Title:Inflame
Series: Explosive #3
Author:Tessa Teevan
Release Date: May 12, 2014
Rating:4 stars
Cliffhanger:No
HEA: Yes
Easy going soldier Kale Montgomery, a self-proclaimed ladies man, has no plans of settling down, especially not with his best friend- the sexy, sassy schoolteacher Lucy Dawson. Their relationship, though unconventional, is mutually beneficial, and they wouldn't have it any other way. Friends with benefits? Casual lovers? Whatever you want to call it, they’re having fun, in and out of bed, and to them, that’s all that matters. At least that’s what they think, but how long can you spend in someone's bed before you find they're also infiltrating your heart?
As their casual fling with no strings attached progresses, it's not long before they realize they're both in way over their heads. One fateful night changes their lives forever in ways they could never have imagined, giving them the push to finally admit that maybe, just maybe they want more than they’ve let on. Their mutual attraction rapidly intensifies as it shifts from burning lust to unrelenting want, need, and possibly even love. Suddenly the idea of settling down doesn't seem so bad. In fact, it sounds pretty damn perfect.
Just when things seem to be falling into place, past pain and renewed insecurities rise to the surface and threaten to smother the flames of their passionate relationship, reminding them both why they’ve always kept the idea of love at arm's length. Will Kale and Lucy realize that what they've been waiting for is each other, or will the blazing whirlwind of their feelings burn out too quickly, causing it to all go up in smoke?
There are very few series that I can say every book in them are 4 or 5 star reads. When you can say that, the series belongs on your favorites shelf because there’s something special there. This is a hard thing to accomplish and Tessa Teevan has done it for me. I really liked this book-Kale and Lucy’s story takes right off where we left it in Incinerate. Lucy is Charlie’s best friend and has a very strong personality-it took me a while for her to grow on me. She’s not usually my favorite type of heroine-brash, blunt, and only goes for the casual hook-up with men. I do love strong heroines, but I’m not a huge fan of the friends with benefits type stories. I was banking on Ms Teevan’s track record in the series to pull another winner out of the hat. and yes, she did make a believer out of me.
Lucy is a second grade teacher who’s perfectly happy with her life how it is-she doesn’t need a man to complicate things. After being told all her life that she was a surprise baby that caused a shotgun wedding and years of unhappiness, she’s not all fired up to put herself out there for the sake of love. I felt for her-that’s got to be hard to be told you’re unwanted by your father. It messes with your head.
When Kale shows up at school for his goddaughter, she’s slammed with lust but also can’t help but have a soft spot for this man who’s so devoted to her student.
Kale is just as attracted to her but the combination of his past and the fact that he’s only home for a short while is making him wonder if they should start anything. But damn, there’s something about this woman that stirs every sexy teacher fantasy there ever was.
Seeing the freckle on the tip of her nose causes me to grin, and she sucks in her bottom lip when I do. I know I shouldn’t be hot for teacher, but I can’t help it. I totally am.
They decide pretty much right away that there’s no reason they shouldn’t enjoy themselves until he has to go back overseas. She doesn’t hold back, and her bold honesty and her total comfort in her own sexuality is refreshing and hot as hell to him. They get down and dirty, play up every teacher student fantasy ever devised, and love every second of it. They can’t get enough of each other.
Excuse me, Ms. Dawson. I believe you owe me a punishment, an I’m here to take it like a man,” I tell her, watching as her eyes widen. I watch as she swallows hard, and my dick is raging in anticipation of her response. “Sergent Montgomery, I’m not sure you can handle the punishment I have in mind for you.”
Kale and Lucy have some serious chemistry under the sheets, but they also come to find that they’re becoming best friends as well. They’ve moved into the friends with benefits category…the benefits having come before the friends part and though they both tell each other that it’s the ideal situation, they’re lying. To themselves and each other. They both want more but are unwilling, or maybe unable to admit it and overcome their pasts. We don’t really know what happened to Kale, but we know that whatever it is, it broke his heart and prevents him from being able to attempt a relationship.
An unforeseen factor will blow everything out of the water. Their no strings attached situation just produced one hell of a string. It seems history is repeating itself and Lucy, who was a surprise baby herself, is now pregnant and freaking the heck out. The combination of their pasts make for one serious struggle but it ends up being just what they needed to wake them up and realize how much they mean to each other. From the minute Kale finds out he’s going to be a father, he’s absolutely, 100% supportive and sweet and I completely fell for him and his sensitivity towards Lucy.
Suddenly, their lives include morning sickness, sonograms, baby shopping, and they both fall crazy in love with their little Sprout. (Get it? Kale...Sprout?) They vow to make this work.
Their friends and family are all there for them and if Kale can just deal with all the emotions that are being stirred up and be open and honest about his past, everything would be perfect. When you find out what happened to him in his past you will hurt for him, but at the same time, after a while, I was like, come on already! Tell your woman and move on! He just can't seem to find a way to talk to her about it. And it bites him in the ass later.
This was a great read. I really came to care for Lucy and Kale so much and the addition of the past couples in the book was so enjoyable. I loved getting a little bit more of the gang-their humor, their friendship, and the peek into their lives in the epilogue was fabulous! If you haven't read this series, get on it because it's hard to believe anyone couldn't appreciate these books.
***ARC provided by author for an honest review***
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