In HER HOLIDAY FIREMAN we meet Leah Berry who runs a cafe and is trying to hold up against a tide of expenses and shortfall of money. Her father, the former fire chief, is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and is in a nursing home, following his large house burning down. Leah has some palomino horses and a barn and small beach house with orange cat, and not much else but unpaid taxes.

Ryan Owen is the replacement fire chief, who arrives on the anniversary of his young wife's death. He brings a large bullmastiff dog for company. He formerly served in Houston and may have to return. There are few fires in Vine Beach, so his job mainly consists of carrying out fire safety inspections. Leah's old café is high on his list. The two initially like each other but the fire inspection does not go well and Leah is told to close on safety grounds until repairs have been made. However this being a small community, the local men who attend a club for widowers are keen to pitch in with DIY skills and a contractor can carry out anything complex, if Leah can find money.

The story further involves an instant dislike between dog and cat, a lovely afternoon sailing in November, a real estate offer for Leah's land and the mystery of how the fire at her family home got started. HER HOLIDAY FIREMAN is readable and pleasant and has a Christian ethos reflecting Kathleen Y'Barbo's beliefs. However those wishing high tension or action, which might be indicated by a title involving a fireman, will have to look elsewhere.

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