$5.59

First Release: Penguin Putnam, 1995

The prequel to Heaven’s Fire. Lowborn knight Thorn Falconer negotiates the arranged marriage of his overlord’s son in return for a coveted estate, only to find himself losing his heart to the bride. Originally published by New American Library, a division of Penguin Putnam, Inc.

Nominated by Romantic Times Magazine as Best First Historical Romance; nominated by the Literary Times as Outstanding Historical; Golden Heart finalist

“Martine of Rouen is on her way to Normandy to marry a man she has never met before. She has promised herself that she will never love any man– including the man she marries– because love destroyed her mother. Her marriage to Edmond of Harford is to help her half-brother Rainulf and his friend, Thorne Falconer. For Martine, this marriage is simply preferable to becoming a nun. The first time she sees Thorne Falconer, Martine mistakes him for her betrothed and she wonders what marriage would have been like with Thorne as her husband. Thorne doesn’t understand the contradictions of Martine– one minute she is smiling shyly at him, the next she seems cold and aloof. But by arranging Martine’s marriage to Edmond, Thorne is guaranteed to be rewarded with land of his own– and that is Thorne’s only desire. He tries to ignore the effect Martine has on him because no matter what he feels for her, she belongs to another. A man without land cannot marry and Thorne knows that nothing can come of a relationship with the beautiful Martine. But because of his driving ambition to acquire land, Thorne may be putting Martine in danger. Despite her distant relationship to the queen, Martine is still the abandoned, illegitimate child that Rainulf rescued– unsure of who to trust and what to believe. Thorne makes her forget all her good intentions not to fall in love, yet she can’t believe in him. But the time will come when Thorne is the only one who can help Martine and she will find in her heart what she knew all along– fate has bound them together forever. Patricia Ryan has written a charming, passion-filled tale of the highest quality! Falcon’s Fire is a romantic, captivating story of two lovers who were destined to be together. Their story touches the heart and sparks the imagination! Ms. Ryan’s interest in the Middle Ages shines through in her work! Falcon’s Fire is a labor of love by an incredibly talented author! An exquisite novel of true love and honor from a time of chivalry and majesty! Magnificent! Patricia Ryan is wonderful!” Kristina Wright — Copyright © 1994-97 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved

“A powerful debut historical novel by an exciting new talent, Falcon’s Fire will ignite your imagination and passion for medieval romances.” Romantic Times

“A richly textured pageant of passion. A grand adventure!” New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs

“Falcon’s Fire is a fast-paced, vividly detailed medieval romance filled with several interesting and very memorable characters. Of noted interest to readers will be the variety of intriguing female personalities in Patricia Ryan’s terrific tale. Patricia Ryan is definitely an author to watch!” Affaire de Coeur

“Destined to become an all time favorite among medieval fans.” The Medieval Chronicle

“An exceptionally good and beautifully told story.” Rendezvous