Turn Up The Heat by Isabel Sharpe

Average romantic read

3 Stars

It’s been a year since party planner Candy Graham was dumped by her ex and her friends think it’s about time she gets back in the dating game. So they sign her up for a dating site with not one but four e-profiles to give her a chance to see all different sides of herself.

Writer, Justin Case, has to make an effort in the town he’s just moved to – and that means signing up for a dating site. But it’s neighbour Candy who is ticking all his boxes for an ideal date. But when he discovers she’s got 4 different dating profiles on the site then things are going to get complicated.

This was an average romantic read and one that centres around Valentine’s Day. Candy was, despite her name, a likeable character and one I was surprised I could like. Justin, too, was nice enough and I liked him and both as a pair. Neither were particularly memorable and I didn’t feel huge chemistry between them so ‘nice’ is the perfect word.

The plot was okay but I did feel it was a little bit silly and juvenile at times. There was a lot of to-ing and fro-ing between the characters and getting them to admit that they liked each other. I understand there was supposed to be distrust over each other’s motives but it was nothing that a decent conversation wouldn’t have sorted out.

Added to that was the fact that both characters, Candy in particular, were still caught up on their exes. There was so much boo hooing about losing the love of their lives that it had me rolling my eyes. I want to read about the romance of the couple, not about the people who have dumped them!

Overall, this is an average read that I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend. I finished it and enjoyed it for what it was but I can’t give it more than 3 stars, I’m afraid.

While She Was Sleeping by Isabel Sharpe

Opposites attract romance

4 Stars

When Alana Hawthorne visits her sister she has the best dream ever. A hot guy, some amazing moves and an ending that makes your toes curl. Only when she wakes up in the morning she finds that it wasn’t a dream as there’s a very naked man tucked in beside her in bed.

It gets worse as delicious Sawyer Kern is supposedly the new boyfriend of Alana’s sister and the very man Alana came down to save her sister from. But the gorgeous Sawyer’s not one to give up and he’s really up for a repeat performance.

This is a fairly simple story of an uptight girl who falls for a laid back, easy-going guy. Both characters were sympathetic and you really felt the chemistry between the pair. There was a little bit of emotion missing from the story at times and I felt that Alana could have been written a little bit more sympathetically and not so straight-laced and high-strung.

This book is followed by Surprise Me… and although each can be read individually, the secondary love story in this book is not wrapped up until the next book which I suppose is a cheeky way of ensuring that you buy and read the second book in the set.

If I’m honest, I wish I could give this 3 and a half stars out of 5 as 3 seems a little mean while 4 is a little generous. As it is, I’m going to go with 4 because the book was readable, enjoyable and while not perfect, still a good choice to while away a couple of hours.

All I Want by Isabel Sharpe

Readable if uninspiring story

3 Stars

Krista Marlow only wants two things for Christmas – a sexy man and a relationship that lasts longer than 30 days. She manages to get the first when, due to a reservation mix-up, she finds herself shacked up in a cosy cabin with her dream man.

Seth Wellington can’t believe his luck when he meets Krista. But he knows that should she discover his real identity then their affair will be over. So will this be the best Christmas present both have ever received or just another holiday fling?

This was, overall, an entertaining story if a little thin on excitement and drama. Both Krista and Seth were likeable enough characters if not ones I could either really relate to or wholly admire.

Like Krista, I did wonder at Seth keeping his identity a secret for such a long time. It just seemed like something that could have been worked out with a simple conversation and that kind of conflict in a story always bothers me a little.

Not hugely festive but a nice story to pass away an afternoon. 3 stars.

Indulge Me by Isabel Sharpe

Fast, indulgent romance

5 stars

After years of taking care of everyone else, Darcy Wolf is suddenly free to do what she wants. And what she wants is to ditch her good girl persona and indulge in some of her most decadent fantasies. Afterwards she plans to leave her home town and never come back.

Her first fantasy is to have a one night stand with a hot, willing man and her housepainter Tyler Houston seems like the perfect candidate. Their amazing chemistry takes Darcy and Tyler by surprise and suddenly Darcy isn’t sure whether she wants fantasy or reality.

This book is pretty much about Darcy and her desire to get out into the world and fulfil all her fantasies. She could easily have come across as annoyingly clueless but instead her determination to find out about herself after years of being tied down seems real and her worry understandable. Tyler was a wonderful hero – strong but with a caring, emotional side. The pair had great chemistry and they scorched the pages as they fulfilled Darcy’s fantasies together.

This is really a fun book. It’s sexy, funny, sweet and overall a really enjoyable read. 5 stars.

Before I Melt Away by Isabel Sharpe

A festive Christmas romance

4 Stars

It’s Christmas time and personal chef Annabel Brightman isn’t really in the festive mood. This is the busiest time for her fledgling business and she doesn’t have time for fun or Christmas cheer. But that’s until Quinn Garrett shows up on her doorstep one snowy night.

Quinn has never forgotten Annabel from school but now that they’re both grown up, Quinn is determined to add some fire to the cold, winter nights. The heat the pair generate is enough to thaw Annabel’s icy demeanour but is this just a steamy Christmas fling or could it possibly be the real thing?

This is a cute, fun and sexy Christmas romance that takes Dickens’ A Christmas Carol as its inspiration. It was subtle but was a nice quirk and gave the book a great festive edge.

At first I struggled to get into this book as the characters seemed quite one-dimensional and emotionless. However, as I continued to read I realised that the author was trying to take the reader on the same emotional ride as the characters and by the end I have to admit that the emotions were intense and really brought a lump to my throat!

The book was nicely hot, the couple had great chemistry and without being cheesy, it really captured the Christmas spirit. If you’re looking for a good read for a winter’s night then I would recommend this book to you. 4 stars.

No Holding Back by Isabel Sharpe

Love in 24 hours

4 stars

Reporter Hannah O'Reilly is determined to make the New Year count so she starts by sneaking into the estate of reclusive millionaire Jack Brattle on a stormy New Year's Eve. Finding herself stranded in his luxurious house is just a perk of her job especially since he's got champagne, gorgeous food and a delicious body that he's willing to share with her.

Hannah has always been known as the impulsive type but she might just have landed a career and life changing scoop with the sexy millionaire. Or maybe things aren't quite as perfect as they seem!

This was an enjoyable read from Blaze although you really have to escape reality to believe in the everlasting love after only 24 hours. Having said that, as a pure escapism fairy-tale, this was perfect!

Mysterious, brooding heroes with a boyish charm are my favourite kind and Hannah was someone I could definitely identify with. The pair had some good sizzle but it wasn't ever totally scorching.

Overall, this is a good book to make you forget your troubles for a while. It's fun, romantic and great if you enjoy a quick yet satisfying read. 4 stars.

Going All The Way by Isabel Sharpe

Enjoyable but not perfect

4 stars

Back in school Jenny Hartmann was shy and unassuming. But now she has become a minor celebrity after writing her sizzling self-help book entitled 'What Have I Done For Me Lately?' She aims to liberate all women to become as sexually confident and sassy as she too has become.

Back in school, Ryan was a hell-raising bad boy but now he has grown up and calmed down. But this new Jenny is really driving him crazy especially when she decides that she will have a fantasy fling with him. And whatever the new Jenny wants, the new Jenny gets.

But when the pair get together - they both begin to realise that maybe they haven't changed all that much after all.

While I enjoyed this book I really wavered between giving it 3 or 4 stars. I liked Jenny to begin with as although she was sexy and confident, she was still vulnerable and not a man-hating feminist like she could have been written. But halfway through the book she started to become very selfish and immature and not someone that I liked at all. Admittedly by the end of the book she saw the error of her ways and had become nice again but I was still suspicious of her! Ryan is an enjoyable character - sexy and straight-laced with his inner bad boy just waiting to get out! There were also two strong secondary characters that had quite a lot of book time and while enjoyable - they weren't as good as Ryan and Jenny.

I decided to go with 4 stars as despite its faults, it's an uplifting, enjoyable, sexy read that doesn't flag and keeps you turning the pages right to the end. While not perfect, it's written well and although maybe not a keeper - it is still a book you should pick up if you get a chance.

Secret Santa

Naughty but nice Christmas collection

4 stars

Secret Santa is a collection of three short stories all centred around the Secret Santa exchange at the New York offices of Connoisseur – a food and travel magazine.

He’d Better Watch Out! – Janelle Denison

Bosses daughter Amanda Creighton has always been a good girl – until she decides to put her name down as the Secret Santa for the office bad boy Christian Miller and give him a gift that he won’t be able to resist.

This story is enjoyable although I wasn’t sure about the angel and devil who advised the heroine throughout the story – that was slightly odd. But otherwise it was a sexy story with two enjoyable characters.

The Nights Before Christmas – Isabel Sharpe

Cathy Ann Johnson considers herself as quite an ordinary sort of girl – so when her Secret Santa gives her some sexy lingerie she decides it’s time to be a little bit naughty. So she seduces her Santa – only it’s the wrong Santa!

This story is more sweet and poignant than the others and although it does have it’s fair share of sexy scenes, it’s more of an emotional tale with a heroine you will no doubt identify with.

Mistletoe Madness – Jennifer LaBrecque

Tatiana Allen’s boss has decided to go all out with the office Secret Santa and have 8 days worth of presents and gifts. Unfortunately for Tatiana, she has to buy gifts for her office nemesis Cole Mitchell. But when they are thrown together for an assignment, Tatiana realises that this year she wouldn’t mind getting Cole in her stockings afterall.

This was definitely the best of the three stories offering arguing colleagues who change into something more. It’s funny, sexy and a really enjoyable story.

This is a sweet set of festive stories that you can’t help but enjoy even if they are quite light on that warm Christmas feeling in some cases.

Overall – although there maybe aren’t any classics in this anthology – it is a book that I’m sure you will enjoy whether it’s Christmas or not! Definitely recommended for a fun, light read.

Thrill Me by Isabel Sharpe

Sweet yet sexy Blaze romance
5 stars

May Ellison needs a sexual adventure. After being dumped by her boyfriend of 6 years for being too boring and predictable - she heads to the erotic hotel Hush in New York for a week of sinful pleasures with a man. Definitely a change from her normal small town life.

But when he fails to materialise - May's hopes of an adventure are crushed until star author Beck Desmond checks into the hotel. He's meant to be revising scenes for his latest action thriller but is having a little writer's block so he manages to persuade May to be his inspiration for the week. But when the week is over both May and Beck must decide whether it was just fiction or the real thing.


This is another book in Blaze's Do Not Disturb series which revolve around the gorgeous Hush hotel. Although part of this series - it completely stands alone as the main recurring theme tends to be the hotel rather than the people in it, although one or two from previous and future books do pop up.

I really loved this book and it makes a great addition to the series. May is so easy to identify with - she's sweet and fun with a wicked streak in her and she is very real in the way that she muses over her problems and the decisions she has to make. I adored her. Beck is also a great hero but then I do love the strong, brooding types! The way he treats May and how he is so unsure is very sweet to read - even with all the sensual fun that goes on in the hotel.

The story really draws you in and never does the author take you down the obvious plot route with silly misunderstandings or overblown conflict. The story keeps you wanting to turn the pages and see how things work out.

The sex scenes in this book are not as hot as I've read in some other Blaze novels and I might even say the main love scene was slightly anti-climactic. But that's probably only because the build-up and tension beforehand were so well written and exciting that it couldn't be anything but.

Overall - this is an excellent, well-written romance which is perfect for those who enjoy Blaze romances. May and Beck really make this book come alive and I would definitely recommend it.