In book 4 of the Newpointe 911 series, we learn more about Nick, volunteer firefighter and pastor. As a religious leader in the community, Nick is admired and respected. His friends and coworkers come to him with their troubles and he says the right words to make everything better. Often, he reads to them from the scriptures and reminds them of God’s love. He is a rock in the midst of the chaos, but now he’s the one in crisis. A dead body has been found in his church, a church which has just been burned to the ground. Who could have done such a thing, and why?
Issie Mattreaux is a paramedic, and has worked closely with Nick for years. They have a solid friendship, and at times it seems that there might be the chance for more, but Issie has had a colorful past and doesn’t feel worth Nick’s attention. Nick strongly feels the need to marry another believer, and Issie, for all her charms, is not a churchgoer. An unspoken agreement exists between them, saying, I like you, but I’m not what you need. While they know this is how it must be, neither one of them is very happy about it.
Meanwhile, Issie’s nephew Jake has landed himself in trouble, and while going to hunt him down, Issie stumbles on more than she bargained for. An attempt is made on her life, making Nick realize just how much he does care for her, and he turns from his grief over his burned church to protect her.
When Issie sees how much Nick is willing to sacrifice for her, she realizes that she is worth more than the mistakes she has made in the past, and begins to see herself through Nick’s eyes, as a daughter of God. And Nick realizes that there are some things in life he just can’t live without.
Easily one of my favorite volumes in this series, be sure to put this one on your “to be read” list.
(This book was published by Zondervan in 2003.)
Previously reviewed books in this series: