Playing with Fire

By: Lexi Ryan

Narrated by: Summer Roberts, Tyler Donne

Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

This audiobook is about a woman with a secret past, a man determined to protect her, and a dangerous passion that could cost them both everything.

©2015 Lexi Ryan (P)2015 Lexi Ryan

Great book

Great story and well written! Hoping for another story with these characters!
Love, mystery and excitement.

SPIN OFF SERIES... MAX FIGHTS & WINS HIS HEA

Phoenix (aka Nix) has been happily living and working as a Doctor in New Hope for a while now she's settled and has friends and gorgeous single Dad Max is one of those friends and he's about to come over to fix her garage door. But fixing Nix's door is actually the last thing on Max's mind because Nix is the first woman that's really interested him since his ex Fiancé dumped him and he intends to ask Nix out. Well, timing is everything because Nix has just had a shocking glimpse of someone she never wanted to see again and she's petrified her terrible past is about to come crashing in on her life which stirs up memories she'd rather forget. So, with a deep need to forget, along with a sizzling desire for Max, she finds herself on the garage floor with a stunned but happy Max after a frenzied f**k.

But insecurities and fear quickly sets in because Nix doesn't want to want him she's been through it all before and got a broken heart when her secrets came out so she tries to resist the magnetic pull and sexual attraction between them so brushes it off as a one time thing. Max on the other hand doesn't want to nor can he ignore the woman who's gotten under his skin and into his heart - and he's been trying, and failing, for three months now to get Nix to go on a date or anything with him. But however hot the sex was and chemistry is between them Nix is refusing him and, when he's about to finally accept that he's lost Nix, she suddenly needs a Knight in shining armour to fight for her, slay her demons and rescue a damsel very much in distress. And so, with tentative baby steps, Max becomes her protector, her safe harbor, her confidant and eventually her lover but just when they think the threat is over a shocking twist reveals the true monster lurking in the wings and he's holding all the cards.

A mystery romance as the multi-layered pieces of Nix's tragic past are dropped slowly into the storyline in flashback scenes to show the reasons for her vulnerability, hesitancy and withholding secrets in her present day which determine her life choices. Max was a wonderful Hero, he was supportive, understanding and caring as he tried to scale Nix's walls but Nix was initially a bit of a frustrating and weak Heroine by not letting Max in. However, this was a really enjoyable listen that had romance, sex and tenderness as well as murder, suspense, drama and intrigue emanating from a world she thought she'd escaped and where evil hands are reaching out once more to claim her.

This is book 1 in the Mended Hearts series and it could easily be a stand alone listen but it follows on from Max's story in the Here And Now series and it also has many characters in it from the New Hope series too. If you've listen to them then you already know Max's heartbreaking story and if you haven't then it's not a necessity to listen to them first but I think you'd get a real feel of just what heartache Max and his little daughter have already been through. Dual POV's and good narration.

Worth a credit? Yes Lexi Ryan never disappoints.

Liked it

Book #1 of the Mending Hearts series. Book 2 is Holding Her Close. Waiting for book 2 as of 2019.

Interesting, dramatic storyline. Fairly well-rounded characters. Several hot scenes. Good voice acting.

Inte!ligent heroines with dumd roles!

Is it too much to expect intelligent, strong female characters to act themselves instead of someone with the common sense of a twelve year old? Maybe it's the editors or producers who follow a standard outline for developing the plots of these novels. I can only assume, but what I do know is that there's definitely little or no instance where heros act beneath their intelligence o r community statuses. Hardly, if ever, are they cast into dumb unintelligent roles regardless of their inclination/s. They are always strong, dominant, and worthy of happiness. Gender discrimination? Full blown! Maybe it's time to embrace authors who are not afraid to portray the true strengths of women in their novels.

This book might be worth your credit/purchase if you enjoy the confusion of intelligent women, such as this medical doctor, acting like sixth graders.

Too much conflict due to hiding info

The storyline was ok. Narration was ok, but the guy narrator didn’t do a woman’s voice too well. Most of the conflict could have been avoided if the characters came straight out and told each other what was going on.