Attracted to Fire [Paperback]

DiAnn Mills (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 16, 2011

Special Agent Meghan Connors’ dream of one day protecting the president of the United States is about to come true. Only one assignment stands in her way. After the vice president’s rebellious daughter is threatened, Meghan is assigned to her protective detail on a secluded ranch in West Texas. Unfortunately, working with Special Agent in Charge Ash Zinders may be as tough as controlling her charge. Ash has a reputation for being critical and exacting, and he’s also after the same promotion as Meghan. But when the threats escalate and security on the ranch is breached, it becomes clear this isn’t the work of a single suspect—it’s part of a sophisticated plan that reaches deeper and higher than anyone imagined. And only Ash and Meghan can put the pieces together before it’s too late.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Cleverly crafted with a perfect blend of intrigue, betrayal, and romance, this story kept me reeling to the very last page. (Kathy Herman, author of False Pretenses )

From the Back Cover

Only one assignment stands between Special Agent Meghan Connors and her dream of protecting the president. After threats are made against the vice president’s rebellious daughter, Meghan is added to her protective detail on a secluded Texas ranch, far from the media and any would-be assassins. Unfortunately, working with Special Agent in Charge Ash Zinders may be as challenging as safeguarding Lindsay Hall. He has a reputation for being critical and exacting, but behind his tough exterior, Meghan finds Ash is equally dedicated to upholding their oath.

When Vice President Hall is sworn in as president, threats on his daughter escalate and security on the ranch is breached. But who is the real target, and who can be trusted? As Ash and Meghan investigate, they uncover a deadly conspiracy that reaches deeper and higher than anyone imagined . . . and only they can put the pieces together before it’s too late.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (September 16, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414348649
• ISBN-13: 978-1414348643
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,545 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Award-winning author DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. DiAnn's first book was published in 1998. She currently has more than fifty books in print, which have sold more than a million and a half copies.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won placements through the American Christian Fiction Writer's Book of the Year Awards from 2003 to 2008. DiAnn was also a Carol Award finalist in 2010 & 2011. She received the Inspirational Reader's Choice award in 2005, 2007, and 2010, and was a Christy Award finalist in 2008 and a RITA Award finalist in 2010. In 2010, DiAnn won the Christy Award for Breach of Trust and in 2011 she won the Christy Award for Sworn to Protect, the first and second books in her Call of Duty series.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Inspirational Writers Alive; Romance Writers of America's Faith, Hope and Love chapter; and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also the Craftsman mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild.

She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.


Awards
2011 Christy Award Winner - Sworn to Protect
2011 Carol Award Finalist - Pursuit of Justice
2011 Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence Finalist - Pursuit of Justice
2011 Golden Quill Award Finalist - A Woman Called Sage
2011 Award of Excellence Finalist - Pursuit of Justice
2010 Christy Award Winner - Breach of Trust
2010 Inspirational Reader's Choice Winner - Breach of Trust
2010 RITA Finalist - Breach of Trust
2010 Carol Award Finalist - Breach of Trust
2008 Christy Award Finalist - Lightning and Lace
2005 Inspirational Reader's Choice Winner - Footsteps
2005 Inspirational Reader's Choice Winner - Novella At the End of the Bayou from Hidden Motives

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Action, Romance, and Murder, September 15, 2011

By 

Leigh - See all my reviews

This review is from: Attracted to Fire (Paperback)

Special Agent Meghan Connors dreams of protecting the president. Her new assignment should be a step closer to realizing that dream, but a self-destructive protectee and a chauvinistic Special Agent in Charge are making it more of a nightmare. But when their secure location is compromised and the death toll starts to rise, Connors and SAC Ash Zinder have to figure out who they can trust--including their own hearts.

I first discovered DiAnn Mills when I read her Breach of Trust (Call of Duty Series, Book 1) in my hunt for a Dee Henderson (The Negotiator (The O'Malley Series #1)) replacement. Attracted to Fire is another solid romantic-suspense novel from Mills, though I think some of her earlier novels had stronger character development and better romantic chemistry between the main leads.

Attracted to Fire is a good 'brain candy' kind of story if you don't think about it too much. I enjoyed the read--lots of action, some good twists and turns to the plot, and a touch of romance. There were a few things that niggled at me, though. I could buy that female agents have a tough time in the Secret Service, but Zinder's reason for his chauvinism seemed a little far fetched--as did his about face attraction for Meghan. One thing that kept bugging me in the early part of the book was Zinder's insistence he didn't want a woman on his team when he was protecting the VP's daughter. I may have just seen too many episodes of the West Wing, but wouldn't it be standard protocol to have female agents protect female members of the president's and vice-president's family when available? And I'd love to know what was in that magic herbal tea that took care of Zinder's allergies in about five minutes flat because let me tell you--I've lived in Texas all my life and dealt with allergies all my life and if there's that kind of magic bullet out there I seriously need to find it.

I kind of went back and forth on the ratings for this one. I did enjoy the book for its action and interesting plot line. I was in the mood for a light read and this scratched that itch nicely. I enjoyed Meghan's and Ash's snappy dialogue, but somehow just didn't buy the quick attraction between them. I'm giving it four stars because I did enjoy the read and would pass it on to a friend, but I also feel like we've seen better from Mills. If I pick a book to re-read, I'm going to be much more likely to go hunting for Breach of Trust and Paige Rogers on the shelf than re-visit Meghan Connors in this book. Enjoyed it, but it won't have a permanent place on the shelf.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I did not guarantee a positive review.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and engaging romantic suspense, September 19, 2011

By 

Courtney - See all my reviews

This review is from: Attracted to Fire (Paperback)

I have found that I enjoy a good romantic suspense now and then. Every once in a while I get an itch to read a suspense novel that has a touch of romance too and I was not disappointed when I picked up Attracted to Fire.

Attracted to Fire is about a couple of special agents that get assigned to protect the vice president's daughter after there were some threats against her life. The daughter is also a drug and alcohol addict and is struggling with withdrawals. Ash Zinders and Meghan Connor get assigned to be the top agents in charge of her care and protection. Sparks begin to fly because Ash is not too happy about having a female agent on his team and Meghan is convinced she can prove that female agents are just as good as men.

I was able to quickly fall in love with the plot and characters in the book and it all flowed easily and quick. I also felt the reader knew what she was talking about as far as protocol and all that went with the agents, although I myself don't have any facts to back that up because I know nothing of law enforcement. I especially enjoyed the dialogue between Ash and Meghan and the other agents.

I really enjoyed the two main characters Ash and Meghan but especially admired Meghan. She was such a strong and independent young woman yet she had a tender heart for the girl they were protecting and all the other characters mentioned. I thought the romance that bloomed between Ash and Meghan was authentic and really did not agree that it was rushed. I am a firm believer in love at first sight - although it wasn't exactly like that in this story. The secondary characters were also a memorable and added some fun to the story.

The mystery involved was very entertaining. I found myself guessing at who I thought the killer was all throughout the story. I had my suspicions of who it was and how they were connected to the main suspect. In the end I found some of my theories were close but some were also not even near to being correct, which was great! I love it when I am surprised as to who the killer is!

Attracted to fire is thrilling romantic suspense that I am happy I decided to read. This is the first I've read any of DiAnn Mills books and was pleased enough to be looking in to more novels by her!

This is my honest opinion, thank you to Tyndale Blog Network for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, October 14, 2011

By 

L. Germany "mom2tnt" (Ridgeland, MS United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Attracted to Fire (Paperback)

I LOVE this type of book. I highly encourage you to read the first chapter here. When I am reading a book and am constantly telling my husband, "Oh! You are going to love this one." he comes to check the author. When he saw that this was written by DiAnn Mills he said, "Hurry! I loved her last two (Breach of Trust and Sworn to Protect)."

Attracted to Fire centers around two special agents who are assigned to protect the vice president's daughter. She has been sent to Texas because of a threat against her life from a drug lord. The vp's daughter has been entangled in drugs and is suffering from withdrawals. As if this assignment isn't difficult enough. Special Agent Meghan Connor's partner seems to have a big issue with working with a female. His persistence in not wanting a female partner only makes Meghan dig her heels in and want to prove that female special agents can do the job just as good as males. This provides a great undercurrent of tension.

Ultimately the goal of this assignment is to find out who the stalker is and eliminate the threat to the vice president's daughter. However, Meghan will find that threat is closer than she ever thought.

This book is a page turner. Starting it at bedtime was such a mistake because I couldn't put it down until I finished it and wound up having to drink a LOT of coffee the next morning to be able to stay awake to teach. Who am I kidding? I would do it again.