Chasing Fire

Nora Roberts

Montana has big, open country. Unfortunately, in the summer that means fire. That's where the 'Zulies come in. They are the elite fire jumpers who parachute into the middle of raging flames of forest fires. Rowan Tripp's father was a 'Zulie. Now she is one.

Gulliver "Gull" Curry is one of the rookies this year. In past summers he had fought forest fires on the ground. This year he joins the jumpers. As soon as he meets Rowan, his socks are knocked off. But she's having none of it. Her personal rule is to never get involved with someone else on the fire time. When a relationship ends it would be hard to work side by side and trust an ex-lover. She lets Gull know her personal rule. That doesn't deter Gull.

A jumping team becomes like a family. They all trust each other with their safety and their lives. When a cook tries to blame Rowan for a jumper's death the year before, the other 'Zulies gather round to back her up. They also help her clean up when things get out of hand. Then when the cook dies, they are more than willing to back up Rowan against any possible charges.

Rowan fights side by side with Gull in the blazing forest fires. Eventually he wins his way with her. They respect each other and finally become a couple. They find themselves the next targets of the man who is trying to hurt someone within the jump camp.

Rowan grew up with a mistrust of relationships. Now she has to learn within herself if she is able to trust someone besides her father on a personal level. Working in relationships is just as hard as working against a fire trying to get away from you. At least you know where you stand with fire - it either kills you or you kill it. Why can't people be as straightforward?

Chasing Fire is an action packed romance novel with the suspense thrown in. Nora Roberts highlights the extremely tough life a fire jumper lives in the summer. Even the tests and training to get on the team are severe. The jumpers need to be physically and mentally strong. Any wrong move could mean a fighter's safety or life. All the team members in this book are constantly running, exercising, and pushing themselves.

The scenes where they are fighting fires are grueling. My imagination can catch a lot - this time I didn't try too hard. Roberts' pictures are vivid enough without me trying to bring them to life.

Besides the mystery of the attacks on the jumpers and Gull and Rowan's story, there is a side story with Rowan's father, Iron Man Tripp, and the older divorcee who walks into his life. Roberts gets extra points for showing that older women also can have romance, love, and busy sex lives. The story is charming as well.

To any seasoned reader, this book is fairly obvious fairly quickly. There is really only one person who fits in the antagonist's description. The person is hidden in plain sight. The most exciting part of Chasing Fire is when they are actually in the midst of the fires themselves. Roberts' description are eerierly realistic as she discussing saw lines, "the black", the "mud" dropped on flames, and the spots.

Chasing Fire is a good novel for an afternoon's or two's escape. Next time you see the fire jumpers in action on TV or real life, give them their deserved respect.

Notice:  Non-graphic violence, Strong indecent language, Strong sexual content