MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2014

Hello all! It's been a long time, but I'm back up and running and I can't think of a better 

way to start the new year than with a review of the following book.

PLAYING WITH FIRE by J. J. Cook. Book #2 in the Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery series.

Welcome to Sweet Pepper, Tennessee. Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, it’s home 

to the hottest and sweetest peppers in the world—as well as at least one ghost and a 

hotbed of secrets…

GETTING WARMER

Fire Chief Stella Griffin is working to solve the mysterious death of her predecessor, 

Eric Gamlyn—who also haunts her cabin. Yet the more she learns, the more burning 

questions she must answer. Just as Stella thinks she has a lead from Deputy Chum, 

someone snuffs her hopes—and the lawman.

Adding fuel to the fire, Stella’s parents soon arrive—with her ex-boyfriend—hoping 

to persuade her to return to Chicago. Now Stella is torn between the life she left behind 

and uncovering what happened to her ghostly friend. But she’d better think fast or more 

than her investigation could go up in flames…

PLAYING WITH FIRE is the second installment in the Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery 

series by J. J. Cook…A.K.A. authors Joyce and Jim Lavene.

I have been looking forward to this story since reading the first in the series 

THAT OLD FLAME OF MINE. PLAYING WITH FIRE not disappoint and was 

certainly worth the wait! (If I had my way, this series would have a new installment at 

least 2 times a year. But if the authors keep doing downloadable shorts such as 

HERO’S JOURNEY to keep me in the Sweet Pepper loop, I can live with, though 

restlessly, a new main title once a year.)

I really felt for Stella in this story. Not only is she trying to discover what really 

happened to her predecessor, Chief Eric Gamlyn, trying to find justice for her 

friend and ghostly house mate, but she is torn about her job. Should she stay in 

Sweet Pepper as their Fire Chief or should she return home to Chicago and her life and 

job there. If her parents, ex-boyfriend and a few Sweet Pepper residents have any say in 

the matter, she’ll go back to Chicago. But if the rest of the fire brigade, other residents and 

Eric have their way, Stella will stay put in Sweet Pepper. Either way, she’s not leaving until 

she gets to the bottom of what really happened to Eric, which turns out to be easier said than 

done.

I was drawn in from page one and each page there after held my attention. Mysteries, 

danger and question after question left me captivated.  Sweet Pepper and the fire 

brigade are vividly brought to life. The characters are so rich and the situations so real, 

I felt I was part of the story. PLAYING WITH FIRE was one of those stories that I really 

dreaded to see end because I knew I would have a hard time finding another book to 

draw me in as fast as it did.

My advice…Do yourself a favor (and a friend or two while you’re at it), buy this book as 

fast as you can! You won’t be sorry.

If you haven’t read THAT OLD FLAME OF MINE and HERO’S JOURNEY, remember to get 

them as well!

As always, please leave a comment 

and let me know what you think!

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