Katie Marie McKeller—survivor and ER nurse. Losing her lover, a firefighter who died saving her, leads Katie back home to Warrens Cove. Coming home stirs memories of her father’s death, also a firefighter killed in the line of duty. Determined to minimize her pain, she becomes absorbed in her work. Her area of expertise is the burn unit, and it is here she earns her nickname: Angel. Ryan Masters—firefighter, ladies man with the call sign ‘Bull.’ Ryan is too arrogant to be promoted to Lieutenant. He’s caught up in an image he maintains as a show for his peers. Earl Redding Jr—devil worshiping, serial arsonist. The man responsible for a string of deaths, including the fire that left Katie scarred physically & emotionally. His plan is to eliminate all first responders and everything they stand for.

"I love you Katie. I'm never gonna let you go."

Katie smiled wide then gave Bradley a hug.

They continued to listen to the music and enjoy the evening.

"Would you like a drink? I see a waiter over there." Bradley pointed to the waiter who stood about 15 ft away from them, carrying a full tray of drinks.

"Sure. I'll come with you."

"Why don't you save our spot?"

She followed his line of sight towards a group of people waiting for their chance to take any open spaces.

Katie smiled in agreement then watched Bradley cross the room.

She took a moment to absorb the sights around her. The dance floor below was so crowded with people it looked uncomfortable. Yet, people made the best of it, were smiling, laughing and enjoying the fast beat of the music.

She glanced over her shoulder and watched Bradley take the two glasses from the waiter and converse with him.

That was Bradley. He was so friendly and outgoing. He could strike up a conversation with anyone. Katie smiled at the thought. He was a great guy, her mom and brothers would like him.

Suddenly, Katie thought she felt the floor shaking and then what sounded like an explosion. She grabbed the railing to balance herself. She questioned the likelihood that the floor would shake and leaned over the balcony to look at the dance floor. She couldn't be certain that it was an explosion and then the second explosion hit.

She watched the debris scatter across the dance floor, submerging the crowd in an ocean of black smoke.

In an instant she looked back towards Bradley, trying to maintain her balance as the flooring beneath her feet shifted. There was a frightened look in his eyes, as the intensity of the rumble sent her falling to the floor.

Crowds of panicking people fled for the staircase, knocking into her, literally stepping over her, when suddenly the lights began to flicker before going out completely.

Katie was lost in a sheet of complete darkness as fearful screams replaced the cheerful music from only moments ago.

She couldn't see in front of her as she pulled herself to a sitting position and the floor continued to move below her. Another explosion rung out then a burst of red and orange flames filled the air, past the balcony all the way to the ceiling.

Then came the smell of smoke, the alarms blaring.

Katie was crying, yelling for help. She could feel the force and the intense heat of the fire in the air as it smacked against her face. The explosion shook the whole building. She fell to the floor again in an attempt to gain balance as if she could control the movement with her hands. She could feel the concrete flooring bow and sway below her belly. It was as if she were on a boat instead of multiple floors high in a stationary building. In minutes the club was ablaze, Katie could not see, she could not breathe as her lungs filled with smoke.

She lost sight of Bradley for what seemed like minutes then suddenly she felt his hand, heard his voice.

"I'm here Katie. Hold my hand, stay low, we'll get out!" he yelled, then coughed. Katie held on tight.

Her eyes stung, the sound that surrounded them was fierce. Screams of terror seemed to echo around them, muffled by crackling noise and the flooding fire. The flames were building and building as flashes of red and orange shot up again through the center of the club from the ground floor. Another explosion from beyond the railing sent flames past the third floor and to the highest ceiling above them.

Although she could not hear the sirens or any signs that help was on its way, Katie knew they were coming. The firefighters had to be responding. This was what her father and brothers fought against every time they entered a fire. They would come, they had to be on their way.

She closed her eyes against the multiple bursts of flames. There was nowhere to escape. She hadn't a clue or an instinct as what to do next.

Rating:

Reviewer: Stevi B.

Katie Marie McKeller survived a horrific fire in which her firefighter boyfriend died saving her life. As an ER nurse, Katie is used to tragedy but wasn’t prepared to deal with it in her own life. After months, she finally bows to family pressure and returns home to Warren’s Cove where she is surrounded with firefighter brothers and friends. Katie’s father was also a firefighter who died and Katie has never really dealt with his loss in her own life. Now, she will have to face her family and how they have moved on since her father’s death while also dealing with her own loss and her physical and emotional scars that so far she has hidden from everyone. Ryan “Bull” Masters, the firehouse Romeo, has his own issues to deal with but if he wants a chance with Katie, he’d better start growing up. Unfortunately, the serial arsonist who set the fire that changed Katie’s life isn’t through yet and he may be targeting survivors…

As a whole I loved First One In Last One Out. In the very beginning, I found it frustrating that Katie had been so stubborn and cut off her family and friends when she really needed them most. As the story progresses and Katie starts to realize that she made a mistake shutting everyone out, I began to relate better to her character. Ryan’s character is charming, drop dead gorgeous, and a walking lie but watching him struggle to become the man he needs to be if he wants Katie, is entertaining. The arsonist in the story is scary and the author keeps the reader guessing what he will do next and if he will succeed in getting to Katie or her loved ones. If there has ever been a bad guy you love to hate, this character is it! The tale jumps back and forth between the three points of view well and gives the reader wonderful insight into each character. I very much enjoyed this book!

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