Friday, May 07, 2010

Line of Fire by Jo Davis

To his fellow firemen, Tommy Skyler has it all. But the golden boy of Station Five hides a private pain. He was once a star quarterback until tragedy derailed his dream. Since then, he's struggled with his choices-including his decision to become a firefighter. His one ray of light shines in beautiful nurse Shea Ford. When a dangerous rescue lands Tommy in the ER, what better opportunity to win her over? But when a conspiracy culminates in deadly arson, Tommy realizes that a ruthless enemy is closing in, threatening to destroy the couple's love- and their lives.
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Sorry for the disjointed thoughts that follow. I want to do this without spoilers, and I'm sitting at work, too, hiding my monitor *g*.

Just a couple things niggled at me, and they are likely my own issues. First, Tommy is 23. How the hell is he so practiced a lover? A serious hottie in the bedroom. K, I'm sure it's my own experiences here, since he was a star college football player and then a firefighter. But still... onward.

Tommy and Shea are just flat-out nice people. It was hard to find something not to like. Tommy's immaturity did show itself a few times, like when Shea said she already had a date to Zack & Cori's wedding, and he felt like he needed to bring someone hot so he wouldn't seem like he was pining for her. But overall, I liked him. In fact (sex aside - completely, utterly, and forever aside) I could see my oldest in him. Unfailingly polite, athletic, fun, and just plain nice. (In hindsight, I think this is why his prowess in the bedroom bothered me so much. He reminded me too much of my son.)

Shea was also a nice girl. In fact, the two of them were so nice, that's the other thing that kept this from being a perfect read. And how silly is that, because I really, really liked them both. Anyway, they each have some issues to work out individually, and then they have to share them together. They worked well together.

Tommy and Shea resolve their conflict fairly early on, but each leaves some things unsaid, and that comes back later to bite them both in the butt. Thankfully, they are both talkers at heart, and again, the tension is resolved. The end of the book is driven by the external conflict - the resolution of the whodunnit (which was not a secret). Things come to a head with Sean in this one - finally, and with some seriously major consequences. And the preview she gives us into Sean's book? I don't know how I'll wait.

Davis knows how to torture a hero, that is for damn sure. Her firefighters are more tortured than any heroes in recent memory. (Zack anyone?) My heart broke for Tommy after the warehouse fire. Another little niggle: I was surprised that it only took a visit from his friends two weeks after his release from the hospital, to pull him out of his well of self-pity. But in the long run, it worked ok for me.

I enjoyed Line of Fire very much despite any little niggles I had with it (some that were, admittedly, my own).

4 comments:

  1. Hi Lori
    I just bought this one last night.
    Glad you enjoyed it. The first thing I did was check the preview of Sean's book. Can't believe we have to wait till December.

    LOL on:
    Tommy is 23. How the hell is he so practiced a lover?

    I'm going to try not to think of his age.

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  2. It's interesting about the hero reminding you of your oldest. Sometime I have a hard time getting into a book when the hero has the same name as one of my sons, especially when it's an erotic romance. It just feels weird.

    I need to get started on this series cause I do love fire fighters. :) Time to dig them out of the tbr pile.

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  3. So is this an older woman, younger man theme book? Just wondering :D

    LOL about Tommy reminding you of Jeff :D I could see why the experienced lover idea is niggling you. I do think that if Tommy is 23, his immaturity can be forgiven... Wow, 23 is really young for a hero ^_^; I mean, that's really rare...

    Oh and you're playing hooky at work! :P

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  4. Nath, it's definitely not an older woman/younger man theme. Thank goodness, cause I usually hate it when that's the source of the conflict.

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Have you read it? What do you think?

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