Rating: 
Summary: A fitting finale to this wondful series
Review: In 1871 Chicago, Lucy Hathaway and Rand Higgins debate women's rights in a public forum. As they argue, Lucy is shocked to find herself very attracted to the married Rand, a feeling she abhors. Their debate ends when they hear of a dangerous fire spreading throughout the city. Going by a blazing hotel, Lucy catches an infant tossed out a window. Finding no clues to the parents, Lucy raises the child as her own.Five years later, Lucy runs a bookstore while raising Maggie. Rand is divorced and believes his daughter died in the inferno. When Lucy needs a loan she turns to Rand's bank where she sees the picture of his deceased infant whom she recognizes as her Maggie. She must tell him the truth, but fears she will lose her beloved "daughter." As Rand and Lucy become better acquainted they fall in love. However, his cronies detest Lucy and her suffragettes while her side loathes the obstinate bankers. This makes their romance look more like that of Romeo and Juliet with the extra catalyst being a five-year-old girl they both love. The final tale in Susan Wiggs' Chicago Fire trilogy (see THE HOSTAGE and THE MISTRESS) closes out a fabulous series. The story line never slows down for a moment while readers observe the aftermath of the destructive inferno and the early moments in the women's suffragette movement. In his backdrop, the lead couple struggles with unacceptable feelings for one another. Calling her bookstore THE FIREBRAND seems inappropriate, but naming Ms. Wiggs a firebrand of an author appears apropos because this author always writes a powerful thought provoking historical romance. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Great Leads...
Review: Lucy Hathaway saves a baby, the night of the Chicago fire. Unable to find out anything about the baby's parents, she adopts her, and names her Maggie. Rand Higgins is horribly injured and disfigured, the night of the Chicago fire. His wife leaves him and Chicago, and he believes his child, Christine, is dead. Five years later, Lucy owns a bookstore, The Firebrand, and nees a loan. She meets with a banker, Rand, and discovers the child she has adopted is his Christine. She decides to tell Rand of her discovery, in spite of her deep love for Maggie. The dilemma between the two, Lucy and Rand--deciding what's best for Maggie. Lucy is a suffragist, a fighter for equal rights for all, especially women. Because of his past, Rand has a natural, and understandable distrust for women. In my mind, Ms. Wiggs bringing these two disparate people together in a believable way, is what makes this book so good. Neither character's true self is sacrificed to bring this book to a HEA for all involved. Lucy, Rand, and Maggie are wonderful characters. And even secondary characters like Rand's grandmother, Lucy's mother seem to walk off the pages of THE FIREBRAND. My only complaint with THE FIREBRAND would be that I, personally, would have liked to read more about the romance and relationship between Rand and Lucy. And, I do prefer books with a little more sensuality. Otherwise, this book was perfect.
Rating:
Summary: The Firebrand
Review: Not one of her better books. I found it a little boring and will not re-read.
Rating:
Summary: An Emotionally Compelling Novel
Review: The Firebrand is truly one of the most remarkable romances I've read in a while. The characters are fabulous, the plot a page-turner, and engages the reader so deeply that you feel as if you are in the story. Lucy Hathaway and Rand Higgens don't meet under the best circumstances. The night they meet is during the great Chicago fire in 1871 during which a great portion of the city was engulfed in flames. Lucy rescues a child from a flaming building, the same daughter whom Rand was trying to save, but became injured and incapacitated for weeks afterwards....... Five years later Lucy, advocate of equality for women, is struggling to make ends meet in her controversial bookstore The Firebrand. While applying for a loan she encounters an emotionally and physically scarred Rand, and discovers that the daughter she has is the daughter he thinks he lost five years before. Lucy struggles over what to do but eventually feels that she should tell Rand, and they try to find the best arrangement to suit the needs of all involved, especially the innocent Maggie, they daughter they both love so fiercely. Can Rand and Lucy's mutual love for Maggie draw them together despite their differences? Rand and Lucy are two of the most powerful characters I have chanced to read. Lucy is dogged in her determination to stick with her principals and to help the women of the world. Rand disagrees with Lucy because of his own personal experiences with women, not to mention that any connections with her could cost him a lot. Their different opinions and natures kept me turning the pages, waiting to see how they would react to each other and what the outcome would be. It was amazing and beautiful to me that these two characters should find love together and truly become a family with their daughter, because Ms. Wiggs weaves the tale in such a manner so the reader can't help but care about the characters. The time period was also a fascinating one in American history and the premise an unusual one. I found little details about the time interesting and the story is written so as the historical tid bits don't become tedious, as often occurs with historical novels emphasizing the historical. The setting truly added to the story. I highly recommend this book for someone looking for a touching romance between two mature people who are able to work around each others differences and care enough about each other to compromise. This is the first I've read by Ms. Wiggs but it certainly won't be the last. Happy Reading!
Rating:
Summary: An Emotionally Compelling Novel
Review: The Firebrand is truly one of the most remarkable romances I've read in a while. The characters are fabulous, the plot a page-turner, and engages the reader so deeply that you feel as if you are in the story. Lucy Hathaway and Rand Higgens don't meet under the best circumstances. The night they meet is during the great Chicago fire in 1871 during which a great portion of the city was engulfed in flames. Lucy rescues a child from a flaming building, the same daughter whom Rand was trying to save, but became injured and incapacitated for weeks afterwards....... Five years later Lucy, advocate of equality for women, is struggling to make ends meet in her controversial bookstore The Firebrand. While applying for a loan she encounters an emotionally and physically scarred Rand, and discovers that the daughter she has is the daughter he thinks he lost five years before. Lucy struggles over what to do but eventually feels that she should tell Rand, and they try to find the best arrangement to suit the needs of all involved, especially the innocent Maggie, they daughter they both love so fiercely. Can Rand and Lucy's mutual love for Maggie draw them together despite their differences? Rand and Lucy are two of the most powerful characters I have chanced to read. Lucy is dogged in her determination to stick with her principals and to help the women of the world. Rand disagrees with Lucy because of his own personal experiences with women, not to mention that any connections with her could cost him a lot. Their different opinions and natures kept me turning the pages, waiting to see how they would react to each other and what the outcome would be. It was amazing and beautiful to me that these two characters should find love together and truly become a family with their daughter, because Ms. Wiggs weaves the tale in such a manner so the reader can't help but care about the characters. The time period was also a fascinating one in American history and the premise an unusual one. I found little details about the time interesting and the story is written so as the historical tid bits don't become tedious, as often occurs with historical novels emphasizing the historical. The setting truly added to the story. I highly recommend this book for someone looking for a touching romance between two mature people who are able to work around each others differences and care enough about each other to compromise. This is the first I've read by Ms. Wiggs but it certainly won't be the last. Happy Reading!
Rating:
Summary: Great Susan Wiggs!
Review: THE FIREBRAND was entertaining from beginning to end. I have now read all of the Chicago Fire trilogy, and this one was the best of the three, followed by THE MISTRESS and THE HOSTAGE. The little girl, Maggie, is adorable and a lot of fun to read. Probably one of the best-written children characters in any recent romances that I've read. You can see why Lucy and Rand love her so much. Lucy Hathaway is refreshing because she is not a typical romance novel heroine. Katharine Hepburn, in her younger days, would have been able to play her very well. Rand is also different. His calm demeanor blends well with Lucy's passionate beliefs. I definitely recommend this book highly.
Rating:
Summary: Great Susan Wiggs!
Review: THE FIREBRAND was entertaining from beginning to end. I have now read all of the Chicago Fire trilogy, and this one was the best of the three, followed by THE MISTRESS and THE HOSTAGE. The little girl, Maggie, is adorable and a lot of fun to read. Probably one of the best-written children characters in any recent romances that I've read. You can see why Lucy and Rand love her so much. Lucy Hathaway is refreshing because she is not a typical romance novel heroine. Katharine Hepburn, in her younger days, would have been able to play her very well. Rand is also different. His calm demeanor blends well with Lucy's passionate beliefs. I definitely recommend this book highly.
Rating: 
Summary: Well developed background setting, unremarkable romance
Review: The thing I enjoyed most about this novel or the entire Chicago fire series is its background or premise. While a fire rages through Chicago, three friends who attend a finishing school together make decisions that help determine the paths of their lives.
In "The Firebrand", Lucy Hathaway, fleeing the fire, saves a baby dropped from the second story window of a hotel. When Lucy can't locate the parents, she adopts the girl. Five years later, she discovers that the baby's parents are alive, and is forced to make a heartwrenching decision.
For me, this book was a little too melancholy, and at times the sheer hugeness and potential sadness of the custody battle overshadowed or completely destroyed the romantic tension. Too much time was spent on background and clashes, and not enough time provided for the development of love between the protagonists. The romance part just wasn't convincing or hearwarming.
Although I appreciated the historical background, which I think is unique, and well done, this novel falls short on actual romance, which is bad since it's supposed to be a romance novel.
This book isn't bad, it's just unremarkable. If you want to read Wiggs, I suggest trying "The Charm School".
Rating:
Summary: Great New Discovery!
Review: This is the first Susan Wiggs books I have read but by no means is it the last. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Lucy is a true delight and Rand is wonderfully portrayed. However, Maggie is the true star - what a great kid! I thoroughly recommend this wonderful writer.
Rating:
Summary: The third in the Cihicago Fire Series...
Review: This is the third story of SW's Chicago Fire Tragedy. In this story the super rich Lucy winds up with a baby in her arms after it is tossed out a window of a hotel. She ends up raising the girl as her daughter. Then 5 years later while she is going into the bank for her loan extension on her bookshop she determines that the parents of her little Maggie are not dead after all. I really enjoyed how they talked about strong women and their marches etc. to get the right to vote and how it was not only unpopular but in some cases not even very safe for all those who are close to them. You will also see Kathleen and Debra (from books 1 & 2) at different parts of the book. It is a romance story so yes there is a happy ending with a new family etc... I liked this one 2nd, I still like Debra's story the best.
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