Book Three in the Summer of the Burning Sky series
When western Alaska erupts in a devastating fire, the elite firefighting crew of the Jude County Smokejumpers is called in to save the day. They’ll do anything to stop the fire, including fighting alongside a crew of local prisoners.
The last thing they expect is a jailbreak and when the prisoners disappear into the forest with one of their own, they’ll have to fight not only the fire, but for the freedom of their friends…during the Summer of the Burning Sky.
My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing
Synopsis
Riley McCord is trouble, from his blue eyes to his renegade smile—a cover for the grief of losing his father three years ago in Afghanistan, a loss that is still top secret. Riley masks it all by living large—working hard and playing hard, and that includes romancing Larke Kingston, local wilderness medic. When he’s sidelined while working the forest fire, he’s determined to rejoin his team, but to do so, he'll have to accompany Larke into the wilderness when she is dispatched to a medical emergency. What he doesn’t realize is that trouble is waiting for him in the woods…
Medic Larke Kingston lost the man she loved during her service in Afghanistan and she’s not interested in a troublemaker, so Riley’s no threat to her heart. Just a short-term distraction. Until, that is, a wilderness medical mission puts her face-to-face with an escaped prisoner. Suddenly she needs Riley more than she wants to admit.
Riley is shocked when the escapee claims to have answers about his father’s death. However, before he can uncover them, the fire turns and is bearing down on Larke’s ranch, and his team. Now, only Riley and Larke stand between the flames and destruction of everything they both love. But will the price of saving the ranch—and the team—be greater than they both can bear?
In book 3, the epic Summer of the Burning Sky series comes to a blazing, shocking finale.
My Review
More action, adventure, danger, and suspense make this an exciting finale to the trilogy! I love how the author skillfully weaves in a message of faith with the characters who are so strong and brave, yet struggling and vulnerable deep inside. Riley is definitely a heartbreaker, but it's Larke who makes him want to be the man he knows he can be, and the last thing he wants to do is see her hurt. I appreciated that even though he's a bit of a player, he was respectful and genuine with Larke, putting her needs first. The difficult experiences they share while fighting fires and treating the injured naturally draw them closer together, and they are able to support each other in their grief and help overcome insecurities. I love how the men in these stories view the women as completely capable and skilled in their professions and the level of respect that is there. Larke is conflicted over knowing that she doesn't need to be protected, that she shouldn't want it, yet relishing the feeling of safety when the men in her life stand up for her and over her when necessary. Riley helps her come to terms with her struggle and accept a healthy perspective that it's what people do for those they love. All the loose ends from the previous books are tied up nicely and there is a satisfying conclusion for each of the three couples.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Don't miss the other books in the Summer of the Burning Sky series . . .
Book One
Book Two
Don't miss the other books in the Summer of the Burning Sky series . . .
Book One
Synopsis
Former bad-boy Tucker Newman has learned his lesson—as the temporary
team leader of the Jude County Smokejumpers, he’s all about following
the rules to keep his team safe. Especially when he has to partner with a
group of local low-security prisoners to knock down the raging fire.
But the prisoners are not who they seem, and when they stage a break,
kidnapping one of his teammates, he’ll have to break every rule he knows
to get her back.
US Marshal Stevie Mills knows that to get the
job done, she must work alone. She simply can’t risk another person
getting hurt because of her. When she discovers that a wanted fugitive
accused of rape and murder has not only been set free to fight the
fire—but is now on the lam with a hostage-- the last thing she needs is a
zealous smokejumper getting in the way of her pursuit.
Whether
they like it or not, Tucker and Stevie must join forces if they hope to
save lives, and in the meantime, they just might discover a new
definition for the word teamwork, in book 1 of the Summer of the Burning
Sky.
Book Two
Synopsis
FBI Agent Rio
Parker is tired of playing the bad guy, even if it is for a good reason.
Undercover with a group of prisoners to babysit a federal informant, he
can’t believe he’s been enlisted to fight a forest fire…or sucked into a
prison break. Worse—a female smokejumper has been kidnapped. Now, he’ll
have to protect her from a rapist, keep his informant from escaping,
and stay out of the gunsights of the US Marshal hot on his trail.
Smokejumper Skye Doyle knew trouble was brewing when the group of prisoners joined the firefight. She never expected, however, to be kidnapped during their breakout. But can she trust a hardened felon to keep her safe? Except, Rio is not who he seems, and when his identity is uncovered, she must decide if she can trust a man who has been lying to her…
But staying alive on the run isn’t their only problem, they’ll have to learn to trust each other if they hope to survive in book 2 of the Summer of the Burning Sky.
Smokejumper Skye Doyle knew trouble was brewing when the group of prisoners joined the firefight. She never expected, however, to be kidnapped during their breakout. But can she trust a hardened felon to keep her safe? Except, Rio is not who he seems, and when his identity is uncovered, she must decide if she can trust a man who has been lying to her…
But staying alive on the run isn’t their only problem, they’ll have to learn to trust each other if they hope to survive in book 2 of the Summer of the Burning Sky.
