Customer Reviews

The Heat Seekers

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(38)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(20)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

Fans of Zane and fans of literature alike will be able to appreciate her newest venture. The Heat Seekers, the saga of best friends Tempest and Janessa, has all of the humor and drama that has made Zane's previous works smash hits. However, this book also deals with some serious issues, such as unplanned pregnancy.

Tempest has been looking for love in all the wrong places. Harboring her doubts about the male species, she stumbles upon Geren, a man from the fairy tales. But she's been keeping secrets, and the heat from this one could cause her to lose it all. Tempest's best friend Janessa wants the same thing any woman wants. To be loved, to be appreciated. However, when you run with dogs, you're bound to get fleas, and Janessa finds out the difference between a boy and a man.

The Heat Seekers is an entertaining, thought provoking read with many plot twists and turns. The characters are likeable if not deserving of compassion and empathy. The Heat Seekers is complete with cameo appearances by characters from Shame On it All, including Raul, the exiguous entrepreneur, and passing mentions of the Whitfield sisters themselves. In this piece, Zane pays more attention to the serious issues confronting her characters, and less to their shenanigans. The book will have you doubled over in laughter one moment and pondering the decisions you may have made in your own life the next. The Heat Seekers is Zane's most robust work to date, while she proves to the literary world that she's got it like that.

Reviewed by CandaceK

I admit it. I'm a junkie for online reviews, and when I read the reviews for The Heat Seekers, I wanted to read it bad. Having been a fan of Zane's for several years, I just had to see what all the drama was about. After I read the novel, I came back to these reviews, and I was pretty confused. Zane has kicked her writing to a whole other level, and this is probably one of my better readings by Zane. I think people expect a writer to stay within the confinement of one genre or style of writing without realizing that a true writer will grow, will mature, and will tackle a variety of styles in his or her writing. That is what Zane has done with The Heat Seekers.

The Heat Seekers involves the stories of two sets of best friends -- Tempest and Janessa, and Dvonté and Geren. Tempest is a headstrong sister who has had a string of bad relationships, but when she meets Geren, a refine, handsome investment banker, she starts to believe that she can have that special love afforded only to soul mates. The problem comes into play when both Tempest and Geren keep secrets that may spell the end of their love affair. Janessa is an around the way sister who wants to try and put her life back on the right track. She lives at home with her parents and brother, and she's ready to get a good job and make a life of her own. At the club, the same night Tempest meets Geren, Janessa meets Dvonté, a playa who doesn't believe in love, commitment, relationships, or children. He's strictly in it for the sex, plain and simple. When Janessa gets involved with him, her life alters in ways she never expected, and she's forced to see who Dvonté really is.

I think what drew me into The Heat Seekers is its tone. It's serious. More serious than any of Zane's past works. This novel deals with abortion, unplanned pregnancies, suicide, the "ghetto" lifestyle, love, lies, and just plain ol' life. I could not put the book down. Tempest, by far my fave character, drew me into the story, and I was eager to wrap up the novel and see what would happen to everyone.

I think a lot of readers might be surprised not to see such an abundance of sex as Zane has had in previous novels, but the sexual scenes and innuendoes in this novel are tastefully done and drew me in just as much as any full blown, graphically detailed scene could. There's something to be said for giving a peek and allowing someone to imagine the rest.

In the end, I was extremely happy to see another facet to the writing of Zane. I hope to see more of this serious, deeper side in her future writings. I think the reason I didn't give this novel a 5 star is because there are still remnants of that Zane we know and love from her previous works. This novel has midgets and other off the wall, 'no you didn't go there' situations. I wanted a full departure, but instead, I received a 3/4 departure, and for me, that was enough.

I'm eager to see what twist in the literary road, Zane will put forth next.

Shon Bacon

In the latest novel by Zane, we are shown the lives of two friends, Tempest and Janessa. Tempest, a social worker who counsels pregnant teens, has been burned one two many times by the men she has dated. Janessa, a postal worker, is looking for love in all the wrong places. When they meet two best friends, Geren and Dvonte, at a nightclub their lives are changed forever.

Even though the novel was a little slow in the middle, I found The Heat Seekers to be a light, entertaining read. I enjoyed the friendship between Tempest and Janessa. Their interactions reminded me of me and my high school friends. Cursing each other out one minute and crying on each other's shoulders the next was an all too familiar scene. I could feel the romance between Tempest and Geren and cheered them on from the first meeting. I only received a glimpse of the relationships between Janessa and Dvonte and Dvonte and Geren so I was not as vested in them. The story, while a little predictable, was very enjoyable.

I would recommend this book to all. After having read Addicted and The Heat Seekers (with Addicted being my favorite of the two), I look forward to reading Shame on it All and The Sex Chronicles.

This book is actually a 4.5...

I guess when I picked this booked up (and paid full price for it) that I was looking for total erotic and a little more flavor. I was sorely disappointed!! Throughout the book, I kept wondering, "When will I get to the good part? Where's the vivid ... scenes?? Where's the peak story line?" Didn't happen!!

Zane's faceless characters lacked depth. The first chapter of the book was somewhat juicy, but then "Tempest" did a personality 360. I had to wonder if I was still reading about the same character. Someone needs to tell Zane that readers are not picking up her latest effort to read about self-proclaimed celibacy. Geez!!

The entire book read like amateur writing. There wasn't even a story line. What a flop!... Better luck next time...

I anxiously awaiting the arrival of this book after reading the other Zane novels. This novel was found to be a very big disappointment. This book did not live up to the name that Zane has made for herself. The story line was very easy to see through and rather boring. It lacked the passion and intense story line that this author has produced in the pass. I know that there will be ups and down, but this was a big downer! And it lacked quality, in other words in was way too GHETTO! I believe the infamous Zane got over on us on this one.

This is definitely a book you want to read.
If you've read Zane's other books, you'll know what I mean. Tempest and Geren seemed to be fed up with all of the hurt
and pain of past relationships, etc.
But they seem to find in each other all that they've been needing.

Janessa (Tempest's best friend) hooks up with Dvonte (Geren's best friend) and they explore a strictly sexual relationship
that leads them down a path they'd rather not take.

Yes, the story seemed to be a little fairy tail-ish and yes,
it was predictable, but it was well written and was a good read. It was funny too!

Reading this book gave me a refreshing break from some of the usual explicit sexual content of Zane's previous books.
I say that because in "The Heat Seekers" Zane really shows us that she is a true writer and that it's not always about "the sex".

Read this book!

I am a very big fan of Zane, but OH MY GOODNESS, I think someone else wrote this book for her! Nothing in it was like her previous works. I eagerly awaited the release of this book and even had it on order here at Amazon before it was released... IT [DISAPPOINTED]!! I absolutely never abandon a book because I always need closure, but I couldn't even finish it! And can someone please explain to me my girl ZANE's obsession with "midgets?!" I was very suprised to find that some readers gave this book 4 and 5 stars. The "secrets" that were "revealed" regarding Tempest and Darren... BORING! I read Zane's other books in 2 days or less... It took me 2 weeks to read Heat Seekers and I still didn't finish it. Every time I put it down it was too hard to pick back up. I'm looking forward to the next Zane novel because I believe she will make a come back! There's nowhere to go from Heat Seekers but up!

I have read all of Zane's book and I must say Zane is a captivating author. From the begining of the book till the end, she will have you at the edge of your seat. I consider her one of the greatest authors of this century. She is graphical and helps a woman discover what is missing in a woman's sex life. She makes the reader feel passion and the excitement when reading.
However, HEATSEEKERS was very disappointing. It lacked Passion, drama, excitement, life, thrill, and all the other elements that make her books great. I was very suprised at Zane because her books are always very good. Hopefully the next book would make up for this one.

Weak as a writer. The Heatseekers had the potential to be a great book with a decent story line but, Zane does not possess enough talent to pull it off. The entire time I was reading this material I prayed that it would come to an end. Her writing is cliche at best and she offers no good use of imagery. I predicted the end just by reading the liner notes on the inside flap. I give this book two stars because I was able to read it from cover to cover without being totally bored to death.

I know I read this before in my dreams or perhaps in my former life. This was all too predictable. I felt no compassion here. the story was preachy and not down to earth. geren was a character from the writers dreams, this black young millionaire had everyhing going for himself, i often wondered what he saw in tempest, didnt he say she had on a cheap black suit at first? and they met in a club of all places. anyway she has this gratifying job based on her past experiences and he is even too rich to pass for a broker. can i switch lives with these 2? janessa living in the projects with her brother who farts more than anything else, even has farting friends?? Janessa never tried to move out of her parents home in the projects even after applying to college. this SH!@#! is not REAL!! dvonte was the realest character and he sucked! To all my fellow Zane readers you know what applies here, say it with me, SHAME ON IT ALL!!!