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Book Review By Harriet Klausner
Combustion by Denise A. Agnew



Treble Heart, 2003, 14.99, 352 pp.
ISBN: 1931742138

After severely injuring her knee while on the job, smoke jumper Autumn MacAllister returns to her Montana hometown to heal though the place has one monstrous nightmare memory for her that she can't shake of her parents dying in an inferno. Autumn obtains a reporter's position on the local newspaper.

As a child, Autumn tutored Jack Dillon, who had a big crush on her that still remains inside his soul as he realizes when his heart pounds upon seeing her back in town. To her own shock, Autumn not only feels the heat between them, she cannot dampen her out of control scorching fervor. A firefighter, Jack's father also died in the blaze that killed her parents. However, though both have battled fires, neither has felt the heat that the magnetism between them emits. Before they can explore their feelings they must first deal with an arsonist threatening to raze the town

The threat of the see all arsonist adds torrid suspense, but that seems cool compared to the ardor between the lead protagonists who make a wonderful couple. In fact the story line is at its best when Jack and Autumn share romantic and professional interludes. The arsonist seems to aware of everything, but the audience will not care though Denise A. Agnew should include asbestos gloves to keep fingers from burning from all the heat generated by this fine romantic suspense.

Harriet Klausner


Plot & Themes
Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
Time/era of story:
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
descript. of violence and chases - 20 %
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 %
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20 %
Crime Thriller Yes
General Crime (including known murderer) Yes
Who's the criminal enemy here? - chasing a bomber/arsonist
Is Romance a MAJOR (25%+) part of story? Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Race

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status:
Motive of antagonist - insanity
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - West

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
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