Hot Flash [Mass Market Paperback]

Kathy Carmichael (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2009

On Jill Morgan Storm's fortieth birthday, she declares she is through with love. A conviction well justified, considering her first husband didn't leave her for another woman; he became one! More recently, her love affair came to a screeching halt when her lover dumped her for a young undergraduate. To make matters worse, the teeny-bopper stole Jill's "well-seasoned" frying pan, and when you're a sous chef, that's no small offense; it's a major felony.

When financial obligations threaten her son's dream of attending art school, Jill and her friends devise a foolproof plan to audition candidates for a new husband. The search for Mr. Right is on.

There is one problem, however. His name is Davin Wesley, an annoying third-grade schoolteacher, who relentlessly plagues her days, haunts her nights, and propels her libido into overdrive. She knows he is absolutely, undeniably wrong for her. So why, then, does Mr. Wrong take her breath away, curl her toes, and give her a hot flash every time she sees him? More importantly, what will she do if Mr. Wrong is actually Mr. Right?

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* After her husband decided to become a woman, sous-chef Jill found a lover who not only dumped her for a comely young college student but also kept Jill’s perfect, well-seasoned skillet, an important tool of her trade. Her father is in prison. Her mother’s behavior is more than slightly crazy. Jill’s son, Stephen, rarely speaks to her, and when he does, it’s usually in French. The only positive thing about Jill’s life is her faithful group of friends. They decide to help Jill find love—and in the process, a way to finance Stephen’s art school. With Jill, they put together a “Marriage Satisfaction Survey” and send it to couples featured in the newspapers on their 25th and 50th anniversaries, hoping to discover the secret of these long unions. Unfortunately, Jill discovers the one thing they have in common: the husband is never home. The road to true love has many twists and turns, and Jill stumbles across all of them in Carmichael’s delightful romantic comedy. --Shelley Mosley

Review

"I have never laughed or cried so hard as I have with this truly wonderful book!"  —Kathy Boswell, managing editor, The Best Reviews

"A pure joy to read . . . a flavor all its own. Reviewer Top Pick!!!"  —Night Owl Romance

"A very fun read."  —Leslie Granier, Armchair Interviews

"I highly recommend Hot Flash to anyone who loves to read romance. You will not be disappointed."  —Romance Junkies

"Indeed a major must-buy for this month; don't miss it!"  —Romance Reviews Today

"Pay attention book and movie fans alike because I would not be surprised to see this on the big screen! A laugh-out-loud treasure of a book for women and mothers of all ages!"  —Coffee Time Romance

"This story is beyond worthwhile and highly entertaining. Carmichael's writing is easy to lose yourself in."  —Romance Readers Connection

"Contemporary romance fans who want plenty of laughs will enjoy the frolics."  —Midwest Book Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 325 pages
• Publisher: Medallion Press (February 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934755036
• ISBN-13: 978-1934755037
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,536,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #37 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Relationships > Mate Seeking

More About the Author

Award-winning comedy author Kathy Carmichael resides on Florida's west coast, along with her Scottish husband, two not-so-wee-sons, and a bevy of cantankerous felines. Kathy's women's fiction/romantic comedy, HOT FLASH, was named as one of the Top 10 Romance Fiction titles for 2009 by the American Library Association's BOOKLIST magazine.

A popular guest lecturer, Kathy presents seminars to writers and readers. Prior to becoming an author, Kathy worked in advertising, as a paralegal and as a communications consultant. She tended bar while in college, where she served drinks mixed with advice. This gave her a unique glimpse into people's lives and motivations, which she uses in her writing.

Despite rumors to the contrary, she has never been recruited by the CIA or the other CIA (Culinary Institute of America). Kathy loves hearing from readers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You're Over 30, You Enjoy It. If You're over 40, You Totally Get It, July 8, 2010

By 

Vicki Hinze (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hot Flash (Mass Market Paperback)

A single mom deals with all the challenges of being a single mom trying to pay for her son's college. This isn't all that happens to her, she's living a real life, including a fickle betrayal by a former love interest. Single moms and women over 40, struggling to build a worthy life, will see tons of merit in Jill's journey. The good, the not so good, and the totally awful are faced with wry humor and wit. I totally enjoyed this romantic comedy, and when going through those moments, I pick up this book and read the opening line. I smile and nod every time. My favorite part: the skillet. It symbolizes so much that fits our own lives.

39 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The intent is humor through someone's dating, job and family frustrations, but it wasn't my kind of humor., January 20, 2009

By 

Jane (Chicago, IL, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hot Flash (Mass Market Paperback)

STORY BRIEF:
The entire story is told in first person from Jill's point of view. It's about her frustrations in her job and searching for a husband. Her son Stephen is a senior in high school. Jill has no money to pay Stephen's college expenses, and she doesn't want to saddle him with student loans. She wants to marry a traveling salesman who will be gone a lot and provide money for college. Jill meets and goes on some first dates which are bad fits. At the same time, one of Stephen's teachers is interested in Jill, but she pushes him away. Jill is divorced, forty and experiencing her first hot flashes.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
This feels more like chick lit than romance, but there is the looking for and finding of romance. Since my preferred genre is romance, my rating may be a little low for chick lit lovers. Most of the humor is in the mix of strange characters in her life, for example: her boss is frequently drunk and gropes her, her ex-husband has a sex change, and her dad is in jail for an Enron-type crime. Also, her ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend steals Jill's favorite skillet, causing much distress for Jill. It is an interesting story with some excellent surprises at the end. But it's the kind of story that I would read only if it makes me laugh, and it didn't. I felt like I was listening to my girlfriend's description of her life. It's not the kind of story to pull me in emotionally. But that's not what it was meant for. It's Jill's point of view, and we see Jill's feelings but no one else's. Humor is in the eye of the beholder, and this one wasn't a fit for me.

The main value to me was seeing how frustrating it can be looking for a husband. Jill meets new men, goes out with them and finds they are not good fits for her. They have their own quirks and problems. The best match for her was someone who was there all along, but she refused to consider him for a couple of reasons. We also see one of Jill's girlfriends with a mooching boyfriend problem.

DATA:
Story length: 371 pages. Swearing language: moderate to strong. Sexual language: none to mild. Number of sex scenes: 1, two pages long. Setting: current day Las Vegas, Nevada. Copyright: 2009. Genre: chick lit.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gotta Get This Book, February 13, 2009

By 

EP - See all my reviews

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

Every woman can relate to Jill Morgan Storm in the book Hot Flash by Kathy Carmichael. A working mom. Financial challenges. In search of the perfect man (who'll only be around part of the time!). Throw in a Mr. Wrong who makes her tingle to her toes, and you've got one fun story with a savvy, witty heroine. If you like to chuckle while going on a fun romp with an adventuresome female chef, then this book is for you. Kudos to the author! -E. P.