"This book will make your summer sizzle!"

With the current crop of television shows such as CSI and WITHOUT A TRACE forensic investigation is taken to a new level. Debra Cowan's BURNING LOVE provides a side not often seen, that of a fire investigator. What makes her story so unique is the investigator is a woman.

For fire investigator Terra August proving herself in a field that is male dominated is tough. However, her greatest challenge comes while investigating the fire and death of her mentor, former fire investigator, Harris Vaughn. She is not the only one who begins to suspect it is murder. Sexy but sad police detective Jack Spencer is called in to investigate and quickly is drawn to the sensual but strong Terra. This attraction quickly wars with his vow to never get involved with another woman with a dangerous job: his social worker wife having been murdered by a client years before.

Trying to keep their growing attractions in check, the pair is off on the trail to find a serial arsonist. Though there are many suspects beautifully drawn by the author, including a very psychotic ex-wife, our couple is nagged by the appearance of bouquet of flowers to Terra after every fire. What do they mean? Is she the target or are worse are those closest to her? Because of this uncertainty Terra is reluctant to get closer to Jack, having lost her mentor and best friend she can't take the risk with her heart. Jack struggling with his own attraction to Terra can't overcome his need to protect her. Readers will find the resolution both surprising and satisfying.

BURNING LOVE is a wonderful example of the very best in what readers expect from Silhouette's Intimate Moments line. The characters are well defined, the plot is complicated despite the restrictive length of this line of books and the author's unique talent at intertwining the sexual tension with the internal conflicts of her characters is a classic example of the best of this genre. Though this is my first Debra Cowan, I will be searching bookstores for her backlist. BURNING LOVE will make your summer sizzle.

Reviewed by Jody Allen
Posted August 23, 2003

Summary

From the desk of Terra August

Investigating the death of former fire investigator Harris Vaughn—my mentor and friend—has been tough, especially since we'd had dinner together only hours before his murder. There are a lot of suspects, which means I'm forced to spend time with cynical Jack Spencer—oh, what a hardship!—a ruggedly handsome, by-the-book detective with sad eyes and a sexy smile he rarely shows while he's working on Harris's murder. Meanwhile, I'm tracking a serial arsonist.

The really strange thing is, I've gotten flowers after every fire. Could my secret admirer be a killer...and could the man I've begun falling for be the next target?