The Firebrand by Susan Wiggs

Title: The Firebrand (Chicago Fire #3)

Author: Susan Wiggs

Publisher: Mira 2010

Genre: Historical romance

Pages: 384

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: T4MC - Something 'Hot" in the title; Romance; Mount TBR; Seriously Series; Bingo - 3 from series

How I Got It: I own it!

And Lucy Hathaway is running for her life. As she rushes past a fine hotel engulfed in flames, a wrapped bundle tumbles from a window into her arms. Seconds later the building crumbles—and Lucy is astonished to discover the swaddled blanket contains a baby.

Five years later Lucy walks into Rand Higgins's bank and knows: the orphan she rescued that day actually belongs to this ruthless financier. Now, to keep the child she's come to love, she'll have to give up her hard-won freedom and become his wife. But giving Rand her heart? That, she could never have expected…

An enjoyable read, but definitely nothing to get too excited about.  I liked Lucy much more than Kathleen or Deborah of the first two books.  Maybe it was Lucy's determination or her politics or her general demeanor.  But I definitely felt drawn to her.  After the fire, I was also attracted to Rand.  He hurt and needed someone to understand.  I had hoped that Lucy would eventually see that and soften towards him.  While it wasn't the best romance series I've ever read, I did enjoy my time.

Chicago Fire:

1. The Hostage
2. The Mistress
3. The Firebrand

The Mistress by Susan Wiggs

Title: The Mistress (Chicago Fire #2)

Author: Susan Wiggs

Publisher: Mira 2010

Genre: Historical romance

Pages: 395

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Genre - Romance; Mount TBR; Seriously Series; 52 Books - W23

How I Got It: I own it!

Most days Kathleen O'Leary is a penniless maid. But tonight she takes a risk and masquerades as a glamorous heiress, thanks to a borrowed gown and her friends' sense of adventure. To her surprise, the ruse succeeds—even Dylan Kennedy, Chicago's most eligible bachelor, seems enraptured.

But like Kathleen, Dylan isn't who he says he is. And before their true identities can be revealed to one another, fire erupts, sending rich and poor alike running for their lives. Now, though virtually strangers, Kathleen and Dylan must rely on each other for survival. And when the embers cool, they'll find that the greatest risk has been to their hearts….

I thought I would enjoy this book.  But it seems that I just couldn't get behind the characters at all.  Dylan was just so abrasive up until the very last page.  And Kathleen was just way too naive especially for someone who was around the upper crust all the time.  I didn't like how quickly she stooped to his level of honesty or her complete disregard for honor (even though she yelled about it the entire book).  I'm sad to say it just wasn't my cup of tea.  I'm going to finish the series hoping that the last book about Lucy has some better characters.

Chicago Fire:

1. The Hostage
2. The Mistress
3. The Firebrand

The Hostage by Susan Wiggs

Title: The Hostage (Chicago Fire #1)

Author: Susan Wiggs

Publisher: Mira 2010

Genre: Historical romance

Pages: 443

Rating:  4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:T4MC - Read a book that shows a woman from behind; Women Authors; Mount TBR; Seriously Series; 52 Books in 52 Weeks - W21

How I Got It: I own it!

Deborah Sinclair is a beautiful, accomplished young heiress with a staggering dowry. But her fortune does her no good when, one horrible night, Chicago is engulfed in flames.

Tom Silver will walk through fire to avenge a terrible injustice—and he may have to. But when he makes Deborah a pawn in his revenge, the heat of the inferno fades next to the attraction he feels for his captive. And the further he takes her from everything she's known, the stronger their passion grows, until it threatens to consume them both.

Another one of my fluffy romances to entertain me.  I liked this one, but definitely not as much as some of the others I've read.  I liked the storyline.  Although predictable, it kept my attention throughout.  I especially loved the section on Isle Royale.  It was definitely the most realistic section of the book.  Tom Silver was a great character.  Deborah got annoying, but she became more realistic later in the book.  I'm planning on finishing this series sometime in the near future.

Chicago Fire:

1. The Hostage
2. The Mistress
3. The Firebrand

At the Queen's Summons by Susan Wiggs

Title: At the Queen's Summons (Tudor Rose Trilogy #3)

Author: Susn Wiggs

Publisher: Mira 2009

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 384

Rating:  5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Romance; Mount TBR

How I Got It: I own it!

Feisty orphan Pippa de Lacey lives by wit and skill as a London street performer. But when her sharp tongue gets her into serious trouble, she throws herself upon the mercy of Irish chieftain Aidan O'Donoghue.Pippa provides a welcome diversion for Aidan as he awaits an audience with the queen, who holds his people's fate in her hands. Amused at first, he becomes obsessed with the audacious waif who claims his patronage.Rash and impetuous, their unlikely alliance reverberates with desire and the tantalizing promise of a life each has always wanted—but never dreamed of attaining.

After reading The Maid's Hand, I wasn't sure about the third book.  I didn't really like Lark and this time I wanted a good female character.  I got one!  Pippa is fun and feisty.  She's naive but adventurous.  I loved her interactions with every single one of the other characters.  Wiggs set up a great dynamic between Pippa and Aidan.  Of course I guessed her family connections within the first chapter.  Thankfully the romantic relationship between Pippa and Aidan and the struggle between Aidan the English kept me engaged throughout.  And I love how this one brought the trilogy full circle with the prophecy from Zara and the continuation of the Tudor lineage.  Great historical romance!

Tudor Rose Trilogy:

• #1 At the King’s Command (or Circle in the Water)
• #2 The Maiden’s Hand (or Vows Made in Wine)
• #3 At the Queen’s Summons (Dancing on Air)

The Maiden's Hand by Susan Wiggs

Title: The Maiden's Hand (Tudor Rose Trilogy #2)

Author: Susn Wiggs

Publisher: Mira 2009

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 352

Rating:  4  / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Romance

How I Got It: I own it!

Roguishly handsome Oliver de Lacey has always lived lustily: wine, weapons and women are his bywords. Even salvation from the noose by a shadowy society provides no epiphany to mend his debauched ways.Mistress Lark's sole passion is her secret work with a group of Protestant dissidents thwarting the queen's executions. She needs no other excitement—until Oliver de Lacey drops through the hangman's door and into her life.

As their fates become inextricably bound together in a struggle against royal persecution, both Oliver and Lark discover a love worth saving…even dying for.

A good light and fluffy romance to cleanse my palate after a ton of Shakespeare and some nonfiction.  I enjoy these romances from time to time, especially the historical romances.  While this one isn't set in my favorite time period, Regency England, it is set in an interesting time period, Queen Mary's reign.  I love the Protestant vs. Catholic subplot that ran throughout the novel.  It gave the book a bit more than just a romance.  We see Lark at work with the Samaritans.  It's easy to imagine the unease in England during that time period.  Actually I love how the entire trilogy traces the Tudor House from Henry VIII to Mary to Elizabeth.  A nice touch.  As to the romance itself, It was good.  It wasn't excellent in my mind because of the character of Lark.  While Oliver doesn't much change throughout the novel, Lark does a 180 in personality.  I had a bit trouble believing the change or even rooting for you.  She just seemed so jaded yet naive.  Why would Oliver even fall for her?  For my disbelief, I knocked off a star.  But I really did enjoy it.  Since I am now in the mood for romance, I am going to finish off the series with At the Queen's Summons.

Tudor Rose Trilogy:

• #1 At the King's Command (or Circle in the Water)
• #2 The Maiden's Hand (or Vows Made in Wine)
• #3 At the Queen's Summons (Dancing on Air)

At the King's Command by Susan Wiggs

Title: At the King's Command (Tudor Rose Trilogy #1)

Author: Susan Wiggs

Publisher: Mira 2009

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 375

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Historical

How I Got It: own it

Frustrated by his own failures at matrimony, King Henry VIII punishes an insolent nobleman by commanding him to marry the vagabond woman caught stealing his horse. Stephen de Lacey is a cold and bitter widower, long accustomed to the sovereign's capricious and malicious whims. He regards his new bride as utterly inconvenient…though undeniably fetching.

But Juliana Romanov is no ordinary thief—she is a Russian princess forced into hiding by the traitorous cabal who slaughtered her family. One day she hopes to return to Muscovy to seek vengeance.

What begins as a mockery of a marriage ultimately blossoms into deepest love.

Another predictable historical romance... but wait, there's more than meets the eye in this one!  Secrets abound!  Just how I like it!  I ended up enjoying this volume more than I thought I would; especially given my recent abundance of DNFs.

I loved the main heroine, Juliana.  She was the right amount of fierce determination and calm in the face of circumstances and the fury of her new husband.  Stephen was a bit annoying at times.  Male pride be damned, he was just acting like a fool for part of the novel!  Jillie, the maid, was a fun side character.  And the gypsies were colorful in so many ways.  I think I liked the scenes with them most of all.  Even King Henry VIII is given side character status.  And he's just as much of an asshole as you think he would be.

The plot is fairly predictable, but that's what I've come to expect from romances.  There are a fun diversion in between more thought-provoking reads.  I liken them to palate cleansers.  We have two people destined to be together, but one or both fight their fate for most of the book.  An outsider complicates matters.  They finally realize their love for one another and live happily ever after.  Oh yeah, and there are sex scenes.  These were done beautifully; not the usual crass descriptions.

Overall, I give it a thumbs up (and 4 stars)!

Tudor Rose Trilogy:

• #1 At the King's Command (or Circle in the Water)
• #2 The Maiden's Hand (or Vows Made in Wine)
• #3 At the Queen's Summons (Dancing on Air)