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Playing with Fire (Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery, #2)

Playing with Fire by J.J. Cook

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stayed up a tad late last night to finish reading Playing with Fire, which is the second book in the "Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade" mystery series by JJ Cook. The main character is Stella Griffin, temporary(?) fire chief of Sweet Pepper, TN.

Stella has already stayed longer in Sweet Pepper than she originally intended to, but she feels it's her duty to find out what really happened to former fire chief Eric Gamlyn--the ghost who haunts the cabin Stella is living in. Since Eric's remains were found in the wall of the old fire house, Stella has been pressing for his grave to be exhumed. Who's buried there? The police chief, however, has been stonewalling her; he doesn't like that Stella is stepping on his toes. Just when Stella thinks she has a lead, the person who gave her some intel ends up murdered. As if that's not enough on her plate, her parents show up out of the blue, bringing her ex with them, in hopes of persuading her to return to her life in Chicago. Stella is being pulled in several different directions, but with the help of some local stalwarts, she just may make some headway on Eric's case, and finally make a decision on whether or not she'll leave Sweet Pepper.

There was a lot going on in this story. A lot. Putting it out there that one of my least favorite tropes is when a character's parents (typically the mother) try to manipulate that person, and when the manipulation has to do with the person's romantic life? Hell no! Stella handled her mother's interference with more grace than I would have. Characters were engaging, and the plot certainly held my attention. I still found several points to be vexing: ( Spoilers )

Favorite lines:
♦ "I always wished my dad would turn into an evil millionaire with a mansion."
♦ "Back then, if it looked like a duck and it quacked like a duck--we didn't investigate to see if it was a duck."
♦ "Aren't you worried they might all rise up with pitchforks and torches one day and drag you out of the mansion?"

I really enjoyed this story. Would have awarded it five stars, but I'm deducting one for the annoying bits.

That Old Flame of Mine (Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery, #1)

That Old Flame of Mine by J.J. Cook

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I finished reading That Old Flame of Mine on my lunch hour today. It's the first book in author JJ Cook's "Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade" mystery series. The narrative is in third person point of view, and the main character is Stella Griffin, the temporary fire chief for Sweet Pepper, Tennessee.

After catching her boyfriend cheating on her and cold-cocking him, Stella decides a change of pace and scenery is in order. She answers an ad looking for a temporary fire chief in Sweet Pepper, TN. Stella plans to stay a few months, train the volunteer fire brigade, then return home to Chicago. When one of her new friends dies in a fire and it's later learned to be a case of arson and murder, Stella finds herself in the midst of an investigation. The current chief of police doesn't like her infringing on what he considers his territory, but handsome police officer, John, tries to help Stella where he can. Stella also receives assistance from a most unlikely source--the ghost of Eric Gamlyn. Eric was the previous fire chief, and it's his cabin Stella has been staying in. At first, she chalks up all the talk of it being haunted to local legend, but she soon realizes that Eric is truly present. Further complicating matters is the fact that she discovers she has family in town--family she never knew about. When various other fires in the area appear to be arson and someone seems to have it in for Stella, she knows she's getting close to smoking out a killer.

Oof. There was a lot going on! But, the authors wove it together seamlessly. Characters were portrayed well, and the plot zoomed along like Stella's Harley. I enjoyed the paranormal aspect of the story, as well as Stella's courage and feistiness. A few things I didn't care for...

( Spoilers )

Favorite line: "We both know the only ghosts are the ones from our past we can't leave behind."

Despite my minor misgivings, I truly enjoyed this book, and I will certainly look to read more in the series. Four stars.

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