Crazy Hot [Mass Market Paperback]

Tara Janzen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 27, 2005

Only the most dire emergency could send paleontologist Regan McKinney racing across the West in search of a man. But her grandfather has mysteriously vanished, and Quinn Younger could be the missing link. What the bad-boy-turned-American-hero is doing in the deserted tumbleweed town of Cisco, Utah, is an even bigger mystery…until danger trails Regan right to his front door and the sexy ex–air force pilot becomes her sole hope of survival.…

Quinn figures things can’t get worse than being stuck in tiny Cisco on an impossible special-ops mission. Then the dinosaur doc’s granddaughter roars into town with bad guys on her tail. Once, Quinn was on the fast track to a life of crime…until Regan’s grandfather rescued him. Now Quinn owes it to them both to find the old guy. But throw in a deadly terrorist and some hot dinosaur bones, and a man could get himself killed. Because facing down danger with this revved-up lady is one endless adrenaline-rush of pleasure—especially when they’re falling crazy in love… and hanging on for dear life.…

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Like a fireworks display lacking both sound and color, Janzen's debut, a novel of romantic suspense, is distinctly one note despite its overabundance of sexual pyrotechnics. The book strives for a Suzanne Brockmannesque feel—pitting a Denver secret special forces team called SDF against evil doers and throwing sexy distractions in their way—but this over-the-top romp fails in two key areas: believability and characterization. Nearly invincible SDF agent Quinn Younger agrees to help "stacked" blonde Regan McKinney find her missing grandfather, in part because Quinn's been obsessed with her body ever since catching a glimpse of her topless when they were teens. While the two track down Regan's grandfather, whose disappearance seems connected to a sadistic arms dealer, they enjoy sexual interludes on top of a car, in an elevator and in a warehouse just steps from the bad guys. Their horniness never believably translates to love, but the novel's high sexual quotient, combined with Janzen's punchy prose, may lure some readers back for later installments (Crazy Cool, etc.).
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

A captivating debut. Crazy Hot is a book not to be missed. -- Romance Reviews Today - October 2005

Fast-paced, edgy romantic suspense. Characters are realistic and will have readers begging for more. Totally awesome. -- Fresh Fiction - October 2005

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Dell (September 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553586106
• ISBN-13: 978-0553586107
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.2 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #352,254 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"Sexual tension crackles and snaps...Janzen's place in the romantic suspense pantheon is assured." Romantic Times on LOOSE AND EASY

"The high-action plot, the savage-but-tender hero, and the wonderfully sensuous sex scenes, Janzen's trademarks, make this as much fun as the prior Crazy titles." Booklist on CRAZY KISSES

"Tara Janzen once again takes readers on a non-stop thrill ride. Don't miss CUTTING LOOSE!" Romance Reviews Today


TARA JANZEN, New York Times bestselling author, is the creator of the acclaimed Steele Street series of romantic suspense novels about a hotshot crew of former juvenile delinquents and car thieves in Denver, Colorado who grow up to become one of the U.S.A.'s most elite black ops forces. The eleven book series begins with CRAZY HOT and CRAZY COOL and finishes up with LOOSE ENDS. One of the books is on AMAZON'S TOP TEN ROMANCE LIST - LOOSE AND EASY, 2008. She has won numerous awards for her writing, including a RITA from RWA, and has had nine 4 ½ TOP PICKS from Romantic Times magazine, with seven of the TOP PICKS awarded to the Steele Street series. Two of her books are on the Romantic Times ALL-TIME FAVORITES list - RIVER OF EDEN, and SHAMELESS.

Writing as Glenna McReynolds, she is the author of thirteen Loveswept romances, an epic medieval fantasy trilogy, THE CHALICE AND THE BLADE, DREAM STONE, and PRINCE OF TIME, and a contemporary romantic adventure set in the Amazon, RIVER OF EDEN - "One of THE most breathtaking and phenomenal adventure tales to come along in years!" - Jill M. Smith for Romantic Times. Tara loves doing research for her books, and her love of anthropology and the natural sciences has helped her create the landscapes of her novels, from the rich historical background of THE CHALICE AND THE BLADE trilogy, to the shores of the blackwater rivers flowing through the lost world of the Amazonian rain forest in RIVER OF EDEN. Her love of the shooting sports and American muscle cars fuels all the "crazy hot" and super fast-paced Tara Janzen novels of the Steele Street series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Hot Romance With Plenty Of Action!, March 7, 2006

By 

Kristi Ahlers (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crazy Hot (Mass Market Paperback)

Regan McKinney is worried about her grandfather. He seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth. The only clue she has is a cryptic message written on a calendar. The note takes her to a ghost town out in the middle of nowhere. What she thinks is a wild goose chase...ends up leading her to her past, and a man she has been thinking a good deal about. Quinn Younger is an American hero former Air Force pilot and all around good guy...but boy does he know how to be bad! Regan can't decide if she wants to kiss him senseless or wrap herself around him and never let go. When she finds out he might be able to help her with her grandfather she doesn't hesitate to believe in him. Now, her life is in danger, she has a wonderful protector, but who will protect her heart?

Quinn fell in love with Regan when he was sixteen years old. This car stealing bad boy has turned his life around and now he works for his government. Injured while on a case he is hiding out in Cisco wishing he could be back in the thick of things. Well, he should be careful for what he wishes for because trouble has just rolled into town and her name is Regan. It's not long before the attraction burns crazy hot between them and not long before they are both caught up in danger. Will he be able to save his lady and bring the bad guys down or will he loose more then he thinks he ever could?

This was a fast paced read. Ms. Janzen has penned a very sensual but entertaining romance with really larger then life characters. I love how she has been able to weave more then one storyline into this book without cheating the reader. Ms. Janzen is an author to watch in the action romance genre.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review by Tammy from Fallen Angel Reviews, May 1, 2006

By 

Tammy "Reviewer - fallenangelreviews.com" (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crazy Hot (Mass Market Paperback)

Regan McKinney's search for her missing grandfather has led her to the deserted town of Cisco, Utah and straight into the arms of Quinn Younger. Regan had met Quinn long ago while digging up dinosaur bones for her grandfather, Dr. Wilson McKinney. Quinn had been sent to her grandfather after being busted for stealing cars but, and has since gone on to be an Air Force pilot and a hero so, what could he be doing in this desolate little town?

Quinn Younger has been stuck in Cisco for a long time waiting for his injuries to heal and for the heat to die down when Regan McKinney shows up in town with trouble right on her heels. Their only option is to get out of town and to get Regan and her sister to a safe place. Can Quinn put his long ago crush on Regan out of his mind long enough to get through this safely or can he convince her they would be great together?

Kid Chaos, the newest member of the SDF team, has been waiting with Quinn when Regan showed up. He now has his orders to pick up Nikki, Regan's sister, and move her to a hotel in a safe location, when everything starts to go wrong. Kid is speechless when he met the beautiful Nikki and even more so to find her painting a naked man. When the trip to the hotel puts them into danger, Kid soon realizes that he needs more focus on keeping them alive and less on Nikki's stunning body.

Crazy Hot is the first in a four-book series by Tara Janzen. This story is sizzling hot with characters that pull you in from the first page and do not let you go. The action is superb with an exciting plot and a smooth, flowing style. Tara Janzen is a fabulously talented writer that, I believe, has a long promising future ahead of her. If you are looking for suspense with hot cars, hot men with a touch bad boy in them, and scorching romance then do not miss the debut of The Mission: Crazy Hot!
I can guarantee that I will be buying anything written by Ms. Janzen and eagerly awaiting the next three books in this series.

By Tammy
Fallen Angel Reviews
[...]

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars action-packed thriller, September 28, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crazy Hot (Mass Market Paperback)

The Boulder police did not believe paleontologist Regan McKinney that the disappearance of her beloved grandfather was not his usual summer wandering amidst the Badlands. She insisted this was different as retired professor Dr. Wilson McKinney always checked in with her and would never miss a speaking engagement; both occurred. That is why she is in the middle of the ghost town Cisco seeking former USAF hero Quinn Younger who Regan believes knows what happened to her grandfather. While Quinn watches Regan wondering if she is an enemy agent, two thugs arrive, forcing him to come out of the shadows to rescue her.

In front of Quinn's "guardian angel" Kid Chaos, Regan explains that Wilson vanished just after bringing home a Porsche, whish she knows from her teen days means Quinn is involved. Quinn would do anything for his mentor Wilson who he believes straightened him out as a teen except give away his cover as a thief. Still he must protect Regan because she refuses to stop her search and rescue of Wilson though he believes the bones doc is safe. He must also prevent some nasty thieves from stealing precious dinosaur bones inside a nest filled with diamonds.

This action-packed thriller never slows down from the moment that Regan arrives in Cisco until the final discussion between the lead couple over confiscated diamonds. The story line is action-packed leaping from one escapade to another mindful of an Indiana Jones adventure. Fans who appreciate plenty of adventure and romance will want to read CRAZY HOT and look forward to the capers of Quinn's teammate Christian Hawkins in the next crazy special defense force unit's appearance.

Harriet Klausner