Book excerpt: Ignited is a collection of three stand-alone novels in the Island Fire series, including Firestorm, Afterburn, and Up in Flames. FIRESTORM She has a lot to prove. He has everything to lose. Firefighting has been Captain Joe Mendoza’s passion since the days his firefighter dad let him climb on the trucks. When the chance for a promotion arises, he’ll do whatever he can to secure it. Accepting the chief’s request to take the newest hire, Chief Peligni’s daughter, under his wing is a given. What Joe doesn’t anticipate, though, is the way Faith storms into his life and becomes a monumental temptation. Faith Peligni may be the first female in the department, but she’s not interested in making waves. She’s determined to fit in as just another firefighter. However, being a woman and the chief’s daughter, she has to work twice as hard to gain half the respect. She burns for that respect, and she’ll take help from no one—least of all the sexy, dark-eyed captain who sends a spark through her with just a look. As their attraction billows to inferno levels, they’re both faced with high-stakes decisions. Can they find a way to have a workplace romance without their careers going up in flames? AFTERBURN He’s a jaded paramedic hell-bent on leaving. Scott Pataki became an EMT to save lives, but ten years later, the stress of his job is killing him. He’s counting down to his escape from San Amaro Island to work on a cruise ship. Estranged from his family, there’s nothing holding him back. But when his big move is only a month away, the half sister he never wanted to meet, and her bulldog advocate, Mercedes, crash into his life. Mercedes Stone is a sucker for underdogs and lost souls. Though she’s drowning in responsibilities as a caretaker, a business owner, and a volunteer, she can’t ignore a homeless teenager’s plight. She’ll do anything to help her, including lock horns with Scott, the troubled but tempting half brother the girl’s determined to bond with. It doesn’t take Mercedes long to see he’s not the heartless jerk he wants everyone to believe he is. Scott feels his hardened heart softening, but he fights it, knowing he’s the dark cloud to Mercedes’ bright sunshine. Will he chase the peace he craves or figure out the best way to weather any storm is together? UP IN FLAMES Her dedication to her job robbed him of his beloved career. Firefighting is everything for Penn Griffin—his job, his family, and his friends. When a hurricane roars toward San Amaro Island, he’s called on a rescue and ends up face-to-face with Nadia, the gorgeous but frustrating woman he went on one interrupted date with months ago. Now, in one fell swoop, she’s altered his life irrevocably. Nadia Hamlin eats, sleeps, and breathes her career at her family’s beachside hotel. As the storm approaches, she thinks nothing of making a last-minute stop at the hotel on the way out of town—until it’s too late. Thanks to her careless decision, Penn’s beloved career is over. Nadia wants to make it up to him. Penn wants nothing to do with her or her well-intentioned “help.” But the attraction that once sparked between them isn’t easily extinguished, and soon Nadia wants more than her career—she wants a second chance with Penn. Can he find his way toward forgiveness and acceptance and a future with Nadia? If you enjoy books by Jill Shalvis, Zoe York, BJ Harvey, Piper Rayne, Molly McAdams, Lori Wilde, Melissa Foster, Bella Andre, Claudia Burgoa, Alexa Rivers, JH Croix, Carly Phillips, Christine DePetrillo, Melissa Chambers, or Amanda Torrey, chances are, you'll love Amy Knupp's Island Fire series. ******** boss-employee, workplace romance, fire captain, woman firefighter, woman in a man's job, kittens in romance, beach romance, forbidden romance, firefighters, island, Texas, beach bar, fire chief's daughter, dark and light, EMT, paramedic, jaded hero, heroine who heals the hero's heart, troubled hero, troubled past, sunshine and grumpy, opposites attract, second chance romance, beach hotel, hurricane