BURN FOR YOU, second in the Outback Skies series, is a spicy novella, full
of realism, by Aussie author Lexxie Couper. Outback Skies is a
pub in rural territory that is undergoing a wildfire. Bush fires are nothing new in the
hot, dry outback, but homes and livelihoods are at stake and
everyone helps to fight the threat.
Evan Alexander, a chopper pilot, is in the small town of
Wallaby Ridge, grabbing food, drink and salt before flying
out again. Here the fire menaces a National Park as well as
the town. Evan's silently amazed by the smartly-dressed
media types arriving to grab coverage, such as principled
TV reporter Jenna McGrath. Tash Freeman, the town's Royal
Flying Doctors Service pilot, is a much more practical
lady. As is Jess Montgomery, captain of the Wallaby Ridge's
fire brigade. When Tash tells Evan that the fire is
jumping, he realises Jess and her team on the ground will
be threatened.
I love Lexxie Couper for constantly putting women in
strong, demanding roles. Australia has a reputation as
being a masculine environment, but we see in her books that
it's really an environment where all contributions are
needed and any person is judged by how good a job they do,
not by whether they should be able to do it. At the same
time a stockman, Ryan, has come out as gay and lost work,
so it's far from ideal.
The central character is Evan, and as the tale unfolds, it
turns out that this brave man has survived a flying
accident that left him with serious scarring. This is
partly what cost him his marriage to a girl who didn't
appreciate a good man. Could a lady from his past rekindle
his love? He is almost afraid to find out. The last time he
saw her, he was a lot younger and stupider, putting looks
ahead of character when it came to girlfriends.
There is a hair-raising sequence in BURN FOR YOU describing
the heli pilot's work in the raging firestorm, the best
description I have read. I also have to praise Lexxie
Couper for depicting a scarred hero who feels that his
lasting damage isolates him. We've read too many perfect
heroes. This novella has serious quality as well as some
hot adult action. Best read in an Aussie accent, complete
with local strong language.
Harsh, rugged and unforgiving, the Australian Outback is the
perfect place for Evan Alexander to hide. Up in the air,
fighting fires from the cockpit of his helicopter, no one
sees the scars that run clear down to his soul.
When a massive fire breaks out in a nearby national park,
Wallaby Ridge becomes a media staging ground, and Evan’s
daring piloting skills the center of attention. Evan finds
it easy to dodge every reporter—except one. A woman from his
past.
Jenna McGrath can’t believe the quiet, withdrawn man
declared a hero is the same arrogant, cocky pilot she fell
in love with six years ago. A cruel betrayal caused Jenna to
remove herself from his world, but she’s never been able to
erase him from her memories.
Their long-suppressed attraction reignites, but the walls
Evan has built around himself are high. And while Jenna
easily overlooks the scars on his body, she begins to wonder
if molten desire is enough to melt the emotional scars
binding his heart.
Warning: It’s not the flames devouring the landscape that
will stir your soul…it’s the wounded, broken man fighting
them from the air.
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