Customer Reviews

Heat of the Moment

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4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I couldn't wait until this book was released, the first book "Into the Fire," featuring Cortland's brother J.D. was equally as good, all because of the love/hate relationship between Terri and Cort. Cort couldn't deny his feelings for Terri in the first book and Terri couldn't deny the love she's had for Cort since she met him when she graduated the police academy with J.D. In the "Heat of the Moment," literally, the "sparks" continue as Terri and Cort team up to catch a serial arsonist. Terri as tough as ever, and butts head with Cort once again, but they soon learn to trust one another. Terri having sex with Cort on her Harley motorcycle! Now, how trusting can you get! All I can say is Wow!! Terri also undergoes a makeover from head to toe, which all I could say was "It's about time!" She needed it "bad" in my opinion. Overall the book was exceptionally good, from the drama to the suspense to the romance. This book keeps you on the edge of you seat. Ms. Hall, I can't wait for the your next book!

This is the first time I've ever read anything by Ms. Hall, and needless to say I've gone and ordered her entire backlist after reading this story. I came to this story not being aware of the foundation that had been laid in the previous title "Into The Fire" so I was unaware of the previous relationship between our hero Cort and our sassy heroine Terri. This was not a problem and in fact was what prompted me to purchase her other books.

Cort and Terri have a certain chemistry that pulls them together even though they try so hard to fight what they both want. Terri is a first rate police detective and Cort is the fire marshal they are brought together yet again due to the case that they are both working on. Ex-girlfriends of Cort's are finding themselves being killed by a serial arsonist. Why is he targeting Cort? Terri is assigned to act as his "fiancée" and this is going to be easier said than done. Terri rides a Harley and fishes. She is not into the clothes, make-up, and hair that good society girls are into. This could be a problem...a big one.

Cort and Terri are wonderfully complex characters. I truly enjoyed how their story unfolded. There is a section of the book that reminded me of a portion of "Miss Congeniality" and was a wonderfully funny part of the story that truly showed us Terri at her best. The suspense portion of the story was very intense and managed to keep the reader in the dark until the final unveiling. If you like authors such as Linda Howard, and Julie Garwood, than you are going to like Ms. Hall. This is one author that I have no trouble recommending.

Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com

Just think Miss Congeniality and this is what youve got. Terri is a humorous smart ass, tomboy cop who comes from the Bayou and Cort is a reserved Alpha Male who comes from a wealthy family. Both try to fight their feelings for each other between finding a murderer and having sexy interactions.

I love love love Terri, she is sooo damn funny, (and not in that generic humorous way that most authors try to fork off on readers , this is good writing)I found myself trying to remember her wisecracks and saving them for myself. Hall is able to develop such a rich character in Terri when it seems some authors dont bother with the effort. Usually you get the virtuous cinderalla who says and does all she needs to do in order to keep the story going. Terri's character was not like that, youll love this story not only for its sexual chemistry and action but also for Terri, great `character, my favorite.

The best part about this book is the way the relationship between Cort and Terri progresses, from an unwilling attraction to greater understanding of each other. The tension and the sparring between the two, who are trying to fight their attraction for each other, are amusing. Terri is a tough-talking, sometimes crude, yet intelligent and vulnerable heroine. Cort is a macho guy! He starts off as rather insensitve and mean to Terri, well deserving of a good kick, and his former dates seem to have the unfortunate habit of going up in flames, but he redeems himself by finally seeing the great qualities in Terri. They are great together!
The plot is intriguing and the pace of the book never flags. The ending therefore was a total letdown. But by that time, I had enjoyed the book so much, it wasn't that big a quibble. The sex scenes were imaginative -- the bike ride was thrilling but best not tried at home.
This is also part of a series, with the first book featuring Cort's brother, and there are some scattered references to the earlier book. I hadn't read J.D.'s story before I picked this up, but they're not really connected and therefore it wasn't confusing. This book does however, give a clue about the conclusion of the first book, which I read anyway, after this.

I loved this book. Heat Of The Moment is both steamy and thrilling. Check it out!

In the footsteps of the first novel INTO THE FIRE featuring those sexy Gamble men, this sequel is also set in New Orleans, featuring Cort Gamble. Chock full of suspense and some very hot sensuality it is a non-stop read as a serial arsonist, torches a well-known bar claiming 15 victims in a well-planned and insanely effective statement. The next target, following closely on the first tragedy, is a beautiful socialite trapped and burned alive in her Mercedes. With some super sleuthing by a cast of fully developed CSI type characters, the case lands in the lap of Detective Terri Vincent whose long sought transfer out of homicide was backfiring and bringing her right back into a personal situation she wanted to avoid at all costs.

Cort Gamble, Fire Marshall had his hands full with the investigation and did not need the complications of working side by side with the one woman he determined was so not his type but could not forget. As the clues unraveled showing a madman whose aim in life seemed to be removing from Cort's life any woman he'd ever loved. In an attempt to draw a madman out Terri was assigned to play the part of Cort's lover - a part she'd played as a one night stand months ago that had left both of them with unfinished business. Would Terri's new assignment be setting them both up for a trip from the frying pan into a fire of unimaginable heat before the Torcher completed his quest?

Wow, if you like books hot with intrigue, action, humor, searingly sultry and non-stop page turning, then you are sure to love this book! Additionally, coupled with the suspense of such a serious plot, there was some humor injected into the makeover of a `butch' type serious detective into a sexy socialite diva! Immediately coming to mind as I read this was Sandra Bullock and Michael Caine's battles as he did her makeover in the movie `Miss Congeniality' - this was an absolute riot! Andre, who had the Herculean task of turning a sow's ear into a silk purse was priceless! For anyone thinking that the levity detracted in anyway from the seriousness of the plot will just have to take my word that, in my estimation, it only added another dimension to the entire story making it for me one very fabulous, hot and steamy read that I most certainly can recommend. --- Marilyn Rondeau, for www.contemporaryromancewriters.com ---

Estranged from her family, Terri Vincent is a tough talking, curse spewing, no-nonsense homicide detective in New Orleans. When her partner is away on his honeymoon, she takes the time to put in for a temporary transfer to the Organized Crime Unit. Mostly to avoid sexy fire marshal Cort Gamble, with whom she had a steamy one night stand months earlier.

But the OCU is determined to link them together, when some suspicious arson cases that resulted in deaths are linked to Cort, and the mafia. Her assignment is to get close to Cort and find out if he is dirty or not.

The chemistry between Terri and Court is scorching. Everyone around them seems to know what both of them are trying to ignore. When it is determined that the arsonist is targeting women who love Cort, Terri is asked to pose as his lover. Soon the two are sharing close quarters as well as repeats of past transgressions (who thought you could do that on a motorcycle).

Author Hall uses chemistry and some really great secondary characters (like Cort's mother Elizabet and her best friend, wise-cracking make-over guru, Andre) to move the story along. The end was a little off for me. After such a great build up, we really deserved a more believable ending. This is a sequel to "Into the Fire," which I did not realize until after I got into the book. It can stand on its own, but you may want to read the other one first for background.

Serial arsonist the Torcher blows up Maskers Tavern in the French Quarter killing the heir apparent son of mob chief Frank Belafini, the wife of the younger mobster, and thirteen other people. New Orleans Police Detective Teresa Vincent is temporarily reassigned from Homicide (until her partner returns from his honeymoon (see INTO THE FIRE) to the Organized Crime Unit. Her new boss Sebastian Ruel assigns her to investigate the Torcher arsons as the man has links to the mob. He especially wants her to look at Fire Marshall Cort Gamble who he believes is the culprit.

Because she still loves him although he rejected her following a one night stand, Terri refuses to believe that Cort is the killer although each fire contained a victim linked to the Fire Marshall. As Terri digs deep, Cort, at first in his official capacity and than as a desperate man, tries to prove his innocence against a tidal wave of counterproof evidence. He loves Terri, but worries that the Torcher has targeted his women so she could be next if the fiery killer learns how he feels about her?

Though the twist seems improbable as to the identity of the Torcher, fans will appreciate this powerful and exciting romance that never slows down from the moment the first explosion occurs until the final confrontation. Terri is a terrific cop who though she loves Cort will seek the truth even if he proves to be the Torcher. Cort is a beleaguered lead protagonist who sees the obvious ties back to him, but cannot figure out who is using the rope to hang him or why he has a deadly enemy murdering innocent victims.

Harriet Klausner

Terri Vincent is a cop on the NOPD, IF you read INTO THE FIRE you remember her and her partner JD Gamble. JD and Sable are on their honeymoon and Terri has requested a transfer until he returns. She doesn't want to have to work with or near Cort Gamble, JD's brother. She has been in love or lust with him for 10 years and after what happened between them while JD and Sable were hiding from Sable's father's killer in INTO THE FIRE,she feels she needs to get her head straight.

Cortland Gamble has had a lust for her ever since he met her at his brother's graduation. but like most men he doesn't want or need a woman who would complicate his life. He likes his love them and leave them life.

A serial arsonist, the Torcher, is terrifying the city, and Cort as Fire Marshall is striving to catch him. Terri is transfered to the Organized Crime Unit and gets hit with investigating non other than Cort Gamble. The head of the Unit thinks Cort has ties to the mob.

What can a girl do? Terri decides to try to prove Cort's innocence. When the Torcher starts killing the women Cort has dated, Terri is tapped, against her will and Cort's, to play the part of his latest conquest. Naturally this throws them togather alot, and human nature takes it's course.

With romance, suspense, and action set in the wonderful city of New Orleans, how can you miss? I enjoyed the book, even if you haven't read INTO THE FIRE, you will enjoy it. Then you can find INTO THE FIRE also an excellent read.

I saw this book recommended on a booksite, and am I glad I picked it up! I did read "Into the Fire" first, which I recommend, because it greatly helps with placing who J.D. is, and does contain a valuable (and hot!) scene with Cort and Terri that is referred to in this book.

Terri and Cort are great together, but mostly I just adore Terri. She's very tough, self-protective, and extremely funny and sarcastic. She reminded me of Eve Dallas from J.D. Robb's series. I totally understood where she was coming from and wanted to see her happy at all costs.

The action is intense, the love deep, and the sex scenes hot. Jessica Hall does sexual tension the way it's meant to be done. Excellent read.