She had long, gorgeous hair

Summer Tomlinson always had a thing for Andrew Macmillan. Now that they're business partners--as well as bed partners!--Summer wonders if letting her hair down will catch him for good....

He sought a sleeping beauty

Historian Ashlynn Scott is seeking the fabled castle of Sleeping Beauty. But with just one kiss, she finds herself tangled up--and tangled in the sheets!--with a rogue adventurer. She might never want to wake up!

She was being chased by every man

Ginger Redman wanted to be irresistible, so she made a wish on a magic cookie. And the baked treat delivers--sending her sexy best friend, Stephen Fox, right into her bed!

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All Tangled Up by 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 by 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 by 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.

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224 pages

Six years ago, Ross Mitchell and Lucy Fleming shared a hot holiday weekend in Manhattan, back when he was just a hard-bodied guy in a tool belt and she was an impulsive photography student.

Fast-forward a few Decembers: Ross and Lucy meet again, by chance, at his office Christmas party. And when they find themselves alone and snowed in after hours, it's not long before they're making their own body heat--again. Only this time, the sex is better than ever!

But is it just another holiday romp between the sheets? Or will Lucy and Ross finally get to keep what they really want this year--each other!

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I love Leslie Kelly and so was really looking forward to this book, especially as I love a good Christmas romance. Perhaps that's partly the reason that I was quite underwhelmed with this book.

Don't get me wrong, the writing was good (as always), the characters were both likeable and relatable and the plot wasn't terrible. It's just that the story seemed to lack any sparkle. The story is told both in the present day and in flashbacks to six years ago when Lucy and Ross first got together. I found this made the story a little slow going and I found myself continually wanting to get back to the modern day chapters so I could see how the pair were getting along now and not back then.

Lucy was also fairly peeved at Ross which led to a lot of the conflict for whether or not they would be able to make things work. However, when it got to the reason that the pair split up in the first place I couldn't believe it. Sure, it was a legitimate reason for breaking up but certainly not for being mad at someone - I just didn't get it.

Overall, a little lacklustre and good for a quick read on a cold night but nothing overly special I'm sorry to say. 3 stars.

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224 pages

Click to see other books by Leslie Kelly

Subject: Danny Wilkes, navy pilot.

Current status: On shore rotation. Very intrigued by a sassy visiting lecturer…

Mission: Enter the astronaut training program.

Obstacle: Marissa Marshall, Ph.D. She's keeping Danny preoccupied with earthly delights…

Danny Wilkes might have outgrown his risk-taking flyboy days, but he still loves a thrill now and then. And nobody's thrilled him lately like fiery Mari Marshall. Sex with her is a bigger turn-on than any of the air maneuvers Danny's ever pulled. He falls head over heels…hard.
But Mari has bitter memories of being a military brat. She'll never enter that life again–not even for the best sex she's ever had.

It's a hell of a choice. Does Danny give up his skyrocketing career? Or let go of the only woman who revs his engine into the stratosphere?

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I am a huge fan of Leslie Kelly's and am always excited when she brings out a new book. Unfortunately, this one didn't really float my boat.

I think, for me, the main problem was with Mari. There was something ballsy and brash about her that meant I just couldn't like her much or root for her. I'm not against strong females in a romance but she seemed a strange mix of mouthy forcefulness and needy uncertainty that seemed at odds with one another.

Danny was a better character but again, I wouldn't call him a perfect leading male character. The chemistry between Mari and Danny was fairly hot but not scorching and there were plenty of sexy scenes between the pair.

The story ran along smoothly although I did find myself being interested in the beginning while Danny and Mari weren't together. Then, when they got together it got quite boring. And again, they weren't together and it started getting interesting again. It was strange that it was unable to hold my attention from beginning to end. The ending itself was what you would expect but it certainly didn't make me sigh or even really make me remember it after I'd put the book down.

Perhaps I'm being overly harsh with this book because I have adored some of Kelly's previous books and so probably set quite a high standard for this one. Having said that, this book was still fairly enjoyable and is an easy read for a quiet afternoon. 3 stars.

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224 pages

Click to see other books by Leslie Kelly

Sister-of-the-groom Bonnie Campbell is certainly no groupie. But when famous, drop-dead-hottie action star Drew Ericson films his latest flick at the wedding inn, she turns into his naughtiest fan....

Jazz Wilkes is rough, tough and totally in touch with her sexual appetite. No man can withstand her desires...except proper yet wildly sexy Blake Marshall! He'll give her a night to remember... but only if she'll give him the rest of her life!

Passion? Abby Bauer wants some! Her fiancé, Keith, just doesn't make her toes tingle. But the dashing masked man at the reception sure does....

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Following on from Kelly's Play with Me, we once again meet up with Amanda and Reese - this time at their wedding - where we get three stories about people attending their wedding and finding their own happily ever afters.


First Kiss
Bonnie Campbell is sick fed up with always being a good girl and even more so now that she realises everyone thinks of her as practically a virgin. So she's determined to make the most of the wedding reception and all the hot men. But first she has to tell off hot movie superstar, Drew Erikson, who has managed to snag the honeymoon suite.

This was a sweet and surprisingly believable story that I really enjoyed. Both Bonnie and Drew were likeable and non-stereotypical characters and I liked their happy ending.

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Halfway There
Jocelyn "Jazz" Wilkes had never been shy and had left a string of broken hearts in her wake. But her colleague, Blake Marshall, didn't seem to be the same type as her normal guy. So why is he always in her thoughts? And why does he make her want to give up her single life and settle down. With him.

This was another great story that just oozed with chemistry between the main characters. I liked the fact that the characters had been dancing around each other for weeks and the wedding was the culmination of their feelings - even if they don't want to admit them to each other!

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Last Call
All Abby Bauer wants is a man who she can have a passionate relationship with. Unfortunately for her, despite how much she loves him, it seems that that man is not Keith Manning - her fiancé. Keith is astounded when Abby dumps him but he's determined not to let her get away and is determined to prove he's man enough for her.

I adored this story. It was a mixture of sweet and sexy with enough emotion packed in to make it really enjoyable. For me, I could have read this story over and over and never got bored. In fact, since reading this story the first time, I've gone back many a time to re-read this little gem.



Kelly did a similar thing with Overexposed and One Wild Wedding Night and it works just as well second time round. If you're looking for short, sexy snippets then I would recommend this as the perfect example of Blaze romance and one I really enjoyed. 5 stars.

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218 pages

Click to see other books by Leslie Kelly

These Valentine's Day dates have all the markings of blind-date disaster! Or do they?


Skin Deep by Janelle Denison
Who says nice girls can't have fun? Jayne does¿dirty dancing and a lot more!¿with a hot bad boy one night. Still, it was a onetime thing. Really! But when she's set up on a blind date with her sexy stranger, she realizes Cupid must have other ideas...


Hold On by Leslie Kelly
Shy Sarah Holt has a bad case of unrequited lust. She's hopelessly enamored with a client¿sexy Steve Wilshire. So, when she gets the chance to impersonate the doctor's blind date, she takes it...and has the most torrid night of her life. But will Steve still be "holding on" when the truth comes out?


Ex Marks the Spot by Jo Leigh
Paige Callahan just got set up on a blind date¿arranged by her ex-boyfriend! But potential catastrophe turns into flirty fun - and then some! - when she meets sexy, very wealthy Noah Hastings. 

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This is Blaze's annual collection of stories for Valentine's Day all focusing on blind dates and what they can lead to.


SKIN DEEP by Janelle Denison
At a fancy dress party, good girl Jayne decides to give herself one night of craziness with a hot, bad boy. Jayne's never enjoyed sex so hot but it was a one-time thing. Or so she thinks. When Jayne gets set up on a blind date with Brian she realises the Cupid has other ideas.

I really enjoyed this story as it was sweet and cute with some good heat running through it. Definitely the best of the book.

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HOLD ON by Leslie Kelly
Shy Sarah Holt is enamoured with sexy Doctor Steve Wilshire but he doesn't know she exists. So when a twist of fate allows Sarah to step in as Steve's blind date she jumps at the chance and has the best night of her life. But will it last?

This was a good story if a little far-fetched. I liked the romance but I was surprised Steve wasn't a little more angry when it came out who Sarah actually was which made the conclusion a little unbelievable for me.

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EX MARKS THE SPOT by Jo Leigh
Paige Callahan has just lost a big break for her job so it's the icing on her crappy week when her ex-boyfriend sets her up for a blind date on Valentine's Day. But things start to look up when she meets sexy, wealthy, Noah.

I could barely finish this story as it was ridiculous - what ex-boyfriend, described as careless and thoughtless, would set his ex up on a Valentine's date and what girl would accept? It was also boring and the ending was forced and unbelievable.



Overall, there are two good stories in this anthology and one that didn't do it for me at all. Despite the bad story I'm still going to go with 4 stars as even if you're not a fan of Valentine's Day this anthology is worth a read if you get the chance.

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218 pages