This tale of a small town in Texas in November reminds us
of the duty of care we all have for other people.
In HER HOLIDAY FIREMAN we meet Leah Berry who runs a cafe
and is trying to hold up against a tide of expenses and
shortfall of money. Her father, the former fire chief, is
suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and is in a nursing
home, following his large house burning down. Leah has some
palomino horses and a barn and small beach house with
orange cat, and not much else but unpaid taxes.
Ryan Owen is the replacement fire chief, who arrives on the
anniversary of his young wife's death. He brings a large
bullmastiff dog for company. He formerly served in Houston
and may have to return. There are few fires in Vine Beach,
so his job mainly consists of carrying out fire safety
inspections. Leah's old café is high on his list. The two
initially like each other but the fire inspection does not
go well and Leah is told to close on safety grounds until
repairs have been made. However this being a small
community, the local men who attend a club for widowers are
keen to pitch in with DIY skills and a contractor can carry
out anything complex, if Leah can find money.
The story further involves an instant dislike between dog
and cat, a lovely afternoon sailing in November, a real
estate offer for Leah's land and the mystery of how the
fire at her family home got started. HER HOLIDAY FIREMAN is
readable and pleasant and has a Christian ethos reflecting
Kathleen Y'Barbo's beliefs. However those wishing high
tension or action, which might be indicated by a title
involving a fireman, will have to look elsewhere.
From his first encounter with the feisty redhead, widower
and fire marshal Ryan Owen knows he's in trouble. He's in
Vine Beach to heal, not to find romance. As for Leah Berry,
she's come home strictly to lay claim to her family's
restaurant and fend off developers. Leah is infuriated when
Ryan shuts down the restaurant on violations. Both are
determined to have their way, even as something unexpected
starts blossoming between them. They'll need to learn the
hardest thing about love and faith—letting go.