The Burning Point

By: Mary Jo Putney

Narrated by: Jack Garrett

New York Times best-selling author Mary Jo Putney delights readers with lush historical romances like The Wild Child. In her first contemporary novel, she tells a searing story of family, love, and desire.

Kate Corsi’s lifelong dream has been to work for her family’s world-famous explosive demolition business. Her stubborn father denied her this dream until he died. Now, his will has promised Kate a fortune - but only if she can live for a year in the same house with her ex-husband, Donovan. As Kate and Donovan form an uneasy alliance to learn the truth about her father’s mysterious death, they must confront the wrenching secrets of a past that nearly destroyed them. And they must face the perils of moving too close to the burning point, where their passion could once again catch fire.

Filled with compelling characters, The Burning Point solidifies Mary Jo Putney’s position as one of today’s great romantic writers. Jack Garrett’s inflamed narration will leave listeners smoldering.

©2000 Mary Jo Putney (P)2000 Recorded Books

great summer read

although the love story is a bit predictable, out has a good mystery subplot. In addition it is a steamy romance. Perfect book for the beach.

Contemporary setting, and human problems

Putney explored beyond her historical settings to do this trio of related contemporary novels. They're very good stand-alones, so a reader needn't do them in order.
Very enjoyable! Well worth reading. You may find, as I have that they're keepers, to be read again and again.
Narrator does an excellent job!

slow & sluggish, a slog from the start

slow & sluggish, a slog from the start . boring characters, improbable situations. yuch yuck

Dated

Review of audiobook borrowed through Audible Plus.
Possible Spoilers:
This story definitely shows its age. Sam Corsi dies in a supposed accident later deemed deliberate sabotage & murder. He owned Phoenix Demolition International (PDI) which he will leave to his second-in-command and former son-in-law Patrick Donovan. Sam was leaving financial assets split between his son Tom and daughter Kate with one caveat: Kate and Donovan had to live together for 1 year or none of them inherited.
The two had issues to resolve regarding their divorce 10 years earlier and someone was still trying to sabotage PDI. Kate finally gets to work for her family’s company that her father excluded her from.
Garrett has a very pleasant voice, but I think I would prefer him narrating nonfiction. He doesn’t have the range for enough character differentiation.

How the heck is returning to an abuser considered romance?

I kept listening because I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This woman left her husband because he was abusive. Of course they blamed it on alcohol. She never told her family, so her father sets her up to have to spend a year living with her abuser in order to get her and her brother’s inheritance. Unbelievably dangerous situation to put her in. How is this supposed to be romantic? Towards the end of the book, she apparently justifies his violent behaviors by comparing them to her own “violent” nature which is completely crap because you aren’t violent if you stab someone who is trying to rape you (him) or kill someone while trying to escape them trying to kill you (cousin). Worst of all is that they are barely back together before she is remarrying him. Wouldn’t be surprised if the past bad behaviors resurface and she doesn’t leave him this time. So much was wrong with this book that it made me sick. Could have seen it as a product of the sixties, but definitely the wrong message for this day and age. Author should be ashamed of herself for writing something that tries to normalize abuse and misogyny.