Jordan Diaz realized a dream she had had most of her life--to be a firefighter. At the present it was just as a volunteer, and one on probation at that, but she was now officially a member of the Stockland Fire Department. What she did not realize is that she now had put the new Fire Chief, Bryce Tracy, between a real rock and a hard place.

The Stockland Fire Department had been run by Diaz men for the past four generations. Never had there been a woman in the department, and Jordan's father, former Chief Cleveland Diaz, had strong convictions that it should remain that way. Many of the current town's firefighters felt that a "no woman" policy was good and should be continued.

Not only would Bryce's decision bring him in direct conflict with some of the men he commanded, but now he risked losing the relationship he had with Jordan's father. Cleveland had taken a young Bryce under his wing when Bryce's parents wanted nothing to do with the boy. The new Chief was thought of by Cleveland as the son he had never had. On top of that, Bryce had been in love with Jordan for years. How was he going to keep those feelings under wraps while having to work so closely with her? He knew Jordan had always thought of him as a brother, and believed that she would never feel anything else toward him.

As expected, Cleveland Diaz was not happy when he found out what had happened. He ordered Jordan out of the department and when she refused, he threatened to get Bryce thrown out as Chief. Jordan was not sure that she could keep fighting for the job she always wanted at the expense of a man who for most of her life had been like a brother to her.

This book is a great story of how we must all "stay the course" for our dreams and desires, knowing that the journey will bruise us along the way. Tonya Ramagos skillfully takes us through the agony felt when having to stand up against those we love and respect. But in the end we succeed because we have followed our own heart's desire.

Reviewed By: Kathy Martin
(c) July 2004