Customer Reviews

Hot Mail

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What happens when life intrudes on best friends and they drift apart? Then one comes up with a plan to show the other person what they really could have if only he would pay attention to what was in front of him. This is what happened between Ethan Oldham and Jane Norman.

HOT MAIL is the next release for Janice Maynard. Just as the title implies it is a hot read, but so good at the same time.

Jane loves Ethan, always has, and wants more than the "good friend" relationship. Coming up with a plan to give it one more try to gain Ethan's interest in more than the platonic friendship they have had in the past. How better than to send him erotic valentines to gain his attention. But sometimes best laid plans can go astray.

Ethan feels badly about not having Jane in his life anymore, and after a heart to heart with his sister, Sherry, does some serious thinking. When Jane has problems at her store - Ethan as Assistant Chief of Police - rides to the rescue. But finds he is out of his element when finally realizing his true feelings toward Jane. Now on top of everything, how can he act on these feelings when he has a stalker? What a tangled web this has become.

The secondary romance between Ethan's sister Sherry and one of his men, Randy, enriches the story. Only there are problems and an age difference, making Sherry feel like a cougar, that have to be worked through. Both couples make this story a hot one, and you have to feel sorry for both Ethan and Randy who know what they want - but how to attain it is a puzzle.

I love how Janice has weaved this story and as sizzling as the couples are together, there is a lot that has to be worked through. You are pulling for them both, but at times, want to smack one or the other for not seeing what is in front of them. The journey that the reader is taken on is a roller coaster one, but at the same time is so feasible. From the first page to the last page, this is an steamy, exciting read, and I would recommend it. This author is an auto buy for me, and always delivers a well rounded story and a sigh worthy ending.

As Valentine's Day nears, Jane devises a plan to reveal her long-hidden love for her estranged best friend, Ethan. She decides to pen a poem for him every week until Valentine's Day, sending them anonymously. Her hope? That the object of her affection will be so intrigued by the outpouring of her heart that it will kindle a like sentiment in him when she finally announces her identity to him.

The letters definitely get Ethan's attention, but when Jane becomes the target of a mysterious vandal, the danger she is in takes center stage in his mind. The first attack gives him the perfect reason to renew his acquaintance with an old friend, but then something odd happens - he realizes that his feelings for Jane go far beyond friendship.

Ethan wants Jane, all right, but first the sexy lawman has to keep her safe from the danger stalking her.

Do you want to know why I like reading author Janice Maynard's work? HOT MAIL is a perfect example of why. This book has it all - sweet romance, sexy love scenes, and even a little bit of suspense.

Ms. Maynard uses one of my favorite themes in this story - long-time friends who find true love in each other's arms. Really, is there anything better than the idea of finding a soul mate in someone you can call a friend? Combining passion with friendship is a splendid recipe for a happy ending.

Jane is certainly a sympathetic character. She has loved Ethan from afar for years, playing the part of his platonic buddy while watching him date other women. Watching as she finally grabs life - or love, in this case - by the horns and makes one last attempt to seize romantic happiness for herself with the man of her dreams is inspiring. Of course, plans often have a way of going awry, and hers doesn't go exactly the way she imagined.

When Ethan walks back into her life after a break-in, he isn't quite prepared for the new feelings he finds he has for her. Lucky for Jane, Ethan adapts quickly, although he is understandably frightened of scaring off Jane now that he finally has her back in his life. Too bad he doesn't realize sooner she is already hopelessly in love with him. Then again, what kind of romance story would it be if he did? LOL

HOT MAIL is a wonderfully sweet and suspenseful romance that will make you long for a relationship with a foundation as strong as the one Ethan and Jane build theirs on. This book is definitely a keeper!

**Courtesy of Wild on Books**

Another new year is approaching, and Jane Norman still doesn't have the man of her dreams in her life. For years, she's had the hots for the Sheriff, Ethan Oldham, who only sees her as an old friend. Deciding to take the bull by the horns, Jane is going to write him erotic poetry every Friday until Valentine's Day. Will her plans to seduce Ethan via the pen work?

If you enjoy "friends becoming lovers stories", then Janice Maynard's Hot Mail is for you. I love it when two people really see each other through new eyes. Jane grew up with Ethan and idolized him. He only saw her as "one of the boys", never looking in front of his face to appreciate what was before him. Ethan devastated her years ago, choosing another woman as his fiancée, but luckily for both of them, things didn't work out. Now, Jane has decided to find the gumption to write erotic Valentines, mailing them anonymously to him.

At the same time, Ethan's sister challenges him to live life again. Having Jane thrust back into his life when a burglar threatens her livelihood makes him see her in a new light. The two have a passionate love affair but something keeps bothering Ethan. Who is writing these love notes? While Ethan is figuring this mystery out, Jane is feeling guilty, wondering if Ethan will leave her when his discovers her duplicity.

Ms. Maynard treats us to a secondary story in Hot Mail with Ethan's sister, Sherry, and a fellow police officer, Randy. Demonstrating that love knows no age, these two have just as steamy a courtship as Jane and Ethan! Loose yourself in the small town of Statlerville, falling in love with these wonderful characters.

Jane and Ethan have known each other for more than half their lives; Jane has loved Ethan for several of those those years. They were best friends until Ethan secretly became engaged to someone else, and although that engagement was soon broken, Jane's tender heart and their friendship were both crushed. Jane finally decides that she's waited long enough to make her feelings known and begins anonymously sending sexy valentines to Ethan. He is immediately intrigued by the suggestive poems, but when Jane's paper/stationery shop becomes the target of a vandal, Ethan, as assistant police chief, focuses all of his attention on Jane and her safety. When the vandalism continues and the threat appears to be escalating, Ethan insists on sticking close, but Jane wants him for more than just her protector. It isn't long before the two become involved, and Jane thinks her wishes may finally be coming true. Until, that is, Ethan's reaction to the naughty valentines isn't quite what Jane was expecting.
Ethan, being your typical male, never quite understood what happened between him and Jane. All he knows is that he has desperately missed her friendship and even more so, her companionship. When he thinks that Jane is in danger, he becomes nearly obsessed with keeping her safe and soon realizes that his feelings for Jane run much deeper than he ever realized and his intentions quickly turn romantic. Ethan has decided that he wants a future with Jane, but the intrigue of the seductress sending him secret valentines is a frequent niggle in the back of his mind.
Jane and Ethan are both very likable characters. Janice Maynard has written them in such a way that they seem incredibly real and instantly familiar. There's a good mix of sweet and sexy in HOT MAIL, typical of all of Janice's books, and secondary romance of Ethan's sister is an equally sweet bonus. I give this book the highest of recommendations to all contemporary romance lovers. Not as blatantly erotic as Janice's "Elizabeth Scott" works, HOT MAIL is plenty satisfying.

In Statlerville, Tennessee Jane Norman has always wanted her former best friend Ethan Oldham, but he never displayed any inclination of caring for her that way. Their friendship forged as the two tallest kids in junior high school ended four years when Ethan became engaged to a gold-digging pariah. Although Jane sort of moved on, her love for Ethan remains strong.

Deciding he will never take the first step, thirty-two year old Jane decides on an anonymous inane HOT MAIL campaign to win his heart or at least intimate time with him in his bed. She begins sending him love letters so graphic he fears his hands will burn by touching them; once a week they arrive and he finds himself anxiously waiting for the next one even as he wonders who is sending them. When someone burglarizes Jane's stationary store, Assistant Chief of Police Ethan investigates. As they renew their friendship ironically the erotic letter writer causes a triangle that leaves Jane looking on with desire while her shadow self wins his heart.

HOT MAIL is an amusing contemporary romance that contains underlying issues which strengthens the story line. The lead couple is a terrific pairing even if Ethan is ignorant to the facts while the support cast especially his older sister facing empty nest syndrome with her ex in Florida and her daughter about to attend college at U of South Florida deepens the plot. The letter campaign proves too successful opening up more problems for the heroine whose New Year's Resolution looks dead with Valentine's Day approaching. Janice Maynard provides a delightful humorous charmer.

Harriet Klausner

STORY BRIEF:
Ethan and Jane grew up being best friends. Years earlier Jane realized she wanted more but never acted on it. Ethan's priority was his career, and he wasn't thinking about a deeper relationship. Four years ago Ethan became engaged to another woman but broke it off. At that time, Jane was hurt by the engagement and became cold and distant toward Ethan. Now, Jane decides to take a chance and let him know she loves him, anonymously. She mails an anonymous love poem to him. There is a break-in at her shop and Ethan stays one night at her home for her safety. He is assistant police chief. They begin speaking to each other again. The next week Jane sends another anonymous love poem. Ethan realizes he is physically attracted to her and they begin seeing each other.

REVIEWER'S OPINION WITH SOME SPOILERS:
I did not like the game playing. They've begun a relationship, yet Jane leaves him at times and refuses to be with him because she is mad that he doesn't tell her he has been receiving anonymous letters. Since their relationship is so new, she should not expect him to blurt out everything. Ethan did not tell her for two reasons. One, he was afraid she would be hurt and break up with him. Two, he was afraid the anonymous sender might be dangerous, and he wanted to protect Jane. I didn't buy the second reason. If he really wanted to protect Jane he would tell Jane of a possible threat, not keep her ignorant.

I had another problem. Ethan knew the sender would be mailing another letter on a certain day in a certain mail slot at the post office. He was wondering if the sender might be dangerous. As a policeman, Ethan spent all day at the post office watching to see who the anonymous sender was. He saw Jane put a suspicious envelope in the slot. He should have asked the postal worker to turn it over to see who it was addressed to, but he didn't, he just left. He was there for most of the day and then didn't stay until the post office closed? He didn't ask to see the address? What kind of police work is that? I was frustrated.

Ethan's actions were not believable. Jane's insincerity and being mad at him for reasons I didn't like, bothered me. The major conflicts were based on insincerity and inaccurate assumptions which bother me because they are so overused by romance authors.

A second relationship occurs between Sherry and Randy. I was frustrated with Sherry whose actions and words were mean and insensitive to Randy after he proposed. Because of that, I had trouble liking her. She also acted on inaccurate assumptions. She assumed she was wrong for him because she couldn't have kids. She loved him but didn't want to let him know, because she thought "he would use it against her." What is this - a trial or something? I usually don't care for stories which have someone refusing to be with another because she fears being hurt. This is another plot device which is overused by romance authors.

On the positive side, I think the author is a talented writer. She creates interesting characters and events. She describes things well. Reading her story is enjoyable if one doesn't mind the plot problems I mentioned.

DATA:
Story length: 264 pages. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 10. Total number of sex scene pages: 43. Setting: current day Statlerville, Tennessee. Copyright: 2009. Genre: contemporary romance.

This is the first book I've read by this author, and she's going to be on my auto-buy list from here on!

I absolutely loved this book. The story was believable, the characters loavable, and the sex was absolutely HOT. If you like erotic romance, you'll love this book!

Hot Mail by Janice Maynard is all out sexy and wonderfully romantic.

Jane Norman for years has had feelings beyond friendship for Chief of Police Ethan Oldham. Jane decides its now or never with Ethan. She comes up with the plan to seduce him via racy Valentine's, one a week until February 14th.

Ethan Oldham hasn't really dated since the breakup of his engagement over four years ago. Even his close friendship with Jane has fallen by the wayside. Suddenly he is receiving erotic Valentines and isn't sure what to make of them. They make him think of things he had long given up on.

When Jane's business and person are attacked, Ethan vows to protect her. Watching over Jane rekindles their friendship and takes it further then Ethan had even thought was possible.

Ethan and Jane embark on a hot and heavy romance. Jane avoids telling Ethan who is behind these Valentine's. Will this break up their newfound romance when he finds out its Jane?

Janice Maynard's Hot Mail is a perfect romance of friends to lovers. Ethan and Jane have a rekindled friendship that means the world to both of them. Their romance is a deeper extension of that friendship and is sexy as anything written. You should go buy this book and enjoy it.

I could only give Hot Mail 3 stars because Jaynice Maynard has better works out there. My favorite by Jaynice is by far Proper Etiquette. I did enjoy Jane and Ethan's story, however I'm not a big fan of long time friends finally find love. How could Ethan be so foolish as to wonder why they stopped being friends once he got engaged? Of course you're going to stop being best friends with a girl when you get engaged. I didn't really care for the whole mystery valentine's either.
The love scenes between Jane and Ethan are very good--loving, but also sexy. On the whole I like Ethan a lot, but he was pretty slow on the up take to finally find Jane attractive and a love interest.
The secondary story-line between Ethan's sister and one of his police officers was great! I wished they had a whole book on their own, but I am and HUGE fan of older woman younger man!
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Jaynice Maynard because Jaynice is always worth reading--I just feel she has better works out there.

I was pleasantly surprised when I first read Janice Maynard. Her book, The Perfect Ten was a sexy and enjoyable read. Some may label Janice as erotica because the love scenes she pens do smolder, but never crosses that line were I would be uncomfortable reading. There are no hanging from the ceiling scenes or crazy out of control sexual positions that will make your eyes pop out of your head. Her latest, Hot Mail was even better than I expected. This is one contemporary romance that is a must read to start off 2009.

Jane Norman runs her own stationary store in a small town in Tennessee called Statlerville where she grew up. Jane loves the small town life, and should be fulfilled, but she isn't. Jane is thirty-two and even though her biological clock isn't ticking yet, she yearns for sex, really good sex with great foreplay and cuddling afterward. Jane has never had that and since she is all alone on New Year's Eve she is a bit depressed. She really wants the new year to be different than all the past years and she wants to spend it with that special man in her life that got away from her. He is Ethan Oldham, the assistant chief of police and the man Jane has always loved. Jane and Ethan have known each other forever and were once the best of friends. Four years ago, Jane let their friendship slide when Ethan became engaged to another woman. Jane was heartbroken and couldn't remain so close to Ethan. Ethan was oblivious to Jane's feelings.

Ethan's engagement ended and now Jane thinks this is the perfect time to act. Instead of coming out and saying her feelings, she decides to do something so out of the box, and that is send Ethan a love poem from a secret admirer. She will write these poems till Valentine's Day and by then she hopes Ethan will get a clue that she is the one who has sent them. And when Ethan finally realizes how much Jane cares for him, she wants to get down to business, as in the bedroom, where Ethan can use his handcuffs to good use.

Ethan has regrets about his engagement, not only because the woman he was engaged to was so wrong for him, but because it ruined his relationship with Jane. Ethan wants to go back to what he had with Jane, but is not sure how to do it because he thinks Jane wants nothing to do with him. He never understood why they drifted apart. Being the assistant chief of police keeps him very busy as well as keeping an eye out for his older sister, who is a divorced mother. His sister Sherry got pregnant at seventeen and now her daughter Debra has moved away to go to college in Florida where her father is. Sherry is depressed and feels like an old maid with no one around to care for, other than Ethan. Sherry wants Ethan to start dating again, because he has become quite the dating hermit. He makes a ton of excuses on why he can't. But he would still love to try and see if Jane wants to be friends again.

One night there is a break in at Jane's story and Ethan rushes there to make sure she is okay. Ethan even stays the night in her apartment to calm her down. Things between these two are a bit shaky, but Jane is thrilled that Ethan seems to want to be close again. Ethan is concerned for Jane. But then he is in for quite a shock when he is sent an anonymous sex note! He thinks he may have a stalker and keeps the note hidden. He doesn't want Jane to find out. Soon these two are slowly becoming comfortable with one another again. They talk and hang out. Ethan is thrilled, while Jane is frustrated because she wants Ethan to make the next move. She is through with just being best buds. She wants Ethan to become her lover. But Ethan won't do that because he doesn't want to ruin what they now have. Plus, he is a bit confused because his feelings for Jane has changed where he wonders what it would be like to kiss her and do other things.

Suddenly Jane is the target of vandals and her store is almost burned down. Someone is out to destroy her business and Ethan is the one who wants to protect her. Ethan continues to receive steamy sex poems and he becomes even more embarrassed. He has no clue who is sending them to him and feels he can't ask Jane for advice. Things are going so well between him and Jane, so well in fact that these two former best friends are no enjoying each other's company in bed.

I always have enjoyed romances where friends become lovers. Jane and Ethan are so adorable and Ethan's response to his growing feelings and other body parts for Jane made me smile. Soon after Jane and Ethan become physical, Ethan can't help but want Jane all the time. His dry spell with sex is now over and only Jane can quench his thirst. Jane loves being sexually adventurous and free with Ethan. He loves her body, her attitude and the way she embraces life. Jane is the type of woman a man wants as his best friend and life long partner.

The sex scenes between these two simmer and I loved how they were so comfortable with one another. The small mystery about why Jane's store is being targeted doesn't overtake the story but allows Jane and Ethan to act on their feelings for one another. And even when Jane and Ethan have finally become a couple, Jane still sends her love poems to Ethan. Ethan is so clueless and after a while I wanted him to get a clue because right till the very end he had no idea that Jane is his secret admirer.

There is also a nice secondary romance with Ethan's sister Sherry and one of Ethan's younger officers. Randy is almost ten years younger than Sherry but has fallen really hard for her. Sherry enjoys the attention but can't understand why a young attractive guy like Randy would want to date an old single mother like her? Janice Maynard can sure write some incredible man and she does a great job with both Ethan and Randy. Randy's pursuit of Sherry was just as great to read as well as Ethan and Jane's budding romance.

Hot Mail is a winner in my book. If you haven't had the chance to read a Janice Maynard title, definitely add this book to your TBR pile.

Katiebabs