She's his for the holidays...and he's unwrapping her every night!

Dark and brooding hotel magnate Will Walker is exactly what Laura Edwards wants for Christmas. Too bad he can't forgive her for disappearing from their unhappy existence in foster care without a word. But when a snowstorm leaves her sharing Will's penthouse over Christmas, the passion between them burns brighter than Times Square. This time, can Will trust Laura to stay?

Title: Sinfully Yours
Author: Margot Radcliffe
Series: n/a
Pages: 148
Genre(s): Harlequin / Mills & Boon Dare, Second Chance, Christmas
Hot Buttons: Difficult childhoods

Release Date: 29th October, 2020

Sexy, festive and enjoyable

4 stars

I was a huge fan of the Mills & Boon / Harlequin Blaze line and I’ve never felt the subsequent Dare line has ever lived up to Blaze’s standards. This book, however, is the first Dare book I’ve read that reminded me of the Blaze line with its strong heroine, deliciously broody male, and an interesting story that was both romantic and sexy.

Will and Laura bump into each other 15 years after their traumatic time as neglected foster kids. Back then, the pair were inseparable - protectors, best friends and each other’s safe space. Until Laura is fostered out and away from Will. Their past - and Laura’s leaving - has caused massive emotional issues in both our characters in the story.

Laura was a great character. For the most part, she’d put her difficult past behind her and had become a successful, strong and happy person. She was fairly chill, except when it came to her guilt regarding Will. Her inner thoughts show us how conflicted she is - and she knows herself well enough to know that she won’t ever be able to keep Will at arm’s length. Yet she also respects herself enough to know that she can’t accept half measures - she wants all of Will or none at all. I admired and liked her.

While Will was probably a typical grumpy, alpha billionaire - he, more than most, had reason to be a little bit wary and standoffish. He had issues regarding his past and yet he was still playful, kind and a good guy. He was my favourite kind of hero - the kind that just needs a big ol’ hug from a good woman.

I loved the connection between Will and Laura. From their first (re)meeting, they fall back into an easy friendship - this time with more adult vibes. And those adult vibes led to some very adult situations which were deliciously hot - exactly what I’m looking for from this kind of book.

We get to a very satisfying conclusion and HEA with this story…but I’m going to admit that when I turned the last page, I screamed in frustration. If there was ever a story that was crying out for an epilogue, it was this one. I can even picture it - Will and Laura celebrating Christmas perhaps 5 years later. Kiddos, dogs, fireplaces, love - I wanted it all. I’m still bitter. Give me epilogues, dammit!

And speaking of Christmas - this book had a nice festive vibe to it. New York in the snow. Family. Presents. Cookies. Christmas movies. Fireplaces. Flannel jammies with reindeer motifs. It was happiness.

Overall, this book was a fun read and while the characters were overcoming difficult childhoods, it never got too angsty or overly emotional. The writing was fresh and readable - drawing you into the story and making you want to keep reading. Sexy with emotions - I really enjoyed this book and Will and Laura’s story. Margot Radcliffe’s writing style reminded me of the Blaze of old and I will be looking out for more from her in the future. A very high 4-star read and recommended.

 

BUY NOW!

 

 

Click to see other books by Margot Radcliffe

 

Title: Tempting Kate
Author: Jennifer Snow
Series: Wild Wedding Nights
Pages: 160 
Genre(s): Mills & Boon Blaze / Harlequin Blaze
Hot Buttons: No epilogue

Everything depends on this one day

Would anyone hire a wedding planner who was left at the altar? The answer, Kate Hartley has found out, is no. It’s been nearly a year since her fiancé abandoned her at their destination wedding, and Kate’s career is nearly toast. Unless she can pull off the wedding of the century for her new clients, a Hollywood power couple. So why is the groom’s brother, sexy-as-hell resort owner Scott Dillon, trying to stop the wedding?

Scott wants to do the right thing—the bride-to-be is keeping a secret and Scott’s brother deserves the truth before he says “I do.” But if Scott doesn’t stop trying to stall the wedding, he’ll ruin Kate’s career, not to mention any chance he has of being with her.

This is the follow on story from Jennifer Snow’s last book, and another in the Wild Wedding Nights series, Her Holiday Fling. You don’t have to have read that one to enjoy this one, although it does help you understand Kate’s own disastrous almost-wedding.

This is a fairly simple story. Boy and girl meet and sparks fly. Then more sparks, this time in irritation, when they realise how they are connected. Then, what should just be angry or emotionless sex turns into something a little more complicated. Because of this, and because of the smooth writing style, it’s a quick read that very enjoyable.

I liked Kate - she’s got a vulnerability but at her heart she’s a confident, no-nonsense woman who goes out and gets exactly what she wants. I didn’t identify with her but I did like her. I loved Scott from the first moment that the reader likened him to Henry Cavil - swoon! Seriously though, he was a fun, at times grumpy, cheeky, stubborn man who was the perfect foil for Kate. I enjoyed them together, too - their chemistry just smouldering enough to make the love scenes give you that flip in your tummy.

The storyline of the 'secret' that Liz is keeping was an interesting one. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it and wasn’t sure if I should be angry, jealous, annoyed…I guess I was feeling exactly the same that Kate was supposed to be feeling so the author did a great job with that one even if it was slightly unusual.

If I had one complaint about this book it’s that I always want an epilogue. Show me the couple a month, year, 5 years into their relationship. It adds so much but is left out so often. But other than that, this was a really enjoyable book that’s a light and quick read. 5 stars.

------------------------


Buy this book now:

Wild Wedding Nights Series:

  

Click to see other books by Jennifer Snow

 
Title: In Her Best Friend's Bed
Author: J. Margot Critch
Series: Friends with Benefits
Pages: 224
Genre(s): Mills & Boon Blaze, Harlequin Blaze
Hot Buttons: /

She wants him so much!

Abby Shaw has had enough. She’s done with relationships (why are guys always so needy??) and wants to focus on getting her career off the ground. The fact that Trevor Jones—her new best bud and her boss—is seriously hot shouldn’t complicate things at all. But, that deliciously hard, tattooed body? A kiss that suggests hours—and nights—of wicked pleasure? Yep, Trevor is trouble…

Abby and Trevor can’t resist turning “just friends” into “friends with sexy benefits.” Which means lots of hot sex, no messy emotions. It's the perfect arrangement—at first. But their searing sexual chemistry verges on becoming dangerously intimate…and Abby will do just about anything to keep herself from falling in love with Trevor Jones.

I primarily bought this book because it was the follow on story from In the Boss’s Bed by the same author. While I wasn’t particularly keen on that story, I still wanted to give this one a chance and see the love story of Abby and Trevor - who first appeared in the first book. Sadly, I wasn’t hugely overwhelmed with this story, either.

The story started off strongly as Abby and Trevor are introduced to us (you don’t need to have read the In the Boss’s Bed first) and you get the anticipation of the start of their relationship. This is when they come to their deal of friends with benefits. The first time they get together is very hot and sexy and everything looked good for a fun story…

…but it suddenly seemed to get a bit stale. The story seemed to be the pair having sex, wondering what they were going to do since they weren’t in a place in their lives to have a relationship, a wee bit about their fledgling careers and another bit of sex thrown in for good measure. I love a sexy story and I love a Blaze romance but when the story seems to be predominantly sex and you find yourself skimming through those parts, there’s something amiss.

The writing was fine and the story did hold my interest - for a while at least - I just couldn’t really feel anything for the romance story and didn’t really believe in it or the love between Abby and Trevor, I’m afraid.

So, not a story for me but not really offensive in any way. I wouldn’t recommend you rush out and buy it but if it’s already in your ‘to be read’ pile then it whiles away a couple of hours. 2 stars.

------------------------

Buy this book now:

Click to see other books by J. Margot Critch

Title: Her Holiday Fling
Author: Jennifer Snow
Series: Wild Wedding Nights
Pages: 145
Genre(s): Mills & Boon Blaze, Harlequin Blaze
Hot Buttons: /

What happens in Hawaii…

Divorce lawyer Hayley Hanna has one week to convince her bosses she’s not a “ruthless, man-hating shark.” And it’s not going to be easy. In a moment of insanity, Hayley agrees to bring her fiancé to the corporate retreat in Maui. But there’s one problem: she hasn’t got a fiancé.

Enter Chase Hartley—six feet of sexy, sculpted police muscle. Chase needs a date for his sister’s island wedding—someone to stop the family matchmakers. The chemistry between them is just a bonus—one that quickly turns hot nights into sizzling sexcapades. All they have to do is resist falling for their own lie. But just because their relationship is fake doesn't mean that falling for each other won’t have real consequences!

It’s been done quite a lot but I’ve always been a fan of the fake fiancee storyline. This is a little bit different as Hayley and Chase meet on the way to Hawaii and mutually help each other out in situations that are completely believable. Hayley wants to shed her ‘man-hater’ image at the work retreat with her bosses while Chase wants someone to keep the single bridesmaids at bay during his sister’s destination wedding.

During the first chapter I honestly wasn’t sure whether I would like Hayley; she seemed a touch too uppity and snobby. But very quickly we got to know the real Hayley, what made her tick and who she really was. She was pretty much against marriage and maybe even commitment but she had her reasons for being so and she wasn’t ridiculously stuck in her beliefs.

Chase’s reasons for his fear of commitment seem a little bit deeper as his are all rolled up in losing his partner (as in cop partner) while also having his girlfriend (of the time) leaving him. His character as a whole is great - hot body, heart of gold, sexy as hell and a protective streak a mile wide - what more could you want? It might be mean of me but I loved the way he became tortured over his feelings for Hayley while trying to cling to his reasons for not entering into a relationship.

The pair had such amazing chemistry and the sex scenes lit the pages on fire. There were just enough to keep the book interesting without it being overkill. Delicious!

I also really liked the storyline of Chase’s sister Kate and can’t wait to read her story in Jennifer’s next book, Tempting Kate.

There are plenty of great things about this book. The pace is fast and interesting, the writing sparkles and the characters really come to life on the pages. What I especially liked is that the ending didn’t compromise who either Hayley or Chase were while still being really satisfying. And the ending was cute as a button!

Overall a great story with great characters. Recommended.

------------------------

Buy this book now:

Click to see other books by Jennifer Snow

Maya Connor was already embarrassed after a dare - and a shot of vodka - resulted in one seriously sexy kiss with an even sexier stranger. She had no idea that the man she made out with was hotel magnate and reputed playboy Jamie Sellers. Or that she would soon be working for him

Maya won't let anything get in the way of her ambition. And she's determined to be taken seriously as she begins her career and not give in to the heat that's constantly driving her to distraction. Lust, that's all it is. The more Maya and Jamie ignore it, the stronger it gets. But ending up in the boss's bed won't just be Maya's wickedest fantasies come to life it'll be the end of her dreams.

------------------------

This sounded like just my sort of Blaze - hot, sexy and just a little bit naughty. Sex in the office? Yes, please!

I wasn’t disappointed as soon as I started to read - I just adored Maya. She was fun, feisty but also a card-carrying introvert and I felt an immediate kinship with her. Her first interactions with Jamie were cute, sexy and also very realistic. Apologising for kissing him was genius!

From the start I also really enjoyed the writing style. It was quirky and fresh - a unique voice that even made me laugh out loud at certain times.

But as time went on in the book, I started to seriously lose interest. It seemed like nothing much would happen or if it did, it was a little samey. Let’s be colleagues. No - let’s be lovers. We can’t - let’s try colleagues again. Et cetera. I also really don’t like when sweeping statements are made to show the passing of time. “The next two weeks were much the same…”

With those big gaps in the timeline of the story, I also felt that a lot of the chemistry was missing. Sure, their inner monologues told that they could barely keep their hands off each other but I wasn’t seeing much evidence of their connection. I even started to skim the sex scenes because of this and that’s not like me.

Once the affair came out the story got a little bit interesting again but by that time I felt Maya had changed into a person I didn’t recognise or even like. Some random tells you she’s been sleeping with your man and while you don’t really believe it or even pitch a fit, you still tell him to get out of your life. What?

As other reviewers have really liked this book, I suppose it’s just horses for courses. It’s not one I took a great liking to but I will read more of J. Margot Critch’s books because I can see that if the story grabs me, I’ll really like her writing. Just 2 stars from me for this one, though.

------------------------

224 pages

Click to see other books by J. Margot Critch

Turning a certified disaster into a certifiable dish!

Image consultant Haven Hoyt needs to take former pop superstar Mark Webster from boozing, brawling mess to presentable musician—capable of keeping his tacky boot out of his mouth. Mark has no interest in being molded, but once she's finished with him, he'll be a work of art.

Haven has very simple rules for herself: be perfectly put together, don't crack under pressure and never sleep with your client! But under the scruff and the surly attitude, Mark is hot. Haven's careful image is unraveling with every look of lust and too-tempting touch. This talented musical hunk wants to pluck her strings. If she's not careful, she'll fall for her work of art…and break each of her rules in the process!

------------------------

The premise of this Blaze story is slightly different than any I have come across before - an image consultant making over, and essentially falling for, a scruffy, bad-tempered former boyband singer.

I was a bit surprised by Mark to begin with. Normally in a Blaze story at the very least the heroine can see beyond the scruffiness, bad manners and bad dressing of the hero, to see the man beneath. I’m not sure she did and I certainly didn’t. I also got an image of dirtiness (not the good kind) which made it a little icky for me when our heroine, Haven, first whispered in his (to my mind dirty) ear. That feeling soon wore off for me, thankfully.

The strange thing about this story was that I actually really liked it. It was well written, kept my attention and did have a good depth to the story. There wasn’t as much sex as in other Blaze stories I have read but what there was was enjoyably sexy if not off the charts hot.

I liked both Haven and Mark and liked who they were when they were together. There wasn’t as much focus on the expected drama of falling for someone’s image rather than who they are on the inside, which I was pleased about. Instead, the conflict comes from other sources and felt true to life.

My main issue with this book was that I didn’t feel that connection between the main characters that I like to read about. There was no sizzling, jumpy feeling in the pit of your stomach, chemistry between the pair which really did disappoint me. The book was still a good read but in the end I wanted more. 3 stars.

------------------------

219 pages

Click to see other books by Serena Bell

A lesson in chemistry…

Back in college, Mia Hayes had a secret crush on fellow student Daniel Keegan, who was an obnoxious stuffed shirt. But she fantasized about turning Mr. Uptight into Mr. Hot Sex. Now Mia owns a successful event planning business, and at a bachelor party she’s organized, she runs into Mr. Uptight himself. And she's determined to show overly serious college professor Daniel how to loosen up a little…

Imagine Mia’s surprise when she learns that Daniel has a deliciously wicked side—one that makes her knees weak with lust. It turns out Daniel is a whole lot more than she ever dreamed. But tempting the professor might have been the riskiest thing Mia has ever done. Because in their case, opposites don't just attract… they combust.

------------------------

There’s nothing quite like a light and lusty Blaze to start off the new year and that’s what you get with this book.

Mia and Daniel knew each other in college. Knew each other and didn’t particularly like each other except for that inconvenient lust for each other that they both kept hidden.

Fast forward 10 years and each is successful in their field, each has grown up and moved on - except that pesky lust is still right there.

From that you have the perfect opening for what is a very sexy tale about two people rediscovering each other, and themselves, on their way to their happily ever after.

I wasn't sure if I’d like Mia at first, if I’m honest. Anyone described as brash, opinionated and mouthy is always going to start on the back foot with me. Luckily, she was written really well and while there were times when I wanted to scream at her to shut her mouth, she was a realistic character and realised her faults, apologising when necessary.

Daniel on the other hand, I loved from the start. A slightly geeky, straight-laced professor who hides a wickedly naughty side that seems to only come out when around Mia. I especially liked that the author didn’t make Daniel change - he was still the same guy at heart just a little wilder than even he realised.

There was plenty of sex in the story as well as sexy times. These were hot and well written; lovely for these cold winter nights. I didn’t get bored or skip even a single word - as can sometimes happen with stories like this.

Overall this was a fun, well-written and sexy story that I would recommend to fans of Blaze stories. Really enjoyed it. 4 stars.

------------------------

224 pages

Click to see other books by Tanya Michaels