Light My Fire

Rating:
Summary: Sizzling relationship and clever solutions
Review: Criminal defense attorney Ethan Millner, despised by every cop in Tolosa, Texas, because he defends scum and gets them off, is starting to despise himself. In a moment of self-loathing after he helped a guilty rapist walk, Ethan nearly crashes his sports car and finds himself before a judge, sentenced to community service: hours and hours of Crimewatch duty. As if it couldn't get worse, his supervisor is curvaceous Neighborhood Watch captain Sandy DeMarco--whose three cop brothers hate him more than anyone. She's not too fond of him, either.

The attraction sizzles for these two immediately. But before anything can develop, the unthinkable happens--they stumble upon Sandy's neighbor, beaten to death. And Sandy's employee from the flower shop she owns is quickly fingered for the murder. Sandy knows Josh couldn't kill anyone, despite his checkered past. So she convinces Ethan to take the case pro bono--something that puts Ethan at odds with his father and partner, who cares only for money and winning every case.

Sandy, of course, quickly begins to see Ethan is not the monster she thought he was, even as Ethan gradually discovers his conscience. The two embark on what looks like an impossible mission--to find the real murderer and get Josh off.

Sandy's story is a great way to finish off the DeMarco family. She felt like a real person to me, with flaws and foibles, but firm convictions and a big heart. She is the perfect foil for Ethan, who anyone can see needs for someone to believe in his goodness and love him. Their physical relationship sizzles (of course! This is Jane Graves) and the pacing grabs the reader by the hair and drags her through a story that's a dazzling funhouse of mirrors, where nothing is as it seems. And the ultimate solution is particularly clever, one where the reader knocks herself up the side of the head and says, "Dang, why didn't I see that coming?" Can't wait to see what comes next from this author.

Rating:
Summary: Murder-Mystery Romance with LOTS of Twists and Turns
Review: Cutthroat defense attorney meets community activists in this romantic, legal thriller.

Kudos to Ms Jane Graves for giving us a very well written tale. Her characters are complex and believable and the plot has enough twist, turns and red herrings to keep even the most jaded murder-mystery reader glued to the page.

Curious about the title though. I can't decide if it is just a marketing ploy designed to grab the book-store browser's attention, or a sly hint by the author regarding the plot. Guess you'll have to read the book and decide for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: An author with talent.
Review: Ethan Millner is a highly paid, ruthless defense attorney. In fact, he is the best money can buy. He can charm a jury at the same time he slashes the prosecution. He is living high until he is sentenced to do forty hours of community service due to reckless driving.

The judge asks Sandy DeMarco to take charge of Ethan. Sandy comes from a family of cops. Her brothers have told her several stories about Ethan, but Sandy still tells the judge she'll do it. (Sandy believes in looking for the good in people.) Forewarned is forearmed, so she plans to keep the charmer at arms length. Sandy runs a florist shop during the day. At night she is the neighborhood crime watch. The first night they are together on a routine watch patrol ends up with a brutal murder and Sandy's employee, Josh, is the prime suspect. With Josh's background, Sandy knows that he could be put to death for a crime he did not commit unless Josh gets the best lawyer in the area.

Ethan, drawn by his attraction to Sandy, agrees to help. They soon learn that the victim had a secret life. As they continue to investigate, the killer sets his sights on Sandy. Ethan could end up getting himself killed to protect Sandy.

**** Sandy's character is a bit too naive for me to find believable, but otherwise she is a pillar of strength. The plot is sound and the story feels smooth as silk. Author Jane Graves did a wonderful job in showing Ethan's dawning guilt at the beginning of the book, as well as, the slow changes in his character there after. It is always a delight for me to see talent in an author and in this story Jane Graves proves that she has major writing talent! Wonderful romantic suspense novel. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Rating:
Summary: a four and half star
Review: I've been known to read a book solely because the title grabbed my attention by firing my curiosity or my imagination. And surprisingly, I've rarely been disappointed in this type of impulse reading.

LIGHT MY FIRE is one such attention grabber. It definitely fired my imagination.

I'm not sure if the title is intended as a testament to the combustible feelings between the two main characters or is used to invoke a certain reaction from a reader.

Maybe both. The romantic couple are indeed explosive together and the hero, Ethan Millner, did indeed stroke my imagination.

In any case, LIGHT MY FIRE is a terrific read, teaming a wickedly delicious hero with a really appealing, wholesome, no-nonsense heroine.

Ruthless, cold, calculating, cynical, high-powered attorney Ethan is a definite bad-boy (and I have a real soft spot for bad boys). He'll bend and twist the law any way he has to to get his clients aquitted...as long as they can afford his retainer fee. His redemption isn't quick and it isn't without setbacks, but it is believable.

Almost the polar opposite of Ethan, Sandy DeMarco - despite having three cop brothers - tries to see the good in people. Ethan and Sandy might be a study in contrasts, but this couple compliment each other. This pair are perfect foils for the other, filling all those grooves and hollows.

An instant attraction swiftly unfolds into a fascinating love dance filled with clever dialogue and loads of sexual tension.

Not only does Ms. Graves sketch two complex, dynamite lead characters, the suspense aspect of this story is also well-done. The murder plot that has Ethan playing a Perry Mason-kind of lawyer to find the real culprit has some really nice surprises and an unexpected deadend - or two.

All in all, LIGHT MY FIRE is an exceptional page-turner. Combine two sensational lead characters with a clever mystery and my verdict is this novel is guilty of a slow burn...

Debbie Jett, reviewer
romancereaderatheart.com


Rating:
Summary: engaging legal thriller romance
Review: In Tolosa, Texas attorney Ethan Miller detests his father, who always insists money is the bottom line of their firm. Frank obtains an acquittal for Thomas Randall a big shot at Bryan Industries in a rape case but he feels no joy because the lawyer believes his client is guilty. A bit drunk Ethan picks up a blond in a bar, accelerates his car way beyond the speed limit and causes an accident. Judge Davis gives Ethan community service with Crime Watch patrol.

Ethan joins florist Sandy DeMarco on her patrol although he knows her three police officer brothers hate him for enabling wealthy lowlifes to return to the street without punishment. However, when the police arrest Sandy's teenage worker John Newman for the murder of a neighbor Laura Williams, she pleads with Ethan to handle the case bono. Because of his attraction to her, he agrees although his father is irate for his son wasting time on a pro bono case. As the couple falls in love, the evidence mounts against his client in this capital case.

This engaging legal thriller romance stars two fabulous protagonists and a host of secondary characters who either enhance the understanding of the lead duo or are involved ion the case. The story line moves forward at a rapid pace as the prosecution case seems unbeatable. Although the final twist seems too bizarre and simplistic, fans will appreciate this fabulous look at the American justice system, bushwhacked Texas style, in which a poor person has no chance.

Harriet Klausner


Rating:
Summary: Solid. - ** Grade: A- **
Review: Jane Graves delivers a splendid story; LIGHT MY FIRE is a neat little package, shaped into a clean tight form. In the end, the reader knows the author has taken the time to plan this story. In other words, there are no loose-ends -- everything is solid and closed.

Ethan Millner is a brilliant, expensive, defense attorney. He is very successful at his job. Simply put, he gets his clients exactly what they WANT - whether they deserve it or not. Yes, Ethan Millner is very successful at his job, but he is miserable; for Ethan Millner suffers from conscience.

Sandy DeMarco is closing in on forty, and when she turns sideways she doesn't disappear, no she shows womanly curves. Sandy DeMarco operates a small flower shop; she lives her life looking for the good in all people; she is blessed, for she likes people and people like her. In other words, Sandy DeMarco is a lovely person.

A court order forces these two people to spend endless hours together - two people with two different views. Sandy DeMarco views life as half-full; Ethan Millner views life as half-empty, but somehow they view each other with captivation -- cautious captivation. When a brutal murder in Sandy's quiet neighborhood forces her to ask Ethan for his help, they are forced further into each other's company. They are forced to see their views are not so separate after all.

Jane Graves writes a good suspense romance, it is an impressive story. Well planned, well written, and well . . . entertaining. And isn't that why we read? Grade: A-

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

Rating:
Summary: Light My Fire--Sizzles
Review: Light My Fire by Jane Graves is a sensational story of opposites attracting.

Ethan Millner has lived life on the edge, he uses his talents and charm in and out of the courtroom. When he has a brush with the law, his talents don't get him out of trouble. Instead his sentence is to do community service on the local crime watch. Ethan's supervisor is none other then the sister of one of his adversaries the DeMarco's.

Sandy DeMarco is a kind and giving person. She has raised her younger brothers and now runs a successful florist shop. Sandy agrees to supervise Ethan but she didn't plan on the intense attraction with the one man her brothers cannot stand.

When a brutal murder happens during one of their patrols and Sandy's employee is accused. She turns to Ethan for help.

As Sandy and Ethan work to solve the murder, they realize they both have been searching for each other all along. Sandy and Ethan bring out the best in each other. They at first fight the attraction but when they give in all bets are off.

This book is fun, sexy, and emotional from beginning to end. I loved the Demarco family from book one. Can't wait for the next book from Jane Graves.


Rating:
Summary: Light My Fire
Review: Thanks to a judge's ironic sense of justice, hot shot defense attorney Ethan Millner is forced into extensive community service with the woman who is most likely to take issue with his methods of work. Sandy De Marco is not only the sister of several cops but head of the anti crime council. Yet, with equal irony, she is forced to rely on his most hated abilities to save an innocent from a false murder accusation. Working together ignites unwanted passions between the two, as well as drawing them into the line of danger from the true killer.

*** Easily blending humor and suspense with a sweet romance, the author has gifted readers with her best book to date. Ethan quickly attracts one's attention as a fascinating hero thrust into circumstances that have an almost parable like quality to them. ***

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.