Books › Touch the flame
Touch the flame
First published 1989 · 188 pages
A glamorous, high-angst battle of wills where lingering heartbreak collides with undeniable, simmering passion.
What it feels like
Reading this vintage romance feels like stepping into a glamorous, high-stakes emotional arena where every glance is loaded with history and unresolved tension. The narrative moves at a brisk, dialogue-driven pace, sweeping the reader into a world of opulent Sydney boardrooms and luxurious penthouses. It is drenched in a simmering, emotionally charged mood, perfectly capturing the angst of a shattered marriage of convenience and the terrifying vulnerability of a second chance. The prose is unapologetically dramatic and earnest, focusing heavily on the characters' internal turmoil and magnetic physical attraction. It delights readers who crave the classic category romance experience—a fierce battle of wills, a fiercely independent heroine, an unrelenting alpha hero, and a deeply satisfying, hard-won reconciliation.
- Mood
- simmering
- glamorous
- emotionally charged
- tense
- Tone
- dramatic
- intense
- earnest
- angsty
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- second chances · marriage of convenience · betrayal and trust · reclaiming independence · power dynamics in love
- The writing
- The prose is dialogue-heavy and emotionally emphatic, lingering on luxurious settings and the intense physical reactions of the characters.
- The arc
- The journey shifts from guarded resentment and lingering heartbreak to explosive confrontation, culminating in a vulnerable, hard-won reconciliation.
- Who it's for
- Readers who devour vintage category romance featuring high-stakes emotional showdowns, opulent lifestyles, and intense second-chance marriages.
Content notes
- emotional manipulation
- arranged marriage themes
- mild power imbalance
About the book
Two years ago Chelsea Hamilton had walked out on her husband, when she had discovered that their marriage was an empty sham - a business arrangement which had been fixed up between Raf and her father.
Hurt and disillusioned, she had picked up the pieces and started afresh, earning her place in the Sydney business world. But Raf wasn't shaken off as easily as she'd imagined, and now he was back in her life with a vengeance. Exactly what did he want of her? And could she believe a word he said
Description from Open Library.
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