A Wonder bra saves the life of the heroine in the first chapter of Slow Burn by Julie Garwood. The rest of the romantic thriller follows in the same fun, light-hearted vein.

Kate MacKenna is one of three sisters living in the steamy south, trying to run her own fledging business while dealing with staggering debts left by her mother. And now, on top of everything else, it appears someone wants her dead.

Unassuming Kate doesn't even consider that the first explosion was meant for her, and even the cops think she just happened to get in the way of the real target. But after surviving the second explosion not even a week after the first, Kate's family and friends begin to realize she hasn't simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time; she's the intended victim who just won't die.

Enter the Buchanans, a central family in many of Garwood's books, and more specifically Jordan Buchanan, Kate's best friend. Concerned for her friend, Jordan sends her cop brother Dylan to investigate the situation.

Add into the equation a more than eighty million dollar inheritance, a vindictive dead man, a conscience-ridden bomber and a trashy southern-belle set on stealing Kate's company, and you get a charming, fast paced, slightly formulaic, romantic thriller.

The novel is a light read. The writing is simple, the plot predictable. It won't challenge the mind or break new grounds in the literary circles. However it is fun.

Garwood's style is undemanding of the reader. She takes the willing audience along on a cute ride, where it's not necessary to think hard on any complex idea or concept.

The main characters are pure at heart. The antagonists are completely detestable. There are no gray areas. This makes it both enjoyable, because it's heartwarming to be able to throw your complete support towards an uncomplicated heroic character or superior loathing towards an evil one, and unsatisfying, because in life people aren't that black and white.

Even though the writing is only average and the plot and characters slightly cliché, the book shines as a novel to pass a rainy afternoon with. It doesn't take much brainpower and is a quick read. There are amusing parts and surprising parts and the interactions between the characters are sweet to read. If nothing else, it's a page-turner.

To enjoy Slow Burn you must take it for what it is; a pleasant, non-threatening, romantic thriller that will make you smile at the end, even if you saw what was coming from page ten. Grade B-