This book, wow, no words, in such a good way! The banter, the tension, the drama, the love, it had it all!! I absolutely adored this book, I'd give anything to read it for the first time again!!

When I say this book is juicy… just believe me! I started off a little confused because I think I thought it was going to be fantasy. Maybe because the cover is so intriguing and dark? Sometimes my brain plays tricks on me. However, as I kept reading I realized our setting was in Ghana, a setting I’ve never had the luxury of being placed in before, and that we had two characters that were quick witted and was definitely going to keep the me, the reader, on my toes. By chapter 10, I was intrigued. By chapter 15, I was obsessed. By chapter 20, I started talking out loud to the book and screaming at God to free my man Julian from the shackles of insanity. This book was so twisty and so fun due to all the things that happen. If you’re a fan of kdramas, etc, I would highly recommend cause I had a time. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Also I’m of Caribbean descent and I’m not too familiar with Ghanaian culture. Being in this setting was amazing cause I got to learn about Ghanaian wedding customs and their food. I even googled Waakye to see what it looked like. Scrumptious! So I would also recommend this book if you want to read more diversely and travel without the hassle of going to the airport lol.

This book is a must read! There was not a moment when my jaw wasn't on the floor. The banter between Leona and Julian was so good. At times I wanted to fight Leona for him!! lol. The twist and turns were not not predictable at all and I couldn't put this book down.

This book had all my favorite troupes, fake relationship, forbidden love, mystery! This book has it all. Sure to be a most talked about in 2025!

4.25 stars - thank you to NetGalley and Jaynhi Allen for an advanced reader copy! this book was a RIDE! one of my favorite tropes, probably my favorite one, is fake dating/marriage so I knew I would like it going into it! Leona and Selorm’s dynamic made me feel every kind of emotion: frustration, heartbreak, happiness, literally every kind of emotion! Leona was absolutely unhinged, possessive and dangerous and I loved that about her! I loved seeing both of their perspectives as they navigated their arrangement, and I have to admit I did enjoy the toxicity (guilty pleasure trope). I got a bit confused at the timelines at some points, but everything started to make sense as I kept reading! I also loved the letters thrown in and Selorm’s yearning it was the cherry on top! Such a fun yet frustrating (in a good way) book that I devoured!

4.5 ⭐️ | Completely devoured this book in about 24 hours. Great read the hooks you from the very beginning & I was definitely emotionally invested in this story, as I could literally feel the chemistry between the protagonists in this story. The title fits the story perfect as the flames in this book will definitely burn you. The characters had emotional depth, character development, were very complex & you will find yourself loving & hating them at the same time. I especially enjoyed the dual POVs from Leona & Selorm, it was good to hear the story from both of their views. I thoroughly enjoyed Jaynhi Allen’s writing style (even during the times I wanted to scratch Leona’s eyes out lol), and although my first read of hers it will definitely not be my last.

Overall a solid read that I highly recommend for fans of fiery romance novels, with a hint of mystery. I was pleased to receive this advanced reader copy & all opinions are my own.

this book took the romance genre title and threw it back in its face with an umph! as it amped that up to be so much more. there was definite moments of "what the" and "oh no she didnt" and "please.walk...no run away"
there was moments i thought could this girl just heal herself an be happy. there were moments i wanted him to please see sense and see this was just sticking with it for love, it was going to harm him. there was moments where i didnt know what was going on but was still addicted to the ride i was on.
this is a fiery and unafraid book. it managed to slip out of the realms of going too far that it wouldve headed into un uncomfortable genre and somehow kept you feeling all the feels for both our characters.
it was a really great story. a step up from a romance into something with so much more to explore. the location setting only added to the plot and almost became a character within itself. and i love love love that we had the different culture in there. we need more of this and ive tried my best to actively look for these books and have to say they smash it every time and so i hope more and more we give them there due space.

Leona is next in line to take over as CEO of her father’s company in Ghana. Cut-throat, fiery, and unyielding, she’s determined to claim her rightful place. But there’s one catch—the Board of Directors refuses to back her unless she’s married. Love and marriage were never part of her plan, but if that’s what it takes to secure her seat at the head of the table, she’s willing to make it happen.

Enter Selorm, a humble delivery driver just trying to make ends meet. Faced with an offer that could change his life, he must decide: will he marry Leona for a shot at luxury, or will her unrelenting fire consume him along the way?

Fake Flame is packed with unexpected twists and turns. Just when the path seems clear, the story veers in a new direction. Leona, a morally gray powerhouse, commands attention at every turn, while Selorm’s quiet resilience and fierce loyalty make him a compelling counterpart. Together, they form an unlikely duo that keeps readers guessing—and hooked—from start to finish. This book is honestly insane and every twist is more surprising than the last.

I love when a fake love arrangement (whether it's fake dating, fake marriage/arranged marriage) becomes deeper or real! So from that tagline alone, my interest was piqued for this story!

Julian may be a man of many jobs, but that doesn't mean he isn't the man for Leona. Honestly speaking, I think Julian was the best fit for Leona's life in an intimate relation. I felt his love for her. Those around them felt his love for her. Leona is the only one with her eye on the prize of being at the top of her family's company. In addition to their romance, this story included drama/scandal and unexpected but good events.

I would recommend this story.

First, huge thanks to Jaynhi Allen and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to dive into this story.

One of my favorite quotes from this story-“I’m already burning in her flames. And no matter how hard I try, I don’t think I’ll ever find my way out.”

This is my first read by Jaynhi Allen and from the first page, I knew this book was going to be a wild ride—twisty, unpredictable, and unlike anything I’d read before. I dove in without reading much about it beforehand, the cover is what drew me in and honestly, I’m so glad I did. The story hit harder that way. What starts as a classic marriage-of-convenience and fake dating trope quickly veers into darker, more dangerous territory. There's an edge to everything—the characters, the chemistry, the stakes.

Leona and Selorm’s relationship is anything but typical. It’s magnetic, chaotic, and at times, had me genuinely questioning if they could make it through. But that’s what made it so gripping. Once they collided, it was over. The spark was lit—and neither of them stood a chance.

I thought Leona was initially the obvious star of the story—beautiful, strong, determined, always in control—it was Selorm who quietly stole the show for me. He might come from humble beginnings, but he held his own with strength, intelligence, and an unwavering calm. The sunshine boy drawn into Leona’s storm, he fell hard and fast, and it was captivating to read. Their love was far from perfect, a bit dysfunctional at times, but rooted in mutual respect. And somehow, that made it work.

From start to finish this story had me in a chokehold. The letters throughout added a touch of mystery, teasing the future and kept me wondering what came next.

And the setting? Yes!! Absolutely stunning!! Set in Africa, the story is rich with culture, color, and cuisine—vibrant and immersive in a way that felt breathtaking. As a black woman I don’t see enough of this in mainstream romance, and it was such a welcome change.

I'd definitely recommend it to my book girlies!

Wow this book grabbed from right from the start the characters were easy to follow kept wanting to know more, would look to read more from this author really good read

This book was a great read overall. It had some points where I was questioning what exactly I was reading. The mysteries and plot twists kept me interested and intrigued in what was going on. The FMC was a very strong character and demanded/manipulated a lot of situations around her as a coping mechanism. I would definitely recommend to other and look forward to seeing more from this author.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the advanced copy of Fake Flames by Jaynhi Allen!

This book follows the dual POVs of Julian Selrom and Leona Bentsil, who enter a fake marriage agreement that is anything but simple. Leona, heir to a corporate empire, is trying to buy time from her family's rigid expectations. Julian, on the other hand, could use the generous payout to completely turn his life and business around. What starts as a business deal turns into something far more complicated and a little unhinged at times.

✨ Rating: 4.25/5 stars
If you're a fan of the fake relationship trope, this one delivers with a twist: Leona is the grumpy, unhinged, slightly possessive one—and honestly, I was living for it. The gender role flip felt fresh and fun. I loved the emotional depth from both characters and how their vulnerability unfolded throughout the story.

🌀 What kept it from being a perfect read? The timeline was a bit confusing—I found myself unsure how much time had passed between chapters or the letters they exchanged. But the plot twists and character development made up for it!