Book Title: Flame
Author: Brooke Cumberland
Genre: Erotic Romance
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions
Carissa Wright doesn’t do relationships. Raised with a junkie mother and an alcoholic father, building relationships were far off her list. Rather, one night-stands were her usual.
Carissa has one constant in her life—her best friend Velaney. Completely opposite of each other, yet they balance each other out.
Although Carissa admits to only wanting sex and nothing more, will she allow in the one guy who wants to break down her walls or will she run out of fear of finally letting her guard down?
She is unfamiliar with these feelings and wants nothing more than to walk away without a shattered heart. Will she be able to find the courage in order to turn a flame into a long lasting relationship?
With walls built up and emotions locked away, can she learn to put her heart on the line?
Or will each guy just be another flame?
***Arc was provided by author in exchange for an honest review***
I’m a big Brooke Cumberland fan. Her Riverside Trilogy is a fantastic series with the right amount of angst, steam, and suspense. When I saw that she had a new series out, I wanted to dive right in and read them all, but time got away from me, and with a never ending TBR pile, I didn’t get to book one or two like I had wanted to. When I saw that book three was a companion novel to the Spark series and could be read alone, I jumped at the chance to read and review an Arc copy, and I am so glad that I did.
Flame is Carissa’s story; she is Velaney’s best friend and roommate, and she has to be one of the most broken characters I have ever read. From the start of the story, readers understand her M.O. – no attachments, no feelings, no intimacy – just lots and lots of sex. She has a fortress surrounding her heart due to a childhood with an alcoholic father and druggie mother. She refuses to have a real relationship because she thinks it will only lead to heartbreak. Survival and control are of upmost importance to her; she takes care of herself and never lets anyone walk all over her – she did that too much with her parents.
The beginning of the book takes readers quickly through a couple of years – during this time, Carissa takes what she needs and wants from a string of flames (one night stands/boy toys/etc). But then one flame in particular forces her to adjust her behavior because she doesn’t like the feeling of being used, which is exactly what she has been doing. Soon after, her world is figuratively and literally rocked by a hot British football player who takes that wall that she has built around herself and slowly tears it away until it is finally completely torn down.
Drew Finlay – I have always been turned on by a British accent – there is just something about it that I find so sexy. But Drew is more than his accent. He is an amazing man who wears his heart on his sleeve. He is romantic, commanding, and sweet. He sees beyond Carissa’s facade and works his way into her heart, and he refuses to let her take it back.
Drew takes passion, desire, and control from Carissa – things she never gives up. He turns her world upside down and makes her actually believe that she can connect with someone without getting hurt – without losing who she is and what she has fought so hard to maintain. He offers her love and commitment, and she finally takes one of her flames up on his offer.
“He wasn’t just a flame. He was my future. My everything.”
Flame is a fantastic read. Sometimes an erotic romance novel is 90% sex and 10% story – that is definitely not the case with Flame. There is a large amount of sex, but it adds to the storyline. Sex is Carissa’s addiction; it’s her way to control her life. Brooke needed to show that clearly – then, when Carissa gets with Drew, there is still hot sex, but it changes due to her connection with Drew, and readers understand that by the control she gives up…those times are freeing for Carissa, and Brooke depicts that extremely well. To me, this is Brooke’s best story so far. I’m not sure how she is going to top this one, but I can’t wait to find out!
4.5 poison apples!
I’m still blown away by Drew’s sudden attack on my lips. He left without so much as a goodbye or a here’s my number. I don’t know why it bothers me so much, but it does. One moment I’m sad, wondering if I’ll ever see him again, and the next I’m pissed off that yet again, a man has staked their claim on me and then just bailed.
Ugh…what the hell is happening to me? I don’t think about guys. I dream of sex. Of multiple orgasms. But I don’t think of guys as anything more than just that—a way to get off.
But Drew…yeah, he’s different. He’s a blend of sexy meat layered with a sense of entitlement. He knows he’s hot—he has to know. His muscles are practically popping out of his tight t-shirt. And I’m pretty sure I even saw some ink under those sleeves. Had he given me more than two minutes, my hands would’ve wandered up those arms and felt those muscles.
Ugh…dammit.
Must get Drew out of my head.
“Fuck this shit,” I yell at myself. I waltz back into the bar, searching for him through the crowd that’s gotten rowdier since the next game started.
I spot him near the back, laughing with his friends as they continue watching the game. I stalk over, grab him by the arm, and drag him with me into the back hallway.
“Feisty little thing, aren’t you?” I let go of his arm once we make it down the hall where it’s quiet. “Fucking hell, you’re strong.” He rubs his arm with his hand.
“What the hell was that?” I demand.
“I should ask you the same thing, Doll.” He eyes me curiously, not giving away his thoughts.
“Do you typically go around kissing girls like that and then bailing? Or am I the exception?” I realize I’m practically yelling at him, demanding answers, but I don’t care. He’s messing with me, and I don’t like it.
He thinks for a moment before responding. “I suppose you could be the exception to many things.” He grins, roaming his eyes up and down my body again.
I’m dumbstruck and bewildered by him. Fuck it. I grab his face in my hands and force his mouth back on mine. I’m not ready to leave his lips just yet—I need more.
He happily reciprocates, wrapping his arms around my waist as he backs me up against the wall behind me. The kiss isn’t sweet and tender like before, but rather needy and aggressive. The intensity is overwhelming, but I give in and let him take control of the kiss.
His hands roam down my ass and thighs, lifting my legs up as they wrap around his waist. He pushes hard against me, making me throb in between my legs as I feel his erection against me. Shit, he’s hard. I so desperately want to submit to my knees and take him in my mouth, but I don’t just yet. I’m too mesmerized by his mouth, his taste, that nothing else seems to matter but getting more of him.
“Oh my god, Drew…I want you. I want you right now,” I whimper out. There’s no point in beating around the bush. I want him so fucking bad.
“What do you want, Doll?” he asks, not parting our lips. “What can I give you?” he asks again softly.
Jesus…the sound of his voice is so fucking captivating. Panty-dropping, heartbeat-skipping sexy.
“Come home with me. Please.”
What the hell…I’m begging now? I don’t beg men. But shit…I’m ready to beg for him. I guess there really is an exception to certain wants.
Brooke is a midwestern gal, from the cheese state of Wisconsin! Go Packers! She’s a stay-at-home mom to a wild three year old. Most days you can find her reading or writing, or just hanging out with her family! She loves movies, cooking, and shopping! She’s addicted to Starbucks, Coach purses, and wearing yoga pants.
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