Flame

Carmichael Family Series, Book 5

By: Adriana Locke

Narrated by: CJ Bloom, Teddy Hamilton

RSVP to my Marriage of Convenience

I swore I would only get married if my life depended on it. Oh, the irony.

Many things have happened over the past few weeks that I didn’t see coming. My family imploded. Our business was turned upside down. And someone threatened to harm me if I didn’t make good on my father’s promises.

But the biggest thing I didn’t see coming?

Foxx Carmichael demanding marriage.

He’s doing it out of loyalty to my brother. I know that. But I can’t help but think if, through that deliciously hot, grumpy exterior, my bodyguard doesn’t have ulterior motives.

There’s no denying the fire in his touch or the heat in his blue eyes. He protects me with a ferocity that leaves me breathless. He makes me rethink many things I thought I knew for sure—like my position on marriage.

But how we dance around our fake relationship makes me wonder what part of this is pretend. None of it matters if he doesn’t admit he feels the same way.

Our sham wedding will fall apart as soon as the threat is contained. But what happens if the flames between us burn everything to the ground first?

©2023 Adriana Locke (P)2023 Adriana Locke

Foxx and Bianca were utter perfection!

I couldn't have asked for a better ending to the Carmichael's family stories! We finally got to see behind the grumpy exterior of Foxx and learn that he does indeed have a heart beating inside that hard chest, however; it only beats for his Bianca. Who knew that a bachelor auction gone wrong (in Foxx's opinion) would lead to the man coming out of his shell to protect the woman he loves. Bianca wanted her man and she wasn't going to take no for an answer. With her pushy ways and smart mouth, only she could get to Foxx. He met his match for sure! Only Bianca comes to learn that what she thought was unrequited love wasn't so unrequited after all. In this grumpy/sunshine, brother's best friend, marriage of convenience story, we get so much more than the typical "troupiness." We get a strong woman who goes after what she wants and a brother - wait for it - that supports this union and kind of pushes it to happen. When push comes to shove - and it absolutely does for Bianca and Foxx - Foxx owns up and does what he does best, protect, just like Jason knew he would. CJ Bloom and Teddy Hamilton were brilliant as Bianca and Foxx!

Foxx and Bianca

Foxx is tricked into an auction where Bianca bets a high amount. They have a history and when there is a threat she ends staying with Foxx. The narrating was spot on and Teddy never disappoints. There was entertainment especially when it came to Banks and Foxx. Lets not forget the chickens too. Good narrators.

Adriana did it again!

Of course Foxx did not disappoint and Teddy Hamilton was the perfect choice. I love Bianca and how hard Foxx fell for the whole thing, heart first: love this addition to the Carmichael family.

Perfect Narration

A book is a marriage of convenience with a side of humor. Banks is my favorite character whose antics reunite Bianca and his older broody brother, Foxx, together. I thought Foxx was somewhat boring compared to his other brother, but the members of the Carmichael made up for his lack of personality. I also loved the mystery and suspense of this story. The Audiobook with narrators CJ Bloom and Teddy Hamilton is worth the listen!

wow

my fave out the whole series.they all had merit but there is just something about fox🤩

Short and Sweet

Foxx’s book was short and sweet. I have been waiting for this one for a while. I’m so happy we finally got to hear about the mysterious keys and mostly the mysterious man that Foxx is. I love how Adriana kept him low-key throughout the books. This is kind of a second chance with marriage of convenience. Adriana did a great job with the timeline of this book. The main bulk was all within a couple of days' time, but I really got a sense of their relationship despite that aspect. I always love getting a peek at the rest of the Carmichael brothers through each of the siblings' eyes. Foxx and Banks together made me laugh. I’m glad we got to see how the chickens were doing, too.

This was told in dual POV and was narrated in dual. CJ Bloom and Teddy Hamilton did a great job, and I felt that Teddy really fit the role of Foxx very well. CJ embraced Bianca and her attitude, and I found listening to the two of them so much fun.

This was such a fun read, and I’m so glad we finally got to know Foxx Carmichael a little better.

So sad it’s the end of this series! 🥺

This series has been so much fun to read and listen to! I’ve loved all of the characters that I’ve met and gotten to know through all of the stories and I’m truly going to miss them 🥹

Foxx’s book was one of the best out of the series for me. It’s always the quiet ones you’ve gotta watch out for 😏 Fox has been in love with Bianca for years and being her bodyguard on top of that?! STOP IT. PERFECTION. I loooove the bodyguard trope, and Adriana did the trope justice with Foxx. Foxx is unbelievably protective of Bianca, so much so that he literally chooses to walk away from her for years because he fell in love with her and believed he couldn’t protect her as good as she deserved. GET OUT OF HERE WITH THAT CUTENESS 😍😍

The audiobook was so good, I loved CJ and Teddy’s performances and I really felt like they played both of them so well.

I highly recommend this whole series if you’re looking for something fun, lighthearted, hilarious and sexy!

Nice quick listen

Audiobook review: Narrated by CJ Bloom and Teddy Hamilton

While I did enjoy this book, I feel the narration really kept me engaged more than the story itself. It was a sweet second chance romance between Foxx and Bianca, a successful businesswoman and her previous security / bodyguard. It had a lot of potential for some chaos and drama, but those situations never quite came to fruition. There was a nice suspenseful scene toward the end that got the blood pumping a bit and the side characters were a lot of fun so it's definitely worth a listen if you are after a quick feel-good romance.

CJ Bloom and Teddy Hamilton were amazing as always. They each have such vastly different inflections when portraying the opposite sex. Particularly when CJ Bloom was voicing Foxx's character, I actually forgot it wasn't two different people. They have been and remain two of my favorite romance book narrators.

Finally Foxx's story!

Finally Foxx's story!!! I have been so intrigued by Foxx in this series. He is always the stoic brother. He doesn't get involved in all of the childish behaviors of his brothers. I got to see Foxx in another story as a private guard, so I knew what his job entailed. What I didn't know was that he had fallen for a charge! Bianca shook Foxx's world up and he walked away from her to keep her safe and so that he wouldn't upset her brother.

Bianca is feisty with a head for business. She is a powerful woman, but when there is a threat against her she decides the best place to be is with Foxx.

These two have such deep feelings for one another that they can finally act on when their fake marriage takes place. The marriage was never going to be fake LOL. I knew from the beginning that these two were never taking off those rings.

We got to see more of the Carmichaels and it's a nice bridge into Bianca's family and the books that will be coming there. I'm sad to leave the Carmichael's but can't wait to see what's ahead for Bianca and Renn's family!

The narration was great and really brought me into the story.

Banter hilarious

Foxx is being auction off and Bianca paid for him. Bianca had a moment together before Foxx requested a transfer from her detail. Jason Bianca brother need Foxx help in protecting Bianca from there father schemes. So he end up marrying her. it's low angst and we see two people who had never contemplated the possibility of a future together being given the chance of a lifetime. loved how Bianca brings Foxx's sweet side as she herself is a strong and feisty woman. She's been through a lot and Foxx is the man to give her everything she didn't realize she needed. Especially Bianca never thought of marriage she would end her past relationship if she felt any kind of hint they were going to propose. we get shenanigans, meddling relatives, hilarious text convos and it all comes together.
we finally find out who the mystery person behind the texts is and also why Foxx kept getting keys. You even get a little bit of a shocking turn of events in the end.
I just found out we get the brewers series. So yay.