LIGHT MY FIRE
Author: Jane Graves ISBN: 0345458419 11/2004 ROMANTIC SUSPENSE Publisher: BALLANTINE/IVY
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HE WAS TOO HOT TO HANDLE . . .
Defense attorney Ethan Millner is paid handsomely for his ability to charm a jury while ruthlessly slashing the prosecution. He's living life in the fast lane, until he's slapped with a reckless driving charge and sentenced to forty hours of community service on a crime watch patrol. Now he's under the thumb of the chairman of the city's crime watch council--a beautiful but no-nonsense woman determined to make him pay his debt to society.
. . . SHE COULDN'T RESIST THE HEAT
Sandy DeMarco is familiar with Ethan's cutthroat character in the courtroom, as well as his notorious "bad boy" reputation with women. Still, when Sandy's quiet neighborhood is shaken by a brutal murder and an employee of hers becomes the prime suspect, she knows the accused's only hope is the man who will win at any cost. Working alongside Sandy, Ethan begins to feel sparks of attraction that ignite into love--even as a killer burns to silence those who threaten to uncover his secrets... |
 RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:
I've been known to read a book solely because the title grabbed my attention by firing my curiosity or my imagination. And surprisingly, I've rarely been disappointed in this type of impulse reading.
LIGHT MY FIRE is one such attention grabber. It definitely fired my imagination.
I'm not sure if the title is intended as a testament to the combustible feelings between the two main characters or is used to invoke a certain reaction from a reader.
Maybe both. The romantic couple are indeed explosive together and the hero, Ethan Millner, did indeed stroke my imagination.
In any case, LIGHT MY FIRE is a terrific read, teaming a wickedly delicious hero with a really appealing, wholesome, no-nonsense heroine.
Ruthless, cold, calculating, cynical, high-powered attorney Ethan is a definite bad-boy (and I have a real soft spot for bad boys). He'll bend and twist the law any way he has to to get his clients aquitted...as long as they can afford his retainer fee. His redemption isn't quick and it isn't without setbacks, but it is believable.
Almost the polar opposite of Ethan, Sandy DeMarco - despite having three cop brothers - tries to see the good in people. Ethan and Sandy might be a study in contrasts, but this couple compliment each other. This pair are perfect foils for the other, filling all those grooves and hollows.
An instant attraction swiftly unfolds into a fascinating love dance filled with clever dialogue and loads of sexual tension.
Not only does Ms. Graves sketch two complex, dynamite lead characters, the suspense aspect of this story is also well-done. The murder plot that has Ethan playing a Perry Mason-kind of lawyer to find the real culprit has some really nice surprises and an unexpected deadend - or two.
All in all, LIGHT MY FIRE is an exceptional page-turner. Combine two sensational lead characters with a clever mystery and my verdict is this novel is guilty of a slow burn...
Debbie Jett |
