Hot & Bothered (Marine, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Susan Andersen (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
A classic plot line receives a fresh, fun treatment in the final book in Andersen's trilogy (Head over Heels; Getting Lucky) featuring hunky former Marine buddies who find love—or rediscover it—in unexpected places. A weeklong, no-last-names romance in Pensacola leaves John Miglionni with the determination to take a hard look at his life, and high-society architect Victoria Hamilton with memories of hot loving and a very real pregnancy. Now, six years later, when Victoria's younger brother, Jared, disappears the night their father is fatally stabbed, Victoria hires a detective from Semper Fi Investigations to track down Jared and prove his innocence—only to discover the PI is her long-ago lover, John. Surprise daddyhood, concern for Jared and an awareness of their disparate backgrounds delay the sexual sparks between John and Victoria, but once the fire starts, there's no putting it out. Still, John and Victoria have to work through their issues of mistrust and uncover who really killed Victoria's father before they can have a future together. John's worries about his ability to be a good father and several likable, well-developed secondary characters add depth to this zesty novel, placing it a level beyond most of its competition.
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Review
"Hot, edgy, wry and addictive."
-- Elizabeth Lowell --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: Mira (August 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778320219
• ISBN-13: 978-0778320210
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #376,493 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A VERY GOOD READ!!!!!, July 28, 2004

By	Elaine C McTyer "avid reader" (Dawson, GA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I have waited for Rocket's (John Miglionni) story. We first met him in HEAD OVER HEELS, then he helped his buddy Zach in LUCKY SEVEN. He is a former SEAL now a PI.

When Victoria Hamilton's father is murdered, her lawyer sends John to help her find her brother. Who has run away because he thinks he killed his father when he pushed him and he fell down. He doesn't know that his father was stabbed to death.

Surprise, John and Tori had a fling 6 years earlier. The deal was no last names or regrets. So he didn't know her last name and she didn't know his.

Surprise again, They have a 5 year old daughter Esme. It's downhill from there. Tori's father was a rich, cold, manipulative clod. He was mentally abusive. When he demanded she have an abortion, she left and has lived in England for the last six years. Only her father's murder could have brought her home.
She didn't want her child raised like she was.

John's father wasn't rich but he was abusive, physically and mentally. John has always worried about becoming like his old man and works hard to control his temper. He is very insecure about his ability to maintain a relationship, and therefore, has not allowed himself to become emotionally involved with a woman.

Now he has no choice, not only has he never forgotten Tori, he has a daughter to think about, he is something he had never expected to be, a father.

During all this he has to try to catch a murderer and prove Tori's brother did not kill her father.

This book is not quite as lighthearted and humerous as the first two. But I loved it. John not only has to work out the mystery, but he has to learn who he is, after all these years of letting his father's opinion rule his life. He must discover that he is a worthwhile being, and that he is lovable, that someone can and does love him. He must learn to trust others as well as himself.

Tori has to learn to trust also. This is a book about lives touching lives and the damage that can carry over from childhood to adulthood. It also reveals the courage that can change all of that. Sometimes it just takes faith.

Since I read my first Susan Andersen book (EXPOSURE, still my favorite) She has always delivered a wonderful reading experience. This is no exception.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars exciting private investigation romance , July 28, 2004

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In Colorado Springs, Ford Hamilton thinks his two children from different women are major disappointments. His oldest Victoria got pregnant with some nameless jerk and refused to abort; instead she raises her daughter Esme by herself. His teenage son Jared is an angry loser with a history of trouble with the law. Ford's feelings towards his offspring end when someone stabs him in his heart with his letter opener.

The police believe that the missing Jared killed his father following a public brawl, but Victoria cannot believe her sensitive half-brother would harm anyone. She hires Semper Fi Investigations to find her missing sibling and to determine who killed their father. John "Rocket" Miglionni visits his firm's new client only to receive the shock of his life when he sees Tori. They met on vacation, but she left on an emergency and never returned honoring his wishes of just the moment between first names. John receives a greater shock when he meets his daughter five years old Esme. John wants in his child's life, but also realizes he needs her mother too, but first must solve the homicide and the disappearance, which both seem easier than persuading his Tori that they belong together.

This exciting private investigation romance hooks readers the moment John sees his client and explodes when he meets his child. Though coincidence plays a minor role, the action-packed story line moves forward on two paths (the relationship between the two stars and the homicide- missing person inquiries) that eventually converge when the life of the lead female is in jeopardy. Readers will gain pleasure from this quality romantic suspense thriller.

Harriet Klausner

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Unfulfilled Potential, October 6, 2004

By	Chris (Atlanta) - See all my reviews

After reading the first two books in this series, Head over Heels, and Getting Lucky, I couldn't wait for Hot and Bothered to come out. There is something about Susan Andersen's writing style that is so enjoyable and memorable. Her characters are always so likeable. That said, I wish this could be a better review and truly Hot and Bothered isn't a bad book, it just isn't a great book. If I hadn't read the first two in the series, I don't think it would have occurred to me how the author missed the mark but since I did read them, the unfulfilled potential of this book drove me nuts. The dialogue is flat and none of the sex scenes were hot or exciting. I never felt a connection with these characters and I couldn't figure out why Rocket didn't want to know about Tory's pregnancy and Esme's childhood up to the point that he meets her. I think this book suffered from too much attention on Jared and PJ's story and not enough attention on the main story.