Title: Mortal Fire
Author: C.F. Dunn
Pages: 359
Year: 2012
Publisher: Monarch
Books
Note: I received a
complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely
my responsibility. Other reviews can be
read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/. Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988
Mortal
Fire is the first novel from C.F. Dunn that I have read. This is the first book in the series. The book is of the contemporary fiction style
with lots of intrigue and romance. The main
characters in this book are professors at a small college in Maine.
Emma
D’Eresby has left Cambridge for an overseer of five post-graduates working on
their MA theses. In exchange for this
duty, she is given unlimited access to the college’s library and as much time
as she wants for research. This library
is in possession of what to Emma is the “Holy Grail” of books, a 350-year-old
journal of which she has a few translated pages left to her by her grandfather
upon his death. She has waited a long
time to see the original journal in its entirety. As Emma makes friends with Elena and Matias,
a couple who also teach at the college, she finds herself feeling like she is
being watched or followed. Is it Sam,
wanting a relationship beyond friendship, who is stalking her? Is it the scary and malevolent Kort? One female student is attacked and another
female student is murdered. Who is the
culprit? She meets Dr. Matthew Lynes and
finds him attractive. They share an
interest in poetry as well as other types of literature. She realizes soon that she is falling in love
with him and he seems to reciprocate.
But Matthew has secrets. Will he
ever trust Emma? Can they get past a
critical point in their relationship to look for a future together?
Matthew
Lynes is a young, wealthy physician. He
has built a medical center on campus, dresses in expensive, but sedate clothes,
and drives a fast sports car. He has
lost his wife in a car accident some time ago, but continues to wear his
wedding ring. Is he ready to fall in
love again? He is very protective of
Emma and grows to love her, but she sees that he is hiding something from
her. Can the relationship continue with
the mistrust that is between them?
Matthew saves her from serious trouble on three different occasions, but
Emma acknowledges God’s role in sending help.
He wants her to meet his family, and then changes his mind saying he
never should have brought the subject up.
What’s up with that? Why doesn’t
he ever eat or drink anything? Was that
really him in a picture from 1932? He
looked the same age as he is now. How
can that be?
These
are just some questions that are raised in this tension-building story. The unanswered questions continue to mount as
the story progresses. Will Emma’s faith
survive these very trying circumstances?
I’m looking forward to the next book to hopefully find the answers to
the questions posed. The second book is
titled, Death Be Not Proud. The
author has done a good job of getting me hooked!
My rating is 3.5 stars.
