“A DELICIOUSLY WILD RIDE!”
Gigi Gallo’s childhood was filled with the roar of a motorcycle and the hum of a tattoo gun. Her dream has always been to work at her family’s tattoo shop — Inked. But on her first day of work, she runs into someone from her not-so-innocent past.Pike Moore is a bossy biker with a cocky attitude and an even bigger ego. He came to Inked to start over. New town. New job. … over. New town. New job. New roots. None of that included coming face-to-face with the hot chick who spent a week in his bed before she vanished without a trace.
But when they are forced to work together, feelings they thought had been extinguished come roaring back and ignite a spark neither can stop.
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I promote Chelle Bliss’ books all the time on my blog, NOLA504NERDS . But despite her amazing reviews, for some reason I’ve never read/listened to her work yet. Boy have I been missing out! She is clearly very talented and produces quality books. Her plot and character development were fantastic. Pike is the perfect biker and alpha male, in my opinion. He’s got all the sexy appeal that comes with being a biker, but without the whole ‘being involved with organized crime’ thing. His hot package is legal, ladies! He’s a gentleman in the streets, and a freak in the sheets. Whoops, there goes my panties. And I hear this is basically how Chelle Bliss writes all her men. **screams at Audible** Shut up and take my money! My co-blogger and all-around bestie always raves about Chelle Bliss’ books and now I know why. I will never not listen to her again. Now she did tell me that the “parents” books are the OG Men of Ink series, but this Heatwave series is fiya! Man, I may spontaneously combust from all of the hotness that these books have going. Now I know why she slapped my hand when I tried to touch her Chelle Bliss book last month on our used books shopping trip!
This is my first time listening to narrator Samantha Brentmoore. I was thoroughly impressed. Her timing, pitch, pace, and tone were spot on. She perfectly embodied Gigi and brought her character to life. She does a great job transitioning her voice between characters, making them easily distinguishable. I would absolutely listen to anything she’s narrating.
As far as narrator Jason Clarke: Sir, I am a married woman, okay. This man has no business being all sexy in my ears for 8 hours while I sit here with a ring on my finger. I don’t even read the blurbs for books he narrates; I just buy it.
5 Sexy-Can-I Stars!
Even though this book ends in kind of a cliffhanger, I still highly recommend it! It was hard to put down. Gigi and Pike are really perfect for each other. Can’t wait to continue reading their story.
Flame is a romantic suspense and the first book in the Men of Inked: Heatwave series.
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Gigi is all grown up now and has headed to bike week in Daytona. While there she meets and spends a night with Pike and then disappears. Years later on her first day working for the family tattoo shop, she comes face-to-face with Pike again. No matter how hard they try to resist the pull to each other is too much to resist.
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I was happy to get back to the world of the Gallo’s after a hiatus. I loved being able to catch up with the original crew from the Men of Inked series. I would have liked a little bit more of Pike as I felt he was kind of in the background. Gigi was a little too immature for my liking. I am looking forward to the continuation of their story after the cliffhanger at the end.
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Audio … Jason Clarke and Samantha Brentmoor did a good job of giving Pike and Gigi a voice and bringing the first part of their story to life.
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Rating … 3.5 Maple Leafs
Genre/Trope … Romantic Suspense
Point of View … First-Person (Pike and Gigi)
I really enjoyed the story of Gigi and Pike. Their chemistry is intense and hot, but the story centers around family, introducing a vast array of fun and quirky characters and lots of tattooed alpha bikers. There’s suspense, action, family drama, and plenty of steamy scenes. My only complaint was I did not know that the story ended on a cliffhanger.
The narrators Jason Clarke and Samantha Brentmoor, delivered a great performance.
Gigi has recently finished college and is excited to begin the next stage of her life. She is determined to show her overprotective family that she is strong and independent and the first step is to be a success when she starts working at the family tattoo shop.
Pike has a painful past and he would like to ensure that’s where it stays. It is a dream come true to start working at the tattoo shop Ink but he worries that it may all go up in smoke when he finds out the boss’s daughter is Gigi, the woman he spent a steamy weekend with 15 months earlier and hasn’t forgotten.
Although they try to deny it the chemistry and connection between them is stronger than ever and Pike is determined to claim her as his but when his past becomes his present will Gigi become a casualty?
Witty banter, heat and emotion all combine into a compelling storyline. It was great to not only watch the relationship between Pike and Gigi unfold but to catch up with Gallos as well. The inflections and nuances of the narrators were exactly how I pictured the characters.
Pike and GiGi meet during Gigi’s spring break and spend a sizzling week with each other. Gigi lies about who and how old she is and sneaks out when her time is up leaving Pike wondering how he can find her. Fast forward one year and Pike is working at the best tattoo parlor in the south, only to find out one of his new colleagues is Gigi, and her father owns the shop. Gigi doesn’t want her family to know about where she was and who she was with, so pretends she doesn’t know him. But both Pike and Gigi formed a connection that neither forgot about. Pike is determined to hold onto her this time, no matter how scary her father and family is. Pike and Gigi can’t stay away from each other and their chemistry is explosive. But the past that Pike has been running from, is catching up to him, putting both their lives at risk. I really enjoyed this fast paced, steamy story. Pike is tough but has a heart of gold. He is trying to make a good life for himself, and it breaks my heart how he yearns for the kind of loving family Gigi has. Gigi is sassy, a little naïve, and always goes after what she wants.
Samantha Brentmoor, and Jason Clarke do a great job bringing these characters and story to life. I was completely lost in their performance as they drew me in and made this story even more exciting and sizzling. The ending left many questions and I can’t wait to find out what happens next for Pike and Gigi in the second book, Burn.
A seductively steamy, intense, and thrilling romance. A one night stand that turns into so much more than either Gigi and Pike expected. I enjoyed their banter, their chemistry was palpable, and their connection undeniable. I liked this story.
That’s the way to do it. Now I know I’m breaking the cardinal rule by starting the 2nd gen without reading the original, but since I wasn’t lost in the slightest, it’s fine. I instantly fell in love with sassy, spunky Gigi and Alpha bad boy Pike. The pacing was quick and punchy, the characters were solid and fleshed out and I was hooked and inhaled this pretty much in under 6 hours. I cannot wait for the rest of the series. Hooked for sure. I volunteered to listen and review a complimentary copy of this. All opinions are my own.
Kept my interest , not knowing what was coming next
Chelle continues to deliver amazing Gallo family reads. We are introduced to Gigi, City and Suzy’s first daughter. Gigi is a great character who is faced with a man she thought would be a mistake. She is absolutely wrong and their story is suspenseful and hot!!! Highly recommended, you will not be able to put this book down.
Great reading chelae bliss has a way with words and characters. Be sure and r we ad all 8 books u won’t be sorry
Another great book from a great writer. A definite need to read…
I love reading Chellie Bliss, her characters grab me from the start and keep me turning each page with their raw passion. Flame is a great story from the “Men of Inked” series. Her characters take me away from the reality of life into a world of their own!
I love Chelle Bliss’ books
Gigi Gallo is the daughter of Joe (City) and Suzy Gallo from Throttle Me (Men of Inked Book 1). She’s all grown up and ready to start work in her father’s tattoo shop, Inked. She didn’t expect to run into Pike on her first day, who she spent a week with a while back but then left him without a trace. Pike is trying to make a new start in life but his past just keeps catching up to him.
This is a story full of tattooed alpha bikers. They are literally everywhere! Two generations of them. It’s a fast paced story with plenty of action. These two fell hard and fast and I love that although Pike hasn’t had the best role models of love in his childhood, he is fiercely protective and selfless in his love for Gigi. She returns his love and is showing him that family rallies and boy does Pike need them to rally for him. You’re introduced to some of the other kids who will get books later in the series and there’s some funny banter throughout. The heat in these books is just as their titles suggest. Tattoos, ripped muscles, cocky one liners and fiery passion.
There are lots of appearances of the couples from the two previous series but you don’t have to have read those books for these to make sense.
I listened to Flame and Burn (Gigi and Pike’s Duet) and I’ve always been a fan of Jason Clarke. His voice is gruff and se*y as hell but, he is able to give you the softer side of Pike too. The emotions are right there for the taking. He serves them up for you to feast on. Samantha Brentmoor is a new narrator for me and let me tell you, what a find she is. Her performance was phenomenal. She has a great raspy voice and her male voices were top notch too. She gives you the emotions by the truck load. These two in combination give you all the heat with ALL the feels and emotions you could ever want. An excellent performance by both and I can’t wait to listen to some more Samantha now that I’ve found her.
I’d definitely recommend these books. You are gonna love these two and their fast paced, action packed, fiery story.
Pike and Gigi’s story may now be my new favorite. Their story reminded me a little of Suzy and City and Izzy and James stories. Two amazing books that are my favorites as well.
Pike and Gigi meet during spring break and things get hot and heavy from the start with these two. Fast forward some months and they see one another again when Pike comes to work for the family business. To say these two are shocked to see one another is an understatement. The sass that Gigi gives Pike after seeing him again is hilarious. This book in general had me laughing from start to finish so much I couldn’t stop. My favorite sentences from this book is amazing and so true: “Guys my age are a bunch of pansy-asses who cry when they get a paper cut. Chivalry is fucking dead.”
There’s some drama that happens but everything always works out in the end or does it. This story leaves us hanging a little but some stuff does get wrapped up. I won’t say what go read the book to find out, it’s so worth it. Can’t forget about seeing the rest of the Gallo family in this book. Best part of course was getting to see Joe lose his sh*t over his baby girl growing up, hahahahaha. Great story.
Go read this book you won’t be disappointed
The next generation of the Gallo family begins with Flame! If you loved the original Gallo Family series you will absolutely crave the newest generation!!! Flame is Gigi (City and Suzy’s daughter) and Pike’s story. Their story is broken into two different books so don’t worry if you love this couple as much as I did then you will get another dosage!! Gigi and Pike met at bike week for a hot steamy week and part ways for 15 months until they meet again in the most unexpected way! City is still protective and lets Pike know how much he doesn’t like him for his daughter. Things get hot and Gigi shows her extreme feisty fierce personality!!
So excited for this next generation book series.. this whole group of characters are hilarious.. must read, great book kept me interested through the who nook and could not put it down..
I just love how my favorite characters are in this book and can believe their kids are all grown up and now finding their someone’s….
Action, alpha men, sexy bikers, love, what more could u ask for in a great book….
This book fit it’s purpose for me. I just wanted a quick read to entertain me. There was a bit of drama taking the book in a different direction than what I was expecting and hardly any relationship development which is why I didn’t give it a high rating. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the heroine. She first came off as all innocent in the beginning – having hardly any experience yet throwing herself at this hottie biker for a one night stand. But then for the rest of the book, she’s a completely different person – full of sass and laying down the law to the men in her life. That’s great and all but it was a 180 from the start of the book.
On a random aside, I think the cover is perfect and completely fits the image of Pike I had in my head!
OMG! I’ve volunteered to review this book. This is the first book in a new series Men of Inked: Heatwave. I love read Chelle Bliss stories. This book is everything that I’ve been waiting for! This is Gigi’s story. The first of the new generation. I couldn’t wait for this one. I love the connection and chemistry between Gigi and Pike. This book has it all packed with action, drama, and suspense. I couldn’t stop reading once I had started it draw me into each page. I can not wait to drive i to the next book of this series. I HIGHLY recommend this book. Keep up the amazing work Chelle!