The Fires of Paradise (The Bragg Saga) Mass Market Paperback – January 29, 2008

This was an amazing installment in Joyce's Bragg series (see list below), the sweeping saga of an American family. I could not put it down.Set in America and Cuba in 1897 (prologue in 1890), it begins in New York with Shoz Savage, a law student wrongly imprisoned for theft, having been framed by a jealous, married lover. He is a "half breed" (Apache like Derek Bragg) and his lover was a wealthy woman of society whose word no one would doubt. Shoz escaped from prison and now, 7 years later, he has turned from the law and is running guns into Cuba to support the struggle for independence from Spain. While in Paradise, Texas, the home of Derek and Miranda Bragg, Shoz meets their granddaughter, Lucy Bragg, Rathe and Grace's daughter, who is there on vacation. Their attraction is instant and overwhelming but their worlds are far apart. And, THAT is only the beginning of this incredible adventure.Shoz Savage is an example of a man whose promise is set back by others' avarice, prejudice and lust, making his heart grow cold. But still, deep inside, he has never stopped longing for a family and a life of significance. Lucy begins as a beautiful, indulged, highborn lady, heiress to the New York Bragg fortune, but her Bragg mettle is proven when the circumstances turn against her and she has to fight for the man she loves. You will love these two, I promise.I have read all the books in this series thus far and have rated them all high. Joyce weaves wonderful tales of the frontier and developing America (and in Dark Fires and Scandalous Love, Victorian England). They are complex stories of great passion, adventure and action, stories of strong women and stronger men--and never a dull moment. These will keep you up late at night reading!Highly recommended.The Bragg Saga:Innocent Fire, June 1988 (Derek Bragg and Miranda)Firestorm, November (1988 Storm Bragg and Brett)Violet Fire, May 1989 (Rathe Bragg and GraceDark Fires, June 1991 (Nicholas Bragg and Jane)The Fires of Paradise, April 1992 (Lucy Bragg and Shoz)Scandalous Love, November 1992 (Nicole Bragg Shelton and Hadrian)Secrets, April 1993, (First in the Delanza Series Regina Bragg Shelton and Slade Delanza)After Innocence follows Secrets (Edward Delanza and Sophie)See also, The Darkest Heart, December 1989. It's connected to The Fires of Paradise--it's the story of the hero's parents (Candice Carter and Jack Savage)

I read this book years ago and loved it. I decided to reread and get a fresh perspective. It was still great. This is one of Brenda Joyce's best.

My FAVORITE historical romance I have read it many times over the years since I first found this book in a book sale on a table marked 10 cents lol and I love the whole Bragg series.

I've read this book several times in the past and it's still the best, though there are a lot of misspellings in the Kindle version.

Same

The extreme lack of editing for grammar, spelling, and sentence structure errors took away from what could have been an enjoyable read.

Fantastic love story. It is a true installment of the Bragg saga, I highly recommend. The HEA was an emotional roller coaster.

I really need a stamp because each novel she writes stands alone or in many cases is part of a larger group (such as a trilogy) . She manages to carry her characters from one book to the next seamlessly.