Her mother's house was first. Then her brother's. County prosecutor Tricia Jamison is sure she's next on the arsonist's list. But who is after her family? And why does every fire throw her in Noah Brust's path? Noah can't forgive Tricia. Her failure to protect him on the stand the previous year meant his father's reputation was ruined. Yet every time the firefighter is near her, he's drawn to her again. The vulnerability she hides under her confident veneer surprises and moves him. Torn between Tricia's safety and his own bitterness, Noah belatedly remembers the first rule of firefighting: don't get burned.
Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars(4.5 out of 5 stars)
8 of 9 Reviews Showing:(View All Reviews)
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by chandralynn (pa), December 14, 2009
Cara wrote a powerful story in a short book. And that is probably my biggest complaint about the novel. I would have loved it to be longer. Trial By Fire is an excellent romance filled with suspense, intrigue, faith, healing, and forgiveness. Not to mention a hero everyone falls in love with and a heroine readers want to hug. Cara managed to tackle some difficult topics and show some important lessons on forgiveness and faith. Within that, she wrote a love story that touches the heart. This book is little, a quick read, but don't let that fool you. The writing is excellent, the suspense builds and the resolution inspires. I highly recommend this book for a rainy or snowy afternoon read. Great little stocking stuffer too!
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Casey (Oregon), December 11, 2009
County prosecutor, Tricia Jamison is living in fear, a fear that her home will be the next target of a serial arsonist who is attacking her family. Noah Brust can't forgive Tricia for failing to protect him on the stand a year earlier, but with each fire, he is thrown in Tricia's path. They still feel the connection that drew them together before, can they overcome their personal struggles and forget or will they be burned by the passing of true love?
There has not been a single book by Cara Putman that I have not loved. I keep coming back to her books, not just because of the riveting plot, but because she crafts genuine characters. They live and breathe to me, making me anxious for them, longing to see their trials resolved. Cara kept this mystery a secret for the whole book, something I like, that tension of discovering the bad guy. I was breathless until he was safely being carted away. And what novel by Cara wouldn't be complete without a love story entwined, personal struggles that seem insurmountable and a deepening of faith in our Heavenly Father? This book has it all, I loved it and look forward to reading more by this author. Well done, Cara!
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Sabrina Fox (Indiana), October 26, 2009
If you've read Cara's first book, Deadly Exposure, you might remember Caleb Jamison's sister, Tricia. Trial by Fire is Tricia's story. However, one of my favorite things about this book is the continuation of Dani and Caleb's story. We don't just get a small little cameo from them like in most short series, they're a part of this storyline--in a smaller way, but still very much a part of the plot. I loved that.
The story starts with Tricia's mother's house targeted by an arsonist. Or rather her garage. Even though Tricia works as a county prosecutor, her brother, a police investigator, is sure someone is targeting him from a case he's worked.
Fireman Noah Brust thought he'd never have to see Tricia Jamison again. At least he hoped. After working with her on a trial the previous year, and subsequently having his father's reputation as a fireman ruined, he has no use for Tricia or any attorney for that matter.
Like most great characters, Tricia is hiding some serious hurts from her past. That and a few issues she runs into on her current case prosecuting a wife beating scumbag, makes the issue with the arsonist the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. She's unable to process everything and finds herself vulnerable.
Even though he'd like nothing more than to avoid Tricia, Noah finds himself a target of the arsonist. He realizes the two of them would do better working together on this case than against each other. While Noah still harbors some bitterness for the beautiful attorney, her vulnerability moves him more than he'd have thought.
I can honestly say this is Putman's best work. I loved the twisty turny plot that kept us guessing and the romance...well, he's a fireman. Need I say more? LOL. Seriously, this is a great quick, romantic suspense you can take with you anywhere.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Janna Ryan (North Platte, NE), October 25, 2009
I just finished reading it last night and I am happy to report that I enjoyed seeing how everything was going to play out. First off I really like these characters, we get to reconnect with Caleb Jamison and his girlfriend, Dani Richards from book #1, Deadly Exposure. Tricia Jamison (Caleb's sister) played a secondary role in that book and now she comes center stage as she and Caleb team up with firefighter Noah Brust to find the arsonist who is targeting her family. Can they find the connection and stop the fires before someone dies?
Along the way Noah learns about forgiveness and Tricia learns that our past can only destroy us in the dark, but the light brings freedom. And people walking in freedom can love better than people controlled by darkness. I loved the way this book wrapped up and I didn't know for sure how this one would end.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Vicky Gastineau (Lafayette, Indiana), October 19, 2009
This is a superb read and an interesting sequel to Deadly Exposure. Cara lives in my hometown and she is not only a wonderful writer but a wonderful mother of 3, teacher at Purdue, lawyer and a special lady.
I was so excited to read this book-I love her suspense books-her historical are good too. She did not disappoint me-this was a real page turner and loved bringing Caleb and Dani back from Deadly Exposure.
There is an arsonist that seems to be targeting her family and then her. Cara leads you in different directions and I never was sure who was the culprit. There was romance with Noah (who can't forgive Tricia for something) and how Tricia learns to let go of her past to open herself to love. It was neat to see how Tricia responded in a way that honored God. That made this book a great read. Cara writes in a way that honors God so get this book, get comfortable and ENJOY!!!.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by nora (Mall of GA), October 15, 2009
Tricia Jamison has a tough job and has seen things the average person won’t see in their lifetime. Tricia says this about her job, “Somehow she had to take joy in the small victories rather than focusing on the fact that domestic violence hadn’t ended and likely never would. She could help victims—one at a time—reclaim control of their lives.”
If only she could have that happen in her personal life. Tricia had done a great job at keeping people and her emotions under control--by shutting down relationships in her life. Stuffing her emotions down deep so that they didn’t affect her, how long could she do this? Who was she kidding? This latest case has her confronting her past - up-close and personal. She had a choice...she could let anger and bitterness run her life and isolate her, or she could reveal the secrets of her past and deal with the outcome. How was she going to push through? She couldn’t do it without God’s help.
Tricia realized for the first time that ”Maybe she’d never understand why God had allowed the horrors happen to her, but she could choose to accept His love and commit to moving forward to the future.”
Things get crazy when her mother's and brother's houses burn. What’s going on? Who is doing this? One firefighter, Noah, wants to help her discover who is starting these fires. Tricia will have to trust Noah and deal with her feelings toward him. Again she’d have to lean on God to see her through.
Cara weaves a very interesting web of mystery as fires are breaking out all around the characters. I learned a lot about how firefighters go about investigating a fire to find out how it started. It was fascinating.
I received a review copy of this book and I’m glad I did. I like how the author has the characters deal with the hurts in their life in a very real way. They struggle to let God heal their hurts and trust Him to complete the work He’s started.
Finding Hope Through Fiction
www.psalm516.blogspot.com
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Abi (Grand Forks, ND), October 04, 2009
Tricia as the Deputy County Attorney all she wants to do is help protect the victim and bring justice to the abuser. She wants to help the victim reclaim their lives. She was the victim herself. She knows that she can't let her past influence her present; however, she's finding that its easier said than done. Her dream is to have a husband that will adore and treasure her, but to have that she must look beyond the pain of the past and see a future of promise. She must learn that you can't change the past, but you can choose not to live in it. She hides under a facade of a woman in charge, but really deep down she is scarred by her past. Two men still have a hold on her. Would she ever find protection from the trials of the past? Would she ever find and trust a man to protect her in the future? Noah was helpless in protecting his dad or Jessie. Would he be able to protect Tricia from the fire that was sure to come her way? I guess you'll just have to get this two thumbs up book and see for yourself what exactly is in store for Tricia and Noah. It's newly released and you won't be disappointed if you like a bit of suspense.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by J. Klein (Milwaukee, WI), September 26, 2009
A sequel to Deadly Exposure. Fires, Lawsuits. Family Secrets. Tricia wonders whether she'll ever move forward regarding the events from the past. She questions if God saw her in her pain. I think we can all identify with questioning how He could allow _____ to happen. Find out how God meets Tricia in her fears.
Having gone to college in Lincoln, Nebraska where the book was set, makes me long for a Runza! Love the street and restaurant references.
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