FLASHPOINT – Jill Shalvis
American Heroes: The Firefighters, Book 1
Harlequin Blaze #410
ISBN (13): 978-0-373-79414-0
ISBN (10): 0-373-79414-2
July 2008
Contemporary Series Romance

Santa Rey, California ~ Present Day

EMT Brooke O’Brian joins the crew of Firehouse #34 temporarily while she readies her late grandmother’s house for selling. The first person she meets at the firehouse is drool-worthy firefighter Zach Thomas, and he has her panties melting on the spot. However, since they are fellow employees and Brooke will only be in town for six weeks, there’s no way they should get involved. Too bad her body rules her brain.

Zach is in the midst of battling his boss about a series of deadly fires that appear to have been set by a serial arsonist. His boss discounts the arson theories, causing Zach to feel frustrated. He’s also a bit distracted by his body’s reaction to Brooke, and the last thing he needs is to give into his desire for her. Zach’s motto right now is to not get involved with any woman. Too bad his libido rises hot and furious when Brooke is around.

When Brooke and Zach finally give in to their passion, they have to battle not only deeper feelings for each other, but also the arsonist. Will Zach find the culprit and persuade Brooke to stay in town?

As FLASHPOINT opens, Zach is in the middle of his arson investigation into a fire that recently resulted in the death of a child. Zach’s own family was killed in a tragic fire when he was young, so firefighting is close to his heart. Fighting fires is his life, and Brooke’s arrival introduces emotions he’s never felt before. She’s not afraid of challenges, and she’s not afraid to battle Zach, which causes sparks to fly.

Brooke never knew her grandmother, but she was willed the house. As she works during her spare time to clean it out, she begins to enjoy her time in Santa Rey, with a lot of it due to her burgeoning feelings for Zach. Brooke has to gain the trust of her fellow employees, but nobody backs Brooke into a corner. She soon proves she belongs with the crew at Firehouse #34.

Other characters of note in FLASHPOINT include fellow firefighters/EMTs Aidan, Cristina, Blake, and Dustin. There’s a secondary romance involving Cristina and one of the men in this tale that is resolved by the end. Next month, one of these other characters gets a story in FLASHBACK. I won’t spoil the surprise by revealing which one.

FLASHPOINT is sizzling hot with enough sparks between Zach and Brooke to set the whole coast of California on fire. Will Zach find the arsonist? Jill Shalvis continues to show a superb talent for writing emotional, suspenseful stories about firefighters. Once I picked up FLASHPOINT, I couldn’t put it down. I think you’ll feel the same. For a thoroughly satisfying tale, I highly recommend FLASHPOINT.

Patti Fischer