Hellfire

Shania Brooks is a Captain in the Blackwood Fire Department. She has proven herself to be exemplary as both a firefighter and a woman. The double standard of women not belonging is still high in the firefighting industry, but she is finally comfortable and confident with her team. However, it seems that someone is not comfortable with her being on the team. She is plagued with faulty equipment, extremely dangerous in her line of work. The problem is brought to the attention of the Battalion Chief, William McCabe. It is Mac’s job to investigate all faulty equipment, especially if foul play is suspected. What he finds concerns him.

Both Mac and Shania have hurtful relationships in their past, but they do not let it interfere with their wildfire relationship.

When it begins to look as if the current rash of fires are deliberate and perhaps an inside job, the whole department scrambles to find the traitor within. This person or persons unknown seem to have more than a passing sick fascination with Shania. How is Mac to keep the city safe and protect his lover while on the trail of a serial arsonist?

Hellfire is an in depth look into firefighting from a woman’s perspective. Shania is a strong and determined female. She made her way up the ranks without preferential treatment. She is very conscious of her self-image, giving no one any reason to gossip about her – up to a point. On the job, she is the consummate professional, but her personal life stays her own. She is undecided on how best to present her relationship with Mac and not ruffle any feathers. Ms. Poff has created a female lead that many can look up to and respect, which this adds dimension to her overall story. Mac falls for Shania – and vice versa – almost immediately. He doesn’t have the worries about his co-workers that she does, so he follows her lead on how best to represent their relationship. The heat between these two rivals the fires that they work to contain. Hellfire is a sensuous novel that touches on a serious subject, with plenty of suspense to glue it all together.

Reviewed by: Joletta