cover image The Fireman Who Loved Me

The Fireman Who Loved Me

Jennifer Bernard. Avon, $5.99 mass market (384p) ISBN 978-0-06-208896-3

Repressed L.A. news producer Melissa McGuire and steely-nerved captain Harry Brody of the country’s only all-bachelor fire squad are flung together by chances both cute and contrived in Bernard’s contemporary debut. When Melissa’s meddling grandmother determines to find Melissa a husband, she schemes up a way to win her workaholic, love-burned granddaughter one of the hunky firefighters in a charity bachelor auction. Cerebral Melissa is initially horrified by the idea of a numbskull manly man flexing his muscles at her. Then she starts spending time with Harry, who’s both sexy and deep. The pace is swift and the plot keeps twisting thanks to a spoiled news anchor, family tribulations, emotional baggage, and five-alarm fire drama. Despite a few weak premises that insist on propelling the story, this is a solid, sexy, and funny start to a planned series. Agent: Alexandra Machinist, Janklow & Nesbit Associates. (May)