Blog Tour & Review: Playing With Fire by Lexi Ryan

Adult Contemporary Romance

Release: July 7, 2015

Goodreads

AMAZON

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.

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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.

Playing With Fire was the first book in the new Mended Heart Series which is a spin off of the A Love Unbound Series. Although you can read this series without reading the others I would highly suggest reading the others because they were amazing! I would give this book a solid 4 stars and would recommend to others. This is Nix and Max's story. I was pleasantly surprised by how this book ended and not because of how it ended I just expected a huge cliffy at the end because the last couple series I have read of Lexi have been amazing cliffys that leave you on the edge of your seat. Lexi is a brilliant author and she didn't disappoint in giving Max finally his great story after the heartbreak he endured in The Here and Now books. I was so excited to read this story and get to know Nix more as well and the chemistry and steam that come off the kindle pages was amazing. I don't want to give to much away but you don't wanna miss this story at all so get pick it up now! And get ready for Cade's story in Holding Her Close.

"And god help you if you are a phoenix

And you dare to rise up from the ash

A thousand eyes will smolder with jealousy

While you are just flying past" ~Ani DiFranco

Phoenix Reid has a past. A past that no one knows about. She feels safer that way. Lately, little strange occurrences start to make Phoenix think that maybe that past hasn't stayed behind her like she wants it to.

Max Hallowell has harbored a secret flame, from afar, for Phoenix, but finally tries to make a move. He is shot down repeatedly but is determined to get on a stallion and become the knight in shining armor.

At first Phoenix starts to give in to Max but is delivered a warning. She tries to push Max away thinking she is protecting him and his family.

Can Phoenix find out and stop who is behind the threats? Will Phoenix let Max in?

Go one to click you won't be disappointed. I was immersed trying to figure out the pieces to this puzzle.

Playing with Fire by Lexi Ryan is the story of two of my favorite secondary characters from the New Hope Series Nix and Max!  This book had everything that I look for in a plot, angst, love and the continuation of all of the amazing characters that the reader has grown to love through Lexi Ryan's amazing story telling skills.  This book was a 4 star read for me and I highly highly recommend that everyone read these amazing books!!

Dr. Pheonix Reid or Nix as those who love her call her, was always an enigma, the friend who was supportive and caring but almost always slightly on the outside of the inner circle no matter how much the other girls worked to pull her in.  Nix works very hard to ensure that her past stays just where it is, in the past, with even her closest friends in New Hope knowing nothing about her life before she became a doctor at their hospital or their friend.  When everything that Nix has worked to put behind her and forget shows up burned into her front lawn, it is only a matter of time before everyone will know where her name derived from and what it was like for her growing up.  Struggling to keep the secrets of her past close to the vest concerned that when they find out, especially when Max finds out, they will want nothing to do with her.

Max Hallowell is focused on his daughter now that his love life has imploded after the love of his life decided to marry someone else.  It is only after some healing that he begins to see Nix in a different light, making excuses to see her, wanting to get to know her.  Max didn't know what he was stepping into and he yearns to know the secrets that have Nix so fearful that she can't sleep alone in her own house, but instead finds comfort in his arms and his bed.  Wanting to do whatever he can to keep her there without scaring her off, Max walks a fine line with his feelings, worrying that telling Nix how he really feels will totally push her away.

Will Max and Nix confess their feelings before it is too late?  Will Nix finally let everyone who loves and cares for her know about her past so that they can help her put it behind her once and for all?  You NEED to one-click this to find out!

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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