Sudden Flames

by Shanora Williams

I have been lied to.
Betrayed.
And now, threatened.
With Angelina, it was quick. Sudden.
I was a moth and she was the flame. I had to touch her. I needed a taste. By doing so, my life has completely spiraled.
And then there’s Colette, and her slew of bullshit.
She’s lied to me to over and over again. Sadly, because of that, I no longer crave her love.
Who am I to trust when the world and the people I love seem to be turning against me?
Who is there to fall back on when none of them seem safe enough?
Betrayal no more.
Give a man like me flames, and I will torch anything that stands in my way.
I will burn it right down to the ground.
And yes, that includes the women I care about.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance

151 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Shanora Williams is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty romance and diverse suspense novels.
She currently lives near Charlotte, North Carolina and is the mother of three amazing boys, has a fiercely devoted and supportive husband, and is a sister to eleven.
When she isn’t writing, she’s spending time with her family, binge reading, or running marathons on TV streaming services. Visit her at shanorawilliams.com or interact with her on Instagram @reallyshanora.

Follow me:
Instagram: Instagram.com/reallyshanora
Facebook: Facebook.com/ShanoraWilliamsAuthor
Facebook Fan Group: Facebook.com/groups/ShanorasSweethearts
Twitter: Twitter.com/shanorawilliams

Reviews

[Linathebookaddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

Intricate & suspenseful!!! This book is full of lies, betrayal and secrets that will have your emotions all mixed up about the characters!
This second book picks right up from where the first book left us. Griffin knows all about Angelina's plans and now he wants to get even! But can he do that when all he can think of is her?
Angelina never expected to feel this way about the man she was sent to destroy. Griffin is not who her brother told her he is and now after everything she did, she feels awful.
She wants Griffin to forgive her but she knows that she must do anything she can for him to even look at her.

Fuck that, Angelina. All you're saying to me is words. How can I believe any of the shit that comes out of your mouth? All this time I thought you were someone who cared-someone who fucking likes me for who I am.


Griffin is hurt and he has lost his trust on the only woman he wants. He has to deal with his awful wife who wants revenge and has her own agenda. He feels more alone than ever and the guilt Colette forces on him when it comes to heir lost son weighs heavily on his shoulders.
He wants Angelina, but he wnats her on his own terms.

You want me to forgive you, you fucking beg, Angel.

And she will beg him because she cares. Can Griffing believe that?

Angelina will have to decide if she will be on Griffin's side or her family's.


I hate that I ruined us.
Our small, sweet, twisted perfection.


I love how complex the plot is. There are a lot of players and you never know what they will do. There are secrets to be revealed and there are still hidden agendas because the author loves to have you guessing throughout the book.
Excellently written, steamy when it needs to be, this book kept me on the edge of my seat. Griffin & Angelina's passionate story continues but now there are several things different.
Do not miss this! I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

★★★5 Stars ★★★

[Romance Readers Retreat · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Even more frustrated Stars

This is the second book in the Sweet Promises Series and you must read book one first. I have been looking forward to this book in the hope that Griffin finds a way out of the mess that is his marriage to the vile Collette and I am left even more frustrated by this series.

Everything around Griffin seems to be imploding since he suffered one betrayal too many and he looks set to start taking control of his life but things just seem to be getting murkier and more twisted. My heart broke for him reading the scenes regarding his son and it was difficult reading (be warned). Yet he still seems to be holding back.

Colette is quite simply crazy, I honestly wanted to put my hand through my kindle and throttle her for her ridiculous thoughts. She continues to play Griffin and those around her rather than deal with her real issues, she is honestly the most frustrating character I have ever read and my most hated.

I am kind of forgiving Angelica for her betrayal and I hope she can be what Griffin needs but I’m still on the fence about her at the moment. 

I feel not much happened in this book but I think it may be as my reading was stilted by the formatting of the ARC I received which really did hamper the flow of the story. This book simply wasn’t long enough for me, I wanted all the answers to my questions from book one only to be left with more. I am left totally confused by Griffins thoughts towards his wife, just went I thought he had finally grown a pair they seem to be slowly shrinking again. I sense a need to wrap my kindle in bubble wrap for the next book in this series because it may be getting thrown. I’m looking forward to where the author takes this story.

[RentasticReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, seriously—this series just seems to pull each and every limb I have apart all the damn time. My emotions are all over the place because of these characters. This story! Shanora Williams never fails to toss out some of the most mind blowing and jaw dropping revelations. There were scenes where I just closed my eyes so tight, not believing it was actually happening or times where I just have to stop because I never saw that twist coming at all—and what a freaking twist it was indeed. She always keeps you on edge, throwing you out of the loop every single chance she gets. If you read the first book, you'd know how messed up the tangled web Angelina, Griffin and Colette got themselves into. It's utterly ugly, heartbreaking and painful. It's a life filled with lies, deception and manipulation. And it will tear. You. Apart.

For me, I think Angelina took a backseat on this one a bit. She was more on the sidelines of Griffin, treading through the water she all but rippled and spilled from that contract act she tried to pull off. Yet, every single time she and Griffin collides, the world explodes and disappears all at the same time. The chemistry of these two are just off the hook! And then we're walked through the past of Colette, giving us a clearer and better understanding of how she became the scorned and bitchy woman she is now. Don't get me wrong, I still despise her, but there's a part here where you'll just breakdown and crumble right along with her. We also see a very different side to Griffin in this book. The real, hardened up Griffin that was just brewing on the surface from the first book. An edgier, fiercer man who just won't put up with anyone's shit now and is starting to rise above everybody. He's someone you definitely wouldn't want to cross and have on your bad side now because this Griffin? He's out to burn everyone and anyone who messes with him down to the ground. He's done playing games and being played with. It's his time to win and think of himself. And damn if that doesn't make him so much sexier and hotter.

If you ask me, I'd say Sudden Desires—Sweet Promise, book one—is still crazier, more intense and extreme compared to this one. But it's understandable because Sudden Flames is more of a transition stage—the calm before the storm. And that storm brewing that we'll catch on the next book? I'm sure will knock us off our asses. Just saying.

[Paperback Princess · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!! I devoured this book like a plate of fries..ughh!!! Good Lord Griffin ain't fkn playing NO MO!! In a nutshell in the first book Griffin Boyd has been married to his wife Collette for 10 year but when their son dies she blames him and cannot move past it and their marriage pretty much turns to shit even tho Griffin tries his hardest to be a loving husband to her ..then he meets Angelina when they work together on a big deal..they go to dinner and well when you dangle a steak in front of a starving animal he's gonna go for it and that's what happens when he's with Angelina. But Griffin then finds out Angelina tried to trap him in a bullshit contract..finds out his wife is fkn his best friend who is also his lawyer and Griffin has had enough of people fkn him over!! " Keep handing a man like me flames and I will burn anything that stand in my way to the ground" I literally cannot wait to see how this all end!! # TeamAngelina

Merged review:

OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!! I devoured this book like a plate of fries..ughh!!! Good Lord Griffin ain't fkn playing NO MO!! In a nutshell in the first book Griffin Boyd has been married to his wife Collette for 10 year but when their son dies she blames him and cannot move past it and their marriage pretty much turns to shit even tho Griffin tries his hardest to be a loving husband to her ..then he meets Angelina when they work together on a big deal..they go to dinner and well when you dangle a steak in front of a starving animal he's gonna go for it and that's what happens when he's with Angelina. But Griffin then finds out Angelina tried to trap him in a bullshit contract..finds out his wife is fkn his best friend who is also his lawyer and Griffin has had enough of people fkn him over!! " Keep handing a man like me flames and I will burn anything that stand in my way to the ground" I literally cannot wait to see how this all end!! # TeamAngelina

[Readingzmything · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars!

I feel like screaming. When I first started this story back with book 1, I didn't realize it was going to have a book 2. Now that I've finished book 2 and was left with a major cliffy, I'm ready to pull my hair out!

I'm completely addicted this story and committed to the characters and the outcome. Usually, I detest love triangles or any kind of cheating, but something about the way this is written allows me to enjoy this plot and keep me engaged. Griffin, has hardened up quite a bit in this book. He's still a character that I love and can't help but to feel sorry for him and the marriage he's trapped in. Collet, is still bitter, vindictive, manipulating and calculating as ever. Although you get a little more of the history of why she's bitter and their marriage is a mess and yes, I feel horrible for what they've both been through, I still can't stand her and hope S.W. doesn't throw a curve ball at the end of this series which leaves these two together. Angelina is show a much softer remorseful side in this book. She's decided to win Griffins trust back as well as come to some conclusions about her brother and his drive for revenge.

All in all, I really enjoyed this second book and look forward to the third and hopefully the conclusion of this crazy ride. I'm also desperately rooting for Griffin and Angelina's HAE. And I wish Collet all the best just not with Griffin.

[Yvette (Booksandbandanas) · Rating 4 out of 5]

And the sex, lies, and cheating continues.
Except lots has changed if your following this series you know Colette and Griffin are in a hateful marriage and Angelina is bringing Griffin back to life. Tons happens, more LIES jaw dropping LIES and I still can't figure out where the hell everything is going.

Read This!

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh the drama, lies, backstabbing and betrayal continues…
I can't wait to read the next installment!

[Andie I. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't seem to find this book anywhere! Not in the Apple Bookstore, not online anywhere in free format.

Can anyone give me any hints about why that would be? Has it been pulled or something?

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not exactly sure how to feel with this novel. I really enjoyed the first book in the series - devoured it, even. But this one, just wasn't cutting it for me. I felt really lost in the beginning of this book, and I felt like it moved too fast. Why are you giving it 4 stars then if this is how you felt about it?! It is still a well written novel that picks up where Sudden Desires left off, and the characters have lied, betrayed, and cheated their way past each other even more than in the first novel. I will say this one felt a little more angsty than the first novel as that is the main focus is the lies that Griffin Boyd has been told, but it really flowed well, and cut to the chase when need be.

I did receive an ARC in response for the release this week, and I will say the formatting was a bit messed up, and I am looking forward to purchasing a copy that has been completely formatted. There were a few errors that I could have done without, but again, it is an ARC, and things like that are to be expected as it is not the final copy. Overall being an ARC there was nothing completely out of the ordinary. The story flowed well, and really matched the speed of Sudden Desires. There wasn't much questioning by the reader concerning the story-line from Sudden Desires to Sudden Flames.

Angelina didn't expect things to go the way they have. She only wanted to hurt Griffin Boyd because of the terrible things she had been told about him. What she doesn't understand is the fact that he isn't who everyone says he is; he's far from the tyrant that people want them to believe he is, and he is far from the person she thought he was. When the truth leaks about his wife's infidelity, she's in shock. Angelina needs to earn Griffin's trust back. There's only so much she can do to gain it back without crossing lines that shouldn't or don't need to be crossed. Angelina must choose between her loyalty to her family, or her loyalty to Griffin when it all boils down to it.

From one drama filled chapter to the next the reader is brought back to Colette - alone looking at the ocean that she somehow has come to love more under the moonlight. She brings up her lost child, how Griffin betrayed her, how she's nothing but a cold hearted witch that wants nothing more than to trap Griffin in his own lies, and deceit. But how can she do that when she has her own secrets to hide? A lot comes out in this regard because it seems to really show Colette's true colors, and how much she despises her life, but also regrets the things she has done.

This novel was drowning in lies, betrayal, and deceit. From one drama filled page to the next, this novel will have you begging to learn what Angelina chooses, and what Griffin decides to do with his own life. I would definitely suggest reading the first novel, Sudden Desire since this is a series, and that they tie in with one another.

[April Symes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a continuation from Sudden Desires and this picks up the lives of Griffin Boyd and Angelina. I didn’t read the first book but you can pick up somewhat easily .
Angelina’s plans have come out and Griffin knows about them and he is so mad. He is all about getting even with her now. She isn’t who she said she was and all their supposed plans together, all lies. But he still thinks about her and is almost obsessed about her. And it’s the same for Angelina-She is now really in love with the man she was came to hurt and destroy. She totally confused because it was her brother that told her all these horrible things about the man she has come to love. She realizes that her brother was wrong and she has to make up to the man she is in love with everything or she will lose the man she loves forever. When she finds out about his wife’s cheating, she realizes things aren’t what they seemed and she rushes back to Griffin to prove how much she loves him and tries to get him to let him let her back in his life.

Griffin has lost his trust in Angelina and really everything and everyone. He also has his stupid, horrible wife named Colette to deal with who is also causing issues for him . She is a WHOLE ANOTHER ball of problems. Can I say cray cray?! She literally is up to no good and has bad plans for Griffin. Plans that will put him in a world of hurt all to make her feel good. Griffin isn’t so quick to let anyone of his women back in his life. Collette will NEVER get back in and as for Angelina…well…she has to EARN his trust and will take time. How long? OMG, it doesn’t look good for Angelina.

This book is filled with angst, passion , lies, betrayal , anger, hurt, deceit –omg it is filled with so much emotions from the MC that you hurt for them all and it ends on a cliffhanger so at this point you do not know if Griffin and Angelina are back together or will end up back together. I am dying to know what happens to these lovers and if they up back together or if the actions of the characters in the book, Angelina and Griffin are no longer together…I cannot wait for book 3.

My rating: 5 stars *****

**I was given an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review***

[Sofia Almiroudis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my Shanora Williams, what have you done? Sudden Flames was everything that I have been waiting for and so much more. OK, so I know there are a lot of Colette hatters out there, but for some reason I sympathize for her. She wasn't always this miserable, hateful, heartless woman. She was once the woman that adored Griffin and held him high on a pedestal. That all changed after the tragic death of their child. Yes Griffin was responsible for him that day, too busy with work to realize that his son had slipped out of the house and into the pool. Too late to get to him. In a blink of an eye, Griffin fell off of that pedestal. After trying for so long, Griffin is fed up with Colette's lies and anger and finally calls it quits. She wants to play games, well bring it on. Just when he thinks that Colette has no soul left, she surprises him. Colette has found a way to play everyone around her to get exactly what she wants. However, will she be discovered and end up losing it all?
Griffin has definitely grown some set of balls in this book. He means it when he says that he will burn anyone that gets in his way. He has put up with enough and it is his time to turn the tables on everyone. Although Angelina lied to him, he does give her the opportunity to redeem herself, but under his terms. Griffin is opening Angelina's eyes to many things within her own company, allowing her to see her worth. His demands her pushing her to finally break away from her brother Scott, and claim her own success. This doesn't brew well with Scott, but Griffin can care less. Scott is just another person who will pay the price for trying to double cross him. Things are definitely getting interesting. Although I don't dislike Angelina and Griffin together, I still hold onto a little hope that someway Griffin and Colette will find their way back to each other.
Well done Shanora Williams. You are an amazing story teller and you just keep on rocking it. I can't wait to see what you have in store for Griffin, Colette and Angelina in book 3.

[MegL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warning, major cliff hanger!

And the plot thickens....wow I had no words when I finished reading this installment of the Sudden Promises series. This has to be the best love triangle I've read so far! The backstabbing, drama, and deceit is more intense. Secrets are brought out of the darkness and into the light. This story continues to get better and better. I'm once again left in shock and I can't even imagine where this story is going to go from here. Griffin has finally, FINALLY grown a pair, deciding to take charge and do things his way, and I love it! Colette drives me out of my mind but at the same time I love her. She's so conniving but I can honestly say I admire her resilience. She's takes what she wants and doesn't apologize for it. I feel like we saw a bit of a softer side to Angelina. She seemed more vulnerable in this installment though her independence continues to shine through. The connection between her and Griffin is unmistakable. I love these two together no matter their faults. I can't wait to read the next installment!

[Shelby (BookLoversHaveMoreFun) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so ready to read this as soon as I read Sudden Desires. This book was filled with steaminess and deception. I still don't know how I feel about certain characters such as Colette. I disliked her more and more, but then something happens and I sympathized with her. By the time I finished it I was just confused with my feelings towards her. I couldn't tell if some things were the truth or lies. I did think some things were a bit repetitive so I power read those parts since I already knew about them. I still loved Griffin and Angelina despite their faults and I am rooting for them.

I absolutely CAN NOT wait to read the next book!!! I NEED to know what happens next!!! I'm REALLY hoping Griffin and Angelina end up together and get their HEA!!!

This book was once again told by the POVs of Angelina, Griffin, and Colette.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following on from Sudden Desires we meet back up with Griffin, who is fuming after learning some truths in the previous book. Determined to confront Angelina and get to the bottom of it all, Griff comes out fighting. He's finally starting to be the man I knew he could be. Gone is the Griff that will let people walk all over him. He's taking charge and starting to get his life in order. And then there's his 'lovely' wife Colette. Wow she is one messed up, twisted bitch. I seriously wanna stab her in the eye while punching her in the throat. She annoys me so much. Such a sneaky conniving selfish woman. I honestly can't wait to see what happens next in this series. It just gets better and better. Will Griffin ever get his HEA. Or is he gonna lose it all? I can't wait to find out.

[Lisa "rawkr" Arrieta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well it looks like Griffin is getting some balls, and it's about time too!! Jeez these women! Haha Anytime Shanora puts pen to paper, or finger to keyboard she never disappoints. I've read most of her books and she always leaves you wanting MORE!!

This story starts with Angeling questioning how Griffin feels about the contract. And Griffin is just getting tired of being played. And Colette?! Oh she's still a bitch, but you also start to see the human side of her. Who would have thought?!

This series is easily moving up on my top series list fast. Can't wait for the next one.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Griffin!!!!!

I absolutely loved Loved LOVED this book! So ready for more Griffin! Man he is HOT! So much drama! But Griffin is getting what he has been deserving for a long time now. I can't say enough! Shanora has hooked me some more!! Ready for the next book in this series!!!

[Innergoddess_Booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay I need book 3...like yesterday ...