cover image Smoke and Fire

Smoke and Fire

Julie Cannon. Bold Strokes, $16.95 trade paper (240p) ISBN 978-1-60282-977-0

Cannon (I Remember) sets a steamy and heartfelt tale of love and sensuality against the dangerously explosive world of suppressing oil-well blowouts. Jill-of-all-trades Brady Stewart is the only woman on one of McMillan Suppression’s top teams. Her workaholic boss, Nicole McMillan, has been stuck behind a desk ever since an accident left her horribly burned and scarred. When they meet, sparks fly and the courtship dance begins. For their relationship to work, Brady must get past Nicole’s defenses and overcome her self-image issues, but once she succeeds, the two can’t bear to part. Cannon skillfully draws out the honest emotion and growing chemistry between her heroines, a slow burn that feels like constant foreplay leading to a spectacular climax. Though Brady is almost too good to be true, she’s the perfect match for Nicole. Every scene they share leaps off the page, making this a sweet, hot, memorable read. (Jan.)