BRENDA JOYCE

Innocent Fire || Firestorm || Violet Fire || The Finer Things ||

Last review added 5/97

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This was the first story in a trilogy by Brenda Joyce. All three stories chronicle the Bragg Family. Brenda won the reviewers choice award for best western series for these books. They are extremely captivating. Her story lines always are intriguing. I love her sensuality with the main people.

In this story, Miranda is a sheltered child who was brought up in a convent in France. Her father is a Duke who is estranged from his wife. Suddenly, at 17, Miranda's father calls her back to England to say that he has found a suitable husband for her. She cannot believe it! Not only is her marriage an arranged marriage but she must move to America. Texas, to be exact.

She is escorted to her future husband by his best friend, Derek Bragg. A ruggedly handsome, half-Apache Texas Ranger. Miranda is beautiful and Derek is quite taken by her. Of course, he cannot betray his friend John so he does his best to stay away.

Their story is one that will keep you reading until the wee hours. So many things happen to Miranda. Her husband is murdered. She marries Derek for protection. She is raped by a Comanche Indian. She conceives this rapists' child. How is Derek going to handle the fact that she is carrying the baby of his much hated enemy?

The story is a beautiful one despite the violence that does crop up, but remember this is the wild west days of uncivilized Texas.

The third and last of the Bragg Series is the story of Miranda and Derek's youngest son Rathe. Another novel that won't let you close it easily.

Rathe Bragg is a self-made millionaire and has an eye for the ladies. He can have any one of them he chooses. That's just the life he leads until one Grace O'Rourke makes a startling impression on him. He is enraptured by this gun wielding, suffrage supporter, but he wants to only make her his mistress.

Grace is never going to marry. She is not the marrying kind. She wants to make a difference for women and devotes herself to the cause. Then she meets handsome Rathe and doesn't know why she's feeling the way she is. Sparks fly when you combine these two as well as lots of humor. You will love their story of classic misunderstandings.

Wow! I LOVED this book! Another winner by Brenda Joyce. Here's the recipe: Take one street urchin from St. Giles, London and one aristocrat from the better side of London add a murder, mystery, accusations, jealousy, betrayal and what you get is one fantastic story filled with innocense, jealousy, passion, lies, deceit and LOVE.

I could NOT put this book down. For those of you who are familiar with Brenda's work you know what I'm talking about. For those who are not, this would be the perfect book to start on her collection of romance novels.

The main characters were painted in such a way that you could feel all of what they felt and the secondary characters were fascinating as well. A definite winner! This one almost was given a 5.0!