Aurora Summers is nothing but baggage. Beautiful, dangerous, off limits baggage.
The plan was simple: Destroy the girl. Ruin her life. Make her and her mother leave. Only … she’s not as easy a target as I thought she’d be.
She’s nothing but a pawn, a tool for my father to use against her mother. But pawns don’t fight back the way she does. They don’t violate my sanity the way she does.
She put herself in the mouth of the beast. I wanted her out of the way, but now … I can’t let her go.
Lucy Smoke, also known as Lucinda Dark for her fantasy works, has a master’s degree in English and is a self-proclaimed creative chihuahua. She enjoys feeding her wanderlust, cover addiction, as well as her face, and truly hopes people will stop giving her bath bombs as gifts. Bath’s get cold too fast and it’s just not as wonderful as the commercials make it out to be when the tub isn’t a jacuzzi.
When she’s not on a never-ending quest to find the perfect milkshake, she lives and works in the southern United States with her beloved fur-baby, Hiro, and her family and friends.
Started reading this as part of the Bully God anthology but the story interested me enough to want to continue reading it.
Actual rating 3.8 stars. A good and bad thing; the writer added extra bits from the entry we received in Bully God, meaning I had to reread chptrs I literally just read to make sure I hadn’t missed anything. Some of the added parts, I feel, were a tad unnecessary.
I really like when stories have multiple POVs. Especially a ‘love’ story.
I did end up finishing this over the course of travelling and while I know it was a much shorter time in the story, Rori's and Icaris' relationship didn't feel too rushed.
Though, I don’t know how people can forgive those who made their lives harder by these ‘little pranks’.
One thing I felt was super random was the Paris thing and the ‘party’ in his tattoo shop. I don’t know if that’s a reference to something but I don’t think it actually had any impact on the overall story.
I did like that the whole ‘evil dad’ plot wasn’t rushed to its conclusion. This secondary plot will definitely benefit from another book. And Damien is a pretty good major villain. He’s a ‘real-world’ villain, doing despicable things that probably do happen around the world.
Overall, I’m glad I sought out the full book, even though I wasn’t a huge fan of the school sabotaging. I’m more excited to see the resolution between Icaris and his father than expanding the romance with Rori.
“Aurora Summers (h) is an average girl that looks no different from the rest. She’s neither overly beautiful nor is she ugly. She’s normal. Easily overlooked.” This is how the H described the h.🤷🏻♀️
I feel like this formula has been done over and over.
The story follows the same storyline as most of the others. Rape check Abusive parent check Rich bad boys check
I found rori to be stupid. She tried to be bad ass but in the book she came across and weak and stupid. Who films themselves performing a sex act to get revenge? Let me count the ways that was so stupid.
I haven’t really gotten a grip on Isaac’s character yet.
Isaac and Rori had the type of chemistry that I absolutely love. The kind that will light your Kindles on fire and have you on the edge of your seat. Every interaction they had was like an overwhelming, push-pull, fight between them full of an intimacy that had me captivated to see who would emerge the victor.
“Playing with fire will only burn you in the end.”
Holy heart racer! I’m still shooketh from this deliciously dark and depraved romance that nearly knocked me off my axis. Burn with Me set my body and soul on fire … igniting everywhere. It’s so hot, heady, and heart-pounding with all the hate-love vibes. I felt this tale’s electricity coursing through my veins, bating my breath, setting my body on fire, and sparking my soul to life. A paralyzing intensity that hit me like a shot of adrenaline everywhere.
Dearest readers, let’s pause before I continue. Before you dive inside this dark beauty, you must pay tribute to the outside. The cover is smokin hot, a piece of art to be worshipped, and I was in awe of its perfect capturing of the contents inside. I couldn’t stop staring and drooling at its perfection. Burn with Me … yes, I ignited inside and out … just like the book burns from cover to cover.
A forbidden, enemies-to-lovers tale laced with the Greek myth of Icarus, Burn with Me stars a bold and brave hero and heroine who battle demons to protect their kingdom. The hero and hero play a dangerously addictive game of cat and mouse with staring and stalking. Oh my was I here for it all!
Isaac is a bold and broody, all-alpha ice king of a hero with touch-her-or-die vibes, and oh did I crush on him hard! Rori is the stunning and strong queen who challenges him, giving as good as she gets, and I admired her so much. I experienced every part of Rori and Isaac's journey, feeling their combustible chemistry and deep connection through the pages. These two shattered souls make each other whole and I loved them both.
Hauntingly beautiful and brilliantly told, Burn with Me was my undoing!!! The clashing of the hero and heroine and their deviant games was my undoing. I was a prisoner of this dark romance—dominated—where I felt every ounce of this potent mix of pain and pleasure. I was soulfully slayed. Wholeheartedly wowed. Unequivocally owned. I Couldn’t. Get. Enough. Of. This. Book. Just give me more now!
“Playing with fire will only burn you in the end.”
This follows Rory and Isaac. I just want to jump into my thoughts about this book. It didn’t do much for me. This follows these two characters trying to break their family relationship but also the MMC’s father is in some shady dealings and criminal activity. The other part of this book until about 60% is the MMC stalking and tormenting the FMC until it becomes something more. I didn’t feel a connection with the main leads and found the spice aggressive and a bit much and I would have loved it more if I felt the connection. The vivid flashback of Rory’s CSA stumped me. As someone who went through a traumatic experience in her teen years the way Isaac was handling her, I thought she would have spiralled. In one scene she was panicking a little but enjoyed the thrill after a while. The story was okay just did not grip me. I continued as I thought the last half would pick up but it didn’t. The audiobook narrators were great I guess this just wasn’t for me.
If you love:
🔹Dark Contemporary Romance 🔹Forbidden 🔹Enemies To Lovers 🔹Step Brother 🔹Stalking 🔹Cliffhangers my
Genre/Type: Dark Contemporary Romance 18+ APK: Audiobook - Everand Audiobook Length: 11hrs 44mins Narrators: Liam DiCosimo and Avery Caris - Dual Rating: 🌟🌟.5 Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5 Series or Stand Alone: First Book In The Gods Of Hazelwood Duet Tropes or Themes: Enemies To Lovers, Forbidden, Step Brother, College, Bully, Revenge, Strong FMC, Cliffhanger, Cursing, Sexual Content, Dirty Talk, Degradation, Outside Scene, Blood Play, Vivid Flashbacks, Child SA, NonCon, Drugged Situation and Trafficking. Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
This was such a huge disappointment. Like, I regret reading a book from Booktok now. The trigger list of this book is so long that I think it might take up my whole review. The MMC has all the MAJOR red flags there can be in a person. He's this walking talking dictionary or a guide of how a man SHOULD NOT BE. Not only does he bully the FMC, and then when he falls in love with her, he goes on take it upon himself to make all major life decisions for her. How sick is that? Where is LOVE or even a connection here? Even the FMC is just dumb. There's no other way to describe her annoying character, which does not move past bad things that keep happening to me, and everyone is at fault and just pampering me. Now she, just like MMC, is the definition of how a girl or woman should not be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I honestly don't care for Rory in the slightest. She's too argumentative and contradicting. However, I really liked this book. Isaac is damn near the perfect book boyfriend if you ask me.
~Forbidden love ~Step Siblings ~ " touch her and die" vibes ~Alpha MMC
I should have prepared myself for this book ... I mean it is a Lucy Smoke masterpiece. With that said, read the triggers. I don't have any but was not prepared for one scene. The is a step brother trope where Aurora's (Rori) other marries Isaac's father. Isaac's father forces Isaac to watch over Aurora but temptation is something they cannot resist. There is so much going on, reasons things are happening and plan in motion that it was non stop with the yearn for more.
Overall Opinion : Omg , I have been a fan of this author ever since I read her Sick boys series. It was not only the way she shaped her heroes to be so intense and Amazing but how her girls were. They were all so badass and just had this queen energy that made me want to read them again and again!
I picked this one up as soon as it landed on my Kindle and damn was I hooked? I read it in a single sitting and loved it. The characters are amazing and the banter is mind blowing 🔥the storyline is good and kept me hooked as well. I can't wait for more in this series if we have them!
Definitely recommending this one to all the dark romance loving people out there!
“Be careful, Sunshine. Playing with fire will only burn you in the end.”
Uhm, ENTER LUCY SMOKE. Damn, why have I been sleeping on Lucy this whole time? This was fantastic--the world building, intrigue, mystery, angst, and spice had me utterly entranced. I’m obsessed with her writing and immediately adding all of her backlog to my TBR.
“I am not like anyone you’ve met before. You mess with me and you won’t just have a fight on your hands, you’ll have a war.”
Rori’s past is dark and the endless string of husbands her dismissive mother brings into her life has now brought Damien Icari into the mix, adding danger and temptation in the form of her step brother Isaac. Despite extensive trauma and rejection, however, Rori is so damn strong. I loved watching her stand up to Isaac and seeing the way that she would let no man take advantage of her, including the Icaris.
“I’ll make sure you’re safe. It’ll be painful. It won’t end here. Just remember--as you suffer in the fire you lit--you wanted this.”
Isaac was dark and broody goodness--tortured, obsessed, and a touch unhinged. I loved the balance of his dark side, fueled by the hatred of his father, and the care and protection he showed for Rori. His utter lack of restraint and nearly feral desire to protect her at all costs had me falling head over heels for him. His reactions to Rori’s challenges were hilarious, hot, and everything I never knew I needed. I was utterly undone by their marking scene and it will be living rent free in my head from now to eternity.
Damien was an exceptional villain. While I hate him, I love to do it and watching his manipulation, treachery, and evil plans unfold was so bad it was great. The cliffhanger had me SCREAMING, though, and I am counting down the day until Fall With Me hits my kindle and I can get some relief.
I have been dying for this couples story since we met them in the Bully God anthology and holy smokes Lucy didn’t disappoint this story was everything I love about her writing! Rory and Isaac’s chemistry is intense and super hot! As usual with Lucy’s stories It has a strong female lead and a intoxicating storyline I was immediately sucked in I fell absolutely in love with Isaac he definitely owns my heart he is guarded and has his walls up but Rory knocks them down without even trying and the best part was getting to see past beloved characters in this story and that shocking ending excuse me ma’am I’m going to need the next book now lol this was absolutely perfection and just what I needed to read now I’ll be not so patiently waiting for the next book!!!
I hated this book!! The MMC just abused the FMC and she literally allowed it. She is weak and can’t stand up for herself. How can you out of the goodness of your heart abuse the person you claim to love??? The piercing scene was just unbearable to read. Should have just DNF’d it.
Darker semi bully mafia-esque new adult romance. A lot of genres found in this novel. Crazily enough, it worked for me. I did get frustrated with the MMC when he kept the FMC in the Dark "for her own safety," but other than that, I really enjoyed this duet.
This was dark, spicy, forbidden, and frustrating all at once. I liked the premise of this book but I honestly felt like it was just too long and could have been cut down a bit into one book.
When you peel the layers away from a villian , what remains is a man who would stop the world to save his girl. He will endure pain, almost to the inch of his life but will keep running through fire to pull her from the flames. This is why my fave men wre always the anti hero .issac Icari has been added to the list.
If you love these things you will love Burn With Me. ✔ Bully but make him the son of the man your Mom just married. ✔ Dark Romance with suspense and the FBI ✔ Kinky intimacy 🌶🌶🌶 ✔ Enjoy these books? The Dark Verse / Bully by Sophie Lark/ Devils Night Corrupt Damian Tristan and Dean all three are like Issac .
I wish Isaac would have trusted Rori , explained exactly why she should fear his Dad, what he was capable of, but he sheltered her. Isaac I hope manages to right the wrongs his Father has brought upon the world with his evil. There are so many different ways book two can go..the cliffhanger left me completely reeling. I am not a fan of miscommunication trope and holding on to continue the half truths at the 70% mark only will end up badly for this couple.
I dont trust his friends, i dont trust her brother. Anything can happen next .
My heart was racing w/excitement throughout this book! I’m not even sure where to begin, this book was so damn good- dark, forbidden & steamy! And an ending that leaves so many unresolved issues. Be prepared!!! What can I say about Issac! This guy is totally crazy, he’s obsessed w/Rori- his new stepsister!! These 2 are hot together, but they both have major issues & are stubborn as hell. He doesn’t want to be like his dad, but he did things that left me shaking my head. Rori doesn’t have it easy either, her mom disappears & then just suddenly comes back & announces she’s married & they’re moving! She’s had a tough past, leaving her w/trust issues- especially w/Issac. But she’s also strong, tough as hell, & doesn’t take crap f/anyone. It’s definitely a love/hate relationship w/them, but when they get together they make your pages burn! Every book I’ve read by Lucy had me loving them & wanting more! And this book has left me anxious for book 2!! That cliffhanger! I wanted to scream & throw my phone! I can’t wait for the conclusion to Issac & Rori’s story.
Holy hell!! Another smoke show from Miss Smoke herself 👏🏻👏🏻 a solid 4.5 ⭐️for me 🤩 🖤Dark romance 🖤taboo 🖤stepbrother 🖤Enemies to lovers Check TWs ⚠️ So this follows Isaac 😮💨and aurora Aka Rori 🤩 So basically Isaacs shady dad marries Rori’s wishy washy mother and Isaac tries to bully Rori to leave Hazelwood to get her out of the way so that Isaacs father can manipulate her mother easier. In this time Isaac becomes obsessed with her and they are fighting this back and forth obvious connection and chemistry. Rori went through awful trauma as a teen and finds it extremely hard to trust and so constantly questions isaac’s motives. What Isaac finds in the last couple of chapters had me gasping. I need the second book STAT! I’ll just leave this here….😏
“Who do you belong to?” I shake my head. “Isaac, I—” “That’s right,” he cuts me off without letting me finish. His blue eyes burst to life. “Me,” he whispers. “You’re mine, Sunshine.”
Burn with Me is a Dark Enemies to Lovers, Stepbrother, Mafia Romance. Rori and Issac are made for each other, if they can each get past their own issues. They are both smart, independent, stubborn and untrusting people; who need each other but are unwilling to see it. Their chemistry is off the charts and it shows in all the steamy scenes.
I love that Rori was able to move past her traumatic past and came out stronger in the end. Issac is doing everything in his power to not become his father, a ruthless mafia boss. Unfortunately that means doing things he might regret later.
We were left with a mind blowing cliffhanger and so many unanswered questions. I for one am invested in Issac and Rori's story and I can't wait to see how things play out in Book 2.
I have not had a chance to read the Sick Boys Series yet, but they are definitely on my TBR this year.
Burn With Me is a spin off to The Sick Boys series. You don’t have to read that series to understand this one but you will see a brief cameo from Dean and Avalon and get more of an insight of Marcus and his family. Rori’s mom and Isaac’s dad just got married but they both have a feeling something is not right. The twists, turns, lies and betrayals make this book an excellent page turner. This does end in a cliffhanger but the way Damien shows his ruthlessness makes you wonder how Rori and Issac will overcome.
TW/Tropes
childhood sexual assault, mafia, human trafficking, praise, degradation, mutual piercing, college romance, enemies to lovers, secret society, step sibling, child abuse, dubcon/noncon, spitting, Icarus retelling
HOLY SMOKES! And I do mean smoke! This book is on 🔥. These characters are on fire 🔥. Rori and Isaac are perfection. Their chemistry is undeniably hot and his determination to protect her is swoon worthy. Rori is a strong, independent, determined woman who has her own ideas and Isaac is a strong, fierce, protective man who knows the devil he's up against and fights hard for both of them to come out unscathed. His father is ruthless, vindictive and plain evil. This story ends on a cliffhanger and I can't wait for Fall With Me.
Luck is queen of forbidden, taboo, and E2L. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. Amazing, page turner, wonderful characters, and amazing world building.
Rori and Issac is perfect. He’s you mega alpha-hole, and Rori is the queen giving him a run for his money. I just love a strong FMC and Lucy didn’t disappoint!!
I can not wait for book 2!! I need to know what happens!!!
This story has been told over and over in dark romance. I actually love those kind of stories with the darkest tropes… but this. Soooo boring. The MMC and FMC were so annoying and so bland. There’s nothing special about any of these characters. The relationship isn’t special and honestly I should have DNFed this