TurnBack Tuesday, Lord of Fire, A Review

Today's Turnback Tuesday is the beginning of a seven week series based on the works of Gaelen Foley. Most especially her Knight Miscellany Series. Lord of Fire, the second book in this series was my first venture into the world of Gaelen Foley and oh these many years later I am a truly devoted fan.

The Knight Family is actually a 10 book series based on one amazing family. Six siblings, one ward and three cousins..  The Knight Miscellany and The Spice Trilogy. For now we are going to focus on The Miscellany..

THE KNIGHT FAMILY SERIES: Ten Books Total The Knight Miscellany + The Spice Trilogy (7 brothers & sisters in London) plus (their 3 cousins arriving from British-ruled India!)

Welcome to the glittering world of Regency England and the passionate lives and tempestuous loves of the Knight family, a powerful aristocratic clan of five magnificent brothers, their feisty sister, and her bookish best friend, their "honorary" second sister. If you like fast-paced tales that sweep you away in the company of complex characters, then come along for the ride as, one by one, the strong and chivalrous Knight brothers learn to love. 

 The premise of the Knight Miscellany is that their mother was a scandalous Duchess of the Georgian age, who had many lovers apart from her haughty husband, the Duke, from different walks of life: a Shakespearean actor; a celebrity prize fighter; and her true love, a mysterious marquess. The heroes and heroines of this series are the now-grown children who resulted from the "Hawkscliffe Harlot's" various liaisons. They contrast and complement each other in different ways, but they are undeniably a family, bound by loyalty and love.

A Brief Synopsis

Knight Miscellany, Book 2: LORD OF FIRE:
Gaelen Foley has become one of the hottest new writers in romance, enticing her readers with bold love stories that burn with emotional intensity. Now in new novel, she presents her most unforgettable hero yet, the irresistible Lord of Fire.;

After years of preparation, he has baited his trap well, luring the depraved members of Society into his devil?s playground so he can earn their trust and uncover their secrets. Yet no one in London suspects that Lord Lucien Knight is England?s most cunning spy, an officer who has sacrificed his soul for his country. Now an unexpected intruder has invaded his fortress of sin, jeopardizing his carefully laid plans?and igniting his deepest desires.

 Beautiful, innocent, Alice Montague finds herself at the mercy of scandalous Lord Lucien. But as he begins his slow seduction to corrupt her virtue, Alice glimpses a man tormented by his own choices, a man who promises her nothing except his undeniable passion. . . .

And now THE REVIEW

As I said earlier this was my first Gaelen Foley book and what a way to start!! The War with France is over and Napoleon has been contained but there is still clean up to be done. And of course those pesky Americans are causing problems with Britain burning Washington. A spy's work is never done.  And Lucien Knight is the perfect spy.. Casting a net to all the wicked and wild he seduces the information out of others. Set in his household as a sexual wonderland the deviant come to play. After all who better to gather information from than the dissipated lords who have information at hand. It seems these gathering attract not only those lost lords but also enemy spies gather to garner any info available as well. A very successful way of working for generations.. that is until Lucien finds out his greatest enemy still lives and he finds the one person who sees him, the real him. 

Lucien Knight has spent his life as the "other" twin. His brother Damien was born to be a hero but Lucien was of a quieter more cerebral nature. His intelligence is beyond compare and when war came and he was forced to choose battle or espionage he went where he was truly needed. But his choices had ramifications, he felt that he had lost what little respect he had in his own family and the disconnection from his twin, the other half of himself, leaves him lost. But being the man he is, he persevered.. never letting anything keep him from his goals. And now it comes down to his family, his country, the man who almost destroyed him and suddenly love. 

Alice Montague, has spent the last few years being the main support for her beloved brother's son.. The widow (and mother) having no desire to be stuck caring for a child. As much as she cares for Harry, she also dreams of a family of her own. For now though, Harry comes first. When Harry comes down with Chickenpox, Alice is determined that Harry's mother will attend him, so she goes in search of her. Good old mom, the skank, is lost in the seduction of the grotto, enjoying what sexual delights she can and having no desire to return. When Lucien says only one can leave, Alice, being a truly bright star in the wold stays.. Leading to an adventure beyond compare.

As these two wonderful characters fall in love they are faced with the reality of life. Sure isolated as they are at Lucien's estate the world falls away and it's easy to fall in love but.. When Lucien discovers that the only man who ever held him captive, who tortured him and yes broke him, survived the war and is now in England, he is desperate to track him down and kill him. Alice not understanding the nature of Lucien's life demands he make a choice.. Revenge or her.. Lucien wants both, no room to compromise. 

Alice is a very black and white character and she has to learn that there is more to the world than what she knows. That there are times when sacrifice must be made. She has to learn how to support the ones you love and to accept them as they are. Lucien on the other hand, has to learn that life is not to be lived in the Shadows. That compromise does not mean hiding in the grey areas.. And fortunately for him he has Alice to guide him into the light.

As I read this series, I totally loved the fact that Lucien, the under appreciated twin, got his book first. It seems that he had always been an after thought to the rest of the world, it was nice of Ms Foley to put him before Damien. Although he is the 4th son of the Hawksville Harlot the family does not play a huge part in this book. Yes, they appear but they are not the center point. That particular story arc had only begun to rise.. but you will see more of the family interactions as the series goes on. 

I really love Gaelen Foley's work. She was one of the first authors to step into the grittier side of the ton. Her books have weight and depth.. yep, that means the print is smaller *grins* you know what I mean. I seriously suggest you read this series.. it is just a wonderful sweeping epic of what a family could be.

Shauni