White Fire

by Janet Louise Roberts, Rebecca Danton (Pseudonym)

SHE USED HER BODY TO BUY HER HUSBAND'S DREAMS.

Lord Jerrold has the power to turn the Meissner Pottery Works into one of the most successful in the world, if only Mrs. Meissner—the graceful and beautiful Lilian—will meet bis insistent demand: COME TO ME!

What begins as an obligation for her, a harmless flirtation for him, explodes into a wild love that forges a legacy of sacrifice to the insatiable fires of the Jerrold heritage.

285 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 12, 1982

About the author

See pseudonyms Louisa Bronte, Rebecca Danton & Janette Radcliffe. Some of the listed titles are more straight romance than romantic suspense.

Janet Louise Roberts was born on January 20, 1925, in New Britain Connecticut, the daughter of a missionary in a conservative church. She wrote contemporary, historical, and gothic romances, as well as occult horror romances such as The Devil’s Own, Isle of the Dolphins, Lord Satan, and Her Demon Lover. She used pseudonyms for several of her works.

Roberts died on June 11, 1982 in Dayton, Ohio.

Reviews

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off, I'm not a big fan of a story opening with the characters already married..have children..have marital issues..and have no "character" to the characters.
I just couldn't connect with any of them..selfishness in abundance here!
Then..the story/plot just kept "flash forwarding" 10 years!
I felt cheated at the start, not getting any background on the characters and getting to know them.
Then again, maybe that was a good thing cause I sure didn't like any of them!
The "fast forwarding" left me feeling cheated and rushed, but then I'm thinking.. maybe the author wasn't interested in giving me character depth, history, a decent plot line..all wrapped up in less than 300 pages? :/
The ending left me wanting no more..
2 stars for the cover..only

[Spazfungus · Rating 1 out of 5]

"My poor rating is probably due to the fact I'm not a fan of blackmail, adultery, miscommunication, and selfishness, all in abundance in this novel. Jerrold has no redeeming value, his supposed great love for Lillian never overcomes his love for his own comfort. At least in the end he realizes this. Sadly Jerrod's son Cedric and Lillian's first born Oliver, both interesting and good men, only get passing mentions. Lillian's entire life is just plain depressing, not what I'm looking for in a romance novel.

****Spoiler Summary****

Sigmund Meissner and son Hanford want to make porcelain, petitions for startup funds. Jerrold tricks them into proceeding, but won't provide funds until Lillian becomes his mistress. Bankrupt, she does, becomes pregnant, refuses to continue. Hanford realizes his ambition drove her to this. 10 years later, Jerrold sees his daughter Antonia, talks to Lillian, Hanford thinks they are resuming the affair, joins the army, dies. After his son's death, Jerrold bonds with Antonia, dies. New Lord Jerrold, Geoffery, loves Antonia, but when she realizes he caused Hanford's death, breaks engagement. Almost raped by a rejected suitor who then sets Geoffery's stable on fire, Antonia decides life is too short, accepts Geoffery's proposal"

[K.J. Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second Janet Louise Roberts book that I have read recently and I have to say that I do enjoy them. These books are a little different to the usual regency romances that you often come across. This one is actually a saga rather than a romance, with the story spanning two generations and not all of our main characters get to find happiness.
It begins with the story of Lillian and Kingsley. She is the young wife of a potter. Her marriage was one made for the benefit of her parents and her husbands business and while her husband does show moments of tenderness, he is for the most part unappreciative of her and they do not love one another. She finds love and affection with local lord Kingsley, who uses his position and wealth to force her into becoming his lover, but ultimately they do come to love one another. The events of the rest of the book are, for the most part, the result of this adulterous love affair and it is more than Lillian and Kingsley that pay for it.
There is love and happiness at the end of this book, but not for our first couple. Instead, the next generation manages to find their way to peace and happiness.
I really enjoyed this book. I was drawn into the world and the characters and couldn't help but want to know how it would all play out. I do think that it won't be for everyone though. It moves quite slowly and much of the initial storyline is around the romance that Kingsley and Lillian have when they are both married to other people. If adultery is a deal-breaker for you, then this might not be for you. That said, there is a moral judgement in this book, as those who have acted this way do not get to be happily ever after. It's a shame in some ways, as in some ways these things are beyond their control and I think need to be taken in the context of their situation and the time that it's set.
Like the previous book, there are a few small things that give it away as being written by someone who is not British, but it's not big enough to spoil the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed White Fire and would be happy to read more of Robert's books.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really have mixed feelings about this book. White Fire is a book about love, hate, passion, sin, and perception. This book draws you into the story of Lillian and Hanford and their quiet life of making pottery. But then Lord Jerreld comes along with his selfish desires and Lillian gives in. Throughout the story I was looking for a certain build up or ending to the story that never came. There was too much "I can, I can't" toward the end of the story. The characters were not as strong in the second half of the story as the first half. I enjoyed the story and I would recommend it. It just didn't leave me wanting more.