DEADLY HEAT - Cynthia Eden
Grand Central's Forever
ISBN: 978-0-446-55926-3
February 2011
Romantic Suspense

Charlottesville, Virginia, Present Day

It has been six months since Lora Spade's fiancé and fellow fire fighter, Carter Creek, died in an arson fire.  Now as she and her crew arrive on scene where a fire has fully engulfed an old building, Lora hopes nobody is inside.  To her horror, she sees a man rush into the building.  She and her team follow him and drag him out.  Does the jerk have a death wish?

Agent Kenton Lake is part of the FBI's Serial Services Division. It is an elite team of agents who investigate, track, and apprehend serial killers, rapist, and arsonists.  Right now, Agent Lake is coughing and having trouble breathing.  It is no accident that Kent is on the scene.  He was to meet with an informant. When he is forcefully removed from the building, he tries to tell his rescuers that he heard somebody screaming.  Getting a look at Lora, he is bowled over, especially since she knocked his lights out.  Rubbing his sore jaw, he can't help but be impressed. He pulls out his wallet, and he identifies himself, and feels an immediate connection, which Lora doesn't want to feel. Even if Kent is now covered in soot, he is hot.

DEADLY HEAT doesn't stop when the fire is out.  Lora doesn't know if she should be relieved because this time the fire didn't take a victim, but…a body is found locked in a closet.  Lora and Chief Garrison know the arsonist is back.  The victims are always killed by fire. Who will be next?

Lora went over the county's Chief Arson Investigator, Seth MacIntrye.  Now that the FBI is on scene, his behavior has become erratic. Seth is irritated when Kent asks Lora to be part of the team and attempts to thwart any thought of romance between them, but is something else going on with Seth?  The attraction is scorching between Lora and Kent, and against all odds, they fall in love.

Top profiler, Monica Davenport gives Kent a profile that matches him; with that in mind, Kent goes to the media, and purposely makes himself a target.

The action is explosive and doesn't stop till the last page.  DEADLY HEAT is more than a thriller; it's a character driven suspense story with sub plots that will tantalize readers. The passion is hot, and both Lora and Kent are excellent protagonists. The villain could be anyone; like so many he hides in plain sight. Secondary characters are peppered throughout the tale. Cynthia Eden has penned an excellent romantic suspense.

Enjoy folks.
Deborah C Jackson