Love Burns (The River #3) by Babette James Review

LOVE BURNS takes a look at what happens when the life that you have planned-or was planned for you-falls apart. Dave is a macho smokejumper who enjoyed living on the edge, skirting danger all while reaping the benefits of being lusted after by admiring women. After a life changing incident Dave has to learn to cope with both physical and emotional challenges that leaves him reeling and unsure of how he will get back to being the man he wants to be. 

Olivia has done what is expected of her all of her life.  Allowing control over her life to first her parents even into adulthood and then turning that power over to her husband leads her to nothing but heartache, disappointment, and general displeasure with the way her life has turned out. Now that Olivia is set to find her own way she has to decide if finding herself can also mean loving a man who is strong willed but struggling as well. 

Olivia and Dave have no problem with their attraction to one another. The physical attraction between the two burns fast and hot. What neither can comfortably deal with is the desire deep down to have someone that they can lean and depend on. They both question their ability to become the individuals that they once saw themselves becoming so they are hesitant to take on the expectations and needs of another person. 

LOVE BURNS was a good honest look at how even two damaged people who are wavering can find their way together. Olivia and Dave eventually figure out that they are getting in their own way by not opening up to each other. Some of their obstacle are beyond their control but some of them are of their own making too which makes their problems realistic and relatable. LOVE BURNS has a steamy attraction that slowly builds into a trusting relationship that they had to fight for. Although this is book 3 in The River series I had no problem reading LOVE BURNS as a standalone story. LOVE BURNS is a well written enjoyable contemporary romance with enough steam and drama to keep the pages turning. 

Happy Reading!

Monica

**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

Amazon

Synopsis

Sometimes fanning the flames is better than running... 

Smokejumper Dave Knight lives by two simple rules—Play hard, work harder. Heartache taught him love and commitment don't mix with his high-intensity lifestyle. That hot kiss with the classy Olivia Benedetti-Harper was a mistake, but he walked away in time. Too bad he can't run from the memories. Then a plane crash shatters his future, forcing him to face the ashes of his past, the woman he can't forget, and the toughest challenge of his life: Stop running.

The right man broke her heart. How could the wrong man heal it?

Obedient daughter and dutiful wife, Olivia always followed the rules—only to be abandoned by her unfaithful husband. As she rebuilds her life, bad-boy Dave is a sizzling temptation she can't afford. However, breaking the rules with the wrong man might be the best mistake this good girl's ever made for love. 

The River Series

Summertime Dream (The River #1)

Clear As Day (The River #2)