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A Hidden Fire (Elemental Mysteries #1)

by Elizabeth Hunter (Goodreads Author)

4.2 of 5 stars 4.20 · rating details · 4,133 ratings · 644 reviews

"No secret stays hidden forever."

A phone call from an old friend sets Dr. Giovanni Vecchio back on the path of a mystery he'd abandoned years before. He never expected a young librarian could hold the key to the search, nor could he have expected the danger she would attract. Now he and Beatrice De Novo will follow a twisted maze that leads from the archives of a universit...more

ebook, 423 pages

Published October 18th 2011 by E. Hunter (first published October 14th 2011)

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Jan 29, 2013 BamaGal rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone...this is a great PNR with an element of Mystery

Shelves: pnr-uf, mystery

As of 1/28/13, running free on Amazon again....

4.5 Stars...You know, I didn't go into this story with any particular hopes for it being any good. A .99 offering from an indie/self-pubbed author. Haven't we all been burned with how atrociously bad most of these are? This one, for me anyway, was good. Really, really good. I was so impressed with this author. Hunter wrote an engaging, literate story that showed she has an impressive mastery of language; and excellent storytelling skills. Best of al...more As of 1/28/13, running free on Amazon again....

4.5 Stars...You know, I didn't go into this story with any particular hopes for it being any good. A .99 offering from an indie/self-pubbed author. Haven't we all been burned with how atrociously bad most of these are? This one, for me anyway, was good. Really, really good. I was so impressed with this author. Hunter wrote an engaging, literate story that showed she has an impressive mastery of language; and excellent storytelling skills. Best of all - it's well proofed, she can spell, and she knows how to use the correct words.

The story flowed well, and Hunter 'showed' the reader, not told/explained everything like we were idiots who couldn't figure something out. She never even told the reader what Giovanni was until Beatrice found out. The reader knew long before then, of course; but it wasn't because the author told us. The reader knows because of the way the story unfolds (if that makes sense), and because we all have read enough PNR's to know the signs. It was great to see and feel the story as it unfolded, rather than being constantly 'told' what was happening. That's the mark of a great author. I also liked the fact that I got to use the dictionary a couple of times in this one, that always broadens the reader's horizon.

I don't want to say too much about the story to give it away. B was a student at a Houston college working at the campus library. Giovanni was the mysterious stranger who came in every Wednesday to do research. Their relationship evolved slowly over time, with wonderful conversations and interactions that were a joy to read. I like the story, and I liked Giovanni and B. I loooved Carwyn, he was a hoot. The story was extremely well written. If I had any complaint at all, it would be that it could have used some professional editing to tighten up the slow parts, particularly in the first part of the book.

I have no idea if this book will be for everyone; but for me, it was one of the best, most refreshing reads I've had in a while. If you are looking for high action, you won't find it here; but if you are looking for a good mystery read a bit on the characterization side, you won't be disappointed. The series is to be (supposedly), 4 books; so there is no resolution to the H/h's relationship in this one. The reader is tantalized with what will happen with them next, and I snapped #2 up as soon as I finished this one. Book #3 is due out in March. Excellent read.
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48 likes · like · see review

Jul 12, 2012 Samantha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-time-favorites, lendable

So I'm pretty much in love with this book. Seriously people, I couldn't put it down and obsessed every minute I wasn't reading this. It starts a little slow and confusing because it's all "A man did this" and "A man did that", but one you realize who the men are and what they are doing, it will suck you in, plus, that doesn't last very long. I didn't know what to think of Gio at first. You can't tell if he is the good guy or the bad guy, but it definitely leads you to believe he is not a very go...more

4 likes · like · see review

Oct 16, 2011 Tee loves Kyle Jacobson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: october-2011

My Rating: 10 The best book I have read in a while!

My Cover Thoughts: I absolutely love the cover. It is a picture of a library on fire. I love libraries and I love to read. If you have not gone to an old library you must find one and visit it. Old libraries hold so much mystery and intrigue you will be inspired to sit and read or sit and enjoy the priceless history you are looking at.

My Thoughts/Review: OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!! This story had me on the edge of my bed all weekend. Once I started re...more

14 likes · like · see review

Feb 20, 2012 Melindeeloo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, favorites, friendable

I am going have a hard time explaining why I enjoyed Hidden Fire so much. As a romance it is mild and up front - and without being too spoilerish - I have to say that while the ending is hopeful, Hidden Fire is just the first episode and the story continues in This Same Earth, just so that no one expects all the elements of the story to wrap up in a single book.

I really enjoyed the slowly building relationship between the gorgeous and unusual book scholar Giovanni Vecchio and library student int...more I am going have a hard time explaining why I enjoyed Hidden Fire so much. As a romance it is mild and up front - and without being too spoilerish - I have to say that while the ending is hopeful, Hidden Fire is just the first episode and the story continues in This Same Earth, just so that no one expects all the elements of the story to wrap up in a single book.

I really enjoyed the slowly building relationship between the gorgeous and unusual book scholar Giovanni Vecchio and library student intern Beatrice De Nova. The way that the mysteries surrounding the leading man Gio unfold is really interesting and Beatrice is a really good and intelligent heroine who is written in such a way that you can see why she caught Gio's interest even though she is way younger than him - she really seemed special enough to actually warrant the interest she stirred up. And in fact all of Hunter's characters are good, I liked Beatrice's grandmother, and Gio's friends Carwyn and Castor who are nice counterpoints to the enigmatic and serious Gio. And I also really enjoyed that there was a nice sprinkling of humor throughout - the leads and the supporting characters all had some great lines.

So this is where I need to add a big thank you to all my book friends for turning me on to Hunter's Elemental Mysteries, it is always a delight to find a really good character driven diamond in the rough of the self published world (and the next one This Same Earth was almost as good, plus there's still two more to go with the third book The Force of Wind out the first week of March 2012 and the fourth book slated for June 2012.)

As a note of advice, I would avoid reading the teaser for the next book, This Same Earth, (which is included after the end) too soon after finishing A Hidden Fire. Teasers are not always your friend and this one made me hesitant to pick up the next book, even though I had been okay with the ending of A Hidden Fire until reading the teaser. But having overcome my worry that the next one couldn't possibly be as good (expectations are my bane) and having already read This Same Earth, I really think that the scene is better read in the context of that book which actually has a prolog to prepare you for this part, so do yourself a favor and wait. (less)

12 likes · like · see review

Dec 01, 2011 Michelle [Helen Geek] rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Michelle by: Tammy

Shelves: nook-tbr, imag-galore, 5_star

Okay -- are you listening to me??? READ THIS BOOK!

I got an email from a very good friend. She said, try this book. She and I read some of the same stuff, but not always, so I was like okay. found it on B&N for $2.99, so why not. I bought it a few weeks ago and kept thinking, I really need to read this so I can tell Tam how I like it.

AWESOME!! I loved Gio. Loved Gio. Beatrice was someone I'd like and trust. The development of these characters was really nice. I really can't say too much, or I...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: pnr-uf, vampires, suspense-mystery, 4-5-stars

4 Bright Stars

I really enjoyed this book. ‘A Hidden Fire’ is a refreshing, well written, smart and sexy paranormal romance that’ll raise your expectations for this genre.

Beatrice a.k.a B, a part-time librarian meets the enigmatic Dr. Gio Vecchio, a rare book dealer, when he comes to the library to decipher an ancient text. Her curious nature and affinity for books, lead her to befriend him and aid in his quest to solve an age-old mystery. With every secret they unravel, they come closer to the...more 4 Bright Stars

I really enjoyed this book. ‘A Hidden Fire’ is a refreshing, well written, smart and sexy paranormal romance that’ll raise your expectations for this genre.

Beatrice a.k.a B, a part-time librarian meets the enigmatic Dr. Gio Vecchio, a rare book dealer, when he comes to the library to decipher an ancient text. Her curious nature and affinity for books, lead her to befriend him and aid in his quest to solve an age-old mystery. With every secret they unravel, they come closer to the realization that their lives are intertwined. Though they are drawn to one another, Gio’s plethora of secrets, B’s youth, and a dangerous old enemy threaten their fragile hopes for something more. Will their perilous journey bring them closer or shatter their tentative bond? You’ll have to read to find out ;)

I really liked B. She was intelligent, witty and made it easy for you to want to root for her. Gio’s quiet confidence, spicy sensuality and braininess made him a delectable hero. Character goodness didn’t stop there. The supporting cast were memorable and wonderfully funny, especially Carwyn. They each brought something worth while to the table, and worked well together with the main characters to make the story that much more enjoyable. The historical aspect of the story was unique and perfectly woven. The pace was a bit slower than some PNR books but never boring. Finally, I liked that Gio and B’s romance evolved over time and wasn’t an overnight success. With 3 more books to go, I am happy to wait for them to get to know one another before they jump in the sack :)

My only grievance with the story.....

***** Please stop reading now if you have not already read the book*****

is what happened with Lorenzo. I’m strictly on B’s side and wish that he had fought for her. I had a hard time understanding why beating 5 vampires was more difficult than taking out a whole mansion of them later. I guess Gio, being a political strategist and having an inhumane amount of control over his feelings, was better able to weigh the possibilities/outcomes of fighting for her. He realized that he couldn't stop what happened without putting B in danger...or her family..or his friends, and needed to ensure a clean win with minimal backlash and the proper backup. I'll need to keep telling myself this because I'm still miffed, and not all that ready to forgive him :(

-This is not a grievance, but I do want to mention how bad I felt for B's dad. He didn't ask for any of those things to happen to him and must have suffered as a result. I would have liked B to have been a bit more compassionate about her fathers situation. Even if he did mess with her head, she must realize that he had no idea he was hurting her.
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Oct 19, 2011 Glamoured rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone of my friends

Shelves: fiction-paranormal, paranormal-vampires, mystery, favorite, my-reviews

Having spent many, many hours in libraries doing research myself, I enjoyed "A Hidden Fire", Elemental Mysteries Book 1. In fact, once I started reading it, I found it difficult to put down. It had the right blend of mystery, intrigue, paranormal elements and well-developed, likable characters. I read most of it in one sitting!

The premise of the book had me intrigued just by description alone:
"No secret stays hidden forever."

"A phone call from an old friend sets Dr. Giovanni 'Gio' Vecchio back o...more Having spent many, many hours in libraries doing research myself, I enjoyed "A Hidden Fire", Elemental Mysteries Book 1. In fact, once I started reading it, I found it difficult to put down. It had the right blend of mystery, intrigue, paranormal elements and well-developed, likable characters. I read most of it in one sitting!

The premise of the book had me intrigued just by description alone:
"No secret stays hidden forever."

"A phone call from an old friend sets Dr. Giovanni 'Gio' Vecchio back on the path of a mystery he'd abandoned years before. He never expected a young librarian could hold the key to the search, nor could he have expected the danger she would attract. Now he and Beatrice De Novo will follow a twisted maze that leads from the archives of a university library, through the fires of Renaissance Florence, and toward a confrontation they never could have predicted."

The writer keeps us in the dark as to what kind of paranormal being Gio is at first but quickly lets us in on the secret. Though brooding Gio himself is guarded, the bits of his character and past are slowly revealed as the author reveals his layers one at a time. All is not as it seems. With Gio, I found myself comparing him a bit to Jericho Barrons from the Fever series: hot, mysterious, sexy, aloof and full of fire, literally in Gio's case.

Beatrice De Novo, or B as she likes to be called, is a college senior and works part-time in the university archives with plans to attend grad school to earn a master of library science. From the moment that she meets Gio, who visits the archives to do some research on an old manuscript, she is intrigued by him and attracted to his good looks.

B is a smart, well-educated, combat boot-wearing, and somewhat damaged young woman. Losing both parents at an early age, she was raised by her grandparents. She finds herself having trust issues because of her past romantic entanglements, but falls for Gio despite the mixed signals she gets from him and from her own heart. Clearly both of them are in denial about revealing their true feelings for each other.

Brought together by a shared interest in research, they begin a tentative friendship, and eventually, Gio talks her into working for him to assist in his own research endeavors for his wealthy clientele. As they get to know one another, she discovers more and more of his secret life and why, unlike her, he is unsuited to work with modern technology--hindered by his elemental affinity. The elemental affinity premise is also something I liked about the House of Night series though the two series are entirely different.

While there is plenty of sexual tension between our couple, the author chose to focus more on the story and mystery and not entirely on the lemony goodness which so many authors rely heavily upon these days. She weaves an electrically-charged chemistry between Gio and B. The characters are extremely well-written, and I found myself chortling over Caspar (Gio's adopted friend), Isadora (B's grandmother), and Carwyn, an old, old acquaintance of Gio's (who was fabulous, by the way).

"A Hidden Fire" is an emotional roller coaster of great fun. You don't know who the nasty villain in the book is for some time. The main and supporting characters will win your heart. The historical renaissance-era mystery will be intriguing for the reader as well and keep you guessing throughout the novel. I highly recommend it and eagerly await the release of book 2 in December.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Oct 15, 2011 Prangon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, read-in-2011, fantasy, vampire, mystery, review-copy, arc, romance

In four words, I absolutely loved it.

A Hidden Fire, is a paranormal mystery where you learn yet some new things about the para world with Dr Vecchio and Miss De Novo. Italian scholar Giovanni Vecchio meets the alluring librarian Beatrice de Novo in a trip to the local library. A friendship is formed between them and eventually a mystery of finding some age old documents that leads them in a journey where Beatrice learns some of the hidden truths about the world. Giovanni and Beatrice becomes so...more In four words, I absolutely loved it.

A Hidden Fire, is a paranormal mystery where you learn yet some new things about the para world with Dr Vecchio and Miss De Novo. Italian scholar Giovanni Vecchio meets the alluring librarian Beatrice de Novo in a trip to the local library. A friendship is formed between them and eventually a mystery of finding some age old documents that leads them in a journey where Beatrice learns some of the hidden truths about the world. Giovanni and Beatrice becomes something more than just acquaintance along the way and at some point of their journey Giovanni finds himself attracted to Beatrice. Her humorous and quick retort stirred feelings inside him that he had put away long ago.

Giovanni's Italian accent and his dark brooding looks finished with the dash of the supernatural powers, he was definitely an eye catcher. Beatrice is a student working only part time as a librarian where she meets Gio, her Spanish heritage is not so strong in her appearance.

Both Giovanni and Beatrice are very much in denial of their feelings for each other in front of their friends and to themselves. Giovanni's reluctance to admit about his feelings is understandable. Beatrice did seem to have strong feelings about the Italian but she too was guarded of her emotions. I loved how the relationship between Beatrice and Giovanni grew, their friendship gradually grew into something more.

Elizabeth Hunter very successfully included some of the most well known Italian renaissance figures in her story, blending them in with ease. I don't want to giveaway anything from the story too much, as there are many twists in the book that took me by surprise, I'll wait for the readers to find that out for themselves.

A Hidden Fire is the first book of Element series, and at the end of the first book you can read the first chapter of the second installment to Element series, This Same Earth. After reading that, I am in a heap of emotions...

It's been awhile that I read a book with a vampire being its main character. And I am so glad that I did! A Hidden Fire is a beautiful creation of Elizabeth Hunter, her detailed lively description about each character and situation is one of the things that captured my attention. Recommended to all paranormal fantasy readers. This is a must read!

The book cover might not give the paranormal vibe as it should but I love this cover anyway. An old library stuffed with books that has a rich liquorish furnish all over, in reality this can make any book loving girl like me go weak on the knees. (less)

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Mar 19, 2012 Emmy rated it 5 of 5 stars

"Tell the truth, Giovanni Vecchio." A mischievous look came to her eye. "You have a butler, a cool car, and I've only seen you at night..."

He froze, tension suddenly evident in the set of his shoulders. Beatrice leaned closer and whispered, "You're Batman, aren't you?"

This debut novel by Elizabeth and the first in the Elemental Mysteries series was published last October. Luckily for you readers who decide to give it a try, This Same Earth (book 2) and The Force of Wind (book 3) are now availabl...more

10 likes · like · see review

Apr 17, 2013 Wendy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, pnr, favorites

This a wonderful book full of rich characters, a puzzling mystery that will have you engrossed in no time. Elizabeth Hunter has built a paranormal world that has characters with their own unique abilities. But there’s no bigger mystery than our own hero Giovanni. There’s definitely more to this character that meets the eye and he’s absolutely gorgeous!

Beatrice our heroine is bubbly, intelligent and is a perfect match for Gio. The romance is fabulously written. It's not a quick romp when they fir...more

19 likes · like · see review

Jan 11, 2012 Jess the Romanceaholic rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampires, family-issues, kidnapped, betrayal, alpha-male, 2011-read, requested-review, no-hea, no-smexin, librarian, magick, favorite-heroes, urban-fantasy

This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.

Expected Release Date: October 13, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Self-published
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://elementalmysteries.com/
My Source for This Book: Gift from the author
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1, Elemental Mysteries
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Warm

I’m not certain what exactly I expected when I first opened this book, but whatever it was, it could not have possibly lived up to the real...more This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.

Expected Release Date: October 13, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Self-published
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://elementalmysteries.com/
My Source for This Book: Gift from the author
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1, Elemental Mysteries
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Warm

I’m not certain what exactly I expected when I first opened this book, but whatever it was, it could not have possibly lived up to the reality of how enjoyable it actually was. Ms. Hunter’s writing voice is simply addictive, and her ability to make you actually care about her characters is going to take her very far in the publishing world.

Beatrice (B) is not your “typical” heroine of a paranormal story. She’s not secretly a magical creature, she’s not some awesome fighter with super ninja skills, nor is she some delicate flower. Instead, she’s so very real. She has insecurities, a temper, and an inquisitive nature that greatly endeared her to me, and her relationship with Gio progresses so gradually and naturally that you barely even realize it’s happening until Gio throws everything under the bus for reasons unbeknownst to B at the time.

Gio was intriguing as well. Determined to keep himself apart from B, as he recognizes that there’s more than a simple age difference throwing stumbling blocks in their path, I don’t even think he even actaully realized he was in love with B until long after his actions loudly spoke that fact for him.

In short, I loved it. While I am a bit saddened that there was no clear “romantic happily ever after” for these two, in this particular story I have to admit that there really shouldn’t have been. Anything else would have felt wrong, because no matter how much both B and Gio greatly cared for each other, or even loved each other, there were still so many obstacles in their path that it wouldn’t have truly made sense for them to have instantly ridden off into the proverbial sunset together.

A very solid 4.5/5 Stars.(less)

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Apr 27, 2013 NiteReader rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to NiteReader by: Anna (Bobs Her Hair)

Shelves: free, paranormal, first-in-series, 2013-reads, favourites, kobo

I LOVED THIS BOOK!

4 likes · like · see review

Dec 31, 2012 Virginia Travis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook-1, fantasy, romantic, mystery-thriller, read-2012, beyond-amazing, laughable-moments

I wish I could conceive of deserving enough words of praise so I could shout them aloud; for A Hidden Fire has lit a fire within me. No need to leave Giovanni or Beatrice for I have their entire story awaiting me and THAT is all I want at this moment!

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 29, 2012 Toni ~married to a hunk~ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, 2012-read, favorite-series

I loved this book. I wasn't sure when I started it but I felt for all the characters. I even thought the secondary characters had a lot of thought put into them. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. I love that there wasn't a HEA so that I can see how this changes Beatrice and Gio.

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 19, 2011 Kara-karina rated it 5 of 5 stars

4.5/5
I haven't been that thrilled and awed by a self-publishing author since I've read Meilin Miranda's Lovers and Beloveds.

Some books are like delicious dark chocolate, but some books are like exquisite red wine - rich, intoxicating, powerful. A Hidden Fire is just one such book.

It reminds you why you fell in love with vampires all those years ago when you had your first Anne Rice's book or watched Count Dracula with his fake Transylvanian accent charm Mina.

A Hidden Fire delivers strong feel of...more 4.5/5
I haven't been that thrilled and awed by a self-publishing author since I've read Meilin Miranda's Lovers and Beloveds.

Some books are like delicious dark chocolate, but some books are like exquisite red wine - rich, intoxicating, powerful. A Hidden Fire is just one such book.

It reminds you why you fell in love with vampires all those years ago when you had your first Anne Rice's book or watched Count Dracula with his fake Transylvanian accent charm Mina.

A Hidden Fire delivers strong feel of Anne Rice but with a touch of Elizabeth Kostova and Dan Brown. It's not a paranormal romance, but a mystery with romantic elements.

Two main characters, - Beatrice, a young and very bright Goth girl slash librarian, and a 500 year old vampire Giovanni work together to unravel a mystery, stay alive and bring the villain down.

Giovanni or Gio had been groomed as a perfect vampire and turned young five centuries ago by an unhinged Master. As an Italian aristocrat who grew up in times of Borgia he is a skilled politician, strategist and has an enormous self-control, but he can't help being fascinated by Beatrice.

However, this is one of the few rare book where a vampire acts his age, and not like a train wrecked on hormones teenager. He thinks things through and thinks of the consequences. Both Beatrice and Gio fight their attraction, there is this gradually building sexual tension between them during the whole book... And this is another thing I was so wild about. Nothing heats up blood better than delayed sexual gratification :)

Secondary characters are just as mesmerizing. The pace is unhurried (the book covers I think over a year and a half of Beatrice's life), the action is very Anne Rice-ish, and the powers of each vampire are frankly unique.

I'm sorry I'm giving you spoilers, but I can't help gushing about this book. This is one of the two books which absolutely blew me away last month. I can't stop thinking about it, and I'm very glad that the second book This Same Earth comes out on the 7th of December. I'm privileged to get the ARC, and the review will be coming very soon.

Guys, you absolutely have to read it, especially if you like old world vampires. This was terrific.(less)

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Nov 09, 2012 Cortney rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, mystery, cover-love, multiple-povs, made-me-laugh, vampires-werewolves, read-in-2012, romance, boring-at-times, buddy-read, series-dealbreaker, so-disappointed

11/9/12 re-read: a little better the second time around but still not as good as the other books in the series.

2.5 stars

The pacing was too slow and I was so disappointed with the ending. I doubt I will read the next book in the series

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May 20, 2013 Joy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Tell the truth, Giovanni Vecchio." A mischievous look came to her eye. "You have a butler, a cool car, and I've only ever seen you at night..."

He froze, tension suddenly evident in the set of his shoulders. Beatrice leaned closer and whispered, "You're Batman, aren't you?”

What a great book this is--and it was free! (I think it is still free on Amazon today) Very well written story--interesting/smart characters and an author who pulls you in--I was only going to read the first chapter--see if I...more

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 14, 2012 Janice (the_red1) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, vampires

What a find! A Hidden Fire was not at ALL the type of vampire book I am accustomed to reading. Instead of a dark, brooding hero oozing sex appeal, and a heroine who can't fall into the hero's arms fast enough, I was treated to a slow-cooking romance with a dash of mystery that centers around the search for BOOKS. Really, what's not to love about that? lol

Beatrice De Novo is a librarian in training who works in the rare book/manuscript department at her local university. When she takes over the...more What a find! A Hidden Fire was not at ALL the type of vampire book I am accustomed to reading. Instead of a dark, brooding hero oozing sex appeal, and a heroine who can't fall into the hero's arms fast enough, I was treated to a slow-cooking romance with a dash of mystery that centers around the search for BOOKS. Really, what's not to love about that? lol

Beatrice De Novo is a librarian in training who works in the rare book/manuscript department at her local university. When she takes over the night shift from one of her coworkers, she meets the enigmatic and handsome scholar, Giovanni. The two develop an almost instant rapport, based on their mutual love of history and books, and a respect for each other's knowledge and researching skills. It's obvious they have chemistry, but neither one is willing to act on it. Instead, they keep things strictly professional. But there are things about Giovanni that just don't add up in Beatrice's mind, little inconsistencies and odd behavior, and the more they work together, the more curious she becomes. It isn't long before Beatrice unearth's Giovanni's secret: he's a 500-year-old vampire with the ability to manipulate fire, and he's spent centuries hunting for a certain collection of books that may, or may not, be in the possession of someone from Beatrice's past. Shocked and feeling more than a little used and betrayed, Beatrice does what any sensible girl would (or should) do.

"Don't call me," she tells Gio. "I'll call you." Even better, she means it! She doesn't try to contact him the next day because she misses him and can't bear to live without him. No, she makes him wait weeks before she initiates contact again, and even then, she's understandably wary around him.

If I wasn't already sold on the book at that point (which I was), that right there would have sealed the deal for me.

The rest of the book focuses on Gio and Beatrice's quest to discover the lost books and the further development of their relationship over a period of several months. (Yes, months, not mere days!) There are a few action scenes, and when Gio gets his vamp on, it's pretty impressive, but if you're looking for a high octane reading experience, you won't find it in A Hidden Fire. The story does lack a certain sense of urgency, but I was so caught up in the characters, I hardly noticed. The cast is delightful - witty, intelligent, and likable. Even the villain entertained me.

What I liked best, though, was the romance between Gio and Beatrice. It doesn't boil; it simmers. I loved that. Nothing against bodice-ripper novels, but given the choice, I prefer a romance that isn't afraid to take its time, and Elizabeth Hunter delivered that.

5 stars. (less)

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Mar 03, 2013 Didi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: alpha-male, betrayal, book-boyfriend-material, favorites, finding-the-one, more-than-friends, my-vampire-lover, paranormal-romance

As seen on www.choicebookreviews.net.

AMAZING.

SPECTACTULAR.

BEAUTIFUL.

COULD.NOT.PUT.IT.DOWN.

This has been sitting on my TRB's for a while now and finally, FINALLY! I read it. And my only question is...WHY THE HELL DID I WAIT SO DAMN LONG??!!!

It was so fantastically amazing I am still reeling from it's punch of awesomeness! This is a paranormal romance and the BEST VAMPIRE-DRIVEN PARANORMAL ROMANCE I'VE EVER READ. Boom! that's what I just said!! And here's the clincher:

The romance wasn't fast. It w...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Charity rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

How the heck did this sweet gem almost slip under my radar? And at no cost!!!

A Hidden Fire is probably the smartest book in it’s genre that I have read all year. It’s intellectual but lacks pretense. It’s sexy with a lot of class. The characters are intense and complex sans all of the annoying drama.

I simply fell in love with this book and let me tell you why. It takes its time and doesn’t rush the reader from one action packed scene to the next. The romance develops very slowly, but not too slo...more How the heck did this sweet gem almost slip under my radar? And at no cost!!!

A Hidden Fire is probably the smartest book in it’s genre that I have read all year. It’s intellectual but lacks pretense. It’s sexy with a lot of class. The characters are intense and complex sans all of the annoying drama.

I simply fell in love with this book and let me tell you why. It takes its time and doesn’t rush the reader from one action packed scene to the next. The romance develops very slowly, but not too slow that you’re just fed up with all the tension. I found that I too wanted to slow down and take my time with this book. Just sit back and take it in slowly like a fine wine. And at 449 pages, it does not disappoint.

Are you hooked yet? You should be!

I appreciated all of the research, hard work and dedication that it must have taken to write this novel. The richness of history, language and literature, was so refreshing. I was very impressed . Like I stated before,...smart!

A Hidden Fire is a para-romance but it also falls into the Mystery category. Gio, being a finder/ tracker of lost and hidden treasures is on the hunt for his own lost piece of personal history. B is a librarian and helps Gio in his research and investigation. B also has a haunted past and hopes Gio can help her gain some understanding and closure so she can move on with her life. I loved the pacing of trying to locate Gio’s lost past personal treasure as well as his struggle with his heart. These problems weren’t solved over night, and kudos for that. I mean why rush a good story, right? B and Gio's working relationship, investigative work and developing romance spanned over a period of months. For me, that just made the story feel so real.
When I read quality of work like this it tells me that Elizabeth Hunter is a mature and confident writer.

The characters B and Gio were so multi-faceted and alluring. They are very three-dimensional. I honestly I felt like I knew them and that I was right along side them through their whole journey.

The supporting characters are quick witted and lovable. Almost like a favorite aunt or uncle. As a reader, I felt connected to the characters. I cared a lot about them. I wanted them to be successful. I wanted them to triumph. I felt heartache for Gio when... (oops I won’t give it away). Sorry, no spoilers here :)

Basically, A hidden Fire is a big fat hit in my book. Check it out! It’s free for on Kindle at the moment. Why wouldn’t you?

5 stars for A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter!!!

I already have the rest of her series lined up in my queue to read. I am excited to see what becomes of B and Gio!(less)

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Oct 01, 2012 Belkis rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: love

Absolutely marvelous beginning to an awesome series. So happy to have found it. Have been desperately wanting to sink myself into a worthy and intelligently written series and this one is definitely THE ONE. I LOVE IT when this happens. This first book was just glorious. The main characters were such a treat. Giovanni and Beatrice are witty, interesting, multifaceted,complex personalities that keep you rooting and feeling for them throughout the entire book. Their chemistry is palpable and the r...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Katya rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: vampire, suspense-mystery, paranormal-rom, favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 18, 2012 Katya rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: vampire, paranormal-rom, urban-fantasy, suspense-mystery

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 28, 2012 ~Monica's*In*Love*With*Solitude~ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-fantasy-romance, thriller-horror-mystery

This was absolutely amazing! It is up on my list of favorite adult paranormal romance fiction books of all time! It is up with the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning ...yes, it's that good!

I definetely recommend it if you enjoyed the Fever series and if you like a mix of history, adventure, romance (*swoon* Giovanni!!! <3), drama, and a whole lot of creepy! Well, not a whole lot, but let's just say that the antagonist is far from sane!

...wow, I'm so lazy I can't even find the energy to write...more

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May 21, 2013 Lynn rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book of the Elemental Mysteries series. I am a bit burned out on series in general and probably wouldn't have chosen it if I had realized that going in but I guess in retrospect I am glad that I went in blind. I've had this on my kindle for eons since back when it was free but had forgotten about it. In trying to clear out some of the old stuff I began to read, knowing nothing about it.

This series happens to be about vampires with an interesting twist. Each vampire has powers r...more This is the first book of the Elemental Mysteries series. I am a bit burned out on series in general and probably wouldn't have chosen it if I had realized that going in but I guess in retrospect I am glad that I went in blind. I've had this on my kindle for eons since back when it was free but had forgotten about it. In trying to clear out some of the old stuff I began to read, knowing nothing about it.

This series happens to be about vampires with an interesting twist. Each vampire has powers related to a single element- water, wind, earth, fire. I am not a huge vampire person but I have read some of Ann Rice's books (ages ago) and also the Twilight books (to see what all the hoopla was about). I am not pro or anti vampire though. This book series is part paranormal romance and part mystery/action/suspense. The mystery/suspense part reminded me a bit of a Dan Brown book (think The Da Vinci Code). There is political intrigue and trying to figure out the players and how they fit in. With some of the characters being vampires the action and stakes are raised a bit.

This first book is a slower read. It is more about establishing characters and background than the story that eventually evolves in later books. You meet the main two characters Gio and Beatrice, more commonly known as B. I have mixed feelings about Gio but I really love B's character. She is the human in this story. She is a strong character and much better than the usual weak type of main female that I find populate so many books. She reacted in ways that I thought were understandable. If I had one complaint about the girl it is that she cries.....a lot. That is the case through the whole series. She is strong and doesn't put up with other peoples crap though so don't let that emotionally expressive side of her make you think otherwise. Gio is the vampire. He has both positives and negatives, the negatives mostly aspects such as arrogance and that kind of thing. His personality and the choices he makes (through out the series) make sense for who he is for the most part. Even when he is doing things that made me mad I understood where he is coming from in his own mind and way of looking at things.

There is no insta love and actually the whole book is about building a basis for their relationship. You have to be okay with delayed gratification if you choose to read series as it is slow building. I think some people posted about this story moving too slowly for them but I didn't find that at all. There is always an atmosphere of mystery that kept me engaged even when there isn't a whole lot technically going on in the story. It's not for everyone but I liked the pace.

Since this book does take its time there are some great side characters that we are introduced to. Carwyn is my favorite since he is brings some lightness and humor to this first book. I like character driven novels so this worked to my preferences. The book ends with things in a semi resolved state. There is no cliff hanger but you can tell there is much more to come. I immediately picked up the next book. The series is pretty absorbing to me.

My main complaints, and they are very minor and petty, is that the author overuses the word smirk as well as the term cocking (of the eyebrow or the head etc etc). While I did a couple of times through out the series inevitably make comparisons to the Twilight books since they were my only actual vampire romance (Ann Rice's books aren't that), this book really handled things differently. There is some minor overlap but really the way the characters handle things is very different and the books ultimately don't merit much comparison. B is so much stronger and more dynamic than Bella that other than the same initial, they were completely different types of people.(less)

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May 09, 2013 Deb Haas rated it 3 of 5 stars

Picked this up through Amazon 'cause it was free in Kindle form. I figured, eh, if it's crap I won't read it. It's happened before. Well, I just ordered the 4th and final book in this series... So yea, definitely worth the initial investment.

I've been reading urban fantasy and paranormal novels for about 5 years now and have found that, like other genres, there are some that are well-written and some that are just bad. This falls closer to the well-written side. The characters are consistent eno...more

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Mar 24, 2013 Loves To Dive rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a free book that looked interesting so I downloaded it for my “read some time when I have nothing else to read” file. I was in the middle of reading another book that I was having trouble with so I decided to dig into that file and pulled up A Hidden Fire, boy am I glad I did. Ms. Hunter is a new author to me and I’m glad I found her, I have a feeling she is going to become a favorite.

The book starts off in the basement of a University library where a silent, good looking man somehow ma...more This was a free book that looked interesting so I downloaded it for my “read some time when I have nothing else to read” file. I was in the middle of reading another book that I was having trouble with so I decided to dig into that file and pulled up A Hidden Fire, boy am I glad I did. Ms. Hunter is a new author to me and I’m glad I found her, I have a feeling she is going to become a favorite.

The book starts off in the basement of a University library where a silent, good looking man somehow manipulates a student to conduct research for him on a computer. We immediately know that this is not going to be your usual mystery/paranormal book. Who or what is this man? Why doesn’t he just do his own research? What is this strange power of persuasion he has? Hmmmm, a good mystery to begin our journey. Our mystery man turns out to be the very rich, very mysterious, very good looking Giovanni Vecchio. We learn that Giovanni drives a vintage Mustang, lives in a mansion and has a servant/friend named Casper. Hmmmm, more mystery – how does this man make the money that allows him to live this way, who is Casper? I’m hooked by this point and then I meet young librarian named Beatrice – B. to her friends, who works nights in the Special Collections department. Gio (no one calls him that but B. does) and Beatrice (no one calls her that but Giovanni does) are immediately intrigued by each other, each curious about the other for different reasons. As we get deeper into the book we will get to know each of them and get to know their secrets, secrets that will change lives.

As a reviewer for The Paranormal Romance Guild I read a lot of books, all of which keep me so busy reading and writing reviews that I rarely get to sit down and read a book just for fun, this one was just that, fun. Ms. Hunter gives us a story full of interesting characters who are all so well written that we can’t help but feel by the end of the book that we’ve found good friends. I loved Gio’s reserved nature that he hides behind, yet Beatrice somehow manages to bring out his humor and passion. Beatrice is a young girl with her head on straight but who still likes a good adventure and isn’t afraid to take chances. She is the perfect match for Gio. His friend Casper is amusing and fun, the perfect man to counterbalance Giovanni’s stuffiness. We also meet Giovanni’s good friend, a Welsh priest named Carwyn who is big and loud and loves to tease Giovanni. The two of them together are a hoot to watch and a team to fear. There are a number of other characters who flit in and out of the story, all of whom are well written and interesting to get to know.

This book has everything the lover of Paranormal Mystery/Romance could possibly want, strong characters, a good mystery, a little romance and a lot of fun. I did have a niggle or two, Beatrice couldn’t seem to figure out who she was, one moment a strong young woman, the next sort of wishy washy and the ending left something to be desired. My niggles aside, this is a darn good book and good job on offering it for free or I may have never picked it up, I’m hooked on this series now and will definitely be reading the rest.
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Jan 30, 2013 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: pnr-very-enjoyable-series, it-s-a-fine-line-between-pnr-and-ur, i-want-more

It's a Kindle freebie right now, go on...get it!! You know you want to. :)

Honestly, I wouldn't have gotten this book (freebie or not) if I'd known that it featured vampires. I'm just terribly worn out with the blood-sucking bastards! However, it was free and the book synopsis really grabbed my attention so I thought, what the hell. Right?!

Wow, what a great find! The best part is that it is the first book in a 4-book series...that is complete...and each book gets better...and BETTER!! The story i...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Beth Evant rated it 2 of 5 stars

I am not sure who this book caters to. Not me. It is an entertaining read, well written and fully developed, but I had some problems with it. First of all why did everyone think Beatrice was so awesome and brilliant? This young lady did absolutely nothing to show that she was brilliant. To me, she was immature. I found it hard to believe that a 500 year old classy vampire would be attracted to her in any way. I found myself hoping that he would fall in love with one of the ladies that he would s...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Miriam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I think my review will be partial here. I've been stuck in bed with fever for quite a few days and so I'm pretty emotional. I don't think I would have cried so frequently on this book otherwise.
I enjoyed it and liked the story.
I liked the characters quite a lot. I often find that sometimes in books, they say a character is intelligent, but then they don't make it behave like an intelligent person.
I liked that here the character made leaps of reasoning, didn't make too many stupid questions an...more

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About Elizabeth Hunter

Elizabeth Hunter is a contemporary fantasy and romance author. She is a graduate of the University of Houston Honors College in the Department of English (Linguistics) and a former English teacher.

She currently lives in Central California with a seven-year-old ninja who claims to be her child. She enjoys reading, writing, travel, and bowling (despite the fact that she’s not very good at it.) Somed...more

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Books by Elizabeth Hunter

This Same Earth (Elemental Mysteries, #2)

The Force of Wind (Elemental Mysteries, #3)

A Fall of Water (Elemental Mysteries #4)

Building From Ashes (Elemental World, #1)

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Quotes from A Hidden Fire

“Far be it from me to keep a woman from her book. That could become dangerous” — 88 people liked it

“And I also believe that love can work miracles."

"Love?" She cocked an eyebrow at him. "What about friendship? Can that work miracles, too?"

Carwyn rolled his eyes. "Silly B, love is friendship...just with less clothes, which makes it far more brilliant.” — 50 people liked it

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A Hidden Fire (Elemental Mysteries #1)

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