I'm torn on what to rate Leslie Kelly's "Blazing Midsummer Nights" - because I actually enjoyed parts of this novel more than I thought I would, but at the same time, it didn't really meet my expectations as far as the development of the collective novel was concerned. I wouldn't take the dreamy front cover as being the forefront of the novel, because the dream sequences take more of a backseat to only some transitional scenes within the work (for me that was fine, but others might think it has more bearing in the work).Mimi is your typical woman born with a silver spoon in her mouth trying to establish herself on her own terms, but at the same time trying to appease her father and "find the right man" to be with. Her father's second in command, Dimitri, seems to fit every description of her "ideal" man, but she doesn't feel the same rush of chemistry that she feels with her new next door neighbor - the sexy firefighter Xander McKinley. The two have a rather awkward/sexy first meeting, and seem to hit it off in many of their impromptu encounters. Xander's the kind of guy that sweeps Mimi off her feet (literally considering he saves her from a few close calls). It would seem that fate wants them to be together - considering a few fortune cookie reads and the dreams that Mimi has from the herbal tea she's given.Both Mimi and Xander have likable, decent chemistry, albeit the progression of their relationship was a bit too stereotypical for my liking in terms of the class and personality differential. There's really no competing love triangle in this - Dimitri's character really isn't developed that much to serve as a competent competing love interest. I kept thinking I wanted to see more out of it than what it shared and couldn't really connect with any of the characters other than the two main leads. I also wasn't enamored of the whole "I'm not really with you, so I can't say that I'm cheating" dimension of the story angle, nor of the proposed arranged relationship which becomes clear as to what direction it goes from point one. I did like Xander - he's pretty charming and straightforward about what he wants. Mimi's okay - I think she tends to be a bit of your typical airhead and I wanted/expected a little more from her character to round her out. Overall, it was a quick read from the Harlequin Blaze line, and while it had some decent moments, I can't say that I was completely taken with it.Overall score: 2/5
