An adorable book. On a cold and rainy night, Theda and Benedict stay at the same inn. From that moment on, Benedict is captivated by the beauty of Theda. Soon Theda arrives at her new job, which is to be the company of Lady Merchiston. This job will not be easy as you will have to comply with the whims of her new boss. However, Theda did not expect to see Benedict again. Their future is full of surprises. I liked the time in which this story takes place, the end of the 18th century. Theda is an amazing girl. I like her determination to do her job well. The charm of this novel captivated me until the last page as it is a funny, romantic, and entertaining story. I thank NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a traditional and well written historical romance by a very experienced and fluent writer. An atypical hero - who doesn’t always act as you would expect - he is often selfish and suspicious, as well as a little obsessive.

Theda is estranged from her family, she was led astray by a fortune hunter at seventeen and subsequently rejected by her family.

On her way to a job a companion Theda takes a room at an inn, and is treated with suspicion and cruelty by the landlady, Benedict Beckenham is at the inn, and is very kind to Theda, and a little fascinated.

When they meet again, Theda is companion to Mrs Merchiston, Benedict’s wealthy but infirm Godmother. Benedict is there to convince her to supplement his allowance. In a cast of unsympathetic and unlikeable characters Theda is kind and works hard to look after her employer. As she starts to become indispensable to his godmother, Benedict begins to blow hot and cold with Theda, as he vacillates between being attracted to her, and suspecting her of angling for his Godmother’s fortune.

As he spirals between infatuation with Theda and her flaming hair - the hidden flame of the title, his own secrets and the nasty cast of characters, the gothic suspense mounts.

I really enjoyed this, as it was a relief to read about a person who seemed like a real person, warts and all. Poor Theda had to contend with a lot too, as everyone around her was either, mean, inconstant or materialistic.

Will true love triumph, or will money get in the way, and can Theda forgive herself enough to try and be happy.

Really enjoyed my second read of this one, as I had already read it in an anthology.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

I had a hard time liking this story. Aside from the heroine, Theda Kyte, everyone else was mean and nasty. At times I felt this was more of a horror story than a romance. Theda seemed to take all the nastiness in stride but she had to many secrets herself.

I thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel. Although I enjoy reading historical fiction, this novel could not fascinate me much. There was a lot of back and forth about how Benedict wanted to marry Theda and she kept insisting that she cannot throughout the whole novel which made it a bit boring for me.

Theda and Benedict meet at an inn late one night when both are on their way (unbeknownst to each other) to Benedict's godmother's house, Theda to take up a position as her companion, Benedict to try to get additional funds out of her to supplement his insufficient allowance. But when Theda, in doing her best to look after the crabby and at times even malicious woman in her charge, makes herself indispensable, Benedict begins to view her as a rival for the old lady's money. Will the flame of love between them triumph, or will money get in the way?

I enjoyed this - but would have enjoyed it more if it hadn't felt quite so borderline-sensuous so much of the time in their interactions. Likewise, though the sex scene is off-stage, I would have preferred it not to happen pre-marriage and for less to have been said of the leadup. I think I'd still call it clean, but only just. Having said that, the language is good and the story kept me interested. Overall, not my favourite of the author's books, but still a good read as long as one is not too fastidious.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Historical romance with all the usual elements. Handsome hero,impoverished heroine and an unusual storyline. The old aunt was a great character.

The suspenseful gothic setting historical romance. It does not get much better than this! It took me back to Victoria Holt and how I was enthralled with those first stories of my youth!
The opening pages grabbed me immediately, keeping me enthralled, visually seeing the scene unfold and the characters coming alive.
A stormy night and a chance meeting propel this gripping story forward. A gentleman Benedict Beckenham (love that name!) checked into an inn, momentarily down on his luck. There he meets Theda, a young woman on her way to be a Lady's companion but stuck at the inn with no funds for food.
But it seemed fate had put these two together to meet again and make a journey of their own.
Suspense, intrigue, a building attraction that cannot be denied, secrets and a storyline that kept me engaged until the end! I highly recommend and am excited to read more by this author!

Hidden Flame is a lovely historical romance with dynamic characters and strong messages. I enjoyed the insta-attraction romance between Theda and Benedict, and the forbidden aspect of their love. Quirky and dynamic characters, a viciously greedy antagonist, and an interesting plot make this an entertaining read.

Both Theda and Benedict seem reluctant to give in to their feelings. From the start, social norms and expectations keep them from being together. However, both characters also have inner conflicts that they must face before they can face society together. Theda fears for her future and feels unworthy because of her past. Benedict also has secrets from his past that prevents him from fully embracing his present. However, their growing feelings for each other prove bigger than the secrets keeping them apart.

Benedict is the typical alpha male. A bit arrogant and pushy, he often takes command of the situation, and Theda usually appreciates his take-charge personality. However, she is no pushover and doesn’t always bend to his will.

Theda is a likable and tolerant protagonist. Faced with many difficult situations, Theda always makes the best of her circumstances. She has a way of comforting others and putting them at ease. Her constant consideration for others as well as her desire to do what’s right make her an admirable character as well.

I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Theda and Lady Merchiston, her employer. Lady Merchiston is nearing the end of her life, and her situation is ugly. A miserable and ungrateful daughter barely cares for her, and the two employees in the house can barely keep up with the daily household duties. When Theda arrives, Lady Merchiston is unbearable, unkempt, and unhappy. Theda, with her no-nonsense attitude and quick wit, brings light back into Lady Merchiston’s life, literally and figuratively. It would be very easy for Theda to remain formal and keep her boss at a distance, but Theda sees through Lady Merchiston’s ornery attitude and treats her with compassion and understanding. She offers her comfort throughout her last weeks of life. I think this says a lot about Theda, and Lady Merchiston shows how much she appreciates Theda, much to Lady M’s daughter’s ire.

Interestingly, the most honorable person in the novel is the one who suffers the most under the staunch, elitist dictates of society while some of the more unsavory characters flourish under the same rules. It definitely says something about the gender inequities of the time as well as the skewed perceptions of ethical standards.

Hidden Flame is an interesting historical romance with memorable characters. Messages of fighting for love, holding onto hope in the darkest of times, accepting help from others, and finding friends in unlikely places will endear the reader. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Sapere Books for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

HIDDEN FLAME was tantalizing all through. There was a real strength of romance between Benedict and T and you could feel the last be between them grow.

The book appeals to interest from front page to back page. Right from when T met B at the inn to when T met his 'Grandaunt', to even when T's past was revealed.

It had a most unexpected ending that was great for all parties involved. All in all, it was a great read.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

This one was just meh. It was literally bland and middling. You could do better on here.

A regency romance with a difference. Entertaining, but I must admit to disliking the silly heroine and the very arrogant hero. Let’s hope they lived very happily ever after!