It's a second chance at romance for former childhood friends in this fake relationship set amidst a backdrop of the rockstar world. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Aflame by Talita Lawrence, along with my impressions of it, then add this first installment in the Scarlet Love series to your bookshelf!
Aria
We used to be friends but drifted apart. Over the years, I’d drowned him out. Pity he was now a rock star whose face graced magazines worldwide.But one day, he came knocking on my door, needing help. Unfortunately, it meant my heart was on the line a second time.
From ashes we rose, burning brightly once again. Hearts aflame, but in the end, it was just a game.
Austin
I found her as I was near drowning, and she threw me a lifeline. Fate brought Aria into my life again years after losing touch. I needed help cleaning up my tarnished image in the media, and she was perfect for the job of my pretend girlfriend with her beauty, wit, and charm. But most of all, she was about as interested in a relationship with me, as I was in one with her.
Slowly, she lit me up inside. Why was this fake relationship starting to feel like the most real thing I had in my life?
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Fans of second chance romances, of unrequited love, will find much to enjoy in this tale set amidst the rockstar world. From moments of angst, to moments of heartbreak, readers see two characters who were always meant to be together finally find their HEA.
Austin and Aria were friends as children. Aria was rather quiet but was a solid support to Austin, who she loved with all the love in her young heart. Austin saw her only as his friend and instead went for the woman who'd become a longtime thorn in Aria's side. In their years apart, she's gained confidence and is no longer blinded by the boy who's now become all man. His life's changed too, with him becoming a famous rockstar. There's one thing that has remained the same though...Geneva. She's the young girl who took Austin out of Aria's life, while bullying her throughout their youth, and is now Austin's ex and bent on dragging his reputation through the mud. While Geneva was once the impetus in pulling the friends apart, she's now the reason they end up back in each other's lives. With Geneva talking badly about him, and with his reputation and career in tatters, he needs Aria to help him clean up his image by playing his new girlfriend. Time spent together allows their friendship to return along with the underlying attraction that sparks to life in a rollercoaster ride of emotions and truths.
In a romance of second chances, I was happy to see Austin more than willing to put in the work (and grovel) to earn Aria's love. I liked Aria's newfound confidence and her dealing with Austin with her eyes now wide open. Theirs is a poignant journey, heartbreaking at times when looking back to their youth, with moments of steam now in their adulthood, as they try to find a future while moving on from the past. Austin and Aria have a crackling connection that I enjoyed for its realism and the maturity that they gained over the years. With its simple and sensual storyline there was much to like about the journey these two took, but there was an intrusion that frustrated me. Geneva was very stereotypical and I almost booed and hissed whenever she came on the scene. Despite her scenes being a distraction, I was still charmed by Austin and Aria and immensely satisfied by the time I reached The End.
My rating for this is a B.
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Talita Lawrence writes intense contemporary romance novels, taking imperfect characters and putting them on a trajectory to finding not only great love, but also themselves. While her boys and demanding cat (who secretly plots to rule the world) keep her on her toes, there is nothing she enjoys more than a glass of wine and a good book to unwind.
Her stories are fast-paced and passionate with a good dose of humor thrown in, and a happily ever after is always guaranteed. She lives by the saying that sometimes you have to get lost in order to find yourself, and what better way to do that, than to get lost inside the pages of a book...
Connect with Talita via social media and be the first to know about new releases and character-inspired edits.
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