The best parts were the descriptions of Isle Royale itself, which is why I rated this book generously (three stars as opposed to two.) The ending was very abrupt and the tacked-on epilogue didn't help much. Pacing was definitely an issue with this book. For all that I was able to envision Isle Royale as if I were standing on its shores, the rest of the book didn't captivate me in the same manner... Since the following 2 books appear to take place in Chicago only, I don't think I'll be continuing with this series. ( )

Almost more of an adventure story, only bit of sex near the end. ( )

Deborah is taken hostage by a man bent on revenge against her father, during the night of the great Chicago fire. Fleeing the city, with her father going one way, and she and her abductor going another, she's taken to the island that's the site of her father's carelessness with building an empire at all costs. When her father refuses to ransom her, she decides to roll up her sleeves and find out how the other half lives, and falls in love with her captor. ( )

Action. Adventure. Suspense. Murder. Mayhem. Kidnapping. Isolation. Desolation. Near Death. Introspection. Rape. Romance. Compassion. Empathy. Self-Reinvention. All of this and more set against the backdrop of The Great Chicago Fire.

When Deborah Sinclair experiences one life-changing event, she is unprepared for a chain-of-events that is set in motion on the night of the Chicago Fire. Returning to her father's mansion to confront him with a decision she has made about her engagement, she thwarts a would-be killer who then takes her hostage to the north woods of Isle Royale. While being held captive for ransom, Deborah is forced to shed her society girl image and confront the way 'real' people live. Forced by winter blizzards and an icing of the lake that surrounds Isle Royale, she becomes aware of the atrocities that her father's businesses have committed all in the quest of climbing society's golden ladder.

This story, the first in Susan Wiggs' Chicago Fire trilogy is captivating. I was caught from page one and enthralled until the final page. The characters are multi-dimensional and real. The setting is fabulous - I could almost feel the cold of the blizzard's snows and the bleakness of a deserted winter settlement. THE HOSTAGE is not to be missed. Thankfully I still have book three - THE FIREBRAND to read. ( )

Deborah Sinclairs life changes the night of the Chicago fire. Tom Silver goes to Chicago and plans on killing her father. Instead she is taken hostage. She decides if she wants this life with Tom, or go back to her fiancee and her rich life. ( )