Flame True

Bandit Brothers #4

by Raleigh Damson

Nick Laurent never wanted to join his family’s giant tech company. He’s played the part of the reluctant heir for years but always knew his time being a private operative for Axis Management would run out. Despite his playboy lifestyle, there is one woman he can’t stop thinking of, even though she is totally off-limits.
Mulberry Stevens’ life changed one June night and hasn’t been the same since her abduction, kidnapping and rescue by the Bandit Brothers. When a new threat emerges, Mulberry decides she isn’t staying hidden this time; her need and desire to be seen driving her choice.
Nick is grumpy, a complete snob and the last man she’d ever choose as boyfriend material, no matter how much sex appeal he oozes behind his glasses and under his mop of curls. But pretending to be his girlfriend is a solution to her problem.
Despite the age gap between them, his grumpy to her sunshine, the heat between them starts to flare.
When they discover who is behind her kidnapping and Nick steps into the life that he was meant to have, can they trust that their feelings for each other are true? 

Genres: Contemporary

303 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 17, 2023

Reviews

[El · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always I love Raleigh's work. Her characters are never flawless and that's just how I like it. Relatable yet fictional and just enough of an adventure to take you away, all while tying in the k!nk elements we know and love. With honest k!nk representation, arrangements, and partners that would simply die for each other you really just can't go wrong with this book or this series of standalone. Nick and Mulberry are electric and authentic in their spicy moments and out of them, of course.
Raleigh really has a talent for making you feel like you're in the story!

[Michelle Frater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mulberry has lived her whole life in the public eye, yet never been seen, until she is put in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Months after her kidnapping ordeal, she is clawing her way back to some form of normalcy when it appears her kidnappers are back. Nick, who was part of the team that brought her back the first time, is assigned as her personal bodyguard under the guise of her fake boyfriend. Nick is so hot and cold with Mulberry that I was surprised she didn’t get whiplash. While Nick makes all sorts of excuses for not getting involved with Mulberry, she keeps chipping away at his walls with her surprising spontaneity, kindness and strength. For every one step forward though, it was two steps back. But when Nick finally succumbs, he goes from naught to one hundred. The story lags a bit in a few places, but overall, the tension was kept tight as Nick and the team search for the person behind the attempts to kidnap Mulberry, and although the culprit is revealed, I was disappointed not knowing why Mulberry had been targeted, though I can hazard a few guesses. I didn’t understand why Mulberry tried to push Nick away after everything they’d been through and was sad that she didn’t think what they had shared was real. But with a little word from the wise, they both soon realized that you have to fight for your dreams.

[Kay Reads Too Much · Rating 3 out of 5]

*possible spolier* I really liked the background building of the characters and felt like I knew them pretty well. I liked the whole set-up for the storyline and felt like the flow was good. The action was good as well. The reason this is a 3 star review is because of the lack of pre-scene conversation and consent for the bdsm club... I think consent was implied, but I've read a lot of books with this trope, and parts of this felt rushed and the lack of communication was not my favorite. I'm interested to see how the author grows the storyline though, because there are a lot of characters to work with, so I would read more of them.

[Heather Bosch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading an arc for this book. This book begins with a lot of sexual tension between the two main characters. Nick is on a secret body guard team that is called in to keep Mulberry safe from people that are trying to kidnap her again. Mulberry’s mom is a famous actress and Nicks family has a very prominent tech business that Nick also works for.

So that Nick can guard Mulberry 24/7 they come up with a back store to start dating. There is a bit a spicy in this book with dom and sub play.

I would definitely recommend this book!

[Amanda Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nick and Mulberry’s story had me hooked from day one. This fake relationship goes from 🥶🥶 to very 🥵🥵 very quickly. There is lots of different flavors of spice to keep things interesting. The background plot is engaging and kept me guessing until the end. There is a HEA and no cliffhanger.

[Cassie Hollenbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was a rollercoaster! The way the characters grew throughout the book, was incredible! The sexual tension was insane! This was such a good book and I cannot wait to see where book five goes!

[Rose Seals · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nick and Mulberry are known to each other from her being kidnapped and him being on the team to rescue her. Again he is put close to her to keep her safe. Well written, full of drama, love, romance and suspense and some steamy scenes. Keeps you on the edge of you seat till the end. What a surprise of who was behind the kidnapping. A must read. Would recommend to everyone who likes steamy who done it.

I am an ARC and leave this unbiased, honest review.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, it was an enjoyable read. A little slow at times for me and I had a hard time getting into either character as they both seemed wishy washy. I received an advanced copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sammye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast paced, well written story. I really enjoyed Nick’s and Mulberry’s “cold to hot” relationship. Lots of drama and spice. It’s the 4th book in the Bandit Brothers series, but can be read as a standalone. *this was a complimentary copy and this is my honest review*