Sinfully Sweet

Romance and chocolate

4 Stars

Harlequin Blaze puts together a collection of three Valentine’s stories that all centre around decadent chocolate.

WICKEDLY DELICIOUS by Janelle Denison

Sensible Rebecca Moore decides to shake off her sensible image and let loose at her sister’s wedding. With the help of some chocolate from a local shop, Rebecca decides it’s time to give in to her desires for millionaire playboy, Connor Bassett.

This was a fine story although I’m really not a fan of older woman – younger man stories. However it was still sweet, romantic and a good read for an anthology.

CONSTANT CRAVING by Jacquie D’Alessandro

Daniel Montgomery likes order in his life. Unfortunately his neighbour, Carlie Pratt is the complete opposite and constantly manages to disrupt his life. Just before he moves out of town, Daniel decides it might be time to see whether opposites do attract.

This was a sweet, uncomplicated story about two likeable characters. There was enough heat to keep it interesting and the ending made me sigh in happiness!

SIMPLY SCRUMPTIOUS by Kate Hoffmann

Hotel manager, Darcy Scott is stunned when she literally bumps into baseball star Kel Martin at the local sweet shop. The pair had a steamy one-night stand five years before and soon they are picking up right where they left off all those years ago.

While easily readable and ultimately enjoyable, this story was light on the emotion and realism. Having said that, it was still a good read and rounded off the anthology nicely.

Overall this was an enjoyable and interesting anthology. If you’re looking for some fun, short stories that are full of love, romance and chocolate – I would definitely recommend this Blaze anthology to you.

Tempted at Midnight by Jacquie D'Alessandro

Wonderful end to a great series

5 stars

Lady Emily Stapleford is determined that she will only marry for love. Unfortunately, due to her family’s dire financial situation, it looks like Emily might not have a choice in the matter. So she concocts a daring plan. She writes a story about a lady vampire and hopes that by selling it she will save her family from financial ruin and herself from a loveless marriage.

In order to create public interest, Emily whips up a frenzy as a mysterious vampire which has the ton all abuzz. Except for one person – Logan Jennsen. The mysterious and aggravatingly handsome American knows Emily is up to something and is determined to find out all her secrets. Unfortunately, he’s got some secrets of his own that just might put the couple in serious danger.

This is the concluding book in the Mayhem in Mayfair series after Sleepless at Midnight, Confessions at Midnight and Seduced at Midnight. The same characters appear in all four books but the plot is completely separate so the book stands alone quite well.

I have been looking forward to Logan and Emily’s story from the start of the series and this book didn’t disappoint. I loved how the pair created sparks together and how they both were a bit confused by the fact that perhaps they didn’t hate each other after all! There was great chemistry and lots of sensuality despite the number of love scenes being quite small.

The very minor mystery element was interesting and the whole story kept my attention and really made me want to keep reading the book until the very end without putting it down. If I had to make one criticism it would be that I didn’t really understand the need for the snippets of the vampire book at the beginning of each chapter, but it wasn’t offensive in any way and it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story as a whole.

Overall, this was a funny, sweet, romantic and interesting story and one that I would definitely recommend. 5 stars.

Sleepless at Midnight by Jacquie D'Alessandro

Sweet and romantic romance

5 Stars

London is all abuzz with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, especially Miss Sarah Moorehouse and the other members of the newly formed Ladies Literary Society of London. So when Sarah spots Matthew Devenport, Marquess Langston sneaking back to his house in the middle of night, shovel in hand, her imagination runs wild. Her imagination runs even wilder when she is caught in his bedchamber with the very handsome and very naked marquess.

The Marquess has much more important things to worry about than a group of literature-loving ladies. But his grand plans to save his family all change when he finds Sarah hiding behind his curtain. What is the nosy spinster up to? And why is suddenly the only thing he can think about is sneaking into her bedchamber to see her naked?

This is the first book in the Mayhem in Mayfair series and it really is a great start to the series. If you have ever felt that you weren’t beautiful then you will empathise with Sarah who is warm, interesting and a loveable character. Matthew, the gorgeous, dashing lord, is delicious and it was wonderful to see him interact and fall in love with Sarah. Together the pair have great chemistry, some tender scenes and also some funny banter.

The story is believable and interesting, really keeping the pages turning and making you want to read just one more chapter before you put the book down. The writing is fun, fresh and I really felt the emotions of all the characters.

Overall this book is warm, romantic, a little sexy and is certainly a fun read. I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series (Confessions at Midnight) and would also highly recommend this book. 5 stars.

Seduced at Midnight by Jacquie D'Alessandro

Gripping and emotional tale

5 stars

Lady Julianne Bradley's dream is to marry a man who loves her madly and embark on wild adventures together. Unfortunately the man she wants to share her adventures with is someone that can never be hers. When a spate of murders start in Mayfair and it seems that Julianne is the next target, her father hires the man of her dreams to protect her.

Bow Street Runner Gideon Mayne's most difficult task is to catch the killer - while also managing to keep his hands off Julianne. Convinced she is a pampered princess he is stunned to find himself utterly wrong which only makes the passion burn hotter between the pair. But with Julianne set to submit to an arranged marriage - she is determined to taste passion at least once in her life and is determined that Gideon will be the man to help her.

Despite being the third book in the Mayhem in Mayfair series (after Sleepless at Midnight and Confessions at Midnight) this was the first book of the series I have read and found it stands alone quite nicely although it does whet your appetite to read the other books.

This book was a delight from start to finish. I loved the characters and the emotions really packed a punch as both Gideon and Julianne struggled to cope with their feelings and the restrictions placed on them. The book was nicely sensual and I really felt the chemistry between the main pair.

There was a light mystery element to the story that did keep me guessing right to the end but didn't scare me at all (and I'm a complete scaredy cat!). The writing was excellent and I felt drawn into a rich picture of Regency London.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, couldn't put it down and found myself constantly thinking of it when I wasn't reading. I'm definitely going to buy and read the first two books in the series and can't wait for Logan and Emily's story in Tempted at Midnight. Definitely worth 5 stars.

Heating Up the Holidays

Stories to heat up the holidays

4 stars

Blaze bring together another set of three red-hot stories all about sexy firemen and what they want for Christmas.

ALL HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS by Jill Shalvis

EMT Dustin Mauer and tough firefighter Christina Lewis had one wild and sexy night together but now she’ll have nothing to do with him. All Dustin wants for Christmas is to make Christina realise that she’s madly in love with him.

This was a cute story with likeable characters and some delightful festive romance.

MY GROWN-UP CHRISTMAS LIST by Jacquie D’Alessandro

Sexy firefighter Brad Griffen was head over heels for flower shop owner, Antonia Rizzo, the first time he laid eyes on her. Too bad that she has one rule: she doesn’t date firefighters. But Brad is determined to change her mind – even if it takes all night.

This was my favourite story of the three as it was romantic, sexy and left you with a nice warm glow after reading it.

UP ON THE HOUSETOP by Jamie Sobrato

Dr. Lorelei Gibson was always the geeky girl at school yet she still had a crush on Ryan Quinn - the most gorgeous guy in school. Now all grown up, Lorelei is mortified when Ryan – now a hunky firefighter – rescues her from her rooftop, where she gets stuck, half naked. But that’s until she realises that perhaps she has a chance for a little sensual payback.

This wasn’t my favourite story of the anthology as it felt a little light without much depth or emotion. It was still a good enough read and easy to finish.

I always seem to feel that the festive content in these anthologies is a little on the light side – and this was the case in these stories, too. Having said that – the stories are readable, fun, sexy and will take your mind off the chaos of Christmas for a little while. 4 stars.

A Blazing Little Christmas: A Sizzling Christmas Anthology

Fun & Romantic Christmas Anthology

5 Stars

This anthology of Blaze stories all centre around Christmas at the Timberline Lodge in Lake Placid, New York. Owned by the sweet Mr & Mrs Krause – they are determined that their lodge will be the place for magic and love over the holidays.

Holiday Inn Bed – Jacquie D’Alessandro

Eric and Jessica are determined to spice up their Christmas engagement – especially since they haven’t been together in over a month. But their romantic getaway in a snowy, hide-away lodge is interrupted by their quarrelling relatives – and they have all just been snowed in together.

This was a sweet wintry story and I thought it was an interesting twist to have the main couple together from the outset of the story. It worked well and it didn’t make the story any less dramatic. Sexy, fun and snowy – a truly enjoyable short story.

His For The Holidays – Joanne Rock

Five years ago Heather Dillinger was left at dawn by her delicious army-guy one-night stand without so much as a goodbye. When she receives a letter out of the blue inviting her for a weekend at a lodge in Lake Placid with the same army-man – she sees it as a perfect way for some sensual revenge. But Jared Murphy is determined that this time neither of them will be saying goodbye at all.

I’ll admit that I was worried about this story as I haven’t enjoyed the longer novels by this author. However I am pleased to say that my opinion has changed as this was a wonderful story of forgiveness and second chances with a delicious dose of sex thrown in for good measure. Very enjoyable.

Dear Santa… – Kathleen O’Reilly

When a secret Santa invites Rebecca Neumann for a holiday getaway she needs no encouragement and heads up to the lodge. However, the man Santa had in mind isn’t the man that Rebecca bumps in to – sexy blast from her past, Cory Bell.

This story had to be the strongest of all three and definitely was the most Christmassy. It was however, very different from the other stories as it was highly emotional, very deep and at times quite heart wrenching. It was also sexy, sweet and absolutely adorable. A tortured hero and a heroine with scars find what they have been looking for in each other.

If you’re looking for some quick reads to fit in around all the Christmas madness then this is the perfect book for you. Snowball fights, roaring fires, romance, sex and love – what more could you want for Christmas? Definitely 5 stars.

Jinxed!

Enjoyable romantic anthology

4 stars

Madame Karma has a stall at the Valentine's Day Fair at the upscale Fairfax building complex. And she decides to impart some wisdom on those at the fair: if you run away from love, you'll be cursed!

Blame It On Karma - Jacquie D'Alessandro

Coffe shop owner Lacey Perkins is sceptical when a fortune teller tells her that she is going to fall in love with Evan Sawyer, her annoying, but very hot, property manager. She would rather face the wrath of karma - until she finds herself cursed with a rather large dose of lust.

This story is fun, sexy and very enjoyable and I will be looking out for more of her work in the future.

Together Again? - Jill Shalvis

Accountant Chloe Cooper doesn't believe in predictions - especially when she is told that the man of her dreams is about to walk into her life. But then she bumps into Ian McCall - her former, and first, lover. But this Ian is more dangerous, secretive and seductive than the one she remembers. But just as she starts to think the prediction could be true - she is cursed with a blackout, a case of fraud and some handcuffs!

Jill Shalvis manages to incorporate some of her well-known excitement and danger into her enjoyable (but too short) story of lost loves. It was also refreshing to find a story of past lovers who didn't part on bad terms.

Tall, Dark & Temporary - Crystal Green

Erin Holland isn't convinced when she's told that Wes Ryan, the infamous playboy, is "the one". In fact, she only wants him as a quick fling on their weekend cruise. But she soon finds that if you mess with karma it will mess with you until you are forced to admit the truth.

Crystal Green's story while being generally okay - didn't seem to fit with the other two stories in that it took place outside the complex and 2 weeks after Valentine's Day. Although a pleasant read - I felt it didn't have the sparkle of the first two stories.

This is an enjoyable set of stories which are linked by the mysterious Madame Karma and the predictions she makes about the character's love lives. Although set around Valentine's Day - the holiday doesn't dominate any of the storylines to any great depth.

All in all this is a very enjoyable anthology and one that I would recommend if you're a fan of any of these authors or if you're looking for some quick, sexy reads. 4 stars.