Flame for Keeps

by Raleigh Damson

A determined woman. A man with a mission. A love worth fighting for.

Josie

With a thriving catering business, Josie Agosti doesn’t have time for love.
Especially when it comes to her friend, Ares Montague.
He’s ten years her senior, a billionaire, and CEO of his own company.
She's disabled and lives with her mother.
Josie has no idea what her smoking hot friend sees in her...unable to deny the sparks between them any longer, Josie soon discovers the truth about her limits…and about the man she thought she knew…

Ares

For Ares, loyalty is king in all things. There is no line he won’t cross to keep his brother, and the company they built together safe at all costs.
Now that he finally has the woman of his dreams, he’s determined to give her the pleasure and love he knows she deserves.
If only Josie can accept the truth about how far he’ll go to protect those he loves.

When danger threatens to destroy everything they’ve built together, Ares must decide where his loyalty truly lies….

Can Josie accept the darkness that surrounds her? Or will Ares lose more than just his company?

Flame For Keeps is the latest installment of the Bandit Brothers Series and can be read as a standalone. This steamy tale of romance a dose of suspense and ends in a HEA.

Genres: BDSM

340 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 6, 2024

Reviews

[El · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think there are enough words in the English dictionary to describe how happy I am that I got to read an early copy of Flame for Keeps by Raleigh Damson. The Bandit Brothers series is a gripping series, full of action and spice, diversity, and so much more. 😍

Ares and Josie are so sweet in this story, their communication and dedication is definitely notable and they certainly deserve love. The scenes and dynamic discussions, as well as the fluidity of Josie being able to say what she needed with no hesitations, shows very real and important D/s boundaries and preparation.

Josie certainly hit home for me as an individual, with her daily life with cerebral palsy, and how people often treat her.
🪢 Age gap
💜 Billionaire MMC
🪢 Humble & relatable FMC
💜 Wax play
🪢 R0pe play (fantastic scenes)
💜 F3tish/k1nk club
🪢 K1dnapped
💜 Disabled FMC (cerebral palsy)
🪢Friends to lovers
💜 Touch her/look at her & perish
🪢 So much more.

As a note please check any CW, TW, or author notes from Raleigh as I don't want to spoil it!

Each can be read as a standalone but I'd suggest reading in order to avoid possible spoilers.

⭐ 4.5/5 - Loved this story and I can't wait for Zee and Ella's story too!
🌶️ 3.5/5 - there are multiple spicy scenes, spicy talk, scene/play at the club, teasing, and more. It's great! 😘

[Michelle Frater · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, I absolutely adored the dynamic between Josie and Ares. The fact that they were friends before their relationship turned romantic gave their connection an authentic, slow-burn depth that felt both natural and deeply satisfying. Watching their friendship blossom into something more was a treat, and it made their journey all the more compelling. One of the standout aspects of this story was how the author portrayed Josie’s experience living with a disability. It wasn’t just a plot point, it was a powerful, nuanced depiction of how society often imposes unwanted “help” on individuals with disabilities, even when they don’t need or want it. In contrast, Ares’s approach was a masterclass in thoughtful, unobtrusive support. He offered help in subtle ways, respecting Josie’s autonomy and never making her feel less capable. It’s rare to see such an empowering portrayal, and it made Josie shine as an incredible, multi-dimensional character. Josie’s confidence was another highlight. I loved how she boldly expressed her needs and desires in her relationship with Ares. And Ares didn’t just listen—he gave her the freedom to soar. Their open and honest communication was one of the most beautiful aspects of their relationship, and it elevated the story to another level. The descriptive rope play scenes were handled with care and artistry. You could feel the comfort and safety that the ropes provided Josie, a testament to Ares’s expertise as a rope master. That sense of trust and vulnerability added layers of intimacy to their relationship, making those moments both sensual and deeply emotional. Ares’s conflict between his loyalty to his brother Xander and his love for Josie tugged at my heartstrings. It was bittersweet to see him wrestle with his feelings, especially as Xander now had Logan and Harper in his life. But as much as Ares and Josie shared a foundation of trust and honesty, there was a part of Ares’s life he couldn’t share with Josie, which is why I didn’t understand why it took him so long to check up on Josie, knowing she had probably seen something that scared her. It felt like a rare lapse in his otherwise thoughtful character. Finally, I can’t wrap up this review without mentioning the number of typos and a few narrative inconsistencies. For instance, Josie explicitly stated that she hated having her feet touched, yet later we see Ares giving her a foot massage without any acknowledgment of that earlier detail. This kind of oversight hasn’t been an issue in previous Bandit Brothers books, so it was a bit surprising. While these errors were distracting, they didn’t diminish my overall enjoyment of the story. Hopefully, a final round of edits will polish things up. Despite these small hiccups, this book is still a fantastic read, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. Josie and Ares’s journey is one that will linger with you long after you turn the final page, and I can’t wait to see where the Bandit Brothers series goes next!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vedece Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger Warning!

Dom/s, kink club but all play between consenting adults.

Josie has her own small catering business but her dream is to work in the kitchen of a 5 Star restaurant. But even with a favor, one she didn't ask for, called in from her friend Ares, because of her handicap they keep turning her down.

Maybe that's the same reason she keeps turning Ares down when he asked her out. She doesn't know how he could possibly want to date her.

Ares and his brothers business is more than he lets on

Some parts he wants public but the other must stay hidden. One thing he can't keep hidden is how he feels about Josie. Just hearing her name brightens his day. But she wants to stay friends.

But once they kiss, all thoughts of friendship go out of the window as she finally says yes to a date.

They find out that they have a lot in common. He's a Dom and she's a sub. The more they share, the deeper they fall

Secrets, angst and misunderstanding mixed with disbelief cause separation and a dangerous nightmarish turn. Why didn't she just trust him?

It's a stand alone but has references to other characters in prior stories. Very detailed BDSM. The kink didn't do it for me but the story between these two was SO good.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of the Bandit Brothers get comfortable you won’t put it down until the last page has been turned. Josie and Ares were friends first before they anything more which made the connection strong. Josie is one of the strongest livings with a disability working as a chef and has struggled to master becoming the best chef. Ares sexy friend with a past one he hasn’t opened up about just yet, but the more time he spends with her the more he wants to stick around and showing her that yes, he wants more but proving that she is the one he wants it with proves challenging. We see things through her eyes especially when she wants to be treated normally but we also get to see how society around us treats those with disabilities and the frustrations they face but Ares shows her she can and is a bad a**! He helped her by supporting her, allowing her to feel complete, sexy and actually allowed her to shine but with his past quickly catching up he is going to have a lot of questions to answer will she understand, will he be totally honest about his feelings for her, and where are they headed maybe happiness?

[Mafia Wife · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had not read the other books in the series, and there are some interconnected characters that I had to catch up with in order to fully understand the story. She is a chef with a disability and has struggled to be a master of her craft. He has been a client in a longtime friend of her, but has wanted something more. She didn’t think that he could really like her like that until the night she understands. This is a romance, but it’s also heavily centered on kink. That felt a little bit, rushed to me, considering the newness of their relationship and her vulnerabilities. If I rushed at times and other times, pushing more for the kink less about developing the relationship. It was entertaining and they get their HEA but ultimately this was not satisfying for me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amanda Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josie and Ares

This is a interconnected standalone in the Bandit Brothers series. Characters from previous books make appearances but it is crucial to the understanding of the plot. The best part about this story is the relationship between Josie and Ares. It’s got love, acceptance, passion, kink and a little bit of drama. However, the plot was not as strong. I clocked the “bad guy” from the beginning and his motivations were weak at best. The conflict lasted for very short period and then was just resolved super easily. It could have been left out and the story of Josie and Ares’s relationship would have been enough. I loved the spicy scenes in this book and there were plenty of them. The snippet at the end of the book has me looking forward to the next one.

[Merilu Keenum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ares and Josie together is special: the emotional connection between them is amazing! Their chemistry and their sexual relationship is exquisitely beautiful: the BDSM aspects are heightened by their powerful connection. Raleigh Damson does a wonderful job developing and detailing their scenes, while keeping the intensity of their respective roles compelling. There’s plenty of suspense, some danger, and drama to keep readers engaged! I love seeing Ares interact with his brother, Josie’s independent nature, and the underlying world that Ares and Xander lead. Great story!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Oakley’s World 🌎 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was a very complex and nice one. Ares has been interested in Josie for a while now and every time he asks her out she declines. Finally she decides to give him a chance and she doesn’t regret it. I enjoyed how broody and protective Ares was of Josie. I enjoyed the dynamic of how she refused to let her disability stop her.

I received an ARC copy and I’m voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Shelly Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Josie and Ares have an emotional connection that starts as friends and so there's no insta love. Ares finally decides to make a move on his feelings. You'll laugh, want to yell, and feel content sort of. There were some editing issues, a creepy guy that should have been utilized more, and several characters from prior books so it's not really a standalone. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bookgal13 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a friends to lovers story.

Personally, I really struggled to get into this story. I felt it was very slowly paced in some areas, whereas, other times it felt rushed. I hadn’t read the previous books, and that’s on me, but I was able to follow quite easily.

I feel bad, that this one was a miss for me. It seems as though others enjoyed it, so maybe it was just me.

Thank you for the wonderful ARC opportunity!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The eighth story in the Bandit Brothers. Josie Agosti and her friend Ares Montague's engaging story is well written with a very good storyline. there is drama, danger, suspense, twists, turns, a disability that makes her stronger, a very protective man and romance. I enjoyed reading. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[JM G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the seventh book in the Bandit Brothers series. Ares and Josie are so good together! Their connection is off the charts. The suspense with twists and turns held my attention from start to finish. Fantastic book to read!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an entertaining role play romance, book that holds your attention from beginning to end. The storyline is Intriguing and dramatic as the elements unfold. The characters are well written with steamy chemistry together. I enjoyed this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flame for keeps was Ares and Josie’s story. It was the latest installment of the Bandit Brothers Series and can be read as a standalone. This steamy tale of romance has a dose of suspense. This was a new author, for me. I got a copy of the book and voluntarily leaving my review.