"Three fine Valentine's Day romances"

Cuffs and Coffee Breaks by MaryJanice Davidson. Greeting card designer Julie goes to meet her Valentine's Day blind date at a restaurant only to find him waiting for her wearing handcuffs while a corpse lies near him. The cops arrest her date charging him with homicide. Julie debates whether to write it off as another date from hell or to prove he did not commit murder.

A "No Drama" Valentine's by Leslie Esdaile. Jocelyn has given up on Valentine's Day at least when it comes to men; instead this year she arranges a pamper party with her female pals, but each has to bow out. However, apparently half the world crashes her "pampering" party including Police Vice Squad Detective Raymond who with one look decides to toss everyone out so he can pamper Jocelyn.

Valentine Survivor by Susanna Carr. After her insensitive boyfriend Calder failed her on Valentine's Day one year ago Shanna planned for this year's holiday to be perfect. Everything is in place except she lives up to her surname Murphy as her date canceled and still stuck at the office she finds the dead body of her nasty boss. Desperate, Shanna calls her former boyfriend to help her. Calder readily agrees as he wants his Shanna back.

These three fine Valentine's Day romances contain strong males, beleaguered females and fun twists.

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted January 15, 2006

Summary

Lost roses. Cancelled reservations. Broken dates. Arrests. Dead bodies. There's always some reason to hate Valentine's Day...unless the scene of the crime starts really heating up.... Maryjanice Davidson Cuffs and Coffee Breaks In a moment of weakness, greeting card writer Julie Kay About accepts a blind date for Valentine's Day. As if the restaurant's snotty waiter, cheap chocolates, and pastel-colored teddy bears aren't enough, her date turns out to be the guy in handcuffs next to the dead body on the floor. At least he didn't stand her up. How could a guy with beautiful, sky- blue eyes and sexy swimmer's shoulders be a killer? Julie Kay is not about to have another horrible V-Day, even if she has to solve a murder and get her possibly homicidal date arraigned to do it... Leslie Esdaile A "No Drama" Valentine's Jocelyn Jefferson is one sister who is not falling for any romance drama—no pining over flowers never sent or bling not gotten. No, this year, Jocelyn's getting her best girlfriends together for a "pamper" party at her house. Except that the "pampering" turns out to be from a dubious sex toy company. Soon, there's a whole crew of rowdy, enthusiastic people in Jocelyn's apartment. And that's when vice detective Raymond Mayfield shows up at her door, all six- four, hard-bodied bit of him, and he needs Jocelyn for some very private questioning... Susanna Carr Valentine Survivor This Valentine's Day was supposed to be different for Shanna Murphy. She had a hot date, sought-after dinner reservations, and a brand new vase to show off those potential long-stemmed roses. But Murphy's Law intervened, and now her date cancelled, she's stuck doing overtime, and she's just discovered the body of her boss-from-hell. The only person Shanna can turn to is her ex-boyfriend, Calder Smith, who just happens to be the most insensitive, non-romantic, domineering—and completely irresistible—alpha male she's ever laid eyes on... These bad boys are bringing a whole lot more than chocolates...