INTO THE FIRE

Ballantine Books (2008), 477 pages, $25 (hardcover)

Suzanne Brockmann definitely writes a different sort of romance.
The author has evolved through the years, from writing more traditional romance novels to her current series where the love stories take a back seat to suspense, and sometimes social statements.
Which may appeal to many readers.
And not to others.
“Into the Fire” is a rather convoluted story that reads quicker than you might think when you first pick up the rather heavy 477-pager. But bouncing around among five different storylines sometimes gets frustrating.
There’s the main story, featuring Murphy and Hannah.
Flashbacks to Murphy and Hannah’s past.
Izzy and Eden’s story.
Sophia and Dave and Decker.
Nash and Tess.
Granted, Brockmann does a good job of weaving the stories together and blending them at the end. But still, switching to five different storylines can get a bit annnoying at times.
And then there’s the aspect of it not exactly being an uplifting story.
Readers of Brockmann’s latest Troubleshooters series will remember Murphy, whose wife Angelina was tragically shot and killed in “Hot Target.”
So, part of this story is showing how devastated Murphy was when he lost his wife. Which is a definite downer. Hannah was Angelina’s best friend, and a long-time friend of Murphy’s as well. They get together and live happily-ever-after, but the getting there is rather depressing much of the time.
The other stories? Well, Izzy and Eden have a very weird and quick courtship before getting married, and it does not end happily-ever-after. Perhaps it will in a later book?
The Sophia-Dave-Decker triangle takes an interesting turn at the end, but who knows if it’s a permanent situation?
And we just won’t talk about Nash and Tess, the heroes from “Flashpoint,” because it will ruin the surprises there.




Overall rating: 3 of 5 hearts. The good points? The book is well-written and this one doesn’t hit you over the head with social statements. The characters are engaging and several from past books make appearances. The bad? Too many different storylines, and dealing with Angelina’s murder is just too depressing.


Hunk appeal: 10, with shades of minus. You feel sorry for Murphy at the beginning when he’s drunkenly trying to get over his wife’s death, but you’re also quite annoyed with him. When he snaps out of it, it just never quite reaches his full hunk potential.

Steamy scene grade: XXXXX, well, some potential.

Happily-Ever-After: OK. Some storylines end well, some don’t – end well or end at all?

Also this week …

NATURAL BORN CHARMER
by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (2007, paperback) – 5 of 5. The main characters in this book, Dean and Blue, are definitely not perfect.
But they are perfect for each other. And isn't that what counts? Perhaps they don't always react the way we'd like them to. Perhaps their neuroses get in the way a bit. But then again, perhaps it's those neuroses that make them entertaining, engaging and interesting.
"Natural Born Charmer" was released a few weeks ago in paperback, the latest in Phillips' Chicago Stars series about football players, or those associated with them. But you will love it even if you haven't read the other books.
Dean is the star quarterback for the Stars. It's offseason, and he's driving to his farm in Tennessee for a quiet vacation. Then he sees a two-legged beaver walking down the road.
And that should tell you all you need to know about the book.
Blue is wearing the beaver costume and isn't happy about it. She's less than appreciative when Dean offers her a ride. That doesn't mean she turns it down. And that ride leads to a longer ride, which leads to sharing what ends up being Dean's rather bizarre vacation.
And that leads to...well, it's a romance story. Use your imagination.
The story has snappy and witty dialogue, not just between Dean and Blue, but between Blue and her aging, crotchety friend. In fact, the supporting cast is another of the many great things about this book. Each character is, well, a character. They'll make you laugh, they'll make you want to throw the book at them, and they might make you cry just a little, all because you'll really like them. But remember, it all ends happily-ever-after.