Customer Reviews

Heating Up The Holidays: All He Wants For Christmas...\My Grown-Up Christmas List\Up On The Housetop (Harlequin Blaze)

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"All He Wants for Christmas" by Jill Shalvis

Christina Lewis is one tough firefighter though EMT Dustin Mauer knows she also has a soft inside she doesn't let anyone see. The problem is that Dustin doesn't want to be just another notch on her bedpost, he wants the whole package. But, will Cristina realize what she has, if she is willing to let go of her fears?

In All He Wants for Christmas , we finally get Dustin and Christina together, sigh. I have been waiting for this one for months, and Ms. Shalvis does not disappoint. Again her characters have a lot more depth than many authors write.



"My Grown-Up Christmas List" by Jacquie D'Alessandro

Toni Rizzo is reinventing herself. She has opened her own floral shop and she no longer wants anything to do with firemen, sexy or not. But, Brad Griffin is stunned by his initial reaction to meeting Toni and wants to get to know her better. He is convinced he is just the man for her. But, can Toni let past issues go to laugh and love with sexy Brad?

My Grown-Up Christmas List brings to light a serious subject while having fun with romance and new relationships. I enjoyed the interactions between Brad and Toni and had fun reading how Brad just doesn't give up.



"Up on the Housetop" by Jamie Sobrato

Dr. Lorelei Gibson has never been able to forget or forgive Ryan for taking her heart the night he took her virginity. Now years later Ryan wants to make amends for his past, and is trying to do anything to get Dr. Lorelei to see that he has changed. Is she willing to try again?

As usual Ms. Sobrato writes a fast paced story filled with humor. I mean who else could envision a woman on the rooftop attaching her pajamas during a rainstorm, to be rescued by the sexy fireman of her past. I had fun reading and laughing Up on the Housetop.

Heating Up the Holidays has just what you need for a seasonal pick me up; hot men, firefighters, and romance. I enjoyed this anthology by the three well-known authors. I have to say I was intrigued how all three stories fit together, not just in theme. I think Heating Up the Holidays is one Blaze that you will find lives up to its name.


Tanya
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Three ho-ho-hot stories guaranteed to get you *fire*d up for the holidays.

All He Wants For Christmas -Jill Shalvis
Sequel to Flashpoint (Harlequin Blaze) and Flashback (Harlequin Blaze) is about the bespectacled EMT Dustin Mauer. The man firefighter Cristine Lewis spent one glorious night with and wants to repeat -but only on her terms as in casual relationship. But Dustin doesn't do friends-with-benefits and decides its time to turn the tables and pull out the big guns (or should I say gun? ROLF!) and force Cristina to come to terms to with the feelings the love-shy lady has for him.

***I couldn't wait to read this story since I reading about Dustin and Cristine in Flashback and it certainly doesn't disappoint. If you like a more laid back/quieter type hero who knows how to turn up the heat to get the woman they love then this one is for you!

My Grown-Up Christmas List by Jacquie D'Alessandro
Tony Rizzo doesn't date firefighters. Enough of them have caused her pain years before. And its another firefighter, Brad Griffin, thats causing her pain -of a different nature ;)- right now. The handsome stud just doesn't know when to give up. Its hard to concentrate with him around and soon Tony is breaking her own rules.

***I love Brad! He knew what he wanted and knew that deep down Tony was the woman for him (and vice versa). What woman doesn't love a gorgeous guy chasing after them? A nice old fashioned get-the-girl story thats smoking hot.

Up On A House Top -Jamie Sobrato
Dr. Lorelei Gibson returns to the town she grew up in and has a chance meeting with her first love, the man who broke her heart and made her feel like a fool. Since high school the ugly ducking has turned into a swan and now Lori feels its time for some revenge. Only hunky fire fighter Ryan Quinn is looking less and less like a use and toss guy and more and more like a keeper.

***Revenge is one of my favorite romance plot lines. Love how they never turn out quite like the person thought they would. This one doesn't disappoint in that category and is well worth the read, especially the *hot springs* scene. ;)

So If your in the mood for some steamy fire fighter romance this one is a good bet.
Others I have enjoyed from these authors include:
A Blazing Little Christmas: Holiday Inn Bed\His For The Holidays\Dear Santa... (Harlequin Blaze)
Jinxed!,(Harlequin Blaze, No. 303)
Sexy All Over (Harlequin Blaze)
Shadow Hawk (Harlequin Blaze)

All he Wants for Christmas by jill Shalvis

Watching Dustin fight to show Cristina that she is what he wants not only for Christmas but for all time is funny and sad at moments. To see the way Cristina uses Dustin because she is not willing to give up her hard control. I like the way with love and lust Dustin shows her that he can be everything she needs if she just acknowledge it.

My Grown-up Christmas List by Jacquie D'Alessandro

Toni has been hurt by a firefighter in the past so when Brad comes in trying to win her over she wants nothing to do with him. So Brad comes up with a devious plan to show her that even though she thinks this will be a one night stand this is for keeps. Now all he has to do is keep her coming back for more.

Up on the Housetop by Jamie Sobrato

Lorelie has wanted Ryan since high school but he never gave her a second look or so she thought. Ryan saw her and wanted to be with her but it was high school and he had a reputation to protect. However they are both out of school now and Ryan is determined to show her that being with him can fulfill all of her dreams. Lorelie is willing to be with Ryan for a time but doesn't believe that he will be there for more than one night.

It was great to read all of these stories and see the men be true heroes to these women by showing them the could rescue not only them but there hearts too. The fighting may occur but in the long run it is love that will make them last.

Fun read. Loved it. I may even read it again in the future. I rarely get rid of books....especially favorite reads.

Heating up the Holidays is an anthology by Harlequin Blaze with stories by Jill Shalvis, Jacquie D'Alessandro, and Jamie Sobrato. All three stories have a firefighter hero/heroine. Jill Shalvis's story, All He Wants For Christmas, is my favorite! It is about a firewoman, Christie and the hero, Dustin, an EMT. My husband's name is Dustin so I was like cool, but when she described the hero, I was like, that is my husband she is describing. Except he has never been an EMT. So at that point, I was really interested in this story, I just wish that it was a longer story. Christie is an independent, take no crap woman who Dustin loves. He just has to get her to come around to his way of thinking and he wants Christie for more than just a fling. Jill Shalvis never ceases to amaze me that she can write stories that flow so smoothly and keep me fixed to the page.
Jacquie D'Alessandro's story, My Grown-Up Christmas List, is an equally good story. It is about Brad, a firefighter, and Toni, a florist. Brad wants to date Toni, but she wants nothing to do with a firefighter. So he sets out trying to win over her. It is so sweet because he dresses up like other people (cowboy, accountant, etc.) to try to get her to go out with him. Finally, she agrees to just one date, but Brad won't settle for just one night. Great story! Great hero!
Jamie Sobrato's story, Up on the Housetop, was different and had an interesting plot. Lorelei, the heroine, is told by an African shaman? to go back to her first love and even things out by sleeping with him and walking away afterward (in not so many words). Lorelei gave Ryan, the hero firefighter, her virginity back in high school, and he had nothing to do with her after. So Lorelei goes back to her hometown and sets her plan in motion. Except can she walk away afterward or will she allow herself to experience what might be between them? This story is like Judy Blume meets Harlequin Blaze. I loved it! It was just way too short. My favorite scene involved the hero rescuing the heroine from her rooftop. Very cute story! 5 stars for Heating up the Holidays!

This is a strong Christmas Anthology from the Blaze line that appropriately enough features firemen ( and women) and those who love them. The best of the bunch is the first story by Jill Shalvis, featuring secondary characters from an earlier series of hers. It is a testament to the strength of her writing that not only is this the sweetest & hottest tale but that it piqued my interest enough to seek out the earlier stories. Here's to hoping that Shalvis keeps her series going longer...

All He Wants For Christmas by Jill Shalvis. Ocean Harbor Beach, California Emergency Medical technician Dustin Mauer and town firefighter Cristina Lewis share similar wishes for the holidays as both wants the other. However he needs more than a one night stand or even the twelve nights of Christmas while the brave woman would dare building infernos but not one of the heart as she runs from commitments.

My Grown-Up Christmas List by Jacquie D'Alessandro. Florist Toni Rizzo wants nothing to do with egotistical firefighters except to sell them flowers. However, Ocean harbor fireman Brad Griffin wants her not her floral arrangements.

Up On The Housetop by Jamie Sobrato. Dr. Lorelei Gibson returns home to Ocean harbor in order to move on as she never forgot her high school sweetheart who broke her heart when he dumped her. Her plan is to break his heart like firefighter Ryan Quinn did hers. However, she never expected him to rescue her from her rooftop when she was almost naked. She wonders if lighting can strike in the same place.

These are three heated delightful Yuletide romances starring firefighters and their soulmates.

Harriet Klausner