Kristen Callihan

London, 1881 Once the flames are ignited . . . Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman. They will burn for eternity . . . Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

Firelight

For fans of Diana Gabaldon, Amanda Quick and Nalini Singh comes the Darkest London series. In Victorian London, magic lurks in every shadowy corner . . . 'Callihan has a great talent for sexual tension and jaw-dropping plots' - Diana Gabaldon 'A sizzling paranormal with dark history and explosive magic! Callihan is an impressive new talent' - Larissa Ione London, 1881 Once the flames are ignited . . . Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman. They will burn for eternity . . . Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask. 'Evocative and deeply romantic, Firelight was fascinating from the very first page' - Nalini Singh 'Callihan has a great talent for sexual tension and jaw-dropping plots' - Diana Gabaldon 'A sizzling paranormal with dark history and explosive magic! Callihan is an impressive new talent' - Larissa Ione 'Debut author Callihan pens a compelling Victorian paranormal with heart and soul' - Publishers Weekly 'A taut tale filled with sexual tension. This is one of the finest debuts of the season' - RT Book Reviews Kristen Callihan is RITA nominated and the bestselling author of The Hook Up

JoLee

Kristen Callihan has a beautiful writing voice that I felt I was right there throughout the book. Firelight is a nice mix of Paranormal and Historical Romance with a gothic feeling.

Archer is beautiful, fun, sweet and sexy. He had me from his first meeting with Miranda. Then I just wanted him more through out the book. Miri was a spitfire that is not your damsel in distress. She can hold her own with Archer. Archer and Miranda were meant to be together. The love they have for each other is beautiful. They keep secrets from each other, but it is because they are trying to protect each other. They both are trying to find who is killing Archer's friends, while doing this they are also beside each other when the other is in danger and saving each other. The sexual tension between them is hot and sexy. The build of their relationship is beautiful and sweet. It takes a while before they kiss or make love and when they do sparks are flying.

Make sure you have a day of nothing to do when reading Firelight. It is a page turner and everything you have plan for that day will be forgotten. Have a space on your bookshelf because Firelight is a keeper. 

Favorites quotes:

"And I'm afraid of wasting my life always being in control," he whispered. "But no matter what direction I take, all roads lead to you." Gently, he rested his forehead to hers once more. "Let me come home, Miri. If only for one night."

Archer's finger grazed hers. "I feel you. As if you were connected to me by an invisible string." He touched his chest. "I feel you here. In my heart."

With the suddenness of a cat leaping upon its prey, he leaned forward and caught up her wrist. "Tread lightly, Miranda Fair." His thumb moved lightly over her fluttering pulse, as she stared with her mouth assuredly hanging open in shock, her heart beating furiously within her breast. "You know, it's never wise to tempt the devil." His gaze lowered to her hand, still locked in his grip, her fingers glistening with pear juice. "Had I not this mask, I should be of a mind to suck that juice right off of your fingers.”

Originally posted at Wickedly Delicious Book Blog

Lauren Sullivan

Oof, what a mess. It's kinda a mishmash of Beauty and the Beast and Hades and Persephone, and while I would normally eat that up, the gothic tone was just way too over the top for me. 

Archer has a DEEP! DARK! SECRET! (which is also kept from the reader for like 80% of the book) and has apparently been obsessed with the heroine, Miranda, since a chance meeting years ago. So marrying her seems the perfect revenge on her thieving father... somehow? Except he didn't expect someone to start murdering members of the club that turned him into a "monster," and now their marriage has made the murderer set his sights on Miranda.

OK, describing all that, it sounds pretty awesome, but reading it was just, well, boring. The pacing seemed off to me, and I never really felt the chemistry between the characters. I'm not a big fan of the whole gothic atmosphere, so everything seemed a bit overwrought and angsty. While I normally enjoy books where the author strings the reader along by dropping tidbits of info, it just didn't work for me. Everything seemed a bit too confusing and I constantly felt like I was missing whatever would gel the plot together. By about 75% in, I just gave up and skimmed the rest.

I think this might work for someone who enjoys gothic romance, but it didn't work for me.

Alexandra Mellas

Originally Posted at: http://raidingbookshelves.blogspot.co...

Publication Date: 31st January, 2012
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing 
ISBN: 1455508594
Original Language: English
Age Group: Young Adult/Adult
Genre: Romance/Fantasy/Paranormal/Fairytale
Source: NetGalley
Buy the Book: Amazon
Lootability: Grab it and go!

Firelight is the debut novel from supernatural romance author Kristen Callihan and, oh boy, this book certainly gets as hot as the cover suggests. Most definitely based on Beauty and the Beast or, for those of you with a more extensive fairytale knowledge, the Norwegian fairytale East of the Sun and West of the Moon. If you aren't familiar with the tale, Jessica Day George's Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow is a good introductory novel.
Miranda is the beautiful daughter of a failed, and destitute merchant, with a deadly secret. Lord Archer faces the scorn of his aristocratic peers because of the mask he hides his face behind, and his violent temper. When Archer approaches Miranda's father for her hand in marriage, Miranda knows she has no other choice than to accept her mysterious suitor.

What I liked: I adored both Miranda and Archer; they're both dynamic characters who blossom into a lovely couple. They both have some frightening trust issues (not surprisingly considering their situations) and none of their friends are especially reliable.
The banter between the two was funny and kept me interested in their dialogue. The development of their feelings was natural, unlike a lot of paranormal romances I've read recently.

What I didn't like: I found most of the secondary characters were a little lacking. Miranda's sisters Poppy and Daisy were darlings but they weren't very interesting, nor were any of the fella's from the West Moon Club. They were sculpted into interesting shapes but out of a boring material. The sequel will have Daisy and Ian McKinnon in the lead roles so I'll be interested to see how they develop then.
Mostly, I would have liked things to be a little less complicated. I was a little overwhelmed by Archer's 'infliction', and the eventual explanation for it.

Firelight was a fun way to recreate an old story in 17th London, and I'm looking forward to the sequel Moonglow due out in August.

Annie Fizzell

Alright. Let’s start off by saying that if there’s a specific audience this book was intended for.. it was DEFINITELY me. I loved every minute. This is the first book I’ve read by Callihan, and her writing just absolutely seeped into my skin and made me feel warm and soft inside. 

Historical setting, murder, intrigue, marriage of convenience (kind of? haha), supernatural/fantastical elements, slowburn romance (at least, kinda slowburn hahaha). What more could you ask for??

Female protagonist Miranda was a breath of fresh air for me. Comfortable in her femininity and STILL a badass lady. She is a true heroine of the highest order and I adore her with my whole heart. Seeing her able to be emotionally vulnerable and still hold true to herself and her strength felt really empowering, actually. She’s funny, intelligent, kind, and commanding, and I wish I could be her very best friend. :’)

Benjamin Archer—OH, what to say? One of the most compelling male leads I’ve read in a while. Definitely hits the sweet spots that make for a heart-throbbing love interest, but also breaks the mould in the best and loveliest ways. I loved learning about his backstory throughout the book. Like Miranda, every new detail made me fall more in love with him.

The character development of both Miranda and Archer throughout the book was masterfully done. I feel like I’ve truly been on a journey with these characters—I didn’t want to let them go at the end!

That’s not even to mention the development of their relationship! Hello! Can you say heartbreaking (in a great way), swoon-worthy, and overall delightful?? DEFINITELY an adult book, hahaha. But the intimate scenes were tastefully done (in my humble opinion, as someone who finds most “spicy” scenes super cringe-worthy), and the emotional intimacy that the characters share is OFF THE CHARTS. Absolutely gorgeous. 

I crave emotional vulnerability and angst in my reads, and HOO BOY, does this novel have it. I felt like it scratched an itch I’ve been waiting for in a book for a LONG TIME. 

5 frickin’ stars, and I wish I could give it more. And I’m not even normally a historical romance girl! ;)

Ann-Loy

I was pleasantly surprised by this book in terms of character archetypes. Not the typical vampire and werewolf stuff. Some of it was still predictable though lol

Nicky Morgan

Elaine Fleming

Lover of Romance 

Lisa H

Sara Piteira 

Ashley Janssen

Sarah S

Olivia

Elizabeth Neill

Anya ✨

Kayla

Alexandria Wilkie

Deborah Meades

Kate

Rachel Rozdzial

Noor

Amy Medeiros

Chris

London, 1881. Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman. Original.