Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Book #Review: Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts


Book Title: Chasing Fire
Author:  Nora Roberts |Website| Facebook |
Publisher:  Putnam
Genre: Romantic Suspense/  Mystery Romance
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Format: Mass Market
Cost: $7.99
Pages: 472
How I got it: Purchased 
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Publication Date:
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Synopsis:
Little else in life is as dangerous as fire jumping. Flying past towering pillars of smoke, parachuting down to the edge of an all-consuming blaze, shoveling and sawing for hours upon hours, days at a time, all to hold the line and push back against the raw power of Mother Nature.

But there's also little else as thrilling - at least to Rowan Tripp. The Missoula smoke jumpers are one of the most exclusive fire-fighting squads in the nation, and the job is in Rowan's blood: her father is a legend in the field. She's been fighting fires since her eighteenth birthday. At this point, returning to the wilds of Montana for the season feels like coming home - even with reminders of the partner she lost last season still lingering in the air.

Fortunately, this year's rookie crop is among the strongest ever - and Gulliver Curry's one of the best. He's also a walking contradiction, a hotshot firefighter with a big vocabulary and a winter job at a kid's arcade. He came to Missoula to follow in the footsteps of Lucas "Iron Man" Tripp, yet he's instantly more fascinated by his hero's daughter. Rowan, as a rule, doesn't hook up with other smoke jumpers, but Gull is convinced he can change her mind. And damn if he doesn't make a good case to be an exception to the rule.

Everything is thrown off balance, though, when a dark presence lashes out against Rowan, looking to blame someone for last year's tragedy. Rowan knows she can't complicate things with Gull - any distractions in the air or on the ground could be lethal. But if she doesn't find someone she can lean on when the heat gets intense, her life may go down in flames.
This is the second book in my theme read from Nora. I read Blue Smoke and now this one.  Chasing Fire is about the firefighters who help put out the fires in the forests. We know here in the US that during the summer is the worst time for forest fires, and these are the elite firefighters who go into these remote areas to put them out. 

As we have seen in real life in the past few months, fires don't care about the neighborhood it burns, it doesn't care about the wealth or lack of the residents, it simply burns.  From California, on down most of the West was on fire this year and this made the stories even more relatable to me to know a little bit about the men and women who go in and why they do.  Now I know this isn't a tale of a real firefighter, but once again we can't knock Nora for her research, without a doubt she didn't just talk to the firefighters, I'm sure she learned about jumping as well because the description of jumping from the plane as a tandem?? Only someone who's been up there can understand.

This story starts off with Rowan who is the daughter of a legendary fire jumper, and she's become a legend herself. Last summer her crew suffered a serious tragedy and she's still trying to deal with this. It's a new year and some of the old hats have returned and so have the new recruits.  She's in charge helping the new recruits settle in and thier training.  Rowan wants to keep it professional and keep somewhat of a distance since she knows not everyone will make the cut. Standing out from the recruits due to his abilities is Gull. Rowan has a rule of not dating in house and Gull?? Well he's making her rethink that rule.

At first the story is slow to get to the drama we know is coming, however, it lays down a great foundation, allowing the team to get to know each other as the weeks roll on and the recruits get cut and only the strong will move onto the new team.  Before the summer fires start to burn a bit of old drama kicks off and solidify the bonds between the team and will put Rowan in an even better light for Gull and makes Gull a true member of the team to the ones who were there before. 

As the story unfolds and they bond and Gull & Rowan flirt, Rowan's dad also begins to change and it's a change she never saw coming and one she isn't prepared for.  I love the bond she has with her Dad and how close-knit they were. I loved the relationships that the team as a whole had and quirks that made them bond and sometimes fight, and of course rag on each other. I was very glad there were several female firefighters who more than kept up they lead. 

As the summer fires begin to burn a firebug becomes obsessed with seeking revenge, the past returns to haunt the team and a body is found at the site of a burn. From there the hits don't stop coming, the drama and craziness just unfold all with the backdrop of raging forest fires. I absolutely loved how the team developed and worked together, and as the danger grew how the worked through it and had each other's backs.  I loved how Gull made Rowan think beyond the next fire and see more than just the teams needs but her own as well.  The will they won't they back and forth flirting was amazing. I really enjoyed them coming together as a couple because he was able to be there for the changes happening in her life.

I loved that we got essentially two love stories within the pages.  As the desire and love formed and the danger amped up, I kept taking guesses on who it could be that was causing the trouble and why.  As the story unfolded I was so absorbed and couldn't wait to find out what happened.  And I was very satisfied with the ending. I highly recommend, the drama, the sexy times, the mystery and the love that unfolded keeps you glued. 
 ★★★★1/2☆
As always,
Happy Reading my loves, 

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