Review: Playing with Fire

Playing With Fire by Lexi Ryan
Genre : Adult Contemporary Romance
Release: July 7, 2015
Goodreads Link

Dr. Phoenix Reid isn't who she seems...

Everyone knows a phoenix rises from the ashes. What they don't talk about are the people she drags with her into the fire.

I thought one hot night with Max Hallowell was harmless. I never expected it would force me to face my past or bring back the man who swore he'd never let me go. Now Max wants to help me. Wants to save me. But if I let him, he'll be destroyed. I can already smell the flames. 

A woman with a secret past. A man determined to protect her. A dangerous passion that could cost them both everything.

Playing with Fire is the first in a new series of standalone novels featuring the New Hope characters Lexi Ryan fans have come to love. While you wait for Nix and Max's story, explore Love Unbound, the collection of books set in Lexi's New Hope world. 

*Note: Each series can be read on its own, but for the chronology purists, the reading order is below. **

Phoenix like her name managed to in a way rise from the ashes and start her life new. She always remained on guard and it wasn't till recently she managed to feel comfort at the point that she is in, it also helped that Max Hallowell is showing a bit of interest. Knowing it can't happen but could'nt help it both end up hooking  up only for that night they find it hard to fight the attraction. On the side Phoenix's past seemed to be haunting her once more causing her to feel like shes being watched getting paranoids that her past is gonna get her. Not feeling safe in her own home she seeks a bit of comfort in Max's house but things start to heat up.

Bravo, another great book from Lexi Ryan. I've been following along with her other fantastic books which include the Here and Now Trilogy and Reckless and Real Trilogy.  I loved that these books relate in a way where even if you finished off a trilogy I still get to seem brief glimpse of past character. Another thing that I love about this book which I'm going to assume at the Love Unbound series are all so different and unique in a way. I've never come across a author that has a series of books with such different backgrounds. I don't how how to explain that so here goes. What I mean is that I've read many books that pretty much come out the same, just different name a slightly different drama/situation and in the end love. The books in this series are highly detailed where you can almost forget that these are characters in a book and not actual people. Plus the drama that unfolds will keep you guessing.

On to the book! I loved getting to know Phoenix and Max's story. I've known about Max from the Here and Now trilogy and I was hoping that he would get his HEA. I was about to mention more when I realized I might spoil the other books. I loved getting to know more about him after the whole Hanna situation. I thought Phoenix's story was fascinating with her past, definatly not something I've come across before which made it that much more interesting. As always you got the mix of unpredictable drama, steamy scenes and a bit of romance to keep things interesting. Overall this was a fantastic book and I look forward to seeing more.

Love Unbound: Splintered Hearts

• Unbreak Me (Maggie’s story)
• Stolen Wishes: A Wish I May Prequel Novella (Will and Cally’s prequel)
• Wish I May (Will and Cally’s novel)
• Or read them together in the omnibus edition, Splintered Hearts: The New Hope Trilogy

Love Unbound: Here and Now

• Lost in Me (Hanna’s story begins)
• Fall to You (Hanna’s story continues)
• All for This (Hanna’s story concludes)

Or read them together in the omnibus edition, Here and Now: The Complete Series

Love Unbound: Reckless and Real

• Something Wild (Liz and Sam’s story begins)
• Something Reckless (Liz and Sam’s story continues)
• Something Real (Liz and Sam’s story concludes)

Love Unbound: Mended Hearts

• Playing with Fire (Nix’s story, coming July 7, 2015)

New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author Lexi Ryan’s novels have been described as intense, emotional, and wickedly sexy. A former college professor, she now writes full-time from her home in Indiana, where she lives with her husband, two children, and a neurotic dog. Find her on Facebook or Twitter to chat about books, TV, and her children’s latest antics.

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