Series: Darkest London #1
Genre: Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance
Published by: Forever on January 31, 2012
Format: eARC
Pages: 372
Source: NetGalley
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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.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Dark, dangerous, romantic and captivating! My favorite new read for 2012!
Miranda Ellis hides a secret ability that she has no control over and that has cost her family everything. She knows she will never have a “normal” life, so when the mysterious and dark Lord Benjamin Archer asks for her hand in marriage, Miranda is forced into marriage with the brooding Lord to save the only family she has, her father.
Miranda smiled against her knees. Stubborn, charming man. Beguiled by a possible killer. She belonged in Bedlam.
While her mind tells her to fear her new husband, her heart is saying something different. Miranda finds herself charmed by the man who is considered a beast by everyone else, with him she feels at home and hopes to tame Archer and his sometimes brutish ways. Lord Archer has a secret of his own, one he hides behind the mask he wears, one that constantly haunts him. Cursed by his past, he now lives in the shadows, looking for a cure and is determined to find one at any cost. Feared by most women in London society, Archer is anything but the ladies’ man, but just one look from Miranda ignites a passion unlike any he’s ever known. As fate would have it, Archer soon falls for the beautiful woman under his roof which can prove a deadly mistake, but to keep her he is willing to risk his very soul.
“You’ve no notion of the effect you have on me.” The words gave a hard tug to her belly. She closed her eyes and swallowed. “If by effect, you mean finding yourself in uncharted waters, wondering whether you are coming or going…” She stared at his shirt, watching his breath hitch. “Then I fear you have the same effect on me, my lord.”
This story will bewitch you and draw you in until the very last word! In FIRELIGHT we meet two complex characters, Miranda and Archer, two tortured souls who find acceptance and love in each other. Their romance has a real “Phantom of the Opera” feel to it that is dark, gothic and incredibly romantic. Miranda is a brave woman and not your average naive Victorian heroine. She hasn’t had the greatest upbringing, but still has plenty of heart and compassion for others, her character really tugged at my heart strings.
“Because today I truly realized that I could lose you in an instant.” He took a step toward her. “That life was not a long road that stretched before me, but here and now. And the thought of spending one more day, one more breath without knowing the feel of you in my arms has become too much to bear.”
As much as I love our heroine Miranda, the true star of this book is Lord Benjamin Archer. From the moment he speaks I was glued to the pages and the mystery surrounding him is enough to keep you guessing and reading. The romance between Archer and Miranda is pure and beautiful, I adore these two together and love that their relationship developed throughout the book, I couldn’t get enough of their flirting and sexual tension building slowly into an explosive passion! Ms. Callihan’s intricate and alluring writing takes you into the dark side of Victorian London, where secret societies and science meet in a sexy, yet thrilling romance! Her depiction of Lord Benjamin Archer was so moving I never once saw him as a monster but as a beautiful, tortured creature yearning for love, he’s beyond swoon-worthy.
“Know this, there is only one truth left to me.” His trembling fingertips caressed her jaw. “That I love you.” He said it again, his voice broken, his arms pulling her tightly against him. “I love you. The rest is darkness.”
FIRELIGHT is everything I want in a love story. With outstanding world building, character development and a suspenseful plot, it truly is a magnificent debut. Great books stay with you far beyond the last page, and that’s exactly what FIRELIGHT accomplished. Prepare to be blown away by Miranda and Archer!
Firelight is my favourite book of 2012 too! I have Archer as my book boyfriend this week:))
My favorite too! Its an awesome awesome book. It actually caused me to not read for a few days after. I just couldn’t get into other books.
So many of the girls in a book club I’m part of just loved this one. I can easily see why you loved it as well since it seems to bring together so many great elements and yet it works.
Thanks for the great review!