What started as a way to teach a young firefighter a lesson on what an older woman has to offer, Widow and designer shoe store owner Lola Engel’s hot little class on love has taken a turn for the worse. Her best and only student, Daniel Flannigan, drops out of school and avoids her altogether. Not that she intended on making her teaching career a fulltime job. But at least she’d hoped for a few … few weeks of distraction before classes ended. Unfortunately, her smokin’ hot firefighter has lost interest, now Lola is determined to turn that trend around, whatever it takes.
When his past catches up to him, Daniel knows he must cut all emotional ties to anyone who means anything to him, or risk that person becoming a target of a stalker with a vendetta against him. If that means pushing the woman who lit a fire deep inside him to the back burner, so be it.
Lola has never been relegated to back-burner status and has no intention of remaining on the sidelines. When she wants something, or someone, she goes all out, wearing her best designer shoes. Where Daniel is concerned, Lola knows she’s playing with fire and leaving her heart exposed to an inferno that could consume her.
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***Book 5:
5 stars
I purchased a copy of the steamy novel Playing With Fire:Hellfire Series book 5: Lola and Daniel by Elle James and this review was given freely.
Suspenseful and drama packed with the underlying themes of revenge and a second chances at love. This sequel contains many scenes with the close knit matchmaking Grayson clan.
Heart broken after the tragic death of his partner in a mission gone wrong, thirty three year old former US Customs and Border Protection agent Daniel Flannigan moves to Hellfire, Texas to focuses on a career in firefighting until the lonely and fit designer shoe focused forty three year old widow Lola Engel’s constant false alarms and calls for attention wear his will power down.
***Book 6:
5 stars
I purchased a copy of the mildly steamy novel Up in Flames:Hellfire Series book 6: Chance and Kate by Elle James and this review was given freely.
Suspenseful and action packed with some violence,a touch of irony and a hint of steam. Still grieving after losing his girlfriend during their last deployment, restless ex-Army Ranger now full time Hellfire firefighter and EMT Chance Grayson tries to suppress his PTSD and survivor guilt with activity while avoiding his well meaning family until former military police Kate Bradley and her retired service dog Bacchus join the Hellfire police department eliciting feels Chance can’t avoid.
***Book 7: Lily
5 stars
I purchased a copy of the mildly steamy novel Total Meltdown:Hellfire Series book 7: Lily and by Elle James and this review was given freely.
An action packed and emotional crossover novel featuring the Brotherhood Protectors from Montana and a steamy fast paced romance. When Hellfire kindergarten teacher Lily Grayson’s summer plans for traveling as an Au Pair fall through, the father of her favorite student, the wealth widower Antonio “Tony” Delossantos convinces her to watch his children at his Hotel in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica only to find the cartel kingpin El Patron waiting to exact his revenge.
Playing with Fire: Loved the story and the heat! The characters were amazing! Lola and Daniel were the perfect match. I love the Grayson family a lot as well. Fantastic writing from an amazing writer! Elle James really tells her stories well and this was another great addition to the series
Playing With Fire by Elle James is the fifth book in her Hellfire series and is smoking hot.
Daniel Flannigan and Lola Engel have had a good think going that seems to suit both of them just fine. She had the perfect marriage and wasn’t looking for anything long term and Daniel had lost someone very special to him and wasn’t ever getting attached to anyone ever again. However when Lola’s life is in danger Daniel will stop at nothing to protect the woman he has come to love.
I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.
Playing With Fire by Elle James is a must-read for romantic suspense fans. Ms. James has supplied readers with a book that is hard to put down once you start it. It is a fairly quick read though, perfect for those with limited time for reading. Playing With Fire is well-written and packed full of fabulous characters. Daniel left US Customs and Border Protection when the woman he loved and was partnered with was killed during a shootout. He then joined the fire department. Lola is a 43 year-old widow. Daniel and Lola’s story is fast-paced and full of drama, humor, action and sizzle. I loved every page of this book and can’t wait for my next book from Elle James. Playing With Fire is book 5 of the Hellfire Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from Prolific Works. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and I also purchased a copy (as I just love this author.)
Can I just say WOW!!! Hot stuff (pun intended!!) I just loved this book. The prequel to this one Hellfire in High Heel was the prefect tease for this one. I just loved Lola and was happy to see her finally get her man (well her second choice man). Daniel was the perfect partner for her. His past comes back to create a little suspense in this story.
This was one that was hard to put down I just love the Grayson family. The entire series is fantastic to read. I love seeing prior characters in all the books. It is like catching up with your friends and seeing how their HEAs have continue to evolve.
My favorite dual POV format was here and I loved to read the thoughts of the two protagonist as the story continued on. They were just adorable together.
I highly recommend this story to anyone who love a great romance especially involving first responders.
This was a quick read but it wasn’t full of real life characters. A small town setting but why would a forty something woman be using the fire department for non-emergency calls even if she had a scanner to see if they were really on a call or not. I got the storyline but it wasn’t real in my mind. Ms. James did use her imagination in writing the story so as a reader you need to do the same.
Daniel and Lola, quite the pair together. They both won’t admit that they want each other, they hide their attraction to everyone until it’s too late. Chance, another firefighter is tying to avoid Lola and Daniel welcomes the chance to put out her fire. Sparks fly and feelings are hurt all in the name of love. There is a wonderful family feeling with the Grayson’s from the previous chapters, and it’s great to see them in this book as well.
I loved the beginning of chapter six when “She was close enough her belly was polishing Chance’s belt buckle”. What a picture for the reader to see and feel in their minds. There is the right amount of suspense, the right amount of heat and the just the right amount of emotions in this great story. I’ve read most, if not all, of Ms. James books and Playing with Fire does not disappoint. I highly recommend this.
I received this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this fun and suspenseful read. Lola and Daniel were likable and entertaining. Lola was definitely sassy,knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to work to get it. Daniel was strong, caring and determined to protect Lola even if it meant hurting them both in the process. The story kept me engaged and on edge as it unfolded. Simply, this is a great read.