Vibrant and multifaceted party organizer Candy Graham is looking to forget her dating past, even if it means joining a dating website. But creating four different e-profiles to suit her personality could land Candy in hot water...or better yet, in the arms of her scorchin'-hot neighbor!

Journalist Justin Case suspects he has the scoop of a lifetime¿women hired to lure men into online dating. Could Candy be part of some kind of e-romance scam? But try as he might, even he can't resist the temptation of sexy, sweet Candy...and one taste is definitely not enough! 

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This was an average romantic read and one that centres around Valentine's Day. Candy was, despite her name, a likeable character and one I was surprised I could like. Justin, too, was nice enough and I liked him and both as a pair. Neither were particularly memorable and I didn't feel huge chemistry between them so `nice' is the perfect word.

The plot was okay but I did feel it was a little bit silly and juvenile at times. There was a lot of to-ing and fro-ing between the characters and getting them to admit that they liked each other. I understand there was supposed to be distrust over each other's motives but it was nothing that a decent conversation wouldn't have sorted out.

Added to that was the fact that both characters, Candy in particular, were still caught up on their exes. There was so much boo hooing about losing the love of their lives that it had me rolling my eyes. I want to read about the romance of the couple, not about the people who have dumped them!

Overall, this is an average read that I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend. I finished it and enjoyed it for what it was but I can't give it more than 3 stars, I'm afraid.

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224 pages

Click to see other books by Isabel Sharpe

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

Dashing Lord Harry Traemore is perfectly content to live out his days in the pursuit of pleasure. But when he's named by the Prince regent as one of society's 'Impossible bachelors', Harry is drafted into a ribald romantic wager. The rules of engagement are scandalously simple: the bachelor whose mistress wins the title of 'Most Delectable Companion' gets to remain unmarried. 

Harry is utterly unconcerned about his status...until his latest lightskirt abandons him. Enter Lady Molly Fairbanks. Harry's childhood friend actually, 'foe' is more like it - is the most unlikely companion of all. She's attractive but hot-headed, and in no mood for games. Besides, what could the self-indulgent harry possible know about what makes a woman delectable? It's time for Molly to teach him a lesson once and for all...but will lead to happily ever after?

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I picked this book in spite of its gimmicky title and I should have paid more attention to that because that cutesy, silliness is a key feature of this book. It's very light and has a very unbelievable plot. That's not a problem if you're happy to suspend belief but if you're looking for historical accuracy then you'll be disappointed by this book.

The characters went from displaying some depth of emotion to being ridiculously flighty within the space of a sentence which frustrated me no end. I'm all for both seriousness and fun in a novel but it bounced around too much for my liking. There was also the inconsistencies and fickleness of any emotions from the characters, especially Molly. In one breath she liked Harry, then she despised him, then she loved him, then she could never love a man like him etc etc. It grew tiring quite quickly and made me unmoved by her as a character and of her 'love' for Harry.

Harry was also a little bit all over the place. He was the second son of a duke but also a rake. Fair enough but surely his gentlemanly instincts wouldn't have let Molly get into many of the situations that presented themselves during the house party.

I finished the book and was interested in where the story would go but I was ultimately disappointed. It was readable and I enjoyed the writing but the story and characters weren't engaging and as a result I don't feel I can recommend the book. 2 stars.

This is the first book in the Impossible Bachelors series.

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448 pages

Impossible Bachelors series:

           

Click to see other books by Kieran Kramer

He’s the man of her dreams – she invented him, after all – she just hasn’t met him yet.

What would you do if the fiancé you’d invented to stop the kindly but persistent questions from colleagues and family turned out to be a real man – pretty much as you described him? And what if that man turned out to need a made-up fiancée just as much as you?

Could you carry off the deception even after the hottest kiss of your life – and the scorching hot night that follows?

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This is one of the first books of a new Mills and Boon series (gone as quickly as it arrived, it seems!) and the first of the line that I've read. These books are billed as sparky and sassy and perfect for every kind of passionaista. I'm not sure if they all are but this book was set in Sydney.

I admit that it took me a couple of chapters to get into this story. The writing style was quite fast paced, choppy, light and took a little getting used to. Once the story got started I really got into it and found that by the end I was very much enjoying it.

Both Charlotte and Grey were likeable characters if perhaps not very relatable. They had good chemistry although neither their interactions nor the story as a whole had particular depth.

I would say that this kind of book appears to be a mix between the Modern and Blaze lines. It's a little bit more sexy than Modern but not as much as Blaze and has Blaze's typical feisty, sassy heroine.

Overall I enjoyed this book quite a lot. It was light and not without its faults but I'll probably be on the look out for other books in the Riva line in the future. 3 stars.

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189 pages

Click to see other books by Kelly Hunter

At the tycoon’s mercy! 

Perdita Boyd must save her family’s business and protect her ailing father. So what’s she to do when the only investor to step forward is Jared Dangerfield? Her estranged husband! Young and in love, Perdita married Jared in a secret ceremony against her father’s wishes.

But the marriage was never consummated as, on their wedding night, Perdita caught Jared in bed with another woman. Now Jared is back…to take the business, to take his revenge for being set up, and…to take his wife!

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I liked the premise for this book as I always like a `second chance at love' story. Being part of the Modern Mills & Boon line, I was expecting the strong, ruthless man and a woman perfect for him. However there were times that I thought that Perdita was a little too weak and almost pathetic compared to Jared. With his strong, domineering ways it would have been nice to see her match him rather than sometimes come across as bending to his will. It wasn't all the time but it irked me a little!

Overall the plot is quite basic but easy to understand and perfectly believable for the most part. It's not demanding and I enjoyed reading about Perdita and Jared and the evolving love story up to the inevitable conclusion. I would have liked the ending to be a little bit more fleshed out with perhaps an epilogue but it was satisfying nonetheless.

If you're looking for an enjoyable, readable Modern romance story that takes you away for a couple of hours then I would recommend this book to you. It's not earth shattering but I enjoyed it and it did the job. 3 stars.

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192 pages

Click to see other books by Lee Wilkinson

When a charming rogue proposes she marry him to meet her grandmother's ultimatum, the Sharpe clan's strong-willed sister makes a tempting counter-offer that preserves her inheritance and ignites his imagination.

Lady Minerva Sharpe has the perfect plan to thwart her grandmother's demands: become engaged to a rogue! Surely Gran would rather release her inheritance than see her wed a scoundrel. And who better to play the part of Minerva's would-be husband than wild barrister Giles Masters, the very inspiration for the handsome spy in the popular Gothic novels she writes?

The memory of his passionate kiss on her nineteenth birthday has lingered in Minerva's imagination, though she has no intention of really falling for such a rakehell, much less marrying him.

Little does she know, he really is a covert government operative. When they team up to investigate the mystery behind her parents' deaths, their fake betrothal leads to red-hot desire. Then Minerva discovers Giles's secret double life, and he must use all the cunning tricks of his trade to find his way back into her heart.

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This is the third book in Jeffries' Hellions of Halstead Hall series coming after The Truth About Lord Stoneville and A Hellion in Her Bed. I suppose that you could read the books independently of each other or out of order but they do have a common storyline of the mystery of the Sharpe parents deaths and I feel these books would be better being read in sequence.

This was Minerva's story and as set up in the last two books, her hero is the delightful rake, Giles Masters. Both characters were well rounded and had great depth - Minerva as the strong woman and Giles as the seducer and rogue. They worked together well and I liked the chemistry between the couple.

The mystery of the death of Minerva's parents is still to be solved and I assume that it will get a step closer in the next book which will be Gabe's story (the beginning of which was started in this book).

I enjoyed the story in this book although I would have liked to see a little bit more interaction between Oliver and Maria and Jarret and Annabel from the previous books. It wasn't the best or most engaging book I've ever read but I enjoyed it and it really captured by attention. If you're looking for a fun Regency romance or are reading the Hellions series then I would recommend this book to you. 4 stars.

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384 pages

The Hellions of Halstead Hall series:

            

Click to see other books by Sabrina Jeffries

From dutiful debutante…

Lieutenant Michael Thorpe is a forbidden temptation for Lady Hannah Chesterfield. Etiquette demands Hannah ignore the shivers of desire his wicked gaze provokes, but he’s the only man to recognise her restless spirit, and her unawakened body is clamouring for his touch… …to passionate princess!

They are thrown together by scandal, and a defiant Hannah joins Michael on an adventure to uncover the secret of his birth – is this common soldier really a prince? If so, will the ordinary man who has taught Hannah the meaning of pleasure now make her his royal bride?

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I have read a couple of Michelle Willingham's Viking novels but never any of her Victorian ones so I didn't know what to expect when I started this, especially since I've been a bit hit or miss with M&B Historicals in the past.

This seems to be the second book in a series that started with The Accidental Countess and continues with An Accidental Seduction. The characters from those books only made an appearance so the book stands nicely alone.

This book started a little slow but after a couple of chapters it really got going. Hannah seemed to epitomise the true Victorian girl with her morals and innocence and I loved the way she evolved throughout the book. Michael was also a good character - I love a brooding man! Together they had good, if not explosive chemistry, and interesting interactions.

The plot really kept my attention and was far-fetched but not so ridiculous that you couldn't get behind it. I felt it really flowed and once I got into the book I really enjoyed it.

If you're looking for a page-turning historical romance with interesting characters then I don't think you'll be disappointed with this book. 4 stars.

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304 pages

Accidental Series:

       

Click to see other books by Michelle Willingham

One lucky man would win her hand...

A lady of London breeding, Emma Van Court never expected to be left widowed - and penniless - in the Scottish village of Faires. But when a fortune is promised if she remarries, the pretty schoolteacher finds Faires' motley assortment of eligible men scrambling for her attentions - from the local cowherd to an obnoxious baron!

One sweet kiss would seal their love...

James Marbury, Earl of Denham, was urbane, sophisticated...and utterly at odds among the muddy roads and thatched roofs of Faires. He had come after hearing of his cousin Stuart's passing - and was exasperated to find his maddening, tempestuous love for the widowed Emma was as strong as ever. With bachelors coming out of the woodwork to woo her, James sees only one solution: offer himself to her as a temporary husband...even if secretly he longs to make his "I do's" last a lifetime.

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Kiss the Bride is the story of Emma Van Court, a young lady who elopes with Stuart Chesterton, with whom she has had a long time infatuation. Despite both families being against the match Emma and Stuart marry and head for Scotland where the pair live as an impoverished curate and his wife in the small village of Faires, Shetland. When Stuart dies, his cousin, James Marbury, Earl of Denham, who was the most vocal against the marriage, comes to Scotland to fetch Stuart's body home, not realising that Emma would still be there. The pair have to face up to their feelings for one another while dealing with many interesting problems in the village.

This book was a very enjoyable read and although not a great book like some of Ms Cabot's others, it is still a good book and well written.

The conflict between the characters is believable as is their inability to voice their true feelings for each other when they become aware of them. As well as the interesting twists to the story there are various amusing and colourful secondary characters that add to, and bring life to the story.

However, unlike Ms Cabot's other books I found that this one tended to be much slower paced and the love scenes not up to their usual high standard which detracted from the book somewhat.

Another point which irritated me greatly was that throughout the story they refer to Shetland as being in the Hebrides. It is only a minor point but it is one which had me cringing whenever it was mentioned.

Despite this I would still recommend this novel as it is a very good story with likeable characters and a different plot than the usual regency romance. I would also highly recommend other books by this same author especially Educating Caroline and She Went All The Way which are both very enjoyable reads.

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344 pages

Click to see other books by Patricia Cabot

Orphaned and besieged, Princess Alesandra knew that only hasty marriage to an Englishman could protect her from the turmoil in her own land. To the amusement of her makeshift guardian, Colin, younger brother of the Marquess of Cainewood, the bold raven-haired beauty instantly captivated London society. But when Alesandra was nearly abducted by her unscrupulous countrymen, the fighting instincts that won Colin a knighthood for valor were kindled.

Deceiving himself that he wanted only to protect her, Colin swept her into a union meant to be a marriage in name alone...yet Alesandra's tender first kiss and hesitant caress ignited a wildfire in his soul. As the lovely princess dashed headlong into unforseen dangers, Colin would follow, knowing he must claim her as his own forever. Now he would risk life itself before he would lose this sweet, tempestuous angel...

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Princess Alesandra has been living in a convent when she becomes the target of an evil general, hell bent on marrying her so he can become king. In order to protect her, Alesandra is shipped off to England where she finds herself living with confirmed bachelor Colin.

Colin has no desire to wed. Alesandra wants to marry for love. But with the two in such close quarters, sparks are soon to fly and their best laid plans might be far behind them. But that doesn't mean it will be easy with so many obstacles to keep them from finding happiness together.

This is the fourth book in a series by Julie Garwood, after The Lion's Lady, Guardian Angel and The Gift. However, reading it without having read the others doesn't detract from the story or the enjoyment gained from the book.

The characters of both Alesandra and Colin were spectacularly depicted and you couldn't help but fall in love with them both and really root for them to get together. They both had flaws but the way they interacted together and how chemistry flared between made it truly magical when they finally got together.

Couple the amazing romance with some laugh out loud moments and a murder mystery sub plot and you get a fantastic book that won't leave you disappointed.

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384 pages

Click to see other books by Julie Garwood

There are a few places screenwriter Lou Calabrese would rather be than crammed into a helicopter with Jack Townsend, star of her claim to fame, Copkiller, and whose ex just ran off with Lou's ex. Talk about uncomfortable. But when, halfway out to the isolated arctic location where Copkiller IV is currently shooting, their pilot turns murderous and their helicopter crashes, Lou realizes her day has just gotten a lot worse.

Now, while family and friends back home fret over her disappearance, Lou is on the run in the arctic wilderness with America's sweetheart Jack Townsend and only the contents of her purse, his pockets, and their mutual knowledge of survival movie trivia to keep them alive. Can these two children of Hollywood put aside their differences and make it back home without killing each other? Or much, much worse, actually start to like one another?

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This was the first of Megin Cabot's (aka Meg Cabot, Patricia Cabot etc.) books that I have read and I found that I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read more from her.

The story centres around Lou and Jack, who have both just been dumped and now find themselves stranded in the Alaskan wilderness after a fateful helicopter ride.

Lou is a self-sufficient girl who you can't help but like and relate to and Jack is the gorgeous actor you can't help but want for yourself. The chemistry between the two characters was evident throughout and their interactions at times poignant, sexy, funny but always enjoyable.

The way the pair are forced together and have to survive together in the wilderness makes this more than your usual romantic story. There's a nice mix of adventure and mystery on top of the romance to make this a really fantastic book and one which I found that I couldn't put down.

I would recommend this book to all those who enjoy a fun, romantic read but with a little added extra - I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

 

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384 pages

Click to see other books by Meggin Cabot