Christine Monson always does thorough research into the
historical settings of her books and then serves up a great story. Such is This Fiery Splendor.
Annalise Devon was the daughter of a missionary to China
where she was raised until her mother died. Then her father took her to India.
It was there in that beautiful, mysterious land that she met and fell in love
with Col. Derek Clavell, a wealthy aristocrat and an officer in the East India
Company army. When her father suddenly dies, 17-year-old Annalise is made
Derek’s ward by her father’s wishes. Then Derek is severely wounded in a battle
at the Khyber Pass and must return to England.
In England, Annalise and Derek become
lovers yet she knows he will never be hers. Not only does he have a beautiful
fiancé, but he has just become his father’s heir to the title. She is just the
poor daughter of a missionary. So she returns to India and finds a man who
loves her…
Monson gives us some very exciting
scenes as Derek pursues the woman he loves and he and Annalise are caught up in
the Indian Rebellion of 1857, depicting the horror of the battles where
civilians were killed along with the British and Sepoys. And in the midst of
it, Derek’s fiancé shows up.
All the history is here, rich in
detail. Great characters, well drawn and meaningful dialog. And more angst than
you could want. You'll have to find it used but it's worth it. Highly recommended.
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