'Chasing Fire' by Nora Roberts is a story set in Missoula, Montana, during fire season, following Rowan Tripp, an elite smoke jumper haunted by the death of her former jump partner, as she navigates the dangers of wildfires and a potential murderer within their unit. The book intricately details the subculture of wildfire fighters, highlighting the thrill and risks involved in their tough job, while also exploring themes of romance, suspense, and revenge. As Rowan battles both fires and personal demons, she forms a complicated relationship with rookie Gull Curry, and together they unravel a mystery that threatens their lives.

The writing style of 'Chasing Fire' is described as fast-paced, exciting, and gritty, with vivid descriptions of firefighting and a strong sense of place in the midst of burning forests. Nora Roberts intricately weaves together elements of romance, suspense, and mystery, creating a story that keeps readers engaged as they follow Rowan and Gull through the challenges of their dangerous profession and the complexities of their budding relationship.

Characters:

The characters are vibrant and complex, with Rowan embodying strength and vulnerability, while Gulliver offers humor and support.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style includes rich descriptions and engaging, witty dialogue, seamlessly blending romance and suspense.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around Rowan Tripp, a skilled smoke jumper whose life is upended by a series of sabotages and murders tied to her past, bringing tension and trust issues to the forefront.

Setting:

The setting is a critical aspect of the narrative, depicting the intense world of smoke jumping in Montana's wilderness.

Pacing:

Pacing fluctuates between fast-paced firefighting sequences and slower character explorations, with some sections considered overly detailed.

Caught in the crosshairs of wind above the Bitterroots, the jump ship fought to find its stream. Fire boiling over the land jabbed its fists up through towers of smoke as if trying for a knockout punc...

Notes:

The book is set in Missoula, Montana, focusing on smoke jumpers.

Rowan Tripp, the heroine, is an experienced smoke jumper and the daughter of a legendary firefighter.

Gulliver Curry, the male lead, is a rookie smoke jumper with a strong background in firefighting.

Rowan has a strict rule of not dating fellow smoke jumpers.

The story involves a mystery where someone is sabotaging the smoke jumpers' efforts, leading to murders.

Main themes include the dangers of firefighting and the emotional struggles of the characters.

There is a secondary romance plot involving Rowan's father and a high school principal.

The dialogue between Rowan and Gull is often highlighted as humorous and engaging.

The book's climax revolves around unraveling a connection to a past tragedy that haunts Rowan.

The author blends romance, suspense, and detailed accounts of firefighting techniques.

Readers noted that some firefighting terminology isn't thoroughly explained, making it challenging for those unfamiliar with the field.

Chasing Fire spans 472 pages, with a mix of character development, romance, and action.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Contains themes of violence and death, as well as references to grief and trauma, particularly related to loss from firefighting incidents.

Has Romance?

There's a notable romantic element between the main characters, but it is complemented by the suspenseful plot.

explicit steam level

From The Publisher:

In this #1 New York Times bestseller, Nora Roberts delves into the world of elite firefighters who thrive on danger and adrenaline-men and women who wouldn't know how to live life if it wasn't on the edge.

Little else in life is as dangerous as fire jumping. But there's also little else as thrilling-at least to Rowan Tripp. Being a Missoula smoke jumper is in Rowan's blood: her father is a legend in the field. At this point, returning to the wilds of Montana for the season feels like coming home-even with reminders of the partner she lost last season still lingering in the air.

One of the best of this year's rookie crop, Gulliver Curry is a walking contradiction, a hotshot firefighter with a big vocabulary and a winter job at a kids' arcade. And though Rowan, as a rule, doesn't hook up with other smoke jumpers, Gull is convinced he can change her mind…

But everything is thrown off balance when a dark presence lashes out against Rowan, looking to blame someone for last year's tragedy. Rowan knows she can't complicate things with Gull-any distractions in the air or on the ground could be lethal. But if she doesn't find someone she can lean on when the heat gets intense, her life may go down in flames.

Ratings (12)

Incredible (2)
Loved It (7)
Liked It (1)
It Was OK (2)

Reader Stats (26):

Read It (14)
Want To Read (9)
Not Interested (3)

1 comment(s)

fimbud315

Loved It

9 months

I can't go wrong with Nora Roberts, I enjoyed most of her books and she is definitely one of my favourite authors ever.

Unfortunately, this time I wasn't in the mood to read anything, so I struggled even with this book. As much as I enjoyed the story and the characters, this book didn't grab me as much as some other ones from Nora Roberts. And I'm not sure if the reason was my lack of enthusiasm about reading anything or maybe the story is not as good as some others. I believe the reason is mostly my reading wall.

I really liked the main idea of the story about the smoke jumpers and the glimpse into the world I even didn't know exists. That was exciting. Also, Nora Roberts is great in making her characters not only likeable but completely three-dimensional. Rowan and Gull are not an exception. I also enjoyed the background romance part which is quite sweet. The suspense part is highly entertaining, however I found the final answer a bit too easy regarding all the previous events.

This is probably not the best book by Nora Roberts I have read but still a really nice one.

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About the Author:

Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels. She is also the author of the bestselling In Death series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her…

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Chasing Fire

Nora Roberts