Valentine’s Day is Killing Me by MaryJanice Davidson, Leslie Esdaile, Susanna Carr

Cuffs and Coffee Breaks by MaryJanice Davidson: Julie Kay About learns the pitfalls of a Valentine’s Day blind date when she shows up at the restaurant, only to find her date being lead away in handcuffs and a dead body lying next to the table.

A “No Drama” Valentine’s by Leslie Esdaile: After a string of bad dates, Jocelyn Jefferson arranges a Valentine’s party for her friends, where no men were allowed. But when her friends choose dates over her company, Jocelyn goes through with her party anyway, only to watch it spin completely out of control landing her in jail.

Valentine Survivor by Susanna Carr: Last year, Shanna Murphy decided she can’t rely on a man to give her what she needs on Valentine’s Day, so she arranges everything herself, just in case she finds the right man before the appointed day.

Valentine’s Day isn’t killing me, this book is (okay, I couldn’t resist). None of the three stories really worked for me. Each story had a different set of problems, either lame characters, incoherent story or just poor writing. Even though the book did have problems, I do plan to give the authors a second chance in the future, as it’s quite possible that they had trouble meeting the theme for this book. But if you haven’t read this book by now, I’d save it for next Valentine’s Day where it may be totally forgotten in your to-be-read pile.

Details: Kensington, January 2007

Excellence Rating: Good

Steaminess Factor: Yummy