Skip to main content

Summer in Fire by Kitty Pilgrim: A Book Review

Summer in Fire
Author: Kitty Pilgrim
Genre: Mystery, Adventure, Thriller
Publisher: River Grove Books
Release Date: May 7, 2015
Pages: 344
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review
Synopsis: On the beautiful island of Capri, a royal princess begins a secret love affair, oblivious to the dangers that surround her. Internationally renowned novelist Kitty Pilgrim chronicles a modern thriller based in the historic volcanic region of Southern Italy. Her characters, archaeologist John Sinclair and oceanographer Cordelia Stapleton, team up once again for a tale of glamour and romance that spans every level of society-from the dangerous criminal underworld of Naples to the jet set of Europe.

     My review: Royalty, forbidden love, missing jewels, and volcanoes -  who could resist such a plot? This novel also takes the reader to great places as the characters travel to different locations; from the ancient island of Capri, to the ancient city of Herculaneum, to the top of the active Mt. Etna that is on the verge of eruption, to Paris, and London. In this plot, archaeologist John Sinclair and Cordelia Stapleton team up to find the missing necklace of Princess Victoria which leads them to the dangerous criminal organization of Naples. During their investigation, they find themselves facing a natural catastrophe, for the eruption of the volcanoes in Iceland could cause great devastation on a massive scale to Europe.

      The two main characters in this book are John Sinclair and Cordelia. Both of them are scholars and complement the other. John has a good knowledge of history and Cordelia has a good knowledge of science. Both of them make a great team. What I love about Cordelia is not only is she smart, but she is also tough. She does not answer to anyone, and she can fight. She is a strong heroine. John Sinclair is a no-nonsense type. Yet, he has compassion and he is a good friend. I also like the other characters in the novel. All the women in this story were very strong, and I could not help but admire them. They were willing to protect their loved ones, and they would do anything to assure their safety.

     Overall, this book is about friendship, family, and love.  The story has adventure, mystery, and romance. The story is deeply embedded with science and history. With a sizzling plot and a great cast of characters, this novel  will be sure to thrill you. This story captivated me from the first page, and I enjoyed it till the last page. I recommend this book to anyone who likes science, history, mystery, thrillers, and romance. This book is also perfect for those who is looking for a great beach read.

Rating: 5 out 5 stars



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth: Her Stories and Hymns from Sumer by Samuel Noah Kramer and Diane Wolkstein: A Book Review

Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth: Her Stories and Hymns from Sumer Author: Samuel Noah Kramer and Diane Wolkstein Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Religion, Mythology Publisher: Harper Perennial Release Date: 1983 Pages: 256 Source: Personal Collection Synopsis: With the long-awaited publication of this book, we have for the first time in any modern literary form one of the most vital and important of ancient myths—that of Inanna, the world’s first goddess of recorded history and the beloved deity of the ancient Sumerians.      The stories and hymns of Inanna (known to the Semites as Ishtar) are inscribed on clay tablets which date back to 2,000 B.C. Over the past forty years, these cuneiform tablets have gradually been restored and deciphered by a small group of international scholars. In this groundbreaking book, Samuel Noah Kramer, the preeminent living expert on Sumer, and Diane Wolkstein, a gifted storyteller and folklorist, have retranslated, order...

Guest Post: The Ladies-in-Waiting: Lady Isabel Baynton by Alexandra Walsh

    Today's guest writer is Alexandra Walsh. She is the author of The Catherine Howard Conspiracy , which is a historical thriller surrounding the infamous Tudor queen. In this guest post, Mrs. Walsh discusses the life of Catherine's lady-in-waiting, Isabel Baynton. This post will be sure to fascinate fans of Tudor era. If you enjoy her post, please pick up a copy of The Catherine Howard Conspiracy ! Thank you, Mrs. Walsh! The Ladies-in-Waiting – Lady Isabel Baynton by Alexandra Walsh     One of the most enjoyable things about writing an historical novel is discovering the tiny details that make the period real on the page. While I was researching The Catherine Howard Conspiracy , I spent a great deal of time hunting out the life stories of the women who surrounded the young queen in order to create a group of realistic friends and confidants.       There are some well-known names linked with Catherine and her downfall: Lady Jane Boleyn,...

Daughter of Rome by Tessa Afshar: A Book Review

Daughter of Rome Author: Tessa Afshar Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian, Biblical Fiction, Romance Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers Release Date: 2020 Pages: 416 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis : A woman with a devastating secret. A man bent on proving his worth. A chance encounter that catapults them into the heart of history.      When the daughter of a prominent Roman general meets a disinherited Jewish immigrant, neither one can dream of God’s plan to transform them into the most influential couple of the early church. Nor can they anticipate the mountains that will threaten to bury them. Their courtship unwittingly shadowed by murder and betrayal, Priscilla and Aquila slowly work to build a community of believers, while their lives grow increasingly complicated thanks to a shaggy dog, a mysterious runaway, and a ruthless foe desperate for love. But when they’re banished from their home by a capricious emperor, th...