Destined for Love – Friendship on Fire by Melissa Foster – Reviews
Because I can’t stop reading Melissa Foster’s Love in Bloom series, and she keeps coming out with a new book every month, today I am posting a two book review. Enjoy!
Friendship on Fire
Love in Bloom series – Book #6
The Bradens – Book #3
by Melissa Foster
Release Date: January 5. 2014
Links to order Friendship on Fire: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository
Description:
FRIENDSHIP ON FIRE is a steamy contemporary romance with alpha male heroes and sexy, empowered women. They’re flawed, funny, passionate, and very relatable for readers who enjoy adult romance, contemporary romance, and women’s fiction.
Small-town overachiever Riley Banks has finally scored her big break—working in Manhattan as a fashion design assistant for her childhood crush, Josh Braden. She enters her new job hoping to make a name for herself and—just maybe—explore the romance that slipped through her fingers way back when.
Josh Braden has models at his beck and call, a staff that never says never, and an elegant clothing line for the holiday season. When he hires Riley Banks he expects her to learn the business from the ground up. But the girl next door turns out to be much more than he remembered.
Josh and Riley’s friendship heats up. Every steamy kiss, and every erotic caress stirs a love they cannot deny. But when Riley designs a wedding gown that would cause even the most jaded fashion editors to swoon, Riley’s mentor accuses her of stealing the design.
Facing indisputable proof and the mistrust of her lover, Riley is not sure she can take the heat of life in the fast lane of the fashion industry—and Josh is forced to choose between the woman he loves and the career he adores
Review:
Friendship on Fire is the 6th book of Melissa Foster’s wonderful Love in Bloom series, and the 3rd book of The Bradens. Each book in this series keeps getting better and better, but after Destined for Love, I wasn’t sure anything can be better then Jade and Rex’s story. Friendship on Fire belongs to Riley and Josh, as our heroes; where it may not be better, it matches equally as a great book. Melissa Foster continues to astonish me that she can do just about a book a month, and still keep us loving each book. Every Braden brother is hot, and even their sister is awesome. The Snow Sisters were nice, but the Bradens are off the wall.
Josh is the famous fashion designer brother, whom Riley has had a crush on since she was a teenager. Riley also designs for the local Macy’s, and jumps at a chance to work for Josh in N.Y. What follows is a wonderful sexy scorching romance between two people who have so much in common, besides their love of designing and their hometown; they have both eyed each other for years. It doesn’t take very long for them to act on their feelings when Riley arrives in New York. They embark on an affair, which they agree to keep private, as Riley is worried if people find out, she will be accused of “sleeping her way to the top”. But Josh knows Riley’s designs are different, and beautiful. He has no doubt that she will be a star. But again, nothing is easy. New York is competition, and in Josh’s company, JBD, we meet Claudia, who wants Josh for herself, as well as to rise in his company. Claudia is a cutthroat, as she will stop at nothing to get what she wants. It is her vengeful cheating and lies that threaten Riley & Josh’s relationship.
The story becomes tense, as Riley is concerned that this will hurt Josh’s career, besides her own. Josh knows Riley is innocent, but he still has slight fears of his career, if he can’t prove her innocence. Both are faced with decisions that could break up a beautiful romance. Will they survive? Will the truth be revealed? Will Claudia succeed in wrecking havoc? Will the Bradens stick together? The last question is a no brainer. Lol
I cannot get enough of this series, as I am loving every moment. Such wonderful couples, sexy steamy romances, super family atmosphere, great friendships, and a terrific storyline in each book. I am thrilled that there are more Bradens to come. When you want a great sexy romance to relax and enjoy, look no further then Melissa Foster and her Love in Bloom series.
Destined for Love
Love in Bloom series – Book #5
The Bradens – Book #2
by Melissa Foster
Release Date: January 5. 2014
Links to order Destined for Love:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository
Description:
Rex Braden is wealthy, hard working, and fiercely loyal. Sweat at his brow, he works the family ranch by day, then kicks back at night with part time lovers who require nothing more than his physical presence a few times each week. But that was before. Before Jade Johnson, the daughter of the man his father has been feuding with for over forty years, moves back into town.
After ditching a horrific relationship–and her veterinary practice in the process–Jade Johnson returns to the safety of her small hometown and finally finds her footing. That is…until her horse is injured and Rex Braden comes to her rescue. The last thing she needs is a bull-headed, too-handsome-for-his-own-good Braden complicating her life.
Despite the angry family history, sparks fly between Rex and Jade, and attitudes follow. Fifteen years of stifled, forbidden love stirs a surge of passion too strong for either to deny–and the rebel in each of them rears its powerful head. Loyalties are tested, and relationships are strained. Rex and Jade are about to find out if true love really can conquer all.
Review:
Destined for Love by Melissa Foster is the 5th book in her Love in Bloom series. When I started this series with the Snow Sisters, I thought this was going to be a good series. I was wrong, it is a GREAT series, as each book keeps getting better and better. I had just finished reading a few paranormal or historical books, and wanted something light and fast to enjoy. WOW…I read Destined for Love in one sitting.
When I read the last book, Lovers at Heart, I thought it was wonderful, not to mention very steamy with a fabulous couple. In that book, I was not crazy about Rex Braden, our hero in this book, since he seemed cold, and sullen. At the start of Destined for Love, he didn’t change my mind, since he was still the same.
Right from the start, I loved our heroine Jade Johnson. She comes across as a strong, independent, spunky, and fun loving young lady. The key to this story is the feud between the Bradens and the Johnsons that has been going on for 15 years. The feud is really between the patriarchs of the families, with the children avoiding each other out of loyalty to their fathers. But we see immediately that both Rex and Jade have felt a deep and frustrating attraction to each other all those years, and every time they see each other, the pull is very strong. But they continue to hide their feelings because of this feud.
Jade is now a veterinarian, working mostly with horses, and her reputation keeps growing with her special ways with the horses. They both find themselves coming face to face a few times, and each knows they cannot act on their feelings. Jade in her dreams, wants Rex, but Rex continues to scowl and be somewhat of an A**. He desperately hides his feelings and then one day, nothing can hold them back from their lustful feelings. What follows is a wonderful, not to mention a steamy affair they try to hide from others. Once Jade got her hands on Rex, or was it the other way around; he totally changed as far as I was concerned. I fell in love with Rex then, as he and Jade were so perfect for each other.
When Rex finally decides he can’t hide his feelings anymore, he blows their relationship open for all to see. It was so beautiful to see his brothers and sister stand behind him. What a family, and they are all hot too. J It is Jade who must help Hope, the Braden’s sick horse, whom used to belong to their deceased mother. This is where Hal Braden & Jade’s father angrily come face to face, as all the Bradens watch. Will Jade and Rex be able to stay together? Will this feud ever end? Please please read this wonderful book to find out.
I love the Bradens, and I am thrilled there are many more of them to come. Destined for Love has everything you want in a book, romance, wonderful couple, steamy sex, fabulous family, and a terrific storyline of a relationship that is forbidden by a long time family feud. Melissa, just keep on cranking them out, as I am totally in love.
Reviews by Barb
Copy provided by author