Behind the Red Doors

BERFORE i start the first story really really did it for me... If you enjoy a fun, sassy read with three great heroines and three even hotter heroes, than this is the book for you. The stories all tie together nicely, yet easily stand alone.

So the three stories here are all linked- 3 gals- one store as the central thing that ties the stories together. 1- Vicki Lewis Thompson's tale is pure sex, wit, comedy and fun! 2- Stephanie Bond- some danger, crossed wires, a hero who needs to grow up and quit being a guy and more of a man to get the woman. This one is not your typical guy meets girl again story- much meatier than I expected from a short novella. 3- Leslie Kelly- bashfully buxom nice girl is the star of men's fantasies at a naughty lingerie shop! And the guy she meets is one of her biggest fans.... sensitive handling of how being built like Dolly Parton when you are not a country western singer is handled well. There should be a follow up to this book! Plenty of characters introduced here could be expanded on for more. For more reads - I recommend the Vicki Lewis Thompson Blaze titles and Nerd in Shining Armor. I love the Stephanie Bond Harlequin Temptation and Harlequin Love & Laughter titles- esp WIFE is a 4 Letter Word. Leslie Kelly is improving- her more recent offerings are better than her earlier ones.

...Ms. Blake but I've got to disagree. While I enjoyed the first two stories (especially Ms. Thompson's) Leslie Kelly's was by far the best. I recently discovered her and have since snapped up her backlist which I found to be wonderful. These three writers wrote an online continuation of the Red Doors story on eharlequin and Ms. Kelly's was again my favorite. I love her humor and her skill with character and dialogue. She is definitely a writer to watch.

BEHIND THE RED DOORS links three extraordinary shops that market scent, jewels and lingerie. Through these doors wishes come true. These searing tales should not be reserved just for Valentine's Day. Indeed, readers who enjoy anthologies with a united theme and story line will absolutely treasure BEHIND THE RED DOORS. Door #1 - "Heaven Scent" by Vicki Lewis Thompson In an innovative marketing ploy, customers uncomfortable browsing have the option to use computer kiosks to order their favored items and pick them up on their way out the door. To ascertain men's preferences and offer suggestions to shoppers, Jamie Ruskin asks long time friend and secret crush Dev Sherman to fill out a questionnaire. Certain his sister is somehow involved, Dev gives opposite answers, never suspecting that Jamie will use his own answers against him. The result is a sizzling, yet playful romp that combines erotic fantasy and aromatherapy in a sent-sational combination. Door #2 - "Diamond Mine" by Stephanie BondValentine's Day went desperately wrong between Faith Sherman and Carter Grayson when she expected more than just a friendly dinner. When a diamond on loan requires increased security, Carter reenters her life. Only this time he claims a fiancé and soon Faith finds herself recommending diamonds for someone else. Bond's characteristic flair for combining romance and humor truly sparkles. Door #3 - "Sheer Delights" by Leslie KellyConned into a photography session by her cousin, schoolteacher Meg O'Roarke becomes an inadvertent sexy model for lingerie. Her gasp of shock when she sees her body plastered on the store's kiosk screen brings an unexpected rescuer. But Joe Santori will be hard pressed to explain that the lingerie hanging in his closet was for her-a fantasy woman he had not even met. Kelly's dynamic storytelling ability truly results in an unexpectedly sheer delight.

Red Doors is by far the best Valentine's anthology I've read. Funny, fast paced, steamy, these three stories have it all. Yet each stands fully on its own. My personal favorite was Sheer Delights but they were all entertaining. Very sexy heroes!! I can't wait to read these authors again.