Innocent Fire (The Bragg Saga)

Innocent FireLord Shelton of London arranged for his seventeen year old daughter, Miranda to marry John Barrington, wealthy Texas rancher. John and Miranda had never met.John Barrington, sent his best friend, Derek Bragg to Natchez to meet and escort Miranda through dangerous territory to his ranch. A big mistake.Miranda had spent most of her life in a convent in France and was a “proper lady.” Derek, the Texas Ranger who escorted Miranda was as bold and brash as Miranda was prim and proper. They fell in love. I liked this story of people who were opposites falling in love. Miranda was kidnapped three times in this story. There was a great scarcity of women in the west. This story illuminates some of the hardships and danger that women endured because of this scarcity. Miranda’s love for her first child made me love her as a heroine and gave me an incentive to read "Dark Fires" another book in the "Bragg Series". I had to find out what happened to Nicholas, Miranda's first child. IF paints such a negative view of the Comanche Indians, I ran to Google. A good historical forces me to learn more history. This is the first book in “The Bragg Series.”

I have seen the low reviews on this one and I just don't agree. First, you can't tell this story without rape. Not to give away the plot but it isn't gratuitous violence; it very much reflects the times and the threat every woman faced on the frontier. Although at times Miranda's life looks a bit like the Perils of Pauline with more dire consequences, it is still believable. Second, I don't agree with the one who said it was slow. It does slow a bit in the middle but that is only by contrast with the horserace the rest of it is. I am so glad I ignored those reviews and bought this first in in the Bragg Saga (see list below).The story begins in 1840, as Miranda, daughter of the Earl of Dragmore, raised in a convent in France, travels to Texas to meet her betrothed, a wealthy Texas rancher and a member of the British nobility, who fell in love with her picture two years ago when she was only 15. Once in America, Derek Bragg, a handsome Texas Ranger, who is half Apache, escorts her to his best friend's ranch. Miranda is so innocent she has no idea of the ways of men and women and doesn't even recognize her attraction to the handsome Bragg. Beautiful, with black hair and violet eyes, she is coveted by all men who see her, including a Comanchero named Chavez they meet in a small town, who wants her.I felt like I was on a fast moving train reading this romance. The story was so intriguing that Joyce had me reading late into the night as Bragg and Miranda crossed the American west, and Miranda, a sensitive well-bred lady, encounters the harsh realities of life on the frontier and the rough ways of hard living men. There is much action in the story: Indian attacks, fights, Texas Rangers fighting Indians to protect the settlers and then the ever-threatening Chavez and his Indians. Derek is a wonderful hero, a man who could be both tough and tender, as he came to grips with his feelings for Miranda. And Miranda, who had a lot of innate spunk, went from a naïve girl to a strong woman.My advice is that you ignore those low reviews and get this one if you plan to read the series. It's captivating and it is also foundational.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)

This disaster of what is called a historic novel ,should have been titled"What are you doing?" The bimbo that is supposed to be the heroine in this stories must have said that comment at least fifty times.Brenda,Sherry, what where you two thinking when you decide to write this cataclysm.I am about three quarters of the way trough this hell and I am donne with it.Miranda is definitely emotionally disturbed,she needs an intervention of the highest level,and Dereck needs help also for marrying her, he could have donne much better than her. Maybe the authors of this want to be story did not like the Hero so they punished him by putting this Albatross around is neck, run Dereck save yourself.To my estimation Miranda deserved everything that happened to her, like one of the reviewer said she should have knocked her head against a tree, wishful thinking maybe the tree had more sense. For anyone who is thinking of reading this shamble, please DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT, NOT EVEN IF IT FOR FREE. To bad l can not give it O star.

I had originally bought this book just because it sounded interesting. Well, I fell in love with Derek Bragg. I bought the paperback originally and have read it twice. Now I have to replace it for my kindle. I'm going to replace all the my other Brenda Joyce paperbacks with books for my kindle. She is that good a writer. Just try one of her books and you'll understand what I'm talking about. You'll want the rest of them.

After reading several bad revues of this book, I decided to read it anyway and form my own opinion. Not half bad. I read Dark Fires first and loved it so I wanted to start the first book in the series and continue on from there. Yes. Miranda was a little too naive and innocent but if you lived in a convent and were brought up by nuns how much would you know about sex? Derek, I just loved! What a guy, what a hero. I want a Derek. Read the book , form your own opinion. You won't be disappointed.

This book is baaad and not in a good way. Having read Fires of Paradise, Scandalous Love and Secrets I had faith that reading this particular book would be an extremely enjoyable experience Boy was I wrong!!!! Miranda is the worst heroine of any romantic book I ever read. Never has a writer written a more annoying spineless heroine EVER!!! If I could give a negative rating I would NOT hesitate. Got to a point where I found myself desperately wishing she would be choke on one of her indignant gasps.It completely put me off the remaining novels in the Bragg series.

This story started well but as the story went I became bored with it and actually fast tracked through the last few chapters. Was this a love story ? I supppose after 300 pages she finally accepts Derek but it takes her the whole book. The love ( rape) scenes were terrible.Sorry I hate giving bad ratings but I will have to give this one 3 stars and that is generous.

Very interesting