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Category: Romance
Description: She battles blazing fires and battles for respect. As a woman firefighter, Marcie O'Dwyer can never let down her guard. She knows it might cost her life. However, Ray Smith just might slip past her defenses. He poses the biggest threat...to her heart. There is no room for her in his life... Hard-hearted, Ray Smith has sworn never to fall in love again. Only, Marcie is slowly working her way under his skin. This woman has no place on the Squad. No place in his life. Passions burn as bright as the fires they fight... But can their attraction survive constant doubts, a misunderstanding and the threat of a maniac arsonist bent on murdering them both?
eBook Publisher: Highland Press/Circles of Gold, 2008 2008
eBookwise Release Date: September 2009

6 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [330 KB]
Words: 70627
Reading time: 201-282 min.

"A fascinating romantic suspense, A Heated Romance tells the story of Marcie O'Dwyer, a female firefighter who has had to struggle to prove herself. Used to the chauvinistic comments made by some of her male coworkers, she is not surprised when a new transfer, Ray Smith seems to have a problem with a female firefighter. But even with his attitude, she can't help but find the man attractive. Doubts, misunderstandings, and a serial arsonist plague the couple and try to keep them apart in this suspenseful tale. This complex story is mostly told from the point of view of Marcie. One of the many fascinating characters of the story, Marcie is a tough heroine following in the footsteps of her father and grandfather as firefighter despite the misgivings of her family, friends, and others. I really enjoyed Marcie's wit and attitude. A Heated Romance is a fascinating story."--Lilac,Long and Short Reviews

"Candace Gold spins an exciting tale of one woman's struggle for equality in what has traditionally been a man's world--firefighting. Is there romance? Oh yeah! Marcie O'Dwyer, though more concerned with career than passion, finds herself embroiled in a big time romance with the hunky, but mysterious, Ray Smith--who may or may not be a chauvinist. Fast paced, riveting and exciting are only a few of the words that express this thriller. Combine a feisty, fearless female with a dozen or more reluctant male co-workers and mix in one co-worker who is reluctant at work but only too happy to be more than friends outside the job. Stir the ingredients until they come to a boil with a crazed arsonist and a mad stalker [who may or may not be one and the same] then simmer on the back burner with twists and turns galore. Who can Marcie trust? Who is trying to kill her? With her life on the line, she strikes back, determined to find the killer before the killer finds her--unprotected and vulnerable. A must read!"--Diane Davis White, Author, Moon of the Falling Leaves

A black pickup truck was parked in front of her mother's house. Unless Larry had loosened up and traded in his BMW, she had no idea who it belonged to. Then, as she began to open the door of her Jeep, it occurred to her that her mother might be trying to match her up with one of her friends' sons again. Every so often, fearing her youngest daughter was never going to marry, she'd get nervous and arrange one of her perfect dates. Then it was the same old, tired conversation--again. The last one was still fresh in Marcie's mind. It had taken place in the kitchen following dinner after her sister had taken her brood home. Marcie was helping her mother dry the dishes.

"Mom, I'm not going on this date," she replied, trying to restrain herself from conking her mother on the head with the frying pan she was drying.

"Of course, you are, dear."

"No, Mom, I'm not."

"Don't be silly."

"I told you this the last time you tried to set me up."

"I can't remember."

"Conveniently. I'm serious this time, Mother." She struggled in the worst way to control her temper and not commit murder. "I'm not going."

After reflecting a moment and allowing reality to set in, her mother replied, "Why not?"

"Because, I hate blind dates."

"This one's different."

"They're all different, that's the problem."

"No, I'm serious. He's really quite a catch."

"Charlie the Tuna is a catch."

"Go ahead. Make a joke, Miss Smarty Pants. All I want to do is dance at your wedding before I join your father."

"Stop being so melodramatic. You're not going any place for a long time."

"You've got a crystal ball?"

"No. Somebody has to take care of Grandpa."

"Look, Marcie, just go this once and I promise never to set you up on any more blind dates."

"Uh-huh. I think I've heard that before."

"I mean it this time," her mother had placed a hand on Marcie's shoulder.

"Do you honestly promise this time will be the last?"

Then her mother nodded and gave Marcie her most earnest smile. Marcie figured she probably had her fingers crossed behind her back. She'd begun to believe everyone lied when it suited them.

Despite the warning advice coming from the tiny voice in the back of her head to go home while she still had the chance, she got out of her car. She ignored it, reasoning she was already here. Besides, she was starving and her mother was a damn good cook, a trait Marcie so sorely lacked. She might be able to hook up a hose to a pump in seconds flat, but flat was the way her cakes always came out of the oven, looking more like a pancake.

"Here she is now," Marcie heard Gramps say as she opened the front door and stepped inside.

Her grandfather often sat by the front window watching for emergency vehicles to pass. She looked to see who he was talking to and nearly freaked. That small voice in her head now shrieked, "I told you so!!!"

"What's he doing here?" she demanded, not believing what her eyes were seeing. Smith was in the process of snaring a cocktail frank with a plastic toothpick. Her mother, fearing splinters, always bought plastic ones. In a fraction of a second, she took the entire scene in as Smith continued to stuff little cocktail wieners into his mouth like a squirrel gathering nuts. If her mother had broken out the hors d'oeuvres, she obviously thought Smith was potential husband material. She suddenly got the sick sensation of vertigo as if she were falling through a time warp, hurdling toward some parallel universe where everything was totally out of whack.