I decided to read this book because of the setting-San Francisco at the time of the great earthquake and fire of 1906. I thought it would be romantic supense, but it was a light historical romance which I'm sure would be enjoyed by young teens (the heroine is only 19 and her 15 year old sister is also prominent in the story.)The many details of the time and setting seemed authentic (after all the author was a young child at the time the events took place and I imagine that she may have spoken to people later who lived through it) and made reading this book very enjoyable. Despite the disaster setting the story is not grim. The title has to do with the idea of fire (adversity) refining gold (the character of the protagonists).