Way back at the beginning of 2008, Sybil had a great idea. Each month we would focus on a different Harlequin/Silhouette imprint, featuring authors, titles and reviews for that particular line. As a category fan, I was definitely on board. Our inaugural spotlight was to be Harlequin Blaze, back in February. But due to the various issues we had with the server move and template change, it never quite got off the ground. So for the hottest month of the year, we are going to focus on Harlequin’s hottest category line, Blaze. Back in February, I wrote a little something about my experience with reading Blazes, and it went a little something like this…
I’ve enjoyed reading Harlequins and Silhouettes for years now. My mom was an avid reader of Harlequin Temptations and Silhouette Desires and Special Editions. Once or twice a month, we’d hit the used bookstore, where she’d drop off an armload, and pick up another armload.
Eventually, I started reading them too, sneaking them off to my bedroom, and shoving them under the covers if anyone walked in. I was sure I’d get into trouble because of The Sex. We were not an open family when it came to talking about teh sex. And there was sex, and great romances and interesting characters. Some of the categories I read then are more vivid to me now than the Johanna Lindseys and Jude Devereauxs (?) I was also reading.
So when I was experiencing paranormal burn-out, I turned to good old Harlequin, hoping for some straight-up romance focused on two humans and their struggle to fall in love. While perusing the Harlequin site, I found myself intrigued by the Blaze line. I like some sex in my books, and they were focused on twenty somethings, which I was.
My experience with Blazes have been up and down. Sometimes they are saddled with the most absurd premises (the sex-themed hotel, love potions, having sex for the purpose of making someone stupid). They also get some lame taglines. I once read a book despite the fact that it was part of a miniseries called “The Sexth Sense” (get it?). It turned out to be pretty good. The need to have a certain amount of sex can lead to an unconvincing love story, where the only connection seems to be the sex.
On the other hand, they seem more “contemporary” to me. The heroine and hero are people you can relate to, unlike the odd fantasy world of some of the other lines wherein a heroine may be twenty-six, but she dresses and behaves like my mother. They have apartments, work hard for the money, have real jobs. They don’t waft around being boorish billionaires or timid misses (and Mistresses). Not that those kind of stories don’t have their charms, but often I prefer a story where the characters seem real, even if the situation isn’t.
When they are good, Blazes are lively, hot reads with entertaining heroes and heroines, and an appealing romance. They’ve got some great authors like Sarah Mayberry, Julie Leto, Jo Leigh and Kelley St. John. Just the thing when you’re looking for a relaxing way to spend a couple of hours.
What about you? Have a favorite Blaze title or author? What do you like most about this category line?
Nancy Warren’s By the Book and Vicki Lewis Thompson’s Notorious and After Hours!
I have to agree with Alicia – when I read Vicki Lewis Thompson’s Notorious – I KNEW those were the books I wanted to read and write!
i love balzes, i read them only mostlty. Love vicki ;s book was hoooked. they were going to make a movie out of that book, i hope it is still in teh works. Love all the authors. i love lesile she i s my auto bye for blazes. they are graet books and so hot.
love afternoon delight by mia zachary, one of the great blaze, eveveryone should get that. All of the leslies’ blazes are so damn good. she can write hot books.
Julie Miller’s military men! HAWT!!
I enjoy re-reads of Vicki Lewis Thompson and Janelle Denison. These days I look out for Leslie Kelly and next month the first one by Jordan Summers!
Ok, this is going to be a totally inappropriate comment, but ermmm “Devon Does Dallas”? My mind is in the gutter … it sounds a wee bit like Debbie Does Dallas *snort*. No insult intended, but it was, honestly, the first thought that came to mind. Now where leaves that yours truly? NOOO I don’t watch those films with any regularity , actually I recently snapped it up from Teddy’s blog (IIRC) LOL.
As to Harlequin Blazes. I don’t read them for pleasure anymore (same goes with Silhouette Desires) but that’s because I read about ten of those thingies a month to do some editorial reviews on them. Meaning I want something else in my spare reading time. But nevertheless, I came upon some very very good romances last year. Consulting my fabulous spreadsheet from 2007 (designed by Excel goddess Rosario), I discovered the following great titles: Stroke of Midnight by Hope Tarr, Hard and Fast by Lisa Renee Jones, Her Book of Pleasure by Marie Donovan, Doing it Better by Dawn Atkins (now is that another gutter title or what?) and Tawny Weber’s Double Dare.
love hope;s blaze and she will be out with a histocal blaze in the summer, so a first. they exploring other genres too.
When they started with the line I was all for it, but very soon I got bored with the sex premises. I went back to reading them this year and I’m hooked again.
My favorite Blaze authors right now are Sarah Mayberry and Cara Summers. But with so many Blaze titles on my tbr shelves I’m sure to find many more favorite authors.
I just finished Hope Tarr’s Bound to Please…the first in the Historical Blaze line…it was pretty yummy!
Like many others, one of my favorite Blaze authors is Sarah Mayberry. And Nancy Warren. I really liked Lori Borrill’s newest, Janelle Denison, and Rhonda Nelson – off the top of my head those are Blaze authors I like.
i love it,, love many authors, alison, jill, leslie is my favoirte. hers are hot and differnt.