By Invitation Only by Lori Wilde, Wendy Etherington & Jillian Burns

Short, fun and sexy reads
4 Stars

A wedding between famous actress Holly Addison and Texas Tycoon J.D. Maynard on exotic Rapture Island is the celebrity event of the season. Everyone wants an invitation which is the basis for these three short stories.

Exclusively Yours by Lori Wilde
In order to get the story of the year, journalist Olivia Carmichael must fake an engagement with infuriating writer, Nick Greer. The pair have always been at odds but being in such close quarters with each other might make them change their minds.

This was a fun story with great characters. I was able to suspend belief and just enjoy the story although the editing mistakes were quite irritating. Overall a good story that I enjoyed reading!

Private Party by Wendy Etherington
Tara Lindsey wants to know why she wasn’t chosen as the caterer for the wedding of the season. So she decides to crash the party. Unfortunately for her, chief of security, Wade Cooper, catches her in the act. But who will actually end up caught?

For being a short story this was surprisingly sweet and you really felt the relationship build. I liked the characters and was happy for them together as a pair.

Secret Encounter by Jillian Burns
Dr Peyton Monahan has come to the wedding to find the elusive philanthropist she wants to fund her latest research project. What she does find is a really hot guy. Shame that Quinn Smith has been keeping some secrets of his own…

I liked this story but if I’m honest it didn’t completely entertain me. I couldn’t understand why Peyton was so angry at Quinn’s “deception” and their whole relationship was a little unbelievable. But I did still enjoy the story and the characters were likeable enough.


Overall this is a good collection of short stories all centred around a theme but without much connection other than that. They are short, fun and sexy and worth a read if you enjoy Blaze romances. 4 stars.

Addicted to Love by Lori Wilde

A slow paced but enjoyable romance

4 Stars

Rachael Henderson has always believed in true love, dashing heroes, romance and happily ever afters – after all she grew up in Valentine, Texas. But that all changes when she’s dumped at the alter for the second time and decides to make a statement loud and clear that love stinks. She feels greatly liberated by her act of rebellion until she’s arrested by Sheriff Brody Carlton.

Rachael’s determined to bring her anti-romance feelings to a larger audience and so starts up Romanceaholics Anonymous which is an instant hit. It also divides the town of Valentine as die hard romantics clash with cynics. But when Rachael starts spinning romantic fantasies about Brody she begins to realise it’s not going to be easy to resist true love.

This is the third book in Lori Wilde’s Wedding Veil Wishes series. It doesn’t rely on the other books and stands completely on its own. I even found that in this book the ‘wishing on the veil’ part of the story wasn’t too important either!

Overall I enjoyed this story and I always enjoyed picking it up and reading a chapter or two. I thought Rachael was an excellent character – someone who loved romance but without becoming a stereotype. Brody was the epitome of a great hero as he was sexy and strong while also being vulnerable along with it – perfect!

My main problem with the story was the fact that it seemed to plod along. There was no great urgency and no huge story to tell. Many chapters started with ‘weeks had passed’ which made the pace of the story quite slow. There was also a few back stories going on alongside Rachael and Brody’s story and I for one would have preferred to focus on the main love story.

Having said all that, I did really enjoy this book. It’s not wildly exciting but it’s a fun, sweet and romantic story that is a good addition to the previous books in the series. 4 stars.

Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Lori Wilde

Sexy Second Chance at Love Story

4 Stars

Wedding videographer Tish Gallagher is in dire straights. Her business is about to go bust and she’s down to her last few dollars in her bank account. So she makes a wish on the lucky wedding veil to get herself out of debt but instead sees the man she never stopped loving – her ex-husband, secret service agent Shane Tremont.

In a sudden reversal of fortune, Tish lands herself the biggest job of her life – videoing the wedding of the president’s daughter. The job is the answer to her prayers and the way to save her business and her bank balance. There’s just one problem – Shane is the groom. The magic is still there but with so much baggage, him promised to another and a few dark secrets, will they ever be able to find each other again?

This is the second book in Wilde’s Wedding Veil Wishes series after There Goes the Bride. The couple from that book do make a brief appearance but I would say that this book stands nicely alone as the only recurring storyline is that of the magic veil.

I adore second chance love stories and so I was looking forward to this book. It didn’t disappoint and the chemistry between Shane and Tish was emotional and gave that little hitch in your tummy during their scenes together.

The book was very much about Tish and Shane and how they overcame their issues and managed to work things out between them. There was some action but I did feel the book was lot about the emotion and the main character’s connection. I still really enjoyed the book and couldn’t put it down, reading it in a very short time. It’s an excellent addition to the series or a fun stand alone book and definitely one I would recommend.

Sand, Sun...Seduction

Sexy and sultry summer romance

5 Stars

ENTICED by Stephanie Bond

Attorney Kimber Karlton is having a stressful time. She’s missed her flight to her romantic getaway and now she has to take a chartered plane with rugged rogue and sex god, Finn Meyers.

This was a fun, likeable story with great characters and some real emotion. It really made me smile and was the perfect summer read.

PROPOSITIONED by Leslie Kelly

After her messy divorce from her cheating ex, Liz Talbot finds herself tending bar in gorgeous St Lucia and loving it. That is until millionaire Jack Beaumont tracks her down and tempts her with a proposition she isn’t sure she can refuse.

Like the first story, this was a summery, sweet and exciting read with great characters, hot sex and the perfect ending.

FEVERED by Lori Wilde

Journalist Macy Gatwick is determined to get a promotion by getting the story of the year. She just needs to find Armando Cutler and find out why the corporate whiz suddenly left his job and exiled himself in Costa Rica. But getting stuck with the gorgeous man in a cabin during a tropical storm makes her change her priorities.

This was the weakest story of the three, for me, yet it was still a good read with interesting characters, good dialogue and a sultry setting.

You rarely get a romance anthology where all the stories are strong and enjoyable but they definitely are both in this book. The settings will transport you to hot, sensuous places while the romance will make you sigh. This is the perfect book for a summer read and one I would recommend. 5 stars.

My Secret Life by Lori Wilde

Slightly boring Blaze romance

2 stars

Graphic artist Katie Winfield is blue-blooded, pretty and has a great life – except when it comes to guys. Her latest faux pas included seducing a hot guy at a masquerade ball. A hot guy that turned out to be her sister’s ex-boyfriend.

Determined to take charge of her love life, Katie joins the Martinis and Bikinis Club – a group that specialises in very naughty dares. The man she chooses as her unknowing accomplice is none other than Liam James, her man from the masquerade ball. The pair have chemistry but will they be able to make it work when the dares are over?

I’m sorry to say that this story just didn’t work for me. The story itself, despite the idea of the Martini Dares, was a little too formulaic and forced, and I didn’t really believe in it, or enjoy it. The two main characters were okay but it did seem like I was reading about two rich and beautiful people being rich and beautiful together. Not very exciting.

I was determined to get through the story as it wasn’t offensive in any way – just bland. Unfortunately, things kept coming up that seemed more important than finishing the book (tv, cooking, even ironing!). As I said, it’s not terrible or unpleasant in any way, it just didn’t grip me and I found it rather obvious. Fans of Lori Wilde might still enjoy it or if you are reading through the Martini Dares mini-series which this is part of. I’ve read worse books so I can’t give it only 1 star but it’s still only 2 stars from me, I’m afraid.

There Goes the Bride by Lori Wilde

Enjoyable, quirky romance

4 stars

Texas socialite Delaney Cartwright is having second thoughts about her extravagant society wedding to her predictable childhood friend especially since she came across a magic veil which apparently grants the wearer their deepest desires. Determined to spice things up with her fiancé - Delaney decides to kidnap him for a night of passion - and ends up with the wrong guy!

Detective Nick Vinetti is slightly surprised to be accosted by such a beautiful woman and even more surprised, and annoyed, to find that she is already taken.

So now Delaney is even more desperate to get out of her wedding so she decides to arrange her own kidnapping. Throw in some true love, blackmail, heart stopping kisses, magic, ghosts and car chases - and things are just starting to look a little interesting!

This is the first book in the new 'Wedding Veil Wishes' series by Lori Wilde and it is a fun book to kick things off.

Delaney is an enjoyable character, trying to find herself despite her mother's constant criticism and expectations. And Nick is just lovely - sexy, rugged but strong in his convictions as he won't allow Delaney to break her vows to her fiancé. Which is nice for us because it throws in some delicious sexual tension! Together the pair work well and I liked their interactions with each other which seemed real.

There are also a good cast of entertaining, and sometimes slightly odd secondary characters, many of whom you assume are getting books of their own in the series.

The book is sensual, but not overly so, and while it does have it's quirky elements, it's not in the least scary or disturbing. Just some fun, romance and crazy situations!

If you enjoy your romances slightly quirky with some unusual and interesting plot points - then this is the book for you. A definite page-turner, it will keep you hooked from beginning to end.