Hidden Fires by Sandra Brown (Laura Jordan) is a historical romance set in the late 19th and early 20th century Texas. The story revolves around young Lauren Holbrook, who is manipulated into a marriage with the unruly and womanizing Jared Lockett by his conniving mother, Olivia. The plot involves themes of greed, love, betrayal, and redemption as Lauren navigates through the challenges of her new life in Texas and confronts the malicious intentions of her mother-in-law.

The narrative style of Hidden Fires is described as engaging and emotionally captivating, with well-developed characters and a cleverly crafted plot that keeps readers invested in the story. The book offers a mix of adventure, romance, and drama, set against the backdrop of the wild and lawless west Texas, making it a compelling and immersive historical novel.

Characters:

The characters are multidimensional and well-drawn, each contributing to the story's emotional and dramatic arc.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is vivid and engaging, enabling readers to easily visualize the unfolding story and connect with the characters.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around deception, familial rivalry, and romantic tension in a historical setting, with significant character interactions driving the narrative.

Setting:

The setting is a pivotal aspect, rooted in late 19th-century Texas, which enriches the narrative with historical authenticity and social challenges.

Pacing:

The pacing balances a slow buildup with a more rapid progression of events, particularly as romantic and dramatic tensions heighten.

Notes:

'Hidden Fires' is Sandra Brown's 28th book, published under the pseudonym Laura Jordan.

The story is set in late 19th century Texas, when it was still a territory.

Lauren Holbrook, the protagonist, is raised in a preacher's home in North Carolina.

She travels to Texas to be a secretary for Olivia Lockett, whose husband dies the day Lauren arrives.

Olivia is a tough and cunning businesswoman with a plan to marry her son to stabilize the family.

Lauren is chosen to be the 'wife' of Jared Lockett in a sham marriage for financial gain.

The book explores themes of greed, revenge, and love amidst a backdrop of family conflict.

Readers have noted the strong character development and the chemistry between Lauren and Jared.

The novel includes steamy romance scenes that build gradually throughout the story.

It combines elements of historical romance with a well-crafted plot and emotional depth.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings may include themes of attempted rape, manipulation, and family disputes.

Has Romance?

The romance is a central element of the story with significant development between the main characters.

explicit steam level

From The Publisher:

In this Western historical romance set in 1800s Texas, a preacher's daughter reluctantly agrees to marry a wealthy playboy . . . even if it means risking her heart.

The moment Lauren Holbrook walked into the Texas mansion, she knew she'd been tricked. Instead of asking her to become a secretary, wealthy matriarch Olivia Lockett proposes a scandalous offer: to marry Jared Lockett, her rebellious son and heir to the dynasty, in name only.

Lauren can't know Olivia's real motive, but she's achingly aware of her feelings for Jared. Now, in spite of terrible risks, she has to trust her reckless husband. She has strong feelings for him . . . but are they strong enough?

Reader Stats (1):

Read It (1)

What can you read after
Hidden Fires?

See the list (31 books)

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.

Hidden Fires

Sandra Brown (Laura Jordan)