Tag Archives: valentines day

valentine day ball

Covers of the Week #90: Valentine’s Day Regency

Check Sweet Savage Flame’s picks of these lovely Regency romance covers for Valentine’s Day!

Valentine's Day Regency

The Theme: Valentine’s Day Regency Romances

Love is always in the air around Sweet Savage Flame. This week is significant as it is Valentine’s Day in just a few days!

One romantic genre sure to make your heart flutter is Regency romance.

So, to make things even better, we’ve picked a selection of amazing Regency romance covers to share with you! They are seductive, sweet, and so inviting that you might want to pick these books up and take a gander at the sweetness that is hidden inside the covers.

The Covers

For the week of Monday, February 13, 2023, to Sunday, February 19, 2023, our Covers of the Week theme features Regency romance covers for Valentine’s Day!

The Covers (from Left to Right, Top to Bottom)

  • The Valentine’s Day Ball, Susan Carroll, Fawcett-Crest, 1993
  • Cupid and the Vicar, Judith Stafford, Harlequin, 1991
  • Captain Cupid Calls the Shots, Elizabeth Fairchild, Signet, 2000
  • A Valentine’s Day Delight, Karla Hocker, et al., Zebra, 1994

Your Opinion

What do you think of this week’s theme of Regency romance covers for Valentine’s Day?

Do any of the covers stand out to you as a favorite? Have a recommendation for a future Covers of the Week theme? Let us know, and we’ll try it out.

As always, please drop a comment, and let’s talk romance.

history of valentine's day

Valentine’s Day Is Here Again, So Let’s Have Some Fun

history of valentine's day

Valentine’s Day: A Tale of Love, Laughter, and Maybe a Little Bit of Madness

Ah, Valentine’s Day–a day dedicated to showering our loved ones with affection and appreciation. February 14th is when couples express their love for one another through acts of kindness, gifts, and special moments shared.

But have you ever wondered where this love-filled holiday came from? Well, buckle up, folks, because it’s time for a hilarious journey through the history of Valentine’s Day, which dates back to ancient times.

love on the seashore
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Origins of Valentine’s Day: When Love and Fertility Collided

In ancient Rome, there was a festival called Lupercalia, which was held in mid-February to celebrate the Roman God of fertility, Lupercus. The festival was a wild and crazy time for couples to exchange gifts.

In addition, young men drew women’s names from a box to be paired up for a few weeks. Yup, you read that right. This practice became known as a matchmaking tradition that was just one step away from the modern-day version of “The Bachelor.”

But wait, it gets even better! As the Roman Empire declined and Christianity spread throughout, Pope Gelasius declared February 14th as Saint Valentine’s Day in 496 AD.

Saint Valentine was a Catholic priest who lived in Rome during the third century. According to legend, he performed secret marriages during a time when the Roman Empire banned marriages.

Saint Valentine was later executed for his actions and became known as the patron saint of love and affection. Talk about going above and beyond for love!

Over time, the celebration of Saint Valentine’s Day became more popular and spread throughout Europe. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the tradition of exchanging love letters became popular and eventually gave rise to the practice of sending Valentine’s Day cards.

By the early 15th century, Valentine’s Day had become a recognized holiday and was celebrated in various ways throughout Europe.

Celebrating Valentine’s Day Worldwide: Love knows no boundaries

Today, Valentine’s Day is celebrated all around the world, with each country putting its own unique twist on the holiday.

In the United States, it is a time for couples to express their love and affection through gifts such as chocolates, flowers, and jewelry. Couples may also spend the day together, enjoying a romantic meal or participating in special activities.

Single people celebrate it, too, in a variety of creative ways. Friends come together either and celebrate “Anti-Valentines Day” with horror movie marathons, at-home spa events, or solo dance-offs.

Japan and South Korea celebrate Valentine’s Day as a time for women to express their love. They show appreciation to the men in their lives through gifts and acts of kindness. It is also common for women to give gifts to their female friends to show their gratitude for their friendship.

In some countries, such as Italy, Valentine’s Day is a time for couples to renew their love and commitment to one another. It is traditional for couples to exchange gifts and exchange love letters. In many cities, there are special events and festivals that are held in honor of Saint Valentine.

No matter where you are in the world, Valentine’s Day is a time to show those special people in your life just how much they mean to you. And what better way to do that than with a bouquet of flowers, a box of chocolates, and a love letter written in crayon?

funny valentine's day
Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com

Love is a Many-Splendored Thing

Valentine’s Day has a rich history that dates back to ancient times. It’s been a wild and crazy ride, from the days of Roman fertility gods to its recognition as a holiday honoring Saint Valentine, to the sweet and sentimental day we currently know and love as a cherished tradition.

Whether you’re spending the day with your significant other or celebrating with friends and family, Valentine’s Day is a time to let your loved ones know just how much they mean to you.

And remember, love may be a many splendored thing, but laughter is the best medicine. So have a little fun and make this Valentine’s Day one for the books!

love and laughter
Photo by J carter on Pexels.com

Funny Love Quotes

“I love being married. It’s so great to find one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.” —Rita Rudner 

“If you love them in the morning with their eyes full of crust, if you love them at night with their hair full of rollers, chances are, you’re in love.” —Miles Davis

“Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight.” —Phyllis Diller

“By all means, marry; If you get a good wife, you’ll be happy. If you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher.” —Socrates

“Valentine’s Day is when a lot of married men are reminded what a poor shot Cupid really is.” —Anonymous

“Love is a lot like a backache, it doesn’t show up on x-rays, but you know it’s there.” — George Burns

“The heart has its reasons, of which reason knows nothing.” —Blaise Pascal 

“Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell.” – Joan Crawford

“Love is being stupid together.” —Paul Valery

“It wasn’t love at first sight. It took a full five minutes.” —Lucille Ball

“Love is a two-way street constantly under construction.” —Carroll Bryant

“Love is something sent from heaven to worry the hell out of you.” —Dolly Parton

“You know how people say, ‘You can’t live without love’? Well, oxygen is even more important.” — Dr. Gregory Houser

“If I love you, what business is it of yours?” —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“I like to say there are certain things you can’t take back: One of them is ‘I love you,’ and one of them is bullets.” —Nathan Fillion

“Save a boyfriend for a rainy day—and another, in case it doesn’t rain.” —Mae West

“I love you no matter what you do, but do you have to do so much of it?” —Jean Illsley Clarke

“Love is like an hourglass, with the heart filling up as the brain empties.” —Jules Renard

valentine's day ideas

24 Super Sweet Valentine’s Day Ideas for Couples & Friends to Enjoy

Whether you’re single or in a relationship, Valentine’s Day can be a fun day (or night). Here are 12 ways couples and 12 ways friends can appreciate this day dedicated to love together.

valentine's day activities

12 Romantic Valentines Day Ideas for Celebrating This Year

Celebrating Valentine’s Day with your partner is special, no matter what activities you engage in. But if you’re looking for something unique or are stumped for ideas, we’ve got a dozen off the tops of our heads that might thrill you!

  1. Taste finger foods or desserts together.
  2. Write love letters to each other and exchange them over a candlelit dinner.
  3. Make a surprise scavenger hunt for your partner, with clues leading to a special gift or sexy surprise.
  4. Plan a surprise weekend getaway to a romantic location, such as a cozy cabin in the mountains or a beachfront resort.
  5. Go on a hot air balloon ride.
  6. Take a dance class together and learn a new style of dance.
  7. Have a movie night at home and watch sexy films together. We recommend Secretary starring James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
  8. Cook a romantic dinner together at home, with candlelight and soft music.
  9. Read your favorite romantic passages from romance novels to each other. See who can last the longest: who gets turned on first… or who laughs first!
  10. Have an erotic game night at home with your favorite board games or card games, only the loser of each round strips off a piece of their clothing!
  11. Plan a surprise picnic in a picturesque location or indoors. Make clothing optional.
  12. Recreate your first date. If you can’t make it to the same destination, recreate it at home with what ever’s handy!
valentine's day activities for friends
Photo by Helena Lopes on Pexels.com

12 Activities for Friends to Enjoy on Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to get together with friends and celebrate the day of love. Here are 12 fun activities that you and a friend can do together to make the holiday special.

  1. Get ready for a movie marathon featuring romantic comedies or romantic films.
  2. Put your cooking skills to the test and whip up something special together.
  3. Take a day trip taking pictures of your hometown’s or nearby cities’ tourist attractions.
  4. Pamper yourself and your bestie with an at-home spa day that includes pedicures, manicures, and facials.
  5. Dine out at a fancy restaurant. You’re guaranteed a great night out with your BFF as your date.
  6. Throw a crafting party and make some DIY gifts together, such as a scrapbook or photo album, to remember your special moments together.
  7. Enjoy a game night with friends, whether tabletop games, RPGs, or video games!
  8. Spend some quality time volunteering together in the community.
  9. Learn a new hobby like dancing or cooking together.
  10. Explore nature on a hike surrounded by tranquil scenery.
  11. Go out for a night of dancing or karaoke. Be silly, go wild and have fun!
  12. Sample different wines or cocktails for a memorable tasting experience!

Your Opinion

How will you be spending this Valentine’s Day? Will your date be with your romantic partner or your best friend? Or will you be relaxing with yourself? Or is Valentine’s Day just another day on the calendar for you?

Please drop a comment, and let’s talk romance!

Stolen Dreams Duillo

Covers of the Week #45

Colors: Red and Pink Romance Book Covers

Did you think we would let Valentine’s Day go by without one last send-off? Are you kidding? We want more Valentine’s romance book covers!

Last week we focused on cover art for romance novels set around February 14. Today, we stay close to the Valentine’s Day theme with pink and red covers!

Strangely, we had a bit of trouble finding some that were mainly all red (we do have a few on deck for upcoming editions of Covers of the Week). There was a wide variety of pinks to choose from, but many were pink-and-teal or pink-and-purple, or pink-and-orange (oh, you folks at Zebra, how we love you!)

The old-school covers loved mixing up shades in a kaleidoscope of variations.

If we were doing modern covers, this would have been an easier task. Do you notice that many covers now highlight one hue, not a rainbow of colors? Usually, it’s the heroine’s dress or the bedsheets the couples are tangled up in.

The Covers

We’re looking at red and pink romance covers for the week of Monday, February 14, 2022, to Sunday, February 20, 2022. We hope you’ve had a nice weekend and wish you love in all its forms!

romances about valentines day

Valentine’s Day Romance Novels To Read

romances about valentines day

Valentine’s Day Romances Are Here

St. Valentine’s Day is three days from now, so we’re a little behind the curveball. The following old-school romances revolve around this special day. You might not have a chance to read these in time for the holiday of lovers, but when it comes to romance, we’re always celebrating it here. Every day is Valentine’s Day!

We don’t need a solitary date on the calendar to devote ourselves to love. We’re doing it here all year long!

Nevertheless, these old-school romances set around Valentine’s Day should be noted and may be given a closer look. Links to Amazon are provided in the synopses and images.

Single Issue Valentine’s Day Romances Books

One More Valentine, American Romance

Anne Stuart loves to write holiday-themed romances. We reviewed her Christmas-based Falling Angel. Here she writes another category romance where a hero gets a second chance at love–and life–in One More Valentine (Harlequin American Romance, No. 473). This one is available on Kindle for $2.99 at Amazon, so you can still enjoy it in time for February 14.

one-more-valentine
One More Valentine, Anne Stuart, Harlequin, 1993, cover artist unknown

When James Sheridan Rafferty died in the famed Saint Valentine’s Day massacre, he’d no idea that Cupid’s wicked angels would give him a second-chance … in 1993. All he had to do was fall madly in love within forty-eight hours.

But could a real Chicago gangster with a chip on his shoulder – and a down-and-dirty twenties style even Bogart would envy – fall truly in love? It hardly helped that the day of hearts and flowers fell on Friday the 13th.

Helen Emerson complicated matters, since the good-hearted gangster didn’t have time to save damsels in distress. No doubt Helen would make a fabulous lover, but she was no gun moll. Still, with time running out, she was Rafferty’s only hope.

ONE MORE VALENTINE

Temptation

Another great Valentine’s Day romance book is Harlequin Temptation #240 Be Mine, Valentine. Vicki Lewis Thompson introduced the lovable Charlie Hartmann, aka Cupid himself, in this precursor to her book Forever Mine, Valentine:

be mine valentine thompson
Be Mine, Valentine, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Harlequin, 1989, Micahel Herring cover art

There was nothing predictable about her love life. If it hadn’t been for a freak snowstorm, Roxie Lowell wouldn’t have felt compelled to take eccentric Charlie Hartman under her wing-only to become the object of his matchmaking zeal. He claimed he was St.Valentine himself, and that the man she met on St.Valentine’s Day would be her husband within a year. Of course, she didn’t believe her encounter with rugged contractor Hank Craddock had anything to do with Charlie. How could their overwhelming passion have been engineered by an outside force? 

BE MINE, VALENTINE

We reviewed its sequel, Forever Mine, Valentine, and gave it a favorable 4.5-star rating.

forever mine valentine crouse
Forever Mine, Valentine, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Harlequin, 1990, Daniel Crouse cover art

Hartman strikes again!

Old Charlie Hartman was out of his mind! To insist that Spence Jegger would marry the first woman he saw on Valentine’s Day was pure madness, given Spence’s opinion of marriage. And an aging vagabond playing St. Valentine was a bit much for even a friend like Spence to accept. Until Charlie pointed out Spence’s “intended,” Jill Amory.

All Jill wanted, however, was to finish painting Valentine messages on the windows of Jegger Outfitters and be on her way. She had a deadline to meet…on the other side of the country. Now all of a sudden two crazy men – one of them the tempting Mr. Jegger himself – seemed determined to influence her schedule…and her heart.

FOREVER MINE, VALENTINE

Valentine’s Day Anthologies

Regencies

Anthologies are always popular for Valentine’s Day romances, as a sweet, short love story is the romantic equivalent of eating a single piece of chocolate from your heart-shaped box of chocolates.

Ooh, was that one a coconut? Please give us more. Nougat? We’ll nibble on it, but we’re not huge fans. Now that orange-creme-filled one is more up our alley. Any more with nuts? Even if you only have chocolate mousse, you’ll still consume them all, just like you would the stories featured in these collections.

A Regency Valentine:

a regency valentine
A Regency Valentine, Mary Balogh; Emma Lance; Joan Wolf; Patricia Rice; Katherine Kingsley, Signet, 1991, cover artist Allan Kass

The unique joys and passions that surround St. Valentine’s Day are captured in an extraordinary collection of all-new stories by five of the most beloved and highly acclaimed Regency authors. – Fair ladies… courtly gentlemen… romantic intrigue… here are the timeless tales of sweethearts young and old — richly drawn stories of innocence and surrender, of infatuation, yearning, and of tender devotion. An exquisitely beautiful collection to be savored, shared, and treasured, [this anthology] lets you enjoys the magical spirit of Valentine’s Day all year round.

A Regency Valentine

This is the sequel, A Regency Valentine II:

a regency valentine 2
A Regency Valentine II, Mary Balogh, Sandra Heath; Carla Kelly; Edith Layton; Carol Proctor, Signet, 1992, Allan Kass cover artist

Five of the most beloved and highly-acclaimed Regency authors present this collection of delightful tales that captures all the romance and intrigue of the most passionate of holidays–St. Valentine’s Day. This anthology of spirited ladies, dashing gentlemen, notorious rakes, and scandalous lovers will be savored all year long.

A Regency ValentinE II

(Different Book, Same Title) A Regency Valentine:

a regency valentine
A Regency Valentine, Kitty Grey; Carola Dunn, Ellen Fitzgerald; Jo Beverly, Sheila Simonson, Fawcett, 1991, cover artist unknown

When the widowed Mrs. Trent invited four young ladies to stay with her, she did not know Cupid would be one of the guests. But what else can one expect when one lives in the village of Valentine Parva?

Among Mrs. Trent’s guests are Juno, whose strong principles and bluestocking ways seem too great a challenge for any man. But she had a romantic heart – and love finds a way.

Shy Philo, pretty and clever, but overshadowed by her charming and handsome older sister. It is Philo who first catches a gentleman’s eye, when she meets the mysterious young man whom village rumour calls a wizard.

Aquila, a seemingly cold and haughty beauty, fears that scandal in her family’s past will keep her from the man she loves. But that dashing gentleman has other ideas.

And pretty Katherine grew up without love and affection. Her well-meaning mistakes may cost her the man she loves.

Mrs. Trent would have her hands full sorting out lovers’ tangles – if she herself were not distracted by the arrival of a man she knew long ago who has returned just in time for St. Valentine’s Day. 

A REGENCY VALENTINE

A Valentine’s Day Treasure:

valentine's day treasure
A Valentine’s Day Treasure, Janis Laden, Georgina Devon; Violet Hamilton; Valerie King; Irene Loyd Black; Teresa Des Jardien, Zebra, 1995, cover artist unknown

The Gilded Cage by Janis Laden

Escorted to her aunt’s home in Yorkshire by the arrogant Viscount Weddington, Alexandra Ruttledge was dismayed when a winter storm kept the Viscount from leaving. But would the Valentine’s Day festivities bring a warming of her heart?

A Ring for Remembrance by Georgina Devon

A failed elopement and a lost memory have kept Carolly Stanhope-Jones and Alexander Staunton apart for seven years. But this year’s ball on Valentine’s Day might bring back a lost, though not forgotten, love.

The Bay Leaf Legend by Violet Hamilton

Annabel Maitland laughed at the legend which said that the first eligible gentleman to cross the threshold on Valentine’s Day would be her husband. Until Charles Fitzherbert stepped through the door…

A Play of Hearts by Valerie King

Acting out Romeo and Juliet on Valentine’s Day seemed just the thing to avert a dreaded elopement, but Miss Beth Ferrers hadn’t counted on the arrival of Lord Brenton and his reaction to the play… and her!

Tattered Valentine by Irene Loyd Black

Lady Lucinda Ellsworth had kept the Valentine given to her by a childhood sweetheart for the last 14 years. Now she was to see him again-at a Valentine’s Day Ball that could make all her dreams come true.

A Valentine Bride by Teresa DesJardien

Lady Christine Jordan had not hoped for much when she answered an advertisement for the position of wife to Baron Whittam. Could a Valentine’s Day ceremony bring true love to this mismatched couple?

A Valentine’s Day Treasure

A Valentine Embrace: Three Tales of Regency Love:

a valentine's day embrace
A Valentine Embrace: Three Tales of Regency Love (Valentine Chase/Lover’s Vows/Music of the Heart), Valerie King; Meg-Lyn Roberts; Olvia Sumner; Zebra, 1995, cover artist unknown

Three charming tales of holiday romance in Regency England include “Valentine Chase” by Valerie King, Meg-lynn Roberts’s “Lovers’ Vows,” and “Music of the Heart” by Olivia Sumner.

A Valentine Embrace: Three Tales of Regency Love

Young Adult

Be Mine is a rare Young Adult anthology released by Avon featuring four tales of Valentine’s Day romances:

be mine
Be Mine: A Romantic Quartet of Special Valentines to Capture Your Heart, Cameron Dokey; Kathryn Jensen; Jean Theisman; Shaone Dennis Wyeth, Avon, 1997

From secret valentines to long distance romances, from Romeo and Juliet to a best friend’s silent adoration, four established talents in YA fiction–Cameron Dokey, Kathryn Jensen, Jean Thesman, and Sharon Dennis Wyeth–contribute to this heartfelt anthology the wondrous joys and bittersweet sorrows of true love and first love.

Be Mine:A Romantic Quartet of Special Valentines to Capture Your Heart

What Valentine’s Day Romances Have You Read?

The above is a small sampling of the various books set around Valentine’s Day. What kind of romances do you think best suit this holiday? I like the light-hearted, humorous kinds because for me, angsty themes are better suited for Christmas or even Halloween romances. So it doesn’t surprise me to see many Regencies focusing on the 14th of February. What say you?

Please, drop a comment, and let’s talk romance!

a regency valentine 2

Covers of the Week #44

Theme: Valentine’s Day

We can’t believe we’re just days away from Valentine’s Day. What a week it’s been!

This is a time to celebrate love. Not everyone has someone to share the day with, however. So now that we’re back, why not share it with us? 😉

We’ve picked some romance novels with covers that focus on couples getting together for Valentine’s Day, February 14.

The Covers

From Monday, February 7, 2022, to Sunday, February 13, 2022, let’s fall in love…with some Valentine’s Day-themed covers!

Valentine’s Day Covers in Clockwise Order

A Valentine’s Day Treasure, Anthology, Zebra, 1992, cover artist unknown
Be Mine, Valentine, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Harlequin, 1989, cover artist unknown
The Valentine’s Day Ball, Donna Bell, Zebra, 1991, cover artist unknown
A Regency Valentine II, Anthology, Signet, 1992, Allan Kass cover artist

forever mine valentine crouse

Category Romance Review: Forever Mine, Valentine by Vicki Lewis Thompson

category romance
Forever Mine, Valentine by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Rating: four-half-stars
Published: February 1990
Illustrator: Daniel Crouse
Imprint or Line: Harlequin Temptation #288
Book Series: Mine Valentine Series #2
Published by: Harlequin
Genres: Category Romance, Contemporary Romance
Pages: 224
Format: eBook, Paperback
Buy on: AmazonAbeBooks
Reviewed by: Introvert Reader


Category Romance Review: Forever Mine, Valentine by Vicki Lewis Thompson

MILD SPOILERS ⚠

The Book

Vicki Lewis Thompson‘s Forever Mine, Valentine, Booke #2 in her “Mine Valentine” duology was my introduction to the now, sadly, defunct Harlequin Temptations line.

The Temptation imprint launched in North America in March 1984. These books were far more sensual in nature than Harlequin’s other series, the Romance, Supperromance, and Presents lines. Temptations featured main characters from all walks of life, not just the rich. They took place anywhere, from small towns to big cities to tropical destinations.

The setting of Forever Mine, Valentine, is mainly in a shopping mall in Colorado, where St. Valentine himself is a character in the guise of Charlie Hartmann, a sweet, seemingly doddering old man.

The Plot

Jill Amory left her old life behind–including a stable dentist boyfriend–to wander across the country on foot with just a backpack. She paints windows for businesses to earn a little money and has a deadline to travel through all the States. Jill doesn’t quite know what she wants in life, but she knows it’s not commitment.

Spencer Jegger owns a successful sporting goods store in the mall. He’s athletic, attractive, and friendly to all, including Charlie, who insists that Valentine’s Day miracles are in store for Spence.

Charlie tells a disbelieving Spence that he and Jill are destined to be lovers for life. While Spence doesn’t trust the old man’s predictions, he is interested in Jill.

Spence hires Jill to paint the windows of his store, and in the meantime, he and Jill form a playful relationship with sexual tension bursting through the surface.

Jill is hesitant about getting close to Spence. He’s an incredibly good-looking man and makes his interest in her known. Jill’s mind is not on settling down, not even for a short while for a love affair. She’s aiming to roam, to search for something, some purpose in life.

I didn’t understand Jill’s hesitancy towards commitment to Spence and was glad when she decided she knew where her true home was.

Charlie is a cute character, doing everything he can to get Spence and Jill together. The two are destined for each other, he fervently declares. Isn’t it Valentine’s season? Doesn’t Jill’s surname, “Amory,” has the word love in it?

That’s more than a mere coincidence. It’s a sign from the heavens above that they’re meant to be!

Charlie also has a cute flirtation with an elderly mall walker, a lady who wouldn’t mind cuddling up to the supposed St. Valentine.

A Brief Memory About Forever Mine, Valentine

Forever Mine, Valentine by Vicki Lewis Thompson left quite a mark on my impressionable younger self. This romance introduced my young mind to real love-making in books. I’d read sex scenes before in V.C. Andrews’ Flowers in the Attic and Stephen King’s Carrie. But they were brief and not as detailed as what I read in this one!

My goodness, I was such a dorky, nerdy bookworm back then. I passed this book around to my friends, spreading the salacious content around in school until one day, I got in trouble with my social studies teacher.

She took the book away from me in class one day and made a big scene, which was humiliating, although fortunately, that was the worst of it.

Well, except for the fact that it earned me a reputation for years as “that girl who reads the sex books.”

After a while, I learned not to care about what others thought and held my head high and proud whenever I held a clinch-cover romance, and someone teased me about it.

Never be ashamed of the genre!

Final Analysis of Forever Mine, Valentine

Forever Mine, Valentine was a sequel to Vicki Lewis Thompson’s 1989 Be Mine, Valentine, where Charlie had previously wielded Cupid’s bow and arrow to great success. Yes, the angels from above sent the old scamp down to spread love among mortals!

I loved that aspect of the Temptation line. There was so much variety; the books could have any crazy plot or simple, mundane ones. Temptations told all kinds of stories; the only qualifier was they had to be sexually steamy enough for a new era of romance readers.

This Temptation romance had a hefty dose of humor and lots of steamy love scenes making it an engaging Valentine’s Day treat.

Rating Report Card
Plot
4.5
Characters
4.5
Writing
4.5
Chemistry
5
Fun Factor
5
Cover
4.5
Overall: 4.7

Synopsis

Hartman strikes again!

Old Charlie Hartman was out of his mind! To insist that Spence Jegger would marry the first woman he saw on Valentine’s Day was pure madness, given Spence’s opinion of marriage. And an aging vagabond playing St. Valentine was a bit much for even a friend like Spence to accept. Until Charlie pointed out Spence’s “intended,” Jill Amory.

All Jill wanted, however, was to finish painting Valentine messages on the windows of Jegger Outfitters and be on her way. She had a deadline to meet…on the other side of the country. Now all of a sudden two crazy men – one of them the tempting Mr. Jegger himself – seemed determined to influence her schedule…and her heart.

FOREVER MINE, VALENTINE