Judith’s review of Burning Dante by Lacey Thorn.
Phoebe has been in love with Dante Marquetti since before she lost her virginity to the man. She can’t recall a time when he wasn’t the star of all her sexual fantasies. Now Dante is heading back home and she is determined to have him one more time. She wants to make Dante burn the way she has all these years.
Dante arrives at his new apartment and is greeted by his neighbor out in the hall—naked. Welcome home!! When he realizes it is Phoebe, he decides there’s only one thing to do: he wants her in his bed–and tonight isn’t soon enough.
Dante Marquetti was the oldest in a close-knit, loving, raucous family of seven and still single. His siblings were marrying and yet Dante was uncommitted. After 10 years in the Marines and two years as a city cop, he was coming home to be a police officer in his home town. The same town where Phoebe lives, the girl he seduced and then from whom he walked away without a backward glance.
Now Phoebe knows that Dante doesn’t care and twelve years later she is one stunning chick. But she isn’t handing her heart over to a man who has proven to be unappreciative. “She’d take what she could get and maybe this time she would be able to move on from him when it was over.” The most interesting aspect of this story is, however, that Dante’s younger brother is Phoebe’s best and closest friend and the person with whom she shares an apartment. There is no love relationship between them; Chris knows that Phoebe still loves Dante. But he was the one who held her as she grieved through the years, the friend and confidant to whom she entrusted her deepest feelings and hopes.
So we have a novella that is filled with laughter and family, overflowing with sibling rivalry (in the best sense of the word), and two people who really have to find a direction for their lives, whether that be together or not remains to be seen.
This is really a delightful story in many ways. The women are strong and gutsy–especially Phoebe who has matured and has come to some kind of acceptance with her ongoing love for Dante, whether he wants hers or not will not kill her or deter her from becoming the best of herself. Dante’s mom and sisters are funny, ribald, honest, outspoken, and obviously holding their own with brothers and other men in general. Their friendship with their siblings is heart-warming. The back story in this novella is, in many ways, as interesting and engaging as Dante & Phoebe’s story.
This is a love story in the best sense of the word. There is sizzle, to be sure. Dante is very committed to re-igniting his affair with Phoebe. But he faces a challenge with her that was not present 12 years earlier: she has learned to guard her heart. And through it all, Dante learns some important lessons about himself. No matter what, the experiences that each takes away from this affair are not wasted.
So, romance fans, enjoy this book! It is not overly long, it is fun and filled with fun people. I give this book a 3.75 out of 5.
You can read more from Judith at Dr. J’s Book Place.
This book is available from Ellora’s Cave. You can buy it here in e-format.
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