Della Chambers is now a member of the FBI's arson investigation team. As a young teen, her life was shattered when she lost her mother and since then, she hasn't have any intention to return to Crockett, Texas and the memories it holds. However, when a string of fires put resident's lives in danger, Della is sent in to calm the storm.
Camden Gibson is the man Della is now working in close proximity with. Though they share a past, it is not one that Della wishes to revisit since they bring back bad memories. However, as they reunite, they learn that perhaps love is a flame better left blazing.
As my first book by Molly Kate Gray, I found Camden and Della's occupations very interesting. Fighting dangerous fires always seems to ignite a spark in any story. Paired with Della's darker past, I found the story alluring and interesting. However, towards the middle and end, I found that the story lost a bit of its momentum. I later had a hard time connecting with Camden and Della together.
However, that is not to say that I didn't enjoy Gray's voice. She has a distinct writing style that makes it easy- to-read and suspenseful. I only wish I connected more with the characters later on.
Welcome home! Glad you got my message.
Cryptic words written on a note taped to the fire station door welcomed Della Chambers back to Crockett, Texas. When she was seventeen years old, she watched her life go up in flames. After the loss of her mother, she turned her back on her hometown - forever. Now one of the most respected members of the FBIβs arson investigation team, her knowledge of the town makes her the logical choice when the residents experience a string of suspicious fires.
Thatβs what the arsonist is hoping as well.
Camden Gibson is the reason Della is still alive, and sheβs never forgiven him for it. Returning to Crockett means she has to finally put ghosts from her past to rest while trying to navigate the choppy waters of working side by side with Camden.
Della has always been the one - the reason no other women were quite right for Camden. He never expected to see her again, and now heβs placed her directly within reach of the arsonistβs dangerous obsession.
Now the pair is forced to work side by side, and they discover the heat between them has nothing to do with fire.
Chapter One "Delia?" The barista stood, steaming cup in hand, as he looked out over the Saturday morning crowd at the coffee shop. As was typical during First Monday Trade Days, the room was packed with a mixture of red–hatted women bused in from assisted living centers in neighboring towns alongside young women pushing strollers seeking relief from the surprisingly oppressive October heat. Fall may have arrived in the rest of the country, but no one seemed to have alerted Texas to the news.
No locals could be found among the crowd. They were smart enough to leave Pineville before the tourists descended each month. "Delia?" The high schooler called out louder over the din of the crowd.
"Close enough." Special Agent Della Chambers walked to the counter and reached for the cardboard cup.
"Extra large mocha with a double shot of espresso?" The young man's pierced eyebrow shot up in question.
Della's fingers wrapped around the cup. "That'd be me." Taking her drink, she smoothed her coral camisole down over the waistband of her black Capri pants, very much aware that her rumpled business attire made her stand out in the crowd of bargain hunters. As she walked to the table filled with sugar packets and three flavors of creamers, she made one last, futile attempt to find a seat in the filled–to–capacity shop. She definitely should have driven thirty more minutes until she'd reached the next town. Of course, it had been a very long time since she'd been in the area; she'd forgotten the insanity that accompanied Trade Days.
After searching for a non–sticky spot on the table, she set down her drink and reached for the sugar packets. As a tendril of hair fell loose from the bun on the nape of her neck, she quickly spun it back into place as she fought back a yawn. Normally she'd spread a trip from Jacksonville to north Texas over two days, but Philip had told her time was of the essence. When she'd hung up the phone from her conversation with her boss, she had only allowed herself a half hour to prepare for the trip. As the reports Philip sent her printed, Della hurried through her apartment, tossing only absolute necessities into the bag for what she hoped would be a very short trip.
Now she was paying the price for her haste. She should have allowed herself a night's rest in Louisiana, but now, with just four hours left on her trip, she couldn't justify taking a break, especially not after her boss had called her with the latest news. Her guy had struck again while she was on the road.
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