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Summer Fire
No situation could be more ridiculousTo be "hiding out" as a rich man's maid at Abbott's Arbory did not suit Pandora at all. She was thoroughly modern, enjoying her university friends and her fast motorcycle. And she thought that rich people were greedy capitalists!But there seemed nothing greedy about Sir James Arbory, baronet, wealthy though he was.Pandora was too smart, however, to make a fool of herself over a member of the nobility. Even if he was handsome. Even if she wasn't really his servant. Even, in fact, if she loved him....
236 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1981
53 people want to read
About the author
Sally Wentworth
108 books95 followersDoreen was born on 1936 or 1937 in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, UK. She married Donald Alfred Hornsblow, with whom she has a son Keith, in 1968. The family lived in Braughing, England.
Doreen began her publishing career at a Fleet Street newspaper in London, where she thrived in the hectic atmosphere. She started writing after attending an evening class and sold her first novel to Mills & Boon in 1977, she published her novels under the pseudonym Sally Wentworth. Her novels were principally set in Great Britain or in exotic places like Canary Islands or Greece. Her first works are stand-alone novels, but in 1990s, she decided to create her first series. In 1991, she wrote a book in two parts about the Barclay twins and their great love, and in 1995, she wrote the Ties of Passion Trilogy about the Brodey family, that have money, looks, style, everything... except love.
Doreen was an accounts clerk at Associated Newspapers Ltd. in London, England, and accounts clerk at Consumers' Association in Hertford, England. In 1985, she was the founding chair of the Hertford Association of National Trust Members, and named its life president. She also collected knife rests and she was member of The Knife Rest Collectors Club.
Doreen Hornsblow died from cancer on 30 August 2001, at 64 years of age.
Doreen began her publishing career at a Fleet Street newspaper in London, where she thrived in the hectic atmosphere. She started writing after attending an evening class and sold her first novel to Mills & Boon in 1977, she published her novels under the pseudonym Sally Wentworth. Her novels were principally set in Great Britain or in exotic places like Canary Islands or Greece. Her first works are stand-alone novels, but in 1990s, she decided to create her first series. In 1991, she wrote a book in two parts about the Barclay twins and their great love, and in 1995, she wrote the Ties of Passion Trilogy about the Brodey family, that have money, looks, style, everything... except love.
Doreen was an accounts clerk at Associated Newspapers Ltd. in London, England, and accounts clerk at Consumers' Association in Hertford, England. In 1985, she was the founding chair of the Hertford Association of National Trust Members, and named its life president. She also collected knife rests and she was member of The Knife Rest Collectors Club.
Doreen Hornsblow died from cancer on 30 August 2001, at 64 years of age.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 24, 2017
Fiery, modern, motorcycle-riding, nomadic, 80s girl poses as maid to "bloated Capitalist pig" English baronet who is a throwback to the Victorian era. There is a short bit of Eliza Doolittle as she dusts through the ancient manor whistling and horrifying the posh Lord of the Manor with her cockney accent. A rapey OM takes her on a date to the movies to see that old blue flick Emmanuelle (oh the eighties!). A jealous OW tries to use class and social status to kick the heroine in the teeth but she'll have none of it. Even the Hell's Angels make an appearance or two. I think this was supposed to be humorous and whimsical but for me, it was just a hot mess.
February 21, 2019
"Summer Fire" is the story of Pandora and James.
This amazing read has a motorbike riding, well educated, witty heroine who decides to teach our aristocratic hero, Sir James Abbott a lesson by pretending to be his maid! However, as she attracts his attention and soon his lust, she realizes that the feelings are also reciprocated. But their new found attraction has to face a couple of hurdles- the h's uncle who is employed by James, crazy jealous OW, pervy OM and the h's own insecurities.
Very engaging plot with a vivacious, filled with life and backbone heroine who meets her match in the alpha James. The book is told from the h's POV, and the various troubles she gets into- but we know from the start, when the h goes to collect blooms from H's garden in her night-dress, that he is super hoooked. She takes everyone around her on a wild ride, and almost everyone falls for her charms, but a little drama towards the end makes it an overall satisfying read.
Totally enjoyed it!
Safe
4/5
This amazing read has a motorbike riding, well educated, witty heroine who decides to teach our aristocratic hero, Sir James Abbott a lesson by pretending to be his maid! However, as she attracts his attention and soon his lust, she realizes that the feelings are also reciprocated. But their new found attraction has to face a couple of hurdles- the h's uncle who is employed by James, crazy jealous OW, pervy OM and the h's own insecurities.
Very engaging plot with a vivacious, filled with life and backbone heroine who meets her match in the alpha James. The book is told from the h's POV, and the various troubles she gets into- but we know from the start, when the h goes to collect blooms from H's garden in her night-dress, that he is super hoooked. She takes everyone around her on a wild ride, and almost everyone falls for her charms, but a little drama towards the end makes it an overall satisfying read.
Totally enjoyed it!
Safe
4/5
March 31, 2017
If you are looking for an absolutely delightful read, this is it! I was hooked from the very first page.
The h is a motorcycle riding, college with strong communist beliefs and a heart of gold. Her strength and brilliance are obvious from the very start. And her relationship with her Uncle Charlie is just hilarious!
The H is a staid member of the peerage with a long family history and very blue blood. He was fascinated with the h from the moment her saw her collecting flowers. Even her horrendous cockney accent didn't put him off.
Together they amuse and frustrate, but they are wonderful characters. I enjoyed every moment of this book and highly recommend it.
The h is a motorcycle riding, college with strong communist beliefs and a heart of gold. Her strength and brilliance are obvious from the very start. And her relationship with her Uncle Charlie is just hilarious!
The H is a staid member of the peerage with a long family history and very blue blood. He was fascinated with the h from the moment her saw her collecting flowers. Even her horrendous cockney accent didn't put him off.
Together they amuse and frustrate, but they are wonderful characters. I enjoyed every moment of this book and highly recommend it.
May 2, 2011
Loved the book! The heroine was smart and sassy and really made me laugh with her acting efforts.
January 23, 2024
Summer Fire is an absolute scorcher of a novel! Student Pandora, 20, takes a summer job as maid at the stately home where her uncle works as butler. The Lord of the Manor is Sir James Tristran Wyndham Arbory, 35, an old Etonian, Oxford-educated bachelor.
Sir James is so wealthy he can run an entire stately home and horse stud in the 1980s, with a full staff, without having to sell out to the National Trust. He is very tall and devastatingly good looking, with "thin, rather sardonic lips". He has dark, well-cut hair "just touching his collar".
Pandora, who starts out in motorcycle leathers, manages to make her second appearance in a see-through white nightie, wet with dew, as she dances - literally - and flits about Sir James' gardens picking flowers. He spots her from an upstairs window (we learn this later, but it's fairly obvious he wasn't "accidentally" in the kitchen when he returns). Love/lust at first sight on his part, naturally.
Despite Pandora's attempt to impersonate a working class maid and her student politics class resentment towards aristocratic Sir James, she's clearly a well brought up, educated, middle class girl, who has her own snobbish disdain for the working class stable lad below her on the social scale. Sir James eventually sees through her ruse - if only he'd revealed this earlier, we'd have been spared a lot of painful "mockney". (I wasn't hugely taken by the "heavy dialect" of the Cotswold rustics in the first chapter either: they seemed to be speaking Yorkshire rather than a Gloucestershire burr).
They go to a "posh" restaurant where Pandora orders soup and salad, as she's got herself all riled up about rich people and bloated plutocrats and veal calves and starving Africans, and Sir James feasts on an "avocado stuffed with prawns". So we have some lovely 1980s touches despite the Cartlandesque maid/baronet dynamic.
There's an Other Woman called Cynthia who doesn't get much of a role, though she's suitably evil at the right moment. She's the former mistress and Sir James has to defend himself on that count, pointing out that he could hardly have been expected to "live like a monk" throughout his thirty-five years of life.
The 1980s is an interesting time because there was still a remaining stigma about "living in sin" and being "a mistress" - these days that refers specifically to an adulterous partner/side-chick, not simply the partner of a single man as it does here. Uncle Charlie's face is "white with shock" when Pandora says she's happy to live with Sir James without marriage (because Uncle Charlie believes he'll never marry a former maid).
Anyway, where this book shines is the the steamy scenes. There's obviously a bit of an age-gap frisson as well, with Sir James mentioning a few times how young Pandora is. In the kissing scenes he gets wonderfully dominant - I was reminded of the priest in Fleabag ordering her to "kneel":
And:
Yes, dear readers, in the 1980s, "no" meant "yes".
The relationship isn't fully consummated - again, we've got those pre 1980s mores still clinging on - Sir James gets to second base but the pants stay on...
Sir James is so wealthy he can run an entire stately home and horse stud in the 1980s, with a full staff, without having to sell out to the National Trust. He is very tall and devastatingly good looking, with "thin, rather sardonic lips". He has dark, well-cut hair "just touching his collar".
Pandora, who starts out in motorcycle leathers, manages to make her second appearance in a see-through white nightie, wet with dew, as she dances - literally - and flits about Sir James' gardens picking flowers. He spots her from an upstairs window (we learn this later, but it's fairly obvious he wasn't "accidentally" in the kitchen when he returns). Love/lust at first sight on his part, naturally.
Despite Pandora's attempt to impersonate a working class maid and her student politics class resentment towards aristocratic Sir James, she's clearly a well brought up, educated, middle class girl, who has her own snobbish disdain for the working class stable lad below her on the social scale. Sir James eventually sees through her ruse - if only he'd revealed this earlier, we'd have been spared a lot of painful "mockney". (I wasn't hugely taken by the "heavy dialect" of the Cotswold rustics in the first chapter either: they seemed to be speaking Yorkshire rather than a Gloucestershire burr).
They go to a "posh" restaurant where Pandora orders soup and salad, as she's got herself all riled up about rich people and bloated plutocrats and veal calves and starving Africans, and Sir James feasts on an "avocado stuffed with prawns". So we have some lovely 1980s touches despite the Cartlandesque maid/baronet dynamic.
There's an Other Woman called Cynthia who doesn't get much of a role, though she's suitably evil at the right moment. She's the former mistress and Sir James has to defend himself on that count, pointing out that he could hardly have been expected to "live like a monk" throughout his thirty-five years of life.
The 1980s is an interesting time because there was still a remaining stigma about "living in sin" and being "a mistress" - these days that refers specifically to an adulterous partner/side-chick, not simply the partner of a single man as it does here. Uncle Charlie's face is "white with shock" when Pandora says she's happy to live with Sir James without marriage (because Uncle Charlie believes he'll never marry a former maid).
Anyway, where this book shines is the the steamy scenes. There's obviously a bit of an age-gap frisson as well, with Sir James mentioning a few times how young Pandora is. In the kissing scenes he gets wonderfully dominant - I was reminded of the priest in Fleabag ordering her to "kneel":
James Arbory put his hand on her neck and gently caressed her throat with his thumb. Pandora's heart began to race and it took every ounce of strength she had not to tremble at his touch. "No, you won't leave," he said softly.
She tried to open her mouth, to say that she would, but his fingers burned into her skin and somehow the words stuck in her throat.
A little gleam of triumph came into his eyes, and he moved a little nearer to her. "No," he repeated, "you won't leave, Dora, because you want this as much as I do," and he drew her unresistingly close to kiss her again.”
And:
"Then I'd better give in my notice and leave at once."
"Perhaps that would be better." Her eyes rose swiftly to his face at that and the mocking smile deepened. "But you won't," he went on softly. "Because you've never experienced anything like this before. With me you're discovering a sexual awareness that you were too immature to know even existed. You're attracted to me, Dora, and there's no way you can leave here until I choose to let you go."
Pandora stared at him in shocked horror, then turned to run away, but he swiftly caught her wrists, holding her prisoner. She made a convulsive movement to get free, but he was far too strong for her.
His eyes darkening, James said brusquely, "Stop fighting me. You know you want it."
"No!"
For a moment he was silent and then, to her surprise, he laughed mockingly. "Oh, Dora, when are you going to stop saying no when you mean yes?"
Yes, dear readers, in the 1980s, "no" meant "yes".
The relationship isn't fully consummated - again, we've got those pre 1980s mores still clinging on - Sir James gets to second base but the pants stay on...
Read
May 2, 2011Kind of dated and tried too hard to be "hip".
September 27, 2013
My first introduction of romance genre, that was in 2006, and it's still the best story after Pride & Prejudice.
May 5, 2025
It’s a cute story, but she lies a lot and in the beginning she tries to deceive him. How can he love someone who lies to him again and again and who deceives him and doesn’t do what she promises? He needs therapy.
October 11, 2021
I remember reading this as a teen (a very long time ago) and I loved it then as much as I love it now.
What a cute and adorable story. The heroine was smart and fiesty with a quirky sense of humour and a rather adorable sense of mischief - hence her 'Eliza Doolittle' (My Fair Lady) deceit with the hero. The hero was a button-up, stuffed-shirt in the best British tradition, and it was delightful to see him fall in love (well initially in lust) with the heroine.
Oh and I do love the comedic aspect of a side-kick butler. The poor man was so stuffy and prissy, but clearly loved his niece despite all the trouble she caused. I loved how he tried to straddle the two conflicts of his slavish devotion to his lordship and his love of his niece. Too cute.
I have read this many times and will continue to do so. The characters and writing are terrific. A wonderful, feel-good romance from Sally Wentworth.
What a cute and adorable story. The heroine was smart and fiesty with a quirky sense of humour and a rather adorable sense of mischief - hence her 'Eliza Doolittle' (My Fair Lady) deceit with the hero. The hero was a button-up, stuffed-shirt in the best British tradition, and it was delightful to see him fall in love (well initially in lust) with the heroine.
Oh and I do love the comedic aspect of a side-kick butler. The poor man was so stuffy and prissy, but clearly loved his niece despite all the trouble she caused. I loved how he tried to straddle the two conflicts of his slavish devotion to his lordship and his love of his niece. Too cute.
I have read this many times and will continue to do so. The characters and writing are terrific. A wonderful, feel-good romance from Sally Wentworth.
January 17, 2016
Motorcycle gangs, Marxist rants, a horse-stud farm, and the unlikely story of a landed aristocrat falling for the orphaned niece of his butler. An interesting story with a great basic love plot in spite of all the weird distractions.
December 16, 2016
Pandora played a dangerous cat and the mouse game wid Sir James, which left me confused..who was really the cat or the mouse, for dat matter!? she was cheeky, naughty and mischievous and i think James loved her all the more for it.lol!
June 3, 2020
Quarantine Read.
I would have given this 1 star because I dislike the heroine but well, I'm kinda nice this season so...
There are times that I want to DNF this one but I was curious about the ML.
Spoiler ahead.
FL is one of the unlikable heroines that I've encountered in romanticlandia. She's kinda flaky to me 😅 She's hot and cold. She's high and low.
The first thing that I didn't like about her was her inconsideration of her uncle's job. She actually was the reason why he was fired in his previous job. And he wanted to stay in ML's home as a butler because he liked the place, employer, etc. He got stressed with her antics and explained to her that he's old and probably couldn't get another job in his age. But she didn't really put that in mind or in her heart.
Secondly, she actually trespassed ML's land. And when she was caught, she spouted her hatred about his class, capitalism, etc etc.
Thirdly, she sneered at ML's background that he's a landed gentry. And she felt that all rich people were snobbed, heartless, they did not deserve the riches, etc etc. But actually, FL was the snob. ML was actually kind and cordial to her but she was acting high and mighty. Talking about projection.
Fourthly, she had the nerve to lecture him about equality of classes. Telling him that his house should be for public view, etc. ML straight-up told her that it was his "home". And it was handed from generation to generation.
Fifthly, I didn't understand why she abhorred the rich.
Sixth, for an opinionated Miss she was easily swayed when it came to dating men.
Seventh, she actually did not listen.
Eight, she's selfish. It's all about her feelings.
Nine, she's not a good employee. Not professional at all. She was supposed to work during a ball. What did she do when she was jealous of ML with others? Did she professionally work until it all ended? No! She gatecrash the party.
Ten, ah yes. At first she disguised her accent,
her i-don't-know-what-else because she wanted to watch ML's reactions. She was vindictive of something that I didn't really understand why she must act immaturely. And got mad because she felt that he treated her like slow-brain -w/c actually he didn't do.
Eleven, ML was better w/ someone else to be honest. Someone with maturity and level-headed.
ML was not perfect to be honest but FL really was... engk 😁😅
Although I like heroine in disguise theme, this story is meh because of the heroine.
I would have given this 1 star because I dislike the heroine but well, I'm kinda nice this season so...
There are times that I want to DNF this one but I was curious about the ML.
Spoiler ahead.
FL is one of the unlikable heroines that I've encountered in romanticlandia. She's kinda flaky to me 😅 She's hot and cold. She's high and low.
The first thing that I didn't like about her was her inconsideration of her uncle's job. She actually was the reason why he was fired in his previous job. And he wanted to stay in ML's home as a butler because he liked the place, employer, etc. He got stressed with her antics and explained to her that he's old and probably couldn't get another job in his age. But she didn't really put that in mind or in her heart.
Secondly, she actually trespassed ML's land. And when she was caught, she spouted her hatred about his class, capitalism, etc etc.
Thirdly, she sneered at ML's background that he's a landed gentry. And she felt that all rich people were snobbed, heartless, they did not deserve the riches, etc etc. But actually, FL was the snob. ML was actually kind and cordial to her but she was acting high and mighty. Talking about projection.
Fourthly, she had the nerve to lecture him about equality of classes. Telling him that his house should be for public view, etc. ML straight-up told her that it was his "home". And it was handed from generation to generation.
Fifthly, I didn't understand why she abhorred the rich.
Sixth, for an opinionated Miss she was easily swayed when it came to dating men.
Seventh, she actually did not listen.
Eight, she's selfish. It's all about her feelings.
Nine, she's not a good employee. Not professional at all. She was supposed to work during a ball. What did she do when she was jealous of ML with others? Did she professionally work until it all ended? No! She gatecrash the party.
Ten, ah yes. At first she disguised her accent,
her i-don't-know-what-else because she wanted to watch ML's reactions. She was vindictive of something that I didn't really understand why she must act immaturely. And got mad because she felt that he treated her like slow-brain -w/c actually he didn't do.
Eleven, ML was better w/ someone else to be honest. Someone with maturity and level-headed.
ML was not perfect to be honest but FL really was... engk 😁😅
Although I like heroine in disguise theme, this story is meh because of the heroine.
January 26, 2024
More a 3.5 but entirely satisfactory old fashioned HP. I'm 4 starring for the H, 35 yr old jodhpur wearing Dom Sir James, who had a very nice line in "Come here's" and other knee trembling commands. No consummation but some very good kisses. The h, motorcyclist Pandora was a student helping her Uncle Charlie, the butler.
March 28, 2019
3.5 stars
November 15, 2021
It was a funny read and I absolutely loved the h character and a gobsmacked hero...
September 22, 2022
Historical modern time romance with some action.
September 17, 2025
Fun but firmly unreal.
June 7, 2018
i love the book. can i read it though? i mean like here online. its givinmg me hard time trying to find it
Read
April 9, 2018No situation could be more ridiculous
To be "hiding out" as a rich man's maid at Abbott's Arbory did not suit Pandora at all. She was thoroughly modern, enjoying her university friends and her fast motorcycle. And she thought that rich people were greedy capitalists!
But there seemed nothing greedy about Sir James Arbory, baronet, wealthy though he was.
Pandora was too smart, however, to make a fool of herself over a member of the nobility. Even if he was handsome. Even if she wasn't really his servant. Even, in fact, if she loved him....
To be "hiding out" as a rich man's maid at Abbott's Arbory did not suit Pandora at all. She was thoroughly modern, enjoying her university friends and her fast motorcycle. And she thought that rich people were greedy capitalists!
But there seemed nothing greedy about Sir James Arbory, baronet, wealthy though he was.
Pandora was too smart, however, to make a fool of herself over a member of the nobility. Even if he was handsome. Even if she wasn't really his servant. Even, in fact, if she loved him....
March 3, 2019
No situation could be more ridiculous
To be "hiding out" as a rich man's maid at Abbott's Arbory did not suit Pandora at all. She was thoroughly modern, enjoying her university friends and her fast motorcycle. And she thought that rich people were greedy capitalists!
But there seemed nothing greedy about Sir James Arbory, baronet, wealthy though he was.
Pandora was too smart, however, to make a fool of herself over a member of the nobility. Even if he was handsome. Even if she wasn't really his servant. Even, in fact, if she loved him.... (less)
To be "hiding out" as a rich man's maid at Abbott's Arbory did not suit Pandora at all. She was thoroughly modern, enjoying her university friends and her fast motorcycle. And she thought that rich people were greedy capitalists!
But there seemed nothing greedy about Sir James Arbory, baronet, wealthy though he was.
Pandora was too smart, however, to make a fool of herself over a member of the nobility. Even if he was handsome. Even if she wasn't really his servant. Even, in fact, if she loved him.... (less)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews