Diana Gabaldon's fifth book in the Outlander Series, THE FIERY CROSS, follows the continuing adventures of the ever-resourceful Claire and Jamie Fraser.  In this book, Claire and Jamie's daughter, Briana, has just married.  The Frasers should be happy, but Jamie is obsessed with vengeance against the villainous Stephen Bonnet.  Not only that, Jamie and Claire are plagued by murder, deception, plots and intrigues of various types--not to mention a lost treasure.

If you haven't read the previous books in the series, you may be a bit confused by the rollicking antics of Jamie and Claire in THE FIERY CROSS.  Jamie and Claire are, after all, time travelers, and privy to a great deal of future "history," which certainly gives them an edge of their (many) enemies.  And, since the date is 1770 and Claire and Jamie are currently residing in Colonial America, the intrepid couple are striving to tie up loose ends before the American Revolution strikes.  Jamie, a Colonel in the North Carolina militia, is torn between political loyalties and matters of the heart--not to mention his plans of revenge. 

As usual, Gabaldon delivers good adventure, great romance, and a load of daring-do.  Outlander series fans will certainly be pleased with Jamie and Claire's (and Briana's and Roger's) latest escapades.  THE FIERY CROSS, set in Colonial America, offers a change of scene from earlier books, although not much character development.

Jamie is his usual brash self--noble, charming, and obsessed with honor.  And, Claire is a healer with a heart of gold and a talent for landing herself in dire situations.  The romance is, as usually, utterly steamy and the action is without equal in the romance genre.  Briana and Roger's new marriage add a dash of humor and depth to the series, and I look forward to future Outlander books.  As usual, Ms. Gabaldon manages to deliver a well-written romance with compelling characters and a good deal of wit.  Good work!