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Tawhai Hills #2
The Kindled Fire
Nicholas was a lot older than Penny, and before he asked her to marry him he had decided it would be a good idea if they separated for a year or two, to give Penny a chance to spread her wings before settling down. But was it such a good idea after all?
188 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
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49 people want to read
About the author
Essie Summers
106 books53 followersEssie Summers was a New Zealand author who wrote so vividly of the people and landscape of her native country that she was offered The Order Of the British Empire for her contributions to New Zealand tourism.
Ethel Snelson Summers was born on on July 24, 1912 to a newly-emigrated couple, Ethel Snelson and Edwin Summers, situated in Bordesley Street in Christchurch, Essie was always proud of both her British heritage and her New Zealand citizenship. Both her parents were exceptional storytellers, and this, combined with her early introduction to the Anne of Green Gables stories, engendered in her a life-long fascination with the craft of writing and the colorful legacy of pioneers everywhere.
Leaving school at 14 when her father's butcher shop experienced financial difficulties, she worked for a number of years in draper's shops and later turned her experiences to good use in writing the romantic novels for which she became famous.
She met her husband-to-be William Flett when she was only 13 years old, but it was 13 years before she consented to marry him. A minister's wife and the mother of two, William and Elizabeth, she still found many opportunities to pen short stories, poetry and newspaper columns before embarking on her first novel, which sold to the firm of Mills & Boon in 1956.
Summers died in Taradale, Hawkes Bay on the August 27, 1998.
http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/...
Ethel Snelson Summers was born on on July 24, 1912 to a newly-emigrated couple, Ethel Snelson and Edwin Summers, situated in Bordesley Street in Christchurch, Essie was always proud of both her British heritage and her New Zealand citizenship. Both her parents were exceptional storytellers, and this, combined with her early introduction to the Anne of Green Gables stories, engendered in her a life-long fascination with the craft of writing and the colorful legacy of pioneers everywhere.
Leaving school at 14 when her father's butcher shop experienced financial difficulties, she worked for a number of years in draper's shops and later turned her experiences to good use in writing the romantic novels for which she became famous.
She met her husband-to-be William Flett when she was only 13 years old, but it was 13 years before she consented to marry him. A minister's wife and the mother of two, William and Elizabeth, she still found many opportunities to pen short stories, poetry and newspaper columns before embarking on her first novel, which sold to the firm of Mills & Boon in 1956.
Summers died in Taradale, Hawkes Bay on the August 27, 1998.
http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/...
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 5, 2013
This was a lovely reunion romance. Nicholas and Penny fell in love when she was just a teenager and he sends her away to meet other people so she will be sure. Now after three years apart subsisting on just letters, Penny is going home, ready to marry Nicholas.
Unfortunately, Angeline Dare, a fragile widow takes every opportunity to come between them, playing on their self-sacrificing love and pride to drive them apart. To the bewilderment of their families, the reunion is a disaster and the expected engagement doesn't appear. INstead, Penny's young, male and very attractive friend is drawn in to play the part of her new love interest to salvage her pride when it appears Nicholas now prefers the elegant and mature Angeline.
This breaks my heart when I read it. I really hate this kind of Other Woman but hung in for the sake of Penny and Nicholas who are mentioned in an earlier romance featuring her uncle Forrest.
The ending is a little unexpected as it really looks like Penny has put herself out of reach of her happy ending. It was quite emotional at times so I gave it the five stars.
Unfortunately, Angeline Dare, a fragile widow takes every opportunity to come between them, playing on their self-sacrificing love and pride to drive them apart. To the bewilderment of their families, the reunion is a disaster and the expected engagement doesn't appear. INstead, Penny's young, male and very attractive friend is drawn in to play the part of her new love interest to salvage her pride when it appears Nicholas now prefers the elegant and mature Angeline.
This breaks my heart when I read it. I really hate this kind of Other Woman but hung in for the sake of Penny and Nicholas who are mentioned in an earlier romance featuring her uncle Forrest.
The ending is a little unexpected as it really looks like Penny has put herself out of reach of her happy ending. It was quite emotional at times so I gave it the five stars.
July 18, 2024
4½ Stars
In 'The Master of Tawhai', Penny and Nicholas are prominent characters, with Penny being the hero, Forrest's little sister, and Nicholas, his best friend. In that romance, Penny is an 18 year old who knows her heart and that Nicholas is her future. Nicholas is 13 year's older and he insists that Penny take a three year break away to see a bit of the world before tying herself in marriage. This romance starts with the very end of Penny's time away and her anxiously awaiting her return and accepting Nicholas' proposal. Only it all goes wrong because of a manipulative evil woman who takes her chance to snare Nicholas for herself.
There are passages in this story that are so poignant, I had tears well up. Bravo to Ms. Summers! She had me very worried on how Penny and Nicholas were ever going to find their HEA.
In 'The Master of Tawhai', Penny and Nicholas are prominent characters, with Penny being the hero, Forrest's little sister, and Nicholas, his best friend. In that romance, Penny is an 18 year old who knows her heart and that Nicholas is her future. Nicholas is 13 year's older and he insists that Penny take a three year break away to see a bit of the world before tying herself in marriage. This romance starts with the very end of Penny's time away and her anxiously awaiting her return and accepting Nicholas' proposal. Only it all goes wrong because of a manipulative evil woman who takes her chance to snare Nicholas for herself.
There are passages in this story that are so poignant, I had tears well up. Bravo to Ms. Summers! She had me very worried on how Penny and Nicholas were ever going to find their HEA.
December 15, 2024
I had wanted to read this for a while after reading the uncle’s story and thinking it would be a nice romance. It isn’t. The heroine is too self sacrificing, the hero acts nonchalant, the OW gets her comeuppance off-page, and all the friends and relations intervene to an embarrassing extent. The heroine is 21, but acts 41 - I find that all Essie Summers’s heroines are middle-aged in persona. The hero is so bland and passionless. It’s just dull.
November 17, 2013
I was not prepared for this one. I expected another nice, calm romance and instead I got an angst filled story with a deplorable OW. The main characters suffered from Martyr Syndrome and played right into the hands of the evil OW. Never the less, I enjoyed it very much especially the cruise travel journal.
pback-to-read
November 12, 2022Nicholas and Penny had fallen in love when she was still a teenager and he was almost thirty - and although Nicholas knew his feelings would not change, it was possible that Penny's would. So he suggested they they part for a year or two, to give Penny a chance to spread her wings, maybe meet other men, and really be sure of her feelings for him before settling down with him.
All that had been three years ago, and now here was Penny, back again in New Zealand where Nicholas was waiting to greet her. But was he...? It was Angeline Dare who met her, Angeline who made the excuses that all added up to the fact that Nicholas was not particularly eager for the reunion. Penny's feelings had not changed - but what happened to Nicholas?
All that had been three years ago, and now here was Penny, back again in New Zealand where Nicholas was waiting to greet her. But was he...? It was Angeline Dare who met her, Angeline who made the excuses that all added up to the fact that Nicholas was not particularly eager for the reunion. Penny's feelings had not changed - but what happened to Nicholas?
February 8, 2019
This is about Penny Beechington who went to Sidney,Australia for three years to grow ups before coming home to marry Nicolas Dewmore. Nicolas was older then her and wanted to her to experience life before she married him.She typed for a author while living there in Australia.She was ready to go home to Marry him but discovered he was going to marry someone else so she pretended to be in love with someone else to save face.I am a fan of Essie and love here stories.This was is one of them.
June 21, 2015
Penny has loved Nicholas since she was thirteen -- half his age. But he was willing to wait for her to grow up. However, once she finished school, Nicholas suggested that Penny should "see the world" for three years, just in case she met someone else. Now those three years are over, and Penny happily returns home, only to find Nicholas apparently indifferent to her, and involved with Angeline Dare, a clinging widow. Must she give up the hopes that sustained her during her absence?
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews