Playing With Fire

by Shonel Jackson

In Playing With Fire, Book 2 of the martial arts series, Era Capoeira, we meet Javier Martínez and Luna Michaels. Their story begins with a one night stand. The connection between them is instantaneous. One look into her golden-brown eyes and Javier is hooked. The problem was that he had no business being attracted to Luna or any other woman for that matter, right now. His trip to London was supposed to be a short one. Javier’s life at home in Spain and the past he was still dealing with, ensured that he would stick to that plan.

Luna had been to many of the Capoeira workshops at the school she’d been a part of for years. They were the highlight of the season and she always looked forward to them. This year, however, she meets one particular invitee, who she simply cannot resist, nor does she want to.

When their one night of passion comes to an end, Javier walks away from it feeling guilt-ridden, and Luna, with a little surprise.

301 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2022

About the author

I fell in love with romance novels as a teenager.  Throughout my life, I have consumed them ravenously.  I started writing my own a few years after reading my first.  Nothing could stop me after that.

I love to write strong female leads, primarily women of colour.  My ladies are vibrant, worldly and not afraid of a challenge.  My guys are irresistible and smouldering and will stop at nothing to win their prize.

You'll laugh, maybe shed a little tear and drown in the worlds I like to weave.

Reviews

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The story was great, and the characters were wonderful. However, there were quite a few grammatical/typing/punctuation errors, and it did bother me.⭐️⭐️⭐️

[BreakingtheEpigraph · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first story by Shonel Jackson is a secret baby and second chance romance and book two of the Era Capoeira series. Javier traveled to London to attend a belt-giving celebration. While there he meets Luna, the first woman who has intrigued him since his deceased wife. Javier and Luna have a magical night. He’ll leave more than Luna behind. A year will pass before he and Luna will cross paths again. Javier is still grieving his beloved deceased wife; however when he finds out about Lexi. Javier will want Luna and his daughter with him. Will Javier be able to give Luna his heart or will he forever grieve, his dead wife, Isabela?
 
I found this story interesting and learned something new, as I had never heard of Capoeria before. From my perspective, the writing started off very technical and I almost lost interest in completing the story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.3 stars

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Her invitation, and it was an invitation, hung in the air, neither of them looking away from the other. They silently communicated everything that needed to be said. He took her hand, led her downstairs and out the front door.

With the one year anniversary of his wife's death, Javier Martinez decides to leave his family's vineyard in Spain to accept the invitation from his friend to celebrate in a Capoeira batizado in London. When he locks eyes with Luna Michaels, a part of himself that has been buried wakes up. Luna is also instantly attracted to Javi but when he gives her a little bit of a cold shoulder in the morning, she thinks he regrets their one night together. So, when their one night gets Luna pregnant, she learns from mutual friends that Javi is a grieving widow, and she battles a case of postpartum depression after Lexi's birth, it takes two years before Luna is ready to tell Javi he's a father. Javi interrupts her plans when he unexpectedly shows up to the batizado again, after skipping a year, and Lexi jumps into arms.

She wanted her daughter to have her father, but Luna the woman, realised she may have also wanted the man too.

Playing with Fire is second in the Era Capoeira series and I loved how much of the Brazilian martial arts the author included. A fighting art form that incorporates music and dance like movements into it's style, utilizing capoeira as a setting at times gave a great fun, competitive, and push and pull atmosphere that works fantastic for a romance. The beginning had Luna and Javi falling into insta-lust with some flirty playfulness and then when the story jumps us those two years to Luna having her daughter Lexi and the surprise way Javi meets her, we actually get our third act break-up/black moment right away. I liked this flip because then it gave the characters the majority of the story to work through the problems, more time for believable emotional growth. For the most part, I liked how the time was used but it did get a little slow with some repetitiveness in the middle later half.

She was 'playing with fire', in more ways than one.

Javi had some of that Harlequin Presents main male character to him and demanded to move in with Luna so he could get to know his daughter, even when Luna tells him she only has one bed. These two had a good amount of bedroom scenes (the dining room table doesn't get left out, either), so if you're looking for more of that in your contemporary romance, this had it in spades. Javi is, obviously, angry about Luna not telling him about his daughter but by midway, when Luna lays it all out how the last two years went for her, he softens. He then wants Luna and Lexi to move to Spain with him, he can't leave because of his family's vineyard and Luna has a freelance remote graphic designer job.

In his eyes, she could see nothing but fire and hunger.

The second half was Luna warring with the decision to move to Spain to be with Javi, she feels in love with him at this point but worried he'll never be able to open his heart after losing his first wife. Javi pretty much mirrors Luna, he's wildly attracted to Luna and loves Lexi but opening his heart again is tough. They travel to Spain for Javi's younger sister's wedding and we get a little bit of family drama from Javi's mother and a very small other woman showing up bitter. If you're new to the series, you could easily jump in here and readers of the first book would probably enjoy the appearances of that main couple as they are both friends of Luna and Javi and show up a fair amount. If you like Harlequin Presents, this had some flavor of those tones or enjoyed Lori Foster's MMA series, you'd definitely want to give this a try. Each chapter had a drawing and labeling of a capoeira movement, the title was a fun play on Javi's capoeira nickname, and the playful battling of the martial arts flowed extremely well into the romance.

[CLorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing With Fire is book two in Shonel Jackson’s Era Capoeira Series. Ms. Jackson utilizes the sport Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art, as the backdrop for much of the story. I had heard of this interesting sport and had a limited knowledge of the history and origin, but Ms. Jackson gives the reader a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes! When Javier Martínez attends the belt giving ceremony at his friend’s Capoeira school, he is still reeling from the passing of his wife. He is still grieving and is not looking for a relationship or even companionship. He is certainly not expecting the visceral impact meeting Luna Michaels would have on him. They share an enthusiasm for this sport as well as immediate passionate connection. Shaken and confused, Javier reluctantly leaves the next morning and Luna is left to cope with the fallout alone. We are given several familiar tropes in this story, but Ms. Jackson imbues the narrative with a fresh perspective and engaging characters. Complications and conflicts arise but both characters handle these situations with dignity and support. Javier is thrown off his game by a secret Luna did not readily disclose but his eventual road to understanding was realistic and sweet. I thoroughly enjoyed this international love story and look forward eagerly to the next installment.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is the second in the Era Capoeira series. I read the first novel in the series (Let's Play). I was intrigued and wanted to read another story set in Ms. Jackson's London among the capoeira practitioners. This novel brings together Luna and Javi, who meet at a capoeira festival weekend and are instantly attracted. They spend the night together, and somewhat predictably (for these sorts of stories anyway), Luna becomes pregnant. It isn't until two years later that they meet again, and then the drama really takes off. I was intrigued by the creative take on a plot twist I have encountered before. I don't want to give too much away, but Javi's home is in Spain, running his family's vineyard, which certainly creates some issues. It was endearing to see how caring both Javi and Luna were of their "surprise" child. In contrast, their chemistry is off the charts hot. Ms. Jackson's writing style really expressed the spirit of a story taking place "across the pond" (for me, that is). I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series!
Some minor housekeeping issues: the ebook I read had a lot of errors that must have skated by the proofreaders. Also, though the book was divided into chapters, the ebook had no table of contents, which made it hard to line things up between reading devices.

I was given an ARC and volunteered to write a review.

[Hawkeye K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of all the books I've read by Shonel Jackson I think I liked this one the best. You have a man who is still mourning the loss of his wife, a woman who he feels was the love of his life, his heart and no woman will ever be able to take her place. You feel his pain and wonder can he love again, but when he meets Luna he feels something that he hasn't felt in a long time and he doesn't understand it. The passion of the couple is interesting to watch although the baby angle was even more interesting.as to how it would play out.

[Mylene Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part 2 of Luna and Javier. Oh, what a night! Javier and Luna meet up again after a few years but they are very different people this time. Life for Luna has changed a lot, just as it has for Javier. Is forgiveness on the cards for these two? and is it allowed?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Princess TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shonel Jackson is a new to me author. The first two books in this series have introduced me to the author and the Brazilian martial art of Capoeira. I was enchanted by this steamy interracial second chance romance. I look forward to following this author and continuing to read the upcoming books in this series.

[Manisha Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book two in the Era Capoeira Series. This story is an instalove interracial steamy erotic contemporary romance. The characters are loveable with great chemistry and a happy ending.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kaitie Pankonien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing With Fire was an excellent book. It had lust, romance, cultural elements, and family oriented. It was extremely hard to put it down. I read it in less than 12 hours, it was that good. It will definitely hold your interests and capture your attention.

[Rita · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is book 2 of the series which introduce Javier and Luna. The story begins with a one night stand between these two Martial Arts lovers. I received an Advanced Readers copy of the book. I couldn't finish the book as it just didn't interest me. I am donating it to my local library.

[Kea4 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought it was ok. A little predictable of course but I did like the incorporation of Capoeira.

https://theworldisabookandiamitsreade...

[Sanrizz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book was an easy read, and I enjoyed it. Yes, it was a bit predictable, but still enjoyable.

[Erin Under_Covers_Smut_Lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good. Not what I expected it to be. Still worth the read!