True Love is a Durable Fire is a work of exciting historical fiction penned by author Julie Hodgson. Set in an Austen-esque world of promised marriages, proper behavior and society scandals, we follow the path of two sisters as their futures take an unpredicted twist. Lord Nathan Campbell is promised to marry Lady Lydia Barrowsford, but when he lays eyes on her sister Maria, all bets are off as to who he will end up with. Wooing amid secrets, lies, and scandals is no easy feat for Maria to cope with, but the true power of love is a lesson they will learn during this fiasco and one that some of them may regret.

Before you even begin this delightful story, the exquisite inner formatting of the book itself takes you away to a romantic and idealized world where you can enjoy the drama of others, and what drama it is. Author Julie Hodgson sets a beautiful scene with refined characters who are also still highly relatable to the modern reader. At its heart, the story is about the passionate love that we all feel ourselves consumed by at some point in life, and it’s that connection which draws us into the lives of Maria, Nathan, and Lydia as their emotions spiral out of control in a world where their every move is judged and whispered about. True Love is a Durable Fire provides a clean but fiery romance which all genre fans are sure to enjoy, but with the refinement and wit of a golden era gone by.

True Love is a Durable Fire by Julie Hodgson is a historical novel set in a time when the respect of society meant everything to those with title, land and wealth. Although love can transcend societal boundaries, it is never an easy road to travel. As it was for Maria, who cared little for her family's wealthy friends but was a simple and shy soul. This was in direct contrast to her mother and her flamboyant older sister, Lydia. Both of them adored shopping, balls, and gossip with their fancy friends, all of which Maria endured with distaste or managed to avoid completely. Lydia, a notorious flirt, enjoyed men's company and it was left to Maria to see them off when Lydia became tired of them. However, when Maria meets Lydia's betrothed, Laird Nathan Campbell, she is shocked to recognize him as the attractive stranger who rescued her after a fall from her horse.

True Love is a Durable Fire is a delightful period drama endowed with generous dollops of mystery and intrigue. This is a well-written story of forbidden love during a time when the strict rules of society superseded feelings of love and happiness. The narrative perfectly captured the suffering of more than one generation because they deemed it necessary to follow accepted conventions. Julie Hodgson writes an engaging and appealing love story. I feel there is much more to explore with the two main characters, Maria and Nathan, and their families. This novel really does lend itself to being the first in a series. Those who like romantic historical fiction will enjoy this book.