This was my first Harlequin ‘Blaze’ and for the most part it was what I’ve come to expect from cookie cutter, formulaic romances, however I enjoyed this because occasionally that’s exactly what you’re looking for. AFTERBURN is a charming, moderately steamy read that doesn’t require any real brain power yet still entertains, it’s downright funny in parts, touching and sexy with a mild amount of suspense thrown in to move the story along. As an added bonus you also get a hunky flyboy on the cover and sometimes folks that’s all it takes.

The night before Air Force Major Chase ‘Magnet’ Cardin shipped out to Iraq he met up with the usually reserved Sabrina McAllister in a Vegas bar. This pair has been flirting around the inevitable for years and tonight is to be their night. With Sabrina finally letting her hair down and Chase tossing back the tequila it doesn’t take long for Elvis to enter the building and in a moment of spontaneity they decide to ‘punk’ their friends by getting married in a mock ceremony before hitting the MGM Grand for a little piece of honeymoon heaven neither of them will forget.

Sabrina doesn’t usually date pilots after all her fathers a General but what the hell, its just one night and she deserves a little fun. And Chase, well when your call sign’s ‘babe’ magnet he doesn’t need any other encouragement. The beginning chapters here are super sexy and hilarious especially after Sabrina gets the marriage certificate in the mail and realizes the jokes on her, they’re really married.

A year later when Chase returns a reluctant war hero yet still clueless about being a husband, Sabrina’s got some serious explaining to do. In the mean time her new job as public affairs officer for the Thunderbird squadron means that not only are they married but they’re also working together which puts both their jobs on the line. The sexual tension reaches a fever here as they try to keep their hands off each other and file for an annulment. For some reason though when it comes right down to it Chase just won’t sign the papers. It seems he likes having Sabrina as his wife and he’s willing to fight to keep her.

Here’s a couple of lines that stood out; Cheers!
(While shopping for beds) The man embodied "king size" in every possible way.
And this declaration He was about to enter the fiercest battle of his life. The fight for his wife.