Untamed Fire Book Tour: excerpt, review and giveaway
Author: Donna Fletcher
Genre: Historical Romance
Date Published: May 26, 2012
Synopsis: Gaby Alvardo borrows the powerful ranchero’s horse to rush and help her injured brother.
Raphael Cabrillo doesn’t see it that way to him... she stole his horse. And so she is to be punished for her crime. She will serve a term of six months as companion to his ailing mother.
Raphael intends to tame the spirited woman who refuses to wear shoes, dances under the moonlight, takes his ill mother on picnics and stirs his passion like no other woman.
But when an attempt is made on Gaby’s life there isn’t anything he won’t do to protect her.
Will Raphael tame the willful woman or love the untamed fire that burns within her?
Excerpt:
“No! No!” Juan cried. “He’s taking you away because you stole his horse and he’s going to hang you.”
Gaby hugged the trembling little boy. “No, Juan, that’s not true. Senor Cabrillo isn’t going to hang me.”
“Yes, he is,” Juan insisted. “Pablo says all horse thieves get hanged.”
“I’m not a horse thief.”
Juan pulled himself away from her. “But Senor Cabrillo thinks you are. He’ll take you to the big tree at the end of town and hang you there.”
Gaby’s mother began to cry and her sisters soon followed. The young woman took Juan by the hand, grabbed the black shawl bundled with her few clothes and meager possessions and ordered the others to follow.
Rafael was standing next to Bella speaking with Padre Jose when the Alvardo family with Gaby in the lead, emerged from around the corner of the church,
“Ay de mi,” the padre said, crossing himself.
Rafael smiled. “You appear to cross yourself whenever Gaby is near, Padre. Does she require that much help from above?”
The padre raised his head toward heaven and nodded.
Gaby stopped in front of Rafael. Even though she was just shy of six inches over five feet, she still had to tilt her head back to meet his eyes. She paused a moment, realizing for the first time just how handsome the ranchero was. His complexion was touched with the deep richness of days spent in the sun, and his eyes… Gaby stared. The strange blue color scorched like a hot blue sun.
“Did you want something, Gaby?”
His voice was deep and smooth like a warm caress that lingers and leaves a tingle along the flesh. “Yes,” she said a bit more boldly then she intended.
“What is it?’ he asked with a sternness that brooked no disrespect.
She reined in her spirited nature, held her head high, and added a wide smile. “Do you intend to hang me?”
| Smashwords
About the author: Donna Fletcher is a USA Today bestselling author of adventurous historical romances. She is also a past President of New Jersey Romance Writers and Novelists, Inc.
Author links: Website | Facebook | Twitter
My review:
Untamed Fire is an addicting romance and perfect for beach reading. Gaby is a tremendously likable free spirited young woman with her own mind. Her outspokenness tends to get her in trouble in the patriarchal society she lives in. Her story is ultimately a romantic one, with the backdrop of a mystery mixed in. This mystery--which the story opens with--isn't referred to until later in the tale. Accused of being a thief, Gaby is forced to work for the wealthy ranchero, Rafael, by becoming a companion of and taking care of his widowed mother. The stiff, fixed in his way, head of the household is immediately attracted to Gaby's well endowed body and smile. Even when he would like to censor her incessant talking back, he can't help but want to kiss her.
As the story progresses, so does their sexy cat and mouse game. For being such a 'good girl' I was surprised at how quickly and then frequently Gaby gave in to her and Raphael's passion. For a man twelve years her senior, I would think he had better sense, but then this wouldn't be much of a romance and they were soulmates. The cast of secondary characters were appealing and helped give the story dimension. For a historical, I felt this was light on the history of early Los Angeles. As a couple, I did enjoy Gaby and Raphael--they were opposites, had chemistry, and brought out the best in each other--though their trysts did become tiresome.
With a smooth writing style, interesting characters and setting, Fire Untamed will entertain romantics at heart.
Rating: 3.5
Cover comment: I like this cover better than the earlier edition.
Book source: I received a promotional ebook copy of this book in return for my honest review during a book tour.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*a Rafflecopter giveaway
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