I don't read catagory romances much, but this one will always be a favorite of mine. The characters, the plot, the romance, it's all top notch. Nothing is gratitous. It's all very realistic. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Plot Summary: Mary Jane Potter, who lives in Austin, is acting as a surrogate mother for her best friend Arielle and Arielle's husband Morgan. Arielle was Mary Jane's nanny, basically raising her when Mary Jane's father distanced himself after the death of his wife, so Mary Jane feels she owes Arielle a lot. One horrible day, Morgan arrives with the news that Arielle is now dead, and as they deal with their grief over her death, and struggle with who Arielle was to both of them, they also begin to fall in love.

"Her Best Friend's Baby" is part of the Maitland Maternity series by Harlequin. I can't speak on how it fits into the remainder of the series, because I haven't read them.

This is a really well-written, well-developed offering by Thompson. The characters are believable and become very real, and the development of the romantic relationship between the two characters is sensitively handled.

In a situation such as this, it would be easy for the development of the romance to feel like a violation of Arielle's memory. But Thompson does a good job of developing both the character's feelings towards one another and their eventual acceptance of their grief. As both of them come to terms with the reality of their relationships with Arielle, they also come to understand how much they can give to one another.

Because this book comes out in a more mainstream line, Thompson doesn't include any of the imaginative erotic scenes that are part of her Blaze/Temptation books. However, she still handles the love scenes with a deft and sensitive touch, making them both erotic and believable.

An incredibly sensitive and well-developed offering from Thompson.

"Going All the Way" by Carly Phillips. In Chicago, Regan no longer needs the services of Divine Events since her fiancé dumped her. As the best man at his friend's wedding, Sam is in town for the nuptials. He and Regan meet at Divine Events and both feel instant desire. They share a fantasy weekend, but also fall in love. Will they recognize their feelings in time to join the mile high club as a recurring duet?

"Illicit Dreams" by Vickie Lewis Thompson. Once again her apartment neighbor Hunter awakens her with his marathon sexual performance that leaves Lindsay desiring the same from him, but is six cups to small to compete with "Silicon Sally". When Hunter makes love to Pamela, but dreams of Lindsay he knows he needs to make Lindsay his forever, but she thinks his girlfriend dumped him and refuses to be a rebound romance.

"His Every Fantasy" by Janelle Denison. Since her boyfriend seems immune to her attempts to arouse him, Leah turns to her brother's best friend Jace for sexual mentoring. Once Jace recovers from the brazen offer, he refuses for fear of destroying friendships until Leah threatens to find some other stud. Jace has loved Leah from afar for years; she reciprocates. So once in bed together, there is no turning back.

These three "Sexcapades" tales are all hot, exciting and fun. The key is that in each case the lead couples are likable in and out of the sheets. The only drawback to this anthology is that it is too hot for July beach reading so to avoid embarrassment stick to the AC (active companion).

Harriet Klausner

Vicky Lewis Thompson keeps you glued to the pages. Unable to put the book down. The scenes awaken a passion in the reader that is scandalously hot. I felt I was right there with the characters all of the time, rooting for them to come together(permanently). Tortureously sizzling hot read. Excellent.

Jack & Krysta are childhood friends who both work for Rainier Paper. She's in the contracts department; he's in shipping. She likes lecturing him on how to improve himself; he likes writing, period. When Jack unexpectedly won in the Valentine Romance Contest by an unpublished author, he panicked! Fearful that his chance of being published would disappear if it was known that a *guy* wrote it (& of what the other guys in shipping would say if they every found out he was writing *romances*), he asks Krysta to masquerade as Ms. Valentine. When Krysta reads Jack's *steamy* novel, she begins to wonder if he's a good a lover for real as he is on paper. Touchingly tender & funny.

A well-respected more mature work than his famous dramatized novel about Judah ben Hur and Christ, which was written following its success after Lew was Minister to Turkey. However, it also deserves your attention and the motion-picture screenplay adaptation is available (ISBN 1-895507-82-0 ...).

Excellent story. I couldn't put the book down. I loved all the cowboys being involved and Stoney learning to love. I will probably read it again before giving to someone else to read. Please write more along the same lines. Thank you for the enjoyment.

Favorite scene with Trudy-
Telling Linc's parents off.

Favorite scene with Linc-
Visiting Trudy's family.

Together-
Breaking up.

The trick to any Harlequin line is balancing the "theme" of the series (in this case, sensuality) with real relationship growth and well-developed characters. Vicki Lewis Thompson manages to do this quite well in "Acting On Impulse."

The main characters are both well-developed, and the relationship between them is given time to evolve. While Trudy's desire to "experience" may be a little artificial, it's the all-important plot point that pulls in Linc, which makes it a bit more forgivable.

In addition, this book is steamy and hot and very very imaginative. The fantasies that Linc and Trudy act out are wonderful and sensual. In addition, Trudy's travails -- the problems she encounters trying to act out those fantasies -- make them a bit more believable and far more human.

Thompson once again proves why she is at the top of heap of believable, character-driven erotic romance writers. Enjoy!

The only way single folks see any action in Virtue, Kansas is from their backseats in little country lanes. With no hotels, no motels, and no privacy, the small town is simply unconducive to a satisfying love life. So best friends Meg and Trudy made their plans for escape, destination: New York. But her mother had another baby to add to her brood, making the total seven, and delaying Trudy's departure by three and a half years. When she finally makes it to the big city, best friend Meg is already married and pregnant, leaving Trudy to troll for sexy men to expand her sexual repertoire on her own. Of course, that means a bit of matchmaking is in store.

When she purchases a huge four-poster bed, Trudy's friends pitch in to help put it together. Meg and her husband bring along his best friend, sexy Wall Street man Linc Faulkner. Linc has agreed to escort Trudy around the city for a couple of weeks to point out hotspots and places to avoid. He expects a hayseed without attraction. Instead, Trudy's impetuousness, enthusiasm, and spontaneity take him by storm. The bed proves to be too big to set up in her tiny bedroom; she asks that they set it up in the living room instead. That, combined with an accidental discovery of a box full of sex books, proves to be Linc's undoing. No matter how hard to tries, him imagination can't let go of that satin covered haven.

Both Trudy and Linc have sworn off marriage. They are young, single, and wildly attracted to one another. So Trudy decides to use Linc to begin her adventurous discoveries of New York's finest men. A bit of role playing, a lot of seduction, and they are both ecstatic. To preserve the mystery, she never allows Linc to stick around long enough for a cuddle: no sleeping over, no emotional entanglements. It seems like the perfect relationship. That is, until Linc suddenly starts dreaming of white lace and wedding bells, while Trudy is still thinking back streets and forbidden fantasies.

ACTING ON IMPULSE by Vicki Lewis Thompson absolutely blazes! With a heated story line, daring fantasies, and marvelous characterizations, ACTING ON IMPULSE will fulfill the most demanding reader's appetite for adventuresome liaisons. The characters are not only wonderfully developed, but reveal well-thought out motivation. Linc's shift from playboy to dreams of marriage is charming and convincing, while Trudy's reticence is understandable. The very sexy secondary plot likewise sparkles with a very pregnant, happily matchmaking best friend. A sensual delight, ACTING ON IMPULSE comes very highly recommended.

This enchanting read is about the relationship of two best friends. Tess Blakely, a 26 year old virgin needed her best friend's help, Jeremiah 'Mac' MacDougal to find a sex partner for her. The assignment? Lost virginity. The reason? She was preparing her NY moves, and she was embrassed if anybody know her virgin status. Mac suggested himself as he vowed to keep this assignment to secrecy (after all, he was her best friend). The last thing that both of them expected from this arrangement is simply falling in love with each other. Fast paced and quick witted, not to forget, funny, this is an engaging story with lots of steamy scene. Tess' four very big brothers were simply adorable even though they are over protective about her. Who would have thought that Tess would be falling hard for her own best friend? After all, Mac was her best friend and was considered as an honorary Blakely, like a fifth brother inside the family. A wonderful contemporary short romance, this will surely delights readers. The book will surely touch a woman's soft spot about her own's vunerability.

Overall this is a good book. I'd give it 5 stars for the love scenes, however the amount of verbage lowers the book rating.

Vicki Lewis Thompson has a way with words that outshines many, many other authors. Her first Blaze is one of the best! Hot, funny, hot, intelligent...did I say hot? A fresh concept, a playful tone...a great book. DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!

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!

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

Harlequin's new series debuts with MIDNIGHT FANTASIES, a collection of three novellas designed to whet the reader's imagination. Smoothly written, well-developed plots provide a solid basis for these sensual romances. "Mystery Lover" by Vicki Lewis Thompson: A sudden storm allows B.J. to take advantage of the dark to seduce the lover of her fantasies. One of the most daring fantasies, anonymous sex, releases her inhibitions when she becomes the temptress. Blindfolds, whipped cream and leather chaps all combine in mind-blowing sex between B.J. and Noah. But the question remains if she can maintain her anonymity or if Noah will realize that she's his life long friend. Wildly sexy! "After Hours" by Stephanie Bond: Harry, the anatomically correct blowup doll arrives promising Rebecca Valentine true love. She's the proprietor of Any Time Costumes where she indulges her fantasies after hours when she dresses in her own sultry creations. When the man of her fantasies unexpectedly catches her dressed as a vampire complete with black garters, the object of her desire can't help his own newborn fantasies. A perfect mix of tenderness and erotic enthusiasm. "Show and Tell" by Kimberly Raye: A naughty lingerie party inspires the very staid Lney Merriweather to write her fantasy on a slip of paper, which the object of her fantasy Dallas Jericho later finds. Encouraged by the words, Dallas begins his pursuit of his fantasy woman. The town's bad boy, Dallas must overcome his legacy to convince Judge Merriweather's prim daughter that he's the man to indulge her every fantasy. Heated and sensual. For those seeking a touch of the risqué, this new series with satisfy even the most discerning reader with bold, sensual romance. This new series allows women to luxuriate in their sexuality with sexy, sensual reads that indulge the wildest fantasies with a strong storyline and a beautiful romantic backdrop. Irresistible for the modern woman, this collection comes very highly recommended and promises great things for this new series.