Private Pleasures (Harlequin Temptation, No 679)

Rating:
Summary: What others have to say about PRIVATE PLEASURES:
Review: "The intimacy scenes in this book are particularly well-done. We're lucky enough to experience physical and emotional connections. I really did want to read this book in one sitting. If you want a Calgon moment, take PRIVATE PLEASURES with you to a place where you can read and not be interrupted. You'll be very glad you did." Linda Mowery, The Romance Reader

"Janelle Denison poses the question, "Can love truly conquer all?" PRIVATE PLEASURES explores people's fear of commitment and how childhood experiences can shape an adult. Interesting fare." Rickey R. Mallory, Affaire de Coeur

"QUESTION: Your hero and heroine are in an eight month long relationship. Your story opens with a post-lovemaking scene. So, just how do you introduce and maintain the sexual tension that is the hallmark of the Harlequin Temptation line? ANSWER: If you're author Janelle Denison, you do it with seemingly effortless ease and a truckload of talent." Laura Novak, The Romance Journal

"Janelle Denison sets a match to each page with fiery romance, sensual love, and sizzling characters. Each turn of the page leaves you breathless. If you are looking to lose yourself in a heart pounding romance, look no further. PRIVATE PLEASURES fills the bill to perfection." Kathee S. Card, Under the Covers On-Line Reviews

Rating:
Summary: What others have to say about PRIVATE PLEASURES:
Review: "The intimacy scenes in this book are particularly well-done. We're lucky enough to experience physical and emotional connections. I really did want to read this book in one sitting. If you want a Calgon moment, take PRIVATE PLEASURES with you to a place where you can read and not be interrupted. You'll be very glad you did." Linda Mowery, The Romance Reader

"Janelle Denison poses the question, "Can love truly conquer all?" PRIVATE PLEASURES explores people's fear of commitment and how childhood experiences can shape an adult. Interesting fare." Rickey R. Mallory, Affaire de Coeur

"QUESTION: Your hero and heroine are in an eight month long relationship. Your story opens with a post-lovemaking scene. So, just how do you introduce and maintain the sexual tension that is the hallmark of the Harlequin Temptation line? ANSWER: If you're author Janelle Denison, you do it with seemingly effortless ease and a truckload of talent." Laura Novak, The Romance Journal

"Janelle Denison sets a match to each page with fiery romance, sensual love, and sizzling characters. Each turn of the page leaves you breathless. If you are looking to lose yourself in a heart pounding romance, look no further. PRIVATE PLEASURES fills the bill to perfection." Kathee S. Card, Under the Covers On-Line Reviews

Rating:
Summary: Loved it.
Review: Absolutely loved it & it's sequel "Private fantasies" (about Kyle & Jade) Mariah's sister.

Grey & Mariah have been dating for a few months. They met through her father when Grey had Mariah work on his house. Now he feels its the right time to ask Mariah something importamnt to him, something he has never asked another woman in his life. He is making a hash of it when Mariah realised he is asking her to marry him. The gobsmacked face of Grey's tells Mariah she has it all wrong.

After hearing about his childhood she understands him & his reasons against marriage. But loving him as she does she sets out to prove love exsists & can between the 2 of them. After failing to convince him she comes to the conclusion that it has to end between them...

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: i absolutely love this book. making the characters already in a relationship, without the getting-to-know-you stage, is a refreshing change. cant wait to read the next book, about jade.

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: Lovers Grey and Mariah are compatible in every way so he's a bit thunderstruck when she refuses to move in with him. She wants marriage and children and a life-long commitment. All of the things he is unable to give her because of his atrocious childhood - a childhood filled with hurt and degradation that he will not share with anyone. She loves him deeply but is unwilling to give up her dreams of a family and knows that is exactly what will happen if she stays with him. Even though it breaks her heart she ends things immediately. I really liked that about her. She loved Grey, loved him deeply, but had the strength to let him go when she realized they both wanted very different things out of life.

Grey, who's never been without a date, let alone dumped by a lover, won't accept her giving him the old heave `ho. He's handsome, sexy (and boy does he use it to his advantage <g>), and successful. He's quite a catch and has woman drooling all over him but he doesn't want them, doesn't even want to look at them. He misses Mariah terribly and can barely function without her. He's also honest and won't give her false promises that he's afraid he can't keep. He can't let her go either so he woos her and uses his stunning sensuality in an attempt to win her back.

I enjoyed the characters and this story a whole bunch. Grey is a lovable jerk. He's arrogant, he's real pushy and to say he's persistent is an understatement. But he's also honest, sweet and caring which is why I liked him right away despite his manly faults. Watching his heartfelt attempts to win back the heroine were a delight. It's always fun watching an overly confident man grovel. This is truly a relationship driven story, with strong characterization, that most definitely lives up to it's "Blaze" standards with it's steamy sexual tension.

Rating:
Summary: Sweet & steamy? You betcha! Great relationship driven book
Review: Lovers Grey and Mariah are compatible in every way so he's a bit thunderstruck when she refuses to move in with him. She wants marriage and children and a life-long commitment. All of the things he is unable to give her because of his atrocious childhood - a childhood filled with hurt and degradation that he will not share with anyone. She loves him deeply but is unwilling to give up her dreams of a family and knows that is exactly what will happen if she stays with him. Even though it breaks her heart she ends things immediately. I really liked that about her. She loved Grey, loved him deeply, but had the strength to let him go when she realized they both wanted very different things out of life.

Grey, who's never been without a date, let alone dumped by a lover, won't accept her giving him the old heave 'ho. He's handsome, sexy (and boy does he use it to his advantage <g>), and successful. He's quite a catch and has woman drooling all over him but he doesn't want them, doesn't even want to look at them. He misses Mariah terribly and can barely function without her. He's also honest and won't give her false promises that he's afraid he can't keep. He can't let her go either so he woos her and uses his stunning sensuality in an attempt to win her back.

I enjoyed the characters and this story a whole bunch. Grey is a lovable jerk. He's arrogant, he's real pushy and to say he's persistent is an understatement. But he's also honest, sweet and caring which is why I liked him right away despite his manly faults. Watching his heartfelt attempts to win back the heroine were a delight. It's always fun watching an overly confident man grovel. This is truly a relationship driven story, with strong characterization, that most definitely lives up to it's "Blaze" standards with it's steamy sexual tension.

Rating:
Summary: If He Won't Marry Her, She'll Raise the Baby on Her Own
Review: Mariah Stevens has been having a wonderful relationship with Grey Nichols for the last eight months and she's thinking it's about time for him to pop the question. So when his new house is just about finished and he says he has a something to ask her, she knows what it is. At least she thinks she does. However, Grey is stammering around like a little kid, trying to get the words out and making a mess of the whole situation, so Mariah jumps the gun and says, "Yes, Grey, I'll marry you."

And Grey is stunned, because marriage was the last thing on his mind. He was going to ask her to live with him, not marry him. Marriage and children are something he's never going to do. He didn't have the best childhood, because his mother had been married and divorced so many times he can't remember. Marriage ruins a relationship, puts the children through pure torture. At least this is what he believes. Marriage is definitely not in the cards for him.

So Mariah, though she loves him, breaks it off. Then she finds out she's pregnant. Telling Grey is something she swears she will never do. She decides to raise her baby on her own. However five months later Grey sees her in a restaurant and learns the truth. She tells him he need not worry, she won't make any demands and Grey walks away. But can he stay away?

This was an excellent story that held me throughout the book, though I have to say it wasn't the red hot read I've come to expect from the Blaze imprint. A lot of romantic suspense here, just not the usual romantic sizzle Blaze is known for in my opinion.

A Harlequin Dreamers Review by Vesta Irene

Rating:
Summary: Fast paced and sexy!
Review: This was a fun book. I think I read it through in one sitting. And what a unique set up. From page one on, this book was different -- and wonderful. Give it a try, you'll be very glad you did.