Book Review: Playing with Fire by RJ Blain

Playing With Fire

A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a body count)

RJ Blain

I admit it, I like paranormal romances with a high amount of comedy in them and this one was packed with it!

The story starts with a barista named Bailey who works in a coffee bar where pixie dusted drinks are sold. It’s a legal drug that doesn’t seem to have side effects. (Basically caffeine on steroids?)

Enter the hunky Chief Quinn, who Bailey is sure hates her because she discovered his wife having an affair. But, he asked her to locate his wife.

Which is our first indication that there is more to Bailey than meets the eye. Why would the Chief of Police ask a barista to find his wife? Well, Bailey has a certain talent for finding missing people.

And, we are in a world where there is pixie dusted coffee.

The biggest problem right now is that Bailey is HIGHLY attracted to Chief Quinn but the feeling doesn’t seem to be mutual.

Then her boss, a pixie named Mary, asks Bailey to watch the coffee shop for an hour on her own. Bailey doesn’t like it but agrees. However, no one comes in to relieve her at the end of her shift, or all day. Bailey closes the shop up, leaves a letter of resignation, and goes home.

The action and the humor keep ramping up from the moment Bailey gets home.

Bailey is obviously not JUST a barista. She has MANY other talents.

And maybe Chief Quinn doesn’t actually hate Bailey.

And he’s single now.

Some great things about this book – coffee, a black and red napalm eating unicorn, angels and demons, gorgons, hazmat suits, hallucinations, and glass coffins.

Enjoy.