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Ablaze (The Firecracker Cousins)
A H Cunningham
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Sometimes you think you know yourself until you realize you've only scratched the surface.
Mariana Torres Charles is finally ready to fulfill her dream as a bandleader and designer for the up-and-coming Carnival Band LoveVibe for Miami Carnival. The win would be proof that she can follow through on her goals because in love…the follow through is less than stellar. After a long string of crushed lovers, she is done breaking hearts.
When Mason Brathwaite, her forever-friends-with-benefits, needs a date to a networking event to snag a new sponsor for his Student Community Center, she volunteers to attend with him hoping to catch a break from the pressures of dating. But when they meet the mysterious Daniel Robinson, son of Mason's prospective donor and experienced kinkster, she can't help but forget her newfound resolve.
Every moment they spend together illuminates her thoughts and desires, but her track record at love tells her it is only a matter of time before their liaison smokes away.
With Mason's vying for her heart and Daniel's seducing their minds, what can a woman do but succumb to the temptation calling to her? Mariana will deal with the ashes once they come. After all, that's her specialty.
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Posts about this title from Bookish AfroLatina's Library
Bookish AfroLatina's Library\ \ Gabby\ \ • Feb 19 2025
\ \ A few folks have asked me for book recommendations by and about AfroLatine folks so here are some amazing authors I want to introduce y'all to:\ \ Romance Adriana Herrera (Dominican) \ \ She's one of my favorite authors of all time! Herrera writes both Contemporary and Historical Romances with nuanced, fun, and tender characters and plenty of heat. Some of her titles include:\ \
- American Christmas\ \
- The Toy Runners\ \
- American Sweethearts\ \
- A Caribbean Heiress in Paris\ \
- An Island Princess Starts a Scandal\ \
- A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke\ \
- One Week to Claim it All\ \
- Heat and Run\ \
- On the Hustle\ \ \ \ \ Check out her website for more titles: https://adrianaherreraromance.com/\\ \ A.H. Cunningham (Panamanian) \ \ I'm just starting to get into her books but I already know I need them all! The chemistry! The heat! Her titles include:\ \
- Alight\ \
- Joaquin\ \
- Turn in the Air\ \
- Toying With Temptation\ \
- Out of Office\ \
- Ms. V’s Hot Girl Summer\ \
- Ablaze\ \
- Plié\ \
- Penetration Testing\ \ \ \ \ For more, visit: https://www.ahcunninghamauthor.com/\\ \ Mia Sosa(Puerto Rican & Brazilian) \ \ My first introduction to Mia Sosa was The Worst Best Man which was messy in the best ways. I love the scenarios she puts her MCs in! Her works include:\ \
- The Starter Ex\ \
- When Javi Dumped Mari\ \
- Amor Actually\ \
- Sun of a Beach\ \
- The Wedding Crasher\ \
- The Worst Best Man\ \
- Pretending He’s Mine\ \
- Acting on Impulse\ \
- Crashing Into Her\ \ \ \ \ To find more Mia Sosa books, visit: https://miasosa.com/about-me/\\ \ Young Adult Fantasy Julian Randall(Black American & Dominican) \ \ He has a lot of range! I've read 3 out of his 5 books and each one has opened me up to processing my own identity and experiences. His books include:\ \
- The Chainbreakers\ \
- The Dead Don’t Need Reminding: In Search of Fugitives, Mississippi, and Black Nerd Sh*t\ \
- Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa\ \
- Pilar Ramirez and the Curse of San Zenon\ \
- Refuse\ \ \ Interested in his work? Check out: https://juliandavidrandall.com/ \ \ Maya Motayne(Dominican & Guyanese) \ \ Her series is gripping and fascinating. It surpassed my expectations! The titles in her series are:\ \
- Nocturna\ \
- Oculta\ \
- Lucero\ \ \ Find her at: https://www.mayamotaynebooks.com/\\ \ \ \ Young Adult Maika & Maritza Moulite(Haitian) \ \ Dear Haiti inspired me to learn more about the Haitian Revolution! I haven't read their second book yet but I'm very excited for The Summer I Ate The Rich. Their books include:\ \
- Dear Haiti, Love Alaine\ \
- One of the Good Ones\ \
- The Summer I Ate The Rich\ \ \ Learn more about the authors here: https://www.maikaandmaritza.com/books \ \ Jessica Parra (Guatemalan & Cuban) \ \ This beautiful soul sent me her work last year. I read and loved Rubi Ramos's Recipe For Success, so I expect I will probably enjoy The Quince Project as well!\ \ For more info, visit: https://www.jessicaparra.com/home Literary Fiction & YA Camille Gomera-Tavarez(Dominican) \ \ High Spirits knocked me off my feet! The stories were so real but also used elements of Magical Realism. Her books include:\ \
- High Spirits\ \
- The Girl, The Ring, and The Baseball Bat\ \ \ See more of her work at: https://cgtdesign.net/ \ \ \ \ Elizabeth Acevedo(Dominican) \ \ Another of my favorite authors! Acevedo's books give me a sense of belonging and warmth every time I read them. Her books include:\ \
- The Poet X\ \
- With The Fire On High\ \
- Family Lore\ \
- Inheritance: A Visual Poem\ \
- Clap When You Land\ \ \ For more about the author, visit: https://www.acevedowrites.com/ \ \ Ibi Zoboi(Haitian) \ \ Zoboi writes in many genres but I've only read her YA so far. Her voice is powerful and her characters have strength through their vulnerabilities. Her books include:\ \
- My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich\ \
- Punching the Air\ \
- Pride: A Pride and Prejudice Remix\ \
- Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler\ \
- (S)kin\ \
- Nigeria Jones\ \ \ Learn more about this author at: https://www.ibizoboi.net/ \ \ Do y'all know of some awesome AfroLatine authors? Leave a comment!](https://bookish-afrolatina.binderybooks.com/item/QyVGNRFfp6rsqwkILzSf/)
54 books
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Posts about this book from across Bindery
Wanderland Reads\ \ Sayer\ \ • Aug 4 2025
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[Feeling inspired by those swoon-worthy love stories in movies and books?\ \ It’s very normal to want a fairy-tale romance (for most of us, at least), especially when romancelandia makes us believe love should be dramatic, passionate, and perfect. But here’s the thing: real love is messy, imperfect, and beautiful. \ \ Relationships built on trust, mutual respect, and honest communication last longer and feel more fulfilling. Fairy-tale love often glosses over the hard work, patience, and vulnerability involved in truly connecting with someone. Fairy-tale love is often what we call the honeymoon phase and it’s the period in a relationship where you aren’t actually showing up as your full self because you don’t want to scare them off.\ \ Let’s\ \
- Use romancelandia as inspiration, not a blueprint. \ \
- Focus on building trust and honesty in your relationships. \ \
- Celebrate the small, genuine moments of connection — those are the real magic. \ \
- Remember: every love story is different. Comparing your relationship to a TV show or a novel only adds unnecessary pressure.\ \ \ Practical Tip:\ \ Reflect on what you really want in a relationship, beyond the dreamy fantasies. Honesty with yourself creates healthier and more satisfying connections.\ \ Book recommendation:\ \ This is where most people would recommend like The Five Love Languages, which is fine and all, but this is an account dedicated to romance, so let’s talk books that I think demonstrate healthy, realistic representations of romance. Yes, they are men and women written by mostly women, and some nonbinary folks, but they are also written in a way that allows the reader to see parts of themselves in a character, the way the communicate or in how they approach relationships.\ \
I can’t create a list of real love without including Tarah Dewitt, good LORD this woman can write a love story. My most recent read by Dewitt was "Left of Forever" and it is a master class in exploring the depths of love, heartbreak, and second chances. Few authors manage to evoke such raw, authentic emotion in me when reading romance, but Dewitt’s storytelling feels both heartbreakingly beautiful and deeply relatable. Her prose is stunning—poetic and evocative—perfectly capturing the aching, yearning, and longing that this story’s characters experience.\\
Dewitt’s honest portrayal of love—its frustrations, joys, and everything in between is everything. Her writing is both tender and brutally honest, capturing the humor, frustration, and tenderness of real relationships. The chemistry between Ellis and Wren crackles with electricity, yet it’s rooted in a genuine sense of vulnerability—showing that sometimes words, whether spoken or written, are what ultimately bridge that emotional gap.\\
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This novel is a powerful reminder of love’s transformative potential—its ability to challenge, to heal, and to endure despite life’s hurdles. Dewitt’s portrayal of Ellis and Wren’s journey is so real and moving that it feels like a life-changing experience. If you’re seeking a love story that’s honest, stirring, and full of hope this is it.\\
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Ablaze by AH Cunningham is a sexy exploration of love, desire, and self-discovery. What starts as a spicy read reveals itself as a raw, authentic look at polyamory and the messy reality of falling in love with multiple people. The story highlights that love isn’t tidy or predictable—it's messy, uncertain, and deeply personal.\\
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What sets this novel apart is Cunningham’s honest portrayal of polyamorous relationships. Instead of a typical “happy-ending” triad, she dives into the real-world challenges of loving multiple people—different needs, fears, and evolving desires. The characters’ vulnerabilities and hopes make the story relatable and refreshingly realistic.\\
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If you’re tired of idealized romances and want a story that explores love as it truly is—unconventional, imperfect, and beautiful—Ablaze is a must-read. It’s a fiery, authentic celebration of love beyond the boundaries of “normal.”\\
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Ok Sarah, I thought you were a sapphic account….I swear I am so here is my sapphic suggestion. Second Night Stand by Fey and Karelia Stetz Waters. What makes this story special is that the authors, Karelia and Fay Stetz-Waters, are married and infused some of their own love and experiences into the story. Their beautifully nuanced portrayal of an interracial sapphic relationship rings true because they understand the real struggles couples face—fighting, compromising, receiving feedback, and working together to make love work. Their journey highlights how important communication and resilience are in building a relationship that can truly thrive.\\
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The characters are flawed, real, and instantly lovable, and their chemistry is undeniable. This book shines in its representation of the queer spectrum, body positivity, and diverse backgrounds. It’s sexy, funny, and touching—all at once. The challenges they face are realistic, and the way they gradually open up to each other reflects the messy, beautiful reality of love and self-acceptance.\\
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Stay tuned for part 2 of this lesson, Consent & Communication.\\
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Join for free or login](https://wanderlandreads.binderybooks.com/item/TYr2YWdQUEK5SEr7Kwua/)
[Love & Desire in Romancelandia — Keep It Real](https://wanderlandreads.binderybooks.com/item/TYr2YWdQUEK5SEr7Kwua/)
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[Bookish AfroLatina's Library\\
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Gabby\\
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• Feb 19 2025](https://bookish-afrolatina.binderybooks.com/)
[AfroLatine Authors](https://bookish-afrolatina.binderybooks.com/item/QyVGNRFfp6rsqwkILzSf/)
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54 books
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