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…