Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Hell to Pay #2

Relentless Flame

Rate this book
Immortal. Colossal. Suave. Indebted killer Dante Blackstone has the world at his feet. Every vice, any desire, is his for the asking—until he finds the one person he cannot have: one sweet, diminutive woman who could bring about Dante’s destruction.

Despite her supernatural ability to heal others, a devastating act of evil has left Hannah Miller broken in body and spirit. As she rebuilds her life while on the lam, a not-so-chance meeting with Dante chips away at the walls surrounding her fragile heart. But before their fledgling love can take flight, Dante’s boss sends an evil minion with one mandate: Eliminate Dante’s new reason to break his eternal contract.

As they fight to survive, Hannah’s amazing gift gives Dante one chance to save them both from the vicious minion. How can any love survive eternal hell and annihilation?

The answer lies in Dante’s inferno.

264 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2015

7 people are currently reading
612 people want to read

About the author

Jillian David

27 books476 followers
Sign up for my newsletter here: https://www.jilliandavid.net/newslett...

To hear about deals, freebies, and new releases from Jillian, click FOLLOW on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jilli...

Award-winning and bestselling author and physician Jillian David quickly writes then slowly edits medical romance, paranormal romance, and romantic suspense books. She loves to use medical situations and characters to drive drama in her books. Her favorite cell is the platelet and her least-favorite organ is the pancreas. She fully believes that curse words, when appropriately deployed during surgery, are hemostatic. Which also explains why no book of hers will ever bleed out...

According to multiple starred reviews, Jillian's books cause sleep deprivation and a drop in productivity, as well as visceral responses from her vivid descriptions -- side effects which might qualify as a breach of her Hippocratic Oath to 'do no harm.'

Here's what readers are saying:
- "You will not want to start this book right before bed like I did because you won’t want to go to sleep."
- "...a highly original, paranormal, second chance, romantic suspense novel on steroids, and it kept me turning pages until dawn, and it gets 5 bleary-eyed stars from this reader."
- "I started this incredible paranormal suspense filled love story and couldn't put it down. I stayed up the entire night reading it."
- "Such an awesome read. As soon as I started it, I couldn't put it down. I even stayed home from the gym just to be able to finish this in the same day."
- "(T)his author sure knows how to write torture scenes and make you feel the physical abuse the characters are going through!"
- "(T)his (writer) can make you twist around in your seat in an effort to not pee yourself from fear."
- "Jillian writes incredibly interesting characters in situations that keep you reading late into the night, even if you have to work the next morning."
- "Just read the 4-book story (The Cowboys of Copper River series) to the end, started yesterday afternoon! Couldn't put it down, except for 3 hours when I fell asleep early this morning."

YUKON VALLEY, ALASKA (medical romance)
1) Dr. Alaska
2) Paging Dr. Breakup
3) Five Alarm Love

HELL TO PAY (paranormal romance)
1) Immortal Flame
2) Relentless Flame
3) Flame Unleashed
4) Flame's Dawn

HELL'S VALLEY (paranormal western romance)
1) Legacy of Lies
2) Legacy Lost
3) Legacy of Danger
4) Legacy Found

PROJECT MORPHEUS (military romantic suspense)
1) Fallen Comrade
2) Hidden Comrade
3) Silent Comrade

Want a FREE BOOK? Sign up for Jillian's newsletter here: https://www.jilliandavid.net/newslett...

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
16 (39%)
4 stars
19 (46%)
3 stars
6 (14%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].
3,042 reviews25.3k followers
May 4, 2015
Relentless Flame is book two in the Hell To Pay series by Jillian David. This series is just so fantastic. I love this world of the indebted. If you haven’t read the first book, Immortal Flame, you will still enjoy this book but it would make so much more sense and you will understand the relationships with the secondary characters a lot better if you have read it.

String 'em Up Syndrome | Lita Burke

We first met Dante Blackstone in the first book as Peter’s friend. He helped to save Allie’s life. He also killed Ray. Ray’s dying wish was that Dante find his children and tell them he is sorry for hurting them. So Dante has gone to Portland to find them. He’s sure this meek, frumpy little woman that works in the book store is her but she is going by a different name, Hannah.

 photo bookstore_zps8e555065.jpg

Hannah and her younger brother Scott have been hiding for years from their stepfather, Ray, after Ray beat and abused Hannah. Hannah has a special ability, as Allie did in the first book. Hannah can touch someone and heal them, taking their illness or injuries into her own body. Scott used to be a sweet and loving brother but lately, after he started hanging around with his new friends, he has turned sullen, been drinking. They are barely getting by, living in the worst part of town. She can’t survive without her brother’s help but how can she get him away from these new friends?

Dante starts hanging around the book store, spending time with Hannah, earning her trust, walking her home. As she begins to trust him, Dante begins to have feelings for her. But he’s an indebted. He’s immortal. Scott lets Hannah’s secret slip to his friends of her ability and the news gets to Dante’s boss, Jerahmeel, the human manifestation of Satan. Jerahmeel decides he wants her. But does he want her for his own fun or does he want her to keep her away from Dante? He needs Dante to continue to do his bidding.

“Who would’ve thought? Raymond Jackson. The kill that changed everything. The kill that led Dante to Hannah.”

Dante and Hannah end up on the run together. Dante can think of nothing else but keeping her safe and protected. This little tiny human woman has become everything to him. They end up in the woods in a small cabin hidden away where Dante finally risks everything and tells Hannah the truth about what he really is and what led him to her. Will she still feel safe with him? Or will she look at him like the monster that he is?

cabin in the woods - Google Search

“You are not defined by another person’s cowardly act. You are Hannah, beautiful and strong. You seduce me like no woman has since the beginning of my entire existence.”

This is such a good story of two people that had no hope but finding a new reason for strength in each other. I loved watching meek Hannah turn into strong Hannah, willing to do anything to protect the man she has fallen in love with. And watching Casanova Dante who could have any woman he wants fall for this one, little tiny imperfect human. Hannah, trying to keep Dante safe, puts herself in harm’s way which makes for an intense and gripping ending.

carry woman31 by des444con on DeviantArt

I loved getting a little bit of a glimpse of Peter and Allie from the first book and seeing how they are doing. I do admit I didn’t feel quite as strong as a connection with Dante and Hannah as I did with Peter and Allie but I think that is just because I loved them so much. This book/series is fantastic, so different, and I highly recommend it. I can’t wait to see where Jillian David takes us next.

signature
Profile Image for Dianne.
6,815 reviews631 followers
February 29, 2016
Dante is sin personified, from his massive Adonis bulk to his mesmerizing face and eyes. He turns women into gushing fangirls, collecting panties and phone numbers the way others collect baseball cards. He is also immortal, paying off a debt to the devil who owns his soul in return for an answered plea long ago ad he is on a mission to feed evil. Dante NEVER gets involved with anyone, too much pain, too much chance for loss, but he is always up for a few fun and games moments, but even that can get boring. Imagine his surprise when a timid and sweet young shop girl rebuffs his infamous charm. Its GAME ON to win the adoration of one Hannah Miller! What Dante discovers under the plain clothes and wallflower countenance is a bright and witty woman who is desperately trying to stay under the radar of evil.

She was just supposed to be his target, not a gifted woman who is turning his knees to jelly. But Hannah’s fear of discovery of both herself and her brother far outweigh any chances she would take for romance, unless Dante can convince her otherwise. When she demonstrates her power to heal others, she becomes the target from one of hell’s minions and it is up to Dante to save her, no matter the cost to himself. Will he be her savior, as well as her lover or will they have to save each other? Her greatest betrayer is the one she has worked so hard to protect, will this break her spirit and her will to live or is there some magic between Hannah and Dante that proves stronger than the legions of Hell? Is it love?

Relentless Flame by Jillian David is hotter than blazes, from start to finish as one over-inflated ego meets the one person who humbles his heart. If you are a fan of great bantering dialogue, trust me, its here! Do you love characters you can despise? Once again, Ms. David weaves a tale of evil vs good, freedom vs enslavement and the most powerful force of all, love. Get ready to settle in ad watch her work her magic, once again as she kicks all kinds of obstacles in the way for this couple to try to overcome, but has she tossed out one too many?

I received an ARC edition from Jillian David in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Hell to Pay - Book 2
Publication Date: May 4, 2015
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Available from: Amazon
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com

Profile Image for Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen.
1,692 reviews634 followers
June 7, 2015
Book – Relentless Flame
Author – Jillian David
Publication Date – May 4, 2015
Genre –Paranormal Romance
Type – Companion Series
Cliffhanger – No
Rating – 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Complimentary copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts - Story
A few months ago, I had the pleasure of Ms. David contacting me to read the first book in this series and I immediately fell in love with her characters! After finishing that book, I couldn’t wait for this one because I needed (wanted) to find out what happens next with Dante. In the first book, he is a cocky, arrogant man-whore but with this story, we get to really know what ticks under his rough exterior.



Ms. David did a kick ass job at bringing out the inter most personalities of the MCs ---- It was easy to connect to these two and I absolutely loved the pairing of Dante and Hannah.

I loved how Ms. David took Hannah as such a plain girl and created this complex character who had so much going on underneath the average persona.
Now I can’t wait to find out more about a new character we were introduced to in this book – Ruth.



Re-Cap
Dante is dying for his ‘meaningful kill’ but is as much in the dark about it as the other Indebted Killers before they became human again.

With a message to deliver from one of his ‘kills’, Dante for once gets the cold shoulder from a woman who has his heart doing a double timed beat. But what he doesn’t know is that this woman could just be what he has been searching for all his life.

Reason for Reading – Author Request
Story – 5 out of 5 Stars
Steam –  4.5 out of Stars
Angst – 4.25 out of 5 Stars
Writing – 5 out of 5 Stars
Content Flow – 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Told In – Dual POV (Dante & Hannah)
HEA (Spoiler) – 
Would Read More from Author? Definitely
Recommend To – Anyone who likes a subtle paranormal with a great romance

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
Profile Image for Liz F.
719 reviews
July 23, 2015
I really liked Hannah, the heroine. She’s had a tough life, but I really enjoyed her pluck and her determination to keep going. She gets up, goes to work, worries about bills, eats something, goes to bed, and starts all over again. I don’t have it anywhere near as bad as Hannah had it, but I felt like the cycle she was in was very relatable. I liked how Hannah’s past was very slowly revealed. She went through the wringer...

Read the full review on Kindles & Wine HERE


Rating: A- (4.5 stars)


Note: Review copy courtesy of the author.
Profile Image for Jonel.
1,717 reviews311 followers
June 20, 2015
David spins the tale of good vs evil in an entirely new light with this one. Suspense and plot twists combine with a heated romance in this novel where the pace never lets up. David created a world so seamless that you can easily picture each and every aspect of it, at the same time she doesn’t hamper your imagination.

David’s writing style lets you get up close and personal with her characters. Dante’s overly confident yet still droolworthy nature contrasts with and sparks off of Hannah’s much quieter persona. Although circumstance may have thrown the main characters together, the bond between them, which is based on so much more than just chemistry, keeps them together. David also develops her supporting cast well, giving readers the whole picture with this one.

This novel was definitely a treat to read. The fast paced tale definitely kept me engaged throughout. It’s a fantastic read for those who enjoy the genre.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Lydia.
521 reviews60 followers
August 13, 2016
It keeps getting better!

“I don’t want anyone else. I’ll never want anyone else. It’s only been you from the moment we met.” – Hannah Miller

When an author you've just discovered does an amazing job from the first book you've read from them, it only stands to reason that you expect them to keep up the good work. It's only a straight path up ahead or... well... a downhill spiral. In other words, the next book will be equally good, or worse.

But here Dante comes, ready to kick that kind of expectation outta the nearest window. And salute it goodbye in the most suave of ways - exactly the way he does almost every single thing! Because Dante's book was even better than Peter's - and that was already pretty spectacular, anyway!

In Dante's story, the tall, hot, blonde Indebted decides to deliver a message from one of the criminals he's out to kill. Turns out that the guy had abused his stepkids, especially his stepdaughter, Jessica, and he asks, as a death wish, for forgiveness. So, Dante takes it upon himself to find the woman and pass on the message personally. During his search, he meets Hannah, a mousy bookshop assistant - and for the first time ever, his long-dead heart starts beating an entirely different tune than the one he was used to for centuries...

Let me tell you right now, if you read the first book and think "OK, awesome, but this is it, there's no suspense anymore. I know what the Meaningful Kill is now. I know what Dante will have to do. There goes the element of surprise..." - you're completely wrong! Yes, the Meaningful Kill holds the same theme for almost all the Indebted. But that doesn't mean that it's executed the same way for everyone. At least, Mrs. David doesn't let it be that way.



Element of surprise - restored.

Faith in this series - not lost.

Awesomeness levels - over the freaking roof!

Not to mention the fact Hannah was such a wonderful addition to the female cast of the series. Sweet, selfless, loyal to a fault - even when she had no reason to be. She knew Dante was dangerous since his murderous instincts were all over the place, and yet she decided to trust him. BUT! Make no mistake. She was understanding, not an idiot. She was cautious next to this massive guy, despite wanting him. And the way she kept trying to protect him when she was a bite-sized mortal was so adorable!

Dante... Well, you all know how I feel about the guy. He's my bias of this series - funny giants always make me go all soft and gooey inside. And we seem to have the same fetish with glasses, so, yeah... I should probably also mention, he came really close to get in my book boyfriends' Hall of Fame (so far, only two of all the book hunks I've read in my life have made it there, so it's a real accomplishment!).

The story was even better than the first installment of the series. If that was even possible! It was funnier, faster in pace, had more suspense, made me cringe (because this author sure knows how to write torture scenes and make you feel the physical abuse the characters are going through!), and, let's not forget, had me panting from the hotness in the love scenes. Mrs. David, really, you are a writer of many talents!



Now I'm off to start the next book. Nurse Ratched has my attention alright - I can't wait to see how a female Indebted performs under the current conditions that Dante and Peter brought upon those who are still not free.

***I was given a review copy via Reeading Alley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***

Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com/
Profile Image for Ruby Jo.
242 reviews81 followers
August 18, 2016
*Disclaimer: Review copy provided via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.

There are books in series that are good, and then there are books that kind of set the bar for the next installments in the series. Relentless Flame is that book for the Hell to Pay series.

There are books in series that are good, and then there are books that kind of set the bar for the next installments in the series. Relentless Flame is that book for the Hell to Pay series.

First of all, let me tell you that the cover model looks so similar to Kevin Sorbo. If you don't know who Kevin Sorbo is shame on you, and go search him. I had to get that off my chest before talking about the book. My love for the book has nothing to do with KS, just FYI. Anyway, moving on.

Dante is the kind of hero that I love to love. He is cocky, he is sure of himself, and he knows what he wants and acts accordingly. The part that I love about him? He is so freaking adorable when he's out of his element. I giggled like a loon reading his first interactions with Hannah, because he was so confused by her. Here you have an old-as-dirt man that has been with more women than he could ever count, and Hannah renders him speechless. I loved that so much, mostly because I love reading about the inner struggle of any character to realize that they can be bested. Aside from the funny stuff, I love that with him you can sort of see the old, kind of classic upbringing. I love his speech patterns, his vocabulary, even the little phrases in Swedish. A testament to Davis' writing style really, because it was a different experience than with reading Peter's book. I loved that book, yes, but this book had an old-soul feel to it.

Hannah was awesome. Her life was so tragic, and I am so happy with how the story ended for her. I was impressed by her, really. She has an interesting ability, to heal people, and it's interesting to see how that ability isn't helping her heal her soul. I found that aspect of her really intriguing.

I like how the story is going for Jerahmeel. I love how both the previous book and this one show how he is slowly losing it. I also like that he's not portrayed in a typical way, he isn't smooth or silent or just deadly. He seems more deranged, and I like that.

I liked the pacing of the book, it felt fast enough to keep me on my toes, but slow enough to not make the relationship between Hannah and Dante forced. This book also introduced a new character, Ruth, and her book is next. I'm curious how that will go on, and how the rest of the Indebted start fighting for their freedom. I'm not ready for the series to end, though. Is it too much to hope for a spin-off?
Profile Image for Netanella.
4,743 reviews41 followers
June 11, 2015
Heart-warming, Fun and Unique Paranormal

"Relentless Flame" is the second book in Jillian David's Hell to Pay series, and this second offering is just as good as the first, if not slightly better. Although this book can be read as a stand alone, I always prefer to read series books in order, for greater enjoyment.

Dante Blackstone is an Indebted. That is, about 300-odd years ago, he sold his soul to the Devil and now has become an immortal assassin, a hit man for Satan, if you will. Each kill he makes feeds the Devil's power, and the more depraved the victim, the better for his employer. Dante can only escape his infernal contract by making a special, final kill, which is hidden from him and from other Indebted.

Dante makes this book. He's a 300 year old Swede, full of swagger, arrogance, ego. He's a Man Whore with a capital "M". And he's funny as hell, especially in the first half of the book as he tries, and fails, to capture the interest of mousy librarian Hannah, who's in hiding from an abusive relative. Reading Dante's antics as he poses, flirts - and fails - with Hannah, was both humorous and endearing to me. I have to say, Dante quickly won me over.

Several characters from the first novel reappear in this one, such as Peter and Allie, and of course Barnaby. There's a new Indebted who's also introduced, a mysterious and menacing female Indebted, whom Dante quickly nicknames Nurse Ratched. I hope, if there is a third book in this world, that this character is explored further. Again, though, the reappearance of these characters was done in such a way that not having read the first book is not really a detriment to enjoying this second one.

The story moves along swiftly, with the point-of-view narrative switching seamlessly between Dante and Hannah. I enjoyed listening to a male perspective in romance novels, as typically this female-dominated industry strays towards the female POV only. And Dante, with his super-ego swagger, is really fun to 'listen' to. And his Swedish was charming as well. I can't say how much I enjoyed him as a male lead. I want a Dante of my own. Sans wife-beater, of course.


Review copy provided via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Geneva Handleman.
328 reviews11 followers
April 14, 2015
Awesome. Simply awesome. The world Jillian David has created is interesting, while being completely relatable. The issues that are faced are real, things we see in the news and in our own lives every day. The fantasy here is the hero that steps in with superhuman powers that I am certain we have all wished for before!

The sex is hot and steamy while not being gratuitous or overbearing. It's a great story without the sex, that just makes it all the better!! I love the characters she has created, the way they support each other and feel like people I would enjoy getting to know.

Having read both this and Immortal Flame, I was concerned at first that this would be just a copy of that with the names and locations changed, but I was so very wrong! Each story has the same premise, yes, basic structure and so forth, but there the resemblance ends. It makes me want to hear their friend Barnaby's story now!

As an independent reviewer for paranormal books and authors that rock, I give this four firm solid and sharp fangs.
Profile Image for Stace.
839 reviews
December 9, 2017
Enjoying this original fairly well written series!!
74 reviews
May 11, 2015
**ARC received for an honest review**

This is the second book from a new author to the paranormal genre, and what a book it is. It has a very unique storyline, sensual; with believable characters that shows what pure love can do to change a person and to give them the life they deserve.

I had to keep reading this book until I reached the end as I had to find out how the main characters Dante and Hannah’s tentative attraction for each other was going to pan out. Hoping it would grow and save the both of them.

This book is situated in Portland. Hannah and her brother Scott had moved there to start a new life, after finally getting away from a nasty, abusive step parent. Hannah worked in a book shop doing her best to keep a roof over their heads and food in their bellies as Scott had changed since he had started running around with a new crowd, especially one very obnoxious person called Brandon.

Since meeting these people Scott hadn't been able to hold down a job and it was all falling on Hannah’s shoulders to keep everything going. It is while Hannah was working that she first met Dante, a tall handsome blonde man who flirted with her every chance he could get. Hannah didn't take much notice as in her eyes she was a dowdy girl with a physical handicap that no man in their right mind would want especially a man like Dante.

Dante had been sent to Portland for a specific reason and after meeting Hannah and as he slowly got to know her, he couldn’t help but be surprised that this tiny woman was making him rethink everything he thought of women in general. He was a man, albeit not your normal man, with a terrible line of work but through all his long life he had lived life to the full having had many conquests with the ladies. Ladies who could not resist him and now in front of him was one who did. He couldn't believe it. She intrigued him immensely.

Through this really good story, you will read about the secrets that both Dante and Hannah were doing their best to keep from one another but through circumstances beyond their control they had to come clean and rely on each other to get through everything that was being hurled at them.

While everything was going on the attraction Hannah felt for Dante was growing, something which had not happened to her in a very long time. Slowly Dante drew closer to Hannah. The attraction he felt for her was growing stronger. He had an inkling of what her secret was and when he saw her in so much pain he had to take her in his arms and help her somehow.

“And then it happened: her soul, her physical and emotional pain, flowed from her into Dante. Aches and pains that had lingered from yesterday’s healings faded, like rubbing away a smudge on the cheek, a light sense of a soft wave lapping away at her pain. Nothing dramatic, but only physical relief remained in her connection to him. And it was good.”

They were good for each other. Her goodness to his evil. Dante made Hannah feel safe, something she hadn't felt for a very long time, so strange. Their attraction for each other was getting stronger even when everyone around them was doing their best to separate them, until not being able to resist each other anymore.

“He grasped her hips. When he pressed her onto him, he met her with thrusts of his own, hot, hard strokes consuming her, marking her. She relaxed her hips and gave into the mounting rhythm, grabbing his forearms for support. God, this is like flying through heaven.”

Brilliant book Ms David. I do love Dante, you can picture him in your mind, very saucy, but charming with it. A really good read.

Profile Image for Ottilee B..
597 reviews28 followers
September 29, 2016
Recommend? Yep!

Overall I liked this book but I had a few issues.

Let me start with the plot. Great! I eagerly awaited my request to read this book. The author is well-versed in the sensuality needed-- but Dante is NOT. I feel he needs Charm School and he finally realizes this. He is stalking Jessica/Hannah at her place of work and though he realizes it, he does little about it! He knows she is damaged before they meet, yet seems incapable of toning down the machismo until she tells him her story.

Her brother Scott is a piece of work now that he's hanging around Brandon. Scott's character was needed to bring in the bad guys so, Bravo! Mission accomplished, dude.

Although this isn't a glowing review, I did like the book. I liked how Hannah absorbs other peoples pain and sickness, and I like that Dante got his Meaningful Kill.

YEA

I was given a free copy via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Liana Smith Bautista | Libervore Reads.
265 reviews12 followers
October 22, 2015
* Actual rating: 3.5 stars
* Originally published on book blog WillReadforFeels.com
* I received this book for free from Crimson Romance in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I love me some fanged hotties, but sometimes you just have to give the vampires and the shifters a rest. So I was definitely interested in Jillian David’s novel Relentless Flame, which is part of a series featuring immortal warrior beings who, rather than needing to bite necks and drink blood, have sold their souls to the devil and must work as indentured mercenaries, killing evil doers to feed their demonic master. So, yes, blood lust, but of a different kind.

We are first introduced to Dante Blackstone, a 300-year-old Indebted warrior who is built like a Viking god and knows it a little too well. Seriously, he’s a bit of a douche when we first meet him. Okay, he’s a huge douche when we first meet him. The story is told through alternating points of view, and during the first chapter, he observes that “he was, as usual, looking spectacular today.” Good thing our heroine comes along and gives him a dose of couldn’t-care-less that’s very much deserved.

It had me giggling aloud in the first chapter. Particularly when I read this: “How did his never-fail charm become a train wreck in the space of two breaths? Inconceivable.” And for a very short moment, my mental image of a smug-looking Alexander Skarsgaard type was replaced by a certain character with a penchant for finding things inconceivable from The Princess Bride. Dante’s complete and hilarious lack of humility or modesty was a huge selling point for me. It’s fun to see him acquire both along with a conscience over the course of this novel, a kind of emotional Beauty and the Beast story.

Reading the book had me wishing I’d started with Book 1 just so I could get a better sense of the universe and Dante’s past, but while this book was obviously part of a series, it was sufficiently well-grounded that I didn’t lose a sense of the story from not having read the first book. Dante’s and Hannah’s story was front and center; it’s just that there were enough references to things that took place in the first book that have me wanting to pick it up and reading about Dante’s friends’ story and the role Dante had in their HEA.

This book was a light but solid read with quite a number of swoon-worthy moments. The humor is understated rather than overt, but it does add a sweetness to what would otherwise be your typical bad-boy-meets-damsel-in-distress story. It’s certainly gotten me curious about the author’s other books, anyway!
Profile Image for BooksBooksandmoreBooks69.
1,985 reviews39 followers
May 4, 2015
Wow !!! Relentless Flame by Jillian David was a great second book in her Hell to Pay series.

You don’t need to read the first book, but a few of the previous characters are in this book. So it helps to have a little background. I was extremely lucky to read the first book, and liked Dante straight away, cold killer, but loyal to a fault, oh and a total hound dog !!!!

He’s in a little town searching for someone, as he has a message to deliver. Dante is an indebted …. An immortal assassin, chained by the devil, he kills evil with his dagger, hoping one day to repay the debt and be free.

Dante is not use to being told NO, men and women flirt and offer phone numbers and favours, so when a mousy librarian says no, Dante makes it his mission to have her.

Hannah is hiding, after escaping from an abusive father. Hannah and her brother have escaped, and now they live their lives on the edge. She has a talent; she takes people aches, pains and injuries into herself. But, after something at home goes wrong, Hannah flees for her life.

The attraction between Dante and Hannah is very heartfelt. I love how Hannah puts Dante’s ego in it place, and how Dante is never sure about how Hannah feels about him. I loved how Hannah’s character grew under Dante’s care and attention.

Dante’s boss sends out other assassins to end Hannah (he is worried after losing Peter to a woman, he wants to keep his indebted), so they end up on the run together. Dante can think of nothing else but keeping her safe and protected. He realizes how much she had come to mean to him.

They end up in the woods in a small cabin hidden away where Dante finally risks everything and tells Hannah the truth about what he really is. Will he also tell her the real reason he is there ? What will Hannah think of Dante? Will she believe him ?

I loved getting a glimpse of Peter and Allie from the first book and seeing how they are doing. I also love Barnaby, and hope he appears in the next book. I have to admit I didn’t connect with Dante and Hannah as much as Peter and Allie, but I did enjoy their story more !!

Relentless Flame and the Hell to Pay series is fantastic, and I highly recommend it. I can’t wait to see where Jillian David takes us next.
Profile Image for Armenia.
907 reviews17 followers
December 30, 2015
Relentless Flame

Relentless Flame is the second book in the Hell To Pay series. As I did not read the first book, I didn’t feel I missed anything, so Relentless Flame can be read as a standalone. There is an appearance by Peter, Allie, and Barnaby from the first book, and an introduction of Ruth, described as an efficient, mercenary “Nurse Ratchet” who takes care of Barnaby.

Dante Blackstone is a 320 year old Indebted. An assassin for Satan. He sold his soul to the devil to save his brother from death, and now works for Satan by killing criminals, putrid souls used to satiate Satan’s appetite for power. His last kill asked him to give a message of forgiveness to his kids whom he abused when they lived with him. Dante decides to find them and give the message, but Satan doesn’t want him deterred from his job, and sends a minion to ensure he stays on task.

Dante never has trouble seducing women, rather they come on to him, with his gorgeous, Swede looks and rippling muscles. His overconfidence when he encounters Hannah is laughable. All his swagger, arrogant ego, and seductive antics don’t work on Hannah, as she’s on the lamb from her abusive step-father. Hannah Miller is hiding while rebuilding her life, and she’s wary of everything around her. When she hears the news from Dante about the death of her step-dad, she’s in disbelief that she and her brother, Scott, can finally relax and have normal lives. But Hannah has a gift of healing, and once Satan gets a whiff of this rumor, he wants her for his use. No way is Dante letting an innocent fall into Satan’s clutches.

Ms. David weaves a story of suspense with a bit of romance. I really enjoyed the writing and the well developed characters, but I was hoping more of a connection between Dante and Hannah. A few chapters in the book and I couldn’t stop reading until the end. I enjoyed the ending, and how Dante and Hannah were able to be together.

Copy provided by Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: 4
Profile Image for Romance Between The Sheets.
1,175 reviews67 followers
May 4, 2015
I was given a copy of this by the Author.

Firstly can I say I adored Hannah, what a strong character and she was exactly who I pictured for Dante to fall in love with and want. Her gift and how it impacted on her life, her brother and also Dante was interesting, exciting and caring - she certainly owned this story to me and was the shining light. The whole story of the indebted I easily understand and actually find exciting and different to other paranormal reads.

I wanted to love Relentless Flame as I enjoyed Immortal Flame but I was a little disappointed and cannot put my finger on it, I struggled at the beginning and hated her brother so much. I enjoyed returning to characters we met in the first book so thank you for that. Dante as a character I really enjoyed but I am not sure, I am thinking it may have something to do with the cover (I do not like it - it is not how I pictured him so perhaps I have put my own silly restrictions on my ability to imagine Dante as I thought he would be). I know this sounds stupid but sometimes covers affect me more than others.

I would suggest you read Immortal Flame first, whilst not overly connected to each other there are characters and references you may not fully understand.

Profile Image for Vyrissi.
46 reviews1 follower
July 11, 2015
A pleasure to read

Although the second in the series, Relentless Flame can definitely stand on its own. That is how I read this title and I didn't really feel that anything was unexplained, having said that, I do plan to go back an read the first book -- but just because it was so good I want to stay in that world just a little longer.

I hesitate to call Dante a 'hero' because he has done some truly evil things in service to the devil, but he is sarcastic, arrogant and absolutely hilarious in his frustration when Hannah refuses to be seduced. Hannah is fragile and yet resilient, and shows remarkable strength of character in the face of the many betrayals she had endured.

Review copy provided via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.
With believable characters and set in an intriguing world, Relentless Flame was a pleasure to read.
Profile Image for Sara.
174 reviews9 followers
November 11, 2015
A Minute Review:

3.5 Stars:
“My name’s Dante.”

“Hi, Dante.”

Her hands remained at her side. He groaned. But all was not lost. Time to go to the next level of seduction. He puffed out his massive pectoral muscles and gave her his best rakish grin. This maneuver always succeeded.

“And your name is?” He leaned forward, undoubtedly impressing her with his overwhelming masculinity.

“Not interested.”
This quote pretty much sums up the bulk of Dante’s personality, and it was hilarious to read. The relationship seemed less natural to me than Peter and Allison’s in Book 1, but it was entertaining nonetheless!

Recommendation: Read this if you love reading about an overly confident, Thor-lookalike playboy falling for someone bookish who won’t give him the time of day.
Profile Image for Janie Weimer.
126 reviews
May 30, 2015
Kind of expected the same thing as book #1. Nope. Then I thought that Dante would be a jerk and I wouldn't like him. Double nope. After Dante tried his flirting on an emotionally-wounded Hannah, and she puts him in his place, he straightened up --- kind of. He's still got that naughtiness from the first book, but he's much more focused and that gave him ridiculous levels of sexiness. Tight writing, fast pace. The story is heart wrenching and gut wrenching at the same time, and I can't believe I have to wait until ?when? for the next book.
Profile Image for Suzanne Sotzing.
152 reviews4 followers
August 28, 2016
I really enjoyed this book! The writing is well done and flows so smoothly that page after page just fly by. I did not read the first book in this series, but still felt like I didn't miss anything and situations were well explained. The concept of the Indebted...as contract killers to the devil...was really original and I look forward to exploring the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Nola.
224 reviews
December 26, 2016
I received this book free from the author in exchange for a review. I loved this book and would love to read the first book and the following books. This is a love story between a indebted and a mortal, or is she? I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good love story!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.