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Growing up in a town named after his family, Ian Conrad has always known what would eventually be expected of him: run the family business, marry someone who fits the right mold, and secure his family’s future in the small town of Lake Conrad.

Those expectations have become less important to him over the past year though—ever since he met Annie Hoffman. While Ian is uptight, stalwart, and neat, Annie is fun, easy-going, and messy. As impossible as it seems to him, their differences make him want her even more.

Annie has always appreciated Ian’s friendship and loyalty, but she sometimes can’t help but notice how tall and strong he is, his shiny dark hair, his bright blue eyes… He’s her roommate's cousin and one of her best friends, though. He would never be interested in her so why mess up what works?

One sparkling, firework-filled night forces both of them to come to terms with the reality of their relationship. But when Ian’s obligations refuse to be ignored, will he have the courage to overcome them and fight for Annie?

Don’t miss the next installment in Emily North’s Lake Conrad series, a steamy friends-to-lovers contemporary romance.

291 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 13, 2022

24 people are currently reading
94 people want to read

About the author

Emily North

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5 stars
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17 (47%)
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5 (13%)
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Sofie Sehested.
313 reviews9 followers
October 14, 2022
I think this book was good but it definitely had it’s flaws.

There was points in which I loved it, where I felt the chemistry between Annie and Ian, especially their day at the Fourth of July and also when they behave as grownups and decide to have a dialog instead of keeping secrets or misunderstanding each other or running away without listening to the other persons explanation of what happened.

I felt that a lot of the time the characters felt immature also the side characters especially Morgan (Ian’s cousin).

Another thing I had some issues with was all the descriptions of the houses(inside and outside), all the furniture and also the clothes they wore.

It was way too much and unfortunately I skimmed through those because it bored me.

But I thought that it was so sweet that Ian(this big, though business guy) had this huge crush on Annie and that he got all shy around her. That was very cute and I loved the ending when he fell completely apart because she wanted to show him that he couldn’t keep trampling on her heart.

I also liked that Annie wasn’t afraid to befriend some people that was disliked by the friend group, because when her friends kind of left her in the lurch she needed someone to talk to.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Kaitlin Wood.
141 reviews2 followers
October 11, 2022
Emily North is a new-to-me author, but I can't wait to remedy that by reading the previous book in the series, because if it is anything like "Flame," then I am in for a treat! Typically, I prefer stories that are told in alternating first-person accounts, and I am usually not a fan of dual third-person POV, but North's writing style was so strong that I did not mind. This story had it all: a sweet-yet-sexy romance, dramatic family dynamics, class differences, and a forbidden attraction that just could not be denied, no matter how much outside forces intervened.

Ian and Annie, our likeable protagonists, are the epitome of the adage "opposites attract." Ian is the quintessential golden boy who always strives for perfection, tries to make his (very wealthy) family proud, keeps his thoughts and feelings close to the vest, and craves neatness and order in all aspects of his life. Annie, on the other hand, is more easy-going than her crush, and she accepts that messiness is sometimes a necessary consequence of having fun. Similarly, Annie is more open with her emotions, and in the beginning, she is unafraid to wear her heart on her sleeve, which is one of the traits that Ian likes most about her. In fact, I loved that Ian was immediately smitten with Annie from the moment he first saw her, to the extent that he cannot stop thinking about "her smile. Her caring nature. Her nurturing personality. She wasn’t like anyone he’d ever met before. She was all he wanted. Despite the drama. Despite the mess."

I also appreciated how the author showed — rather than just told us about — the connection between the two characters. Through silly banter, tender touches, lingering stares, and thoughtful gestures (such as when Annie cleans up the apartment to ensure that Ian feels comfortable and welcome while staying there), it becomes increasingly evident that Annie and Ian have feelings for each other that go way beyond friendship. The chemistry between them is easy, undeniable, and palpable, even when they are just engaging in innocent behaviors or mundane activities — like putting on sunscreen at the beach, which was one of my favorite moments early on in the story.

This was nearly a five-star read for me, but on one or two occasions while reading "Flame," I felt that Ian's actions did not always align with his character or fit with his internal musings about Annie. I understand that this is not necessarily a bad thing — after all, characters are supposed to be flawed, because in real life, people are not perfect — but I still wish that Ian had shown more of a backbone throughout certain parts of the book, and I believe he could have been a better partner and support system for Annie. Lastly, I think that parts of the story dragged a little in the middle, but with just a small adjustment to the pace, "Flame" could have been one of my top reads of the year. All in all, I am excited to see what Emily North has in store for the future, and I have already added "Flight" to my TBR pile.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Em.
216 reviews4 followers
October 3, 2022
Gotta be honest here. I loved the first one, but I had some issues with this book. There were a few glaringly obvious spelling errors that just irked me (like "course" instead of "coarse" and "per say" rather than "per se"). There was also an overwhelming use of the word jovial. Not sure why, but it was all over that book. And it felt kinda unrealistic. I mean Ian did some terrible shit to Annie and I thought she was too forgiving. Maybe this book just wasn't for me, but I don't know if I'm going to read any more. It just felt really rushed.
339 reviews3 followers
October 7, 2022
I really enjoy this series. The books are good, quick reads with steam. I like getting to know the characters and the setting is fantastic and charming. This book gave me more conflict which I enjoyed. The FMC was forgiving but it felt in her character to be optimistic so I'm not entirely put off by it. I do hope we see the MMC "bloom" a bit more emotionally in the next few books if given the chance (he's got a lot of groveling ahead of him).

I cannot wait for the rest of this series (Grumpy, eccentric cat dad, sign me up!).

I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Alex T.
399 reviews2 followers
October 19, 2022
A well written plot line and intresting to read. The characters were well potrayed and were refreshing. The love the drama between the characters were enjoyable.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for sincity_bookworm.
271 reviews56 followers
February 19, 2023
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝟸 𝙻𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚛𝚊𝚍 𝚂𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜

I was super excited to read this book because I loved the first one. Ian and Annie had intrigued me so I was excited to see their stories unfold. While this book didn't capture the small town and outdoorsy charm like the first book had, it divulged important elements to the overall series. We get a better glimpse into Ian's life and how he was raised. I understood Ian and Morgan's characters a little more and why they are the way they are. I know this will help float the rest of the series.

“𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝, 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞’𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐫.“

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬:
🎆𝙾𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝙰𝚝𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝
🎆𝙵𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜
🎆𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚋𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
🎆𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚃𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎
🎆𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎

Communication is a huge factor in Flame. I personally, as a reader, get overly frustrated with the communication trope. But communication played a part in every character's role in this book; main and side characters. It was well written here though and Emily North put me out of my misery pretty quickly instead of dragging it out for 400 more pages than necessary.

“𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟.“

This book is 2/4 so far in a series. I'm going to start the next book because I'm curious what happens with the next couple. I need answers!
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
20.8k reviews366 followers
October 15, 2022
Ian and Annie's Story . . .

This is an “opposites attract” story featuring Annie and Ian. Annie is a fun, easy-going woman who is not afraid to show her emotions. She is also a bit messy. Ian Conrad, on the other hand, is a perfectionist, neat, compartmentalized, always aware of the future that is planned for him running the family’s business, and keeping his emotions in tight control.

Ian was a frustrating character, pulled in two directions once he meets Annie and feels drawn to her. Things shift for him, and he is uncomfortable at times. And yet he can’t stop wanting her.

Annie is very aware of Ian, her roommate's cousin and a good friend. So she figures he wouldn’t be interested in more with her. And why mess up a good friendship? But life happens, and they finally see their relationship in a new way. As they watch the fireworks display, they finally come together, she tells him she loves him, and wakens the next morning in her bed – alone. Is Ian ready to go against family expectations to have Annie in his life? Or will he back down and continue to do what the family expects of him?
Profile Image for Sherri.
35 reviews2 followers
February 28, 2023
This story picks back up in beautiful Lake Conrad, California as a friends to lovers romance.
Nothing has been the same for Ian Conrad, after meeting Annie a year ago. Since the moment he met her he has had a secret love for her. What Ian didn’t know was that Annie was secretly in love with him too.
Ian was destined to take over the Conrad dynasty and marry someone from his social standing and that person was not Annie. Annie was messy and fun, light-hearted and a school teacher while Ian was uptight and stoic. The two finally make their feelings known to one another just as Curtis Conrad(Ian’s father) steps in and ruins everything! Ian leaves Annie high and dry after a night of passion as he leaves town and breaks her heart.
There are a few plot twists that I really enjoyed in this book and some new characters introduced. I was mad a few times at Ian but ugh I do love his character so much. The author did a great job of tying book 1 and 2 together!
I can’t wait to read book 3. So many possibilities on the next love interests that we might discover.
Profile Image for Floraljoy.
1,144 reviews
October 10, 2022
Fighting for love:
I enjoyed this friends to lovers, small town romance. It was fun reconnecting with this group of characters and I liked how I felt I really got to connect with them and feel their emotions.
Ian was being pulled into his father's world of wealth and business meanwhile his heart longed to be free. Poor Annie was caught in the middle and my heart went out to her. Whilst I found myself getting frustrated with Ian, I also felt for him and liked the personal growth that he eventually displayed.
All in all this was a sweet and encouraging story and I look forward to seeing what is in stall for the next couple.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for eli .
88 reviews19 followers
October 21, 2022
Not going to lie, this was my first small town sort of romance and so I didn’t know what to make of it exactly. The romance was good and the bumps in the road that Ian and Annie had were exactly as bumpy as you could think. I felt that there were so much of just telling, not showing, in a sense that the telling wasn’t exactly hooking me despite there being no/not much conversation in that certain part/s and that turned me off. I found it nice that the romance didn’t move so fast yet my ship radar isn’t exactly shooting up to the roof right now, not because I don’t ship them but probably didn’t feel much of my heart beating fast compared to other romance books. So two stars for the romance and the interesting small town dynamic that I was introduced to.
3,221 reviews4 followers
October 16, 2022
She's sloppy and free-spirited. He's an uptight neat freak. It'll never work. I really like Annie, dedicated to the kids she teaches, and a great friend. Ian walked away from her without a word, completely ghosting her. And the longer he was gone, the more I disliked him. I can't believe that he gave his father so much control over his life. I can't even begin to comprehend his crazy family. There are lots of twists and turns in the story, and a happy ending that I wasn't sure would happen. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Nicole Potter.
1,571 reviews16 followers
October 14, 2022
Can uptight & carefree really mix?

What a fantastic read. Ian & Annie are opposites. He's uptight & she's carefree. The attraction between them is undeniable & one night they are forces to deal with the reality of their friendship. Ian has obligations & when they refuse to go away will he stand up & fight for Annie? Worth more than 5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Reading_with_dani93.
318 reviews8 followers
October 16, 2022
Emily North is a newer to me author and I love her writing style. I absolutely loved the firs book Fight in this series and I thought this one was great also. I loved the characters and really like the opposites attract trope. This book kept me hooked and was a quick page turner read for me. I definitely can't wait to read more by Emily in the future.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4,012 reviews34 followers
October 10, 2022
Flame by Emily North is a good, and enjoyable steamy friends to lovers small town romance read. The story has a good story line. This is Book 2 of the series that can be read as a stand-alone. The characters are good, relatable, and they have good chemistry. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Marigold Maybee.
96 reviews5 followers
October 14, 2022
I love a good friends-to-lovers, opposites attract romance, and this is exactly that. While I usually read 1st person romances, I can and will read 3rd person it just takes a minute or a few chapters to get back into the swing of it. I didn't have that problem with this book though! I was right into it by the third or fourth page.
778 reviews9 followers
October 3, 2022
This book was okay. I thought there were times when it was a little slow. I did enjoy the characters and I’m wondering what is next with Morgan and Cole.

Side note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
Profile Image for Christina Bowling.
1,601 reviews15 followers
October 17, 2022
I liked this book quite a bit. Ian and Annie were perfect for each other, and I liked their story. I was happy with the ending as well.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4,643 reviews
November 1, 2022
A new author with a sweet small-town friends-to-lovers romance about Ian and Annie.
It was a nice read but it had some typos and issues.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for TheBookLady.
77 reviews8 followers
October 13, 2022
This is the second book of the series but it can be read alone. This is a refreshing contemporary romance. It does have third person POV. Over all it is an easy enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Nikita Stanley.
445 reviews7 followers
October 14, 2022
Note: This is Book 2 of the series that can be read as a stand-alone.

This is a sweet contemporary romance about two totally different, flawed and relatable characters.

This story contains third party interference, lots of emotion and an abundance of love.

It’s a great light read and the character and world building is fantastic.

Definitely worth the read!

I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced reader copy of this book and voluntarily leave this honest review.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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