disliked the hero for about 60% of the book, then he redeemed himself in my eyes and he ends up being tolerable. But the heroine? I wanted to strangle her for about 80% of the time.
I hated the couple but the plot was nice, the writing great.
If you read this series, do I need to read the books in order or can I just pick the ones I want as a standalone?
December 2, 2025
Didn't hold well under a second read
The first time I read this I fell head over heals in love with Lucien. He was such lonely, broken soul, I just wanted to hold him and love him.
This time,
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・
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
The first time I read this I fell head over heals in love with Lucien. He was such lonely, broken soul, I just wanted to hold him and love him.
This time,
・
・
・
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
February 28, 2018
A pesar de que el comienzo fue de lo más aburrido el resto de la historia fue entretenida y me gustó bastante no tanto como Seductora Inocencia ese libro me encantó so much.
Después haré una reseña un poco más extensa.
Después haré una reseña un poco más extensa.
July 2, 2024
3.5 stars
Lucien in a nutshell:
Life had stripped him of his ideals and illusions—and yet, he would have paid any price to find someone who could make him believe again.
His work as a spy has estranged him from his twin brother and society at large. He fornicates and holds debauched, cultish (never explored apart from a brief mention) gatherings at his estate in order to gather information for the crown, or save his brother from a bad marriage. Surrounded by lies and deceit, he longs for honesty and genuine connection.
Alice, a sensible, dutiful, propriety-bound and timid virgin, stumbles into his world and he thinks she might be the one who can make him believe again. She resists…until she doesn’t. Unfortunately for my enjoyment of this book, I was able to resist her better than Lucien did. I wanted to smack her so very, very often. SO.VERY.OFTEN, for being both stubborn and stupid.
This book was a lot better than the first book in the series, and I keep thinking I ought to really like this author—I usually like tortured heroes and heroines who don’t fall into the heroes’ laps—but I’m missing something. The characters feel more concept than flesh-and-blood. Her fall-back position is reliance on cliche. Both characters and situations tilt melodramatic. If I was her editor, I would demand that she remove one adjective from every sentence because there always seemed to be one that pushed it over the top. I’d start with the one about Alice’s “teeming” vagina.
There’s writing talent here so I’ll probably read another Foley book someday, after I get over my current irritation.
Lucien in a nutshell:
Life had stripped him of his ideals and illusions—and yet, he would have paid any price to find someone who could make him believe again.
His work as a spy has estranged him from his twin brother and society at large. He fornicates and holds debauched, cultish (never explored apart from a brief mention) gatherings at his estate in order to gather information for the crown, or save his brother from a bad marriage. Surrounded by lies and deceit, he longs for honesty and genuine connection.
Alice, a sensible, dutiful, propriety-bound and timid virgin, stumbles into his world and he thinks she might be the one who can make him believe again. She resists…until she doesn’t. Unfortunately for my enjoyment of this book, I was able to resist her better than Lucien did. I wanted to smack her so very, very often. SO.VERY.OFTEN, for being both stubborn and stupid.
This book was a lot better than the first book in the series, and I keep thinking I ought to really like this author—I usually like tortured heroes and heroines who don’t fall into the heroes’ laps—but I’m missing something. The characters feel more concept than flesh-and-blood. Her fall-back position is reliance on cliche. Both characters and situations tilt melodramatic. If I was her editor, I would demand that she remove one adjective from every sentence because there always seemed to be one that pushed it over the top. I’d start with the one about Alice’s “teeming” vagina.
There’s writing talent here so I’ll probably read another Foley book someday, after I get over my current irritation.
April 27, 2019
An emotional 4.5 stars.
I put off reading this one in the series because I did not like the sound of the hero, Lucien Knight, at all. And as I began reading the story- with some trepidation- I found my fears largely justified. He was a pretty horrible person.
Whatever the excuses or explanations, he was a massive man-whore, one who thought nothing of indulging any selfish desire he had or, just as disappointingly, thought nothing of using sex as a means to an end. That end might have been vaguely linked to some patriotic duty but sex for him was just another form of currency used to buy or sell people or favours. His "orgies", ostensibly to find out information or recruit followers for the patriotic cause, were disgusting.
The piece de resistance was his blackmailing (effectively kidnapping) the heroine, Alice, to stay with him for a week directly after the orgy because he was in lust with her. He shamelessly used her love for her young nephew to do this. What a guy! So the first third of the book was a struggle for me to overcome my instinctive dislike of him.
What about Alice? I have read so many reviews that slam her big time. I just don't understand. I loved her. She was strong, principled, virtuous- yes, that old-fashioned word: virtuous- and these were exactly the qualities that attracted Lucien, a man who had fallen so low he no longer had any principles.
I feel one must acknowledge that it is Alice's strong personal code of honour, her difference from Lucien, that mean she can rescue him and help him rediscover the integrity and self-respect he thought he had lost. If you think she was mean and self-righteous and narrow-minded and should have been softer, more compassionate, (more of a doormat!) then I am saying that that kind of heroine would not have been able to snap Lucien out of his downward spiral. An easy victory for him would not have had him questioning his life-choices or contemplating any changes to them. He needed her to prove to him that deeply honourable, selfless people still existed in the world.
I was initially a bit sceptical of Lucien's rapid transit into vulnerability and sensitivity. The damage of years would not be healed so quickly. But I was swept up by the emotion and the passion, so that my disbelief faded and I just went along for the stormy ride.
In the end, I loved Lucien. Who would have thought it of little old (judgemental) me?? He needed to suffer and work really hard to win Alice - and ultimately, he deserved to win her. She did a couple of TSTL things at the end which I put down to immaturity, naiveté and, frankly, a justifiable scepticism where Lucien was concerned- he had a pretty shite track record, let's face it. (And just think of when they first meet!)
I must add, though, that the villainess was so OTT (as was the villain, in a way) that it bordered on the melodramatic. She was repulsive and it didn't make sense to me how Alice's brother could have been taken in by someone like her
I am so happy I finally read this one. Lucien was ultimately a complex and damaged man who needed the purity and belief of a heroine like Alice to drag him out of the self-destructive pattern his life had assumed, and she needed the single-minded love and devotion that such a man could give her. A very satisfying read!
I put off reading this one in the series because I did not like the sound of the hero, Lucien Knight, at all. And as I began reading the story- with some trepidation- I found my fears largely justified. He was a pretty horrible person.
Whatever the excuses or explanations, he was a massive man-whore, one who thought nothing of indulging any selfish desire he had or, just as disappointingly, thought nothing of using sex as a means to an end. That end might have been vaguely linked to some patriotic duty but sex for him was just another form of currency used to buy or sell people or favours. His "orgies", ostensibly to find out information or recruit followers for the patriotic cause, were disgusting.
The piece de resistance was his blackmailing (effectively kidnapping) the heroine, Alice, to stay with him for a week directly after the orgy because he was in lust with her. He shamelessly used her love for her young nephew to do this. What a guy! So the first third of the book was a struggle for me to overcome my instinctive dislike of him.
What about Alice? I have read so many reviews that slam her big time. I just don't understand. I loved her. She was strong, principled, virtuous- yes, that old-fashioned word: virtuous- and these were exactly the qualities that attracted Lucien, a man who had fallen so low he no longer had any principles.
I feel one must acknowledge that it is Alice's strong personal code of honour, her difference from Lucien, that mean she can rescue him and help him rediscover the integrity and self-respect he thought he had lost. If you think she was mean and self-righteous and narrow-minded and should have been softer, more compassionate, (more of a doormat!) then I am saying that that kind of heroine would not have been able to snap Lucien out of his downward spiral. An easy victory for him would not have had him questioning his life-choices or contemplating any changes to them. He needed her to prove to him that deeply honourable, selfless people still existed in the world.
I was initially a bit sceptical of Lucien's rapid transit into vulnerability and sensitivity. The damage of years would not be healed so quickly. But I was swept up by the emotion and the passion, so that my disbelief faded and I just went along for the stormy ride.
In the end, I loved Lucien. Who would have thought it of little old (judgemental) me?? He needed to suffer and work really hard to win Alice - and ultimately, he deserved to win her. She did a couple of TSTL things at the end which I put down to immaturity, naiveté and, frankly, a justifiable scepticism where Lucien was concerned- he had a pretty shite track record, let's face it. (And just think of when they first meet!)
I must add, though, that the villainess was so OTT (as was the villain, in a way) that it bordered on the melodramatic. She was repulsive and it didn't make sense to me how Alice's brother could have been taken in by someone like her
I am so happy I finally read this one. Lucien was ultimately a complex and damaged man who needed the purity and belief of a heroine like Alice to drag him out of the self-destructive pattern his life had assumed, and she needed the single-minded love and devotion that such a man could give her. A very satisfying read!
December 10, 2015
Ya se veía que no y es que no. Me sigo quedando con Robert.
Nuestra reseña en A la cama con... un libro
Nuestra reseña en A la cama con... un libro
June 18, 2012
I enjoyed this addition to the series and thought it a good read. Although it is classed as a Historical Romance it has quite a few elements of a Spy/Thriller novel which I really enjoyed.
Lucien is a bit of a dark character but in his job he has to have secrets and pretend to be many different things/people. Deep down he is a bit of a tortured sole who believes that he is not loved or wanted by anyone, even his family. He puts on a stoic exterior and even tries to convince himself that it is not affecting him but then he falls in love with Alice. Already feeling a bit raw that his twin brother is practically ignoring him, Alice then rejects him and in order to win her love he breaks down and bears his sole to her. Alice admits that she still loves him and they eventually get their HEA.
On a personal note my husband says that it can't have been that good as it didn't occupy me enough to stop me from moaning that he was watching football on the tv and made him turn the channel over ha ha......However, I am not that mean and did let him watch the cricket (I hate football!) :))
Lucien is a bit of a dark character but in his job he has to have secrets and pretend to be many different things/people. Deep down he is a bit of a tortured sole who believes that he is not loved or wanted by anyone, even his family. He puts on a stoic exterior and even tries to convince himself that it is not affecting him but then he falls in love with Alice. Already feeling a bit raw that his twin brother is practically ignoring him, Alice then rejects him and in order to win her love he breaks down and bears his sole to her. Alice admits that she still loves him and they eventually get their HEA.
On a personal note my husband says that it can't have been that good as it didn't occupy me enough to stop me from moaning that he was watching football on the tv and made him turn the channel over ha ha......However, I am not that mean and did let him watch the cricket (I hate football!) :))
May 8, 2017
He de decir, que lo terminé hace unos días, pero llevo otros tantos sin conectarme desde el PC. De ahí, que mi opinión sobre este libro sea tarde, justa y muy poco explicativa.
A mi los dos personajes me han gustado en su base, sobre todo él, que demuestra mucha profundidad de sentimientos, más de los que demuestra. Ella, en cambio, ha habido veces que me ha chirriado un poco los dientes, pero ha sabido compensarlo muy bien, ya que siempre, siempre ha apoyado a Lucien. Donde se demuestra que una persona está realmente enamorada y quiere a otra, no es solo con las palabras, sino sobre todo con los hechos, los actos que demuestra ese amor y aquí ella lo hace magistralmente. Yo lo hubiera hecho de otra manera en algunas circunstancias pero hay que tener en cuenta que ella es una mujer que ha vivido protegida durante toda su vida y tiene esa inocencia (que a mi me han dado ganas de darle de h*st*a varias veces) que la hace actuar de aquella manera. No es una crítica, sino para mi más bien una observación.
Sigo con la serie, ahora viene el hermano gemelo, que me ha decepcionado bastante en este libro ya que odio con todas mis fuerzas, que los hermanos no se apoyen y estén ahí para con sus propios hermanos.
A mi los dos personajes me han gustado en su base, sobre todo él, que demuestra mucha profundidad de sentimientos, más de los que demuestra. Ella, en cambio, ha habido veces que me ha chirriado un poco los dientes, pero ha sabido compensarlo muy bien, ya que siempre, siempre ha apoyado a Lucien. Donde se demuestra que una persona está realmente enamorada y quiere a otra, no es solo con las palabras, sino sobre todo con los hechos, los actos que demuestra ese amor y aquí ella lo hace magistralmente. Yo lo hubiera hecho de otra manera en algunas circunstancias pero hay que tener en cuenta que ella es una mujer que ha vivido protegida durante toda su vida y tiene esa inocencia (que a mi me han dado ganas de darle de h*st*a varias veces) que la hace actuar de aquella manera. No es una crítica, sino para mi más bien una observación.
Sigo con la serie, ahora viene el hermano gemelo, que me ha decepcionado bastante en este libro ya que odio con todas mis fuerzas, que los hermanos no se apoyen y estén ahí para con sus propios hermanos.
June 18, 2024
Alice and Lucien were destined for ❤️❤️He was just waiting for her key to unlock his heart. Spy adventure, wet hottie hero, with an equally attractive war scarred twin bro. OW sister in law from he🏒🏒. Bad guy who was like dolph lungren, scary. Cute kid in tiny man pants. Good read, although I sometimes wanted to kick Lucien in the jimmy for being so smug.
September 20, 2013
I've just finished it. I'm not sure how I'm feeling about this book.Because in the first half of it, I could enjoy and forgot some senseless developments. But last quarter part was almost unbearable for me.
There are so many things in the story that I can't accept. First of all, the hero forced the heroine (Alice) make a choice out of a child who was ill at that time. It's an unacceptable thing. Anyway, in a week, our strong, infamous, strong hero fell in love with the heroine and proposed her! Of course she accepted it buceause she noticed that actually he was a good guy etc.
After a few absurd other things, Alice learned that Lucien was a spy and he had a duty to capture a very bad French spy. Well, what did she do after this information? First tried to persuade him to give up. When she failed, she tried same tactic, he did to her a week ago, forced him to make a choice! Because she couldn't bear to think lose another a loved one, so left him! Actually either way she lost a loved one. In my opinion it's not a logical choice nor honorable or protectiveness yourself.
The last quarter part was so bad for my taste that it ruined the story. I don't know which ones I can write. When they were running out of time to capture the bad man, they had time to make peace, make love, make big confessions, give command with each others, get in action to set trap blah blah...
And in a day, they had so much different emotions which in my opinion is impossible. You can't believe their sincerity. And so-called Miss Goody Two-Shoes, Alice was not so good for me. She's just a good-hearted girl. I couldn't see any special thing.
Sometimes H/h behavior is very incompatible with depictions of their characters, especially the hero...
So I thinks Ms Foley's stories are not for me because I didn't like much The Duke book either :(
There are so many things in the story that I can't accept. First of all, the hero forced the heroine (Alice) make a choice out of a child who was ill at that time. It's an unacceptable thing. Anyway, in a week, our strong, infamous, strong hero fell in love with the heroine and proposed her! Of course she accepted it buceause she noticed that actually he was a good guy etc.
After a few absurd other things, Alice learned that Lucien was a spy and he had a duty to capture a very bad French spy. Well, what did she do after this information? First tried to persuade him to give up. When she failed, she tried same tactic, he did to her a week ago, forced him to make a choice! Because she couldn't bear to think lose another a loved one, so left him! Actually either way she lost a loved one. In my opinion it's not a logical choice nor honorable or protectiveness yourself.
The last quarter part was so bad for my taste that it ruined the story. I don't know which ones I can write. When they were running out of time to capture the bad man, they had time to make peace, make love, make big confessions, give command with each others, get in action to set trap blah blah...
And in a day, they had so much different emotions which in my opinion is impossible. You can't believe their sincerity. And so-called Miss Goody Two-Shoes, Alice was not so good for me. She's just a good-hearted girl. I couldn't see any special thing.
Sometimes H/h behavior is very incompatible with depictions of their characters, especially the hero...
So I thinks Ms Foley's stories are not for me because I didn't like much The Duke book either :(
June 26, 2017
This novel started and ended well, but it felt like a drudge in middle. Lucien, a spy, is a nuanced, fleshed-out, compelling hero. I had a bit of a crush on him, to be honest (despite his dastardly deeds in the beginning of the novel🤷 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯). Alice is a mama-bear to her nephew but also a sheltered young miss. She didn't feel like a match to Lucien, and that was my problem for much of the novel. There was a very touching scene towards the end that nearly won me over, but it was a somewhat too little, too late. There also is an abundance of secondary characters at odds with the main characters, which was a bit unsettling.
Gaelen Foley provides wonderful descriptions of the scenery, but it was not enough to make this an enjoyable read overall for me.
Gaelen Foley provides wonderful descriptions of the scenery, but it was not enough to make this an enjoyable read overall for me.
December 6, 2009
I was on the sofa ALL DAY reading this book. What a slug but, hey, it snowed last night and I pretended the roads were bad and I was stranded.
I couldn't put it down. Lucien and Alice were such a great pair. They were so loving towards each other it made me smile. He was a bit of a bad boy with a real softness to him, as contradictory as that sounds. He definitely needed a hug. No, alot of hugs. Which I would have gladly provided. Alot. Of hugs, that is. :-)
I couldn't put it down. Lucien and Alice were such a great pair. They were so loving towards each other it made me smile. He was a bit of a bad boy with a real softness to him, as contradictory as that sounds. He definitely needed a hug. No, alot of hugs. Which I would have gladly provided. Alot. Of hugs, that is. :-)
July 13, 2021
#RetoRita5 #RitaFoley
Este mes para el reto he leído las historias de los gemelos de la saga de la familia Knight de Gaelen Foley, Lucien y Damien, también conocidos como Lucifer y Demonio.
La verdad es que ambas historias son parecidas y a la vez muy diferentes, y me han gustado bastante por igual.
La historia de Alice y Lucien en Corazón de fuego me ha parecido original, con un personaje femenino muy virtuoso a priori y uno masculino que es todo lo contrario por sus actividades de espía y sus fiestas. Ambos a su manera están solos en el mundo y juntos son puro fuego.
Por otro lado, Corazón de fuego narra la historia de Miranda y Damien, donde él es nombrado su tutor por sorpresa y eso le da una razón para seguir viviendo. Damien me ha parecido un gran personaje, de los que arrastran traumas que tanto nos gustan, y Miranda ha sido un gran contrapunto, con un origen humilde por culpa de una familia que tela marinera.
Me he quedado con ganas de seguir con la serie de los Knight; esta familia promete emociones.
Este mes para el reto he leído las historias de los gemelos de la saga de la familia Knight de Gaelen Foley, Lucien y Damien, también conocidos como Lucifer y Demonio.
La verdad es que ambas historias son parecidas y a la vez muy diferentes, y me han gustado bastante por igual.
La historia de Alice y Lucien en Corazón de fuego me ha parecido original, con un personaje femenino muy virtuoso a priori y uno masculino que es todo lo contrario por sus actividades de espía y sus fiestas. Ambos a su manera están solos en el mundo y juntos son puro fuego.
Por otro lado, Corazón de fuego narra la historia de Miranda y Damien, donde él es nombrado su tutor por sorpresa y eso le da una razón para seguir viviendo. Damien me ha parecido un gran personaje, de los que arrastran traumas que tanto nos gustan, y Miranda ha sido un gran contrapunto, con un origen humilde por culpa de una familia que tela marinera.
Me he quedado con ganas de seguir con la serie de los Knight; esta familia promete emociones.
November 8, 2018
Lucien Knight es un espía al servicio de la Corona, esto le ha hecho ser un hombre hermético hasta con su propia familia, un hombre atormentado que se esconde tras la facha de un libertino hasta que conoce a la inmaculada Alice Montague.
Pues el segundo volumen de esta serie ha bajado de nivel y es que Robert puso el listón bastante alto, no es que Lucien no tenga enganche pero algo le faltó a la historia.
El inicio es bastante atractivo, nuestro prota masculino es un espía y monta orgías en su casa para obtener información. ¡OMG! Sí, si algo me gusta de esta autora es que no es tan light como otras novelistas y sus personajes se meten en buenos follones (no seáis mal pensados). Lucien es el típico hombre con traumas que nos pierde porque también tiene su lado frágil y aquí la autora lo refleja bastante bien y forma una buena pareja con Alice que virginal puede que sea pero boba tampoco. Y con todo esto ¿qué es lo que baja la puntuación? Pues si los momentos entre Lucien y Alice me gustan lo que cojea es la trama policial, la historia alterna capítulos en los que aparecen otros personajes y aquí la autora hace uso de excesiva descripción y poco diálogo que en esta ocasión me aburría, aquí había una pequeña desconexión, no logré conectar.
Por el resto me gustó mucho, tuvo su parte muy sensual, su intriga y ese desenlace típico de película, obviamente bastante predecible pero efectivo. Sin duda no fue tan emocionante como el primer libro pero le daré el aprobado porque malo tampoco es. Ahora toca el otro hermano gemelo traumado jajaja.
Pues el segundo volumen de esta serie ha bajado de nivel y es que Robert puso el listón bastante alto, no es que Lucien no tenga enganche pero algo le faltó a la historia.
El inicio es bastante atractivo, nuestro prota masculino es un espía y monta orgías en su casa para obtener información. ¡OMG! Sí, si algo me gusta de esta autora es que no es tan light como otras novelistas y sus personajes se meten en buenos follones (no seáis mal pensados). Lucien es el típico hombre con traumas que nos pierde porque también tiene su lado frágil y aquí la autora lo refleja bastante bien y forma una buena pareja con Alice que virginal puede que sea pero boba tampoco. Y con todo esto ¿qué es lo que baja la puntuación? Pues si los momentos entre Lucien y Alice me gustan lo que cojea es la trama policial, la historia alterna capítulos en los que aparecen otros personajes y aquí la autora hace uso de excesiva descripción y poco diálogo que en esta ocasión me aburría, aquí había una pequeña desconexión, no logré conectar.
Por el resto me gustó mucho, tuvo su parte muy sensual, su intriga y ese desenlace típico de película, obviamente bastante predecible pero efectivo. Sin duda no fue tan emocionante como el primer libro pero le daré el aprobado porque malo tampoco es. Ahora toca el otro hermano gemelo traumado jajaja.
July 9, 2024
2.5-2.75
It’s a great story of espionage and romance. I liked the one-week forced proximity and the hero’s longing/desire for the heroine.
I kind of wished the pace was faster. At times, it was too descriptive and I skimmed through those parts.
The heroine’s defiance and the hero keeping (spy) secrets from her was frustrating and lowered my enjoyment of the book. I understand that he’s a spy and must keep secrets, but if he loves the heroine, surely he can trust her? If she doesn’t know the real reason why she must follow his orders, it’s going to be hard for her to obey them. Plus, if she loves him, she should trust him without question, no?
This is the first book I’m reading in this series (I don’t always read in order). I’m intrigued by this family of siblings. I’ve read the blurbs for each book and want to read the series but I can already see myself struggling to get through this author’s writing and pacing. I’d prefer to listen to them on audiobooks but alas, they’re not available in audio. I’ll just have to give myself breaks between the books in the series.
It’s a great story of espionage and romance. I liked the one-week forced proximity and the hero’s longing/desire for the heroine.
I kind of wished the pace was faster. At times, it was too descriptive and I skimmed through those parts.
The heroine’s defiance and the hero keeping (spy) secrets from her was frustrating and lowered my enjoyment of the book. I understand that he’s a spy and must keep secrets, but if he loves the heroine, surely he can trust her? If she doesn’t know the real reason why she must follow his orders, it’s going to be hard for her to obey them. Plus, if she loves him, she should trust him without question, no?
This is the first book I’m reading in this series (I don’t always read in order). I’m intrigued by this family of siblings. I’ve read the blurbs for each book and want to read the series but I can already see myself struggling to get through this author’s writing and pacing. I’d prefer to listen to them on audiobooks but alas, they’re not available in audio. I’ll just have to give myself breaks between the books in the series.
October 31, 2015
It's now 3:40am. I stayed up to reacquaint myself with this book which I remember with loving memories. I read it more than 10 years ago, forgot all about the names of the book, the writer and lead characters. But I remember the plots and oh the characters. I have been on some kind of a hunt for this book for about a year, reading any books which have similar plots hoping to find this book again. Reading The Duke led me finally to Lord of Fire. While I disliked The Duke, I am so happy that it helped me "reunite" with Lucien and Alice's story that I am willing to forget all about how I disliked The Duke.
Now, about Lord of Fire.
I love the character of Lucien with a passion. Tough guy that he was but oh so vulnerable in love. I don't know what is about him that I love so dearly. He was an isolated man and very jaded from the war and his profession. I think it is only natural that he would want something "clean and pure" in his life, after having witnessed so much suffering in life. To meet Alice at one of his infamous orgy parties which he hosted to collect information for the Crown is the beauty of the plot: meeting an angel in hell. The first ray of light in darkness. How could he not hold on?
I suppose it is questionable how Lucien blackmailed Alice into staying at his house for a week and how that could seem unappealing to some readers. It did not bother me because his lonliness and desperation for tenderness and love really spoke to me. Maybe I am gullible. But this particular emotion really strikes a note with me.
Alice was all that is beautiful in Lucien's eyes. She was a loving character most of the time but turned rather TSTL later in the book so that we could have a conflict, quite a shame. It all started with her ultimatum when she asked Lucien to choose between revenge and her. I thought oh you poor dear do you not know that Lucien had to kill this guy or this guy would kill him and whoever that mattered to him? She then went on to thinking about how she would explain her lack of virginity to her future husband after falling out with Lucien. I was exasperated. What the hell woman? You have got a guy who loves you hopelessly and desperately and you are holding this revenge thing against him when you should have stayed by his side? Alice is a 3 stars heroine whereas Lucien is all the way 5 shining stars.
Their relationship is heartbreaking. 2 lonely souls, kindred spirits finding solace in each other. It isn't often that you find a hero who has "his soul in his eyes" in Foley's own words. Intense love is most fragile. It has something to do with having too much to lose.
The war and spy elements were ok but at times I just skip those paragraphs. The last 20% was rather untidy. I am not a fan. If I was rating on the relationship between Lucien and Alice alone I would have given 5 stars. But the book has questionable plots in the 2nd half and that resulted in a few TSTL moments for Alice. Gotta take a star away. It was rather messy in the end.
But I am going to dream about Lucien tonight, er, well, this morning.
Now, about Lord of Fire.
I love the character of Lucien with a passion. Tough guy that he was but oh so vulnerable in love. I don't know what is about him that I love so dearly. He was an isolated man and very jaded from the war and his profession. I think it is only natural that he would want something "clean and pure" in his life, after having witnessed so much suffering in life. To meet Alice at one of his infamous orgy parties which he hosted to collect information for the Crown is the beauty of the plot: meeting an angel in hell. The first ray of light in darkness. How could he not hold on?
I suppose it is questionable how Lucien blackmailed Alice into staying at his house for a week and how that could seem unappealing to some readers. It did not bother me because his lonliness and desperation for tenderness and love really spoke to me. Maybe I am gullible. But this particular emotion really strikes a note with me.
Alice was all that is beautiful in Lucien's eyes. She was a loving character most of the time but turned rather TSTL later in the book so that we could have a conflict, quite a shame. It all started with her ultimatum when she asked Lucien to choose between revenge and her. I thought oh you poor dear do you not know that Lucien had to kill this guy or this guy would kill him and whoever that mattered to him? She then went on to thinking about how she would explain her lack of virginity to her future husband after falling out with Lucien. I was exasperated. What the hell woman? You have got a guy who loves you hopelessly and desperately and you are holding this revenge thing against him when you should have stayed by his side? Alice is a 3 stars heroine whereas Lucien is all the way 5 shining stars.
Their relationship is heartbreaking. 2 lonely souls, kindred spirits finding solace in each other. It isn't often that you find a hero who has "his soul in his eyes" in Foley's own words. Intense love is most fragile. It has something to do with having too much to lose.
The war and spy elements were ok but at times I just skip those paragraphs. The last 20% was rather untidy. I am not a fan. If I was rating on the relationship between Lucien and Alice alone I would have given 5 stars. But the book has questionable plots in the 2nd half and that resulted in a few TSTL moments for Alice. Gotta take a star away. It was rather messy in the end.
But I am going to dream about Lucien tonight, er, well, this morning.
August 16, 2020
The Draco pagan cult was a bit of a mess, and so was Lucien falling immediately in love with Alice, but Lord of Fire could have been worse. Lord of Fire is one of those dastardly stories that has enough good parts battling it out with the bad parts that, if you're like me, you can't come to a neat conclusion on whether or not it was worth reading. Are the bad parts excusable? But were the good parts really that good? While Lord of Fire certainly gives me more than enough doubts about its overall quality, I also don't think it was a train wreck?
Lord of Fire is what happens when you try to sanitize a story too much. It's as though romances published after the 1980s have an Outrageous Things Allowance before they have to dial it back down to a very safe place that is almost patronizing for how much they beat around the bush. I also wish Caro didn’t turn out to be such a predictable villain. I thought she was a flighty widow, but also hilarious when she told Lucien that if he got Alice pregnant he'd have to marry her. It was a disappointment that Caro remains a superficial character. "Pure” heroines like Alice are also not compelling. They're not exactly sticks in the mud, but they can't really do much up there on their pedestals, can they? And there's Lucien. He lost a lot of his bite after the first few chapters so there's just not much I have to say about him.
I'm still under Foley's spell and at this point, I've pretty much committed to the series now. If you haven't read The Duke, the first book in the Knight Miscellany, start with that first.
Lord of Fire is what happens when you try to sanitize a story too much. It's as though romances published after the 1980s have an Outrageous Things Allowance before they have to dial it back down to a very safe place that is almost patronizing for how much they beat around the bush. I also wish Caro didn’t turn out to be such a predictable villain. I thought she was a flighty widow, but also hilarious when she told Lucien that if he got Alice pregnant he'd have to marry her. It was a disappointment that Caro remains a superficial character. "Pure” heroines like Alice are also not compelling. They're not exactly sticks in the mud, but they can't really do much up there on their pedestals, can they? And there's Lucien. He lost a lot of his bite after the first few chapters so there's just not much I have to say about him.
I'm still under Foley's spell and at this point, I've pretty much committed to the series now. If you haven't read The Duke, the first book in the Knight Miscellany, start with that first.
September 26, 2010
It could have been a good story if the heroine had been smarter with her actions.
I disliked the heroine Alice's actions. Lucien was a highly skilled spy. He told her to stay away from certain things, but she didn't and as a result, she caused problems, putting him in danger, herself in danger and causing a spy to get away. Later in the story Alice's sister-in-law didn't do what she had been told to do, and as a result she was taken hostage. This story used women's stupid actions to cause the conflicts and help the bad guys which I didn't like. I also didn't like the way Alice gave an ultimatum to Lucien that he stop trying to catch the bad guy, telling him to have someone else do the job.
Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: three. Setting: 1814 London. Copyright: 2001. Genre: regency romance.
To date there are seven books in the Knight family series, of which I have read six, as follows. My review for His Wicked Kiss was posted to Amazon on 2/6/07. All the rest are posted on 5/26/08.
The Duke (4.5 stars)
Lord of Fire (2 stars)
Lord of Ice (3.5 stars)
Lady of Desire (4.5 stars)
Devil Takes a Bride (2 stars)
His Wicked Kiss (3 stars)
I disliked the heroine Alice's actions. Lucien was a highly skilled spy. He told her to stay away from certain things, but she didn't and as a result, she caused problems, putting him in danger, herself in danger and causing a spy to get away. Later in the story Alice's sister-in-law didn't do what she had been told to do, and as a result she was taken hostage. This story used women's stupid actions to cause the conflicts and help the bad guys which I didn't like. I also didn't like the way Alice gave an ultimatum to Lucien that he stop trying to catch the bad guy, telling him to have someone else do the job.
Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: three. Setting: 1814 London. Copyright: 2001. Genre: regency romance.
To date there are seven books in the Knight family series, of which I have read six, as follows. My review for His Wicked Kiss was posted to Amazon on 2/6/07. All the rest are posted on 5/26/08.
The Duke (4.5 stars)
Lord of Fire (2 stars)
Lord of Ice (3.5 stars)
Lady of Desire (4.5 stars)
Devil Takes a Bride (2 stars)
His Wicked Kiss (3 stars)
July 25, 2010
5 stars – Historical/Regency Romance
October 19, 2021
Espionaje, fiestas secretas y amor, mucho amor.
Esta trama me ha parecido más interesante que la de la primera entrega de la serie. ❤
Esta trama me ha parecido más interesante que la de la primera entrega de la serie. ❤
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