An elementary teacher during the school year, Lily Grayson hires out as an au pair during the summer in order to travel expenses-paid to exotic locations with wealthy families with children. When one of her students suggests she apply for a summer job with his family going to Costa Rica, she jumps at the chance. Despite her immediate clash with his father, she agrees to accompany him and his two … two children to the central American country.
Rich Texas rancher originally from Costa Rica, Antonio Delossantos, knows money can’t buy everything. He lost his wife to violence and he’s determined to save his children from a similar fate. When he learns his son’s school teacher is also skilled in Krav Maga military-style self-defense, he agrees to hire her for the summer he intends to spend in Costa Rica.
Lily and Antonio join forces when the children come under attack by terrorists who attempt to kidnap them to hold for ransom. What starts as a summer vacation in a tropical paradise soon becomes a race to survive in the jungles of Costa Rica.
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OMG I almost missed my train stop this morning, that’s how much I was absorbed in this story. I loved the character of Lily, a strong kick-butt woman that is kind and loving. She and Tony made a great couple, but I would have liked to see him romance her more. A suspenseful kidnapping made for some heart stopping moments. Great story, I loved it.
What a suspenseful book this was.
I really liked the character of Lily. She was a kind and compassionate person. She makes for a wonderful teacher. You can see the care and devotion she has for her students. She isn’t afraid to step in and protect a child not matter what.
Antonio is a man who is merely existing since the death of his wife. He has become obsessed with work in order to not deal with his emotions and does the minimum with his kids. One day he is forced to pick up his son from school where not only does he meets his sons teacher but sees exactly what she is made out of.
This was a fun concept to read, Lily become the kids au pair and is looking for some fun and sun with these kids. However, she didn’t plan on the danger that was right around the corner. I loved how levelheaded she was in the face of danger especially with the handling of the children.
I would highly recommend this book.
***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.
Total Meltdown by Elle James is the seventh book in the Hellfire series and definitely worth reading.
Lily Grayson works as a teacher during the school year and during her summer break she usually gets a job caring for children while their family travels. So she gets to do what she loves while enjoying different countries, but this year her job falls through and leaves her without summer plans.
When one of her student’s father, Antonio Delossantos needs a nanny to care for his children for a trip to Costa Rica so that he can check on his family owned and ran hotel, she decides that it sounds perfect for her summer plans.
Antonio has enemies from the past in Costa Rica and soon Lily and his children are in danger and he will do anything to keep them safe.
I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more books in this series!
I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.
Wow this book get so hot you may need a cold shower I absolutely could not get enough of this I was hooked from the first page great writing job bravo loved it and if anyone is looking a steamy wonderful read then add this one to your list you will not be disappointed I was not, I loved it
I received a free copy of this book and I chose to review it. This is a well written story and I loved the characters. I have been an Elle James fan for a long time and I know when I see her name on a book I will be getting an awesome story. This one is worth your time and effort. I found it to be a quick easy read. I will encourage everyone to get this book.
Finally we get the only female in the Grayson family story. We have met and read all about the romances of her brothers but now it is Lilly’s time
She takes a job as a au pair slash nanny during the school holidays she loves Robbie the young son but can’t say the same for his father. She is a highly skilled woman who not only is a kindergarten teacher but is skilled in martial arts. When danger strikes on their trip to Costa Rica . Antonio and her have history she hauled him over the coals for not been in his children’s lives but he lost his wife to the drug cartels and can’t get over his sorrow. When they are placed in close confinement together sparks flair but will they survive their trip hen there is a prison break and danger stalks them.
Action packed and instant love make this book an enjoyable and entertaining read. I recommend this book to fans of the contemporary romantic suspense genre.
4.5 Stars
This is book 7 in the Hellfire series and it features Tony and Lily. I am so impressed with Lily. She is a total bada**! Anytime you have kids as cute as Robbie and Mari, you know the story is going to be fantastic. As Lily is hired as an Au Pair for Tony’s kids, what happened next in Costa Rica was unexpected. I actually thought the hotel manager would be a problem.
This is an emotional, action packed, sweet and sexy romance that includes a couple of adorable kids. I enjoyed the read from beginning to end and I can’t wait to visit Hellfire, Texas again.
I found this to be a captivating read, by Elle James. Lily is a teacher turned protector and Tony is a well to do rancher that has to travel. They were well matched and this was an entertaining family – I enjoyed the story and wanted things to work out. I’m enjoying this series. I was given a copy and this is my voluntary review.
Elle James – Total Meltdown – (Hellfire Series Book 7)
The 7th Book in the Series is about the only female in the Grayson Family. She grew up with Four Alpha Brothers. But Lily Grayson can hold her own anyone, including her brothers. Lilly 24 years old and is a teacher in Hell Fire. During the summer she becomes an au pair with wealthy families and see’s the world on someone else’s dime, so to speak.
When her current summer au pair job is canceled at the last moment, one of her students suggests that she apply for the job with her student, sister and father, Antonio Delossantos to Cosa Rica where Antonio has a business interest. Antonio’s wife was killed by drug cartels, and he hasn’t gotten over her loss. He workes to drown the pain leaving the children under the care of a nanny. Just one small problem, she told Antonio off on the last day of school regarding not being in his children’s life. In the end, she is hired and travels with Antonio and his two children.
Lilly and Antonio are attracted to each other, and Lilly is determined to keep those feelings to herself, and besides, Antonio has a rule, never date an employee. So, when the white-hot passion takes over, Antonio must do one thing; first, he must fire Lilly. When the Drug Cartel come after Lilly and the children, Antonio must get them back safely, so he hires Hank Petersen and four of his best men from Brotherhood Protectors in the Crazy Mountains of Montana.
Will Antonio and the Brotherhood be able to get to Lilly and his children before it’s too late?
So, you ask yourself, why should I read this novella? If you haven’t read Ms. James books, you have missed one of the greatest writers of military romance books around. You will sometime laugh, cry and most of all, you will find that her white-hot passion will cause you to keep turning the pages until the last word. If you do read Ms. James’ books, you will love this installment of the Hell Fire Series.
I was given an ARC for an honest review.
This story is nonstop from the beginning. Sexy widower, two adorable children, sexy school teacher who knows self-defense and works as an au pair during summer breaks. This story has a believable relationship between characters, sweetness, sexiness, danger, and love. No cliffhanger and a Hea. Wonderful series but can be read as a standalone.
I voluntarily received this arc in exchange for an honest opinion.
ARC for honest review with no compensation
Total Meltdown is book 7 in the Hellfire, Texas series by Elle James and mother great addition!
Lily Grayson an elementary school teacher during the school year, au pair during the summer…but when her au pair summer job is canceled she knows it will be very hard to get another summer job. Until one of her students asked her to be his family’s au pair for the summer in Costa Rica. She accepts but clashes with the father…Antonio ”Tony” Delossantos even though sparks fly between Tony and Lily. While in Costa Rica the family comes under attack from terrorists and need help to keep them all safe so Marcus, Tony’s security at the hotel enlists the aid of the Brotherhood Protectors, another series by Elle James.
This book is filled with action, drama, suspense and major sparks between our hero and heroine and will keep you reading till the very last page!!
Both series are great reads, well written, amazing alpha men and the ladies who capture their hearts and while they are standalone books it’s fun seeing the characters from prior books. If you haven’t read the prior books in both series you are missing out!!
I totally love this series. Lily is a teacher and has a few views of some of the parents that aren’t that involved with their children’s activities etc. One such parent is Roberto who owns a ranch but has ties to Costa Rico. As Lily is given a job for the summer looking after the two children, Roberto finds out the head of he cartel has escaped and is in the loose. A kidnapping ensues and it’s a race against time for Lily and the kids to be found. A fabulous read with some great characters. Lily had so much sass about her and I knew the father loved his kids but as usual being a single parent he had spread himself pretty thin.
A great read about a widowed rancher, Tony who meets his son’s kindergarten teacher, Lily, when she defends another student in her class. He is impressed and now he needs her as an au par/nanny when he makes his trip to Costa Rica. When Lily’s summer au par gig falls through she is very tempted by Tony’s offer, she loves his son and his younger sister she easily wins over. While in Costa Rica it will take all she has to resist Tony and to save her and the kids when Tony’s past comes back to haunt him.
A great read with some steam, some suspense and action that had me turning the pages. I loved these two and they are easily my favorite couple from this author. No over the top drama, no other women and when they know…they know. The story flowed beautifully with amazing characters and with the two children that melted my heart.
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy and expressed my honest opinion*
I like it when the heroine of the story can really kick butt. Lily is an elementary school teacher who is more than capable of protecting herself and the kids she teaches. She usually works as an au pair in the summer, but this summer her job fell through. When one of her students suggests that she go with them to Costa Rica, at first she wasn’t sure, but how could she say no to such adorable children. She really doesn’t want to say no to their dad. Tony has spent the last two years morning his wife and it is about time that he takes an interest in his kids and life. He hires Lily to take care of the kids while they are in Costa Rica. He has seen first hand that she is able to take care of them. What he didn’t expect is to fall for the feisty woman.
With two young children widower Tony has his hands full running his ranch and looking after his investments. Lily his son’s teacher feels he needs to make time to spend with his children.
Tony hires Lily to look after the children and takes them all to Costa Rica where he has business to attend to. Then the fireworks start in this entertaining and enjoyable story.
Elle James knows how to capture your interest in her story for the first paragraph and keeps you going all the way to the end. This series is stand alone but you get to revisit a lot of t he same characters from story to story. I loved to get to know the spit fire Lily better and to see her story unfold with Robbie, Mari, and Tony their dad. Very well written with everything I like in a book romance, action, suspense, and of course HEA.
this book is a page turner, wow I love Elle James stories They are fun, full of adventure, suspense and crazy attractions. This book was hard to put down. Great Read.
What do you get when you throw together a hottie of a dad, a Krav Maga trained au pair, some adorable motherless kids, an evil revenge seeking drug lord, and -last but not least -cameos by some old military “friends” from a security firm located in Montana:) Well, you get Total Meltdown-A Hellfire Story- by Elle James. In this story, Tony, a wealthy rancher, has to take a business trip to Costa Rica, but doesn’t have anybody to watch his kids. He doesn’t want to take them with him on the trip because of the dangers there from having helped put away the local drug lord. But his babysitter is too sick to watch the kids. This is where Lily, a summertime au pair who just lost her summer job, comes in to save the day. They each could use the other’s help over the summer. What follows is an unexpected threat that neither of them could have foreseen. A very fun read. This book is an adventurous romp that reads almost exactly like a Hallmark movie. A quick paced, insta-sparks relationship, with a dramatically resolved conflict, and a feel-good HEA. I received an ARC of Total Meltdown and have given my honest review.