His carefully crafted identity…
Is about to go up in flames!
After an attempt on his life, Jonathan Canterbury IV
chose to let the world believe he was dead. Then Tammy Ingles discovers that
the firefighter she knows as Ethan Sommerly is really the heir to an epic
fortune. He doesn't know what scares him more: the fact that his new lover can
expose his secret, or the intensity of his need for her…
Very good mix of romance and suspense. The story opened
with a bang, as the firehouse stove exploded when Ethan turned it on. He is injured
and taken to the hospital, where he finds out that his long hair and bushy
beard have protected his face from severe burns. However, the flames have destroyed
said hair and beard and need to be trimmed/shaved. Ethan only trusts one person
to do it.
Tammy owns the only salon in town. She isn't surprised
when Ethan shows up to have his hair and beard taken care of, and she doesn't
expect to recognize the face under all that hair. Why is the heir to billions hiding
out in the backwoods of Michigan and using someone else's name?
I liked Ethan and Tammy. Ethan has been the quiet one in
the previous books in the series. He works as a forest ranger in the deep woods
when he isn't fighting fires. When unexplained accidents happen to the
hotshots, Ethan wonders if the team is the target or if someone has figured out
who he is. We learn that Ethan walked away from a plane crash that killed other
hotshots and used the chance to make the world believe he was dead. He'd had
several close calls in suspicious accidents and thought someone was trying to
kill him. If he can remain undercover for a few more weeks, his family can
declare him dead, and he will be clear to live on his terms. But when a
journalist in town recognizes him and publishes his picture, Ethan's life
becomes much more complicated.
Tammy is a popular and vivacious woman with a reputation
as a flirt. After years of bullying at school because of her looks, she took
control and is now happy with who she is. She flirts because it's fun, but she
has no interest in any relationships, preferring to protect her heart. Ethan is
one of her favorite targets because he plays along. Tammy refuses to admit that
she has had a crush on him for years, insisting they are just friends. But her
heart feels otherwise when she hears of his injuries.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Ethan
and Tammy. Discovering his true identity threw her for a loop and made her
question his motives. When Ethan discovers she knows who he is, he fears that
she will expose him. Instead, the sparks of attraction that have simmered under
their flirting burst into flame. But there are obstacles to any chance of a
future for them. Now that she knows who he is, Tammy feels that he's way out of
her league. Ethan fears that being around him puts Tammy in danger. But both
feel stronger when they are together than when they are apart. Matters become
even more complicated when Ethan's family shows up in town. I fully understood
why Ethan put distance between them and himself. There were some interesting
interactions, many of which fed the idea that one of them was behind the
attacks on him. I liked that Tammy had an outsider's perspective and helped
Ethan look at them differently. I was pleasantly surprised by the scene with Ethan's
mom and Tammy and laughed out loud at their antics.
As the attacks on Ethan escalated, Tammy could no longer
deny her feelings for him, but she still believed nothing could come of them. I
wanted to shake her when she tried to push him away, hoping to protect her
heart and his life. Ethan worried that being around him was dangerous for her,
but he couldn't stop wanting to protect her. I ached for his hurt when she
tried to send him away and was glad that he didn't give up on her. When
everything was over, Ethan had to decide whether to stick with what and who he
loved or return to his old life. It was no surprise to see which one he chose.
The suspense of the story kept me turning the pages. The
stove explosion was one more unexplained accident in the litany that has plagued
the hotshots for months. After an anonymous note claimed that one of them
"wasn't who you think they are," hotshot captain Braden worries that
the saboteur is one of them. But when Ethan's identity emerges, the attacks are
suddenly more focused. One episode after another makes it clear that Ethan's
life is in danger, but who is behind it? There are several prime candidates,
and the tension ramps up as Ethan and the others try to figure it out.
Is about to go up in flames!
The
final confrontation comes when the bad guy abducts Tammy as bait to finish
Ethan off for good. I cheered as Tammy didn't wait around for rescue and took
things into her own hands. The resolution was well done and solved the mystery
of the attacks on Ethan. However, the problems plaguing the hotshots are still
unsolved, and the crew is left waiting for the next shoe to drop. I can't wait
for the next book to see if the mystery is finally solved.
I'm intrigued by the tv reporter whose arrival in town
kicked off Ethan's troubles. She did not make a very good first impression with
her pushiness. Someone has been feeding her information about the attacks, and
she is determined to learn more. However, as the book went on, her attitude
softened a little. Her support of Tammy surprised me and earned a little
respect. She plays a vital role in resolving the attacks on Ethan, but the
initial story has her staying around. She has an unexpected connection to the
hotshots outside whoever her source is, and it will be interesting to see what
comes of that.
I loved the closeness of the hotshot team. Because of the
danger of their work, there is a special feeling of family among them. I loved
the teasing that goes on between the various members. The revelation of Ethan's
deception could have torn them apart, but they had his back instead. But they
are all on edge because of the sabotage and wondering who it could be.
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