Customer Reviews

Hot Stuff

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I am a huge Janet Evanovich fan; this is not one of her better stories. The book jacket summary sounded very interesting to me, it had real potential to be a lighthearted, intriguing romance. The book started out decent enough, I immediately liked the main character, Cate, and fell for her and her crazy Irish family. At the same time I was falling for the Madigan's I was introduced to a not so loveable character, Patrick Pugg. This guy is so annoying it really takes away from the rest of the story. I feel he was inserted into the story to garner some laughs; unfortunately he had the opposite effect on me. He constantly refers to himself in the third person, everything is "Pugg this" and "Pugg that." It was exhausting and exasperating to read! He had absolutely zero redeeming qualities; any normal person would have sprayed this guy with mace and taken out a restraining order. For you Plum fans, think of all the faults and quirks of the character Albert Kloughn, add a few more, than multiply and magnify by 100.

The rest of the characters were endearing and likeable. Kellen McBride is a loveable hero and it's easy to see why he and Cate are so attracted to one another. The whole mystery of the missing drag queen roommate and the other surprises (don't want to spoil anything) also had some potential, but ended up falling flat for me. The ending and the wrap up of the mystery was completely unbelievable and ridiculous. And just when I'd think it couldn't get any more far fetched, it would. While I know this is fiction, and I appreciate the land of make believe, I always prefer a little reality in my books.

The humor and the dialogue seemed really forced and childish to me. Nothing in this book made me laugh out loud, like I normally do with a Janet read, I barely smiled at some parts. Another problem with this story was the introduction of yet another dog. I was happy this one didn't resort to the normal dog antics, but the dog thing is getting a bit stale for me. Not the worst book I have read, but far from the best. If you're dying to read this book, I recommend borrowing it from a friend or your local library.

Cate Madigan is sick of being set up romantically by her well-meaning family, but it sure as heck beats being set up to be in danger. She finds herself facing both situations, however. First, she is stuck with a semi-stalker named Pugg, sicced on her by her mother, who now refuses to take no for an answer. He's nice, just weird and more than a little annoying. Besides, she's just found her own man, one Kellen McBride who perfectly fits the nickname a friend gives him of Mr. Yummy. Then, because her landlord/room mate lands in trouble with some thugs and vamooses, but not before making sure she has protection in the form of a hulk of a dog. The thugs are even more determined than Pugg, though, so it's a good thing Cate has Beast, Pugg, and Kellen all to help protect her as she tries to find out what in the Sam Hill is going on and to stay alive. Somewhere in the chaos, she does make on very interesting discovery; she's in love with Kellen.

**** If Janet Evanovich's name is on the cover of a book, I have learned over the years that that is a guaratee of a fun read that would make the most serious person grin. While I've never read Ms. Banks before, it seems she blends very well with Ms. Evanovich's style, creating a memorable, fast-paced story that you'll be sorry for it to end. This is a great way to fill the waiting space between Plum books. ****

This book seemed to me to be written by an author, or authors, who were afraid to take it one or two steps further. The storyline was weak, the action weak, the thugs and "bad guys" not believeable at all and the leading characters just shadows of what they could have been. I love the Stephanie Plum series and tried really, really hard not to make a comparison. Unfortunately, the authors made it impossible to separate Plum from Hot Stuff. There were Plumisms scattered throughout the book and the characters were recycled from the Plum books. I wonder why Janet and LeAnn even bothered with the book. There was nothing hot about Hot Stuff at all.

To be honest I do not like any of the pre-Plum books (being re-released) or her co-authored books with Charlotte Hughes so I was prepared not to like Hot Stuff. I'm glad I read it. It was a bit cheesy, which is to be expected, and the main theft plot was farfetched...however... I still enjoyed it. It's an easy and fun read. The characters were well rounded and easy to like and they seemed to have great chemistry right off the bat.

I was also disappointed with Evanovich's latest book. If I read this book not knowing who the author was, I would have guessed it was written by her; it's amazing how many of the character's actions and spoken words are strikingly similar to the Plum series. Agree that the Pugg character is really annoying!! I am a huge Evanovich fan and have read most of her non-Plum books, but would have to say this is my least favorite. Looking forward to the 13th Plum in June.

I am a HUGE Janet Evanovich fan. I definitely like some of her stories more than others, they all follow a particular formula, and sometimes it works and other times it falls flat. This time, I thought it worked. I liked the quirky characters and the mystery plot line. It kept my attention and I didn't want to put the book down. That's what a good book does for the reader, right?

If you like the "Stephanie Plum" series, this book isn't much different. Many of the characters are practically identical to ones found in the "Plum" series. However, this book did have humorous dialog and was well-written; definitely worth the read.

I thought this was a well written quick read. I fell in love with the characters, even Pugg eventually. And I loved the dog, Beast. This is a story with romance, comedy and mystery all entwined into one. This story will not disappoint.

One of the things I've found most disheartening about this trend major authors have going where they produce several "fluff" pieces every year or two is that they seem so formulaic.

Don't get me wrong: Ms. Evanovich has a flair for making romance funny and fresh much of the time, but like her Stephanie Plum novels, her shorter stand-alones have a formula that stands out, and lately, I am very disappointed that I find little worth raving about in these books.

In this one, a quirky female encounters myriad quirky characters, including one who speaks of himself in the third person and makes really raunchy remarks which tend to draw little more than an "ew" or two. Funny the first time, maybe, but after that? No. And family? Predictable. Families are loving and seemingly hilarious in their quirkiness. Even the dog is quirky, big watchdog who is predictably a wuss in certain circumstances until he really needs to come through (which, of course, he does, in quirky fashion).

(Do you think I'm using "quirky" too much? Now you know how I felt reading this book.)

There's a mystery here, but if I figured it out pretty much completely less than halfway through (except for minor details that didn't really have anything to do with whodunnit), well. . . .

All in all, Ms. Evanovich writes with her usual offbeat humor, but this book is just too formulaic and unsuspenseful for me, especially when this skinny tome costs as much as far better books with a lot more originality.

Hot Stuff by Janet Evanovich was ok but it took me a few days to finish but on the positive side my house is clean! I will always pick up at Evanovich book but I won't buy her stuff - it is library every time! When her books are good they are great and when they are not well --- don't waste your money of this romantic mystery.

If you are looking some good summer reading check out 'The Secret Gift' by Jaclyn Reding, `There Goes the Bride' by Lori Wilde, 'Kisses To Go' by Irene Peterson and 'Remember the Alimony' by Bethany True.