Two strangers. An impulsive encounter. A longing that can’t be tamed…
Lily McKee is pretty sure sleeping with the grim, gorgeous stranger who frequents the diner where she works counts as an act of desperation. But it’s been that kind of year: Her dreams of owning her own restaurant have been swamped by the reality of living in her sister’s basement and serving mediocre food. A hot encounter … encounter with Kincaid is a much-needed break from her day-to-day drudgery.
Breaking his long drought is the best thing that’s happened to Kincaid Graves in years—and not just because he’s been behind bars. His encounter with Lily helps him forget the complicated collision of love and violence that derailed his life. Kincaid wants more: more of the intense connection they share, more long nights lying awake together, more time.
But the clock is ticking. Lily has a chance to reclaim the life she thought was hers for the taking. Kincaid must find a way to recover his inheritance. And once Lily finds out that the man whose roughness and dominance she craves has a history of violence, the love growing between them may be out of time, too.
Originally released in 2015.
Praise for Turn Up the Heat
“With Turn Up the Heat Serena Bell rides that bittersweet edge where everything is darker, hotter, and sexy as hell. A delicious read.” —Shari Slade, USA Today bestselling author
“Serena Bell nails it. Turn Up the Heat is sexy, emotional, and engaging. I couldn’t get enough!”—Stacey Kennedy, USA Today bestselling author of the Club Sin series
“Serena Bell definitely ‘turns up the heat’ in this steamy read!”—Tina Wainscott, USA Today bestselling author of Falling Fast
“Darkly sexy and deeply emotional.”—Elisabeth Barrett, author of Once and Again
“Serena Bell writes books with hot sex and lots of emotion, and those are the types of books I love to read!”—Wendy S. Marcus, author of Loving You Is Easy
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Lily McKee knows sleeping with the handsome stranger that is a regular at the cafe she is employed by probably isn’t her best idea, but she does it anyway. With the way things in her life have been going, she is in desperate need of a little fun, the kind that helps all your troubles melt away… even if it is for just one night!
But the question is…will night of fun with Kincaid Graves be enough?
Turn up the Heat is my first literary venture with this author, and I can say with complete certainty that it won’t be my last! It was so easy for me to fall into the words and let the story take me away, I loved getting swept away with these characters. The chemistry between Kincaid and Lily was palpable from the start, their intense connection kept things consistently hot and intense throughout the entire story. It is definitely one of the hottest reads I have settled down with in a while. My advice: make sure you have a fan nearby because you’re going to need it, cause WOW! Highly recommend this book, it will definitely satisfy all your reading needs…and then some!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
Turn Up the Heat kind of snuck up on me. Or rather, Lily and Caid did. To be honest, I struggled a bit with these two as a couple, and I’m really not sure why. What I can say is that I wasn’t really sold on them being together by the time they have their first – umm, encounter. Nevertheless, I kept reading, and little by little, the characters’ pulled me in until I was not only warmed up to them, I was totally in their corner, rooting for them. Caid’s story is heartbreaking, and the more that comes out about him, the more I loved him. Lily’s story is a bit more run of the mill, at least on the surface, but when you get into the details, this pair really couldn’t be more perfect for each other. He’s a great combination of total sweetheart and exactly what Lily needs in the bedroom, and she’s the positive force he needs in his life. The romance follows the standard formula, but there’s really nothing standard about this couple. The feels are all there to tug at our heartstrings and keep those pages turning. This one is a little darker than other books I’ve read by this author, but it’s not over the top at all, and the rich characters, engaging storyline, and big feels are there in spades.
Wow.
Turn Up the Heat is the first in Serena Bell’s Second Chances series, and it’s a breathtaking experience.
Lily McKee’s back in Tierney Bay to lick her wounds and regain her footing after a bad breakup leaves her not only feeling shamed and heartbroken but unemployed. She’s staying with her sister and working a few jobs at local eateries to rebuild her nest egg and her sense of self.
Kincaid Graves knows all about hiding away important parts of yourself from the world. He’s on parole for attacking his now late grandmother’s abusive husband, and is constantly reminded that the slightest misstep could mean not just embarrassment but the loss of his precious freedom.
Serena Bell’s characters are captivating and her plotting gripping. Watching these two combust on the page and nurture a growing intimacy is deeply satisfying. I felt very invested in what happened to them and sighed with pleasure as they found their way to each other and a future worth dreaming!
Can’t wait for more from Ms Bell!