Burning Blaze

Taming The Beast #2

by Alex McAnders

A fake relationship leads to, enemies becoming lovers, sizzling encounters, and longtime best friends giving into their feelings and falling into an unforgettable MMF romance.

BLAZE
Blaze has a problem, he likes to put on a show. When he was a professional football player, it made him a star. But now that he’s the CEO of a billion dollar biotech company, it can get him into trouble. And when a video of him “putting on a show” with a set of Swedish twins goes viral, he is about to be removed from the company he started. The world is turning against him. And, the only one who stands up for him is Ariel Katt, a rival CEO who proclaims in a press conference that she will stand by her fiancé.

Fiancé? They can barely stand each other. What is Ariel up to? And, does Blaze have any choice but to agree to Ariel’s crazy proposal?

ARIEL
Ariel came from nothing and is now the CEO her own biotech company. She’s driven and knows how to get what she wants. But after a string of bad investments, she is in desperate need of a hit. She needs Quin Summers’ latest invention which is guaranteed to change the world. That means Quin has to be convinced to join her company. And who better to convince him than Blaze Turner, his longtime best friend and the guy who is about to owe her big.

Sure, she and Blaze never got along in the past, maybe they even hated each other, but now he needs her and she needs him. And with the endorsement of Quin’s best friend in the world, there is no way she won’t acquire Quin’s invention and save her company.

QUIN
There are two things that are undeniably true about Quin Summers; he is a brilliant genius, and he hates Blaze Turner. Why does he hate Blaze? Because even though they had been friends since high school and it was Quin’s invention that became the basis of their company, Blaze stole their patent and made billions from it leaving Quin with nearly nothing.

Why would Quin agree to such an arrangement? Because Quin was secretly in love with him. But Blaze screwed him, not in the good way, and tricked Quin into signing a contract that forced him to act buddy-buddy with Blaze in public. Truth was, though, that Quin wanted nothing but to see Blaze burn in hell.

So, now that Quin has invented something that is guaranteed to change all of humanity, and he again has the upper hand, what will he do when Blaze inevitable comes calling? Get his revenge, that’s what. That is as long as his suppressed feelings for Blaze doesn’t resurface.

‘Burning Blaze’ is a steamy bisexual romance with as many laughs as twists and turns. Loaded with enough MM, MFM, and MMF scenes to make your toes curl, it will leave you satisfied with its not-to-be-missed HEA ending.

Genres: Romance

174 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 29, 2020

About the author

Librarian Note: Alternate name of Alex Anders.

Alex McAnders is the author of steamy, funny, tear jerking gay and bisexual romances. When Alex isn't rock climbing or playing games with friends, he's debating the pros and cons of being single, and writing sexy male/female romances as Alex (MF) McAnders, steamy male/female shifter romances as Alex (Shifter) McAnders, and clean male/female romantic comedies as Alex (Sweet) McAnders. To find more of his MMF and MM romance, check out his website at www.AlexAndersBooks.com where you can also sign up for his newsletter and receive free books.

Reviews

[Aly · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this sounded interesting, but the characters were unlikeable and ruined it for me. Blaze was homophobic, using gay slurs and treating his best friend like crap. Ariel was vengeful and said a lot of awful things. Quin was a bit better, I felt bad for him that he was so in love with Blaze and was mistreated, but he also wasn't perfect and did some mean things. None of them should have been together, they're toxic. I did like the science behind two men having a baby and some of the romance scenes were steamy.

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dany - per RFS
.
Care Fenici, non ho scusanti, ho scelto questo secondo libro, dopo l’Uragano Laine, sapendo perfettamente che sarebbe stato un racconto erotico senza particolare impegno, e infatti il libro presenta tanti e troppi errori grammaticali, la trama si regge a malapena su due peni e una vagina e la parte erotica l’ho trovata un po’ deludente e poco eccitante.
In un romanzo erotico la trama ha poca rilevanza ma, devo essere sincera, che qui un barlume di ingegno lo si trova.
La storia tratta di tre personaggi alquanto intriganti: Ariel, l’algida donna d’affari, astuta, intelligente, bella e affamata d’amore, anche se quest’ultima cosa non la sa.
Blaze, ex giocatore di football (e mi sa che ha preso più di qualche palla in testa), ricchissimo e famoso scopatore, anche lui come Ariel è ignaro del suo bisogno di amore.
Infine Quin, che potreste immaginare come un giovane scienziato pazzo che ha scoperto qualcosa di davvero rivoluzionario.
Tutti e tre i personaggi hanno un passato che si è intrecciato con quello degli altri, Blaze e Ariel gestiscono aziende rivali, Ariel è stata l’ex di Quin e non si sono lasciati bene, dato che Quin era ancora innamorato del suo amico del college Blaze.
Blaze e Quin avevano un’amicizia bellissima, prima che il giocatore di football rubasse, in modo legale ma non morale, il brevetto di un integratore a Quin, gesto che lo ha reso ricchissimo ma che ha fatto terminare l’amicizia tra i due.
Ma ora il geniale scienziato ha scoperto come far procreare un bambino senza i geni materni e usando solo quelli di due uomini. Ariel vuole a tutti i costi mettere le mani sul brevetto in cambio della sponsorizzazione dell’esperimento ma ha bisogno di Blaze per convincere Quin.
D’altra parte Blaze ha bisogno di Ariel per riscattare la sua immagine da scopritore seriale. Insomma tutti e tre hanno un motivo per fregare l’altro ma il passato nasconde tante questioni non risolte. Di certo gli intrighi non mancano ma sono gestiti male, il libro non suscita interesse e la parte erotica è decisamente noiosa e ridondante. Inoltre trovo imperdonabile il cliffhanger finale che non solo non ci azzecca nulla con il genere, ma addirittura non incuriosisce così tanto da voler proseguire con la serie. Vedete un po’ voi, non mi sento di consigliarvelo ma la curiosità è una brutta bestia e mi sa che leggerò pure il terzo.

[DENICE · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXPRESSING ONE’S FEELINGS CAN SAVE A TON OF HEARTACHE

I received this book for free and am giving my honest and voluntary review

Blaze is an ex-football player, who is now CEO of a biotech company. He makes a bad decision that results in a scandal that he needs to get out of in order to keep his position at his company. He indulges in a plot with an enemy and an ex-friend. This story shows how some minds work without thinking of others. It also contains splitting edge biotech and some things people wonder if they are viable for the near future. This book kept me interested and wondering what the characters would do next.

[Patricia Charlton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Book

I have enjoyed this book also and Blaze, Ariel & Quin went through some drama to get their HEA.
I know this series can be read as a standalone for each book but I would suggest starting at book one and working your way through as the characters from previous books appear in the newest ones.
Going to download Vandal’s book now.

[Chrissy Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of the original Quin, blaze and Ariel. Blaze is a former football player and total playboy who literally gets caught with his pants down with a set of twins who released a sex tape. This makes the stock in blazes company plummet and the board wants him gone. His company sells a performance enhancing drug that’s biological and can’t be detected on drug tests or whatever. Quin developed it and blaze stole the patent. Ariel goes on tv and says she’s engaged to blaze and they’re working through their issues with his infidelity. But she also has a motive - she knows Quin is developing a way for two sperm to create a baby and she knows it’ll be life changing and she wants in. So she gets together with blaze and says she will save his image which will save his company if she gets an in with Quin. But Quin and blaze haven’t spoke in years.
They end up getting together. Ariel agrees to invest in Quins shit and be a surrogate for blaze and Quins science baby.
All goes well. She gets pregnant. They all start sleeping together. Blaze confesses his love for Quin. Ariel miscarries and everything goes to shit.
Blaze goes and tells Quin to shove everything up his ass because in all the times he told Quin he loved him, Quin never said it back. Blaze found another family for Quin to use (laine, reed and Jules who have baby Quin). Blaze and Ariel stay together. Then Ariel tells Quin to come clean. She knows that Quin only wanted to reproduce with blaze because he loved him and wanted a piece of him. And she knows blaze only stole the patent because she thought it would keep Quin close to him. They all make up, get together and Ariel gets pregnant again and makes it to term the end.

[Mel DG · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, this is more a MM romance. And almost a copy of the first book in this series.
Blaze as ex-footballer who now owns a biotech sort of company. Worth billions.
Ariel is owner of a biotech investment firm and is down to her final investment amount. She needs a win.
Quin is the bio inventor. He and Blaze were best friends since high school but Blaze cheated him out of his investment and they don’t talk anymore.
Suddenly Quin has made a scientific breakthrough and Ariel wants in. She uses Blaze to get that in.
This is such a mess. Blaze is a complete horn bag who is repeatedly explained as being dumb, but lucky. Quin is a nerd and Ariel is super determined. I honestly don’t know how these 3 like each other. And it’s mainly MM action with a bit of MF. Never MMF really.
Should come with a TW as it deals with miscarriage and ivf sort of. Also a number of derogatory slurs against gays.
Love is really only professed between Blaze & Quin. I really felt that Ariel was essentially a “beard”. During the whole breakup, Blaze & Ariel ended up staying together which I totally missed.
Just a lot of yuck. Maybe 1 steamy scene with Blaze showing super human strength.

[Kelly DeMarco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting what you want comes at a high cost
Burning Blaze (Taming The Beast Book 2) by Alex McAnders is a good book that pulls you in, grabs you by the throat and won’t let go until the bitter end. This book was intriguing because the characters seemed to be self-centered and super snarky. At first I thought that only applied to the first two characters (Blaze & Ariel) introduced, but no! Ultimately Quin wasn't much better! Then, it turns out that Blaze made a quick turn around, with Ariel at a close second only to revert to her old ways when things between the three go south.
The plot was engaging and unexpected to a degree and I really appreciated that the characters from the first book of this series make an appearance and actually have a significant role in the plot as well as the final outcome for Blaze, Ariel and Quin.
Overall, a good read with well developed, realistic characters (snark and all!) that finally realize what is truly important and find their HEA.
I read an ARC of this book from Hidden Gems and voluntarily share my review.

[Magali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot but above all unexpected
The story is well written and it seemed predictable, even if it's a little twisted due to the scientific study that serves as the basis, but ultimately, it is rather unpredictable and even moving at the end.
To be able to keep his business following a sex scandal, Blaze is manipulated by Ariel: they must fake being engaged for his image and in exchange, he must convince his former best friend Quin, to give Ariel the patent for his latest studies. However Blaze understands that he has always been in love with Quin, but also that Quin has dated Ariel, just like him now.
Quin’s research is ethically criticizable, twisted, even if the objective seems to have a good background. But these research require the full participation of the two men and Ariel, excluding feelings, which seem impossible.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book

[Daniell Marsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this book as enemies to lovers is a trope that I enjoy reading now and then. This one added more twist as throwing in where instead of a couple there were three people involved in the relationship possibilities. . There was a lot of back and forth between the characters. There were a couple times I wasn’t really sure if I liked the characters and their behavior. And I felt some of how the author did the telling of the story touched on the fourth wall. I did like how the characters grew as the book went on. As they worked on things you were able to see different sides of the characters. I did receive an ARC from hidden gems for an honest review. I did like the book overall and was glad I had taken a chance on it.

[Amii · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised at how much I loved this book, it was so gripping from the very beginning. As soon as I started it I didn’t put it down and read the whole book in one go! I’ve read a lot of mmf but most of them aren’t bisexual so this was another fresh dynamic for me and I was thoroughly impressed. It’s the first I read from this author and I’ve signed up to the newsletter as I loved the book that much and can’t wait for book 3! I loved the characters and found the storyline fascinating as it’s a scenario I’ve not seen in other books so far so that was a great bonus along with the steamy scenes. I read this book as an ARC.

[Keema Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I love this book. It’s very interesting the way the author draws you into each character. I really love that this book starring love story is first with the men then later include the women. I also, love the twists and turns of this love story it’s like a flower blossoming right before your eyes. Above all I must say that This book will definitely open your eyes and leave you longing for more.

I voluntarily reviews this book after receiving a free copy.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enemies to lovers MMF romance to top the charts! Blaze & Quinn’s friendship goes back to high school and lasts through a lot until Quinn thinks Blaze betrayed him. Ariel is Quinn’s ex and can’t stand Blaze but needs them both to save her business. Life is unpredictable and these three prove that! There are twists & turns that you don’t see happening as well as love & betrayal! I loved this story & found it hard to put down as well as easy to read!

[suzanne menees · Rating 5 out of 5]

Burn me up

This was not your average romance. It dealt with some pretty controversial subject matter along with navigating a complicated relationship. The characters were good and the scenes were HOT. I received an arc of this book for an honest review.

[Jennifer Woodford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and relatable

The characters were beautifully written. Strong yet flawed (*GASP* like real people!) This Triad was actually believable. I wish the book had been longer.

[Babara-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ice cold to blazing furnace

Wow! I read Hurricane Laine and enjoyed it immensely but Burning Blaze was off the charts! I enjoyed how the hate turned to love and
eventually a loving family. Can't wait for Reckless Vandal!

[Shelly Celli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

This story is amazing and would be a great thing if it were true. The characters had a fantastic family unit going until it all blew up, but they were finally able to get their HEA. I am curious to see what they found with Baby Quin though.

[Stealth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Is he whipped or what?

It's bad enough that there are real people in this world like the characters in this book, but I don't want to read about them. I was hoping the storyline would change, but I couldn't past the 3rd chapter. HE'S WHIPPED! I'm done.

[Mel ReadingWithMAC]

I found Blaze to be uber obnoxious, to the point i couldn't continue reading the book, no matter the chemistry between the thruple.

[Christy Kohtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot is good. The characters are well written, but you have to work to learn to like them as people. I liked the book a lot, though. Major cliff hanger ending by the way!

[Jessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Burning Blaze

This book seemed even more unlikely than book 1. I like the characters but it just seems like the storyline isn’t completely fleshed out.

[Maca_DVD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esta un poco corrido de la teja pero estuvo bien

[pollymuz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook. Entertaining