Bring It On by Kira Sinclair

A fun and seductive Blaze romance
4 stars

With her wedding ruined, graphic designer Lena Fuller decides to escape the resulting chaos by taking off on her honeymoon with her best friend, filmmaker Colt Douglas.

But when they arrive at the adult’s only resort they realise that Lena’s ex set up a week long photoshoot to help showcase the resort’s business. With each photoshoot becoming more and more steamy, the pair soon begin to wonder if faking it is all it’s cracked up to be? And after the week is over will they be able to forget?


This is the first in a new series by Sinclair called Island Nights that focus on the adult’s only resort in the Caribbean, Escape. After this one comes Take It Down and then Rub It In.

I very much enjoyed this book with its lush scenes and steamy encounters. The characters are sympathetic and I liked both their interactions with each other as well as their chemistry. The sex scenes are nicely hot - perfect for a Blaze - and the whole storyline was fun and frivolous.

This book was exactly what I would expect from a Blaze and I’m looking forward to reading the next two books in the series - the characters of which we meet briefly in this story. If you are looking for a little escapism in a hot and sultry setting and a quick and easy read then you can’t go wrong with this book.

The Headmaster's Confession by Laurel Bennett

A short, fun and sexy story
4 stars

The headmaster of an all girl’s school in Regency England is tested to his limits when the lovely, wayward Miss Winters breaks the rules and is sent to his office for her punishment.


This is a very short and sexy, erotic tale and the first that I have read by Laurel Bennett. It’s the same story as The Headmaster’s Fall but this time seen through the eyes of the headmaster rather than Miss Winters.

At only 17 pages long the book is more of an encounter rather than a full story. Having said that, the writing was very good, the situations hot and I enjoyed it very much. The twist at the end is both welcome and handled well; it made me like the story much more.

Overall, if you’re looking for a hot, 10 minute read then I would recommend this to you. 4 stars.

Once Upon a Valentine by Various

A fun, fairy tale anthology
4 stars

Every year around Valentine’s Day, Harlequin Blaze publish an anthology filled with themed stories. This year, they’ve gone for the fairytale theme where each story is based around a favourite childhood tale.

“All Tangled Up” - Stephanie Bond
Andrew is back in his small town after the death of his estranged father. He finds his father’s estate in turmoil but can gorgeous neighbour, Summer, with long flowing hair, lead him back to find a happily ever after.

I swear I’ve read this story a hundred times before - man back in home town, estranged father, girl who loved him when younger etc etc etc. This really didn’t excite or interest me and apart from Summer’s hair I could see little resemblance to the fairy tale.


“Sleeping with a Beauty” - Leslie Kelly
Historian, Ashlynn is searching for Sleeping Beauty’s castle when she finds herself accosted by rogue adventurer, Raine. With one kiss Ashlynn realises that even though she hasn’t found her castle perhaps she has found her Prince Charming.

In this cute and unique story we travel back to the fairytale land of Elatyria which featured in a few of Kelly’s previous short stories. Both Raine and Ashlynn are lovely characters and their love story is cute and satisfying.


“Catch Me” - Michelle Rowen
All Ginger wants for Valentine’s Day is for men to want her so that she can have her pick rather than being stood up on the most romantic night of the year. But when a magic cookie makes her dream come true she takes refuge in the arms of her best friend, Stephen, the one man she dreams of having a happily ever after with.

I couldn’t remember much about the tale of the Gingerbread Man but when I read this story I definitely saw the clever similarities. I loved both Ginger and Stephen and their relationship was so sweet. I’ve never read Michelle Rowen before but I’ll look out for other Blaze books by her in the future. Good fun.

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I didn’t like the first story at all but the other two certainly made up for it. If you’re looking for light, sweet and romantic stories then even with the bad apple at the start I would still recommend this book to you. 4 stars.

The Christmas Knight by Michele Sinclair

A sweet and festive tale
4 stars

Unprotected and alone, Bronwyn de Breton must protect her younger sisters and their home at Hunswick Castle. Things go from bad to worse when a war-hardened, scarred warrior arrives as the new lord of the castle with orders to take the youngest daughter as his bride. Bronwyn refuses to let a man as reputedly hard and wild as the new lord marry her sister so she steps up and pretends to be her sister.

Ranulf de Gunnar, however, is not so easily fooled. He knows that this woman is not his intended but as they are forced to spend time together he cannot seem to resist this woman who teaches him passion, loyalty and love.

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I have never read Michele Sinclair before but I can’t resist a Christmas tale and this one seemed right up my street with a scarred man made whole by the love of a good woman. I’m glad to say that I wasn’t disappointed.

Ranulf was, for me, the perfect kind of hero – brooding and angry but underneath so vulnerable; I just wanted to hug him! Bronwyn was also an exceptional character and was a spirited and likeable female that still felt right for the medieval time period. They worked fantastically together and I liked their chemistry and how together they were stronger – once they got over their insecurities, that is.

The book mainly covered the relationship between Bronwyn and Ranulf although there was a little bit of intrigue and danger. Some might find this makes the book a little slow but I was gripped from start to finish. There were also lovely little snippets about Christmas and festivities in the medieval period which were a nice touch and really fascinating. There were a few too many modern Americanisms for my liking but I’ll admit that this is a personal peeve of mine in any historical book.

I see that there are books planned for Bronwyn’s sisters and I very much look forward to reading them and hope that I enjoy them as much as I did this one. Overall, this was an entertaining book that I couldn’t wait to continue reading and one that I would very much recommend. A high 4 stars from me.

Storming the Castle by Eloisa James

A fun but short romantic story
4 stars

From a young age Miss Phillipa Damson has known that she will marry Rodney Durfey no matter what she might prefer. So when she hears that there is an ill baby at a nearby castle she sees it as her chance to escape her lot in life and runs away to take a position as nursemaid.

Jonas ‘Wick’ Berwick, the illegitimate brother of Prince Gabriel, serves as majordomo, overseeing the day to day running of Pomeroy Castle in Lancashire. His position in life – not quite a servant but not quite a gentleman – means that he has vowed never to marry. But when Philippa arrives at the castle he can’t help but wish for something different for his life.


This short story is a sequel from James’ A Kiss at Midnight which is the first in the Fairy Tales series. The series is set in Fairytale time with a dusting of the Regency so they aren’t as strict when it comes to historical detail and accuracy. You probably want to have read A Kiss… before reading this one but I don’t suppose it’s 100% necessary.

I’m really glad that Wick got his own story and from the start I thought Phillipa a great match for him. She’s that perfect blend of smart and strong but with a vulnerability in her that makes her likeable and relatable. Wick was also a good hero being proud and strong but truly in need of the love of a good woman. The pair had good chemistry and I was rooting for them throughout.

I debated between giving this 3 or 4 stars but decided in the end to be generous. My reason for this indecision was that due to its short nature the declarations of love came a little too abruptly for me. The conflict was also surrounding whether Wick and Phillipa could be together due to their different statuses but when the book concluded this was apparently a forgotten problem.

Overall this is a fun, quick read with characters I’m glad got their happily ever after. It’s not the best I’ve ever read but it’s a good read to pass an hour or so.

Holiday Hideout by Various

A good set of cosy winter romances
4 Stars

This anthology pulls together three festive stories that all focus around one particular cabin that’s known to bring luck in love for all those who stay there. Perfect for warming up the cold winter evenings.



The Thanksgiving Fix by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Love is the last thing on Beth Davis’ mind when she takes a Thanksgiving break at a friend’s cabin to avoid being set up by her family. That’s until Coinneach “Mac” McFarland comes to fix a suspicious leak in the cabin and she discovers the best things are found when you’re not even looking.

This was a sweet story that worked even with the short time frame of the couple. I liked the setting that was built up in the story and as short stories goes I really enjoyed the story and the romance.


The Christmas Set-Up by Jill Shalvis
Competing architects Zoe and Jason have two weeks to come up with a design to win a coveted project in their architect firm. But when a snowstorm traps the pair in a remote cabin their real desires come to the fore. Will it be a merry Christmas for the pair?

I love a story of a couple that hide desire behind bickering and this one was great. It was funny, sweet and I very much enjoyed it. Would say that this was the best story of the three.


The New Year’s Deal by Julie Kenner
Five years ago Cleo and Josh split up but promised to meet up again for New Year’s Eve in a remote, romantic cabin. Their lives might have changed but the spark of desire is still there and they might just be able to make it work this time.

This was only so-so for me. I easily read it through but didn’t really care for either Josh or Cleo. Josh was a little too spineless when standing up for what he wanted and Cleo seemed a little fickle and lacking emotion. It just didn’t really do it for me, unfortunately.


Overall, this was a fairly enjoyable anthology. It wasn’t overly festive or filled with holiday cheer but you did get the sense of a nice cosy cottage on a dark winter night and that was enough to make my reading experience an enjoyable one. 4 stars.

The Seduction of Scandal by Cathy Maxwell

Romance full of intrigue and deception
4 stars

Daughter of a duke, Lady Corinne, refuses to marry Lord Freddie Sherwin. He may be the catch of the season but he’s also a pig and Corinne only wants to marry a man she can love. So rather than face a life of misery she runs away. Only to find herself in the arms of notorious highwayman, Thorn.

Thorn is involved in a dangerous game – his identity is a mystery, his life a secret. Until Lady Corinne tumbles into his arms and turns his world upside down. If he wants her silence he must hide her until after her wedding day passes. But when passion flares it might be the most dangerous thing either has faced before or perhaps the start of a lifetime of adventure.


This is the fifth book in Maxwell’s Scandals and Seductions series after A Seduction at Christmas, The Earl Claims His Wife, The Marriage Ring and His Christmas Pleasure. Corinne briefly featured in the last book but apart from that the books stand very much alone and in this one at least, there are no appearances by the main characters from previous books.

From start to finish I really loved this book. It is full of intrigue and romance all the while maintaining the lightness that put me in mind of The Scarlet Pimpernel. However, the real highlight of the book for me had to be Thorn. When we first are introduced to him I was intrigued as to how he would fare as a romantic lead but he turns out to be a brooding, tortured and lonely man who desperately needs the love of a good woman. I liked Corinne too and together the pair had good chemistry. The writing was sharp and this is the kind of story you’re desperate to pick up again if you can manage to put it down in the first place.

My one negative about the book was the sheer number of typos. It drove me mad to see duplicated words, spelling mistakes, grammatical mistakes on top of the smattering of Americanisms dotted throughout the book. I realise that this isn’t necessarily the fault of the author so it’s a shame that it affected my feelings about a book whose characters and storyline I otherwise very much enjoyed.

Having said that, if you like regency romances that you can get lost in and really root for the characters then I would very much recommend this book to you despite its faults. 4 stars.

For Love or Legacy by Ruth Cardello

Enjoyable second part of the trilogy
4 stars

Nicole Corisi will do anything to break the terms of her tyrannical late father’s will – even if it means pairing up with ruthless businessman Stephan Andrade to do it. But not only is Stephan her estranged brother’s rival but he’s also the man Nicole could never forget.

Stephan is one step away from ruining Dominic Corisi and taking back the legacy that was stolen from him years before. When Nicole walks back into his life he realises he can put a new spin on his revenge until he realises he might have to choose between reclaiming his legacy and the love he has found.


This is the second in the Legacy Trilogy after Maid for the Billionaire and before Bedding the Billionaire. You probably could read them on their own but it’s so much better if you read them in order so you know who’s who in the supporting characters and situations.

Although looking forward to this book I was wondering whether I would identify with Nicole as she seemed a bit snippy in the first book. I was glad to be proven wrong as she instantly came across as a real woman who had insecurities but a real strength about her. She was fun and likeable and a great foil for the delicious and broody Stephan. The pair also had good chemistry although I would have liked to see a little more action between the pair in the earlier stages!

The storyline was interesting and I was always keen to pick up the book and continue where I’d left off. The writing flowed and the style was very readable. The book also nicely set up Jake and Lil’s story which I’m very much looking forward to. And I have to make mention of the second last line of the book which I thought was so sweet and made me swoon!

Like with Maid for the Billionaire, I feel that this author shows exactly how Mills and Boon Modern/Harlequin Desire books should be written. Men who are powerful without being too arrogant and women that are strong enough to tame them. I am really enjoying Ruth Cardello’s books and would recommend you give her a try. 4 stars.

The Earl of her Dreams by Anne Mallory

Very enjoyable regency romance
4 Stars

Anne Mallory's fourth novel is a fresh and enjoyable historical and she is definitely an author that I will be looking for in the future.

Kate Simon is on the run from her despicable half brother who intends to marry her off to his disgusting friend in order to steal her dowry. So, disguised as a male tailor's assistant Kate stays at the Dragon's Tale coaching inn hiding out until she can make enough money to get safely to London.

In order to find his friend's scandalous journal - Christian Black, Earl of Canley is also at the Dragon's Tale and also in disguise. But with no room left at the inn Christian is forced to share with the young tailors assistant who he soon realises is not exactly what he seems.

When a murder occurs at the inn and the occupants trapped by a blizzard - Kate and Christian turn amateur investigators to try and find out the secrets of all the guests while trying very hard not to reveal their own secrets and passions.

I really enjoyed this book. Although I'm not really a huge murder mystery fan this story was written so well that it really draws you in to the story and the characters. Kate and Christian both have their demons and strengths that make them perfect for each other and it really is fun to watch them interact with each other while trying to stay unaffected. The colourful secondary characters really come alive too and having a map of the inn at the front of the book is a fun little extra which again draws you into the story.

The only downside to the book would have to be that as soon as the mystery was solved the end of the story seemed slightly flat compared to the puzzle that had been ongoing for most of the book. But the change of pace certainly didn't ruin the book which still had a satisfying conclusion.

If you enjoy colourful characters, a touch of mystery with good wit and a fast paced story then I really would recommend that you give this book a try.

She's Got the Look by Leslie Kelly

Enjoyable, sexy romance
4 stars

This is the second Leslie Kelly book I have read and the follow up story to her previous book She Drives Me Crazy. And this one definitely has made me a fan.

The story centres around Melody Tanner who is making a fresh start in a new town after a very messy divorce. Her friends think it's time she cheered herself up by having a fling with a guy from the lists they made at Melody's bachelorette party - of guys they could sleep with no matter what.

But when the guys on Melody's list start dying suspiciously she has to call in the police and the detective put on the case just happens to be her number one guy - former marine and bad boy Nick Walker.

After that there's nothing but drama, romance, murder, mystery, arguments, sex, interfering friends and the theft of a set of special peacock panties as the pair try to solve the murders and start to fall for each other.

Both Melody and Nick are great characters and there are plenty of colourful supporting characters and secondary storylines adding something extra to the story. You really get to know and love them all throughout the book. The story itself is fun, sexy and fast paced with something always going on to keep your interest.

The book does follow on from She Drives Me Crazy but although there are references to that book - this story stands alone. But for those who've read the previous offering - it's nice to catch up with Johnny and Emma-Jean again.

I really enjoyed this book although I only gave it 4 stars as I did feel that the ending was slightly weaker than the rest of the book. Having said that, I would definitely still recommend it to those enjoying fun, sexy romances with a little murder thrown in. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did.