Product Description
Following a dream brought Josie Keller to Shoshone, Wyoming. Following her heart brought her plenty of great sex with good-time cowboy Jack Chance! She was head over heels for him… until he left her.

Stay with one woman? Not a chance! Then why does Jack miss Josie like crazy? Had their relationship been more than just incredible sex?

Little do Josie and Jack know that a plan's afoot to get them back in the saddle…together. And once there, it's not long before they're burning up the bedsheets again!

But the past is never far away. Before it catches up with them, Jack has to decide if he's going to stake his claim on Josie, or lose her forever…. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

You Need to Add This Book to Your Keeper List
Originally posted at: [...]

Take a rough and tumble cowboy with a chip on his shoulder and a sassy bar owner who won't let him take the easy way out and Claimed! ends up being wild ride.

This is the last book about the Chance brothers and it can completely stand on its own. I will say that reading Ambushed!, the book prior, would actually help give a reader a bit more background regarding the relationship bumps between Josie and Jack but it's not necessary. Ms. Thompson does a decent buildup of the basics without it being an info dump.

Josie is the one that got away. Well, more like she was let go. Her position is an emotional one because she never stopped loving Jack. The author has written her character as a good hearted soul, with plenty of pluck, determination, heart and a zest for life. But she's guarding her heart too although, her version of guarding it and mine are a bit different. I'd never let mine out but Josie is ever the optimist. Her love is so strong yet vulnerable; she's willing to give Mr. Jack Chance more chances than her brother Alex would give him. But the readers know more about Jack than even Josie knows and with that information a reader totally believes that Josie really is the gal for the hero. She simply has to stop horsing around.

Jack is the one with major internal angst that just won't loosen its grip. He's tormented with guilt, fear of failure and abandonment. That's a fearsome burden to lay on a guy along with running a ranch, helping with a wedding, facing his real emotions and having a scheming matchmaking bunch of family members doing their best to get him to loosen up. Poor Jack is getting it from all sides and the only time he's happy is when he's with Josie. But he's messed up the best thing that's ever happened to him. To top it off, he's too prideful and so like a man that he won't grovel, no matter that he knows he should. Good thing his family loves him anyway. Heck, even I ended up liking Jack. I wasn't too fond of him in Ambushed! but once I got to know him, I understood why he was the way he was and I really rooted and cheered for him in this book. The best thing was his sense of fun. Loved the spoon trick. I wonder if the author has actually seen that done. Because I bet it'd be a hoot to see it in person.

Another well done aspect of the story is when Jack and Josie get together in the physical sense. I bet learning how to ride is not this fun for everybody. Then again, the author's description of Josie trotting for the first time had me in stitches. That was way funny and the visual was so clear, it ended up being one of the funniest scenes in the whole book. I read it over quite a few times and every time I did, I laughed. I snickered over the horse trick. They always say what goes around, comes around and Jack sure found out that it's true. Oh, and the red light, green light issue. That was pretty clever.

That's another thing about Ms. Thompson. Her books in this series have a great sense of community and it comes from giving personality to every secondary character. I even liked the name calling between the siblings. And what about Emmett? The author simply has to tie up this thread. Speaking of which, I think I just swallowed a hook for the next book. Remember I mentioned Josie's brother Alex? Well, another secondary character is introduced in this book which means more from this talented author is on the way and that means I get another chance to see how Ms. Thompson is going to get it through Emmett's thick head that happiness can be his too.

Claimed! embodies the best of what romance readers look for; a tortured hero you want to heal, a heroine who doesn't' take guff from her man but melts in his arms and a happy ever after that's as sweet as can be. It's a delightful read with plenty of laughs, heartfelt sighs and a few tender moments that round out this well told tale. I can't wait to find more from this talented author.

He was everything she couldn't have!
CLAIMED!(Sons of Chance) - Vicki Lewis Thompson



We've all been there and done that and I absolutely couldn't wait for each book in this mini-series Sons of Chance, by Blaze author Vicki Lewis Thompson!Hot cowboys who reside in Wyoming on the Chance Ranch and raised horses.Each brother handsome and unique and Claimed was the last book in the series, the oldest brother Jack's story.Honestly, I had a lump in my throat in the final three chapters, it was a real tear jerker!Plus a fabulous cast of secondary characters with a few secrets thrown in for good measure.Conflict, tension at it's best!

In the first two books Wanted and Ambushed we learned quite a few things about the sons of Jonathan Chance.First of all, their father was killed while picking up a horse, a horse Jack Chance was supposed to take care of and one he asked his father to take care of so he could spend time with his lover Josie Keller, a woman his father wasn't too fond of his son dating.After the accident, Jack broke up with Josie and broke her heart.He also took over the operation of running the ranch, a duty he never wanted and he became a tyrant, working himself to death and he drove his brothers crazy.

One also learned that Jack had some emotional issues and feelings.His birth mother gave him up and walked away from he and his father.His step mother Sarah Chance, even though he adored her, he kept her at a distance and while she wanted him to call her mom, he insisted in calling her Sarah.All his life, Jack had gotten away with shutting down his emotions.What Josie knew and why their relationship hadn't worked before and probably wouldn't work again, was that Jack built up walls so he wouldn't get hurt, like his mother hurt him when she walked, like his father hurt him when he died.He built them so high, he couldn't commit to past or presents relationships, that same wall that was keeping Josie out.Until he could tear it down she couldn't be in his life.

And then there was the woman who drove him wild, Josie Keller, the woman who was going to be in his brother's wedding along with him, the woman he hurt.He ached for her, he missed her and his family offered him an opportunity to mend fences and see her again so he came up with the plan to teach her to ride a horse because his brother and future bride wanted to get married on horseback at the Chance Ranch.Let's just say eventually they took up where they left off.I loved Josie, how passionately she still loved Jack but was willing to walk away until he came to his senses.Claimed was a very emotional story for me and reading the final chapters I had tears rolling down my face; I didn't want the book to end.Talk about an amazing second chance love story.

As I read all three books there was one clear message and that was the legacy that Jonathan Chance left to his sons.Life went on, and their father would have been the first to say it.He would have wanted his three sons to make their mark on the town and to know that the Chance boys had been there.He would also have wanted them to move forward.The ending left me thinking and hoping that author Vicki Lewis Thompson will somehow continue this series, writing Josie's brother's story and the secondary characters in the series she so lovingly created.

torrid ranch romance
Neither wants this, but former lovers Jack Chance and Josie Keller are named best man and maid of honor at a horseback wedding.Besides their past in which he dumped her, the only problem is Josie does not know how to ride.Jack is volunteered to teach her.

On his Wyoming ranch near Shoshone, Jack trains Josie to ride a horse.However, they also ride each other as neither can keep their hands off the other.She knows she still loves him in spite of her expectation he will leave her again.However, he ran from her the last time out of fear of his feelings, but this time he plans to stay the course and prove to his beloved they belong together.

This hot Sons of Chance romance (see Wanted! and Ambushed!) is a fun read due to heated outdoor acrobatics of the lead couple in spite of their doubts.With a touch of humor to lighten the torrid ranch romance, Vicki Lewis Thompson will claim a lot of fans with this strong second chance at love.

Harriet Klausner
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Product Description


Photographer Dominique Jeffries has come to Wyoming to find herself--her creative self, her sexual self. After escaping the engagement from hell, she's dying to break loose and live a little. And seducing a shirtless, sweaty cowhand looks like just the place to start....

Nick Chance isn't exactly a cowhand but, hey, he'll be whatever the lady wants! Only he soon realizes that this is more than just a quick roll in the hay. There's something about Dominique that calls to him, something about her that completes him.

There's only one problem. Dominique wants a fling, not another relationship.

Little does she guess how easily she'll be persuaded to take a Chance--again and again and again!

... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Grab a Cold Drink and Devour This Read!
Originally posted at: [...]

I know when I pick up a book by Vicki Lewis Thompson, I'm in for a treat. Wanted! was no exception. I felt like I was right there in Wyoming with the characters and I've never been further west than Indiana. I could feel the dust coming out of the pasture, smell the sweat on the cowboys, and taste the clean mountain air.

But enough about the scenery. What really made this story great were the characters. Ms. Thompson creates characters that are like your friends -- you could know them in your own life. And they are relatable. You could see yourself going through the same situations.

My favorite was Nick. Why? He's a smart guy, easy on the eyes, and has a tremendous heart. A lethal combo in my book. I loved that when he decided to go for a woman, he didn't mince words and he didn't shy away -- what she sees is what she gets. And let me tell you, the affection he felt for Dominique was thick; so thick I thought I was part of the relationship.

Now there were times when I wasn't thrilled. Dominique's reactions in some cases perpetuated this. She came across as a tad childish when things weren't quite as she wanted. Sure, she'd been through the wringer and wasn't ready to fall for someone. Can't blame her there. But as much as it initially drove me nuts, the more I thought about her and the story, the more I realized I'd become emotionally involved with the story. I liked her growth through the story and how she got her HEA. It was great.

If you want a great story that will stick with you far beyond the last page, then you need to read Wanted!. I give this book 5 books!

Great book
This is an awesome book.I have never cried while reading a book, but I got all emotional with this one.Can't wait to read Ambushed!!

It takes a real woman......to take a Chance"
Wanted! by author Vicki Lewis Thompson, the first book in her Sons of Chance series was an absolute joy to read as it had all of the sensual components which make a sexy and steamy romance! It was one of those books that definitely hooked me with it's charm. Not to mention the secondary characters and the members of the Chance family.

Nick Chance and Dominique Jeffries met quite by accident out in the pastures of the Chance Ranch. Nick even though his profession was a veterinarian was out on Chance's acreage digging fence posts for his big brother Jack who was running their family ranch. He wasn't happy about it but was trying to help his brother's bad moods due to the recent death of their father. However, Dominique's reasons for being on the same acreage were entirely different. You see, Dominique was a professional photographer from the mid-West and was trying to get over being dumped by her boyfriend. She thought there would be no better way than to seduce a cowboy and so when she and her camera came upon the very hot, sweaty and well built Nick, she took advantage of the photo opportunity and Nick obliged her by posing for the shots.

All I can say is in the ensuing chapters of their "nameless" time spent flirting and getting to know each other in the "most personal way" was amazing. When Dominique revealed that she had been recently dumped and jilted, and really flirted with Nick sending him a very definite message, Nick obliged her by making love not caring that they didn't know each other's names. And then, he found out that she was staying at their Wyoming ranch because the local B&B was full. For them both, it was the most amazing sexual encounter either of them had ever experienced but what neither of them contemplated was how complicated their relationship would become, because trust me, it did!

Nick was determined to take advantage of the five days they would have together and Dominique tried not to become involved with Nick because there was no way she would NOT return home because she had a photography studio to run. She didn't want to depend on another man. Then, add to the situation a horrible secret which was revealed to Nick when he went through his father's trunk in his father's office. Everything changed for Nick, his family, those close to him and threatened his relationship with Dominique. Did they stand a chance because Nick definitely wanted her to stay in Wyoming?

Wanted! was a remarkable love story with a beautiful ending, one love story I will long remember thanks to author Vicki Lewis Thompson and her creativity.

Book Description:

Photographer Dominique Jeffries has come to Wyoming to find herself--her creative self, her sexual self. After escaping the engagement from hell, she's dying to break loose and live a little. And seducing a shirtless, sweaty cowhand looks like just the place to start....

Nick Chance isn't exactly a cowhand but, hey, he'll be whatever the lady wants! Only he soon realizes that this is more than just a quick roll in the hay. There's something about Dominique that calls to him, something about her that completes him.

There's only one problem. Dominique wants a fling, not another relationship.

Little does she guess how easily she'll be persuaded to take a Chance--again and again and again!

Behind the Book ( Harlequin Dear Reader)

I'm baaaack! As some of you may know, I've been off creating books Other Than Blaze for the past several years, but along came an offer I couldn't resist--the opportunity to write about my beloved cowboys. I love sexy cowboy stories! Add in gorgeous Western scenery as found in the Jackson Hole region of Wyoming, and I'm in writer heaven.

Welcome to the Sons of Chance series, where the men are hot and the women are happy! Travel with me down a winding dirt road to the Last Chance Ranch, dedicated to the proposition that we all need a last chance to find whatever we deserve, especially love (and great sex). As you sit on the wide front porch of the Last Chance and gaze at the magnificent Grand Teton in the early morning light, you'll notice a tall, broad-shouldered cowboy climbing into a dusty ranch truck. That would be Nick Chance, the middle son. He doesn't know it yet, but his world is about to be turned upside down. And a brown-eyed beauty from back east will try to help him put it together again.

Don't you adore a man in boots, snug jeans and a Stetson pulled low over his eyes? Trust me, you'll have a really good time at the Last Chance Ranch. It's great to be back in cowboy and Blaze country again!"
Happy trails, Vicki

From VLT's Newsletter:
"The Last Chance Ranch is in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and has a breathtaking view of the snow-covered Tetons. This setting was deliberately chosen by me to enhance your summer reading pleasure, because who wouldn't want to be in Jackson Hole in June? Or in July and August, for that matter, because after WANTED!, you can look forward to AMBUSHED! and CLAIMED!, each starring its own seriously sexy cowboy hero. Let the Sons of Chance series begin!"

entertaining ranch romance
After two years keeping control of her impulses by being Herman's girlfriend, photographer Dominique Jeffries decides enough.She dumps Herman and leaves for Wyoming to find the old Dominique.

Veterinarian Nick Chance is fuming at his brother for ordering him to dig postholes in a rocky area.Shirtless, he meets Dominique who has a ribald self deprecating sense of humor.They each like what they see and agree to a short term tryst.As they fall in love, Nick struggles to conceal his desire for her to be with him forever while she struggles between wanting to be with him forever and her need to find the independent feisty Dominique who went into hiding the last couple of years.

This is an entertaining ranch romance starring two likable individuals and a solid support cast.The story line focuses on both internally insisting to themselves "I'm not in love" while wanting the affair to go on indefinitely.Although the "I'm in love" revelation is so abrupt, it catches the lead pair off guard and the audience will initially discredit it; still fans will enjoy a trip to the Grand Tetons in Wyoming where the Last Chance Ranch welcomes readers.

Harriet Klausner

... Read more

Product Description
Morgan O'Connelli hated the restless lifestyle she'd had as a child. All she wants now is to create a real home in small-town Wyoming. So first she hangs up her real-estate agent shingle…then she promptly borrows the horse of the hottest cowboy in town!

Cutting-horse champion Gabe Chance is blown away by the feisty redhead who unexpectedly lands right in his bed…and, soon enough, his heart! Morgan's perfect for him in every way. Until he realizes that while she's turned out to be everything he never knew he wanted, he's got everything someone in her profession has ever wanted…his family's ranch.

And that's a legacy he's just not willing to give up—not even for the sexiest woman he's ever fallen for…. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Light, fluffy escapism
Gabe Chance is the youngest of the three Chance brothers who are a cornerstone of the town of Shoshone, Wyoming. He's getting ready to ride one of the family's prized paint horses in the town's yearly July 4th parade when he notices a good-looking woman being held hostage by a bratty Appaloosa and decides to ride over and give her a hand.

Morgan O'Connelli was all excited to finally be in the town's parade when the horse she rented decided Morgan wasn't the boss of him and wandered off to nibble some grass. After a vagabond childhood where she rarely lived in one place for more than six months at a go, she's decided to make a life for herself with her own real estate business in Shoshone, a place she fell in love with when she lived here for a bit of her junior year of high school. Reconnecting with Gabe Chance, on whom she had a major crush 12 years ago, for a bit of fun is the icing on the cake.

Ms. Thompson has in Ambushed! a light, fluffy bit of western contemporary escapism. The action of the novel takes place over less than a week. In that span they have lots of sex, Gabe conquers some heady family drama, Morgan raises and then dismisses a desire to remain childless and the two of them get engaged and plan to have children. Everything is dealt with lightly, to say the least. But, if you check your sense of responsibility at the door, what remains is a hot whirlwind romance with witty dialog and lovable characters.

Sure everything moves absurdly fast, which accounts for the three-star grade I give it, but Gabe and Morgan talk, laugh and play together as much as they get down and dirty. While I may not buy their HEA outright, I'd put a good bet on it, they were just so damn cute together.

GREAT BOOK!
Originally posted at: [...]

A blast from his past will shoot this cowboy into his future if he'd just get on his horse and ride.

Well, that's what Gabe wants to do, ride his horse into the Hall of Fame. A few things are in his way however. But it's a figurative type of riding I'm referring to. I had a rollicking good time reading this book and I enjoyed every page turn.

First, I want to say that this book is part of a series about three brothers. I didn't get to read the first but in no way did that detract from my reading Ambushed!. It stands on its own strengths which are all about Gabe and Morgan.

As for Gabe, he's a man who has a dream and has been pursuing it for a long time. At this point in the story, he finds that everything he's worked for is about to be derailed from an unexpected source and it's causing havoc. I got to see Gabe's character grow in this story. He has to face uncertainty and adversity which force him to reconsider his place in the family, his goals in life and what actions he is willing to take to make what he wants happen. I saw his strength and integrity when he stood up to those who would beat him down, or attacked the character of another person. Another aspect of Gabe I enjoyed was his sense of fun, daring and his sometimes goofy dialogue. Of course the one thing guaranteed to make a focused man act loopy is a woman, and what a woman she is.

Morgan is that blast from Gabe's past that I referred to earlier. She's the high school cutie who he'd have approached if he'd been a free agent but never got the chance. She is the girl who had a wicked crush on him back then and is about to find out if it was puppy love or something more. The only trait that Morgan and Gabe's courtship shares with a puppy is its cuteness and "awww" factor.

Morgan embodies fun. Her character totally delighted me and that included how she came to have her last name, O'Connelli. It's as unusual as she is and she is the perfect opposite to Gabe. They do have one thing in common however and that is the ability to focus on a goal and make it happen. Her dream is a bit more emotional and sad. All Morgan wants is a home, a place where she can set down roots because she's never known what that feels like. She's upbeat, stubborn and usually can roll with the punches. She's noble too because she's willing to do whatever it takes to do the best thing for the man she loves, even if it hurts.

Ambushed! is not all full of angst and mired in self-destructive behaviors. The conflict is mostly internal between Gabe facing what he wants for his future and Morgan's place in it; and Morgan's wanting everything but being willing to settle for less just so she can have a home. I'll let readers find out what kinds of things she's willing to keep or let go. Again, her choices illustrate what a really wonderful person she is.

One of the aspects that Ms. Thompson imbued this book with is humor. I'm talking the knee-slapping, giggling, snickering kind of humor that will cause a reader to laugh out loud no matter where they are reading this book. I caution a reader to not sneak reading this at work because of it. I even re-read the scene with the bug spray more than once because it had great comedic timing and I could see it so vividly in my mind. It has to be one of the funniest things I've ever read about using simple bug repellent. I enjoyed the scene where Morgan got a little tipsy and she opened her door to a very shocked Gabe. And that thing with the horse and goat was pure genius. It's a good thing I didn't have food in my mouth at that point, I would have choked from the sudden onslaught of giggles. It had a warm romantic feeling about it as well, but it was overshadowed by the sheer hilarity of the moment. It was a stellar piece of writing. I think what made it so powerful wasn't the descriptions so much as the dialogue, both vocal and internal. I could see Gabe actually talking like that, saying those words and doing those things. Well done.

The only burp I found during reading what was otherwise a flawlessly edited book was actually found in a critical sentence issued by Jack towards the end of the book. I think they missed putting in the word, `not' because with it the sentence has the meaning I think the author intended for Jack to say. If other readers mentally add that then they'll be all set.

The secondary characters are a treasure. I loved Gabe's mom and eventually even his brother, Jack. There is a sense of family and community that comes through and I enjoy those types of scenarios. It makes the reading experience richer and fuller. Ms. Thompson has a great writing style, voice and her characters always make me want to know them. The romance between Gabe and Morgan is sultry hot and yet humor is never far away. I loved the wrap up to the happily ever after because it tied together all the threads in a nice and satisfying manner. I laughed, I sighed, it moved me and it's going on my keeper shelf. Ambushed! is a definite recommend from this very happy reader.

"He never saw her coming......"
To say sensual would be putting it mildly when describing Vicki Lewis Thompson's , Ambushed! The entire journey from cover to cover was "blazing hot" for these two past classmates, from Wyoming.

Morgan O'Connelli had traveled from town to town with her parents and her seven siblings. When they stayed in the small town in Wyoming for a brief time, Morgan wanted to make the most of it by getting involved in her high schools activities because other than that all she had was the job of taking care of her brothers and sisters. She loved the town so much, once she graduated from college she returned to Shoshone to set down the roots that were so important to her. So she purchased a home and started up a real estate business. Selling homes to families was important to her. She even entered the 4th of July Parade riding a horse and advertising the grand opening of her office. When the horse acted up, she was rescued by Gabe Chance a handsome cowboy she knew years ago, a young man she had a crush on, a young handsome, sexy man she had thought about over the years. In fact so much so, when she returned back to Shoshone she checked on his marital status.

While riding in the parade, Gabe Chance noticed a beautiful well endowed redhead, someone he remembered from high school. And now she was having problems with a horse she was riding, so he set out to rescue her. She was so sweet and sexy and she stirred things in him. She also was so enchanting in the way she was participating in the towns activities, her first Fourth of July celebration and she was going to make the best of it and Gabe decided her enthusiasm was contagious. That's not all that was contagious, her smile, her sparking eyes, her figure and her determination to belong which he suspected was do to her past. So, as Gabe was home for awhile and not entered in any riding competitions, he decided to make the best of it and show Morgan a good time and if they ended up in bed together, all the better. Then all hell broke loose when they entered a watermelon eating contest and she won and he kissed her and couldn't stop kissing her. Talk about fireworks!

This was a most amazing romantic and sensual journey and I absolutely couldn't put it down. The Chance family, their brothers, their friends made the story come more alive in book 2, Ambushed. The loss of their father had caused such grief and in a way had caused the bothers from time to time to challenge each other. Not to mention their mother's grief. At first Gabe's mother and his older brother didn't trust Morgan as they believed Morgan being a real estate agent had motives. Add to the mix that Morgan and Gabe wanted to only have a little fun which turned into a hot and steamy relationship, one neither were ready for. On top of that the family arguments over the Chance Ranch's future and Morgan's doubts about taking the relationship further muddied the waters. Morgan and Chance's short affair was absolutely explosive!

Ambushed was about trust, coming home and in taking a "chance". It was a wonderful love story and a wonderful addition to The Sons of Chance Miniseries. My sincere congratulations to Vicki Lewis Thompson on this particular love story as it was most amazing!
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Product Description
"She's a woman scorned--Back in high school, Katie Peterson asked Jess Harkins to be her first lover, and he turned her down.She grew up to be a mouthy local DJ and he grew up to be a builder of high-rises.Problem is, Jess is building a sixty-story office building right next to the historic adobe structure that houses Katie's radio station.Katie would hate the building on general principles--who needs another office building?--but she especially hates having her sunshine and view blocked, especially by the guy who sabotaged her self-confidence in high school.As the construction rattles her studio windows and she has to drive around street blockades to get to work, her anger builds.On the air, she starts joking about the monstrosity going up next to her station.Then she escalates the campaign, inviting psychological experts to discuss why men feel the need to build skyscrapers and what it says about their sexuality.He's a man ready to explode--Jess used to like listening to Katie on the radio, and had even considered asking her out for old time's sake.He turned her down on the sex because he didn't want a back-seat experience to be the first one for either of them, and he didn't have the money for a hotel.She didn't stay around long enough to hear that explanation, but now he thinks they might be able to rekindle the fire they once had.Instead she's dissing his beloved project.He knows he should just switch off the station, but he's a glutton for punishment.If she were anybody else, he'd laugh.In fact, he's enjoyed her irreverent comments on other occasions.But now she's making fun of his work and that has to stop.The showdown--Jess goes to the station to demand that Katie shut up about his project.She implies that any man driven to build a structure this high is obviously compensating for something.She leaves no doubt what she thinks he's compensating for.And Jess can think of only one way to change her tune..." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Not one of Thompson's best...
Usually I like Thompson's stuff, but this book left me wanting. I couldn't help the overall feeling that the heroine just wasn't good enough for the hero. I still felt that way at the end of the book as well. There was just too deep a chasm between the two. He was patient, mature, responsible and understanding. Though he wasn't the most intuitive, he was sensitive. She, however, was stubborn, self-absorbed and had a ridiculously awful habit of not listening. She literally steamrolled right over-top of him trying to talk many times in the book. It was much like an adult man dating a needy teenage girl. I was underwhelmed overall.

Vicki's Kama Sutra: Great love manual and lots of romance
Vicki has written a gem. Even the most experienced lovers can enjoy her
descriptions of the ongoing romantic episodes.The reporter is a night sex radio talk show host.Her popularity increases once she begins a crusade against a big developer who wants to buy the radio station's headquarters, demolish it and erect a new high rise. The project development manager, an old flame of the reporter disappointed her 13 years ago when he didn't produce during a special occasion.Yet their
friendship remains and so does the underlying love.Going back up "A" one sees a slow change in attitude and trust, especially after each starts appreciating each other in such deliciously explicit ways, described so romantically.I can read this book over again and again.
Those with lovers might share it.

This is the best Thompson book I have read. It is an easy read that doesn't take long hours.Kama Sutra was never this delightful.

Originally Posted on Romance Junkies in 2005
Harlequin calls this the Blaze line for a reason, and all you have to do is pick up a copy of TALKING ABOUT SEX to see why! Vicki Lewis Thompson has written another steamy winner, one that takes no prisoners and leaves no sensual stone unturned.

Katie Peterson is a radio DJ with an interesting job. Monday through Friday nights, after the nine o'clock news, her job is to host Talking About Sex, a radio show devoted to all things sexual. When her guest turns out to be Dr. Janice Astorbrooke, things really get interesting. Discussing the sexual symbolism in architecture, Katie can't help but be drawn into conversation about the high-rise being built next to the KRZE studios. The fact that Jess Harken of Harken Construction is in charge of building it only adds to her mix of misery and come-uppance-Jess was the boy who turned down her sexual offers on prom night all those years ago, and there's no time like the present to let him know exactly how she feels. The fact that she gets to broadcast her scathing innuendos on the airwaves only adds to her glee.

For Jess, he's always found Katie's show funny and interesting-until the night she starts suggesting that any man building a forty-story building must be compensating for something sexual-wise. Sure, he remembers Katie, even remembers how and why he turned down her offer on prom night. But he and Katie are adults now, and if he wants to ask her out-strictly to get her into bed to prove that there is nothing wrong with him in the slightest in that department-it's his business. When Katie takes him up on his offer-sex, no-strings-attached-Jess feels like he's died and gone to heaven. The only problem is, keeping his feelings out of the picture is turning out to be a whole lot harder than he'd planned.

As Katie and Jess experiment with some of the advice she dishes out nightly from the Kama Sutra, these two tough-minded individuals discover that the sparks between them never went out when it comes to sex. Now that their hearts are creeping into the picture, things have gotten a little more complicated. Now they're not just TALKING ABOUT SEX-they're edging towards love.

Ms. Thompson has written another winning Blaze story-hot, passionate, full of steam, with an entertaining couple and story at it's center. I enjoyed not only Katie and Jess and their bickering, but the back-story as to why Jess turned Katie down all those years ago, and why Katie is so determined to save the station from relocating.

Another steamy winner, TALKING ABOUT SEX is sure to please!

Hot Tamale! Talk about Sex? Talk about a few new ideas...
Wowza!! Very inventive, and certainly not your average 'romance novel' VLT gets hot & heavy in this storyline.Overall plot was pretty basic, but with a new take on how to bring a man to his knees.

Fun, Hot a real Battle of Wills!A real turn on!
Plain and simply, this was a great and fun read.Katie and Jess have a past, but the first time around they just didn't make it.So when Katie discovers Jess is the guy who can destroy her grandparents home which now houses her radio station, well let the games begin and the third world war!

Their love story is truly a battle of wills and passion?Will they kiss and make up?You'll just have to read this wonderful story to find out!

Book Description:

It's Katie Peterson's job to be a mouthy DJ, but being mouthy just got personal. Jess Harkins has started construction on a sixty-story office tower next to Katie's quaint local radio station. She'd hate his building anyway - who needs another high-rise? But Katie especially dislikes having her view blocked by the guy who turned down the chance to be her "first." So it's time for a little payback....

Jess always got a laugh at Katie's irreverent on-air comments. He'd even thought of asking her out...for old time's sake. But now Katie's barbs are directed at him - implying that any man driven to build a structure this high is obviously compensating for something.... Jess has only one thing to say to Katie, and it isn't something he can just phone in. It's time to turn the radio off...and turn Katie on!

... Read more

Product Description

Ten years ago, Dustin Ramsey and Erica Mann shared their first sexual experience in the back seat of Dustin's red Mustang. And the interlude was...a complete disaster. Now Dustin is facing a huge challenge--taking over the family business. But before he does, he has to get past his one and only failure. His plan: to find--and seduce--Erica again. Only, this time he's got to do it right....

Erica is amazed when Dustin shows up on her doorstep. True, he has a business proposition for her, but the look in his eye tells her what kind of proposition he's really offering.... Erica has come a long way in ten years. Her newsletter, Dateline: Dallas, has gained her a reputation as the Dr. Ruth of the Dallas area. So if Dustin thinks he can just walk in and seduce her senseless, he'd better think again. Because Erica intends to seduce him first....

Customer Reviews (4)

sexy sexy sexy
Can I say that I was so turned on while reading this book? well whatever it was great...men has their [adult films]...us women has books like this. ok I told the truth.

Red-Hot Romantic Comedy
TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY is a great romantic comdey filled with hot scenes that scorch the pages!Ten years ago Dustin and Erica have an unsatisfying encounter in the back seat of his pickup truck.Now they have a chance to prove to each other (and themselves) that much has improved over the years.They truly find heat in that back seat once again.Definitely one for the "keeper" shelf.

Scorching sensuality -- Very highly recommended
Dustin Ramsey has never forgotten that night, ten years ago, in the back of his Mustang one warm April. Embarrassed by his abysmal performance, Dustin had slunk away and not called again. Now he has hired a private investigator to find Erica Mann, the girl he could not forget. She now publishes a highly successful newsletter that provides an opportunity for them to meet again. But what he really wants, more than her writing skills, is an opportunity to make up for a teen's impatient backseat mistakes.

Erica still remembers that night in high school when she had been virginal and fumbling. With a bit more knowledge, she might have turned quick on the trigger into a treasured memory. So when Dustin calls with a business proposition, Erica is floored. She had started Dateline: Dallas on a dare and only intended to publish until her dream job as an investigative reporter appears. But Dustin's reappear in her life threatens her priorities, her desires, and her heart.

The first of the Truelood, Texas continuity, TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY sizzles with sexual tension and erotic love scenes that truly satisfy. Erica and Dustin struggle to reconcile the memories of the past with their desires of the present. Their evocative struggles demonstrate the author's understanding of powerful motivation and fear of vulnerability. With TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY, Vicki Lewis Thompson once again demonstrates her dazzling gift for creating sensual romance and extraordinary passion that readers have come to expect from this talented author. Very highly recommended.

heated romantic tension
Dustin Ramsey, CEO of struggling Ramsey Enterprises, hires private Investigator Jennifer Madison to locate Erica Deutchmann.Dustin thinks back to when they were in high school together and he had sex with her in his car.He happened to be a virgin though he pretended to be otherwise as befitting a football star.All he can remember is how badly he performed that day.

Jennifer finds Erica running a romantic advice newsletter in Dallas under a different surname.Dustin arranges to meet with Erica offering a deal involving two weeklies he owns.As Erica and Dustin meet, the sparks fly and they share sex like neither has ever felt.They begin to fall in love, but she is a tree hugger and he drives racing cars making a permanent relationship very unlikely.

Fans of heated romantic tension that emanates from every page will want to wear asbestos gloves, as TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY is a torrid tale that contains scorching scenes.The lead couple is a delightful pair, but especially Dustin who is still embarrassed after a decade from his horrendous sexual performance with Jennifer.Fans of contemporary romance with a 212-degree temperature will want to read Vicki Lewis Thompson's latest impassioned novel.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Product Description
After gaining twenty pounds, former Dairy Festival Queen Annie Winston dreads going back to Big Knob, Indiana. But Annie hasn’t changed half as much as her home town ever since Dorcas and Ambrose Lowell moved in. Former matchmakers for witches and wizards, they’re now plying their unconventional trade for humans—and they have the perfect match for Annie: shy computer whiz Jeremy Dunstan, who’s always lusted after Annie. Now he’s got a second chance—if only something could help him unleash his wild side. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

I couldn't even finish this book
Plot Summary:Former small-town beauty queen Annie Winston was left by her husband, she gained twenty pounds, and now her sister bumped up her wedding date just to spite Annie.IMHO, twenty pounds does not transform a Barbie doll into a slob, but Annie is quite insistent that she's gross.Anyhow, shy computer nerd Jeremy Dunstan has lusted for Annie since high school, and his internet cafe becomes Annie's temporary workplace where she writes her newspaper articles and posts them to the paper (because really, what journalist carries a laptop nowadays; oh, I forgot, they ALL do).Luckily for Jeremy, some magical matchmakers are in town, and they perform a spell that changes Jeremy from wimpy nerd to alpha man.

I pushed myself to page 103 and I'm just too bored to continue any further.It's rare for me to abandon a book mid-read, but after the first couple of chapters I turned on an afternoon talk show.I never do that, so I must've been pretty desperate for a distraction, since "Oprah" cannot compete with a good romance.I came back to this book a few hours later, and gave it another try, but it's a no go.

So what's the problem?Unfortunately, there are several.The made-up town of Big Knob, Indiana and all the cutesy references to "Big Knobians," the "Hob Knob Diner," the "Big Knobian Bar," "Knob Lobbers," and "Knob Bobbin" were nauseating after a while.The name of the town is used so often, it's even used as an adjective; someone was described as "un-Big Knobian."(I was curious, so I looked on Mapquest, and there are Big Knobs in KY, MD, and NC.Go figure.)

Neither the hero or heroine were endearing, and I hate the idea of someone tapping a wand on the hero to make him something he's not.Magic is a wonderful element in a romance, but the magic of self-change should come from within.It just happens to be a plot device that goes against my personal preferences.The witch and wizard, Dorcas and Ambrose, were interesting characters, but they can't save the book since the romance is centered on the boring mortals.

I didn't find anything to smile about, much less laugh out loud funny, so the back-cover blurbs hinting at a humorous read were misleading at best.Maybe it's because the writing style felt dated, like when Jeremy felt like "a cartoon character with spring-loaded eyes. Boing."Those kinds of references had me picturing 1940s cartoons, and distanced me from the material.It all felt cutesy, safe, and old-fashioned, when I was expecting hip, sexy and modern from "Wild & Hexy."

H-O-T: Hot!!!
Oh, my! Some really great creative fun scenes here. Plot line is a little out there, but hey, it's a VLT witchcraft book. Loved it!

Great book!
This is the second book in the Hex Series. A must read even if you didn't read the first!

A laugh-out-loud, sharp, sassy read!
Annie is dreading coming home for her sister's wedding. Six months ago, she divorced her self-absorbed, high-school-sweetheart husband, and put on thirty pounds. When her sister and soon-to-be brother-in-law moved up the date of the wedding, Annie is now in 'seriously need to lose weight' mode. Knowing she has to wear a peach monstrosity for a matron-of-honor gown isn't helping her mood any. With her low self-esteem, Annie returns to Big Knob only to see that, for a small town that doesn't change, changes have indeed happened in Big Knob.

Jeremy is ecstatic! He can't wait to see Annie again, still lusting after since high school. Shy and nerdy, he never had the courage to approach her, let alone talk to her, and Annie had been many a vision for his wet dreams growing up. But Jeremy hasn't changed all that much; he's still shy and sweet, and he desperately needs help to burst out of his shyness.

In come Dorcas and Ambrose. They know soul mates when they see them, and they're determined to get the two together. With a small spell, Jeremy seems to burst out of his shell, and much to Annie's surprise, he's much cuter than she remembers, and finds him very sweet and thoughtful. Plus, he knows a few magic tricks, which capture his attention.

And while dealing with wedding plans for her sister and his best friend, Annie and Jeremy find they can't keep their hands off each other, and it becomes anytime, anywhere; from a deserted beach after dusk, his apartment in the middle of the day, in the backseat of her car during the bachelorette party, to that same deserted beach before dusk, to the hammock in the middle of the night.

Meanwhile, Dorcas and Ambrose are still trying to help George earn his gold scales. Dee-Dee, a new monster member of Big Knob, has been there for close to two hundred years. While sightings of her had always been dismissed, the reporter in Annie is determined to get to the bottom of it, whether real or a teenage prank.

And just to add to the excitement, Isadora Mather, the woman captured in bronze in the town square, the widow of the founder of Big Knob, has returned after receiving reports that Dee-Dee was misbehaving. Going by the alias Isabel Moore, had been there, two hundred years ago, when Dee-Dee came to the village. She'd been hiding since them. Isadora's return couldn't have been at a worse/better time, depending on how you look at it, and she in no way resembles the statue of herself, except maybe her face. Isadora is outrageous and entirely focused on sex. Definitely not what the town needs right at that moment.

I swear I enjoyed this book more than the first! Annie was just like some women I know who had married over-bearing and self-absorbed men who treated them like crap and, once their self-esteem was buried deep, left them for someone else. Annie is a character that rang very true with me. Jeremy, on the other hand, could have used a little more work. Jeremy had sought help from Dorcas and Ambrose, help to unleash his inner wild self, to finally get the girl. Knowing that he's now outgoing and knows magic tricks that happen out of thin air, I found he was too quick to dismiss purported monsters in the lake, quick to dismiss what Annie saw, and immediately thought Dorcas and Ambrose were behind it all as a scam to make money. It made no sense how fast he drew to that conclusion and held fast to it.

Otherwise, I thought the story quicky, sassy, sexy, funny, and an overall excellent read!

Wild & Hexy
Jeremy Dunstan is considered the town's nerd, mostly as he is also the local computer whiz.But while Jeremy doesn't do anything to dissuade this, he has held a secret since high school.He has always wanted Annie Winston.Now she is back in town for her sister's wedding and he isn't going to let this second chance go by.But it seems that Annie can still turn this successful man into a babbling teenager.

The matchmakers Dorcas and Ambrose may be in town to help fix their reputation and write a wrong, but they can't help doing a little matchmaking on the side.Will they end up helping Jeremy and Annie or will their hands be full with Dee Dee, the lake monster and George the card shark dragon?

I found Wild & Hexy to be a fun read from Ms. Thompson, as usual.I always love her stories as the geek wins in the end, and this one is no different.I laughed out loud at the lake monster and at the card-playing dragon, sigh, if only they were all real.Ms. Thompson does bring the overall story together well and it is hard to tell in the end if Annie really needed the matchmaking or not, maybe it was just destiny.Additionally, there were some spicy scenes between Jeremy and Annie that I found fun.Wild & Hexy is a fun summer read and a nice addition to the series.

Tanya
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed ... Read more

Product Description

All Suzanne Talbot wants for Christmas is Greg Stone. She's fantasized about the sexy handyman for months. And she's recently heard from other women in her building that leaky pipes aren't all Greg fixes. So she decides to go for it...and quickly learns just how good Greg is with his hands....

All Greg Stone wants for Christmas is Suzanne Talbot. Only, Suzanne's so classy, so sexy, so damn tempting. Why would she want a simple guy like him? But once Suzanne makes the first move, Greg can't resist her. They come together in explosive, sensual encounters that are as mystical, as magical as the season itself. And now all Greg has to do is convince Suzanne that the nights after Christmas can be even better....

Customer Reviews (6)

A Well-Written Sexy Story
I really liked this book.Disregard the storyline teaser about the handyman who's good with his hands.This book was much more than that.The focus was kept tight on a few main issues, rather than stuffing the story full of plots and subplots which can never be fully developed in such a restricted format.More importantly, the lead characters were just really nice people - easy to identify with and wish the best.

The author allowed us into the thought processes of both characters, giving both equal value.Suzanne and Greg were both interesting people who had unexpected depth.The gradual unveiling of their true natures and dreams was done nicely.The dialogue was well written.The sex was graphic and inventive, rather than the standard euphemistic presentation.Their romance was lovely.It was a nice story, worth reading.

Something to Keep You Warm On A Cold Night
I really liked THE NIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS. Not necessarily because it was a hot, erotic book, but because it was different from other books out there. Usually the hero is well to do and has a successful career. The hero in this story is a handyman. You need something fixed, Greg will fix it.
Suzanne, the heroine in the story, has something that needs fixing...her heart. She has broken up with her boyfriend and needs a jump-start. Her friend suggests Greg, hinting that he is very good in bed. Suzanne has been secretly attracted to Greg anyway, and the suggestion to have an affair with him proved too hard to resist. Greg, also secretly attracted to her, can't resist either.
The resulting affair is hot and very sensual. The book lives up to the Heat logo for the Temptation line. Along the way, Greg and Suzanne fall in love with another, but don't admit it to each other. The resulting break up and reunion is typical fare, but up until then, this story was fast paced and hard to put down.
Vicki Lewis Thompson is a veteran writer for Harlequin Books, but she is fairly new to me. She is fast becoming an auto buy author for me.
For a hot book to warm you on a cold night, pick up THE NIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS. Just be sure your guy is close by. You may want to try out some handyman techniques on him.

Very Steamy Book
This was a very steamy read!!!Good solid book!

Illicit pleasure -- Very highly recommended
Suzanne Tabot falls into one of the oldest mistakes of all when she believes the bad boy stories that have garnered a sexy reputation for maintenance man Greg Stone. Rumor has it that Greg specializes in healing the broken hearts of many of the women in the building. Suzanne assumes, from friend's comments, that his sexual process provides the necessary healing balm. Indeed, just the mention of Greg gives Suzanne a jolt of forbidden pleasure. She tries to convince herself that Greg's safe because he's temporary, thereby filling a specific need before moving on. Her best friend tells she needs a rebound man: someone to spend wild, sexy nights with that she'd never dream of making permanent. The truth is that she wants a whole lot more than temporary with him.

Greg's been watching Suzanne the entire eighteen months she's occupied her apartment, and was secretly pleased when her unappreciative boyfriend disappeared. He's put himself in a quite a quandary regarding women. He refuses to go back to college for the degree everyone thinks he needs to live up to his potential. He loves working as a maintenance man; work that leaves him imagination free to roam the books he's read the night before. He loves the opportunity to talk to women with breaking hearts; usually a bit of counseling and encouragement is all they need. Too bad that most of the blue-collar girls of his acquaintance just don't have a lot to say after sex. The classy, intellectual women of his apartment building would never settle for a man with less of a paycheck than they earn. And they certainly wouldn't appreciate his toolbox in place of a business suit. But he would certainly give Suzanne a chance, if she wanted it.

Gossip and innuendo provide illicit pleasure for both men and women, as Vicki Lewis Thompson so astutely observes in THE NIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS. While it's traditionally been the woman who's been on the receiving end of blow to the reputation, Thompson deftly turns the tables and then provides a delightful outcome. Although this heroine does fall into the trap of believing her friends, she does not fall into the trap of snobbery also observed by many women of her acquaintance. Greg's safe, they assume, because he's a maintenance man and therefore not on their social and economic level. And while his paycheck may not match their paycheck, his zest for life and love of books clearly indicates his intellectual prowess. Of course our heroine wins the guy; she's the only one in the building willing to look beyond his reputation and appearance to the man beneath. Best of all, Greg does not compromise his identity to get the girl. Very highly recommended.

Definitely a Blaze
Greg Stone is a gorgeous, college-dropout, maintenance man living on site in an expensive apartment building running over with well-educated YUPPIE women (WYW). He's made a name for himself among many of these female residents because he offers such a great listening ear when they have been dumped by selfish-pig boyfriends. However, he has never had sex with any of them for fear of it leading to him losing his job or having his heart broken, as it has been in the past by another WYW. Unfortunately, his reputation has been blown out of proportion by some of the women he's helped out, and word has it that Greg is some kind of unpaid sex therapist willing to do hands on self-esteem building for emotionally battered women.

Suzanne Talbot is one of the many attractive WYW's in Greg's building. A close friend of hers strongly recommends Greg's "services," and after he spends time in her apartment repairing her sink and chatting with her over a cup of soup, Suzanne decides since she's suffering from sexual inadequacy, and he's a hunk and willing to be used for sexual healing, she might as well grab the goods. No sooner than she makes her decision, she immediately strips from her prim business suit and all her underwear and slides on a skin-tight black jumpsuit (which she just happens to have in her closet even though she is portrayed as conservative and repressed). Then she slithers down to the basement to apply for aid and comfort from good ol' Greg.

Greg at first refuses the amazing sexual come-on of a woman he formerly thought was shy, both because of shock and because, he's simply not that kind of guy. But Suzanne is so devastated at his rebuff, he can't stand it. The poor thing can't take any more rejection after her bum of a boyfriend dumped her, and, after all, Greg has had a huge crush on her for months, and wouldn't he be nuts to pass up the chance for sex with such a beautiful, eager woman? So before you know it, we've leaped into a torrid sex scene. And, since this is pretty cheap sex, there is room for lots of nice conflict ripping them apart afterwards in the form of morning-after regrets. This allows for a chance to slowly build up the will-they-won't-they tension again and lead to more torrid love scenes with lots of regrets after them, too, and so on.

Comments: Soon after the establishment of most new Harlequin's lines (from Duets to Coltons, to this one, etc.), in a short while they begin to take on a predictable voice and plot-setup. It seems Blaze, which in the beginning seemed nicely innovative, has settled on it's tone and modus operandi, since it is already appearing over and over again, to wit:

The heroine (or the hero, or both of them) thinks, "I'm attracted to you, and I don't want to be (almost always because of being burned in the past or simply, in the man's case, not being ready to settle down). So to solve my little problem, I'll have sex with you once, which I am sure will get you out of my system." The second, related version of this setup for a no-strings, "hot, erotic" fling is that the heroine needs to heal her sexuality because she thinks she might be frigid due to a jerky boyfriend who gave her bad sexual experiences or who didn't like her refusing to have sex with him. This book uses both these approaches rolled into one.

My problem with both of these setups is that, for me at least, when either the hero or heroine jumps into bed with the motivation of using the other like meat, it makes me totally disrespect that protagonist as a human being. No matter that this is a common convention in many, many lines of Harlequin over many, many years, I don't like it in any short contemporary because it stinks ethically, whether the man does it or the woman.

Now Thompson has obviously tried to fix this thorny problem by having the hero be a kind guy who truly loves women in general has no ulterior motives for helping them out, and by her presentation of the heroine as a gentle, downtrodden soul. But it doesn't get rid of the heroine's motivation. She thinks good-looking Greg is there for the using, so, what the hey, why not go ahead and use him? (How many women over the centuries have loathed that awful attitude in men?) Yes, she does discover down the road that he's a human being, and a decent one at that, and she does fall in love with him and decide to commit to him. But her eventual emotional reform doesn't change the fact that what she did initially was despicable.

Having said all that, I admit freely Thompson is a good writer in general. Her characters are strongly drawn, in this as in all her books, with clear personalities, goals and motivations, and she has written this book fluently and well. So if you have no quarrel with this kind of plot, or even find this sort of setup sexy, and, most of all, if you are a fan of Thompson, you will probably like this book a lot. ... Read more

Product Description
New York Times bestselling author Vicki Lewis Thompson proves that things aren't always better with age . . .

When twenty-year-old PR exec Kasey Braddock accepts her co-workers' dare to hit on the gorgeous new landscaper, she's excited. Finally here's her chance to prove to her friends -- and herself -- that she's woman enough to entice a man and leave him drooling. After all, she's old enough to know what she wants -- and she wants Sam Ashton . . .badly.

And Sam is more than willing to be wanted. The chemistry between them is powerful, explosive. Still, there's something vaguely familiar about Kasey, something Sam can't put his finger on -- although he's dying to get his hands all over her . . .But he's not worried. He fully intends to enjoy uncovering all Kasey's secrets, one by one. But will the truth be too hot for him to handle? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A fantasy>getting on fast>youth>predictable
Like other reviewers I enjoyed the book. Yet I read it quicker than any other. It is not complex.She sees & recognizes the dream guy from her youth. He sees a hot gal with the sexiest butt and licence IM REDY. Incoincidental events they meet. Just as she is ready to leave him,his kiss floors her and arouses deep passion. They go out for coffee and wind up making passionate love as he brings her to orgasm more than she ever hoped
for. In doing so he is also taken in by her brazen passion such as getting
whipped cream & chocolate pudding. She tastes the whipped cream on his
breasts. Then they share both ingredients via oralizing.So much focus on sex, where is the dialogue? And after being satisfied more than he ever dreamed up, suddenly the fact she is a bit younger than he thought
makes her less desirable? Most men would welcome the tight youth. He walks out on her verbally but his drives increase as they are split.
She wanted a sexcape but winds up wanting him more and then making a
commitment to marriage.

This is a great sex-romance novel but one wonders what will keep them together after the sheets get a bit thin? The book is hard to put down as one seeks the climax (sic) or inevitable conclusion. I like something
medium rare. Some may find the book well done, others too rare and most
reviewers just as desired. I find it a bit too quick, too rare. More
cooking would have taken me to 5****.The cover is a turn-on but the
book isn't quite there.

Old enough to Know Better
Good read.Vicki Lewis Thompson gives another great read.

Hot Romance Novel!
This is a really hot read - good, sizzling hot scenes between Kasey and Sam.She recognizes him as one of her older step-brother's friends, but knows that he doesn't recognize her.He also doesn't realize how old she is - she is only 20 - but managed to graduate college early because she is super smart and skipped grades in school.This doesn't bother her since she plans to leave it at a one night stand, but he has other ideas - forever ideas - until he finds out just how young she really is - then the tables are turned and she has to try to convince him that she is old enough to know what she wants and mature enough to settle down.Another excellent read by Vicki Lewis Thompson.

Old Enough to Know Better
I thought this book was really good.The perfect quick & easy summer read for the beach or pool.I will defiantly be reading more of Vicki Lewis Thompson.

entertaining contemporary romance
At Beckworth Public Relations, the women are drooling over a hunk from Ashton landscaping.They decide to play the straw game with the babe that draws the biggest having to find a way to make the dude drool from desire.Kasey Braddock wins the contest.Although she would prefer to have not entered, her image means everything in the upscale youthful modern PR office; thus, she grabs a bottle of water to introduce herself to the stud as a happening chick "so redy".

Kasey recognizes Sam Ashton, who she had a crush on years ago when he was the friend of her older stepbrother, but he does not recognize the beautiful woman giving him the water.He had noticed her earlier and sees this opportunity to ask her out, which she accepts.Not long afterward, she remains committed to his drooling one time, but he wants her for all time.

This entertaining contemporary romance starts as a fun read with the office women salivating over visiting hunks while the men are stunned with how far the females will go with the games.When the lead couple begins dating, the plot deftly switches gear so that the audience can see what motivates the protagonists.Of major enjoyment is to watch Sam realize that the woman he is falling in love is not the image of hip that Kasey portrays, but the kindhearted caring soul that she really is though the target of his affection cannot believe he recognized her inner essence.Fans will appreciate this fine tale.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Product Description
From the New York Times bestselling author of Blonde with a Wand--another charming tale of love and witchcraft

Lily Revere is free-spirited and fun-loving-two dangerous qualities in a witch. Lily needs a date for her sister Anica's engagement party, and she's determined to bring hot Griffin Taylor. But the jaded divorce lawyer claims his job has warned him off romance. Slipping a love elixir into Griffin's drink may not be the noble thing to do-but it sure works! There's just one problem: Are Griffin's feelings the result of some truly good witchcraft-or could he really be in love? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

5 Hearts from TRS!
I love this series! These witchy characters are hilarious and quickly find themselves in trouble over seemingly little things. There is a reason that witches believe you should never use a spell to cause harm to another... Lily is such a free-spirit and "creative thinker" that I couldn't wait to see how she was going to get out of this mess of her own making! Griffin is the perfect straight man for the shenanigans. And even before Lily messed with her potion, these two had undeniable chemistry even if Griffin tried to ignore it. It isn't necessary to have read Blonde with a Wand but I highly recommend that you do. Both books are fun and very entertaining and you won't want to have missed the story from the first book.

I can't wait to see what Ms. Thompson has in store for her readers next! She has quickly become a favorite author for me. I love her sense of humor and the wild imagination that comes out in her stories. If you have read anything by Ms. Thompson before and liked it, you will like this series too! - Steph B.

Not Quite so Charming
Sexy, free-spirited witch Lily Revere needs a date for a wedding. Enter attorney Griffin Taylor, a regular at the Bubbling Cauldron, the bar where she works. Griffin seems like he might be interested in her but for some reason has never asked her out. Lily decides to take matters into her own hands and slips him a love potion to make him desire her no matter what. As they spend more time together, both become more and more attached, Griffin because of the spell and Lily just because.

I found I couldn't set aside my discomfort of the plot long enough to enjoy Thompson's humorous and quick-witted writing in this second "Babes on Brooms" romantic fantasy. Griffin knows he's been drugged and desperately wants his free will back, yet Lily keeps him ensnared. That's not romance--not at all. While the characters are wonderful and the writing superb, I am going to have to recommend you find a better romance book. One with two consenting adults.

Reviewed by Lanine Bradley

Love this.
I have read all of Vicki's books. She is great and I could not find this book locally. I go the book quickly and in excellent condition.

Awesome!!!!!
I was hooked strictly by the first cover of the book, blondes on brooms. I totally fell in love with the characters. I read this book and i fell in love with the characters and the story. I recommend this book. You wont put it down. Awesome!!! Thumbs up to both books!!!

Chick with a Broom
Bartender Lily Revere is every bit as untamed a witch as her sister, Anica, is by-the-book.Normally this isn't a problem, but with Anica's engagement party fast approaching and Lily's parents coming into town for the party, the wilder Revere sister has a plan to impress their parents.

Unfortunately for human Griffin Taylor, the man Lily has been lusting after, that plan includes him.Griffin is a divorce lawyer whose childhood and chosen vocation have warned him to go with his head, not his...gut...when it comes to love.Then when Lily slips an adoration elixir into his drink, all of Griffin's inhibitions are stripped away when it comes to Lily.The two seem perfect together, but are Griffin's feelings for Lily real, or just the result of some potent magic?

Love potions never go well for the creator or the object of their affections.Yet while things get a little crazy for Lily and Griffin, it's pure fun for readers who are along for the ride.Lily is a lovable, free-spirited, and yes, charming heroine.Her bright spirit is infectious, endearing her to the reader even when she does some less-than-noble things (i.e.: pouring an adoration elixir into Griffin's drink).Griffin, despite his reservations, is actually as perfect for Lily as she for him.He was an utterly delicious hero and things definitely got hot when he and Lily were together.

Chick with a Charm is the second delightful installment in Vicki Lewis Thompson's Babes on Brooms series and it's the perfect follow-up to Blonde with a Wand.Readers new to this series need not fear they'll be missing anything if they read Chick with a Charm first.Each book fully stands on its own.I absolutely love this series and hope Ms. Thompson has another Babes on Brooms novel coming soon!


Shayna
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed ... Read more

Product Description
From the Wild & Hexy imagination of a New York Times bestselling author

Sexy witch Anica Revere has one rule: never under any circumstances get involved with a man before telling him she's a witch. Still, what's one silly rule? Especially when the guy in question is as cute as Jasper Danes. But when Anica and Jasper have a spat, she breaks an ever bigger rule of witchcraft and turns him into a cat. Bad news for him. Worse for her...

... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Love this
I have read all of Vicki's books. The story is funny. I also go the second book of hers Chick with Charm and read it right after this one like a sequel. I could not find it locally and found it on Amazon. I got it quickly and in good shape.

4 1/2 Hearts from TRS!
Blonde with a Wand is a funny and entertaining story filled with misunderstandings, goof-ups, and an undeniable attraction. What is not to love! Anica is charming, impulsive, and in very hot water. Jasper is a hunk and despite being an angry cat is still very attracted to Anica. I thoroughly enjoyed the mess this couple finds themselves in but the situation also forces them to spend time together searching for a solution and getting to know one another. If you like humorous tales, problems with no obvious solutions, and an impossible romance, then you will like Blonde with a Wand. This tale is connected to the other "Hexy" stories by Vicki Lewis Thompson but can be read stand alone.- Steph B.

Loved This!
I'm so glad I found this book!I love magical, funny, and lighthearted stories so this really was a perfect match.

Anica Revere is a witch.In a laugh-out-loud moment she transforms her date (Jasper) into a cat. Because she is not supposed to change people into other forms she loses her powers so Jasper has to stay a cat!While this is funny for the reader it means trouble for Anica.Powerless makes her vulnerable.Jasper as a cat is wonderful!He doesn't think so.He's really mad but he learns a lot of stuff that helps him see Anica differently.

There are other reviews here that give more of the story.I don't post a lot of reivews but I enjoyed this magical tale so much I had to.I can't wait to read more of this series!

Blond With a Wand
It made me laugh out loud & it was fun. Everyone should read it.I loved it from the first page until the end. I can't wait for the other one to come out.

Blonde With a Wand- A Joyfully Recommended Title
Some women think men are dogs.To Anica Revere, Jasper Danes is more of a tomcat.At least he is after she turns him into one.Anica just happens to be a witch, and though she generally tells the men she's dating her magical heritage before they get too deeply involved, she makes an exception with Jasper.But in the midst of a bad fight, by-the-book Anica makes a very big mistake and uses an ancient curse that turns Jasper into a cat.Now, Anica's been stripped of her powers for using her magic to transform another and Jasper will have to figure out a way to transform back into the biped he once was.What neither Jasper nor Anica expect is that the situation they find themselves in has unexpected benefits; the time they spend together fast becomes more powerful than any love potion.But is there a future in the cards for a sexy witch without magic and a man that can't seem to stay human?

There might be a little bit of witch in Vicki Lewis Thompson, for Blonde with a Wand was a spellbinding read.I started Anica and Jasper's story one evening and before I knew it, it was after four in the morning and I didn't want to go to bed until I finished the book.I laughed, I melted, and at points, my heart broke.I adored Anica right from the start, and loved watching both she and Jasper grow as characters over the course of the story.Ms. Thompson has the uncanny ability to make you laugh on one page, then break your heart on the next.There were so many unexpectedly hilarious things that can happen when your twenty-first century male is in feline form, but kudos to Ms. Thompson for also weaving in the plight of homeless and abandoned animals.The blending of the silly and the serious, the bonds of romantic and sisterly love, and magical mayhem are all what makes Blonde with a Wand work.This is the first story by Ms. Thompson's that I've read and I flat-out loved it.I'll be reading much more of this entertaining author's work in the future, starting with the next Babes on Brooms novel, Chick with a Charm.Still, I find that before I dive into the next book of Ms. Thompson's, I can't resist giving Blonde with a Wand another read; it's that addictive, which is why I Joyfully Recommend this bewitching book!

Shayna
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed ... Read more

Product Description
Gwen Dubois lives in Indiana, but her heart is in France with Marc Chevalier, a man she met online. Now he’s come to Big Knob to show Gwen the meaning of amour and spirit her back to Paris. But stiff competition is coming from another part of the world—if not exactly this world. Prince Leo of the Atwood fairy kingdom has his own plans for Gwen, creating a romantic mishap that only Big Knob’s resident witch and wizard can untangle. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Casual Hex
Vicki Lewis Thompson is one of the best authors out there. all her books are great. Casaul Hex could not put the book down.

Once again the "Hex" series delivers
Casual Hex is a delightful paranormal romance that refuses to pander to the formulaic plots of regular series romances. The plot twists and fully fleshed out characters deliver plenty of drama while keeping the light hearted tone of the previous books in this series. Anyone who enjoys romance novels will not be disappointed by this one.

The trick was on me....
What a horrible, horrible book and series. I really like the "Nerd" books and thought these would be in the same vein...light, goofy, fun. It was just awful.

Vicki Lewis Thompson-Casual Hex-Kudos
As always, Vicki Lewis Thompson has done it again with another great read, I have read the entire "Nerd Series" each and every one of them were fantastic, well she has definitely done again with "Hex" Series, Casual Hex is #3 in the series and like all the others is a great read, I find that with Vicki Lewis Thompson books, you simply can't put them down, they are fresh, funny, sexy and just an awesome read, I recommend all of her books as she is a fabulous author.

fun romantic fantasy
Matchmaking witches Dorcas and Ambrose know that Gwen Dubois and Marc Chevalier are soulmates.They plan to hook up the Indiana resident with the French botanist.All they have to do is get Marc to leave sunny France for wintry Big Knob, Indiana.

The way to his heart lies with tropical plants so the two witches cast a spell to have special equatorial flora in the icy cold Hoosier State.Marc crosses the pond to investigate, but is distracted when he meets Gwen.However, their perfect plan runs into a snag when Prince Leo of the Atwood fairy kingdom chooses Gwen to be his bride.

The latest trip to the eerie hex capital of the world, Big Knob, Indiana (see OVER-HEXED and WILD & HEXY) is an enjoyable lighthearted story as Dorcas and Ambrose work loving magic with the usual amusing side consequences; this time a royal hex of a mess.The lead human couple is a likable pairing. They get along from the onset with the strife coming from the pushy prince.Fans will enjoy this jocular jaunt as Dorcas provides the perspective to this romantic fantasy and the hexy saga with wisdom that Paris and Atwood are no Big Knob.

Harriet Klausner


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Product Description

Fantasy #1... MYSTERY LOVER--Vicki Lewis Thompson

When an unexpected storm hits, rancher Jonas Garfield takes cover in a nearby cave...and finds himself seduced senseless by an enigmatic temptress who refuses to tell him her name. All he knows is that this sexy woman wants him. And for Jonas, that's enough--for now...

Fantasy #2... AFTER HOURS--Stephanie Bond

Michael Pierce has always considered costume shop owner Rebecca Valentine no more than an associate--until he drops by her shop one night and witnesses the mousy wallflower's transformation into a seductive siren. Suddenly, he's desperate to know her much better. But which woman is the real Rebecca?

Fantasy #3... SHOW AND TELL--Kimberly Raye

A naughty lingerie party. A forbidden fantasy. When Texas bad boy Dallas Jericho finds a slip of paper left over from the party, he is surprised--and aroused--to discover that he is good girl Laney Merriweather's wildest fantasy. So what can he do but show the lady what she's been missing...

Customer Reviews (12)

Steamy and then Some
For those of you who don't like explicit sex scenes, this book is not for you. I say no holds barred is the way to go and I loved this book and have become an avid Blaze reader. The first of the three short stories, Mystery Lover, is my favorite. B.J. and Jonas are the happily ever after kind of romance that melts your heart. The idea that someone could have a steamy affair with one of their closest friends without the man knowing the identity of the woman seems far fetched, but Vicki Lewis Thompson managed to make it beleivable. She's one of my favorite autors and although she's mostly known for her "Nerd" series, this short story shoundn't be overlooked. I've also read the follow up to this story "Notorious" and wasn't disappointed. The other two stories in this book were aslo enjoyable but Jonas and B.J. will forever hold a special place in my heart. They couldn't have picked a better author to kick off this naughty new series. Blaze is the the best!

The old west meets a modern day women !
This book tells a story of two witches back 1882 and a modern day women who makes her living around other's sexually fantasies. Most of the book takes place in the old west with a hot-steaming cowboy and modern-day Elizabeth with a twist of time-travel. You will enjoy this fun read - take a chance I was hooked. I am off to find more books by this author.

My first Kimberly Raye book - how hilarious it was!
I really got a big kick out of this book.The characters were so
easy to love.I thought her refering to the bad guys (until she
learns their names at the end of the book) was darling - Slim,
Medium, & Brawny.I liked how she was a woman who went after what
she wanted, she didn't just sit back & wait for him to come to her.
Being mistaken for Sinful Sinclair definitely had its advantages!
I was kind of surprised, though, that at the end of the book, Sinful's sister just basically threw her hands up in the air & said, oh well!Guess my sister is stuck somewhere else.At least it appears she is happy.I loved the relationship between
the main characters.They were perfect for each other, even if
she wasn't so sure for most of the book (typical heroine).

Intense Romnce
This is the kid of romace novel that is not for the timid. I enjoy the love scenes in this novella. A prequel to the Blaze series. I like the first one, Mystery Lover. But the third one, Show and Tell, really stood out. Especially the part when the main female character,Laney, is masturbating right in front of Dallas. Defintely intense!

Show And Tell-Laney and Dallas
i read show and tell by kimberly raye.

favorite scene with laney-
when she lets that girl work for her dad.she was turning her away because of how she dressed, and suddenly realized she can't judge someone by their dress.

favorite scene with dallas-
finally stands up for himself about the tiles.i hope that guy divorces his wife.:)

favorite scene with laney and dallas together-
in the dark auditorium when he asks her to show him.that was hot.i was afraid someone would walk in.damn punch.:)

order of favorite of the whole anthology:
show and tell
mystery lover
after hours ... Read more

Product Description

Meet St. Nick's delightfully devilish brother, Damon Claus. He's about to prove to three unsuspecting couples that being naughty is much, much nicer...

No Mistletoe Required by Vicki Lewis Thompson

With Damon's sneaky help, Hayden Manchester and Riley Kinnard rekindle a long-running, very creative rivalry...that leaves them fighting over who's on top!

Her Secret Santa by Jill Shalvis

Workaholic Ally Dauer runs the local toy drive. Only when she discovers some very adult toys, firefighter Eddie Weston convinces her that the best gifts are meant to be shared....

Snug in His Bed by Rhonda Nelson

Viv Foster hates Christmas. Hank Bailey owns a Christmas tree farm. What could they possibly have in common? Sizzling sexual chemistry and, thanks to Damon, the opportunity to act on it. After all, it's the season of miracles...

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Customer Reviews (1)

Fun premise: Santa's naughty brother
I enjoyed the premise behind these three stories: Santa's bad boy brother, Damon, sets out to wreak holiday havoc and instead brings three couples together. I hope Damon makes an appearance next December in another Blaze and gets his own story. I'm enjoying this Blaze trend with 3 short stories in a book, each one makes for the perfect length of bedtime reading. Because each of these stories are written by such great authors, all three are a real treat. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (10)

Drags on with lots of distractions: Titillation isn't enough
I found this Thompson book to be a pain. It is too long. She tries too hard to make the plot exciting and in the process can easily turn a reader off as they try to figure who's on first.There are too many
characters and contrived events that seem often disjointed. While sex holds the couple together, in their first "encounter" somehow I knew how Farley was dressed as he enters her room. But somehow I didn't pick up on the garb that Zoe was wearing until deep into the interaction. He seems
clumsy at times and she pushes too hard to stay up with him, even though her heart won't admit there is at least sexual love.Even the end seems a bit contrived, when one finally reaches it.I like Nerd stories. Yet even a prime steak can be presented "overdone."This book is more Gone than nerdy!

Nerd Served Hot & Spicy
I absolutely adore Vicki Lewis Thompson's NERD Series. As a woman married to a man who would, in all likelihood, be described as a nerd, I know first-hand how hot these guys can be! Ms. Thompson has served up another steamy slice of nerdiness in GONE WITH THE NERD.

Zoe Tarleton is a movie star known far and wide for one thing-- playing the bombshell. With her beauty and first-class body, she's made plenty of films--but she's tired of being known as nothing more than a pretty face. Then the chance of a lifetime falls into her lap--the chance to audition for the role of Vera in an action-adventure movie, a part that could, if played right, earn her a Golden Globe. The only problem is that Vera, a chemist working on a miracle drug, is a flat-chested, bland, nerdy woman. To turn her bombshell into a dud, Zoe needs to learn how to be a nerd, and she knows the perfect person to help guide her--entertainment attorney Flynn Granger. She's spent plenty of time with Flynn over the past few years, working out contracts, and she knows he's just the man for the job.

Flynn has always been attracted to Zoe in an off-hand, it-could-never-happen sort of way. After all, she's Zoe Tarleton and he's, well, a nerdy accountant with glasses, a monochrome wardrobe, and a Honda Civic. So when Zoe suggests spending the weekend in Long Shaft, California, home of the Sasquatch, for him to advise her in nerdiness, Flynn agrees, on the condition that he can tell his almost-fiancee, Kristen, what they're up to. The only problem is, even before they reach Long Shaft, Flynn's realizing that being in close proximity with Zoe--dowdy or not--is a real danger to his libido.

GONE WITH THE NERD is an absolute riot, and Zoe and Flynn are adorable characters. The steam these two generate is enough to erupt a volcano, and the suspense and paranormal aspects thrown into the story add an exciting mix. I love how Zoe realizes that there's more to life than fame and fortune, and how Flynn comes to understand that blending into the background of life isn't necessarily the best way to go.

You won't go wrong with this nerdy tale, and I for one am eagerly anticipating the next one, Talk Nerdy to Me (The Nerd Series), coming out in February 2006.

These books are Awesome!
This was the first one in this series I read. And I now have a new favorite author.

'Nuff said!

Not My Kind of Nerd
I've been following this series and I've pretty much loved every one of the books, "Nerd in Shining Armor" and "The Nerd Who Loved Me" are both firmly tied for first place. I just don't think "Gone with the Nerd" really measures up to the rest. What really killed this book for me was Flynn. He's just not nerd enough for me. That and, I'm sorry, the fact that he's on the verge of proposing to his girlfriend yet can't hardly keep it in his pants after a scant few hours alone in a cabin with Zoe, just irks me. It's a major flaw in his character that pretty well puts me off. I don't find myself rooting for this relationship to work out because, despite the fact that he realizes he's not really in love with his girlfriend, he's basically become a cheating jerk in my eyes.

I gave it 3 stars because the writing was still there, the ending was sweet, and I kind of enjoyed the Bigfoot thing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for "Nerds like It Hot".

From astudent
I would say that I very much enjoyed this love story, Gone with the Nerd. Although this book is not short it is a nice light read. The care-free and comical topic of a movie star and class-A nerd caught up in a romance keeps this book funny and interesting. The author does a good job of making the characters seem real. Her in depth description and individual personality for each character makes them very relatable. I felt as though they were now a part of my circle of friends. Although this is not the typical romance novel it still has the appeal of one with sexy dialogue and heartwarming story line. You will find yourself laughing out loud and wanting to catch a glimpse of Flynn Granger in action, and that sparkling smile of Zoey Tarleton. Along with her blue eyes that always seem to keep Flynn guessing.

Even though I liked this book a lot there were some slight flaws. While reading, it seemed as though the beginning of the book kind of dragged on, and the ending came with some abruptness.Having said this, the main portion of the story I found very hard to put down. It has the feeling of a sexy new drama you would see on day-time T.V.
This is a great book to pick up and read in the hot days of summer with its fun and frisky tale of discovery between two people.
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Product Description

Keely Branscom had always been a little notorious. A confirmed wild child, she'd shocked the town by posing for a centerfold at the age of nineteen. But what she'd really wanted was to get a reaction from seriously sexy Noah Garfield. Only, back then, he hadn't quite known what to do with her....

Now, years later, Noah's still in over his head with Keely. But when he catches her walking into a Vegas strip joint, he knows that he has to save her from herself.

Only, Keely doesn't want to be saved. Instead, Noah's supersexy childhood nemesis seems determined to show him exactlywhat he's been missing....

Customer Reviews (8)

Full of Sass, Steam, Sex and Just Plain Fun
Again, Vicki Lewis Thompson has penned a hot, sassy and fun love story with NOTORIOUS. This book reminded me of the saying "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas".And that's what most of the book is about.

After ten years the fates decide that Keeley and Noah will again meet.Noah is in Vegas to be in his friend's wedding and Keely is on assignment to write an article for her magazine Allure.

Noah walks by a strip club and immiedately his old "crush" Keeley comes to mind, the hometown's Bad Girl. As fate would have it, they bump into each other and Noah gets the impression she is going into the strip club to apply for a job.Since her father and soon to be sister-in-law work for him and the sparks are still there, Noah feels that he must protect her and invites her to stay with him for the weekend in hopes that he can counsel her.Well, Keely has other ideas.Why?Noah rejected her 10 years ago and so did her family and hometown when her photo was featured as a centerfold in a magazine.

Well, hold on to your hats, because if you want sex, steam, sass and tears, then read this wonderful and incredible love story.You will laugh, sigh and cry at the same time.

This book also reminded me of another five star VLT book, LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX.Another "Bad Girl" and fun book.

5 Star HEAT in this BLAZE!
So it has finally dawned on me after reading almost 100 Blaze books and coming back to this one as one of my all time favorites why I like them soooo much: the fantasy element of the Blaze series and the tasteful yet wild sexual fantasies that each one incorporates is like reading every month a set of Red Shoe Diaries- like the sexy Zalman King series that was on Showtime and narrated by David Duchovny as the lover whose woman had died and left him with a pair of red shoes and a diary filled with fantasy unfulfilled.....

The sex and the tension in this one and the tremendous impact of the sex scenes is visceral. I love it when Keely tempts Noah with some voyeuristic thrills then takes them herself when it pushes him over the edge....their passion at a Vegas wedding against the glass looking down on a hotel lobby again has these fantasy elements that bring the heart rate up! I need to get a new copy because I find myself doing as I did at 13 and dogearring the good parts to read over again!

Kudos to Harlequin for continuing to stretch and push the element of women's fiction! The strong sexual content of the Blaze books, the action packed Intimate Moments line, the emotional Special Editions and the ever good Desire and Temptation lines just keep getting better. People forget that most of the big names in women's fiction all got their start in series romance- today with all of the options available in the series there is room for so many styles it is the readers who really win!

And the Harlequin Blaze line esp as written by Ms Lewis Thompson is about as good as vanilla porn ( the Jennifer Crusie term from Welcome to Temptation) can get!

Sexy and emotionally satisfying
Rancher Noah Garfield can't visit Las Vegas without thinking about sex--and when he thinks about sex, he thinks about Keely Branscom. She was the bad girl he wanted growing up--the one who he managed to resist when she was 16 and too young, but who then posed for a centerfold and left home. He can't believe it when he sees her in Las Vegas and resolves to do everything he can to save her.

Keely has never forgiven Noah for spurning her advances at 16, and this is her chance for revenge. She'll treat him to a weekend of sex he'll never forget, then move on with her life. At least she doesn't have to return to the dreary and conservative land of ranches and nosy people. The one thing she can't risk, though, is falling in love with Noah--again. But surely she's out of that now--isn't she?

Author Vicki Lewis Thompson writes a sexy story. Noah promises himself that he'll keep his hands off the beautiful Keely, but he doesn't have a chance when Keely turns up the heat--and boy does she turn up the heat. A Vegas wedding adds to the emotional impact of the moment as both Keely and Noah review their thoughts on what marriage means and their hopes or fears for their own future. NOTORIOUS was the launch book for Harlequin's BLAZE series--and it delivers both the sexy premise (he thinks she's a topless dancer and possibly a prostitute) and follow-through that BLAZE is built around.

BEST OF THE BEST
Blaze picked the perfect book to launch its new series.I have two copies of this book as a failsafe in case I ever misplace one!To be honest, I haven't read a romance novel since which has measured up to the anticipation, passion, and satisfaction that this book offered.The prequel story in Midnight Fantasies about sister BJ is wonderful as well.

Notorious-Keely and Noah
favorite scene with keely-
when keely is humiliated after someone at the wedding recognizes her from the magazine.

favorite scene with noah-
noah coming back to arizona and talking with his brother after seeing keely's reaction the singing telegram.

favorite scene with keely and noah together-
the ending with talking about going to the nude beach and the desk. ... Read more

Product Description

For years, levelheaded lawyer Eileen Connolly has been fighting a reckless craving--for sex with a stranger. Well, it's now or never. She's about to commit to her boyfriend--a decent guy who's as irresistible as an unglazed doughnut. All she wants is one wild, adventurous night. After that, she'll be ready to settle into predictability.

Then gorgeous Shane Nichols shows up at Eileen's office to fix the phones. In his tight jeans and tool belt, he's a walking, talking, chocolate-glazed, cream-filled éclair. And suddenly one night doesn't seem like enough to satisfy Eileen's craving for something so wickedly delicious....

Customer Reviews (4)

Pretty Good
This book has a not bad story line that pretty much sets it up for a lot of fantasy sex. But for me it always seems that an author's idea of fantasy sex is not really mine. So most of the time it comes off alittle flat. For example, one of the sex fantasies in this book was to have sex in a cabin in the woods. That just seems a little ho-hum to me. But the scene in the restaurant was ooh-la-la! There are four different fantasies in this book so I would think that at least one should appeal to most everyone.

H-O-T
This book is definitely HOT! In fact, it may even be too hot for some. The scenes are pretty descriptive and the two characters have a very rich imagination. The basic premise is that Eileen (a lawyer) wants one night of wild sex with a stranger before settling down into marriage with her boyfriend. Enter Shane (a telephone rep) who is her stranger not just for one night, but a week of nights. This book isn't going to win any prizes for plot development and storyline, but for what it is (a Harlequin Blaze), it's worthy of 5 stars for sure. The author manages to make the storyline flow realistically, and you don't really feel like you're reading one of those "cheesy" romance books. There is comedy and heart in this book, and a lot of heat!

Vicki Lewis Thompson at her best -- Very highly recommended
With her very staid boyfriend out of the country for the week, Eileen Connolly wants to fulfill her most secret fantasy. She wants sex with a rugged, dark stranger - a man she would never have to see again before she commits to a life time of stability. With her darkest desires fulfilled, Eileen thinks she could accept Benjamin's proposal and move in with him. But rather than finding her fantasy man in a bar somewhere, Eileen unexpectedly encounters him in her office after hours installing telephone lines. He is everything she wants: single, footloose and fancy free and not the kind of guy like her boyfriend whose life is run by business.

Doing an installation rather than soothing irritable clients brings Shane Nichols a sense of satisfaction. His life is a mess owning a company that controls his every moment, so working with his hands brings a sense of accomplishment he had almost forgotten. He has been fantasizing about the blond lawyer in this office since the first time he caught a glimpse of her, so when she suddenly appears with a proposition, he accepts. But Shane wants more than one episode of fabulous sex. Now he wants to convince Eileen that he is the man she needs for permanence.

AFTER HOURS is author Vicki Lewis Thompson at her best with a hot plot, sizzling characterizations and sensuality that leaves fans begging for more. On one hand, Eileen's determination to limit their relationship quickly gives way to something more, and she does not belittle nor denounce her involvement with the telephone installer, even when caught red handed. On the other hand, Shane's determination to be loved for he is not for what he is strikes a sympathetic cord that earns instant forgiveness for his mild deception. AFTER HOURS is a daring fantasy of sex with a stranger that could easily slip into shallow or dangerous, but, with Thompson's skillful pen, this tale sidesteps the obvious and becomes something intriguing and fun. AFTER HOURS comes very highly recommended.

heated romance
Attorney Eileen Connolly wants one night of wild sex before she marries her boyfriend, a nice but conventional person.She knows that she will never taste blood-curdling heart pumping sex with her fiancé though she respects and cares for him.Eileen decides she needs one night of passion that a reader can find in Harlequin Romance novels imprinted with Blaze ironically like this novel is.That one last night will have to last a lifetime, but which stranger can she trust and find ardent desire?

The telephone repair guy Shane Nichols arrives at Eileen's office to fix the phones.Eileen sees this hunk as the answer to her sexual sweet tooth.However, after a night in the sack with a seven-layer victory layer cake, can a plain donut be enough to satisfy Eileen's passion for more of Shane's cream filled bell?

Though Eileen asking for Shane to fulfill her fantasy is unsafe sex, once recognized by fans they step past that questionable pick-up and will enjoy the heat of the tale.The story line is as hot as a novel gets as the two protagonists spend a blazing evening together that burns the respective brands on one another.Readers (and their fortunate significant others) who appreciate torrid love scenes that make the equator seem frozen will take great delight at any hour with AFTER HOURS.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Product Description
Oh, yes . . .

Mark O'Grady has a bad habit of making love to a woman -- and then proposing. But sexual chemistry is never enough to get him down the aisle. So Mark puts an ad in Texas Men magazine, determined to take it nice and slow with the next woman -- make friends before getting too "friendly."

Oh, no!

Charlene -- Charlie -- McPherson is sick of being every guy's buddy. One look at Mark's picture and she's out to inspire uncontrollable lust in him. Unfortunately it works -- before she discovers his reputation as a "serial groom." Now Charlie has to find a way to say, "I don't" to his luscious lovemaking -- long enough for Mark to fall in love with her . . .and say, "I do." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Sexy, Steamy, and Hot!
Wow! What a sexy story! Very romantically presented with excellent characterizations. Vicki Lewis Thompson knows how to write tantillizing stories! I was mesmerized and couldn't put the book down until I got to the end!

Unfortunately, when Charlie discovered Mark's secret, instead of confronting him with it, she devised an elaborate scheme to test him. The way Mark ultimately regained Charlie's trust was highly irresponsible. This immature and childish game-playing turned me off and distracted from the fun and sexiness of the story. It would have been more realistic and would have sent a better message to have the conflict resolved through open communication and honesty. I was glad for the redeeming ending!

Should have been called the Runaway Groom!
Absolutely loved this book!It so reminded me of the Runaway Bride and took leaving at the altar to a new level.I loved how VLT took the four main characters plus the "jilted" women and messed them into a fun, wacky and sassy storyline.A very entertaining read.

They both acted like children!
This is really a 3 1/2 but not bad enough to be a three.The premise of the story was good but there was no follow through on it. Mark has broken five engagements before but now thinks he's found "the one" in Charlie.Mark proposes to each woman on the first night after they have sex.He does the same to Charlie and they plan to marry in two weeks.

Here's my problem.Charlie finds out about the broken engagements and that the longest notice any of the brides got was 4 days before the wedding, the shortest 10 minutes; really a crummy thing for Mark to do.Yet she doesn't hesitate to plan to go through with the wedding, even though Mark still doesn't tell her about it. AND she never tells Mark she knows!

That's rather irresponsible and stupid behavior.She's pledging the rest of her life to a man who keeps such a major thing from her.And they never really do talk about it and he never really explains why he kept doing it.They need to get some serious couples therapy before marrying.

Oh yes? Oh no!
This book sucked me right in from page one. I read it in one afternoon. It's definitely a great beach read full of romance and humor. Definitely recommended.

what a treat...
I thoroughly enjoyed this book -- the characters were well-defined -- and what a sense of humor!I hated to see the book end. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (14)

Nerds....
I started the series in the middle, and just had to get the ones that I missed.I found this on to be one of the better books in the series.

funny knock off of Some Like it Hot
I started reading this author with Talk Nerdy to Me and My Nerdy Valentine.This book is not nearly as funny as the earlier two, but if you loved Some Like It Hot, with Marylin Monroe andTony Curtis - or if you liked the musicalSome Like it Hot, you'll be amused by this book and its tributes to that great film.As with her other stories, there are some very funny secondary characters.In this story, it is a cross-dressing mobster.In her previous stories, the heroes have been stockbroker, and an engineer.In this one, it is a fledgling Private Investigator.The herione is a make-up artist, who is aMarylin Monroe look-alike once you get her to do something with her hair and take her glasses off!

I love the nerd books
Just like the title says, I love the nerd books.These are not a series, so yo can pick up anyone of them and start reading.They are a light hearted, funny, quick read.

A pretty good edition to the Nerd series
On one level, I really did enjoy the book, but on another, it was just average.

The first VLT book I read was her third Nerd book, Nerd Gone Wild, which I absolutely adored. It was just such a new, unique concept. Most romance books tend to have perfect hero and heroines, but in the Nerd books, VLT gives you some nerdy traits. They're not hardcore nerds, the guys still have some alpha-male traits, and the females are still sexy and pretty. They're just geeky. It's still a great concept. I also enjoy VLT's writing. She writes some great sex scenes, and her language is very readable and fitting modern young adults. The characters think and talk like your average young person. It's nice to read. Plus, she's got a great sense of humor.

So I loved Nerd Gone Wild and went and got her two previous Nerd books, and since then have bought her next ones as soon as they came out. And while I enjoyed all of them, for the most part, the uniqueness wears off, and the whole idea gets a little old. Even so, Nerds Like It Hot was still pretty fun to read. This book, and the Nerd series as a whole, are just fun, light-hearted reads.

Character and romance wise on this one, I don't really have any complaints. I liked all the characters, and the romance - while not particularly cute or sappy - was nice. I believed the chemistry between them. The plot made sense and worked. I loved the whole Nerd-themed cruise idea and how she worked it into the book. That was fantastic. I wouldn't have minded more of that part of the story. And all the supporting characters were great. I loved Cora.

I had perhaps two complaints overall with the book. The first being the lack of any sort of guessing as to who was after Gillian. You know right off the bat who the bad guy is, and you know exactly how he plans to go after her. VLT even does POV scenes with the bad guy that let you know before hand exactly how he plans to attack her. It took any suspense out of the book. I think it would have worked better if she'd been more vague in that area so that the readers had more to ponder and guess about. And I could have done without all those in-depth scenes about the antagonist's activities

My second complaint is just a preference for me. I would have liked to see more down-time scenes between Gillian and Lex. Most of their time together was very specific and generally plot or sex oriented. They didn't have any sort of casual scenes where they just talked to each other or got to know each other. I think if they'd done that, it would have made the possibility of a lasting relationship between Gillian and Lex make just a bit more sense because really, a lot of their relationship was based on some heavy-duty sexual chemistry. If they'd known each other more thoroughly, I would have minded the ending quite so much, or thought it was just a little too abrupt.

Basically, and enjoyable, fun read. Probably what someone would call a "beach read". It's not meant to be serious or plot-y. It's hot and funny with a smidge of suspense. If you've read any of her other Nerd books, you'll like this one.

Not As Good As The Others
I liked this book and love the series but this book just isn't as good as the others.I'm not going to write a plot summary because so many others have already wrote it.However, I will say that the characters didn't really connect.I didn't feel like that were that well developed. I felt that the plot just wasn't that good and there was no mystery about anything.I didn't like how it just wrapped up in a nice little package in about 20 pages.I do still like the concept and will read her next book about Valentine's Day but if this continues maybe the series has just ran its course.I would recommend the other books in this series. ... Read more

Product Description
What's fate got to do with it?

Talented artist Jill Amory is tired of her "Jill of All Trades, Mistress of None" reputation. She just can't seem to settle down into the fulfilling, crackerjack career everyone expects from her. So this is going to be the year she decides what to do with her life, traveling across the country to find her bliss. And that means no man -- period! -- until she's landed the perfect gig.

But destiny, in the form of warmhearted, elderly Charlie Hartman, has other plans. Charlie's convinced he's a modern-day Cupid with his eye on Jill for his friend Spence Jegger, Colorado Springs' resident marriage-a-phobe. Convincing Spence he's going to wed the first woman he sees on Valentine's Day might take some doing . . . until Spence takes one look at his intended.

Destiny is full of surprises . . . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A sassy, feel-good story.Well written with excellent characterizations
Don't be fooled by the age or size of this book - it packs a huge punch! Cute beyond description; sexy and romantic; full of magic; very likeable and highly principled characters; set against the backdrop of fighting for a worthwhile and compassionate cause; and best of all, showcases that true happiness and meaning in life is uncovered by all the little loving things we do and not by how much money we earn or how prestigious our career is. Vicki Lewis Thompson has a wonderful style of writing that made this story a delightful treat to read. ... Read more

Product Description
Driving ex-girlfriend Pris to her wedding to another man, can chauffeur Joshhelp warm up Pris's cold feet? ... Read more