The Moth and the Flame returns to the world of Blackwood Keep, rival gangs, and deliciously flawed yet completely addicting characters!
The Moth and the Flame, the second romantic standalone in the When Rivals Play series by B.B. Reid is LIVE!
THE
FLAME
Here
lies Louchana Valentine. She was a homeless, orphaned virgin.
I never cared what my gravestone would say
until I landed in deep with a powerful gangster. Lucky for me, my best friend
happens to be ruthless too. I should feel guilty that he’s forced to turn on
the man who’s been a father to him. Except I’ve always known that Wren’s soul
wasn’t as black as he claimed.
He was good.
He was beautiful.
He was mine.
He just didn’t know it yet.
And with Wren keeping me safe, I’ve got
time left to rewrite the end of my story. But if he has his way, virgin is already carved in stone.
THE
MOTH
I’ve never known anyone as alluring as Lou.
Or as frustrating. Since the night she saved my life and stole my wallet for
her troubles, I couldn’t stay away.
She became my onus.
My light.
My…anyway.
With nowhere to run, I’m forced to trust
someone I never expected. At least with Lou safe in Blackwood Keep—far away from me—I’ll die with my
conscience intact. Because she no longer looks at me with friendship in her
eyes. Those iridescent blues shine with a different need entirely, and I’ve
never been able to deny her.
It
is strongly advised that you read The Peer and the Puppet before diving into
The Moth and the Flame. Content suitable for ages 18+.
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REVIEW:
A quote from Bebe Reid about this series:
"When Rivals Play is one story told in four parts. Each couple takes a turn telling this story with their own romance woven in. Think of the series as a relay race. Four and Ever (from THE PEER AND THE PUPPET) just passed the baton to Wren and Lou, but the race isn't over yet.
This means there could be questions raised in book one that I don't answer until book four even if the book is not about that particular couple. The romances are standalone but the plots are interconnected. This also means each couple is only getting ONE book regardless of what questions I leave unanswered.
Personally, I wouldn't consider this a standalone. The couple/characters we met in THE PEER AND THE PUPPET are present in this book and as Bebe stated above the plots are interconnected, so to me, that means you can't read one without the other, otherwise you risk not seeing the bigger picture and/or getting spoilers about previous couples. This book is Wren and Lou's book (whom we got a glimpse of in TPaTP), but Bebe continues to set up Jamie and Barbie's book (book 3, THE PUNK AND THE PLAYTHING), as well as developing some of Vaughn and Tyra's story line, which is book 4 (THE PRINCE AND THE PAWN). AND this book sets up book 3.5, EVERMORE, which is an audiobook novella for Four and Ever, that is set to release May 27, 2019 exclusively through READ ME ROMANCE podcast. SO if you haven't read THE PEER AND THE PUPPET, none of that would be relevant, but like I said, I wouldn't consider, nor would I advise you to read these as standalones. Trust me, you want to the FULL picture while reading this series.
"When Rivals Play is one story told in four parts. Each couple takes a turn telling this story with their own romance woven in. Think of the series as a relay race. Four and Ever (from THE PEER AND THE PUPPET) just passed the baton to Wren and Lou, but the race isn't over yet.
This means there could be questions raised in book one that I don't answer until book four even if the book is not about that particular couple. The romances are standalone but the plots are interconnected. This also means each couple is only getting ONE book regardless of what questions I leave unanswered.
Personally, I wouldn't consider this a standalone. The couple/characters we met in THE PEER AND THE PUPPET are present in this book and as Bebe stated above the plots are interconnected, so to me, that means you can't read one without the other, otherwise you risk not seeing the bigger picture and/or getting spoilers about previous couples. This book is Wren and Lou's book (whom we got a glimpse of in TPaTP), but Bebe continues to set up Jamie and Barbie's book (book 3, THE PUNK AND THE PLAYTHING), as well as developing some of Vaughn and Tyra's story line, which is book 4 (THE PRINCE AND THE PAWN). AND this book sets up book 3.5, EVERMORE, which is an audiobook novella for Four and Ever, that is set to release May 27, 2019 exclusively through READ ME ROMANCE podcast. SO if you haven't read THE PEER AND THE PUPPET, none of that would be relevant, but like I said, I wouldn't consider, nor would I advise you to read these as standalones. Trust me, you want to the FULL picture while reading this series.
"Every day, the film we kept over our friendship became thinner, and I became hungrier. Lou was taunting me, pushing me, and the only part I hated was that it was working."
This was the epitome of a "friends to lovers" storyline. SO MUCH RESISTANCE!!! I almost had blue balls...you know if that was possible for a girl. LOL. This was my reaction at about 50%
This was the epitome of a "friends to lovers" storyline. SO MUCH RESISTANCE!!! I almost had blue balls...you know if that was possible for a girl. LOL. This was my reaction at about 50%
*insert JUST DO IT gif*
But I will say with this book, what I found unique (although trying on me at times LOL) was that it was the MALE character that was resisting the most and the FEMALE character that was the persistent one. Lou was a little temptress! Lou knew what she wanted and she was trying her damnedest to get it. Damned the consequences. But secrets were what kept Wren at bay. He knew these secrets would ruin what they had, so he wasn't giving into the temptations and hurting her further.
The timeline of this book starts out at the same time as THE PEER AND THE PUPPET (remember it's a relay race) but we're seeing things from Wren and Lou's POV and since they were minimally present in THE PEER AND THE PUPPET, it is NO WAY a retelling. Some of the storyline eventually overlaps, but once again, we are getting different characters POV's so it's different. I loved this type of story telling. It builds a whole new layer to the story and a different perspective. We get to see the other characters (Ever, Four, Jamie, Barbie, Vaughn, and Tyra) through different eyes and we also got to learn more about their character and plot development build. I really enjoyed the last 45%. Things started to increase in angst and the plot started having twists and turns that I was not anticipating. I am very curious to see how this all pans out for everyone!
By the end, I was very much wrapped up ALL the characters stories, especially the 3 guys and their love interests, from book 1. I am craving more of Jamie's constant flirting, Vaughn's broodiness and mysteriousness and Ever's alpha tendencies. I love all those guys in this series. So now I am even more anxious to listen to EVERMORE in audio now because that epilogue totally set it up. I NEED to know what's going on between Four and Ever!
4 stars
xoxo,
Vivian💋
EXCERPT:
Lou didn’t awaken when I climbed
through her window, weary and angry, late the following night. My prediction
had come true. I’d gone back to Blackwood Keep, and against my better judgment,
I confronted Danny Boy.
Heir to a multibillion-dollar hotel
empire.
And the only son of Thomas McNamara.
Surprisingly, what bothered me most
wasn’t Danny Boy or his double life. Something about his father had seemed
familiar to me. As if I’d known him in another lifetime.
I shook my head as I toed off the
black and white striped Adidas Lou had picked out, swearing the sneakers almost
made me look normal. I snorted, and with a moan, she shifted in her sleep
causing the sheet covering her lower half to slip dangerously low. Before I
could rethink it, I ran my fingers over the curve of her naked hip now bare to
me. Thoughts of Ever McNamara fled to the recesses of my mind as I marveled at
the smoothness of her skin.
It was a surprising contrast to her
hardened demeanor, but I always knew it was a front. She was a pillar, no doubt
standing tall and appearing strong, but one day, her cracked foundation would
crumble, and I’d make damn sure I was around to pick up the pieces.
Even if she didn’t want me to be.
There were times when she didn’t
appreciate just how seriously I took my role as her best friend. She claimed I
acted like her father rather than her friend. If that was what she called
making sure no one ever hurt her again, then sure—I’d daddy the fuck out of
her.
Another moan slipped from her lips
when my fingers reach the edge of her frilly blue panties, but this time, it
was the sound of my name on her lips. For a second, I panicked, thinking she’d
caught me perving on her, but when her even breaths continued, I realized she
was still very much out of it, and a smile slowly formed as my fingers dipped
lower.
“What are you dreaming right now,
Lou?”
Her breath seemed to catch as I
continued to toy with the seam of her panties.
“Are you dreaming of me?”
She sighed in response.
“You are, aren’t you?”
A low whine escaped her.
“I know what you’re after, little
Valentine. I’ve known all along.” We both seemed to stop breathing when my
fingers dipped beneath her panties and I felt her smooth skin. “How can you be
sure you can handle me when I haven’t even kissed you yet?” I swallowed,
cursing myself but then decided to allow myself honesty. At least this once.
She was writhing now, attempting to
relieve the ache I knew was building, but we both knew it was useless. Nothing
short of getting me inside her would ever do.
“You want to come.” It wasn’t a
question but a statement of fact. “But you don’t get to come. You’ve been bad,
Lou. This is how I’ll punish you.” I freed my fingers from her panties and
stepped back. As if I’d snapped my fingers, breaking her from my spell, she jackknifed
from the bed, breathing hard and looking around in confusion. When her gaze
pierced the dark and found me, I remain perfectly still, my hands already in my
pockets, pretending my fingers weren’t burning with the memory of her soft
skin.
“Wren?”
My eyebrow rose. “You expecting
someone else?”
About B.B. Reid:
B.B. Reid is a bestselling author of new adult romance. She grew up the only daughter and middle child in a small town in North Carolina. After graduating with a Bachelors in Finance, she started her career at an investment research firm while continuing to serve in the National Guard. She currently resides in Charlotte with her moody cat and enjoys collecting Chuck Taylors and binge-eating chocolate.
Please visit her website for more information: www.bbreid.com
B.B. Reid is a bestselling author of new adult romance. She grew up the only daughter and middle child in a small town in North Carolina. After graduating with a Bachelors in Finance, she started her career at an investment research firm while continuing to serve in the National Guard. She currently resides in Charlotte with her moody cat and enjoys collecting Chuck Taylors and binge-eating chocolate.
Please visit her website for more information: www.bbreid.com
Connect with B.B. Reid:
Website www.bbreid.com
