I have really enjoyed the books by this author that I have read. I loved how this story pulled me in from the first page and made me not want to put it down. I wanted to keep reading to know who was behind everything. I also loved the characters and I loved the group of friends and how they were there for each other. I also loved the romance between Jesslyn and Nathan. I loved how it developed and how they finally expressed their feelings for each other. I loved the unexpected twist and turns in this book and can’t wait to read more books by this author.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own

"We all have a purpose for being here. Some of us just take longer to figure out what that is."

Jesslyn McCormick's world was turned upside down 25 years ago when her parents and two younger sisters were killed in a tragic house fire. She is now the Fire Marshall in Lake City and she is determined to find the person who started the fire. She also wants to honor her family's memory by starting the Youth organization her father planned.

Soon, there are several fires in places frequented by Jesslyn, including her church. Since a fire in a church is considered a hate crime, the FBI becomes involved. When Special Agent Nathan Carlisle arrives, Jesslyn is surprised at the feelings she begins to feel in his presence. Her whole goal in life is to find the arsonist who killed her family. She just doesn't have time for romance!

Nathan is also dealing with his own loss, which he just wants to forget. However, his older brother, Eli, just won't leave it alone. He hopes that the distraction of these fires will give him the space he needs.

The story moves at a fairly quick pace as Jesslyn's life is threatened more than once. As more fires are set, she begins to uncover things about her Father that would have been better left alone. Is the person who is setting these current fires the arsonist that killed her family? Or, is there something else going on?

Throughout the book, the characters' faith in God is evident. The book touches on grief, death, suicide, and forgiveness. "All forgiveness comes from God. The need to find a way to forgive ourselves comes from the need to be released from the guilt we feel."

The ending was a bit unexpected but satisfying, which I appreciate in a romantic suspense book. My only complaint about this book is the number of characters involved in Jesslyn's group of friends. I know that this is part of a series of books and that the author includes these people to tie the series together. However, to me it just didn't seem realistic to have a cadre of people get involved in every aspect of the case.

All in all, this was a good book with plenty of thoughtful insight into forgiveness and purpose, all with God's intervention. I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys this genre.

Serial Burn is the third story in another excellent series by Lynette Eason. That said, all the books in the Lake City Heroes series work as standalone reads too.

Like the others, this was a great read. This story focuses on Lake City Fire Marshall Jesslyn McCormick. Jesslyn joined the fire service after her entire family was wiped out in blaze when she was just seven. Now on the twentieth anniversary of their deaths, Jesslyn goes public with her intent to reopen the case.

Meanwhile, a series of arson attacks see Jesslyn team up with FBI Agent Nathan Carlisle, a man with a messy past and no interest in revisiting history. As the arsons cross over with Jesslyn’s cold case, things between her and Nathan warm up, but with so much baggage there’s a lot to work through.

This story certainly keeps the pages turning. I read late into the night as the plot twisted and turned. It wasn’t until quite near the end I figured out who the bad guy was. Definitely recommended for readers who love tightly written suspense.

I received a copy of Serial Burn from the publisher via NetGalley. The fangirling is all my own.

Strap yourself in and be prepared for a thrill rollercoaster of emotions!! The suspense just keeps escalating. The twists and turns just keep coming!
Lynette Eason did an excellent job to wisk us away from reality into Jess and Nathan's world. When someone is determined to kill you, you better have a strong support system and an even stronger faith to help and sustain you. Luckily, Jess had Nathan as well! Will he succeed in keeping her safe? Will they unravel the mystery surrounding the fires in time?
This book is brilliant, and I couldn't put it down!! You can not afford to miss this!

What a fantastic third book in the Lake City Heroes series! Serial Burn had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Lynette Eason brings all the nail-biting suspense, swoonworthy romance, & heartfelt faith in this latest thriller. Two characters whose childhoods were scarred by fire face their worst fears as they race to find a stalker & arsonist before it’s too late.

Fire Marshall Jesslyn McCormick was only seven when her family was murdered in a horrific arsonist’s fire. As the 20th anniversary of their death approaches, she’s determined to catch the killer & also honor her family’s memory by building a youth center. Unfortunately, someone doesn’t agree with her plans & Jesslyn finds herself the target of a killer. Could the arsonist who killed her family be the same one responsible for the fires cropping up in all the places Jesslyn frequents?

FBI Special Agent Nathan Carlisle & his partner are called in to investigate. But, these fires bring back painful memories for Nathan & serve to squelch his growing attraction to Jesslyn. Though they have amazing chemistry, their troubled pasts make them both reluctant to pursue a relationship. As Jesslyn’s life is continually threatened & clues at the crime scenes point to the fire that killed her family, Nathan vows to do everything in his power to keep her safe.

I love books that play like a movie in my head! This story had everything I love in a romantic suspense: compelling characters, nonstop action, an unpredictable whodunit, & sweet romance. Both Jesslyn & Nathan are deep characters whose pasts were negatively impacting their future. Both are reluctant to fall in love. Their sizzling attraction presents all sorts of delightful problems, especially when they’re forced to be in close proximity & spend a lot of time together. I enjoyed the push & pull of their relationship & seeing those walls slowly crumble. I also enjoyed their shared faith & the way they helped each other unravel the secrets of their pasts.

There’s something so frightening about fires, & this book really brought out those well-placed fears. The mystery had so many exciting twists & turns & I have to admit I didn’t guess the killer or motive until the very end. The author does a fantastic job scattering clues throughout leading up to a heart-stopping conclusion.

Highly recommend! While this book is part of a series, it’s easily read as a standalone, but I enjoyed seeing characters from previous books & can’t wait for the next one. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided. 4.5 to 5 stars!

Lynette Eason has done it again with Serial Burn! Serial Burn is the third installment in Ms. Eason’s Lake City Heroes series. Jesslyn is the town’s Fire Marshal and is investigating the fire at her local Church. The FBI is assisting in the investigation on the grounds of a Church fire being considered a hate crime and sends Nathan to help with the investigation. After losing her Parents and Sisters in a house fire caused by arson, Jesslyn has dedicated her career to investigating fires in hopes to one day find the Arsonist that killed her Family and finally close her Family’s case. Nathan’s career in Law Enforcement stems from tragically losing his best friend in a fire as a kid, making Nathan uneasy when investigating fires. Jesslyn and Nathan know one another because they hang out in the same group of friends. As Jesslyn and Nathan are investigating, more fires happen through out the town that end up having a connection to Jesslyn and her Family as well as peculiar signature being left at each fire. As Nathan and Jesslyn keep putting out fires–in more ways than one–they uncover powerful truths about their respective pasts and the power of Forgiveness, leading both to the path God has set before them not only individually but together as well.

Lynette Eason knows how to pack a punch into a suspense story and Ms. Eason definitely does this in Serial Burn! I love how the suspense catches you from the very first page! I thought that the Arsonist aspect of Serial Burn was unique to Christian Suspense because the theme of arson was carried all the way through the plot (and that doesn’t always happen in Christian Suspense). The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat with all of it’s twists and turns and unbelievable situations! You could tell Ms. Eason really researches the elements that she likes to include in her stories, because of how she wrote the way that Jesslyn did her job. I found it intriguing. I love meeting Jesslyn and Nathan! I thought that Jesslyn and Nathan were perfect for each other. I admired the way they both tackled their difficulties with their Faith in terms of what happened to them in the past. I love how Ms. Eason had Jesslyn and Nathan approach Forgiveness as being the words “I forgive you” as being instant, but, at times, it can be a process for the heart to catch up with the words. I also love that Ms. Eason reinstated that when the heart process of Forgiveness takes time, it doesn’t make the act of saying “I forgive you” any less real. I also love how Ms. Eason used the example of Hosea in the Bible to illustrate this point. (Read Serial Burn and your Bible for all the details!) I have not had the chance to read the rest of the Lake City Heroes series yet. To me, Serial Burn read as though it was a standalone book, and that’s helpful when starting a series with the third book. (And I’m looking forward to read the rest of the Lake City Heroes Series soon!) If you are looking for a high octane read that gives off vibes of a Criminal Minds nature and at the same points you to Jesus, regardless of the hard times in the story, then I highly recommend Serial Burn by Lynette Eason!

Have you read Serial Burn? What did you think of the book?

I would like to thank Lynette Eason for giving me copy of Serial Burn to review (as well as NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book) and for letting me be on The Serial Burn Superstars Launch Team. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My review is on my blog Leslie's Library Escape and Goodreads.

Lynette Eason consistently provides good romantic suspense for readers to enjoy. Fans will be happy to know that, unlike many series, Lake City Heroes is not ending with this third installment. There is another adventure coming, this one featuring Air Marshal Kristine Duncan and FBI Agent Andrew Ross.

Serial Burn, as its title implies, revolves around an arson investigation. Deputy State Fire Marshal Jesslyn McCormick lost her family in a fire twenty years ago. Now it appears that the arsonist is trying to finish the job by killing Jesslyn as well. This action-filled story is wrapped in the theme of hope, hope through God's forgiveness, hope through the knowledge that God is on His throne and in control, and hope in the relationship we have with Him and with those He puts in our life.

While there were a few instances when I asked myself if people really talk like that, the book is overall well-written with characters readers will care about, subtle clues that will seem trivial at the time, and backstories revealed that enhance the story. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Serial Burn from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I love Lynette Eason and am never disappointed by one of her novels and this was another great suspense story. The only reason why it took me so long to finish this book was due to spending more time with family on vacation.

Both main characters experienced loss through fire, and for me it created a special bond between them, but I enjoyed Jesslyn’s plot of finding the truth of past events and also trying to know what her identity is after this major part of her focus is resolved.

It was only a few days after I finished the book that I actually realised how clever the first line of the plot is. It totally threw my idea of how the story would develop.

I am excited for the fourth and final book in this series.

Fire marshal Jessica McCormick is on a mission to find the arsonist who killed her family. But when she announces to the world that she won’t rest until she finds him, Jessica sets off a blaze of her own that threatens to ignite her whole world.

FBI agent Nathan Carlisle is battling his own demons from the past and determined to keep his distance. But as the attacks against Jessica escalate, so do their feelings for each other. Can they find a way to leave the past behind and forge a new future…or will the killer catch them first?

Fast-paced, tightly plotted, and packed with enough twists and turns to keep you up all night and racing through to the end!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Revell for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Serial Burn was a great continuation of the Lake City Heroes. The fast-paced story kept me in suspense and guessing who was causing the fires. I enjoyed the undercurrent of a love story that doesn't overshadow the action. Looking forward to reading the next installment!

Mrs. Eason does it once again in this page turner full of suspense and keeps you guessing to the very end. Can you guess who the arsonist is? I could not.

Jesslyn is a fire marshal that works a job that hits close to home. She lost her own family in a fire. It looks like the arsonist is striking again and she is the one who has to solves this crime before he/she strikes again. Jesslyn has lived in fear because of what has happened in her past, but I love how the author weaves in how our God can rescue you from your past and take your fears away. Nathan has been assigned to help in these cases and he has his own hurts to deal with. These two lean on each other as they work tirelessly to find our culprit. As the pages turn, we see their relationship develop as they share their pain and hurts.

The characters are so relatable and you feel like they could be your friend. You want to be there to walk beside them in their hurts or jump through the pages to rescue them from the danger.

As the plot thickens and you are guessing who it may be, this author shows fine suspense writing as she shares detail after detail to slowly work in finding out who our arsonist is. This is what all suspense readers want!

I would highly recommend this for lovers of romantic suspense. This book can be read as a standalone, but the characters do flow over into the other books of the series.

Go pick up your copy today! You will be happy you did! Get ready to be hooked!

These are all my opinions! I received this book from the publisher and was not required to leave a review.

I enjoyed this romantic suspense. The search for an arsonist has clues to puzzle over, links to the past to unravel, and plenty of action to keep pages turning. The growth of Nathan and Jesslyn’s relationship was satisfying and sometimes humorous, and the message about forgiveness profound. This third novel in the Lake City Heroes series proves ongoing glimpses into previous main characters while still easily standing alone. I enjoy the way the friends interact and show up for each other and look forward to the next book. Recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I liked this inspirational romantic suspense. I liked that Nathan and Jessyln have the potential for romance but do their necessary work first. It was interesting that both characters had tragedy caused by fire in their history. Nathan had to face his past and develop, with the help of counseling, his own well being. It was a bit odd that Nathan's brother, a psychiatrist, had not come to the same place of well being. The character development of the good guys was done well and the plot kept the story moving along. The climax is suspenseful and required exact arrangement of timing by the villain. Jessyln wondered how it could have worked out and so did I. I am not sure the character development and revelation of the villain was entirely consistent.

Eason covers a number of issues in the novel. Healing from past mistakes is a big one. Along with that is the necessity of forgiveness for past actions, including a strong faith message. The plot includes marital infidelity and allusions to child mistreatment in foster care.

This is a good inspirational romantic suspense and continuation of the Lake City Heroes series. Each novel in the series focuses on a different character so each can be read alone.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Serial Burn by Lynette Eason is the second book in the Lake City Heroes series. While it has friendship ties to the characters from book one, Double Take, it is complete with no cliffhanger or missing background knowledge. What a story it is! The suspenseful storyline, clear vivid setting and complex characters! This story has it all. I so appreciated and loved the community formed among the first responders, including the FBI called into the fire at the beginning, the attention to detail, the building suspense, and the slow burn romance.

More than once I found myself holding my breath as I was reading because I wasn’t sure how Jesslyn McCormick was going to survive since the villain was so intent on ending her life. Still. it reaffirmed that God is able, so all things are possible. Many times, FBI Special Agent Nathan Carlisle was there at the right moment to help. Serial Burn by Lynette Eason is Christian Suspense romance at its best.

Riveting from start to finish! I can’t wait for the next book!

Sometimes forgiveness is the hardest thing to swallow, and forgiveness played a big part in the story within these pages. Forgiveness of self and of others is hard to swallow for the main characters. Lynette Eason is a master puzzle maker with her writing style as she weaves a story with many pieces at the beginning and slowly brings them together in the end.

Fire marshal Jessilyn McCormick is a lady on a mission. When she was young her entire family died when their family home burned. She is determined, now more than ever, to find the person responsible for the devastation. When a fire breaks out at Jessilyn's church, this starts a chain reaction of more fires, each with a strange clue left behind.

FBI Special Agent Nathan Carlisle is working the arson cases with Jessilyn. Both Nathan and Jessilyn have some past hurts that have carried over into their adult life. Nathan has bitterness in his heart and Jessilyn is focused so much on finding the person responsible for her loss that she cannot even see what is around her anymore. These two have their issues, but they also have a common thread and that is to seek justice.

This was a complex mystery that will grab your attention from the beginning pages as each puzzle piece starts falling neatly into place. There will be pain as the past comes roaring back to haunt our two main characters, but there will also be joy and release. The twisty ending was quite a surprise for me. You can never go wrong with a Lake City Heroes book. This is book #3 in this series, which spotlights the heroes of Lake City. This one deserves more than 5 stars. This was inspirational romantic suspense at its finest.

Thank you to the Revell and the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This one was explosive! Jesslyn is the Lake City Fire Marshal and someone is out to get her, Nathan is a special agent for the FBI investigating the arson fires. There is plenty of action and suspense in this story along with faith, friends who have your back, humor, and mystery. Jesslyn and Nathan work together to try and figure out who the arsonist is before he/she succeeds in killing Jesslyn. This is my favorite in the series so far.

Serial Burn
by Lynette Eason
Pub Date: Jan. 21, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is book 3 in the series and it is one I can highly recommend!
Eason delivers a punch with this book!
In Serial Burn, Deputy State Fire Marshal Jesslyn McCormick has dedicated her life to hunting down the man who killed her family. Her sacrifice for their justice demands her all; her whole identity is wrapped up in seeking answers. Her dedication to finding the arsonist who is setting fire to Lake City buildings is equally consuming and readers will love seeing how past trauma relates to the current nail-biting tension as the twentieth anniversary of the tragedy approaches. .
5 stars

Another novel close to 5 stars for me!! Lynette Eason starts Serial Burn off with action and never really stops. Twenty years ago, Jesslyn lost her family to a fire. It drove her to be a firefighter. Two decades later, she makes a very public statement that she WILL find the arsonist who killed her parents and sisters. And that’s when strange things start happening in her town.

One of my favorite things about this novel and this series is the friendship between all of the characters. While having so many public servants (nurses/doctors, law enforcement, air marshals, firefighters, and FBI agents) in the same friend group may be a little far-fetched, I love how they have each other’s backs and really gather around the one who has a need.

The thing that made this one not 5 stars is how some of the thoughts from Nathan (the primary male character) and Jesslyn are a little corny and sometimes are out of place.

While this can be a stand alone, I HIGHLY recommend reading the first two novels from this series because you will have background on other characters.

A special thanks to Revell and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

"Was it possible for her to simply be Jesslyn? A woman in love? Could she leave what had become her mission? Her very identity?"

Wow, just wow! I didn’t see this story coming at all. I was expecting a romantic suspense, but it turned out to be so much more than that. This story hit all the areas I love: a gripping mystery, two broken people drawn to each other, deep family secrets, a murderer on the loose, family confessions, and a town fighting against the flames. Add in FBI agents and firefighters working together to solve the case, and it was just amazing.

The story had me on the edge of my seat, shocked as mysteries unfolded as more structures went up in flames. The suspense kept building, and at times, and the secrets uncovered even brought me to tears. I was so emotionally invested in Jesslyn’s journey. She does more than find out who is after her, she is about to unravel the truth about her past and wow, there was SO much hidden! Add in Nathan and what he ends up unpacking in this story, wow it was a lot to read, and yet... So powerful to walk through the journey with them.

Jesslyn is the fire marshal of Lake City, a job she’s passionate about due to the tragic loss of her family in a fire years ago. As the anniversary of their death approaches, she announces her desire to finally find their killer and plans to dedicate a space in town to honor her father. But her announcement doesn’t go over well, and soon, fires start popping up all over town, all seemingly connected to her in some way. And she seems to be their next target!

When FBI Special Agent Nathan Carlisle is called in to help, it brings up feelings they’ve both been denying for each other. Jesslyn’s life becomes consumed by the need to solve the case of her family’s murder, and Nathan, who has his own painful past, is determined to keep her safe,but he can’t help falling for her more and more. Jesslyn, however, isn’t in a position to even consider a relationship when her whole life revolves around this case. The chemistry between them is so strong, but they both know they need to focus on finding out who’s behind the fires, and why they seem to be targeting Jesslyn, before they can even think about the future.

Even with the tension and mystery swirling around them, the romance between Nathan and Jesslyn was so beautifully written. It was heartwarming to watch it unfold amidst the chaos and danger, making it all the more special and real. The combination of high-stakes suspense, emotional depth, and a sweet romance made this story unforgettable.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. This review reflects my honest opinion.

What a great mix of suspense, family ties, and romance!

Nathan and Jesslyn were great characters who were dedicated to their jobs, their friends, and their faith, but I love how they learned and grew through this investigation and found things within themselves that they could improve!

A great read!