Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts

Little else in life is as dangerous as fire jumping. Flying past towering pillars of smoke, parachuting down to the edge of an all-consuming blaze, shoveling and sawing for hours upon hours, days at a time, all to hold the line and push back against the raw power of Mother Nature.

But there's also little else as thrilling - at least to Rowan Tripp. The Missoula smoke jumpers are one of the most exclusive fire-fighting squads in the nation, and the job is in Rowan's blood: her father is a legend in the field. She's been fighting fires since her eighteenth birthday. At this point, returning to the wilds of Montana for the season feels like coming home - even with reminders of the partner she lost last season still lingering in the air.

Fortunately, this year's rookie crop is among the strongest ever - and Gulliver Curry's one of the best. He's also a walking contradiction, a hotshot firefighter with a big vocabulary and a winter job at a kid's arcade. He came to Missoula to follow in the footsteps of Lucas "Iron Man" Tripp, yet he's instantly more fascinated by his hero's daughter. Rowan, as a rule, doesn't hook up with other smoke jumpers, but Gull is convinced he can change her mind. And damn if he doesn't make a good case to be an exception to the rule. 

Everything is thrown off balance, though, when a dark presence lashes out against Rowan, looking to blame someone for last year's tragedy. Rowan knows she can't complicate things with Gull - any distractions in the air or on the ground could be lethal. But if she doesn't find someone she can lean on when the heat gets intense, her life may go down in flames. (Goodreads.com)

I really, really liked this book for so many reasons.  Its a fast paced read with the world of the Missoula Smoke Jumpers as the background for the story.   A very thrilling but dangerous occupation that both protagonists are involved in.  Nora Roberts ability to create characters that are likable and unique with hot, sizzling chemistry between them is still very much apparent.  Gull and Rowan just click and the banter between them is simply amazing.  The secondary romance between Ella and Lucas is also so very sweet and very different.  The female leads are seen as much more aggressive, a trait traditionally given to the alpha males heroes.  While both male heroes are romantics, in touch with that sensitive side that very few males are ascribed to.  Lucas, Rowan's father even blushes when he has to talk to Ella!  

The mystery aspect isn't really that suspense filled (guessed half heartedly who the villain was.)  But the world of the smoke jumpers was an eye opener.  Nora Robert Fans or not "Chasing Fire" is a great read.

*I was in the middle of the book when the news about the Granite Mountain Hotshots came out.  Reading what happened suddenly pushed into the forefront what danger these heroes goes thru to keep everyone safe.*

Title: Chasing Fire
Author: Nora Roberts
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Mystery, Suspense
Published: 2011
Publisher: Jove (Paperback Edition)
Rating: ♨♨♨♨♨ (Fast paced well ploted story line with fleshed out characters that makes you want to cheer for them and a sweet secondary romance. The mystery element doesn't really give that much of a thrill but as a whole this book rocks! Fan or not you will enjoy reading this)