Available 7/25/2023
Forty-nine-year-old Margot Hughes has lived and breathed theater for the past twenty-five years. After a devastating breakup with her playwright fiancé, she wants nothing to do with the industry. She has sworn off New York, theater, actors—all of it. She returns to her hometown on California’s central coast and takes a job in real estate, where she manages significant investment properties. But Margot’s suddenly thrown back into the theater world when Sally, her friend and boss, who had been restoring and funding Cambria’s historic theater, has a heart attack. Before she knows it, Margot is tapped to take over the troubled summer production of Barefoot in the Park.
But the play is no walk in the park—the leads and director have all quit, and Margot struggles to find new actors…until Max Russo arrives. Forty-five-year-old Max is a former soap opera star turned rugged cowboy on TV’s most popular western series. Max has a huge following and is the perfect hero to step up and save the play, provided Margot stars opposite him. Although adamant she would never return to theater, Margot enjoys the long hours of rehearsal with a professional like Max, who is charming, witty, and passionate. But when the curtains close, can Margot allow herself to fall for Max when he represents everything she left behind?
Margot Hughes had given up her acting career after the dissolution of a long-term relationship and a need to move in a new direction that will get her what she wants. She returns home to her California coastal town to live a simple life helping her friend Sally with her business. When Sally's passion project of creating a community theater is about to fail, Sally asks Margot to dust off her acting hat and direct the play.
Well-known actor Max Russo is also asked to give a hand. He's family to Sally, and he agrees to play the lead opposite Margo. Max is not just good-looking -- he's got impeccable manners and he's sensitive to others. He's a good guy. It's no wonder that Margo is falling from the minute she meets Max, even though she knows it can't go anywhere.
Over the course of prepping for the play, Max and Margo spend more time together and they become friends. It does get uncomfortable for Margo to play her part since it involves lots of kissing and I really thought this was so well done. Margo's hesitancy along with the pull she has toward Max is really a delightful part of their romance. They are just so darn cute!
They try to take things slow, even when it's clear they are both on the same page. They are adorable together and I loved this older romance. Margo's reawakening of her physical feelings was a nice part of the story and when they finally do give in to what they are feeling with each other, it's explosive and wonderful!
But there's a bit of conflict when they realize they want very different things in the future. It's a bit of a heart-breaker here for sure, but this is a romance with a very lovely HEA, so I won't say anymore. It does take some big shifts in thinking for both character's. In spite of some things happening very quickly, I really did enjoy this romance and was rooting for Max and Margo all the way.
Once I started this book, I didn't want to put it down. There was plenty of humor, many cute moments, and lots of heat between Margo and Max. I really did love them together, especially how their relationship helped their creative process. Max was just pretty awesome, and Sally's big heart had room enough for everyone and she turned out to be a key change-agent when Max and Margo really need it.
I really enjoyed this romance and would recommend it to all romance readers, and especially those looking for a more mature romance. Flirting with Fire captures the age group perfectly and I liked that the most about it. It's just a very entertaining sweet romance between forty-somethings and I loved it!
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