Midnight Fantasies by Various

Fairly sub-standard romance anthology
2 Stars

Mystery Lover - Vicki Lewis Thompson
When an unexpected storm hits, rancher Jonas takes shelter in a nearby cave. But he’s not alone and soon finds himself seduced by a mystery lady who refuses to tell him her identity. It’s the best sex of his life so it’s a shame he doesn’t know who it’s with - or does he?

This story was okay but really nothing special. I couldn’t take to B.J. (or her eye-rolly name) as she was just too much of a wimp. Jonas, however, was much worse. He was very proud of his sleeping around and I just had no idea why anyone would want to be with him. Not the best basis for a romance, unfortunately.


After Hours - Stephanie Bond
Michael Pierce has always seen costume shop owner, Rebecca, as a quiet wallflower. But all that changes when he goes over after hours and sees her dressing up as a sexy vampire. Suddenly he wants to know her a whole lot better...

I couldn’t really take to this story, either. Both Michael and Rebecca were just weeks out of very serious relationships and from the get go you could hardly expect either to be in a place to start looking for love again. I also didn’t particularly like the thought that Michael only started to like Rebecca once he’d realised she wasn’t mousy in the looks department.


Show and Tell - Kimberly Raye
When bad boy Dallas Jericho finds a piece of paper left over from a lingerie party that details someone’s fantasy with him, he’s intrigued. But when he finds out he’s been starring in good girl Laney Merriweather’s dreams he just has to show her what she’s been missing.

I liked this story of two people who were at odds with each other but secretly desired each other. It was cute and I especially like bad boy Dallas. As the story went on, however, Laney started to grate on me. She went on and on about keeping her reputation that in the end I wondered if Dallas (another daft name, in my opinion) didn’t deserve someone better.


Overall this wasn’t the best anthology that I have read. None of the stories grabbed my attention and I just couldn’t like a lot of the characters which is key in a romance. I’ll give the book 2 stars because I at least finished it but I didn’t like it and I really can’t recommend it, I’m afraid.

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.

Seduction by the Book by Stephanie Bond

Short quickie romances

3 Stars

The four stories in this anthology focus on four women who take their favourite stories they’ve read in their erotic book club in order to seduce the men of their dreams.

BETWEEN THE COVERS

Cassie Godwin still lusts after her ex-boyfriend, Mark Shapiro, who dumped her over 6 months ago. After telling her he ‘just wasn’t that into her’, Cassie is determined to make the man eat his words.

This was a cute story and while both Cassie and Mark were both likeable, I couldn’t really get over the fact that Mark had initially dumped Cassie because she wouldn’t go to bed with him.

TURNING THE PAGE

Admin assistant, Page Sharpe, has been in love with her boss, Richard Armstrong for 5 years and it’s high time she made her move. Taking her cue from Venus in Furs, Page manages to show Richard who is really boss.

If I’m honest, I really couldn’t get into this story. I’m happy to read about sexual  submission but when mousy Page turned Richard into a pathetic, wimpy man, I just couldn’t see why I was supposed to route for the pair.

A NEW CHAPTER

When wild child Wendy Trainer realised she was in love with her best friend, she needed to plan his seduction. Worried he might not believe her capable of settling down, she invents a pretend boyfriend and asks Nate Betram to help plan the seduction hoping to make him jealous enough to make his move.

I love stories where best friends fall in love and because of their shared history, this one felt real and complete. Wendy and Nate were perfect for each other and this was definitely the best story of the anthology for me.

SURPRISE ENDING

Jacqueline Mays has always longed to find someone that she could indulge her bondage fantasies with. When she is tasked with auditing the accounts of celebrity chef, Elliot Nicholson, she is sure she’s found her man.

This was an okay story that focussed more on spanking than on heavy bondage. I could get behind the way the couple met and interacted but the story was much too short for any real emotion to come through.

With four stories covered in this book, each one only lasts about 50 pages. While this makes them perfect for a quick read, it does take away from the characterisation, back story and emotional connection. Stephanie Bond is still a great storyteller and although it’s not her best book, if you’re looking for some quick and fun reads then this is a good choice. 3 stars. This book is followed by the e-book Too Hot to Print and the longer length story Her Sexy Valentine.

Her Sexy Valentine by Stephanie Bond

Fun and clever Valentine romance

4 stars

Carol Snow is dedicated to her job and would much rather get her heart rate up with a dirty book than with a messy, real-life romance.

But that doesn’t stop her form being tempted by her exasperating, charming and ruggedly sexy co-worker, Luke Chancellor. But when he asks for a real date, she runs like hell…

And finds herself reliving the exact same day complete with Luke and some sizzling hot sex.

Carol’s happy to take the perks of reliving the day but she soon realises she wants more than multiple one night stands. But how can she manage to stop reliving the day and wake up with Luke the next morning?

This is the sequel to Bond’s Seduction by the Book and her e-novella Too Hot To Print. I hadn’t read either of those books when I read this one and it made no difference so this book stands nicely alone.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun, witty, sweet and sexy. You do have to suspend belief for a while because the plot mixes reality and fantasy but it’s still believable and really makes the story.

I liked both Carol and Luke and thought they had excellent chemistry together. Carol, especially, was a really sympathetic character and someone I could understand and cheer for.

There were only a couple of things that stopped this book from getting the whole 5 stars. Firstly, because the same scenes were played over and over, it was very odd to be reading the same paragraphs as you’d just read. Not that they weren’t slightly different each time but it was still strange! The other was that I really could have done with an epilogue to see the couple in the future especially because Carol was so reluctant to form a relationship.

This is still a very good, very well written and clever Blaze romance. 4 stars.

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.

She Did a Bad, Bad Thing by Stephanie Bond

Sexy, light romance

4 stars

Plain Jane Kurtz has always been the mild-mannered ‘good girl’ and she’s tired of it. When she overhears her sexy bad-boy neighbour, Perry Brewer, make a remark about her, she is distraught. So when she wins the lottery, she decides that it’s time she made some changes in her life so she flies off to Vegas for a bad girl makeover.

The woman is driving Perry crazy. He feels so responsible for her need to change that he follows her out to Vegas to make sure she doesn’t get up to anything too dangerous. But when he sees what naughty things Jane has planned – what’s a decent guy to do but offer to be her plaything for the weekend?!

This was a fun, sexy and enjoyable romance that was well written and easy to read. Jane was a relatable character and I’m sure that everybody would want a sexy bad boy like Perry. The pair had delicious chemistry that at times scorched the pages. The plot was believable and interesting even if I did think the story was wrapped up quite suddenly.

The story itself is the first in the ‘Million Dollar Secrets’ mini series and there is an underlying plot that runs through all the books. Despite that, if you don’t want to read the other books in the series, Perry and Jane’s romance is nicely wrapped up in this one so you won’t have to.

Overall if you’re looking for a sexy, fun and light read then this could be perfect for you. 4 stars.

No Peeking by Stephanie Bond

Fun & Sexy Blaze Romance

4 Stars

Violet Summerlin is a complete workaholic – professional, prim and proper. If she wishes that she maybe had a little bit more fun in her life – she’s just far too busy to worry about it.

Then she receives a letter that she wrote years ago detailing her fantasies about untamed, deliciously wild sex, and her mind goes into overdrive. Even more so whenever she happens to be in the same room as her sexy client, Dominick Burns.

Then Dominick invites her to Miami for a working holiday and soon the pair are fulfilling one of Violet’s fantasies. Mixing business with pleasure is always dangerous, especially when Violet realises Dominick has been hiding something from her.

This is one of Blaze’s Christmas stories and it’s a good, fun and festive read.

Violet is definitely a woman that most will identify with as she tries to change her life, and her sex life, for the better. Dominick seemed a slightly different hero than the norm as he was boyish and fun – but he still maintained the sexy, passionate and alpha qualities that made him a great hero. Together the pair scorch the pages.

The story was interesting, readable and perfect to heat up a cold, winter evening. If you like your romances with some fun, spice and a sprinkling of Christmas spirit, then you will enjoy this story. 4 stars.

Summer Fever

Enjoyable Summer Anthology
4 stars

A collection of 5 Mills & Boon summer stories to get you in the mood for the sun.


Rex on the Beach – Stephanie Bond
Private investigator Lucy is looking for a runaway groom and the only person who seems to know where he might be is the best-man Rex. But is it business or pleasure when getting close to gorgeous Rex is the only way to get the information Lucy needs?

This was an excellent, fun story with a really great cast of characters. Although we know Lucy is lying - you still root for her and Rex to work it all out. A great summer romance.


Getting into Trouble – Leslie Kelly
Allie Cavanaugh is fed up of being a single, alone and bored. So when she finds herself kissing a hypnotist at the carnival she realises things are looking up. But Damon Cole isn't who he says he is. But then again, neither is Allie.

Another fabulous read from Leslie Kelly focusing this time on Allie, Sabrina's little sister from Here Comes Trouble. It still works well as a stand-alone story and both Damon and Allie are very sexy and enjoyable characters.


Shaken and Stirred – Heidi Betts
Abby Weaver is happy with her well-ordered life. But when she is forced to go on a girlie holiday she decides to make the most of it. But when she finds herself on holiday alone there's little more she can do but hook up with the tastiest marine on the beach.

This was a fun story about a self-conscious girl and the man who finds her so very attractive. It was in turns sweet then sexy but always a fun, beach read.


Summertime Blues – Kate Austin
Now into her 40s, Ardella Simpson is ready for her life to finally start and it looks like she’s landed her dream job in an aquarium to top it all off. And it doesn’t hurt that the owner of the aquarium might just be her dream man.

Without sounding too harsh – I found this story almost pointless. It didn’t hold my attention or make me feel of summer. Not really my cup of tea.


Kokomo – Jennifer Greene
Jane Whitcomb is at the top of the corporate ladder and burning out fast – she’s now divorced and her children are grown with kids of their own. So she asks her assistant to book her a holiday to Kokomo where she meets an old flame and a whole set of adventures begin.

This was definitely one of the poorer stories of this anthology. Jane was written (and throughout the story, called) an utter bitch and I just couldn’t identify with her. Also, I really prefer happy endings in a romance rather than just the fact that our heroine now has hope that she’ll get a happy ending.


Overall, the first three stories of this set were outstanding and well worth the price of the book. While I personally didn’t enjoy the last two stories, I would still recommend this book for some light reading if you’re a fan of Mills and Boon.

* The first three stories – Rex on the Beach (Stephanie Bond), Getting into Trouble (Leslie Kelly) and Shaken and Stirred (Heidi Betts) were previously published in the anthology Heat Wave in July 2007 *

Just Dare Me by Stephanie Bond

Predictable but enjoyable romance

4 stars

Marketing executive Gabrielle Flannery is tired of being overlooked and undermined at work so when the opportunity arises to manage the account of the biggest outdoor equipment company – she jumps at the chance.

But she didn’t bet on the office heart-throb and all round marketing whiz, Dell Kingston, wanting to handle the account too.

So to win the account – the pair must head off on a wilderness survival weekend and compete against each other. Since he’s in touch with the great outdoors (and she’s anything but) he reckons he’s on to a sure thing. But he doesn’t count on the distraction of Gabby’s sexy legs and she certainly has a few other tricks up her sleeve.

And nothing stimulates a sexual appetite like a campfire, the great outdoors and a healthy bit of lust!

This was a fun romance as an ‘ugly duckling’ goes up against a gorgeous, confident man that she has worked with, and had a crush on, for a long time.

Any woman who has ever felt that she faded into the background will identify with Gabby and cheer her on as she tries to take control of her life. Dell is a good hero – outdoorsy, gorgeous and just a little bit cocky.

The story is very engrossing and keeps you turning the pages although the plot itself is fairly predictable. There is plenty of anticipation and build up toward the sex scenes yet there maybe aren’t as many as I would have liked!

Overall, I was debating between 3 and 4 stars for this particular book. I settled on 4 as despite its slight predictability, it’s a fun, entertaining and well-written book that I very much enjoyed. A good, light read for fans of Blaze romances.

Three Guys You'll Never Date

Three Stories You’ll Love

5 Stars

This collection of stories all revolve around three friends who have had some bad luck trying to find a decent man. So together they make a pact – no more losers, geeks, used-car salesmen, ditch-diggers or unsuitable men of any type. From now on they are only going to date the very best that the male species has to offer. But will they stick to it?

You Can Leave Your Hard Hat On – Stephanie Bond

Successful architect Samantha Stone is set to make her mark on the building world with an innovative new design. But the only person who can help her realise her goal is construction worker Teague Brownlee – with whom she once had a one night stand then cruelly dumped when they were younger. But as the sparks fly on and off the construction site – can they both put aside their prejudices of the other?

Stephanie Bond’s story was packed with sexual tension, chemistry and sex. Teague and Sam are fun characters who have very real emotions and feelings – you can see why they act the way they do. I did feel that the ending was emotionally quite raw and personally I’m not sure if I could have forgiven Teague quite so easily for what he did to Sam! But it was still a sexy, enjoyable story.

The Total Package – Jennifer LaBrecque

Software genius and self-certified geek, Deke Foster wants a wife. And he wants marketing whiz Abby Carmicheal to fix his image so that he can get one. But as Abby starts to change Deke she realises that perhaps he was perfect already – pocket protector and all.

This story was absolutely adorable. I loved how Abby and Deke interacted and how their relationship progressed. This wasn’t written as a typical 'make him over and suddenly she finds him attractive’ type story which made it all the more believable and enjoyable. And the love scenes were enough to scorch the pages which is always a bonus!

Her Hero? – Rhonda Nelson

When prestigious clothing store owner Carley DeLuna’s vintage car breaks down she is quite shocked to see her devastatingly sexy, yet less than ambitious high-school sweetheart Jackson Harper stop to give her a tow. 10 years has changed a lot of things but not the passion that the pair felt for one another. But can Carley get over the fact that Jackson is a perfectly content used-car salesman and will she finally follow her heart?

This was the shortest story of the three but it still was a very satisfying story. Carley and Jackson’s chemistry sparkles and the pair are perfect for each other. Despite Carley’s opposition to Jackson’s career, you never feel that she is snobbish or shallow as she has valid reasons for the way she feels. The story was well-written, very sexy and highly enjoyable.

It is often a surprise when you find an anthology with three very strong, enjoyable stories but this book is certainly one of them. Sexy, fun and romantic – if you’re looking for a book to escape with for a while then you really can’t go wrong with this one. Highly recommended.

Heat Wave

Fun, Sexy, Summery Read

5 stars

It's quite unusual to read an anthology where all the stories are really good - normally you get at least one that's not as strong as the others. But in Heat Wave - all three stories are excellent and make perfect reading if you're sitting in the sun or just wishing you were.

Rex on the Beach - Stephanie Bond

Private investigator Lucy is looking for a runaway groom and the only person who seems to know where he might be is the best-man Rex. But is it business or pleasure when getting close to gorgeous Rex is the only way to get the information Lucy needs?

This was an excellent, fun story with a really great cast of characters. Although we know Lucy is lying - you still root for her and Rex to work it all out. A great summer romance.

Getting into Trouble - Leslie Kelly

Allie Cavanaugh is fed up of being a single, alone and bored. So when she finds herself kissing a hypnotist at the carnival she realises things are looking up. But Damon Cole isn't who he says he is. But then again, neither is Allie.

Another fabulous read from Leslie Kelly focusing this time on Allie, Sabrina's little sister from Here Comes Trouble. It still works well as a stand-alone story and both Damon and Allie are very sexy and enjoyable characters.

Shaken and Stirred - Heidi Betts

Abby Weaver is happy with her well-ordered life. But when she is forced to go on a girlie holiday she decides to make the most of it. But when she finds herself on holiday alone there's little more she can do but hook up with the tastiest marine on the beach.

This was a fun story about a self-conscious girl and the man who finds her so very attractive. It was in turns sweet then sexy but always a fun, beach read.