Firelight

Kristen Callihan takes Victorian London and mixes with a touch of the paranormal in her novel Firelight. Miranda the 3rd daughter of an unscrupulous father finds herself being married off to "The Dread Lord Archer" who hides secrets behind a mask on his face, but Miranda has secrets of her own. Can two such well guarded hearts find a way to reach each other? Lord Archer met Miranda once in an alley, three years before, when she was being accosted by two local thugs. Archer is smitten right away however he is obsessed with finding a cure for his affliction and is gone far longer than he planned. A warehouse fire, accidentally started by Miranda, starts the financial ruin of family. After her father loses the rest in a shipping disaster, he starts selling off the family heirlooms as well as Dais, Miranda's older sister. When Lord Archer requests her hand in marriage, it is a way out for Miranda. No more being hungry, and no more being forced to steal by her father, in order to get by. Can Archer find out who is killing his old friends before Criminal Investigation Department arrests him as the main suspect? Can Miranda figure out what the West Moon Club is and how it ties in to the murders? Will they ever let down the walls around their hearts and let the other in? I enjoyed this book quite a bit, it was a good mix of romance, mystery and the paranormal. It keeps you guessing and don't drag like some mystery novels can. It has unconditional love, in a beauty and the beast sort of way. There is enough spicy scenes and foul language that it is for the 16 and over crowd but it is not erotic by any means. I think that Ms. Callihan does a great job mixing two very diverse genres. It would be easy for the paranormal to seem very out of place in 1878 London however it is pulled off with ease in this novel. If you like your heroines strong and feisty, your heroes handsome and mysterious and your villains to be a tad gruesome, all the while keeping you changing your mind about who the villain must be, then you will enjoy this book. I give it 4 out of 5 cocktails Review copy was received via NetGalley, from publisher, for an honest review.

I normally don't write reviews, but have to say I really enjoyed this novel. I enjoyed the feel and atmosphere that was presented by the author. The chemistry between Miranda and Benjamin was fantastic. The relationship had a lovely build up throughout the novel! My only complaint was that it ended to soon. Finished the book in one night! I'm looking forward to her next book in August! Great read!!