Spotlight & Review of "Love Is A Fire" by Lyssa Layne

“Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your heart or burn your house down, you can never tell.” -Joan Crawford

Dr. Katy Malone has sworn off love after losing those she loves most in her life including her father, a member of the FDNY. She has decided to spend her time focusing on her medical research. Her ex-fiancée, and fellow doctor, isn't ready to give up on loving her though. 

Firefighter Nick Garrity is on a search for the future Mrs. Garrity. As he pushes thirty, with no prospects in sight, he's afraid he'll never find her. A devoted member of FDNY, he loves the thrill of his job and the satisfaction it brings him. He strives to teach the proby firefighter, Patrick Doyle, the ropes and pass on his passion to him. 

When Doyle tries to impress the guys on the crew, he ends up in the care of Dr. Katy Malone. One look at Dr. Malone and Nick knows he's found his future wife but can he convince her to love again?

Katy spent the next three hours cleaning and bandaging Patrick Doyle's burns. From what she gathered, his unit had extinguished a vehicle fire and afterwards, he'd carelessly lit a cigarette. He flicked his cigarette to the ground where the gasoline had leaked, lighting himself up. When would people learn that smoking is bad for you? Katy answered the page from the head floor nurse and her best friend, Tiffany Sanders. "Patrick is awake." "Great, I'm headed that way."

At almost five, Katy walked into the room. Another firefighter sat next to the patient's bed rubbing his eyes. His chiseled physique was all too noticeable through his too small FDNY T-shirt. She figured he probably knew better than to smoke.

She stepped lightly to his bed and gave her smile that put everyone at ease, even a proby firefighter who almost burnt his arm off. Her hand touched his softly as she spoke, “Hi Patrick. I’m Dr. Malone. Are you feeling any pain?” She asked this, knowing there was no way he could with all the pain meds he was on. He shook his head no.

The other firefighter stepped up to the bed. She tried to ignore him, his T-shirt and blazing blue eyes were too much of a distraction. “You have third degree burns over almost fifty percent of your left arm and torso. We’re going to let your body take some time to heal and in a day or two, we’ll do a skin graft.” He nodded as though he understood, but she knew he was so high that he didn’t have any idea where he even was.

The other firefighter asked, “Are there any risks with the skin graft?” His question surprised her. It was his first question and it wasn’t how long he would be out. That was always the first question most macho men asked.

She answered, “There’s always risk with any procedure. This one includes bleeding, infection, and scarring to name a few. He’ll need to take some precautions, but the recovery is usually about two-three weeks.” Patrick, oblivious to what she just said, looked at Katy and grinned.

“Look, Garrity, K.O. she really—” He pointed at her lab coat practically feeling her up. Garrity grabbed his hand and nodded.

“Yeah, Doyle, K.O.” He looked at Katy apologetically and with a smile asked, “What does it stand for?”

Once again, this virile firefighter took Katy by surprise. She felt her cheeks flush slightly as she answered, “Katherine Olivia.” Garrity’s smile changed and got a little bigger.

“Katherine Olivia...I like that.”

Katy felt butterflies in her stomach and her cheeks burned a bright red. She excused herself and stepped outside of the room. She leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. She wasn’t sure what just happened, but it had been a long time since a man made her feel all hot and bothered like this. She took a deep breath to try and slow her pulse. She almost jumped out of her skin when she felt a warm hand on her arm.

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to startle you,” the sexy firefighter said to her.

Katy shook her head trying to regain her composure. She could feel the warmth of where Garrity’s hand touched her spread throughout her whole body. She took a step back to put some space between them.

Garrity cracked a smile. “I was wondering what time you got off. I would love to take you to breakfast to thank you for saving our proby.”

Her palms were sweating as she shook her head. “No need to do that. I was just doing my job.”

Garrity stepped closer to her, his hips just inches away from her. Katy glanced down and her mind wandered to places it shouldn’t. He touched her arm again as she bit her lip nervously. “I know it’s your job, but I’d really like to show you my appreciation and get to know you better.”

His appreciation? Get to know her better? Katy’s mind was racing, it had been so long since she’d been with a man, but no, she couldn’t. Especially not a firefighter. She looked up at his face with his grin, he sensed he was having an effect on her. She knew he wouldn’t take no for an answer. She stepped to the side of him and quickly muttered, “Maybe” and rushed down the hallway.

Dr. Katy O. Malone, aka Knockout is afraid to love because everyone she has ever cared about has died. Her mother died shortly after her birth. Her father, a fireman, died shortly after 9/11. And her Grandparents followed suit not to long after. She ended an 8 year relationship with her ex, Jeremiah, a few weeks before her wedding. Unfortunately, they see each other every day. Jeremiah is still very much in love with her, but Katy has fallen into the bad habit of using him for stress reliving sex.

Enter the hunky and oh, so adorable, Nick Garrity - who just so happens to be a longstanding member of the FDNY! As one may imagine, sparks fly when they meet in the emergency room; but Katy is bound and determined to avoid loving a fireman at all costs. The dangers inherent in the lives of first responders is difficult for many, so Nick's job is like kryptonite for the wary Katy. But love has its own time and agenda.

Fair warning - this book is a 3 hankie, ugly cry making, wonderful read!

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KLSLF8W
Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-is-a-fire-lyssa-layne/1119627466?ean=2940149385003

Lyssa Layne is first, and foremost, the proud momma to her precious daughter, AR. In addition to working full-time and being a mommy to AR, she is also an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, a runner, blogger, and an infertility survivor.

Having watched one too many medical dramas and being inspired by author Rachelle Ayala, who introduced her to the world of indie writing, Lyssa decided to try her hand at writing a romance story. Her attempt turned into the Burning Lovesick series. You can find Lyssa’s own interests throughout her stories although all stories are fictional.

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