FULL REVIEW CAN BE FOUND ON FRESH FICTION
The grand finale of the Dynasties: Seven Sins from Harlequin Desire, SLOW BURN by Janice Maynard is a fitting end to this enjoyable continuity series. Jake is the long lost brother there have been rumors about since Ruthless Pride, so it was fun to finally meet the man whispered about for six previous books. Nikki is understandably cautious to let Jake back into her life, and into the life of her daughter, especially because she is still reeling from the painful betrayal of her father and his untimely death. They quickly realize they still have feelings for the other but are unsure if they can let themselves freely give in to their desires. As the final book in this multi-author series, SLOW BURN brings many loose threads to a close, with an emotional love story at the center, of two people deeply pained by the past, finding their happily ever after together. As expected, this contemporary romance is set in the dazzling world of the uber-rich, but grounded with Nikki and her mother’s fall from their wealthy circle of friends. Jake and Nikki take until almost the last possible moment to finally admit their feelings, and it’s clear they have a lot to work through, but for a quick, emotionally-charged romance, SLOW BURN fits the bill.

I’ve been waiting for Jake’s book, and it did not disappoint! I absolutely loved Nikki! A great conclusion to the series!

4.25 Stars / 2 Steam Fans

The seventh and final book in the Seven Sins Dynasty series has been all about the Black Cresent Scandal. Jake is Joshua's twin and one of the Lowell kids. Nikki is the daughter of the coconspirator of the Black Cresent Scandal. Jake and Nikki had a past love, and when the scandal happened, they both ran in separate directions. Slow Burn also wraps up the series and leaves the reader with contentment for the entire series.

Video review available in Week 48: Nov 22 – Nov 28 weekly book reviews.

For other video book reviews, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

I'm finding it hard to put into words how wonderful this book is. The hero and heroine went through an ordeal together as young adults that upended their world and destroyed their budding romance. Ten years later, after a chance encounter, they briefly hooked up and then went their separate ways again. When Nikki found out she was pregnant, she hid the fact from Jake, knowing his globe-trotting lifestyle wasn't conducive to fatherhood.

When a family crisis brings them back together again, Jake learns about his four-year-old daughter and wants a place in her life. Can Nikki trust that he won't abandon her again? Can they find a way to build a future as a family?

The emotion in this story is deep and palpable, yet understated. These are two mature characters working together to figure out how to do what's best for their daughter, while managing the damage from their past. The sexual tension is high, and the love scenes steamy, but this is primarily a character-driven story about learning to forgive, and moving forward with your life after tragedy.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received.

Good book. It is the last in the series, and even though I haven't read the others (yet), I felt that I knew what was happening. Fifteen years earlier, both Jake's and Nikki's fathers were accomplices in embezzling from their company. Nikki's father died while fleeing from the police, and Jake's father disappeared. The ensuing scandal ruined the lives of many people, including Jake and Nikki. They had been high school sweethearts, and Jake broke her heart when he left.

Nikki and her mother were left with nothing after her father's death. Several years were very hard as they adjusted to their new circumstances. Five years ago, Nikki ran into Jake in Atlantic City, where they had an intense night together before Jake disappeared again.

Jake's method of coping was to flee the country. He hasn't been home in fifteen years and only recently reconnected with his brothers. Their father has been captured, and they plan to attend the court proceedings. Jake gets the shock of his life when he finds out he's the father of a four-year-old girl.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Nikki and Jake. He is knocked for a loop when he finds out about Emma. While he wants to do right by her, he has no plans to stick around. Nikki is wary of Jake's intentions and is reluctant to trust that him. Protective of her daughter, she doesn't want Emma to grow to love Jake, only to have him disappear from her life. Complicating matters is the intense attraction between Jake and Nikki. Their chemistry is explosive, but Jake has a hard time dealing with the feelings that come along with it.

I liked Jake, but there were times I wanted to shake him. He's great with Emma and wants to be a good father. He also believes that he isn't capable of the commitment needed because he ran away before. He yearns to have something more with Nikki but is afraid of the strength of his feelings. When he tries to limit his relationship with Nikki, she rightfully blasts him for being unwilling to take a chance.

I liked Nikki. She has come a long way since her days as a spoiled teenager. She is strong and resilient, and protective of her daughter and mother. Her worry over whether to trust Jake was understandable considering her experience with him. I liked that she was willing to give him a chance to get to know Emma. Though Nikki tried to protect her heart, she soon realized that she had never stopped loving him. Because of that, she refused to accept anything less than his love in return.

It took facing his mother and brothers, admitting his mistakes, and finally confronting his father for Jake to let go of the past. I loved his big moment at the end as, in an emotional scene with Nikki, he finally shared the feelings he'd been running from.

Nikki and Jake’s fathers were friends, business partners and exposed as accomplices when the nefarious dealings of Black Crescent Hedge Fund were revealed. As a consequence of what happened Nikki’s father passed away and not only was the only life that she had ever known destroyed but the teenage romance between her and Jake was as well. She wouldn’t change the one night they spent together years later as it gave her the daughter she loves so dearly even if it left her with a broken heart when he disappeared without a word.

The only way that Jake could cope with the aftereffects of his father’s actions was to flee he has spent the years since running from his past. It would take the family’s fortunes and misfortunes to bring him back home where he learns that he is a father to a daughter he didn’t know he had. Will this be their second chance or are they destined to end in heartbreak once again?

Hot chemistry and two compelling characters who must not only overcome their pasts but their fathers as well if they are going to have a future together.

4/5 stars

This was honestly so much better than I thought it would be. I didn't expect to enjoy the characters as much as I did. The title fits these two characters' relationship very well. Everything was great, I read it in one sitting and already am going to be picking up some backlist titles. I highly recommend picking up this book.

Slow Burn finally reveals that the Lowell brother with a secret baby is Jake Lowell, who hooked up with his "the one that got away", Nikki Reardon. Jake is the brother who straight up ghosted when his father did the crime and he has been traveling the world ever since. Plus day trading, obviously, because we can't have a poor hero. Meanwhile, Nikki's father died the night that Vernon Lowell took off in a car crash stemming from him being chased by the FBI or something. She is working as the manager of a diner, raising her daughter, Emma, with the help of her mother.

So, here's my thing with secret babies. Do y'all not want some child support? Like... I'm just saying. Anyway. Setting aside that I found that annoying, I thought this book does arguably the best job at developing the characters. Jake is still really stuck in the past, but he wants to believe that he's like, way beyond it. Nikki is a pretty strong woman, who kind of has this issue with how much she's willing to trust Jake. I liked them both, but the end of the book just left me really... unconvinced things were going to work out. Throughout most of the book though, I was pretty sure I was going to give this one four stars! But the end just let me down.

Fifteen years ago, Vernon Lowell, founder and CEO of Black Crescent Hedge Fund, and his best friend and company CFO, Everett Reardon, stole millions from their families and clients. Everett died in a crash while being pursued by police. Vernon escaped to parts unknown. The lives of their families and the families they stole from were uprooted and destroyed. Many of the families had teenage children at the time. The Seven Sins series looks at eight of the children and showcases what the past fifteen years have been like for them. Many of the children have gone on to have successful lives. But one thing is for sure, they all still carry the pain of what they and their families endured.

“The sins of the fathers are visited upon the children.”

Jake Lowell is one of Vernon’s three sons. For the most part, Jake had his life planned out. At twenty-two years old, he had extremely strong feelings for seventeen-year-old Nikki Reardon. After dating for a while, they were waiting for her eighteen birthday to take their relationship to the next level. Jake was a very happy and content man. All of that changed with the embezzlement from Black Crescent, orchestrated by Vernon and Everett. Not being able to deal with the scandal, fallout, and whispered speculation, Jake fled Falling Brook, New Jersey for Europe and never returned.

Nikki and her mother also eventually left Falling Brook. But unlike Jake who prospered to live a comfortable if not oftentimes lonely life, Nikki and her mother struggled. They learned to survive with very little and lived paycheck to paycheck. Ten years after Nikki and Jake last laid eyes on each other, they serendipitously run into each other in Atlantic City. They shared a very intense and memorable night together. Unfortunately, Nikki woke up to find that once again, Jake left her. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect her one night with Jake to result in her becoming pregnant. With no way to contact Jake directly, Nikki sets out on a path of single motherhood.

Now Jake has returned to Falling Brook and is surprised to learn he has a four-year-old daughter named Emma. He wants to do right by Emma, but he can’t help but hope he can rekindle a little of what he had with Nikki as well.

Usually, the heroes own my heart. However, in the case of Slow Burn, Nikki owned it hands down. I loved her strength and her resilience. I loved her outlook on life. She went from the life of being a rich princess to being a popper. Instead of being bitter, she’s gracious. I’ve enjoyed and loved the other books in this series, but I have to say Slow Burn is in my top three favorites. Janice Maynard has written a wonderful story to end the Seven Sins series. I loved the vulnerability and courage both Jake and Nikki showed. Nikki is a woman who frightens Jake because she shines and doesn’t just do things because he tells or asks her to. She challenges him to be a better person, brother, friend, father, and lover.

I highly recommend the Seven Sins series. If second/third chance and secret baby is your jam, you should definitely read Slow Burn. I do think Untamed Passion by Cat Schiled should be read before Slow Burn. It features Vernon’s youngest son, Oliver. The oldest Lowell son, Josh, can be found in the first book, Ruthless Pride, written by Naima Simone.

~ Favorite Quotes ~

“The past is the past. We can’t change any of it.”

“Forever is a long time. Bitterness and anger poison your soul.”

“The good things in life aren’t always measured by dollars and cents.”

I really disliked the male main character. It's like he was so selfish, he couldn't even care about his child. The relationship building also felt weak. The female main character wasn't compelling or someone to actually root for. I wanted to like this book and I couldn't; 2 stars.

Slow Burn by Janice Maynard is the seventh and final story in the Seven Sins Harlequin Desire multi-author continuity. Jake Lowell fled Falling Brook when his father Vernon absconded with investments from the fund he managed through Black Crescent, devastating the community and his family. Jake's wandered the globe since, refusing to allow himself to form ties or be hurt again by expectations. Unfortunately he also fled from Nikki Reardon, his high school sweetheart and the daughter of his father's business partner.

Nikki and her mother are equally wounded by the crime perpetrated by Vernon Lowell and Everett Reardon, and even more so when Everett tragically died while attempting to escape. They leave Falling Brook to rebuild their lives from scratch. When Jake and Nikki's paths cross again, it is clear the desire and passion they shared has not waned in their time apart.

Janice Maynard's story is exciting, tumultuous, and emotional. While Nikki has been forced to confront and move beyond the actions of her father's betrayal, and has remade herself and her life in a way that satisfies her, Jake has in many ways been trapped in and by the definition that his father's actions framed. Ms Maynard lets us see how necessary it is for him to break free and embrace a life and future of his own making, one that includes love and family and fulfillment.

A satisfying close to this sweeping saga!

I needed a quick and low stress read when I picked this up and that is exactly what I got. I enjoyed the story and will have to look into the rest of the series. I feel like there are other stories that have been told that I might enjoy. The love story between Jake and Nikki was just as steamy and fast paced as I wanted, but I wanted him to have a little more growth. He frustrated me through most of the book and that feeling took some of the connection from the story.