Overall Rating 5 Stars- Would I have chosen to pick up this book normally? Definitely not. Would I have been missing out if I hadn’t read it? Definitely yes. From page one of this memoir, I was pulled into the story, which for twin sisters, Coleen and Karen, and their family, was their reality. Once I began to read it, I couldn’t put the book down, finding the experiences they went through both compelling and horribly cruel. I’ve of course heard stories like this in fiction or on the news, but to read about it happening to such lovely people made it hit even harder. I think the fact that the book features many local locations in the Northeast that are familiar to me also added weight to its impact. It’s incredibly brave of Coleen and Karen to share their stories. They are both obviously very strong women who have refused to let what they experienced destroy their spirits. The book provides a perfect example of how intelligent people can be pulled in by plausible lies. I hope this book reaches the wide audience it deserves, so that others can learn what to look out for. (Michelle Marshall)

Overall Rating 5 Stars- Karen Crear and Coleen Greenwood's book, Playing with Fire, tells the story of the lies anddeception perpetrated by Fireman James Scott (not his real name and not his real profession. While we know from the outset that James is a liar, the authors take us on a journey from the initial contact to its devastating conclusion. The authors’ voices shine through. We hear Coleen's anger and frustration as she tells the story of how she met James, their courtship, the five years they spent together, and their eventual breakup when she learns the truth. From Karen we hear her support for her twin sister. Their message is one of understanding and not victim blaming. Coleen expresses her frustration at not seeing, and/or not heeding, the warning signs that perhaps we as readers can see clearly. However, as they both point out, hindsight is 20/20 vision, and when we love someone, we tend to overlook what at first seem inconsequential issues until we can no longer ignore them, and their enormity becomes apparent. If I were writing this, I may have been tempted to write it in such a way that James’s deception wasn’t obvious from the outset. However, it works as it has been written. As the narrative progresses, more and more of James’s deceptions and outright lies are revealed until at the end, we see the full impact. We already know from the Foreword that James has his day in court. Thankfully, he gets his comeuppance, but at what cost to Coleen and his other victims, including his wife? Playing With Fire is a cautionary tale, warning all to be aware of the pitfalls of dating, and it begs the question: How well do we really know anyone we think we know. This is not a story to be glossed over, and is an eye opener into the shady world of those who would deceive. (Phoebe Wilby)

Overall Rating 5 Stars- This book is well paced and written. I can see the locations and the people speaking. The dialogue is strong and authentic. I like the use of foreshadowing, so we can nod knowingly at James’ antics. The complexity of this man’s subterfuge is really something else. He had all this happening in the background, kept all the plates spinning. I couldn’t help thinking he’d have done well in foreign intelligence. Thank goodness he was caught in the end. (Eryn McConnell)