THE FLAME AND THE FIRE Author:KATHLEEN E. WOODIWISS SET IN THE 18TH CENTURY ENGLAND AND THE AMERICAN COLONIES,THIS THE STORY OF HEATHER SIMMONS, AN INNOCENT ENGLISH BEAUTY,AND HER TEMPESTUOUS ROMANCE WITH WEALTHY YANKEE CAPTIAN BRANDSON BIRMINGHAM. HEATHER SIMMONS, THE ORPHANED BEAUTY OF A WEALTHY LONDON FAMILY, IS NOW NO MORE THAN A HOUSEMAID TO HER CRUEL GUARDIAN, AUNT FANNY. WHEN HER AUNT'S ... more »BROTHER, WILLIAM COURT, OFFERS TO ESCORT HER TO LONDON TO TEACH AT A FINISHING SCHOOL, SHE WELCOMES THE OPPORTUNITY TO ESCAPE HER LIFE OF POVERTY. BUT, UPON THIER ARRIVAL, HER LUSTY CUSTODIAN ATTACKS HER AND, IN A VIOLENT STRUGGLE, HEATHER ACCIDENTALLY KILLS HIM AND FLEES IN HORROR INTO THE NIGHT AND UNKNOWINGLY DOWN TO THE SQUALID LONDON DOCKSIDE. THERE, SHE IS CAPTURED BY TWO SAILORS, WHO DRAG HER TO THEIR CAPTAIN'S SHIP FOR HIS PLEASURE. THINKING SHE IS UNDER ARREST HER, CRIME, SHE IS TOO STUNNED TO WARD OFF THE TALL, MUSCULR CAPTAIN. OVERCOME BY HER INNOCENT BEAUTY, CAPTAIN BRANDON BIRMINGHAM REALIZES, TOO LATE, THAT SHE IS NOT WHAT SHE SEEMS. HER HONOR WILL BE RESTORED, BUT AT A PAINFUL PRICE. HER MAGISTRATE UNCLE, LEARNINGI SHE WITH CHILD, COERCES BRANDON INTO MARRYING HER,AND THE PROUD CAPTIAN AGREES, UNDER ONE CONDITION: HEATHER WILL ENJOY ALL THE FORMALITIES OF MARRIAGE, BUT NONE OF ITS PLEASURES. EVEN THOUGH HE YEARNS TO TOUCH HER, BRANDON KEEPS HIS PROMISE DURING THEIR LONG VOYAGE TO HIS CAROLINA PLANTATION, AND AFTER THIER ARRIVAL. YET HE HADN'T TOUCHED ANOTHER WOMAN SINCE THAT FATEFUL NIGHT, AND WHEN THIER SON IS BORN, A SPECIAL BOND DEVELOPS AMONG ALL THREE. BUT LOUISA WELLS, BRANDON'S SPURNED FIANCEE BURNS WITH JEALOUSY FOR HIS YOUNG BRIDE AND THREATENS TO DESTROY ANY HOPE FOR THIER HAPPINESS. AND WHEN SHE DISCOVERS THE DREADFUL CRIME THAT HEATHER HAS BEEN HIDING FROM BRANDON EVER SINCE THE NIGHT THEY MET, BRANDSON AND HEATHER'S UNSPOKEN LOVE FOR EACH OTHER WILL BE TESTED TO THE LIMIT.« less