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Chasing Fire  By  cover art

Chasing Fire

By: Nora Roberts
Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman
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Publisher's summary

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. Flying past towering pillars of smoke, parachuting down to the edge of an all-consuming blaze, shoveling and sawing for hours upon hours, days at a time, all to hold the line and push back against the raw power of Mother Nature.

But there’s also little else as thrilling - at least to Rowan Tripp. The Missoula smoke jumpers are one of the most exclusive firefighting squads in the nation, and the job is in Rowan’s blood: her father is a legend in the field. She’s been fighting fires since her eighteenth birthday. 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.

Fortunately, this year’s rookie crop is among the strongest ever - and Gulliver Curry’s one of the best. He’s also a walking contradiction, a hotshot firefighter with a big vocabulary and a winter job at a kids’ arcade. He came to Missoula to follow in the footsteps of Lucas “Iron Man” Tripp, yet he’s instantly more fascinated by his hero’s daughter. Rowan, as a rule, doesn’t hook up with other smoke jumpers, but Gull is convinced he can change her mind. And damn if he doesn’t make a good case to be an exception to the rule.

Everything is thrown off balance, though, 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.

©2011 Nora Roberts (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about Chasing Fire

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good Story + Great Narrator

If you could sum up Chasing Fire in three words, what would they be?

compelling, evocative, Gulliver

What did you like best about this story?

I've read a lot of Nora Roberts' novels and many of them blend together for me, which means that they were less than compelling or memorable. Not bad, mind you. Just not exceptional in any way.

A couple of her novels have stood out for me, and this I think is the one that I like best. I certainly admire Roberts' ability to make the perilous world of fire jumpers come into focus. A lot of research went into this, but (and this is the hard part) she never indulges the temptation to simply show off what she learned -- Roberts provides just enough detail to get a real sense of how physically and mentally challenging fire jumping is. I got a good idea of the current technology and how it's used, and maybe most important, I began to understand the mindset and priorities that would drive an otherwise sensible and intelligent human being to jump out of a plane into a raging fire.

The primary romance is exceptionally good. Rowan, a veteran fire jumper, and Gulliver, a rookie. I find I can't resist the urge to use the totally predictable descriptive phrase: they generate tremendous heat.

Which scene was your favorite?

Rowan tells Gulliver the truth.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The scenes between Rowan and her father were very well done. She realizes that he has been lonely, and that she doesn't want him to be lonely, no matter how much change scares her.

Any additional comments?

Tremendously interesting, and an alpha-hero who tempers near perfection with a good dose of self-awareness.

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60 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Good but...

I am a huge Nora Roberts fan but this book was just okay. She used a LOT of descriptive imagery for the fire and other scenic sites which when used sparingly is good but was definitely overkill in this book. A lot of foul language...Narrator was okay. Overall book was not a favorite of mine...I should have taken the other reader reviews to heart and saved the credit.

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49 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Another winner by Roberts!

I really enjoyed this book - and Rebecca Lowman did an excellent job of the narration. Interesting storyline - and Roberts drew interesting and enjoyable characters. Great mix of mystery/suspense and romance. Totally enjoyable listen, didn't want to stop till the last chapter was complete!

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45 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

I am a big Nora Roberts fan but have not been thrilled with her last couple of books - this one is excellent. The story was very interesting and learning all about fire jumpers made me appreciate fire fighters even more. This story was very well written with well thought out characters that were fully developed. The narrator did a fantastic job...I will listen to this one again...5 stars!!

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34 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved the book and the narrator!

I'm a huge Nora Roberts fan, and I loved this book. It's right up there at the top of my list of NR favorites. I found the subject of the Missoula Smokejumpers ("Zulies") fascinating and the story was filled with interesting and realistic characters. Roberts did a great job of mixing mystery and romance into the unique and dangerous world of the smokejumpers.
Rowan Tripp is a strong, independent female character, and if her or any of her fellow smokejumpers' language gets a bit colorful at times (as some readers have objected to), it's only when appropriate to the story and, well, they're smokejumpers, not librarians.
Rebecca Rowan is excellent as narrator, and listening to her is part of the reason I enjoyed the book so much. I wasn't sure how I'd like a woman doing so many male voices, but it was no problem. I hope she does more of Nora Roberts' books in the future.

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29 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best yet

I have been waiting for this one to come out and it was definitely worth the wait!! It was a wonderful combination of suspense and romance and I especially enjoyed the double romance that brewed throughout the story. I really enjoyed watching the way the relationship between a father and daughter can change without destroying it and that people need to accept these changes so everyone can be happy. Even old foggies like me need love too. Great job!!!

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29 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Chasing nothing

I've heard so much about Nora Roberts books that I thought I would try one. I'm sorry to say that this book came off as juvenile. The story was run of the mill to say the least. I was happy to read about strong women, both in mind and body through out the story. This is a fine book for a young girl to read but anyone over the age of 17 don't waste your time.

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26 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great listen!

Great job by both Nora and narrator! Many twist and turns. When you think you know...you don't!

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25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I love this book, but, no why you'd think

Reading this gave me a new interesting insight into someone. The very feisty, independent Rowan is a Missoula .smoke Jumper. It follows Nora Roberts formula of happy independent woman meets the man of our dreams. The use em for sex toughness of Rowan as she performs a job that makes most men cringe is coarse, funny and a leader. Gulliver is a green rookie jumper. I used to skydive and relive the thrill of it with her. My spouse fought forest fires. I now have a great respect for the job he did in the years of our marriage. I translated each leg hardening move these dedicated Federal employees do to a personal growth in love of the man with whom I have shared my last 34 years. My own Gull.

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24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Good Book For Listening

Actually, I listened to this one twice in a row! It was a great listen. The reader's voice was easy to listen to. The book flowed well, and the subplots were easy to follow. Try it, you'll like it!

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18 people found this helpful