Burning for Him by Samantha Cole

I’ve been waiting for Jenn and Doug’s story since the very first time Samantha Cole teased us with their chemistry in the Trident Series. Burning for Him delivers on the tension, the forbidden longing, and the slow-burn intensity that fans of romantic suspense crave.

Jenn Mullins has loved Doug Henderson for years. But Doug refuses to believe her feelings are real. After all, he once took a bullet for her, and in his mind, that moment cemented an unshakable hero-worship. He works for her overprotective godfather and uncles and have an eight-year age gap. So this convinces Doug that he can’t give in to what he feels for Jenn.

Except Jenn is done waiting.

When she kissed Doug almost year ago and he pushed her away for the last time, she decided she wasn’t going to spend her life begging him to take her seriously. That’s what makes this book so satisfying. Jenn knows her worth. She heads off to volunteer at a medical commune in Colombia, determined to build a life outside of Doug’s shadow.

But fate—and Samantha Cole—are not about to let this couple off easy. When Doug takes a trip to deliver supplies and they’re trapped together after a landslide. The forced proximity makes it impossible for him to keep denying the truth. Doug finally sees Jenn not as the 19-year-old “baby-girl” under her family’s protection, but as the strong, determined woman she’s become. And when those long-simmering embers finally ignite, it’s a fire that refuses to be extinguished.

As a longtime reader of the Trident Series, I’ve been eager for these two to finally get their story. While Burning for Himwasn’t my absolute favorite of the series, it still gave me the emotional payoff I was hoping for. Cole writes the age-gap, forbidden love trope with nuance, layering in a second-chance romance arc that tugs at the heart while still delivering plenty of heat.

If you’ve been following the Trident characters, this book is a must-read just for the continuation of the larger found-family storyline. And if you’re new to Samantha Cole, you’ll still enjoy the heartache, the danger, and the passionate payoff of Burning for Him.

Final Thoughts:

• Perfect for readers who love forbidden romance with an age gap twist
• Emotional slow-burn with forced proximity that brings all the tension
• You don’t have to read the entire Trident Series to get the most out their story, but it doesn’t hurt.

This one may not top my list of Cole favorites, but Jenn and Doug’s story has been worth the wait.

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