Sometimes passion has a fury all its own. . . October 8, 1871 -- One small spark ignites the entire city of Chicago, sending its residents into panic. But amid the chaos, a chance encounter leads to an unexpected new love. As she flees the raging inferno, Lucy Hathaway risks her life to save a precious baby girl. The little orphan is a gift from heaven, coming into Lucy's life just as the fire takes everything else form her. Five years have passed, and Lucy has raised Maggie has her own. Now, seeing a loan to refinance her most cherished dream -- her bookstore, The Firebrand -- Lucy finds herself face-to-face with Randolph Higgins, Chicago's most prominent banker. Rand is a bitter, lonely an scarred by the great fire and still grieving for the baby girl he lost that night. And to her astonishment, Lucy discovers that the child she'd saved was his. Some women who have fun, some would have taken the secret of Maggie's identity to the grave. But not Lucy. Now her life is about to take another dramatic turn, forcing her to confront the one man who threatens all she holds dear. But it is their mutual love for a child that will propel Rand and Lucy on an unforgettable journey into emotion, adventure, and passion.