Review: Flame by Adriana Locke

RSVP to my Marriage of Convenience

I swore I would only get married if my life depended on it. Oh, the irony.

Many things have happened over the past few weeks that I didn’t see coming. My family imploded. Our business was turned upside down. And someone threatened to harm me if I didn’t make good on my father’s promises.

But the biggest thing I didn’t see coming?

Foxx Carmichael demanding marriage.

He’s doing it out of loyalty to my brother. I know that. But I can’t help but think if, through that deliciously hot, grumpy exterior, my bodyguard doesn’t have ulterior motives.

There’s no denying the fire in his touch or the heat in his blue eyes. He protects me with a ferocity that leaves me breathless. He makes me rethink many things I thought I knew for sure—like my position on marriage.

But how we dance around our fake relationship makes me wonder what part of this is pretend. None of it matters if he doesn’t admit he feels the same way.

Our sham wedding will fall apart as soon as the threat is contained. But what happens if the flames between us burn everything to the ground first?

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Foxx is the grumpy, brooding, mysterious Carmichael brother so we know very little about him. His own family isn’t even sure what he does for a living, but Bianca Brewer knows all too well. Her brother’s best friend headed her security detail until he requested a transfer six months ago. There’s always been something simmering between them, and she thought he was going to give in and kiss her – finally! – but instead he ghosted her, and she hasn’t seen him since. She’s pleasantly surprised when Jason asks her to accompany him on a day trip in the family plane and even more pleased when they walk into a bachelor auction to find Foxx on the block.

Bianca’s family is falling apart, and she may be in danger, so Jason orchestrated this casual day trip specifically to deliver his little sister to the person he trusts most in the world. She’s not thrilled about being cut off from her life and left in Florida, but considering she’ll be with Foxx, it’s not the worst thing that could happen. If nothing else, she’s determined to get some answers from her mystery man before this is over because she knows he wants her as much as she wants him and needs to know why he’s fighting whatever this is between them.

It’s a simple answer, although one she doesn’t like: Nothing is more important than her safety, but Foxx believes being emotionally involved is a distraction, which creates risk. Bianca knows what she wants and isn’t going to just accept his excuses though, even though she knows he means well. She’s determined to see him give in for both of their sakes and never stops teasing him. Foxx does his best to resist but when the idea of a marriage of convenience comes up, he jumps at the chance. It’s a way to help Bianca and Jason, who mean so much to him, but also a way to finally have her for himself, even if it’s just temporary.

Damaris, Brooke and the others quickly bring Bianca into the inner circle, giving her friends for the first time. Her life had been all work and no play for so long, she forgot what it was like to have friends and enjoy herself. Foxx’s brothers all jump in to help them pull off a quickie wedding and even send them on a honeymoon. And while there was one tiny hitch when chickens crash the wedding, it mostly goes very well. Nothing about the marriage seems fake though and it doesn’t take long for Foxx to realize he loves Bianca. He’s worried about how that will affect his relationship with his best friend, but Jason has been able to see what’s happening all along and he encourages it.  

Bianca is one of my favorite women from this series because she’s direct and determined and so much fun. Foxx doesn’t like to show it but he has a big heart under his tough exterior and can’t hide it anymore since his wife is so obviously his weakness. I’m always a little sad when a favorite series has to end but Foxx’s story was a great way to end it. Now I’m waiting for The Arrangement, where we get Jason’s story because I’m hoping it’s him and Astrid and can’t wait to see.