Lara Cameron and Ted Westwood have been best friends since they were children. Ted wants a career in the theater, designing sets. Lara wants to marry Brent Houghton.

Brent has his own real estate company, Houghton Inc., and is very successful. Lara and Brent having been together for a while despite the efforts of Brent’s mother. The day of the wedding is almost here and Lara’s friend, Ted, arrives to give Lara away. Brent is out of town and when he gets home, Lara tells him that Ted is in their bed because he’s too tall for the couch. Brent’s temper skyrockets and he accuses Lara of being unfaithful to him. Lara is devastated and can’t believe that Brent would believe his mother’s lies. Brent storms out before Lara can tell him she’s pregnant. She tries to contact Brent, but it seems everyone is out to keep them apart. Four years later Brent returns to Ocean Breeze hoping to make amends with Lara. He still doesn’t know about his child and has stayed away because he thought Lara and Ted were married. Lara agrees to talk to Brent but she doesn’t know if she can ever give him her heart again. As Brent and Lara try to find the happiness they once had, outside forces are determined to keep them apart.

As I read A Fire Burns Deep, I was caught up in the lives of Brent and Lara. The way Kate Hofman has written the dialog between the two is so real, almost as if I was listening to them really talk. The story line flowed well and fit right into the town of Ocean Breeze and characters from other books. I felt great pain for Lara when Brent walked out on her, and I could understand her reasons for wanting Brent to be patient with her. I did think Brent let his temper get the best of him at times. Ms. Hofman has a great ability for writing interesting stories with just the right amount of drama mixed in. A Fire Burns Deep is a great book that will keep you rooting for Brent and Lara to finally be able to be happy together.