Category: Romance Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Pages: 334
Copyright: Mar. 2013
ISBN-13: 9781612178301
Price: $4.95 (eBook)
A cop and an arson investigator track a serial arsonist, but the investigation points to someone the cop knows. Will she do the right thing?
Solving Mossy Bog's first fire fatality could net police officer Laurie Ann Dinterman the promotion she desperately wants. When the state arson investigator arrives to take over the case, Laurie Ann is assigned to give the man everything he needs while keeping him alive. The fact he's the sexiest man ever to hit town shouldn't make a difference.
Hot on the trail of a serial arsonist, Wyatt North demands justice for his partner, the arsonist's first victim. He'll find the murderer or die trying--no matter how distracting the tall, lithe figure of his local partner is.
As the investigation zeroes in on a suspect uncomfortably close to Laurie Ann's life, her cop instincts conflict with her feelings for Wyatt. Worse, the arsonist will do anything to protect his identity. Can Laurie Ann accept the truth in time...or will she and Wyatt go up in flames?
Excerpt
Laurie Ann bypassed the elevator and hit the stairs. North’s room was on the second floor. He didn’t answer her first knock, so she knocked harder. With each second that ticked by, her nerves pinged. Was he even in his room? Had she lost track of him?
The chief would kill her.
She called Wyatt. Inside his room, a phone began to ring. She didn’t know whether to be relieved or alarmed.
“Hullo.” Sleep roughened his deep voice.
“North, I’m at your door. Lunch, remember?”
“Lunch.” He paused to yawn. “What time is it?”
“High noon. I’m right on time.”
He swore. “Oh, excuse me. I didn’t mean to say that out loud. Give me a second.”
The phone clicked in her ear. She heard rustling inside the room. A few minutes later, he opened the door, and her heart did a funny leap. He’d donned a light pink shirt the same color as hers.
But more impressive than the shirt and the man was the way his eyes warmed at the sight of her. He looked at her like she was breakfast—and lunch.
“We match,” she ventured, hoping to slow the racing of her heart.
His face twitched. “Is that a problem? One of my sisters has this thing about matching clothes. If it bothers you, I can change.”
“You’re fine. I don’t have a problem with your shirt.”
“Where are my manners?” North asked, stepping away from the doorway. “Come in.”
She noticed his tanned feet were bare. They were nice feet with nails blunt cut and slender toes. “I’ll wait out here until you’re ready.”
“I promise to be on good behavior.” He reached for her hand and tugged her gently inside.
The curtains were drawn. The bedside lamp was on. The bed was messy, clothes everywhere, and papers strewn about the room. He moved a briefcase from the chair. “Sit. I’ll be a minute more. I had a late night.”
“Looks like it was quite the event,” she said dryly.
He grinned and reached for a shoe. “Can’t help it. I’m a slob, from start to finish. No matter how much positive reinforcement my parents provided, I developed the habit of spreading my stuff around.”
No one would question a man lived in this room. Maybe that was the point. “Sounds like a nesting instinct.”
“I’m not a girl.”
“I noticed.” Her cheeks heated, and she regretted being so forthright.
“My sisters have nesting instincts. Not me.”
Oh, dear. She’d insulted him. “I apologize. I was thinking that in a large family, spreading your stuff around was a way to stake out your territory.”
His eyes sparked as he stuffed his bare feet in shoes. “Instead of peeing on the furniture?”
She groaned. “I’m going to shut up now.”
“I’m liking this side of you, Dinterman. You crack me up.”
She rose to leave. As long as she cracked him up, that was okay.
Her job was to make sure he didn’t crack up.
Professional Reviews
Couldn't put it down
This was my first visit to Mossy Bog and I can honestly say that I didn't want to leave. Maggie Toussaint does an expert job of weaving together a captivating tale full of danger, suspense, mystery, small-town charm, and hot, sexy romance. All my favorite things!
Laurie Ann - the heroine - is a wonderful character. She's talented, strong, intelligent and compassionate. Determined to put in the hard work necessary to rise to the top of her profession. Her mistakes are believable and natural.
Wyatt was what I love in a hero - damaged but determined and sexy as hell. I fell for him along with Laurie Ann.
The arson/murder mystery was one that kept me engrossed until the end.
I neglected house chores to keep reading this book . . . so clear your deck to finish it in one go. Don't say I didn't warn you!
Review by Robin Covington
Exciting from start to finish
Hot Water is about a small-town female cop who is assigned to work with a hot shot arson investigator to solve the town's first fire fatality. Evidence points to a serial arsonist who is willing to kill to protect his secret. Meanwhile the two investigators find themselves caught up in an attraction that neither had planned on.
Maggie Toussaint has written a fast paced novel that will keep you guessing right to the end. Her main protagonists are well defined in their strengths as well as their weaknesses and totally relatable. The rest of the colorful characters in her fictional town of Mossy Bog are fun as well, making me eager to read the other books in this series.
Definitely Ms Toussaint is an author to put at the top of your "to be read" pile.
Review by Robin Covington
Another Mossy Bog winner
What I like about the Mossy Bog series is that each book concentrates on a different person in Mossy Bog, so the series never gets stale. This one is about Laurie Ann, who made an appearance in another book, and Wyatt, the fire investigator on the trail of a serial arsonist. There are plenty of tense moments and some nice romantic scenes that hold the book together until the penultimate scene when-- Oops, almost gave away the ending, which I never do. Pick up the book and find out for yourselves. You'll enjoy a terrific read. Highly recommended.
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