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Fire & Ice
He’s a hunky fire investigator, she creates ice sculptures—when these two get together things can’t help but sizzle.
Fire investigation is Knox Manning’s passion, that is until he meets the suspect in his latest arson case. The moment he locks eyes with Melanie Sharp’s powder blue gaze his knees buckle—a foreign reaction to the six-foot-two fireman. Thing is, the woman is trouble with a capital “T”. Messing with her could cost him his job and his sanity. That’s what his mind says anyway, too bad his body isn’t listening.
Melanie’s a talent, an up-and-comer in the cultured art world and a woman with a less than stellar past. When one of her promotional fliers is found at the scene of a burned out house, she suddenly finds herself the focus of an arson investigation. One led by a dark-haired man who scares her as much as he thrills her. The house blaze had been set, but not by Melanie. She’s determined to prove that to Knox, who has suddenly become the catalyst of her secret sexual fantasies—igniting an inferno so intense she’s afraid of sustaining third-degree burns.
225 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2006
19 people want to read
About the author
Jerri Drennen
29 books27 followersJerri Drennen is an author of romantic suspense, paranormal romance and contemporary romance. Growing up on a farm in a tiny town in Minnesota was where she acquired her love of storytelling. After meeting her husband, she relocated to his hometown in Missouri where they now live with two of her four children and two grand kids. Her children call her the crazy cat lady.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 14, 2010
Eh. I'm on a bit of a mediocre streak here with the books I've been reading. This book started great--you have a hunky (tall, built, dark haired, green eyed, 32 year old) fire investigator with a macho name like Knox Manning investigating a suspicious house fire that may have been set by an artist/ice sculptor who is seeing a married man (the same man who's house burned down). The suspect, blue-eyed red-haired Melanie Sharp had no idea the man she was seeing (but not sleeping with) was married with children-- as soon as she found out she dumped him. But did she set his house on fire in retaliation? When Knox finds a flier for her upcoming art show conveniently among the rubble, he has to wonder. Did she do it or is someone trying to set her up?
I liked how this book started out. Knox and Melanie kind of got off to a bad start with each other (with a few love/hate moments), but there was a spark between them that each of them couldn't deny. Flat-chested, 'skinny' Melanie was not exactly Knox's physical ideal--he was used to big and voluptuos--but there was just something about sassy Mel that intrigued him. He really, really wanted her in his bed. But every time he tried to get closer to her to show he was interested, he'd do or say the wrong thing, stick his foot in his mouth, and she would end up getting pissed at him. Both Knox and Melanie had some baggage that made them wary of love--he had a philandering father and she had a mother who kept picking loser boyfriends. Melanie had self-esteem issues due to her obsession with what she considered her 'flat chest'(this got tiring after a while). Knox was used to being a 'player' and until Melanie never considered a future with one woman. All of this background development of the characters helped me to understand (and like) Knox and Mel and had me rooting for them. Just as things were headed in the right direction for the two of them, the book started pulling out the old cliches--the unexpected pregnancy, the ILYs (even though I don't really know you), the 'I-can't-be-with-you-because...'. I had some moments of real frustration where I just wanted the characters to sit down and talk to each other about all of their feelings.
There were parts of this book I really liked. I liked the author's writing style, the characterizations (including Melanie's lusty best friend, Kay--she was a nice contrast to the more conservative Mel) and the pace of the book. I thought Knox and Melanie had some hot (and funny) moments together. Their relationship had a lot of potential. But what I couldn't quite believe was after a few kisses and one 'feeling up' scene in Knox's truck, that they knew they were in love. Lust maybe, but I just didn't think they knew each other well enough or long enough for it to be love. I wish the author had written at least a few more chapters where Knox and Mel got to know each other better (maybe even had a date!), before declaring they were in love. Oh well...
There wasn't much to the suspense aspect of the book. The author basically gives you one possibility (besides the heroine) of who the arsonist is, and throws a slight twist at the end (although I saw it coming). It wasn't exactly gripping suspense, and I wasn't too concerned that the heroine's life was in danger or that she would be charged with a crime.
So, this book showed lots of promise, and with a little more development of the romance between the H/h, and a little more suspenseful plot, it would have been a winner for me. As it stands right now, it was just good. But good enough that I think I need to check out more from this author. 3 1/2 stars
I liked how this book started out. Knox and Melanie kind of got off to a bad start with each other (with a few love/hate moments), but there was a spark between them that each of them couldn't deny. Flat-chested, 'skinny' Melanie was not exactly Knox's physical ideal--he was used to big and voluptuos--but there was just something about sassy Mel that intrigued him. He really, really wanted her in his bed. But every time he tried to get closer to her to show he was interested, he'd do or say the wrong thing, stick his foot in his mouth, and she would end up getting pissed at him. Both Knox and Melanie had some baggage that made them wary of love--he had a philandering father and she had a mother who kept picking loser boyfriends. Melanie had self-esteem issues due to her obsession with what she considered her 'flat chest'(this got tiring after a while). Knox was used to being a 'player' and until Melanie never considered a future with one woman. All of this background development of the characters helped me to understand (and like) Knox and Mel and had me rooting for them. Just as things were headed in the right direction for the two of them, the book started pulling out the old cliches--the unexpected pregnancy, the ILYs (even though I don't really know you), the 'I-can't-be-with-you-because...'. I had some moments of real frustration where I just wanted the characters to sit down and talk to each other about all of their feelings.
There were parts of this book I really liked. I liked the author's writing style, the characterizations (including Melanie's lusty best friend, Kay--she was a nice contrast to the more conservative Mel) and the pace of the book. I thought Knox and Melanie had some hot (and funny) moments together. Their relationship had a lot of potential. But what I couldn't quite believe was after a few kisses and one 'feeling up' scene in Knox's truck, that they knew they were in love. Lust maybe, but I just didn't think they knew each other well enough or long enough for it to be love. I wish the author had written at least a few more chapters where Knox and Mel got to know each other better (maybe even had a date!), before declaring they were in love. Oh well...
There wasn't much to the suspense aspect of the book. The author basically gives you one possibility (besides the heroine) of who the arsonist is, and throws a slight twist at the end (although I saw it coming). It wasn't exactly gripping suspense, and I wasn't too concerned that the heroine's life was in danger or that she would be charged with a crime.
So, this book showed lots of promise, and with a little more development of the romance between the H/h, and a little more suspenseful plot, it would have been a winner for me. As it stands right now, it was just good. But good enough that I think I need to check out more from this author. 3 1/2 stars
February 20, 2012
2.5 Stars
This book fell short of my expectation. Main lead characters were underdeveloped IMO, particularly the female lead. The first half dragged and this reader began to lose interest. There were too many secondary characters and subplots which deterred from the main story - which was less than 170 pages (e-book version).
This book fell short of my expectation. Main lead characters were underdeveloped IMO, particularly the female lead. The first half dragged and this reader began to lose interest. There were too many secondary characters and subplots which deterred from the main story - which was less than 170 pages (e-book version).
January 12, 2011
A wonderful selection to begin reading Ms Drennen's ever-expanding list of novels.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews