Good story, fast read. Set in SC, a female fire cop is investigating buildings that are being set on fire. An ATF agent arrives soon after the investigation starts claiming these fires are connected to a pyromanic that is now in prison in CA. A race begins between SC and CA to find this person and stop them. Along the way, two people that have both been emotionally wounded begin to trust each other. I read this in one day as I couldn't wait to see what happened. ( )

Two years ago, firefighter Daniel McGee was killed in a warehouse-turned-nightclub fire that has never been solved. He left behind his fiance, fellow firefighter Tess Gannon, his last words over the radio he carried telling her that he loved her and that the years they'd spent together were the best of his life. Now she's a member of the fire police, a virtual fireman type cop who investigates the cause of fires, and Danny's death still haunts her-especially now that an arsonist calling himself The Flamemaster is setting fires around the town of Somersett , South Carolina , and sending letters to the local newspaper threatening more fires.

At the scene of a burned down apartment building, Tess is brought face to face with Gage O'Halloran, a man dressed in jeans and cowboy boots, talking with a distinct western drawl, calling her sweetheart. Tess is soon taken to task, however, when O'Halloran flashes his ATF badge at her. Now there's two fire investigators on the scene, one from ATF and one from the FBI. Gage, though, knows better than most what type of pyromaniac they're after-he's pretty sure that Somersett's Flamemaster is connected to an arsonist serial killer who murdered his own wife.

Now Tess and Gage are facing an arsonist who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. As Tess realizes she needs to face her past and the loss of Danny, Gage discovers that attempting to keep his heart out of his feelings with Tess isn't as easy as he'd thought it would be. A killer stalks closer and closer, and an attraction grows as big as the fires they both try to prevent. For Tess and Gage, finding out who the copycat arsonist-and murderer-is before it's too late is their combined goal.

JoAnn Ross has written another winning romantic suspense tale, with a backdrop of fire and murder. Tess still isn't completely over the loss of Danny, and Gage hasn't come to terms with the death of his wife. His laid-back, alpha cowboy attitude grates on Tess's nerves at first, and Tess's inability to focus on anything except her job drives Gage crazy. As these two fight the passion that burns between them, they never lose sight of their real goal-caching the lunatic who is setting fires all over town, causing death and destruction. But once the danger is over and the threat has passed, will the feelings that Tess and Gage felt for each other during a time of high-adrenaline be able to last?

You'll have to read BLAZE to find out, but it's definitely worth it! ( )