Customer Reviews

Hot & Bothered

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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

Susan Andersen writes very entertaining, humorous books. Her current heroes are a little hard for me to swallow though. (Sexy built current/ex-Marines with cool careers and insane amounts of sexual experience.) Granted, the heroes are supposed to be dreamy fantasies, but I like them to be somewhere near the realm of reality.

The hero is actually reasonably nice to the heroine throughout the book, which is refreshing after the beginnings of the other two books in the trilogy. This book is a bit sweeter/sadder and less of a steamy laugh riot than other Susan Andersen books. The kids are worked in fairly well; they're fleshed out and aren't just plot devices. The plotline has a few small holes in it, and there were some glaring issues in the couple's relationship that are left almost totally untouched. Every now and then though, she releases an absolutely perfect chunk of dialogue, and it's just wonderful.

The main couple doesn't draw you in as deeply they do in other Susan Andersen books, mostly because they're such tough cookies and seem to have much less vulnerability than her past leading couples. You don't worry about them not ending up together, so you don't end up investing much emotion into the book. The guy just comes off as being silly during his emotional crisis towards the end of the book. Overall, it's a decent read, but not a must-read.

Ms. Andersen has finally delivered us John "Rocket" Miglionni's story and it was well worth the wait to see this tough guy fall in love with Victoria Hamilton, the one woman that ever walked away from him!

John is out of the Marines and is now a P.I. who has been asked to look for a missing teen who may or may not have been involved in a murder. He is not aware that this missing boy is in fact related to the one woman that he has not forgotten, but only knew as "Tori". His world spins out of control when he finds out that not only is this case hitting close to home, he also finds out he's a daddy! Yes, Rocket is a daddy and that may be even more terrifying then being under fire! Will he be able to juggle his new responsiblity, his ever growing attraction to Victoria, and the case that he has been handled before Jared (Victoria's younger half-brother) is arrested for murder?

This book was a fast read and John and Victoria are a great romance couple. There is never a dull moment between them and Esme (John and Victoria's daughter) is a sweet addition to this great cast of characters that yes, include visits from old friends. This was a fun book and one that I think you will enjoy.

Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com

This is the first Susan Andersen book I have read and I think it was wonderful! I don't usually read romances - prefer cozy mysteries - but have read a few recently and enjoyed them so when I saw this one, I thought I would try it. I truly enjoyed it and actually read it in one day (usually takes me close to a week to read a book because I don't get much time); reading whenever I got a chance. There was a mystery in it too, and I will say I never actually figured out who did it - though I did have some thoughts about it. I would definitely read another of this author's books.

I haven't read the first 2 books of the series so i'm not

comparing it to the other novels. Others seem to think it's

inferior to the other 2. My personal opinion is that it is

an extremely entertaining read. I enjoyed the characters and

the story. Read the entire book straight through in a day only

taking breaks for food. Funny and quirky. I'll be looking into

her other novels and i'll be expecting a 4th in the series involving PJ and Jerod. Just an fyi, i'm not a big romance novel

fan but I have read my share of them but usually have problems

finishing them. This book rates a 5 star for me.

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.

A better than average romance that uses the time-worn plot of rekindling a long ago romance that had resulted in a child. John, known as Rocket, investigates the murder of Tori's crochety father and tries to find her runaway brother. Proximity forces them to reassess their attraction to each other, but is complicated when Rocket realizes Tori's daughter is also his daughter.

The characters have depth and even the side plots are well developed (the young brother's experience on the streets and the friendship that saves him there). The mystery blends well with the romance for a satisfying read. My favorite, so far, of Andersen's books is Skintight, but this one was sexy and reasonably real though I got a little tired of the rapsodizing over Rocket's "rocket" and appearance and abilities.

Susan Andersen is one of my favorite romance authors. The two books leading up to this one, Getting Lucky and Head Over Heels, were excellent and Hot & Bothered fits right in.

You've got two major stories here, Tori and John "Rocket" Miglionni (from the previous books)as they deal with forming a family and solving a murder and Tori's brother Jared and P.J. (Pracilla Jean) as they start a friendship and try to survive life on the streets of Denver. I thought both relationships were interesting and am hoping Andersen gives us another book once P.J. grows up, she's a fiesty one and would make a great heroine.

Over all, the mystery is overshadowed by the relationships, but what can you expect? It is a romance novel. The love scenes weren't quite as hot as some of Andersen's previous books, but they were still well written and worth the read. And it was nice to catch up with some of our old friends from previous books.

Three's a charm and Hot & Bothered is no exception. Great Job, Susan!

As Rocket seraches for Tori's brother, and tries to help clear his name in the murder of their father, the sparks fly between Tori and Rocket. It doesn't help when he arrives at her house and notices his own eyes staring back at him in miniture form. Tori hadn't been ready for him to meet his daughter.

As the sparks fly between these two, the suspense heats up. If her brother isn't responsible for her father's death who is?

Any fan of contemp romance will enjoy this. The story is very light hearted and though it's not neccessairly an emotional read, it is very fun. You shouldn't be able to resist the quick chuckle this one offers!