Playing With Fire is the second book in the A Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery series. There is also an e-book novella titled Hero's Journey which gives a great overview of the characters in the series and let's Hero' the Dalmatian come to the front.

The story starts with a phone call from Stella's parents wanting to know when she is coming back home. Stella still has mixed emotions about leaving Sweet Pepper until she has found out exactly what that night that Eric Gamlyn died and ended up being buried in a wall at the fire station. Retired Deputy Crum wants meet with Stella to share some information pertaining to that night. After meeting with Stella, as he is heading to join his wife, he is shot and killed. Stella now knows that she is on the path and continues to pursue her leads. Things start to be clearer once Gamlyn's casket is exhumed and it is finally learned who was buried in Gamlyn's casket.

To add to this problem, Stella's parents and former boyfriend arrive to try and convince her to pack up and return to Chicago with them. While in Sweet Pepper, Stella's mom, Barbara, does have an amiable meeting with her father

Looking forward to the next book to see what will be happening with Stella's life next.

Recipes are also included with the book. ( )

Well, thanks to an early day off work, I was finally able to finish reading this book AND remember what I'd read.

Series summary: Stella takes a job in Sweet Pepper, TN as a fire chief for a volunteer fire department starting back up from scratch after a couple of decades of county control. Her housing is supplied by the town and it's the old fire chief's cabin and he's haunting it. Also, it turns out that the grandfather she never knew she had is the "rich man on the hill" and controls most of Sweet Pepper. I have no idea how the authors would wish for me to feel about the old man, but he leaves me cold. Eric, the ghost, however - I have a huge crush on him. Stella's likeable although a bit wooden and her is-he-or-isn't-he love interest is an ass. In spite of my sparkling summation (ha!), it's actually a pretty good read.

This is the second book in the series and it suffers a bit from sophomore slump. My issues might not be another reader's issues, but here's what left me wanting by the end:

1. If I had to read about Stella's angst over "should I stay or should I go" one more time, the book was going airborne. It was harped on.

2. The Parental Visit doubled up on by the Ex Boyfriend Visit. The parents were ridiculous at first: "We're here to bring you home." Never mind that she's an adult, fights fires for a living, and is the Fire Chief. She's obviously only 5 years old and has run away from home, needing her parents to drag her kicking and screaming back to Chicago. It does get much much better as the story goes on, but in a complete 180 degree turn that feels totally false. One paragraph they're talking about "when you come home with us" and the next "the decision to stay is totally up to you and we'll support you no matter what you choose". Huh? Whiplash anyone?

Beyond the totally manipulative angle of the ex-boyfriend (she found having sex with her friend) coming to visit, unannounced, with her parents, and her mother saying "it was a one time mistake - you just need to forgive him and get back together", Doug (the ex) actually provided a bit of comic relief as Eric the ghost pranked him.

3. I don't like the grandfather or the obvious, clichéd story line of his new wife trying to get his money. It's so old hat it's boring and none of them are likeable.

4. The sheriff is an ass. No, sorry, he's an immature, unprofessional ass. His antagonism is so exaggerated it just makes me roll my eyes, instead of engaging my indignation on the part of Stella.

5. Not enough Eric. Seriously, really really crushing on this ghost.

6. Clunky use of third person narrative; the authors would switch viewpoints rather willy-nilly and a couple of times I found myself very confused about who was saying/thinking what.

7. This one's a biggie: they tried to end the book using foreshadow/cliffhanger and it just pissed me off. It just felt so manipulative - like they expected the reader to Gasp! and think "Oh no! What's going to happen next?!?!" Blech.

It sounds like there was a lot I didn't like about this book, but some of those things (3 and 6 definitely) were minor and it was easy to gloss over them when they reared their heads. I keep saying "they" and "them" because J.J. Cook is actually a pseudonym for a husband/wife writing team. Perhaps that explains some of what I feel are inconsistencies in narrative and characterisations.

The murder mystery plot was good; a cold case over who killed Eric all those years ago. For decades he was believed to have been killed in a silo fire, until a fire at the firehouse revealed his body in a wall, with a bullet in his head. Old secrets, a new body, lots of enemies and 20 million dollars (or 30? I can't remember...) I never had any idea of who the killer was, although I had suspicions that were totally wrong. I liked the ending too; Stella could have gone the TSTL route, but actually lived up to her character.

But what the hell happened to the money??? Everything was explained but the money seems to have been brushed aside at the end.

I'll definitely read the next one, but I want more Eric! ( )

I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review. I rated it 4.5 out of 5 Stars.

A cozy mystery set in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, Playing with Fire, the second book in J.J. Cook’s Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery series, has well developed characters, an interesting mystery and a smidgeon of romance. A well paced plot and lively dialogue kept me turning the pages to discover what was going to happen next. While part of a series, I was able to read and enjoy this book without having read the previous book first.

Being pulled in several different directions, Fire Chief Stella Griffin needs to decide between staying in Sweet Pepper or returning to her job in Chicago. Staying in Sweet Pepper will allow her to continue investigating the mysterious death of her predecessor Eric Gamlyn, whose ghost shares her temporary home. She’ll also be able to continue training and developing the volunteer fire fighters she’s turned into the Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade. If she heads home to Chicago, Eric’s death would remain a mystery and would probably never be solved; especially since the local police don’t seem interested in looking into such an old case.

Just as Stella begins gathering clues about Eric’s death, and a newly retired cop tells her about what he’s thinks is the motive, Stella’s parents arrive for an unexpected visit. They want Stella to come home and hope they’ll be able to talk her into going back to Chicago with them. The author does a wonderful job developing Stella’s character; she’s smart, strong and independent. She doesn’t like unsolved mysteries, especially when they involve other fire fighters. While she realizes Eric is now a ghost, and that there’s only so much she can do for him, she’s determined to discover what happened forty years ago.

The secondary characters are also well developed and all of them made a contribution to the story. I especially enjoyed getting to know Eric, who secretly loves Stella even though he knows there relationship can’t go anywhere because after all he’s a ghost. Stella’s parents are fun, clearly love their daughter and want her to do what’s in her best interest. The volunteer fire fighters are also well developed and I enjoyed their interactions with Stella.

Will Stella uncover the truth behind Eric’s death? Will she stay in Sweet Pepper or return to Chicago? You’ll have to read Playing with Fire to find out. I enjoyed it and look forward to the next book in this series. ( )

4 STARS

I like Playing with Fire. It has strong female characters, good suspense never sure who the bad guys are till the end, a ghost who likes to cook, family secrets, Overall a book you don't want to put down. This is the second book of the series.

Stella Griffin is the Fire Chief for Sweet Pepper, Tennessee. She is from Chicago and came to spend three months setting up the new Fire station. That was last year. Everyone wants to know when she is leaving. Stella wants to find out who killed the old Fire Chief Erik and hid him in old fire station.

Erik died 40 years ago. Everyone thought he died in a fire before his body was found. He has lived in his old house and Fire Station that he built since he died. Erik has haunted everyone who has tried to live their except Stella. Erika does not remember dying. I am glad I am not on his bad side.

Small town of Sweet Pepper Tennessee is the setting for the book. Their is one rich millionaire that runs the town. He is blamed for everything. Ben Carson who Stella found out to her surprise is her grandfather.

The plot has a bunch of twists, humor, that leaves you wanting to find out what happens next. It is interesting all the practice that a volunteer fireman have to do. Since I live in a town that has volunteers too. Makes me appreciate them more.

Lots of information about Sweet Peppers thrown into too.

I was given this book and asked to give honest review of it and be part of its blog tour. ( )

http://www.girllostinabook.com/2014/01/blog-tour-review-and-giveaway-playing.htm... ( )