Summer’s finally in full swing up here. Gardens are blooming, the beaches are packed…and Blaze is loaded with super sexy summer reads! You’re definitely going to need the air-conditioning this month. Because July is Blaze bestseller month!!!!

Look what we’ve got in store for you lucky readers…

First up is our Blazing summer read, Born on the 4th of July by USA Today bestseller Jill Shalvis, Rhonda Nelson and Karen Foley. It features super hot guys in uniform. Do you really need any more convincing?

New York Times bestselling author Vicki Lewis Thompson is up next with Ambushed!, the second book in her Sons of Chance miniseries. Little brother Gabe is about to meet one filly he can’t tame…but he’ll sure enjoy trying! That only leaves Jack – the last Chance. Don’t miss his fantastic story next month.

USA Today bestselling author Kimberly Raye continues her Love at First Bite miniseries this month with The Braddock Boys: Brent. A wonderfully romantic story with the kind of hero only Kim can write—a cowboy vampire!

Bestselling author Hope Tarr will delight readers this month with The Tutor, another exceptional Blaze Historical. It features a world-weary hero and the innocent miss who sends him into a sensual tailspin. For those of you who love historical romance, this is a must read.

USA Today bestselling author Nancy Warren delivers the Forbidden Fantasies title this month with My Fake Fiancée. There’s nothing like a make-believe engagement to give a girl fantasies of indulging in bedded bliss.

And finally, USA Today bestseller Donna Kauffman returns to Blaze with this month’s Wrong Bed book, Simon Says… The lucky heroine in this story never dreams that when she sneaks into the wrong hotel room, she’ll end up having the sexual adventure of a lifetime.

What a great month, eh? Yes, I’m a proud Canadian, and not ashamed to throw an ‘eh’ in now and then. In fact, I’m spending the Canada Day long weekend at the cottage (no computer, no cell phone service—in other words, paradise! ) so I won’t be able to add to the discussion until July 5. But I’ll be back, so be sure to add your comments.

And since it is a time to celebrate – Canada Day for us and The 4th of July for our friends south of the border– I’d like to offer everyone a chance to win ONE OF TWO sets of these great July books. Just add either ‘Happy Canada Day’ or ‘Happy 4th of July’ to the comment field to enter.

Happy hot summer reading,
Brenda Chin
Senior Editor, Harlequin Blaze

It’s a great month, isn’t it? For your chance to win a complete set of the June books, please add “Beaching it with a Blaze” in the comment field. And if you do happen to take a Blaze to the beach, and finish it there, please pass it on. It’s a great way to introduce the uninformed about the wonderful books Harlequin publishes.

Thanks and have a great summer,

Brenda Chin
Senior Editor
Harlequin Blaze

Another great thing about Beltaine? It’s a time when everybody should be thinking about sex! According to Mara Freeman’s Celtic Website (chalicecentre.net)…

“Beltaine was a time of fertility and unbridled merrymaking, when young and old would spend the night making love in the Greenwood.”

So what better way to start off the sexy month of May than by picking up all 6 sizzling Blaze books? Here’s what we’ve got to get you started…

Leslie Kelly and Jennifer LaBrecque start the month off strong with BLAZING BEDTIME STORIES, VOLUME V. Leslie’s average everyday hero in A Prince of a Guy discovers ‘it’s good to be the Prince’—especially when he’s protected by a very sexy bodyguard in this Prince and the Pauper themed story. And Jennifer’s heroine soon discovers which guy fits her just right in Goldie and the Three Brothers. These tales are a delightful way to finish up our Bedtime Stories miniseries.

Next up is New York Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson’s debut book for Blaze, SPONTANEOUS. This book has it all – a wedding (complete with a sizzling wedding night), a set-up, a case to be solved…and a hot, HOT hero! SPONTANEOUS is the first full-length African-American story we’ve done in Blaze…and we couldn’t have chosen a better author to introduce this genre to our readers.

Isabel Sharpe finishes up her Wrong Bed duo with SURPRISE ME! I’ve always heard that sisters tend to share everything. But how many sister do you know who both wind up in the Wrong Bed? It’s good when it works. And in this case, it works out very satisfactorily for both women.

Cara Summers has the Forbidden Fantasy this month…and is it ever forbidden! If you loved The Thorn Birds, LED INTO TEMPTATION is the book for you. You see, the heroine has a little thing for…men of the cloth! Cara does a wonderful job with this story (it’s probably my favorite of hers so far), and it’s followed by two other Forbidden Fantasies – TAKEN BEYOND TEMPTATION in June and TWICE THE TEMPTATION in August. It looks like it’s going to be a good summer to be bad…

Kathleen O’Reilly comes next with LONG SUMMER NIGHTS, another story in her Where You Least Expect It miniseries. The journalist heroine isn’t thrilled when she gets stuck at an isolated cabin in the woods for a week to cover a story. But things start picking up when she discovers she’s got a neighbor, who likes to shower outside…naked! That must be why they call it ‘the great outdoors’.

And finally, Samantha Hunter finishes up this fantastic month with MAKE YOUR MOVE. This delightful ‘friends with benefits’ story is guaranteed to make you look at all your male friends in a very different way…

So that’s the month! If you’d like a chance to win all 6 May books, please add the phrase ‘It’s going to be a sexy summer’ into the comment field. And don’t forget to keep an eye out for those scavenger hunt clues – we’ve got some great prizes lined up.

Enjoy your summer!

Brenda Chin
Senior Editor
Blaze

So here’s a look at the sexy, mostly contemporary, groundbreaking books out this month…

First up is Just Fooling Around…, a 4-stories-in-1 Encounters by Julie Kenner and Kathleen O’Reilly. Now, we’ve all heard about April Fool’s Day pranks. But the four siblings in these stories are actually the victims of an April Fool’s Day curse! Of course, once they get lucky, they suddenly become very lucky.

Next up is the second book in Kate Hoffmann’s Smooth Operator’s miniseries, The Drifter. The hero in the story has done it all and seen it all. But it’s not until he’s conquered the highest mountain that he realizes he hasn’t done anything that matters…and he knows the woman he has to find to help him change his life for good.

Isabel Sharpe follows with the first book in a Wrong Bed duo, While She Was Sleeping. The heroine’s sister finds her own story in next month’s Surprise Me! Who knew that falling into the wrong bed could be genetic?

And now for our not so contemporary title – The Captive by Joanne Rock. This book, which received a 4/1/2 Top Pick from Romantic Times magazine, has a Viking hero. Do I really need to say any more????

Jade Lee’s alter ego, Kathy Lyons, brings readers the Forbidden Fantasy title this month, with Under His Spell. A stressed out workaholic meets a hynoptist who makes her feel very, very good. Isn’t that everyone’s fantasy?

And finally, Karen Anders comes up with a riveting conclusion to her Undercover Lovers miniseries with Deliciously Dangerous. It doesn’t get any hotter–or tastier–than this.

Pretty nice line-up, isn’t it? Not bad for an almost decade-old series.

To celebrate the blog’s birthday, I’m offering a full set of April Blaze books to TWO lucky winners. Just put ‘Happy Anniversary to my favorite series!‘ in the comment field for a chance to win. (Yes, I’ll take compliments any way I can get them. )

See you next month.

Brenda Chin
Senior Editor
Harlequin Blaze

For those of you faced with the same dilemma, I’d like to offer you a glimpse of the wonderful books we have this month at Blaze. No matter how wretched it is outside, you’ll be feeling the heat soon. I promise.

First up is another volume of Blazing Bedtime Stories. Kimberly Raye and Samantha Hunter are the geniuses behind this collection. Kim’s story is based on the myth of Cupid and Psyche (in other words, she’s having sex with somebody she doesn’t know, and can’t see. Now, that’s a fantasy!) And Samantha’s book is a modern day version of Aladdin (doesn’t everybody want a genie who can fulfill sexual fantasies?)

And talking about fantasies, Nancy Warren has the Forbidden Fantasies title this month – Too Hot to Handle. The hero in this book is a real scoundrel…and he’ll definitely make sure this book lands in your keeper pile!

Heather MacAllister offers up another Encounters this month with His Little Black Book. When an oversexed corporate executive mistakenly sends an invitation to the company beach house to everyone in his address book, he’s the only one who doesn’t end up getting lucky! This book is a lot of fun, and reviewers are raving about the ending.

Debbi Rawlins finishes up her Stolen From Time miniseries with Lone Star Lover. When a sexy modern day cop ends up going back to the Old West, all he can think about is going home. Until he meets the woman he was sent back to find…and protect! A great read!

Bonnie Edwards makes her Blaze debut with Possessing Morgan. You’ll never see two more unlikely Blaze characters than these two protagonists – a billionaire playboy and a repo woman! But when Morgan Swann gets the chance to meet her fantasy man, she takes it. Even though it means hitching up his prized Morgan (a car) to her tow truck! This one’s a lot of fun. You never know what’s going to happen next.

And finally, Marie Donovan finishes up the month with Knowing the Score, a book set on the polo fields of the rich and famous. And if you didn’t think polo players were sexy, think again! This guy is HOT!

Remember, if the weather gets you down, just pick up a Blaze book. You’ll be hot soon.

For a chance to win this months books, please add the phrase “I need to warm up with a Blaze” to the comment field. Good luck and happy reading.

Brenda Chin
Senior Editor
Blaze

However, loyal Blaze readers don’t need a report to tell them that this February is HOT! Look what those talented Blaze authors have in store for you this month…

First up is our Valentine Collection, MANHUNTING, by NYT bestseller Betina Krahn, Joanne Rock and Lori Borrill. The three heroines in this delightful anthology make a pact that they won’t spend another Valentine’s day alone. And while it’s touch and go for a while, they manage to get their man. A big thanks to Joanne Rock for the idea behind this collection.

Next up is THE CHARMER, the first book in Kate Hoffmann’s new minseries, Smooth Operators. All three guys featured in this trilogy end up labeled serial bachelors on a dating/dishing website, SmoothOperators.com. But even though the general female population thinks these guys are a lost cause, one special woman uncovers the diamond underneath. Personally, I loved this book. The heroine is wonderfully different. Romantic Times Magazine agreed with me, giving THE CHARMER a 4 1/2 Top Pick. Look for THE DRIFTER in April and THE SEXY DEVIL in June.

For those of you who have a naughtier Valentine’s Day in mind, Leslie Kelly offers up a Forbidden Fantasy that will definitely heat up these cold winter nights. In PLAY WITH ME, the hero and heroine have a secret fling, meeting up all over the country to play sexual games. But for both of them, secrecy is a must. And so, you can guess what happens when one of their escapades ends up on YouTube…

Stephanie Bond finishes up her Red Tote Book Club (code for Erotic Book Club) stories with HER SEXY VALENTINE. Carol Snow, the cynical member of the group finally finds her true love…but not until she relives Valentine’s Day over and over again until she gets it right. This book is linked to October’s Book 500, SEDUCTION BY THE BOOK, as well as a special ebook we put out last month, entitled TOO HOT TO PRINT, because, well, it was.

Candace Havens makes her Blaze debut with TAKE ME IF YOU DARE. I had trouble figuring out what I loved best about this book – the strong, yet insecure heroine, the bad boy hero…or the incredible setting. After reading this book, you’ll be wishing you’d booked that tropical getaway…complete with hunky pool boy.

And then Wendy Etherington finishes up the month with TEMPT ME AGAIN, a light-hearted story about a cop and the woman who drives him crazy, and makes him love every minute of it.

Wonderful month, isn’t it? But wait, there’s more! In order to tempt readers who don’t make it to the Series Romance shelves, we’ve put together THE BLAZE COLLECTION, a trade-sized anthology featuring the February books of Stephanie Bond, Leslie Kelly and Kate Hoffmann. You’ll find THE BLAZE COLLECTION in the warehouse type stores – Costco and Sam’s Club–places where Harlequin books are not usually sold.

So, in honor of Harlequin’s national holiday (honestly – we even get chocolate treats left at our desks!), I’m offering two prizes this month – one set of the February books, and THE BLAZE COLLECTION. All you have to do is leave the comment, ‘I want those Blaze books to Be Mine’.

I hope Cupid’s good to you,

Brenda Chin
Senior Editor, Harlequin Blaze

It’s going to be quite a year. The 2010 Blaze schedule is all about men! Men in uniform and in cowboy boots. Men living on the edge in Alaska, and men saving the world as American Heroes. We’ve got heartbreakers, forbidden fantasy fulfillers and even a few who fall into the wrong bed now and then. How’s that for something to look forward to?

But we all need a few goals, right? So you’ll find that most of the January books deal with fresh starts, new beginnings…and New Year’s resolutions gone deliciously wrong.

Here’s a peek at what’s in store for lucky Blaze readers this month:

Fans of Blazing Bedtime Stories will be happy to find three more volumes in 2010. The first, Blazing Bedtime Stories, Volume III, is available this month and features sensual tales by Tori Carrington and Tawny Weber. Tori’s story is inspired by the legend of Helen of Troy (wife-stealing anyone?), while Tawny’s is based on The Frog Prince (who’s really more of a horny toad *g*). Both novellas are an absolute delight.

Then Julie Kenner brings us Moonstruck, a tale that is linked to her December title, Starstruck. What happens when a girl kisses the wrong guy on New Years’ Eve? All sorts of naughty things…

Kathleen O’Reilly continues the New Year’s theme in Midnight Resolutions, another book in her Where You Least Expect It miniseries. Kathleen’s heroines never see change coming…but they’re always glad it did.

Then Jo Leigh gives us Sexy Ms. Takes, a 3-story Blaze Encounters, featuring three New York women who find the lives they dream of, if not the lives they expected, on December 31st.
Are you seeing a theme here?

The last two books this month focus on a different New Year’s theme – goal-setting. And you can’t find anything more direct than what the characters in Sarah Mayberry’s Her Final Fling and Lori Wilde’s His Final Seduction get themselves into. Then again, isn’t that what Blaze is all about?

So, there you have it. The beginning of a brand new year of incredible books from Harlequin Blaze. If you’d like to be entered in a draw to win a complete set of the January titles, please add “I’m Blazing in the New Year” to the comment field.

On a personal note, I’d like to wish all the Blaze authors, and all of our readers, a happy and healthy New Year. You all make my job a pleasure.

See you next year!
Brenda Chin, Senior Editor, Harlequin Blaze

Between all the shopping and wrapping, the eating and the drinking, I’d like to remind everyone to take a little time for themselves this month to relax and recharge. And if you do that by cuddling up with a Blaze book, so much the better.

Here’s what we have to tempt you this month…

Vicki Lewis Thompson is back! In our Christmas collection, Better Naughty than Nice, Vicki, Jill Shalvis and Rhonda Nelson will delight you with the sexy antics of Santa’s bad boy brother. Damon Claus is determined to mess things up for the Little Old Fat Guy…and he does it by pushing people into bed! These three stories are a blast from beginning to end.

Julie Kenner returns to Blaze this month too, after a long hiatus. Her novel , Starstruck, will remind us to treasure the gifts we already have, gifts we take for granted– like really hot best friends!

What’s better than falling into the Wrong Bed? Falling into one on Christmas Eve—in Texas! Don’t miss experiencing some true Southern Comfort in Debbi Rawlin’s Texas Blaze.

Then Lisa Renee Jones finishes up the popular Dressed to Thrill miniseries with Santa, Baby. You know that old saying, that clothes make the man. I wonder what wearing a skimpy Mrs. Claus outfit makes Lisa’s heroine—besides a lot more satisfied, that is.

Cara Summers has the Uniformly Hot! title this month with Christmas Male. What do you get when you mix a streetwise cop, a hunky member of the military police…and a diamond with the reputation for bringing lovers together? A fantastic story that got a 4 ½ top pick from Romantic Times magazine! Way to go Cara!

And finally, we’ve got a fantastic present for all those readers who loved Hope Tarr’s first Blaze Historical, Bound to Please. The hero in that book had a bad boy twin…and this month, readers will get to read his story. I absolutely loved Twelve Nights. I’m sure you will too.

Not a bad way to finish up the year, is it? And wait there’s more. This month, in honor of the holidays, we’ll be drawing two names – one for these fantastic December books, and one for a really cool Harlequin tote bag, decorated with nostalgic Harlequin covers. So, if you’d to win, all you have to do is add “Pick me. I’ve been naughty. ” to the comment field.

My best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season,
Brenda Chin
Senior Editor, Blaze

We have a fantastic November line-up for you:

First up is a personal favorite of mine – More Blazing Bedtime Stories by Julie Leto and Leslie Kelly. Trust me, you’ll never look at a book of fairy tales in the same way again. Both stories are so much fun that I even got a note from the copyeditor, telling me how brilliant I was for buying it. So, if you buy it, you can be brilliant too.

Nancy Warren is next up with Power Play. This Forbidden Fantasy introduces the kind of hero we Canadians would love to get our hands on – a hot hockey player.

Multi-published Michelle Rowen makes her Blaze debut this month with Hot Spell. What happens when two feuding paranormal investigators find themselves the victim of an instant lust enchantment? A lot of great sex, that’s what!

In the third book of the Dressed to Thrill miniseries, Hold on to the Nights, Karen Foley’s heroine, Lara Whitfield has a real challenge on her hands – she has to tell her former husband that they’re still married. Unfortunately, she has to do it…dressed as Princess Leia.

Jill Monroe has the Uniformly Hot! book this month with SEALed and Delivered. The hero, of course, is a Navy SEAL. Do I really need to say anything more?

And Lori Wilde finishes up the month with the wildly exotic, Zero Control. Her characters, Roxie Stanley and Dougal Lockhart, might have different agendas when they fly Eros Airlines. But at least they have great sex in common….

Did you know that November 1st is considered to be the Celtic New Year? Personally, I love the idea of fresh starts and new beginnings. (You can tell I have a few bad habits I badly need to shake.) So I take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way.

Since my family hails from the British Isles, I figure I should start thinking about resolutions now. If I don’t get my act together right away, I can always start again on January 1st. Then, if the winter blahs kill my enthusiasm, I still have one more shot –Chinese New Year. Since that’s my husband’s heritage, I figure it’s fair game. And if that doesn’t work, I’ve even been known to wait until my birthday in February, since that’s my own personal new year. There’s nothing like making resolutions with a good contingency plan in place.

So, is anybody else making resolutions this early? I have one I’d like to suggest. How about we all decide that we’re going to relax this holiday season, and not get stressed out about the things that don’t matter. And, just to get everybody starting off on the right foot, I suggest we all grab the November books, sit by the fire and simply indulge. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

If you’d like a chance to win a set of the November books, just add the phrase “I’m going to chill…in a very hot way” into the comment field.

Good luck!

It seems like only yesterday that Birgit came up with the idea of creating the Blaze miniseries in Temptation. And now look at us! Five hundred books strong, with an author list that’s the envy of many series.

One of the coolest things about Blaze though, is that many of the authors who were so instrumental in making the line what it is, still write for us. In the first three months of Blaze, readers were seduced by sizzling stories by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Julie Leto, Jo Leigh, Stephanie Bond, Tori Carrington, Carly Phillips, Janelle Denison, Julie Kenner and Kimberly Raye. As you’ll notice, you still see those talented authors in the Blaze lineup from time to time. And they’re still delivering really hot reads that push the envelope farther and farther. As the Senior Editor for the line, I couldn’t be more proud.

So I’m pleased to let you all in on the October line-up…

First up is Jacquie D’Alessandro’s Touch Me, a Blaze Historical set in the Regency period, that features a really cool heroine. For those of you who’ve read and loved Jacquie’s single title Regency Historicals, this book is a real treat. All the great romance at half the price. I highly recommend it. (Of course, I’ve read and loved all of Jacquie’s single title Historicals).

And then Kimberly Raye is back with a new twist on her Love at First Bite miniseries – Cody. Like Kim’s previous heroes, Cody is a vampire and a cowboy. But he’s also one of four brothers who returned from the Civil War to find his home in flames. Now he wants vengeance – on the person who killed his family AND on the vampire who turned him. There are lots of plot twists in this quartet…and of course, a lot of really good sex.

Karen Anders continues her Undercover Lovers miniseries this month with Dangerous Curves, a steamy read that has it all – adventure, great characters…and fantastic chemistry!

Then Samantha Hunter brings us Caught in the Act, the second book in the Dressed to Thrill miniseries. Costume mixups have never been so sexy.

Jennifer LaBrecque has the Uniformly Hot! title this month with Ripped! Is there anything more awe-inspiring than a hot military guy, a true American hero, who also jumps out of planes?

And finally we have Book 500, Seduction by the Book, by Stephanie Bond. In this Blaze Encounters, we meet four slightly socially awkward women who join an erotic book club…and then use the lessons they’ve learned to seduce the men of their dreams. This book will be followed in January by an short linked ebook (available only at eHarlequin.com) entitled Too Hot to Print, because, well, it’s too hot to print. And then the final book club member finds her sexily-ever-after in February in Stephanie’s Her Secret Valentine.

It’s a great month to be a Blaze reader. And for a chance to win a copy of them all, don’t forget to add the phrase ‘I can hardly wait to read those books!’ to the comment section.

Good luck and happy reading.

Brenda Chin
Senior Editor
Blaze