I am generally not fond of opening a romance novel to two characters meeting and having sex without knowing the other’s name. But after that inauspicious beginning, this book settled down and became at times, a nice, light and very sexy read. I ended up liking the characters very much and would have liked the entire book had the focus remained on what worked. Instead, parts of Into the Fire focus on what didn’t work as well – the heroine’s internal conflict and her attempts to resolve it. The wearing of the hair-shirt eventually got to be too much, particularly since it stalled during the story.

Lacy Clark writes for the magazine What Women Want. Nate Logan writes for the magazine Men’s World. Both magazines are owned by J.T. Birmingham. Lacey likes her writing job, but she does not like Nate and her feelings are reciprocated. She thinks he is a sexist pig; he thinks she is frigid. For months Lacey and Nate have been conducting a print feud that has raised the readership of both magazines. One night at a boring cocktail party, Lacey sneaks out to the gym to jump on a trampoline, Nate (also bored) spies her and falls in the pool. She rescues him, they are overcome with lust and have sex on the trampoline. Then in walks J.T. who asks Nate why he is wearing his robe and lying on his daughter.

This beautiful passionate woman is Lacey the frigid?! And she’s the boss’s daughter?!! Oh boy… Well, to Nate’s amazement J.T. does not fire him or demand he marry Lacey. No, he wants them to collaborate in a crossover feature article that will run in both magazines. This collaboration will be a step up for both of them in their careers, so they both decide to be very professional and ignore the attraction they feel for each other. But of course they can’t.

The attraction between Lacey and Nate is the best part of the book. It’s hot, really hot! Both Lacey and Nate are people who, down deep in their souls, want love, fidelity and committment even though they work for magazines that espouse the Cosmo/Maxim/Sex in the City lifestyle. Neither of them pout, or go off in a huff over little things. They talk, they laugh, they have fun and they genuinely like each other – and I liked them.

Another plus is a minor character – Lacey’s best friend and fellow columnist Raul. The gay man who is the heroine’s best friend has been used so much that it is a worn out cliche. Raul is straight. His relationship with Lacey is that of the pesky little (Raul is short) brother who is a bit annoying but whom you really love. Seeing Raul trying to hit on Lacey’s friend Venus aka Amazon Woman is too funny. I’d like to see them in their own book.

The big problem in Into The Fire is Lacey’s family. Her mother had a fling with J.T. when her husband was in the military. Lacey was the result, and she was an embarrassment to Lacey’s father, who became a minister. Lacey found out about her real father when she was 12, and has spent vacations with J.T., but she doesn’t connect with his playboy lifestyle. Neither does she connect with her step-father’s judgmentalism and feels guilty for her birth. She kept trying to smooth things out and take responsibility for her mother. Since we see Lacey’s family only briefly, and some not at all, this conflict is distant and not of any urgency. If this had been a full-length novel, I think it would have worked far, far better.

So, my advice is to read Into The Fire for the really likable characters and the hot, sexy and loving relationship. When you get to the angst and handwringing, skip those parts. You’ll enjoy the book much more if you do.