How about Valentine's Day Romance Anthologies? This is about as close to a box of chocolates as I can get for you.  I thought I would slip it to you early. 

 

I hope you are surrounded with love everyday and of every kind! 

 

My lists are never in any particular order.  Enjoy 

 

1. Valentine's Day Is Killing Me by MaryJanice Davidson, LESLIE ESDAILE, and SUSANNA CARR

 

A delectable serving of romantic tales gone bad_then even badder. A woman whose blind date shows up cuffed to a dead body only leads to uncovering a lot more than mystery. A party featuring dangerously naughty favors brings the cops a knocking-and not just on the door. And the overworked employee with a dead boss and an ex-boyfriend who happens to be the most insensitive, non-romantic, completely irresistible alpha male she's ever laid-ahem-eyes on...

 

2. Confessions of a Secret Admirer by Jennifer Ryan, Candis Terry, and Jennifer Seasons 

 

Waiting for You by Jennifer Ryan

 

Rancher Grant Devane has waited for Taylor Larson’s return to Fallbrook for more than ten years. Now that the fearless beauty has come home on her terms, he’ll do anything and everything necessary to win back her heart.

 

Sweet Fortune by Candis Terry

 

Sarah Randall is tired of being invisible to the opposite sex. So when a leap of faith sends her to Sweet, Texas, and into the path of ridiculously hot Deputy Brady Bennett, she’s determined to catch his eye … even if it means staying hidden just a little bit longer.

 

Major League Crush by Jennifer Seasons

 

Professional baseball player Drake Paulson can’t help wanting to know more about his cute, shy neighbor. But when he discovers her deepest secret and she flees, it’ll be up to him to win her trust—and her love—one gift at a time.

 

3. Valentine Kittens by Jo Ann Ferguson, Valerie King, and Cynthia Pratt

 

Just in time for Valentine's Day, three beloved Regency authors deliver a charming collection of stories in which kittens bring together lords and ladies of the ton.

 

4. Be My Texas Valentine by Jodi Thomas, Linda Broday, Phyliss Miranda, and DeWanna Pace

 

Out on these rugged plains, love never comes easy. And four daring ladies will do whatever it takes to capture the hearts of four irresistibly sweet-talking Texans. . . When a quiet foreman comes to the aid of a mystery lady, they'll find that this perfect starlit night is made for courtin'.... A determined heiress gambles high to reclaim the rancher she's never stopped wanting. . .. When a spirited lady and a go-getter mayor compete for their town's future, it's two dreams for a lifetime. . .. And to attract a lonely doctor's attention, a shy young woman needs courage--and two unlikely matchmakers. . ..

 

5. Valentine's Dream by Sandra Kitt, Carmen Green, and Felicia Mason 

 

Love Changes Everything by Sandra Kitt
Carter Morrison is a changed man. Grace Haley never imagined that her late husband's best friend would turn into the improved man she now sees. And when he asks her for a little Valentine's Day advice, she'll discover a longing deep in her heart….

 

Sweet Sensation by Carmen Green
Nessie Claiborne only wants to make her firm's annual Valentine's Day charity extravaganza a success. But the moment she tries to work with handsome, sensible executive Craig DuPont, she finds her impractical ideas and his hidden longings are producing a love affair neither expected.

 

Made in Heaven by Felicia Mason
Val Sanders doesn't believe in romance or love at first sight. Then she receives a gift certificate for a dating service and meets Eric Fitzgerald, the sexy bachelor owner. Has Eros loosed an arrow…one headed straight for Val's heart?

 

6. Jinxed! by Jacquie D'Alessandro, Jill Shalvis, and Crystal Green 

 

Blame It on Karma by Jacquie D'Alessandro Coffee shop owner Lacey Perkins scoffs when a fortune-teller informs her she's destined to fall for her arrogant, but definitely hot, property manager Evan Sawyer. Lacey figures she'd rather be jinxed—until she's cursed with a case of uncontrollable, insatiable lust.…

 

Together Again? by Jill Shalvis Accountant Chloe Cooper can't help but laugh at the prediction that her life is about to be transformed by true love. But that was before Chloe walked straight into her former lover, FBI agent Ian McCall, and he showed her just how thrilling things could get.…

 

Tall, Dark & Temporary by Crystal Green Candy shop owner Erin Holland isn't convinced when she's told that Ryan Wes, an infamous playboy, is "The One." Erin is going on a cruise with the gorgeous day trader for one reason only: sex. But her decadent plans keep getting mysteriously, frustratingly, thwarted.…

 

7. Who Needs Cupid? by Debra Salonen, Molly O'Keefe, and Susan Floyd 

 

Down with Cupid!

 

Elle Adams, Rebecca Potter and Lucky Morgan all have valid reasons for distrusting Cupid. And with February 14 coming on fast, they decide to take matters into their own hands. If the plucky little cherub can’t do his job, they’ll sweeten the odds.

But it looks as if Cupid wasn’t out to lunch. He was just waiting for the right moment to make things interesting. Now find out what happens when he finally launches those arrows.

 

8.  Valentines: A trio of Regency love stories for Sweethearts' Day!  by Barbara Metzger

 

BALD LIES

Audrina is desperate to ensure that Lord Blanford not only notices her beautiful cousin but marries her as well. However, Max's head is beset by larger worries than matrimony--though he is curiously diverted by the antics of the flame-haired matchmaking minx. . . .

THE LAST VALENTINE

Exiled into obscurity by her odious father, Martine can only assume the romantic love notes on her doorstep are a mistake--intended for another. Who could it be? Only Cupid knows--as mischief and merriment mark the countdown to Valentine's Day. . . .

LOVE AND TENDERNESS

Few blushing brides have their wedding night ruined by a ghost only they can see, but Senta's hysterics send her groom running. Reconciling these stubborn newlyweds is no easy task--even for a handsome, oddly dressed apparition who calls himself the King . . .

 

9. Accidental Valentine by Claire Gillian, Katrina Sizemore, S.L. Hughson, Jaylee Austin, and Wendy Sparrow 

 

Falling in love on Valentine's Day is the happiest of accidents.

 

10. Sinfully Sweet by Janelle Denison, Kate Hoffmann, and Jacquie D'Alessandro 

 

Does chocolate put you in the mood? ...The owners of Sinfully Sweet, an upscale sweets shop, want to test their theory that chocolate is the ultimate aphrodisiac. So they conduct an unorthodox study, disguised as a Valentine's Day promotion. When the unsuspecting customers start grabbing up the chocolates -- the experimental results go right off the charts!

 

WICKEDLY DELICIOUS by Janelle Denison: Sensible Rebecca Moore impulsively decides to take up the offer of millionaire playboy Connor Bassett to have a wildly erotic fling.

CONSTANT CRAVING by Kate Hoffmann by Uptight Daniel Montgomery and free-spirited Carlie Pratt find out that opposites don't just attract, they set the sheets on fire!

SIMPLY SCRUMPTIOUS by Jacquie D'Alessandro by Kel Martin and Darcy Scott, who shared a one-night stand five years ago, are suddenly back in bed together -- and they can't get out!

 

Have a wonderful Valentine's Week! 

 

I'm not sure why this book comes up with the wrong author -- it's T.A. Pratt, the altered name to Tim Pratt (he was told that readers wouldn't like his female protagonist if they knew the author was male).

 

At any rate, maybe I was just having a bad reading week or two since basically everything I read felt close to three stars...  I hate to rate a Pratt book at 3.5 stars because I'd much rather his publisher picked him up again -- though he's kept the series going via e-book.  I have the next one on my Kindle to read soon.

 

I really enjoyed books two and three of the Marla Mason series, but this fourth book felt a lot more like the first book to me...  And that one just rubbed me the wrong way for some reason.  There's this level of grime and dirt that he layers on this world (well, our world with magic) that sometimes works for me and sometimes doesn't.  I can't exactly tell you where the line is, but it exists in this series.  Sadly, for this one it's on the wrong side for me.

 

I enjoyed his magical techniques, as per usual, and it's always interesting to get to know the powers in Felport.  This time, not all the opponents are magical, however, though that plot line seemed rather more predictable.  You definitely get a lot more back story on Marla, and that's great.  I definitely was sucked in by the very end -- be aware this ends on a cliffhanger!

 

Like I said, maybe the low stars are all me...  It could have just been a bad time to read these.

 

 

Marla Mason is the guardian of the city of Felport and is under attack from an unknown enemy and the clues are leading to dead people. She has to find out who it is before she becomes another body, and also there's a spell trying to kill her and she's not sure if both are related. Marla is a strong character and it's an interesting read.

I didn't like the characters and I hated the main character. I had absolutely no interest in or empathy for her. I started to like her sidekick but then more was revealed and he was a borderline sociopath. The story was somewhat unclear and surprisingly slow moving considering the reader is thrust into the story mid-action. Not happening for me.

A weak 3 stars overall.

First story, Belling the Kitten by Jo Ann Ferguson: 1 star. Did not like this one, especially its histrionic heroine. The story introduces her when her hysterical screaming disturbs the hero, who is also a guest at the inn. Even worse, the hysterical screaming is due to a kitten in her room who had scratched one of her gowns. I mean, really?? *smacks forehead* Trust me, it doesn't get much better after that.

Second story, A Tangle of Kittens by Valerie King: 3-3.5 stars. This was a cute story with likable main characters. I was initially a little wary of the plot line in general because both the hero and heroine were engaged to other people when first they met. However, in true Romancelandia form, of course the people to whom they are betrothed fell in love with each other. Oh oh, aaaaaand the hero's then-betrothed ALSO turned out to be the heroine's long-lost stolen-at-birth twin sister. Yup. YUP. Twins AND betrotheds. Kinda crazy, but still cute. The kittens in this story were very cute and helped to further the plot along, which I liked.

Third story, The Birthday Kitten by Cynthia Pratt: 4-4+ stars. This was the winner of the bunch for me. I reeeeally liked this story. This story focused on a newly-married couple who married for comfort and mutual respect. That all gets turned topsy turvy when the hero does something unheroic on the heroine's birthday, and, to repent, he finds a kitten to give to her for her birthday present. Take a mischievous kitten and a villainous suitor from the past, add in the hero's surprising discovery that he's feeling - what is this??? - jealousy, and you have an engaging and pretty well-rounded romance in the span of 80 or so pages. I knew this one was a winner when I was coming towards the end and bemoaning the fact that this book is traditional Regency - i.e., NO SEXYTIMES. *groan* However, there was a little teaser at the end that was REALLY cute: we get some of the kitten's POV, which is used to very cute suggestive effect. Kitty is in the bedroom, and hero and heroine had just set her on the bed. Kitty POV - They showed her the attention she deserved, scratching her ears, smoothing her fur, while they talked in low voices. She'd almost fallen asleep when they moved her once again to the floor. Offended, she stalked back to her basket while those strange sounds that had awakened her began again. Heeeeeeee! Cute, right? :)