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Blakewell/Kenleigh Family Trilogy #3
Ride the Fire
Sometimes survival isn't just about staying alive...
Widowed and alone on the frontier, Elspeth Stewart will do whatever it takes to protect herself and her unborn child from the dangers of the wilderness and of men. Though her youthful beauty doesn't show it, she is broken and scarred from the way men have treated her. So when a stranger wanders onto Bethie's land, wounded and needing her aid, she takes no risks, tying him to the bed and hiding his weapons before ministering to his injuries.
But Bethie's defenses cannot keep Nicholas Kenleigh from breaking down her emotional walls. The scars on his body speak of a violent past, but his gentleness, warmth, and piercing eyes arouse longings in her that she never imagined she had. As Nicholas and Bethie reveal to each other both their hidden desires and their tortured secrets, they discover that riding the flames of their passion might be the key to burning away the nightmare of their pasts.
Widowed and alone on the frontier, Elspeth Stewart will do whatever it takes to protect herself and her unborn child from the dangers of the wilderness and of men. Though her youthful beauty doesn't show it, she is broken and scarred from the way men have treated her. So when a stranger wanders onto Bethie's land, wounded and needing her aid, she takes no risks, tying him to the bed and hiding his weapons before ministering to his injuries.
But Bethie's defenses cannot keep Nicholas Kenleigh from breaking down her emotional walls. The scars on his body speak of a violent past, but his gentleness, warmth, and piercing eyes arouse longings in her that she never imagined she had. As Nicholas and Bethie reveal to each other both their hidden desires and their tortured secrets, they discover that riding the flames of their passion might be the key to burning away the nightmare of their pasts.
356 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2005
About the author
Pamela Clare
57 books4,260 followersUSA Today best-selling author Pamela Clare began her writing career as a columnist and investigative reporter and eventually became the first woman editor-in-chief of two different newspapers. Along the way, she and her team won numerous state and national honors, including the First Amendment Award and the National Journalism Award for Public Service. In 2011, she was honored by the Colorado Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists with their Keeper of the Flame Lifetime Achievement Award for her work. A single mother with two grown sons and two cats, she writes historical romance and contemporary romantic suspense within view of Colorado’s beautiful Rocky Mountains. She is a two-time RITA finalist (Surrender, Defiant) and a three-time Daphne du Maurier finalist (I-Team series). She loves history, having studied archaeology in college, and has traveled extensively, living for almost three years in Denmark, which feels like home to her. She attributes her love of historical romance with the years she spent visiting ruins and castles in Europe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 352 reviews
April 9, 2023
IT'S FINALLY HERE! The release of Pamela Clare's Ride the Fire with the much anticipated epilogue. Woohoo! I've waited a whole year to read the epilogue to my all-time favorite historical romance. What's even better...the book is now offered in e-format. Life just doesn't get better than that!
Huge 5+ stars
Once again Pamela Clare has left me in awe and thoroughly entertained. Ride the Fire is one of those books that not only draws the reader in right from the start, but also holds their attention to the very end. It not only delves into the historical aspects of the Pontiac’s Rebellion, but also into the darker parts of the human psyche, leaving the reader with a renewed sense of optimism in the resilience of the human soul.
Of all Ms. Clare’s books I’ve read, I felt Ride the Fire is her most heart-wrenching, yet uplifting story. I experienced emotions ranging from elation, to empathy, to horror. The book deals with the reality and consequences of mental, physical, and sexual assault - for Nicholas during war and for Bethie growing up.
The novel begins with Nicholas Kenleigh, a tracker in Washington’s Forces, being captured and held prisoner by the Wyandot Indians. He is brutally tortured and kept alive for the selfish desires of the Chief’s daughter (for breeding purposes!). He is forced to watch the two young men he took under his wing slowly burned to death over the course of a few days. Eventually he escapes and returns home a bitter and changed man. No longer comfortable around his family, he leaves to become a trapper in the wilderness. After six long years full of apathy and loneliness, a wounded Nicholas stumbles upon a small cabin, where a very pregnant, very beautiful, and very alone Bethie lives.
Elspeth Stewart “Bethie” is a young, newly widowed, eight-months-pregnant woman living alone on the frontier when Nicholas happens upon her. Holding her at gun point, he forces her to care for his wound. While aiding him, Bethie drugs his whisky and ties him to the bed, hoping to protect herself and her unborn child. Smart girl! Loved that part. Soon a truce is formed, with Bethie allowing Nicholas to stay until he’s fully healed. Nicholas, in return, offers his protection and help with the more strenuous chores. It isn’t long before Nicholas realizes that Bethie has also been abused. Slowly the two develop a sweet and tender friendship that eventually turns to an erotically passionate love.
The birth of Isabelle was my favorite scene in the book and the turning point for these two damaged and lovable characters. It isn’t often I cry when reading an emotional story; however, I found myself teary eyed during this segment of the story. It was emotionally, tenderly, and beautifully written. The moment I finished the book, I quickly went back and read this segment again. That’s how much I loved it.
What I love most about this book is the message that love has the power to heal. Ride the Fire is one of the most beautiful, tender, powerful, triumph-of-the-soul love stories I’ve read.
Pamela Clare is definitely in a class all her own when it comes to writing historical romance books full of strong memorable characters, engaging tight plots, scorching sensuality, and powerful love stories.
I highly recommend this book.
Huge 5+ stars
Once again Pamela Clare has left me in awe and thoroughly entertained. Ride the Fire is one of those books that not only draws the reader in right from the start, but also holds their attention to the very end. It not only delves into the historical aspects of the Pontiac’s Rebellion, but also into the darker parts of the human psyche, leaving the reader with a renewed sense of optimism in the resilience of the human soul.
Of all Ms. Clare’s books I’ve read, I felt Ride the Fire is her most heart-wrenching, yet uplifting story. I experienced emotions ranging from elation, to empathy, to horror. The book deals with the reality and consequences of mental, physical, and sexual assault - for Nicholas during war and for Bethie growing up.
The novel begins with Nicholas Kenleigh, a tracker in Washington’s Forces, being captured and held prisoner by the Wyandot Indians. He is brutally tortured and kept alive for the selfish desires of the Chief’s daughter (for breeding purposes!). He is forced to watch the two young men he took under his wing slowly burned to death over the course of a few days. Eventually he escapes and returns home a bitter and changed man. No longer comfortable around his family, he leaves to become a trapper in the wilderness. After six long years full of apathy and loneliness, a wounded Nicholas stumbles upon a small cabin, where a very pregnant, very beautiful, and very alone Bethie lives.
Elspeth Stewart “Bethie” is a young, newly widowed, eight-months-pregnant woman living alone on the frontier when Nicholas happens upon her. Holding her at gun point, he forces her to care for his wound. While aiding him, Bethie drugs his whisky and ties him to the bed, hoping to protect herself and her unborn child. Smart girl! Loved that part. Soon a truce is formed, with Bethie allowing Nicholas to stay until he’s fully healed. Nicholas, in return, offers his protection and help with the more strenuous chores. It isn’t long before Nicholas realizes that Bethie has also been abused. Slowly the two develop a sweet and tender friendship that eventually turns to an erotically passionate love.
The birth of Isabelle was my favorite scene in the book and the turning point for these two damaged and lovable characters. It isn’t often I cry when reading an emotional story; however, I found myself teary eyed during this segment of the story. It was emotionally, tenderly, and beautifully written. The moment I finished the book, I quickly went back and read this segment again. That’s how much I loved it.
What I love most about this book is the message that love has the power to heal. Ride the Fire is one of the most beautiful, tender, powerful, triumph-of-the-soul love stories I’ve read.
Pamela Clare is definitely in a class all her own when it comes to writing historical romance books full of strong memorable characters, engaging tight plots, scorching sensuality, and powerful love stories.
I highly recommend this book.
November 20, 2015
Ride the Fire is one of the most amazing historical romances ever written. Today, February 5th, 2013, it's been re-released with new content, and an epilogue. I never imagined this story could get any better, but it just did! And, it's in ebook for the first time!
Congratulations, Pamela. I know how much this story means to you. You're an incredible lady, and your fans are so, so happy for you!
The new cover:
Now, stop what you're doing, get this book and prepare yourself to meet Nicholas Kenleigh, one of the most incredible heroes ever written. I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes as I remember his story.
My original review:
I find that the best books are often the hardest for me to review and, as is always the case with Pamela Clare’s books, Ride the Fire is no different. Once again this author has given us a deeply emotional story and characters we can’t help but admire. They are honorable, courageous people who understand that doing the right thing is often the hardest thing to do.
Nicholas Kenleigh is a man with a tortured past – literally. And as Ride the Fire opens, his torture is shown to us in explicit detail, but to truly understand the man he was, the choices he made and the man he became, we had to see that. We had to experience it with him. Every. Horrific. Moment. And let me tell you, it wasn’t easy to read so be forewarned. I wept for Nicholas and for Eben and Josiah. I can’t begin to comprehend the physical and emotional pain these men endured, but due to Pamela Clare’s amazing writing, I can certainly imagine it – vividly.
And years later, as the story continues, we meet Elspeth “Bethie” Stewart living alone, a widow, on the dangerous American frontier during the French and Indian War. It’s not easy being a woman alone, and to make matters even more complicated, she’s pregnant. Bethie is a brave and resourceful woman, and while she also has a nightmarish past she wishes she could forget, she’s quite capable of taking care of herself. Bethie’s life has been every bit as emotionally and physically painful as Nicholas’s was and I found myself once again weeping, this time for an innocent young woman who endured the worse kind of abuse imaginable, and was then married off by her family who blamed her, ridiculed her, and was ashamed of her. While deeply painful, their treatment only served to make her stronger, something Nicholas learned the hard way when he showed up at her homestead, badly injured, seeking shelter and aid. He thinks he knows what to expect from this little bit of a woman, but he finds out quickly that there’s more to her than meets the eye when he wakes up bound to her bed. Granted, he was badly injured, but not so badly that he shouldn’t have been able to keep that from happening!
And so the story begins and it’s a tale of two incredible people whose hearts have been broken and whose souls are deeply scarred. Fate has brought them together because they are each other’s only hope for healing, but before the healing can being, they must learn to trust one another. They’ll have to face their pasts head on to escape the nightmares which bind them to a life of fear and loneliness, keeping them from a life they so deserve - one of peace, happiness, and something neither of them ever expected to find – love.
Once again Pamela Clare has taken my breath away with a story that is touching, tragic, uplifting, full of hope and as always, comes straight from her heart. It’s exciting, intensely emotional, and very, very sexy and a book I couldn’t put down! And here I am going on and on and yet, I find I’m at a loss for just the right words, the words that will convince you to pick up this book. Please, just trust me and so many others who have read and loved Pamela Clare’s novels and read Ride the Fire. You'll laugh, you'll sigh, you'll cry, but above all, you'll come away with your heart full of joy for Bethie and Nicholas who are no longer fighting their demons alone, but who together have vanquished them once and for all and have found in each other a happily ever after for the ages.
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If you're already a Pamela Clare fan, or interested in learning more about her and her books, be sure to stop by our Pamela Clare Fan Group here on Goodreads!
September 6, 2023
Opening Line: "Nicholas leaned back in the wooden tub, closed his eyes, let the hot water soak the chill from his bones."
This was easily one of the best historical romances I've read. Now I know why everyone keeps recommending Pamela Clare. I just can't seem to bring myself back from the frontier of 1763, nor do I want to, and then there’s Nicholas... Sigh
There isn’t much I can say really that hasn’t been said already, Ride The Fire is an epic read, with characters that will stay with you long after you’ve finished. By the end I couldn’t believe how far they’d come and what they’d been through. And the detail paid to historical accuracy here is simply amazing. Down to the smallest of facts, including actual soldiers, battles, forts, and sieges. You’ll have no trouble being transported away and imagining yourself there. And how fun was the inclusion of “Ben” in the closing chapters?
In regards to the romance (big sigh) Bethie and Nicholas are just perfect; with a realistic, slow building love forming between two equally wounded souls. I love a tortured hero and Nicholas is about as good as it gets without being a bully (as most tend to come off before they fall in love) and I appreciated how his dark secrets weren’t given away all at once either. I was on pins waiting to hear exactly what had taken place after he was tortured and why he continued to live amongst the Wyandot. Surprisingly though it wasn’t his brutal torture but the scene where he drops to his knees in front of his mother and begs forgiveness that got to me. There were no TSTL moments on the heroine’s part here, no dumb misunderstandings to plod through or exaggerated conflict it was all just beautifully done.
I should also mention that while this is the third part of a trilogy I read it as a stand alone with no problems whatsoever. I have of course just ordered the first two books because I can’t seem to find anything else to read that even comes close to capturing the magic I found here. Cheers
This was easily one of the best historical romances I've read. Now I know why everyone keeps recommending Pamela Clare. I just can't seem to bring myself back from the frontier of 1763, nor do I want to, and then there’s Nicholas... Sigh
There isn’t much I can say really that hasn’t been said already, Ride The Fire is an epic read, with characters that will stay with you long after you’ve finished. By the end I couldn’t believe how far they’d come and what they’d been through. And the detail paid to historical accuracy here is simply amazing. Down to the smallest of facts, including actual soldiers, battles, forts, and sieges. You’ll have no trouble being transported away and imagining yourself there. And how fun was the inclusion of “Ben” in the closing chapters?
In regards to the romance (big sigh) Bethie and Nicholas are just perfect; with a realistic, slow building love forming between two equally wounded souls. I love a tortured hero and Nicholas is about as good as it gets without being a bully (as most tend to come off before they fall in love) and I appreciated how his dark secrets weren’t given away all at once either. I was on pins waiting to hear exactly what had taken place after he was tortured and why he continued to live amongst the Wyandot. Surprisingly though it wasn’t his brutal torture but the scene where he drops to his knees in front of his mother and begs forgiveness that got to me. There were no TSTL moments on the heroine’s part here, no dumb misunderstandings to plod through or exaggerated conflict it was all just beautifully done.
I should also mention that while this is the third part of a trilogy I read it as a stand alone with no problems whatsoever. I have of course just ordered the first two books because I can’t seem to find anything else to read that even comes close to capturing the magic I found here. Cheers
September 18, 2022
Re read September 2022
April 17, 2013
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men might strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,–I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!–and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
- Elizabeth Barrett-Browning
Ok, I thought nothing could top the story of Jamie and Brighíd in Carnal Gift - it was special for me because of the Irish connection but also of course for the great writing. Had been hounding Pamela asking her if Ride the Fire would be coming out on Kindle - she assured me it would in the future….. how did I wait so long for it to be released on Kindle without trying to get a paperback copy? But I was patient and it was worth the wait. Oh, Nicholas, you poor, tortured man - in every sense of the word. To be alone for so long and feeling not worthy of love. And Bethie, you are a tortured soul also but what a strong, feisty girl you are. Won't go into detail on the story - it has been done in other reviews. Just to say that it is a FANTASTIC book, the Historical aspect, the characters, the drama, the violence, the LOVE! Was great to catch up with characters from the previous books. And the Epilogue - Sigh……If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. Problem with reading a great book like that it spoils you and you find it difficult to start another one because you know it will not be as good.
Go raibh maith agat, Pamela.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men might strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,–I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!–and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
- Elizabeth Barrett-Browning
Ok, I thought nothing could top the story of Jamie and Brighíd in Carnal Gift - it was special for me because of the Irish connection but also of course for the great writing. Had been hounding Pamela asking her if Ride the Fire would be coming out on Kindle - she assured me it would in the future….. how did I wait so long for it to be released on Kindle without trying to get a paperback copy? But I was patient and it was worth the wait. Oh, Nicholas, you poor, tortured man - in every sense of the word. To be alone for so long and feeling not worthy of love. And Bethie, you are a tortured soul also but what a strong, feisty girl you are. Won't go into detail on the story - it has been done in other reviews. Just to say that it is a FANTASTIC book, the Historical aspect, the characters, the drama, the violence, the LOVE! Was great to catch up with characters from the previous books. And the Epilogue - Sigh……If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. Problem with reading a great book like that it spoils you and you find it difficult to start another one because you know it will not be as good.
Go raibh maith agat, Pamela.
May 10, 2016
I'm in a historical western kind of mood...
June 11, 2013
I'd probably give this one 4.5 stars. I thought it really was an excellent book, but the whole confict between the Native Americans and the settlers is just heartwrenching. I think the characters in this book were driven to their brink in many ways. It was so well-written and I loved it, but because the tragic elements hit so close to home, and this affected my enjoyment factor, it's hard to give it five stars.
There are incidents that occur in this book that I found downright disturbing. Maybe I'm too sensitive, or I read it on a week where my life stress level was too high, but I found it hard to get past some of that.
I take the whole Native American situation deeply personal, partly because that is part of my heritage, but also because I hate persecution and unfairness. I can totally see what drove the Natives to fight back so hard against the settlers, but I can never condone the murder of innocent people on either side. History is brutal and tragic, and it shows that humanity does not have the best motivations. Again and again we see nations and civilizations conquered by cultures that are more powerful in an integral way that allows them to decimate the so-called "weaker culture." It is something that I do not like facing, but unescapable. It's one of the reasons I love historical romance, but at times it is hard to deal with in the scope of a book about a romantic relationship between a couple.
I do love that Clare always presented a balanced perspective. She didn't make the Natives always the good guy and she didn't make the settlers always the bad guys. There were atrocities committed on both sides, as she is unflinching in describing some of those acts in this book.
I found Nicholas and Bethie both to be characters I liked, admired, and wished well for. They were both strong survivors who had gone through hell and back. What they suffered in their lives was almost too much to deal with at times. I love angst, so don't get me wrong, but probably I just read this during the wrong few days where my angst tolerance level was lower. Nicholas was just a delicious hero. I couldn't get enough of him, but I like that he wasn't a perfect, plaster saint. He didn't always do the right thing, although he was deeply principled in his own way. Survival had motivated him for so long, but when it came down to it, his moral compass did not forsake him.
I am curious about Nicholas' parents and his young uncle Jamie, so I hope to read Sweet Release and Carnal Gift soon. Clare definitely is an author that I want to read more of.
---------------------
If you're already a Pamela Clare fan, or interested in learning more about her and her books, be sure to stop by our Pamela Clare Fan Group here on Goodreads!
There are incidents that occur in this book that I found downright disturbing. Maybe I'm too sensitive, or I read it on a week where my life stress level was too high, but I found it hard to get past some of that.
I take the whole Native American situation deeply personal, partly because that is part of my heritage, but also because I hate persecution and unfairness. I can totally see what drove the Natives to fight back so hard against the settlers, but I can never condone the murder of innocent people on either side. History is brutal and tragic, and it shows that humanity does not have the best motivations. Again and again we see nations and civilizations conquered by cultures that are more powerful in an integral way that allows them to decimate the so-called "weaker culture." It is something that I do not like facing, but unescapable. It's one of the reasons I love historical romance, but at times it is hard to deal with in the scope of a book about a romantic relationship between a couple.
I do love that Clare always presented a balanced perspective. She didn't make the Natives always the good guy and she didn't make the settlers always the bad guys. There were atrocities committed on both sides, as she is unflinching in describing some of those acts in this book.
I found Nicholas and Bethie both to be characters I liked, admired, and wished well for. They were both strong survivors who had gone through hell and back. What they suffered in their lives was almost too much to deal with at times. I love angst, so don't get me wrong, but probably I just read this during the wrong few days where my angst tolerance level was lower. Nicholas was just a delicious hero. I couldn't get enough of him, but I like that he wasn't a perfect, plaster saint. He didn't always do the right thing, although he was deeply principled in his own way. Survival had motivated him for so long, but when it came down to it, his moral compass did not forsake him.
I am curious about Nicholas' parents and his young uncle Jamie, so I hope to read Sweet Release and Carnal Gift soon. Clare definitely is an author that I want to read more of.
---------------------
If you're already a Pamela Clare fan, or interested in learning more about her and her books, be sure to stop by our Pamela Clare Fan Group here on Goodreads!
November 24, 2008
Words can not adequately describe how much I enjoyed this amazing book--to me, it was just awesome! At times it was so emotional, it had me tearing up. And then the graphic scenes of violence had me tearing up, dying inside for the hero and heroine and all that they went through. And the beautiful love scenes had me tearing up. And the fighting scenes and the arduous trek to Fort Pitt while trying to avoid the Indians had me gripping my chair and biting my nails. This was just one big fat emotional read for me, and at times I was just rung out!
I won't get into the plot, because the synopsis handles it just fine. Just know that it takes place around the time of the French and Indian war, late 1750- early 1760s, largely around western PA, and what later became Pittsburgh. Perhaps this was an added bonus for me, since I am from the area, and recognized a lot of the historical names and places. It's obvious the author did her homework, and when the H/H (Nicholas and Bethie) were trying to flee from her frontier home to the relative safety of Fort Pitt, I had my map out plotting their course!
The hero, Nicholas, is one of those to-die-for heroes. Strong, sexy, incredibly brave and oh-so-gentle with the emotionally scarred Bethie. And he had to be one of the most tortured (literally) heroes that I've read about in a long time. What he went through both physically and mentally just about tore my heart out. Boy, did this guy ever deserve a HEA!
And Bethie was no slouch either. Although she started out incredibly naive, every experience she went through just made her stronger and stronger. And even though she had her own emotional scars to deal with, she somehow found a way to keep plugging along and not give up on life. She was a heroine I admired more and more with each page I read.
And Nicholas and Bethie together? Let me tell you it was worth the long wait! Although technically they weren't 'together' until about the 3/4 mark of the book, there's lots and lots of sexual tension that leads up to the big moment(s), more than enough to keep the reader satisfied. I love how the author handled their romantic scenes, having Nicholas help Bethie overcome all her fears and misconceptions about sex. It was just beautifully done, and very erotic too. They were an ideal match for each other--physically and emotionally.
So if you're a fan of historicals set in Colonial America, I urge you to try this book. If you can get past the graphic violence in the prologue, you will be richly rewarded as this beautiful love story between two wounded souls plays out. I think Pamela Clare outdid herself with this compelling romance. This was one of the best historicals I've ever read, so it's easy to say "Five big stars"!
I won't get into the plot, because the synopsis handles it just fine. Just know that it takes place around the time of the French and Indian war, late 1750- early 1760s, largely around western PA, and what later became Pittsburgh. Perhaps this was an added bonus for me, since I am from the area, and recognized a lot of the historical names and places. It's obvious the author did her homework, and when the H/H (Nicholas and Bethie) were trying to flee from her frontier home to the relative safety of Fort Pitt, I had my map out plotting their course!
The hero, Nicholas, is one of those to-die-for heroes. Strong, sexy, incredibly brave and oh-so-gentle with the emotionally scarred Bethie. And he had to be one of the most tortured (literally) heroes that I've read about in a long time. What he went through both physically and mentally just about tore my heart out. Boy, did this guy ever deserve a HEA!
And Bethie was no slouch either. Although she started out incredibly naive, every experience she went through just made her stronger and stronger. And even though she had her own emotional scars to deal with, she somehow found a way to keep plugging along and not give up on life. She was a heroine I admired more and more with each page I read.
And Nicholas and Bethie together? Let me tell you it was worth the long wait! Although technically they weren't 'together' until about the 3/4 mark of the book, there's lots and lots of sexual tension that leads up to the big moment(s), more than enough to keep the reader satisfied. I love how the author handled their romantic scenes, having Nicholas help Bethie overcome all her fears and misconceptions about sex. It was just beautifully done, and very erotic too. They were an ideal match for each other--physically and emotionally.
So if you're a fan of historicals set in Colonial America, I urge you to try this book. If you can get past the graphic violence in the prologue, you will be richly rewarded as this beautiful love story between two wounded souls plays out. I think Pamela Clare outdid herself with this compelling romance. This was one of the best historicals I've ever read, so it's easy to say "Five big stars"!
June 8, 2022
*4.5* A very young and pregnant widow, an English gentleman turned frontier expert and recluse, save each other's lives, while surviving insurmountable odds.
Really loved both these characters but specifically the h as she was so incredibly strong throughout all her ordeal.
Really loved both these characters but specifically the h as she was so incredibly strong throughout all her ordeal.
She'd never given birth before, never seen a baby born. And though she helped cows to calve, she knew having babies was different for women. Would she know what to do?The H is multi-dimensional, and such a fabulous character. Tender and gentle when needed but also a fierce warrior and passionate lover. One of the best historicals I've ever read. Brutal, but not glorified for the time period the story is set in. I appreciated that the author didn't sugarcoat the brutality on both sides. The settlers were vicious in their search for a place to call home, while the Native Americans were just as vicious to keep them out. Everyone was raping, torturing, scalping, and committing mass atrocities on each other.
The war with France had just ended, and already the frontier was about to collapse into new violence and re-doubled bloodshed. Whether they were Indian or white, it seemed to be the nature of men to kill.Loved this story but don't know if I could stomach reading it again.
September 22, 2015
Overall rating: 4 "Love" stars!
Triggers:
Cheating:
Love triangle:
Sex with om/ow:
Intimate pasts:
Push/pull:
OW/OM drama:
HEA:
My review:
This story wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. I was thinking this would be a tormented, scarred and tortured hero that would meet a sweet heroine and change his life around. It essentially WAS about that, but at the same time, for a major portion of the book there was this underlying danger aspect. Would they make it to the Fort? Would they make it further to safety? What would happen to them as a couple? That undertone kind of took away from the romance in my opinion.
So why not 5 stars?
1. For starters -
2. The timing of when the hero's past was completely revealed. Now, before I get into what his past was IF you are interested, keep in mind that in the prologue this hero was portrayed as a loyal and faithful guy and overall very respectable. I honestly thought if I found out that all beforehand, I might have even passed on reading this book.
3. It was a very SLOOOW build for these two to finally get together. I give the hero props because it seemed like he totally recognized his feelings and was willing to act on them before the heroine did. That didn't make me angry, but it was so freaking slow. I want to say that baby Belle was older than 6 months before they first had sex - which the hero shows up when she is like 7-8 months pregnant so you do the math.
What did work for me?
1. The heroine was very sweet.
2. The hero was alpha, but definitely all in with the heroine. He knows she is beautiful the moment he sees her and of course, the fact that they are "together" the entire book also helps.
3. How the hero's family become Bethie's family. They all totally supported their relationship even though Bethie was from a lower class then they were, they never acted differently in front of her.
4. The epilogue was very sweet and we do great a few chapters of the hero and heroine actually truly being together and it wasn't just completely at the very end.
Triggers:
Cheating:
Love triangle:
Sex with om/ow:
Intimate pasts:
Push/pull:
OW/OM drama:
HEA:
My review:
This story wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. I was thinking this would be a tormented, scarred and tortured hero that would meet a sweet heroine and change his life around. It essentially WAS about that, but at the same time, for a major portion of the book there was this underlying danger aspect. Would they make it to the Fort? Would they make it further to safety? What would happen to them as a couple? That undertone kind of took away from the romance in my opinion.
So why not 5 stars?
1. For starters -
2. The timing of when the hero's past was completely revealed. Now, before I get into what his past was IF you are interested, keep in mind that in the prologue this hero was portrayed as a loyal and faithful guy and overall very respectable. I honestly thought if I found out that all beforehand, I might have even passed on reading this book.
3. It was a very SLOOOW build for these two to finally get together. I give the hero props because it seemed like he totally recognized his feelings and was willing to act on them before the heroine did. That didn't make me angry, but it was so freaking slow. I want to say that baby Belle was older than 6 months before they first had sex - which the hero shows up when she is like 7-8 months pregnant so you do the math.
What did work for me?
1. The heroine was very sweet.
2. The hero was alpha, but definitely all in with the heroine. He knows she is beautiful the moment he sees her and of course, the fact that they are "together" the entire book also helps.
3. How the hero's family become Bethie's family. They all totally supported their relationship even though Bethie was from a lower class then they were, they never acted differently in front of her.
4. The epilogue was very sweet and we do great a few chapters of the hero and heroine actually truly being together and it wasn't just completely at the very end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2011
5+++ Stars! AMAZING!
I read this book first, not realizing that this was part of a trilogy. I wasn't to much into historical romance at the time, but this one changed my mind, boy did it ever!! One of the best books that I have ever read. It is my number one comfort read! I could read it a million times and it just never gets old! Pamela Clare does it all and does it best.
One day I will I will give this book the proper review it deserves, and it deserves nothing but the best!
August 14, 2009
5++++++++++++++
A Masterpiece! My favorite in this series..I loved it so very much. I don't have the words to write a reveiw that would do justice to this amazing read. It is easily one of my fav all time Historicals.
A Masterpiece! My favorite in this series..I loved it so very much. I don't have the words to write a reveiw that would do justice to this amazing read. It is easily one of my fav all time Historicals.
March 31, 2015
I waited for what felt like forever to read this book.
I had finished the first two books in this series in October 2012, just to discover that this book was in the process of a new epilogue and would not be available until February 2013! Well now that I have finally read it I can honestly say the wait was well worth it. This story captured me from the start and I couldn't stop reading until I finished, the only things that got in my way was work and sleeping. (and it irritated me too).
Nicholas Kenleigh is a tracker who was taken prisoner by the Wyandot Indians, he is horrendously tortured. Honestly it was difficult to read at times. I found myself fighting back tears, and anger as I learned the entire extent of what he went through. Not only was he tortured physically in ways I cannot comprehend, but sexually tortured as well. I don't think I have read a book so far that was this heartbreaking to read.
And my heart didn't just break for Nicholas, but for Bethie as well. Suffering from years of physical and sexual abuse by her step father and step brother, then forced into a marriage to a much older man she didn't love because her family wanted rid of her. Her husband dies and she is forced to fend for herself and her daughter in the wilderness alone.
Nicholas living alone in the wild for 6 years is injured and stumbles upon Bethie's home. Nicholas is desperate for help, if his leg is not treated he is going to die, so he forces Bethie to treat him. Slowly they get to know each other and their feelings for one another grow. Neither wants to share their past with each other, but as they get closer it gets harder to keep their past secret.
Nicholas is your strong, handsome, rugged man of the wild, but he is tender and patient with Bethie. He gets hints of what she is keeping from him and knows forcing her to trust him is not the way to reach her.
This story was a heart wrenching and difficult to read at times, but it had wonderfully tender moments, swoon worthy intimate moments that kept me glued to my chair (I have the stiff back from sitting too long to prove it).
And of course the war that is going on, the fight for survival, fear of being killed or tortured by Indians. These two tortured and scarred souls got right into my heart. I was crying throughout this story and the end left me crying like a baby and hoping no one would catch me.
Pamela Clare you continue to have my devotion!
March 8, 2011
Not in the mood to write a full review, so I'm bringing back the bullet list.
The Good
- The pacing. In romance, "suspense" invariably refers to some sort of mystery that needs solving. In this book, however, the specter of unnamed danger hovering in the near distance creates a sense of dread that leaves the reader in suspense. Can Nicholas and Bethie trust each other? What will she do when the baby comes? Will they outrun the Indian war party? Will they outrun their personal demons?
- The characters. I liked the strength and the vulnerability in them both. Each had horrible pasts that prevented them from getting close to others, but they didn't use them as shields, like is common in romance. Their pasts inhibit them almost subconsciously. When they notice their attraction to the other, they resist it more from a position of awkward discomfort than from an angsty determination to remain alone. They felt real to me in the ways they reacted to their experiences.
- The plot. Sick to death of pampered broads dancing in regency ballrooms, a gritty road romance set in western PA during the French-Indian War is a refreshing breath of fresh air. It's well-researched and immersive. Rampaging Indian war parties and a siege on a colonial frontier fort aren't a mere background for sexxoring, Bethie and Nicholas are intimately involved with the upheaval around them.
- The cultural sensitivity. I liked that neither the English nor the Indians were the good team. Both had their flaws. It wasn't "PC" or anachronistic, just a fairly honest look at an ugly period in our shared histories.
The Bad
- Bethie's tendency to feistiness. In the midst of all this upheaval and danger, Bethie seemed determined to get herself killed by ignoring Nicholas' instructions. I'm a pretty headstrong person myself, but if I'm out of my element and an expert in that element tells me to do something, I'm gonna do it. Whether it was shooting when he told her to sit tight, running to the fort walls in the middle of a battle to fret over him or riding out to meet an angry mob, I thought she was acting recklessly, not bravely, despite the positive outcomes.
- The last few chapters. After getting through the siege at Fort Pitt, things got a bit flabby, I thought. When the bulk of the book was marinated in gritty realism, an ending full of fluffy wish fulfillment and past protagonists felt out of place. Compared to the way previous issues were handled, the facile treatment of their disparate social classes at the book's finish was jarring.
The Verdict
Definitely another great book from Ms. Clare. I read it in a single sitting, much to my arms' and back's despair, and can't stop thinking about the story and the characters. Highly recommended to anyone who loves an emotional romance mixed with history and adventure.
The Good
- The pacing. In romance, "suspense" invariably refers to some sort of mystery that needs solving. In this book, however, the specter of unnamed danger hovering in the near distance creates a sense of dread that leaves the reader in suspense. Can Nicholas and Bethie trust each other? What will she do when the baby comes? Will they outrun the Indian war party? Will they outrun their personal demons?
- The characters. I liked the strength and the vulnerability in them both. Each had horrible pasts that prevented them from getting close to others, but they didn't use them as shields, like is common in romance. Their pasts inhibit them almost subconsciously. When they notice their attraction to the other, they resist it more from a position of awkward discomfort than from an angsty determination to remain alone. They felt real to me in the ways they reacted to their experiences.
- The plot. Sick to death of pampered broads dancing in regency ballrooms, a gritty road romance set in western PA during the French-Indian War is a refreshing breath of fresh air. It's well-researched and immersive. Rampaging Indian war parties and a siege on a colonial frontier fort aren't a mere background for sexxoring, Bethie and Nicholas are intimately involved with the upheaval around them.
- The cultural sensitivity. I liked that neither the English nor the Indians were the good team. Both had their flaws. It wasn't "PC" or anachronistic, just a fairly honest look at an ugly period in our shared histories.
The Bad
- Bethie's tendency to feistiness. In the midst of all this upheaval and danger, Bethie seemed determined to get herself killed by ignoring Nicholas' instructions. I'm a pretty headstrong person myself, but if I'm out of my element and an expert in that element tells me to do something, I'm gonna do it. Whether it was shooting when he told her to sit tight, running to the fort walls in the middle of a battle to fret over him or riding out to meet an angry mob, I thought she was acting recklessly, not bravely, despite the positive outcomes.
- The last few chapters. After getting through the siege at Fort Pitt, things got a bit flabby, I thought. When the bulk of the book was marinated in gritty realism, an ending full of fluffy wish fulfillment and past protagonists felt out of place. Compared to the way previous issues were handled, the facile treatment of their disparate social classes at the book's finish was jarring.
The Verdict
Definitely another great book from Ms. Clare. I read it in a single sitting, much to my arms' and back's despair, and can't stop thinking about the story and the characters. Highly recommended to anyone who loves an emotional romance mixed with history and adventure.
November 25, 2014
Rating Clarification: 4.5 stars
What a beautiful story!! I will post my thoughts later.
What a beautiful story!! I will post my thoughts later.
February 7, 2016
First read: November 15, 2008
Loved it! This is book #3 in the Blakewell/Kenleigh series and other than a few references to some of the other characters in the series and the last chapter of reunions (that had me in tears), this book could be read as a stand alone...fyi.
NOTE: Nicholas Kenleigh is the first son of Alec and Cassie from the first book in this series. Jamie (from book #2) is in this one, but a very minor role.
This one reminded me a lot of the movie Last of the Mohicans. Lots of action, adventure, horrors, suspense and romance. The romance was so nice and sweet. Bethie's character was Nicholas' breath of fresh air. She was so kind-hearted and her compliance with his instructions--not questioning his directions on the frontier was...refreshing. Nicholas had some horrific memories to deal with and was running from them. These two meet in the wilderness near present-day Detroit (as best I could tell). Poor Bethie was alone on the frontier--very pregnant--and surviving as best she could when Nicholas came to her cabin in need of medical attention. It was very touching how these two grew into their relationship. Both characters needed a hero and found that in each other.
The author used flashbacks and flashforwards too many times and that became annoying for me. Right in the middle of an important scene, she changed to something else, then went back to the previous scene in a flashback. Ugh! I ALMOST gave this one 4 stars based on that and the recapping that was just insulting. But the story was absolutely wonderful as were the characters!
I loved how the author introduced a famous historical person toward the ending. Nice!
Another favorite for This Reader.
Second read: March 14, 2009
I still enjoyed this colonial frontier with two great characters. How they grew from events in the beginning to how they ended up in the ending was amazing. Seemed like almost different characters.
I think what I liked most about this was the two main characters were not arguing and bickering. They were too busy surviving in the wilderness, surrounded by Indians that wanted to kill them. Bethie was like a rainbow bringing Nicholas back to the real world.
Third read: September 22, 2010
Still enjoyed it. Having recently been to Philly, I got a kick out of reading the "historical" aspects of the story.
Bethie and Nicholas were fun to read and follow. The story and characters evolved so much from the beginning to the end, and Nicholas was a true hero.
Loved it! This is book #3 in the Blakewell/Kenleigh series and other than a few references to some of the other characters in the series and the last chapter of reunions (that had me in tears), this book could be read as a stand alone...fyi.
NOTE: Nicholas Kenleigh is the first son of Alec and Cassie from the first book in this series. Jamie (from book #2) is in this one, but a very minor role.
This one reminded me a lot of the movie Last of the Mohicans. Lots of action, adventure, horrors, suspense and romance. The romance was so nice and sweet. Bethie's character was Nicholas' breath of fresh air. She was so kind-hearted and her compliance with his instructions--not questioning his directions on the frontier was...refreshing. Nicholas had some horrific memories to deal with and was running from them. These two meet in the wilderness near present-day Detroit (as best I could tell). Poor Bethie was alone on the frontier--very pregnant--and surviving as best she could when Nicholas came to her cabin in need of medical attention. It was very touching how these two grew into their relationship. Both characters needed a hero and found that in each other.
The author used flashbacks and flashforwards too many times and that became annoying for me. Right in the middle of an important scene, she changed to something else, then went back to the previous scene in a flashback. Ugh! I ALMOST gave this one 4 stars based on that and the recapping that was just insulting. But the story was absolutely wonderful as were the characters!
I loved how the author introduced a famous historical person toward the ending. Nice!
Another favorite for This Reader.
Second read: March 14, 2009
I still enjoyed this colonial frontier with two great characters. How they grew from events in the beginning to how they ended up in the ending was amazing. Seemed like almost different characters.
I think what I liked most about this was the two main characters were not arguing and bickering. They were too busy surviving in the wilderness, surrounded by Indians that wanted to kill them. Bethie was like a rainbow bringing Nicholas back to the real world.
Third read: September 22, 2010
Still enjoyed it. Having recently been to Philly, I got a kick out of reading the "historical" aspects of the story.
Bethie and Nicholas were fun to read and follow. The story and characters evolved so much from the beginning to the end, and Nicholas was a true hero.
June 6, 2022
5 well deserved stars!
This was an intense ride from the very start! EVERYTHING was punching you square in the face - the love, the hate, the fighting, the tragedy, the sorrow, the happiness....shit...it was everything all at once.
I'm kinda in shock how everything that was so incredibly fucked up somehow worked itself out. Considering how tragic these two MCS were, I just didn't see a happy ending- Pamela Clare pulled it out though. It was a fairytale ending, but they deserved it and I'm not complaining.
This was an intense ride from the very start! EVERYTHING was punching you square in the face - the love, the hate, the fighting, the tragedy, the sorrow, the happiness....shit...it was everything all at once.
I'm kinda in shock how everything that was so incredibly fucked up somehow worked itself out. Considering how tragic these two MCS were, I just didn't see a happy ending- Pamela Clare pulled it out though. It was a fairytale ending, but they deserved it and I'm not complaining.
February 16, 2015
The Fire Burns Brightly…
…in this historical romance series. I bow down to Pamela Clare—there’s not one book of hers I’ve disliked. And I loved book three in the Kenleigh/Blakewell series. I felt a lump in my throat for most of this novel. Ms. Clare can evoke such emotion!
Nicholas Kenleigh is the oldest son of Cassie and Alex, the heroes of Sweet Release. He fought with General Washington against the Indians and was believed dead after the Wyandot captured him.
Six years later (1763), Nicholas is a shell of his former self, hollow and bitter. There’s no way he couldn’t have PTSD after what he endured. Being burned alive is only the beginning of his torture. Nicholas tries to make a go of his former life in Virginia, but he’s too scarred and too numb. I about lost it when his departing words to his mother are:
”I regret to inform you, madam, that your son is dead.”
Nicholas lives a cold existence in the wilds of colonial America, needing nothing and nobody. Until some Frenchmen stab him in an altercation. He barely sustains consciousness long enough to procure the help of a pregnant widow: Bethie Stewart.
Can you imagine a seven-month pregnant woman chopping wood with a heavy axe? That’s what Bethie has to do to survive, all alone in her cabin. Turns out she has a trauma history of her own, and she’s terrified of Nicholas hurting her.
But despite his corded muscle and ferocious energy, Nicholas shows Bethie all the gentleness she needs to heal. She learns what a real man is: trustworthy, respectful, strong, and kind. And she shows him how to feel again. This story features one of my favorite tropes: the healing power of love. Life is full of pain and darkness, but love reveals the light and hope we need to carry on.
”No, Bethie. I was a dead man, blind to their love. I cared about nothing, not even my mother’s tears. I lived without joy, took life without remorse. You made me feel again, forced me to face my past. You saved my life, but more than that, you saved me.”
What a savage yet beautiful historical romance. C’mon and RIDE THE FIRE, baby!
March 13, 2012
LOVED this book....Pamela Clare is amazing, I cant wait to read the rest of her Historical books.
April 26, 2010
Set in the American frontier during the French and Indian war, the hero, Nicholas Kenleigh, lives in the wild after escaping the savage Wynadot tribe who held him captive for years.
Years later, after being wounded by a bunch of marauding trappers, Nicholas comes across our spunky heroine, Elspeth Stewart, and basically forces her to take him in.
Left alone and heavily pregnant after her husband died months before, Bethie doesn't want to trust the mysterious man who showed up at her door, but Christian charity demands she assist him. It doesn't take them long to let down their guards a bit and soon they come to an uneasy truce and in doing so they discover an attraction that will outweigh the scars from both their pasts.
Their story takes them across the miles from the Ohio territory to practically my back door in eastern Pennsylvania. The author moves them so effortlessly, nothing feels forced though tragedy strikes often.
Though it does bring to mind the movie The Last of the Mohicans (Danial Day Lewis version)- I had to set that aside to really get into the book- it doesn't follow the tale as closely as Donati's series does and is very much it's own entity. I found trying to compare the two distracting.
Once I set that aside I found I loved both the heroine and the hero. Both had fire and spirit as well as great capacity for kindness and a deep, happily ever after kinda love!
Loved the setting too- did I already mention that? How could I not when she actually got right much of the history I'm familiar with. Fictional interlaced with Non-fictional- very cool.
By the way, Ride The Fire is also a hot little number! No purple prose here, though certainly nothing compared some of the more explicit novels out there nowadays...
Years later, after being wounded by a bunch of marauding trappers, Nicholas comes across our spunky heroine, Elspeth Stewart, and basically forces her to take him in.
Left alone and heavily pregnant after her husband died months before, Bethie doesn't want to trust the mysterious man who showed up at her door, but Christian charity demands she assist him. It doesn't take them long to let down their guards a bit and soon they come to an uneasy truce and in doing so they discover an attraction that will outweigh the scars from both their pasts.
Their story takes them across the miles from the Ohio territory to practically my back door in eastern Pennsylvania. The author moves them so effortlessly, nothing feels forced though tragedy strikes often.
Though it does bring to mind the movie The Last of the Mohicans (Danial Day Lewis version)- I had to set that aside to really get into the book- it doesn't follow the tale as closely as Donati's series does and is very much it's own entity. I found trying to compare the two distracting.
Once I set that aside I found I loved both the heroine and the hero. Both had fire and spirit as well as great capacity for kindness and a deep, happily ever after kinda love!
Loved the setting too- did I already mention that? How could I not when she actually got right much of the history I'm familiar with. Fictional interlaced with Non-fictional- very cool.
By the way, Ride The Fire is also a hot little number! No purple prose here, though certainly nothing compared some of the more explicit novels out there nowadays...
May 24, 2012
Another Pamela Clare book I had a hard time putting down! Good writing, great storyline and tourtored souls...what more could a reader want? I enjoy this era of time being an Outlander fan, it's obvious that Clare has done her research. Her words draw you in and don't let go until the very end. I just wish all male characters could be like Nicholas: Strong, brave, respectful even chivalrous, wrapped up in a handsome, ripped masculine form. (It only happens in books, dang it!)
This story is about finding love when you've denied yourself that feeling all your life. Both our hero, Nicholas and heroine, Elsbeth, (Bethie), come from terribly difficult pasts, never really understanding that their lives could be different. Fortunately, the forces of nature occasionally pull unlikely souls together, and once that bond is made, the overwhelming feelings to protect that love, is a difficult one to break. I will say that I didn't feel quite as connected to the relationship between Nicholas and Bethie like I did with the H/h in book 1, "Surrender". Nonetheless, I enjoyed the tender moments along with the lovely intimacy they ultimately shared; and the discovery that neither one knew how sweet it could actually be.
This is the third book in this series, although it didn't impact the storyline since these books are clearly stand alones. I truly enjoy Pamela Clare's writing and her beautiful way of telling every one of her lovely stories.
This story is about finding love when you've denied yourself that feeling all your life. Both our hero, Nicholas and heroine, Elsbeth, (Bethie), come from terribly difficult pasts, never really understanding that their lives could be different. Fortunately, the forces of nature occasionally pull unlikely souls together, and once that bond is made, the overwhelming feelings to protect that love, is a difficult one to break. I will say that I didn't feel quite as connected to the relationship between Nicholas and Bethie like I did with the H/h in book 1, "Surrender". Nonetheless, I enjoyed the tender moments along with the lovely intimacy they ultimately shared; and the discovery that neither one knew how sweet it could actually be.
This is the third book in this series, although it didn't impact the storyline since these books are clearly stand alones. I truly enjoy Pamela Clare's writing and her beautiful way of telling every one of her lovely stories.
February 26, 2016
*sighs* I can't believe I am done with all of Pamela Clare's historicals. What a great writer! She brings every book to life and makes you feel every emotion that the H/h experience.
This one was a tough read, especially in the beginning. What Nicholas experienced was terrible to read about and almost impossible to imagine. This book was about two tortured souls who find each other. Nicholas and Bethie were mirror images of each other in what they suffered. Although, it seemed that Nicholas was the more tortured of the two Bethie still had so much to overcome. I loved that despite his past, Nicholas remained the same wonderful man he was growing up (even if he didn't see himself that way). They each healed each others hurts and loved each other with a great passion. When Nicholas rescued her from her near rape by Richard I almost cried.
There are so many amazing moments in this book. The ending where Nicholas saw his mother again for the first time in six years, I cried. What a wonderful ending to a fabulous series. Pamela Clare is definitely going on my list of favorite authors.
This one was a tough read, especially in the beginning. What Nicholas experienced was terrible to read about and almost impossible to imagine. This book was about two tortured souls who find each other. Nicholas and Bethie were mirror images of each other in what they suffered. Although, it seemed that Nicholas was the more tortured of the two Bethie still had so much to overcome. I loved that despite his past, Nicholas remained the same wonderful man he was growing up (even if he didn't see himself that way). They each healed each others hurts and loved each other with a great passion. When Nicholas rescued her from her near rape by Richard I almost cried.
There are so many amazing moments in this book. The ending where Nicholas saw his mother again for the first time in six years, I cried. What a wonderful ending to a fabulous series. Pamela Clare is definitely going on my list of favorite authors.
April 23, 2013
I think this one is the best of the series!
I just loved Nicholas! He's such a wonderful character! He's suffered so much, he's lost, he's sexy!
Wow, the scene when Bethie sees him nude the first time when he's bathing in the creek!!! OMG!!! That description!!! WOW!!!
Bethie too is a wonderful heroine! She has suffered too at the very young age!
The back-story was really interesting and I didn't know whose part to take! I loved that Nicholas too didn't know it. The compassion he had for the colonist, for the indians... it was soo very well explained! It could be felt! Not at the beginning, when he didn't feel anything at all, but after haveing met Bethie he changed gradually and become a batter person! Very good job, Ms. Clare!
There's no need to say that the scorching lever is high! Just read the quote in my status! *wink*
Excellent book! Go and read it, you'll not regret it! :D
I just loved Nicholas! He's such a wonderful character! He's suffered so much, he's lost, he's sexy!
Wow, the scene when Bethie sees him nude the first time when he's bathing in the creek!!! OMG!!! That description!!! WOW!!!
Bethie too is a wonderful heroine! She has suffered too at the very young age!
The back-story was really interesting and I didn't know whose part to take! I loved that Nicholas too didn't know it. The compassion he had for the colonist, for the indians... it was soo very well explained! It could be felt! Not at the beginning, when he didn't feel anything at all, but after haveing met Bethie he changed gradually and become a batter person! Very good job, Ms. Clare!
There's no need to say that the scorching lever is high! Just read the quote in my status! *wink*
Excellent book! Go and read it, you'll not regret it! :D
February 17, 2013
Wonderful, absolutely wonderful!! There's a reason i love Pamela Clare's books, whether it's romantic suspense or historical, the woman knows how to write romance! I think Nicholas Kenleigh may just be one of the best heroes ever written! Loved it! I'm also really glad i waited to read this until now since it was just re-released and included an epilogue, which apparently was not included in the original..it, as usual with the epilogues in all her books, was fabulous!
Now i'm going to have to go back and read the other two books in this series!!
Now i'm going to have to go back and read the other two books in this series!!
October 8, 2020
Another great historical by Pamela Clare, narrated by the amazing Kaleo Griffith. It’s strange, though... Parts of this book, I feel like I’ve read it before. I’m pretty sure I haven’t read this before, so there is some book out there with parts of a verrrrryyyyy similar storyline. Hmm... Maybe a Jennifer Blake? Not sure.
June 13, 2022
A Goodreads friend recently read Ride the Fire and *liked* my review of this book and because it’s been percolating and calling my name recently, I checked the date of my last reread and it was way back in 2019. Well no wonder it’s been percolating. That’s way to long between reads so it was definitely time for another read. I’m not going to give a long intro except to say Pamela Clare is one of the very best authors there is at writing drool worthy heroes. And she’s truly at the top of her game with Nicholas Kenleigh.
§*§*§*§*§*§*§
I find this time of year very stressful and it only increases until after Jan 1. Because of this I do a lot more rereading than usual. I reread this book for the I don’t how many times now and when I went to the review I did I was astonished that there wasn’t one. This is in the upper eschelon of my favourite books and I KNEW I’d done many a rave about it. I had to go way back to find the mentions but I did. Everything I say still stands. I work backwards for most recent on down until my original review is at the bottom. All I can say is again I love this book. This is very long, but then this is a book that has earned and deservers all my cheerleading.
I’m not going to give an outline since I’ve done that before and so have others. Instead I’ll just try and encapsulate what makes this such a powerful read for me.
One of the reasons this book is so compelling is the time period and the setting. I live in SW Ontario and when I was young one of my best vacations was a trip to all the old forts around the area. I’ve always loved history and was captivated by the history surrounding those old forts. I still remember a re-enactment they did during one visit. I think my parents got quite a chuckle out of my excitement.
So reading a book that took place during this time period; the French Indian War against the British, takes me back to my youth.
And I can’t not mention the too die for hero in this book either. Nicholas Kenleigh is one of my very favourites of all time. From the very first when he is described as having hair down to his waist I perked up. Now I know this description doesn’t do it for everyone, but it sure does for me. Nicholas is one of the best tortured heroes I’ve ever read; both literally and figuratively. Because of what he went through he is pretty dead inside when he first runs into Bethie, the heroine. The author does such a fantastic job of slowly bringing him back to life while falling in love with Bethie. It’s not too hard at all imagining someone like Daniel Day Lewis in his Hawkeye role in Last of the Mohicans as Nicholas – nope, not too hard at all.
Bethie is also a great heroine. A “friend” who I mention again below put it well in a recent review she did of this book – a book she read due in part to my constant nagging – and she liked it. I quote: What I appreciated was that while she was alone and scared, she wasn't cowering in a corner waiting for someone to attack her. Oh no! Girlfriend knows how to use a rifle, and matches wits quite well with Nicholas when he shows up wounded on her doorstep”
I like how she puts that *g*.
The love scenes are soooo good. Pamela writes such great ones in all her books. The vibes between her couples in all her books are different and she really does reflect that in the scenes of intimacy that she writes. A lot of times when reading the sex scenes in a book I skip over them because there is nothing really unique about them. But in Pamela Clare’s books, each one is different and well thought out. You can tell she doesn’t just add them a sex scene for a sex scenes sake (try saying that three times!) Rather she takes who they are and what they are to each other into consideration and Ride the Fire is no exception. As an author, I’m sure they aren’t easy to write sometimes and they don’t necessarily add anything to the story, but in Ride the Fire, this isn’t the case. Bethie has been traumatized in the past and Nicolas sees this and is very patient and very tender with her. The full consummation doesn’t take place until later in the book, but before that he slowly shows her how good it can be between a man and a woman.
If you haven’t read this book or if you have it in your TBR pile just sitting there, I urge you to find it, to move it up. It really is a wonderful reading experience. It has been for me each time I’ve read it and this last time was no exception.
Grade: Always has been and always will be – 5 out of 5 and a true keeper
(This is a letter I wrote to a fellow romance reading Very Good Friend after I bugged her and bugged her to read this book. And she did much to my delight. She is a much more critical reader than me.)
Dear “Friend”:
I'm thinking you have the type of books I love pegged pretty good now *g*. I think you've picked up that all my favourites have wounded in some way kind of way, hero. And *g* to set the record straight, it's not disgust, it's amused disbelief that you have all these great books sitting around so long without being read. But since I'm getting in the same predicament these days myself with a TBR pile that is, for the first time ever, starting to frighten me, I'm sure there is someone out there thinking Kristie, Kristie, Kristie!
And of all the ones I've strong-armed you into reading, I think Ride the Fire is the one you have given the highest grade to. For that I am very pleased. Ms. Clare does indeed have a wonderful way of weaving history into her books and making it interesting.
And I am also wondering if you have seen the movie Last of the Mohicans with Daniel Day Lewis. To me, although different, they have a remarkable similar kind of 'feel' to them - considering one is a movie and the other a book.
And you are so right - "This is not a sunshine happy puppy dog rainbow kind of book" :-) And that's one of the reasons it's so highly placed on my favourite list. If given my druthers, I 'druther have a dark story then a light and fluffy one. That first chapter is HARD to read!!
And again you are right - what makes a book a 'keeper' is an illusive and mysterious thing and one I can't explain either - except I know when I've read one.
In conclusion, knowing you are either a) a harsher judge, or b) I'm an easier sell - not sure which - a B+ is heck of a darn good grade and I'm glad you recommend this one!
We shall see in July which one I can nag you about next. I have a couple in mind (heh heh heh) because what would it be if I didn't “Friend”, “Friend“ Friend”, you with a least one book.
And I am also thinking that you could possibly have an opportunity to do it back to me this time.
(And now for my original review)
I read this book on the weekend and boy did this book grab me. I skimmed, very quickly, through the prologue as it contains a very vivid description of a torture scene. I think sometimes I have too good an imagination for my own good. For example, when Braveheart came out, I refused to see it until I knew how it ended. I'd been burned before and I needed to prepare. I read the end in a bookstore and could picture it very clearly. That kept me from seeing the movie for quite some time. I waited until it came out on video (before DVD's became so popular) so I could leave the room at the end. But I digress.
Once I got past the prologue, I fell completely and totally in love with this book. For one thing the setting is one I love but is very hard to find - colonial America. The book opens six years later with the hero Nicholas Kenleigh having cut all ties to his family and simply existing as a trapper. After a brief stop at a fort to bathe and get rid of stress in a time honoured way, he is attacked by French trappers. He arrives near death at the homestead of heroine Elspeth (Bethie) Stewart, a young pregnant widow who is near her time. After forcing her at gunpoint to help him she reverses the roles.
Nicholas is a hero in every sense of the word. Although he has trained himself not to feel anything, Bethie slowly begins to melt the ice he has lived with. Bethie had had a very rough time of it herself and it's wonderful to see these two wounded souls heal each other. Nicholas is so patient and understanding with her. Bethie, although very cautious and untrusting is a heroine I enjoyed very much.
Another thing I appreciated about the story is it's not black and white. True the Indians are attacking the settlers, but Ms. Clare shows they aren't all bad and they have their own reasons for doing what they are doing.
The description of the times are superb. I could picture everything so clearly.
I love the movie Last of the Mohicans and this book had a very similar feel to it as the movie. I had no sooner finished reading this book, then I sighed, took a deep breath and began an immediate reread. I think I'm going to be spoiled for the next little while and find it difficult to get into another book. I noticed it just received 5 stars at The Romance Reader. It earned every one of them
§*§*§*§*§*§*§
I find this time of year very stressful and it only increases until after Jan 1. Because of this I do a lot more rereading than usual. I reread this book for the I don’t how many times now and when I went to the review I did I was astonished that there wasn’t one. This is in the upper eschelon of my favourite books and I KNEW I’d done many a rave about it. I had to go way back to find the mentions but I did. Everything I say still stands. I work backwards for most recent on down until my original review is at the bottom. All I can say is again I love this book. This is very long, but then this is a book that has earned and deservers all my cheerleading.
I’m not going to give an outline since I’ve done that before and so have others. Instead I’ll just try and encapsulate what makes this such a powerful read for me.
One of the reasons this book is so compelling is the time period and the setting. I live in SW Ontario and when I was young one of my best vacations was a trip to all the old forts around the area. I’ve always loved history and was captivated by the history surrounding those old forts. I still remember a re-enactment they did during one visit. I think my parents got quite a chuckle out of my excitement.
So reading a book that took place during this time period; the French Indian War against the British, takes me back to my youth.
And I can’t not mention the too die for hero in this book either. Nicholas Kenleigh is one of my very favourites of all time. From the very first when he is described as having hair down to his waist I perked up. Now I know this description doesn’t do it for everyone, but it sure does for me. Nicholas is one of the best tortured heroes I’ve ever read; both literally and figuratively. Because of what he went through he is pretty dead inside when he first runs into Bethie, the heroine. The author does such a fantastic job of slowly bringing him back to life while falling in love with Bethie. It’s not too hard at all imagining someone like Daniel Day Lewis in his Hawkeye role in Last of the Mohicans as Nicholas – nope, not too hard at all.
Bethie is also a great heroine. A “friend” who I mention again below put it well in a recent review she did of this book – a book she read due in part to my constant nagging – and she liked it. I quote: What I appreciated was that while she was alone and scared, she wasn't cowering in a corner waiting for someone to attack her. Oh no! Girlfriend knows how to use a rifle, and matches wits quite well with Nicholas when he shows up wounded on her doorstep”
I like how she puts that *g*.
The love scenes are soooo good. Pamela writes such great ones in all her books. The vibes between her couples in all her books are different and she really does reflect that in the scenes of intimacy that she writes. A lot of times when reading the sex scenes in a book I skip over them because there is nothing really unique about them. But in Pamela Clare’s books, each one is different and well thought out. You can tell she doesn’t just add them a sex scene for a sex scenes sake (try saying that three times!) Rather she takes who they are and what they are to each other into consideration and Ride the Fire is no exception. As an author, I’m sure they aren’t easy to write sometimes and they don’t necessarily add anything to the story, but in Ride the Fire, this isn’t the case. Bethie has been traumatized in the past and Nicolas sees this and is very patient and very tender with her. The full consummation doesn’t take place until later in the book, but before that he slowly shows her how good it can be between a man and a woman.
If you haven’t read this book or if you have it in your TBR pile just sitting there, I urge you to find it, to move it up. It really is a wonderful reading experience. It has been for me each time I’ve read it and this last time was no exception.
Grade: Always has been and always will be – 5 out of 5 and a true keeper
(This is a letter I wrote to a fellow romance reading Very Good Friend after I bugged her and bugged her to read this book. And she did much to my delight. She is a much more critical reader than me.)
Dear “Friend”:
I'm thinking you have the type of books I love pegged pretty good now *g*. I think you've picked up that all my favourites have wounded in some way kind of way, hero. And *g* to set the record straight, it's not disgust, it's amused disbelief that you have all these great books sitting around so long without being read. But since I'm getting in the same predicament these days myself with a TBR pile that is, for the first time ever, starting to frighten me, I'm sure there is someone out there thinking Kristie, Kristie, Kristie!
And of all the ones I've strong-armed you into reading, I think Ride the Fire is the one you have given the highest grade to. For that I am very pleased. Ms. Clare does indeed have a wonderful way of weaving history into her books and making it interesting.
And I am also wondering if you have seen the movie Last of the Mohicans with Daniel Day Lewis. To me, although different, they have a remarkable similar kind of 'feel' to them - considering one is a movie and the other a book.
And you are so right - "This is not a sunshine happy puppy dog rainbow kind of book" :-) And that's one of the reasons it's so highly placed on my favourite list. If given my druthers, I 'druther have a dark story then a light and fluffy one. That first chapter is HARD to read!!
And again you are right - what makes a book a 'keeper' is an illusive and mysterious thing and one I can't explain either - except I know when I've read one.
In conclusion, knowing you are either a) a harsher judge, or b) I'm an easier sell - not sure which - a B+ is heck of a darn good grade and I'm glad you recommend this one!
We shall see in July which one I can nag you about next. I have a couple in mind (heh heh heh) because what would it be if I didn't “Friend”, “Friend“ Friend”, you with a least one book.
And I am also thinking that you could possibly have an opportunity to do it back to me this time.
(And now for my original review)
I read this book on the weekend and boy did this book grab me. I skimmed, very quickly, through the prologue as it contains a very vivid description of a torture scene. I think sometimes I have too good an imagination for my own good. For example, when Braveheart came out, I refused to see it until I knew how it ended. I'd been burned before and I needed to prepare. I read the end in a bookstore and could picture it very clearly. That kept me from seeing the movie for quite some time. I waited until it came out on video (before DVD's became so popular) so I could leave the room at the end. But I digress.
Once I got past the prologue, I fell completely and totally in love with this book. For one thing the setting is one I love but is very hard to find - colonial America. The book opens six years later with the hero Nicholas Kenleigh having cut all ties to his family and simply existing as a trapper. After a brief stop at a fort to bathe and get rid of stress in a time honoured way, he is attacked by French trappers. He arrives near death at the homestead of heroine Elspeth (Bethie) Stewart, a young pregnant widow who is near her time. After forcing her at gunpoint to help him she reverses the roles.
Nicholas is a hero in every sense of the word. Although he has trained himself not to feel anything, Bethie slowly begins to melt the ice he has lived with. Bethie had had a very rough time of it herself and it's wonderful to see these two wounded souls heal each other. Nicholas is so patient and understanding with her. Bethie, although very cautious and untrusting is a heroine I enjoyed very much.
Another thing I appreciated about the story is it's not black and white. True the Indians are attacking the settlers, but Ms. Clare shows they aren't all bad and they have their own reasons for doing what they are doing.
The description of the times are superb. I could picture everything so clearly.
I love the movie Last of the Mohicans and this book had a very similar feel to it as the movie. I had no sooner finished reading this book, then I sighed, took a deep breath and began an immediate reread. I think I'm going to be spoiled for the next little while and find it difficult to get into another book. I noticed it just received 5 stars at The Romance Reader. It earned every one of them
April 28, 2012
“Men who hurt Women are my favorite men to kill. Touch her and I'll send you straight to hell - with a smile on my face!” ~Nicholas
This is the first real historical romance novel that I've read (not counting the big epic ones). It came highly recommended to me as a touching romance and it was.
Bethie is a woman 8 months old pregnant with the child of her newly-deceased older husband that her family married her off to. Nicholas is from a wealthy family but currently living as a soldier/trapper/tracker and comes across her house badly wounded and demands she tend his wounds at gunpoint. Naturally she does the logical thing lol, she drugs him and ties him to her bed and their relationship goes from there :P
One of the book's major themes is overcoming sexual abuse. Bethie (and to a certain extent Nicholas) were abused in their pasts and the fears, concerns and trust issues are something that Nicholas helps Bethie overcome over the course of the book. Actually at the front of the book is a dedication from the author saying:
"This book is dedicated to all victims of sexual assault. May you find the courage, love, and healing you need to live a full life." - PC
The way Nicholas cares for her is deeply touching - I loved all the parts of the book that dealt with the development of their relationship. And I also loved how easily and whole-heartedly he accepted Bethie's daughter into his life despite her not being his biological child. He was a wonderful hero - strong, protective, possessive, gentle, caring... The book has sweet moments, hot moments, external drama (battle/war) moments, no romantic heartbreak moments... all in all a good read. Its also not very long - only took me about 4 hours.
Buuuut, I'll say that despite really enjoying the story, this genre is not for me. I'm not fond of the 'old style' language (all the 'twas', bonny faces, heavy stones, and all). I understand that it makes sense for the timeline of the story, but it takes away from my reading enjoyment.
I also found all the historical background/plot stuff boring, I'll freely admit that I skimmed some of the battles a bit, I didn't care about their war with the Indians, or the defence of their fort etc enough to want to follow that storyline, I really just cared about Nicholas and Bethie's relationship.
I'm glad I read this book, and I'd highly recommend it to any historical romance fan or anyone who wanted to try a HR out, but I don't think I'll be reading anymore within the genre myself.
For more of my reviews, come to http://aestasbookblog.com
Or join my group http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aestas-...
This is the first real historical romance novel that I've read (not counting the big epic ones). It came highly recommended to me as a touching romance and it was.
Bethie is a woman 8 months old pregnant with the child of her newly-deceased older husband that her family married her off to. Nicholas is from a wealthy family but currently living as a soldier/trapper/tracker and comes across her house badly wounded and demands she tend his wounds at gunpoint. Naturally she does the logical thing lol, she drugs him and ties him to her bed and their relationship goes from there :P
One of the book's major themes is overcoming sexual abuse. Bethie (and to a certain extent Nicholas) were abused in their pasts and the fears, concerns and trust issues are something that Nicholas helps Bethie overcome over the course of the book. Actually at the front of the book is a dedication from the author saying:
"This book is dedicated to all victims of sexual assault. May you find the courage, love, and healing you need to live a full life." - PC
The way Nicholas cares for her is deeply touching - I loved all the parts of the book that dealt with the development of their relationship. And I also loved how easily and whole-heartedly he accepted Bethie's daughter into his life despite her not being his biological child. He was a wonderful hero - strong, protective, possessive, gentle, caring... The book has sweet moments, hot moments, external drama (battle/war) moments, no romantic heartbreak moments... all in all a good read. Its also not very long - only took me about 4 hours.
Buuuut, I'll say that despite really enjoying the story, this genre is not for me. I'm not fond of the 'old style' language (all the 'twas', bonny faces, heavy stones, and all). I understand that it makes sense for the timeline of the story, but it takes away from my reading enjoyment.
I also found all the historical background/plot stuff boring, I'll freely admit that I skimmed some of the battles a bit, I didn't care about their war with the Indians, or the defence of their fort etc enough to want to follow that storyline, I really just cared about Nicholas and Bethie's relationship.
I'm glad I read this book, and I'd highly recommend it to any historical romance fan or anyone who wanted to try a HR out, but I don't think I'll be reading anymore within the genre myself.
For more of my reviews, come to http://aestasbookblog.com
Or join my group http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aestas-...
September 7, 2019
When a wounded stranger appears at her door, widow Elspeth "Bethie' Stewart is very wary of him. After being abused by the men in her family, Bethie vows that she will take care of herself and her unborn baby. Nicholas Kenleigh is in no shape to hurt anyone. But as Bethie cares for his injuries, he pays her back by helping her around her isolated cabin. When a group of Indians show up, Nicholas knows there will be trouble. He has knowledge of the Wyandot tribe who tortured him and killed his friends. Now he must take Bethie and her newborn baby across the wilderness to Fort Pitt where they will be safe.
This is the third book in the Blakewell/Kenleigh Family series. It is a story of survival in the wilderness during the French/Indian War. Bethie and Nicholas must travel for weeks to get to the fort, meeting other settlers along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and loved the narration by Kaleo Griffith. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
This is the third book in the Blakewell/Kenleigh Family series. It is a story of survival in the wilderness during the French/Indian War. Bethie and Nicholas must travel for weeks to get to the fort, meeting other settlers along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and loved the narration by Kaleo Griffith. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
June 18, 2022
Would have liked it more if it was a tad bit short. 3.5 Stars 🌟
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