Kiss the Flame releases TOMORROW, 11/10
Synopsis:
In a standalone novella that combines the worlds of THE FLAME and his novel, THE SURRENDER GATE, New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice returns you to a mysterious candle shop in the New Orleans French Quarter where the scents of passion provide the courage to embrace your heart’s desire.
Are some risks worth taking?
Laney Foley is the first woman from her hard working family to attend college. That’s why she can’t act on her powerful attraction to one of the gorgeous teaching assistants in her Introduction to Art History course. Getting involved with a man who has control over her final grade is just too risky. But ever since he first laid eyes on her, Michael Brouchard seems to think about little else but the two of them together. And it’s become harder for Laney to ignore his intelligence and his charm.
During a walk through the French Quarter, an intoxicating scent that reminds Laney of her not-so-secret admirer draws her into an elegant scented candle shop. The shop’s charming and mysterious owner seems to have stepped out of another time, and he offers Laney a gift that could break down the walls of her fear in a way that can only be described as magic. But will she accept it?
Light this flame at the scene of your greatest passion and all your desires will be yours…
Lilliane Williams is a radiant, a supernatural being with the power to make your deepest sexual fantasy take shape around you with just a gentle press of her lips to yours. But her gifts came at a price. Decades ago, she set foot inside what she thought was an ordinary scented candle shop in the French Quarter. When she resisted the magical gift offered to her inside, Lilliane was endowed with eternal youth and startling supernatural powers, but the ability to experience and receive romantic love was removed from her forever. When Lilliane meets a young woman who seems poised to make the same mistake she did years before, she becomes determined to stop her, but that will mean revealing her truth to a stranger. Will Lilliane’s story provide Laney with the courage she needs to open her heart to the kind of true love only magic can reveal?
My Review:
Kiss the Flame is the newest work from author Christopher Rice and is novella number seventeen it the 1,001 Dark Nights 2015 line-up. I am a huge fan of Mr. Rice’s writing and this particular story may go down as my favorite of his thus far. It was superb.
Who wouldn’t fantasize about a sexy, articulate, kind, and expressive professor’s assistant? And isn’t part of the allure the fact that it’s a forbidden fruit of sorts? But what happens when the attraction is mutual and when the rule of anti student/teacher fraternization is removed? Do you give into that attraction? Do you explore the feelings you both have? Do you let your walls down? That’s exactly the situation Michael Brouchard and Laney Foley find themselves in and their journey from student/teacher, to friends, and ultimately lovers is just sublime.
Of course, Mr. Rice delivers heat and then some. The intimate moments Michael and Laney share are off the charts sexy hot but beyond that, and why this book was so amazing to me, was that Mr. Rice delivers some of the most amazing words shared between characters. There were single lines in this book that moved me to tears. Beautiful thoughts and dialog that gave such a human element to these two fictional characters. They were also wonderful reminders to appreciate that good in life. To let little things go and take a chance every now and then.
I could just eat these two wonderful characters up with a spoon! Michael is charming and so kind. He’s also sexy as hell. Laney is strong and resilient with a vulnerable side that I think a lot of people can relate to. Together they make a beautiful pair and one I just adored reading. This will definitely be a book I re-read, and I don’t do that a whole lot!
Add to that a new peek into the mysterious Lilliane and Sebastian and this novella was the whole package.
If you’re already a Christopher Rice fan, you will love this novella. If you haven’t read a Christopher Rice book yet, I highly recommend picking up this story!
Thank you, Mr. Rice, for giving us Michael, Laney, and Kiss the Flame.
Five Loves
Book Links:
About the author:
After publishing four New York Times bestselling thrillers by the age of 30 and being declared one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive, award-winning writer Christopher Rice became the first author to make his erotic romance debut part of the 1,001 DARK NIGHTS series. THE FLAME: A Desire Exchange Novella kicked off a steamy new series set in New Orleans, featuring magical candles and a sexy new breed of supernatural beings, The Radiants, who are devoted to helping heroes and heroines realize their heart’s desire. THE FLAME earned accolades from some of the biggest names in erotic romance and was quickly followed up by THE SURRENDER GATE: A Desire Exchange Novel, available from Evil Eye Concepts as a Blue Box Special. Aside from authoring eight works of dark suspense, Christopher is also the co-host and executive producer of a streaming Internet radio show he launched with his best friend, New York Times bestselling author Eric Shaw Quinn. Each Sunday at 8 PM ET/ 5 PM PT, THE DINNER PARTY SHOW WITH CHRISTOPHER RICE & ERIC SHAW QUINN brings you a new episode at TheDinnerPartyShow.com