The Frost and the Fire

by Gloria Bevan

The property for sale in Auckland sounded exactly what Liz had had in mind for the riding school she dreamed of, so she promptly bought it, sight unseen. It was a rude shock when she discovered what the place was really like, but Liz was undeterred.

Could it be that her stubborn determination to stay and make a go of things had a lot to do with proving herself to that strangely disturbing Peter Farraday?

Genres: Harlequin Romance

274 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Gloria Isabel Bevan
aka Fiona Murray, Gloria Bevan

Gloria Isabel was born on 20 July 1911 in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Australia, the daughter of a mining engineer. At three, her family moved to New Zealand, and considers herself a New Zealander. She lived in Auckland, from 1926 to 1936. On 1937, she married Thomas Henry Bevan, a building inspector, and they had three daughters.

After leaving school she worked as a typist, but she had been writing stories for as long as she could remember and feel "there's a certain magic about writing even when the characters refuse to act the way I want them to." She not begin to publishing until she was well into her fifties, first detective novels as Fiona Murray in 1965, She started corresponding with fellow New Zealand writer, Essie Summers who introduced her to publisher Alan Boon and under her married name, Gloria Bevan, she wrote 25 contemporary romance novels for Mills & Boon from 1969 to 1992, many of which are set in her beloved New Zealand. When not writing, she explored the many and varied exotic locations within reach of her suburban Auckland home. Her obvious love of her country and her particular talent for weaving interesting background information into her novels made her a popular romance writer of her era.

Gloria Bevan was interviewed by New Zealand author Rachel McAlpine in 1992 for The Passionate Pen. This was published in 1998. In The Passionate Pen's Introduction, McAlpine mentions that Gloria Bevan had moved into a rest home. According to New Zealand's National Library website, Mrs Bevan died in 1998

Reviews

[Margo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two and a half stars. I agree with SallyB's review, with a few additions: The h's dream of opening a school for disabled children to ride had me horrified, over and over, at the real-life potential for complete disaster. I mean, it was nice that she was high-minded, but I kind of agreed with the OW that people's admiration of the h was a bit ridiculous, considering that they'd have to be scrambling behind the scenes to make sure that children did not die in the h's care. (The OW had other reasons, but I have the feeling I'd be muttering under my breath a lot, too.) The h definitely got a ton of accolades, but she begrudged the OW a moment in the spotlight at the school's Christmas party, which made me think that the h was one of those people who somehow knew how to manipulate others into praising her.

That brings me to the OW. I can't tell if the H was a willing participant in making the OW's real love interest jealous, or if he just blithely ignored the whole thing and just thought he was keeping the OW company while she figured things out. He certainly didn't seem to see any hypocrisy in his being jealous of the h when she is pursued by a wealthy businessman, so I'm kind of thinking he was the type who just saw what he wanted to see and really wasn't conscious he was being played, in which case, he was a pretty good guy who genuinely cared for the h and was willing to back her crazy schemes.

[Andi]

DNF. I lost patience with the well-intentioned but TSTL h. Someone who lacks common sense should not be entrusted with running a riding school for children with cerebral palsy.

[Last Chance Saloon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really cute heroine, who falls for the hero immediately and is given gossip about him and the OW that spoils their path to happiness.
3/2 stars for a sweet heroine with confidence and determination to follow her dream.