Flame cover art

Flame

Carmichael Family Series, Book 5

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Flame

By: Adriana Locke
Narrated by: CJ Bloom, Teddy Hamilton
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About this listen

RSVP to my Marriage of Convenience

I swore I would only get married if my life depended on it. Oh, the irony.

Many things have happened over the past few weeks that I didn’t see coming. My family imploded. Our business was turned upside down. And someone threatened to harm me if I didn’t make good on my father’s promises.

But the biggest thing I didn’t see coming?

Foxx Carmichael demanding marriage.

He’s doing it out of loyalty to my brother. I know that. But I can’t help but think if, through that deliciously hot, grumpy exterior, my bodyguard doesn’t have ulterior motives.

There’s no denying the fire in his touch or the heat in his blue eyes. He protects me with a ferocity that leaves me breathless. He makes me rethink many things I thought I knew for sure—like my position on marriage.

But how we dance around our fake relationship makes me wonder what part of this is pretend. None of it matters if he doesn’t admit he feels the same way.

Our sham wedding will fall apart as soon as the threat is contained. But what happens if the flames between us burn everything to the ground first?

©2023 Adriana Locke (P)2023 Adriana Locke
Contemporary Contemporary Romance Fiction Genre Fiction Romance Fake Relationship Feel-Good

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Listener received this title free

It’s the book we’ve all been waiting on featuring the enigmatic and grumpy Foxx Carmichael, a man so mysterious even his own family don’t know what he does for a living. Well, it turns out he’s in private security protecting the Brewster family and the only daughter Bianca in particular until he couldn’t control his feelings for her and still do his job effectively, so he asked for a transfer. Now when he hears that Bianca’s in danger he doesn’t hesitate. He steps in and proposes marriage. Marriage is the last thing Bianca has ever wanted but if the man she’s been lusting after for years is offering then she’ll accept but there’s no way this will be a platonic relationship if she has any say in matters.

With a fantastic hero and heroine in Foxx and Bianca with sizzling chemistry and wickedly delicious banter between them making for a fabulously flirty romance. A charity auction with an unwilling participant, the unveiling of the secret texter and the mystery behind Foxx’s keys appearing over the county and chickens, many many chickens not forgetting a liberal helping of Sparkles aka Banksy – how one of his brothers haven’t ‘unalived’ him I’ve no idea - Adriana Locke has definitely saved the best for last with Flame. It's been a perfect ending to what has been an amazing series and while I hate that with this book its goodbye to Kismet Beach and the Carmichael family, its hello to Nashville and the Brewsters. Plus, I’m looking forwarding to finding out if Tate Brewster measures up to Banks Carmichael in the annoying youngest brother stakes.

As I’ve discovered Adriana Locke’s style of writing is generally spot on for audiobook adaptations and Flame was no exception with dual narration in this instance provided by CJ Bloom and Teddy Hamilton. Together they turned in fabulous performances as they brought Bianca and Foxx to life with all their banter, sparring and flirting coming across making this book a joy to listen to. With Flame may be the end of the Carmichaels series, but this book is one I’ll be happy to listen to again.

The Carmichaels go out on a high note

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Listener received this title free

I’ve only read a handful of books by this author and just like those, I LOVED it. Adriana’s ability to write a love story and completely consume me from the very beginning til the very end is like no other.
She’s incredibly talented and I know I need to pick up more of her books.


Foxx was Bianca’s security for 3 years but 6 months ago, he suddenly left. He had to take a step away because he was in love with her and they nearly overstepped the line they shouldn’t, so Foxx had no other choice than to leave before something happened between the two of them.

Fast forward 6 months later and their paths cross again and Foxx ends up stepping in to protect her again, the only thing is that this time, it means he agrees to marry her but Bianca wants this marriage to be the real deal.

Foxx is a Mr. Grumpy, but you can see behind that he’s in love with Bianca still and will go to great lengths to keep her safe. Bianca is sassy, strong, witty, and definitely gives Foxx a run for his money.

These two together and the push and pull, the connection, sexual tension and chemistry is intense, to say the least. It’s addictive to read. It was such a sweet, funny, swoon-worthy and heartfelt read. One that I will be revisiting in the future. I was completely consumed from the very beginning. The storyline was so easy to get lost in. I laughed and swooned all the way through.


MUST READ!

5 STARS!!

Amazing!

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Listener received this title free

It was an unexpected but almost perfect recipe. A little savory, with the banter and the dynamics between Bianca and Foxx; a little sweet, with lots of feelings; a lot spicy, because it was hot; and even a bit salty, with the suspense added at the end. But it was missing one vital ingredient: the build up.

We dive right into the story, and though Bianca and Foxx work on some level, the fact that their common past is only written in memories and conversations made it less effective. Bianca appears bitchy and Foxx too closed off, when they need to make us feel the unbearable tension between them.

But as I said, it still worked. The energy between them–the banter is excellent–compensates enough. You can feel the agonizing months of denial, the repressed desires, the torture of forbiddance. Bianca’s taunts are the spark igniting their passion. She provokes Foxx constantly to make him snap, because she can’t stand his refusal.

But that’s only the first part of the story. This book works in three very different acts. The first act is sexy, and all about Bianca trying to crack Foxx’s armor. When it’s official that there could never be anything between them–because Foxx is loyal to Bianca’s brother–is when the author throws a wrench: Foxx and Bianca enter a marriage of convenience in the second part. It’s the sexy romcom part. Because Foxx’s job is to protect Bianca, he goes in willingly, knowing it’ll become harder to resist her.

And that’s when both characters grow. They open up, to each other first, then to others. The illusion of relationship force them to consider what a relationship entails, and that it isn’t so bad after all. I loved the way Foxx opens up. He’s mostly seen as someone not caring, when in fact he cares too much, and that’s why he must keep his heart closed off: emotions might cloud his judgement, and he needs it to protect the people he loves.

And the last act is a bit more tense and suspenseful. While Bianca’s situation has been developped mostly in another book, I felt there were enough details offered here to get the gist of it, and to understand what is at stake in this last part. Not only does it add to the reading experience–when everything seems to go too well, another conflict in the story keeps the reader interested–but those last events are also necessary to complete the characters’ growth, especially Bianca’s. Now they can finally be together, happily ever after and all. Well done.

The narration was exquisite. The female narrator captured Bianca’s strong character, and there’s enough grumpiness in the male narrator’s voice to make Foxx come alive. They’re both so talented that they enhance the experience, in my opinion. And if it wasn’t for the frustration of not getting Foxx and Bianca falling in love, I’d say this audiobook is perfection.

An unexpected but almost perfect recipe

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Listener received this title free

🎧🎧AUDIO REVIEW🎧🎧

OVERALL: 5 ++ STARS

Before today, I’d only had the opportunity to indulge in Jess & Pippa’s story in Fluke, which if you know me, it is very rare I just start in the middle of any series, especially one of siblings or group of friends. But I did, and who knows why at this point LOL

THEN, the opportunity came up to listen to the audiobook of Bianca & Foxx in Flame via Valentine PR, and I did as a proper romance fiction addict does, I used a few of my audible credits and BAM, #CarmichaelBinge!! #winning

What an absolute #swoonfest this series binge turned out to be! GAH, I am so glad I did what I did.

But I digress … Let’s just discuss Flame for now! LOL

PERFORMANCE REVIEW & RATING: 5 STARS

CJ Bloom & Teddy Hamilton outdid themselves as Bianca & Foxx! They brought to life these characters for me with such fervor that I just wanted to listen forever! I love when a narrator can make me forget they are someone other than the character they are portraying and both Teddy and CJ did this for me flawlessly!! WELL DONE!

STORY REVIEW & RATING: 5 STARS

I have no idea why I am not just constantly reading Adriana Locke’s words because every time that I do, she delivers! Her stories are effortless and full of comedic relief even when they are deeply emotional. She creates worlds you can get lost in for hours and/or days at a time. She creates characters you want to be in your inner circle and stories you wish you could live!

Bianca & Foxx had one of those stories!! Also, because I binged the series, I was that much more invested in Flame because I knew the Carmichael’s were coming to an end and the Brewer’s were up to bat!!

I loved Bianca & Foxx together and as individuals! They were both characters I easily saw myself being a part of my life and I really wanted to be inside this story/series!!

We’ve already had a taste of the Brewer clan in The Proposal and now, after reading Bianca Brewer’s story I am antsy to get my hands on more Brewers ASAP!!

Flame: Carmichael Family Series, Book 5

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Listener received this title free

What a great way to end this series. This book was great. It had all the things you love in a romance book and tied up this book series perfectly.

Flame

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