Dr. Phoenix Reid isn't who she seems...

Everyone knows a phoenix rises from the ashes. What they don't talk about are the people she drags with her into the fire.

I thought one hot night with Max Hallowell was harmless. I never expected it would force me to face my past or bring back the man who swore he'd never let me go. Now Max wants to help me. Wants to save me. But if I let him, he'll be destroyed. I can already smell the flames.

A woman with a secret past. A man determined to protect her. A dangerous passion that could cost them both everything.

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Playing with Fire is the first in a new series of standalone novels featuring the New Hope characters Lexi Ryan fans have come to love. While you wait for Nix and Max's story, explore Love Unbound, the collection of books set in Lexi's New Hope world.

I LOVE Lexi Ryan’s stories..these characters centered around the town of New Hope have become a must read series..each successive story building upon this group of friends that I have such a vested interest in. They are like visiting with family.

Playing with Fire is Max and Nix’s story. After everything happened with Max and Hanna, I wanted this man to finally get his happy.

I won’t reveal anything of the plot and story line of this book but I want to say that I LOVE how Lexi writes mystery and suspense mixed with the romance in this book. It kept my heart beating as I tried to come up with theories of what was happening when Nix’s past comes back to haunt her.

I adore Max! What is there not to love about this single dad?! I fell in love with him a little more in this story seeing his relentlessness, his protectiveness – he is the ultimate good guy.

What I love most about Ms. Ryan’s stories are the way she can write about different things…it’s not always the same story, there is always uniqueness in the story and with the characters that keeps her books fresh and fun…Ms. Ryan has found a forever fan in me and her books are great for those looking for something well written, with some heat and characters that you will never forget.

While this wasn’t my favorite in the series, I am happy that Max got the HEA he deserved. And I am SO EXCITED to hopefully get a story for Cade!

Playing with Fire is the first in a new series of standalone novels featuring the New Hope characters Lexi Ryan fans have come to love. While you wait for Nix and Max’s story, explore Love Unbound, the collection of books set in Lexi’s New Hope world.

*Note: Each series can be read on its own, but for the chronology purists, the reading order is below.

Love Unbound: Splintered Hearts

Unbreak Me (Maggie’s story)

Stolen Wishes: A Wish I May Prequel Novella (Will and Cally’s prequel)

Wish I May (Will and Cally’s novel)

Or read them together in the omnibus edition, Splintered Hearts: The New Hope Trilogy

Love Unbound: Here and Now

Lost in Me (Hanna’s story begins)

Fall to You (Hanna’s story continues)

All for This (Hanna’s story concludes)

Or read them together in the omnibus edition, Here and Now: The Complete Series

Love Unbound: Reckless and Real

Something Wild (Liz and Sam’s story begins)

Something Reckless (Liz and Sam’s story continues)

Something Real (Liz and Sam’s story concludes)

Love Unbound: Mended Hearts

Playing with Fire (Nix’s story)