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Book Review By L. Watson
The Fire Flower by Edith Layton

Gideon Hawke has just returned to London with King Charles II, who has restored himself to the throne. As a loyal supporter of Charles, Gideon expects great rewards will soon come his way. Mary Monk is left homeless and penniless after the Great Fire of London. She meets Gideon when she is begging on the street. Although Gideon thinks Mary is a plain brown wren, he offers to make her his mistress and provide her with shelter, food and clothes for as long as it suits him. Out of desperation, Mary accepts.

Mary is a virgin, so, Gideon patiently teaches her about sex and slowly awakens the passion in her. He also teaches her about the court of Charles II, which is abound with aristocrats and courtesans. She begins to flower as a result Gideon's attentions. Mary falls in love with Gideon and showers him with her affection.

King Charles sends Gideon to court an heiress with a large estate and lets Gideon know that he is prepared to grant a title for Gideon once he is married. The heiress turns out to be a beautiful young woman. But when Gideon begins courting the heiress, he realizes that he is in love with Mary. He wonders if he can keep Mary as his mistress even after marrying the heiress. After all, he cannot marry Mary, not when the king practically commanded him to marry the heiress.


Plot & Themes
Time/era of story
Forbidden/mismatched love? Yes
How mismatched?
Love Triangles/Polygons Yes
What kind:

Main Male Character
Profession/status:
Age/status: - 20's-30's

Main Female Character - 20's-30's
Unusual characteristics:

Setting
City? Yes
City: - London

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
What % of story is romance related? - 90%
How explicit is the sex? - descript of kissing - touching of anatomy - actual description of sex - Boob talk
Focus of story - equally on him and her
How much dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
How much sexing? - 3-4 sex acts
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