Synopsis
Staging her own death to escape her miserable existence, Hannah Shelton arrives in Wisconsin as a mail-order bride and falls in love with her betrothed's brother Daniel, and as their forbidden passion rages out of control, her dark past threatens to destroy her newfound happiness. Original.
Review
Gwyneth Atlee's Touched By Fire is story of survival and renewal. The romance wrapped around this incredibly intricate historical provides the balance needed to ease the pain and hurt felt by the characters. In fact, it is the endurance of Hannah Shelton that makes this novel a treasure to behold. As a divorcee and a convicted adulteress, there is little hope for Hannah Shelton's future. The only thing left for her is her determination to escape the life her ex-husband has thrust upon her. With no home and no chance of finding a job, she takes another name and heads for a new life and a new husband as a mail-order bride. The man she is to marry appears to be just what she had hoped. John Aldman is kind, giving, and he loves his farm. It only takes one telegram, however, to destroy the image Hannah has portrayed to John and his family, and now as fires threaten the entire world around them, she is alone and unprotected once again. To compound her fear, her ex-husband is on the hunt, angry at her for her treachery and deceit. A violent and vengeful man, he will not stop until he has Hannah once again in his grasp. Hannah never asks for forgiveness from the Aldmans. No one would listen to a ruined woman's reasons for lying. But for some reason, Daniel, John's younger brother, is willing to give her a chance. The warmth he had seen in Hannah's eyes when she held his daughter, the courage she had shown in helping them save their horses from the fire, the passion he had sensed in one forbidden kiss...these things all told him that Hannah could not be the evil woman she seemed. Nothing escaped the raging inferno. So much is taken, leaving so many destitute. With Hannah's help, the Aldman brothers survive. Rebuilding their home will be a difficult task, but not nearly as hard as convincing Hannah that she now has a place here too. Daniel must convince her that his love is strong enough to both protect and soothe her. The evil of Hannah's past is still out there, plotting and planning to take back what he believes is his. He is convinced that she is the root of all his problems. His desire to punish her it so great that is burns more brightly than any fire. Hannah knows that the danger exists, and she is determined to reclaim her life and home. She heads back to the place where her troubles began, ready to face Malcolm Shelton in his lair if she has to. She won't be free until this is ended once and for all. The story of Daniel and Hannah is one of torment, betrayal, determination, and, of course, love. The trials that they face both alone and together carry the hard, cold pain of reality. Gwyneth Atlee is a masterful storyteller in that respect. The violence that occurs in this book is, to a great degree, something that we have all heard of, even in modern times. Ms. Atlee makes that violence tangible through the eyes of the characters. The balance between good and evil often appears off kilter throughout Touched By Fire, but the ending is strong, bold, and aggressive. A strong woman in a harsh land! A very real look at women of the American past! Touched By Fire is a touching and often heart-wrenching story of survival! Love is a powerful sword, but only when the characters who wield it are equal to the task. A beautifully written story from the hands of Gwyneth Atlee! A treasure! Karen Ellington -- Copyright © 1999 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
