Hot Zone (Elite Force: That Others May Live) [Mass Market Paperback]

Catherine Mann (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 1, 2011 | Series: Elite Force: That Others May Live

"Catherine Mann delivers an emotional and action-packed story that leaves you wanting more." — Sherrilyn Kenyon, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

HE'LL TAKE ANY MISSION, THE RISKIER THE BETTER...

The haunted eyes of pararescueman Hugh Franco should have been her first clue that deep pain roiled beneath the surface. But if Amelia couldn't see the damage, how could she be expected to know he'd break her heart?

SHE'LL PROVE TO BE HIS BIGGEST RISK YET...

Amelia Bailey's not the kind of girl who usually needs rescuing...but there are anything but usual circumstances.

"A powerful, passionate read not to be missed!" — Lori Foster, New York Times Bestselling Author of When You Dare

USA Today bestselling author Catherine Mann delivers another hero from the Air Force's celebrated Pararescue Jumpers–"The PJs"– an ultra-elite force who put themselves at extreme risk in the most dangerous emergancies so that others may live. A sizzling thrill-rise of action and attraction, Hot Zone will leave your pulse pounding.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mann's tender yet heart-pounding story vividly creates the chaos of both disasters and love." - Booklist

"Fast paced and filled with intriguing characters... The many twists in this story keep the tension running high right to the last page. 4 Stars" - RT Book Reviews

"Steamy, suspenseful adventure..." - Publishers Weekly

"This is not one to miss!" - Night Owl Reviews

"Hot Zone will have you on the edge of your seat, and fanning yourself with the sexual tension." - Badass Book Reviews

"Catherine Mann sure knows how to write a military romance novel." - NetGalley Reader Review

"Catherine Mann brings everything to life in vivid detail and manages to educate the reader about what the rescue workers have to endure too." - NetGalley Reader Review

"I love it when a book draws you right into the story from page 1. HOT ZONE starts strong with the action and doesn't let up. ...a great must read." - Happily Ever After Reads

"[Catherine Mann] does a splendid job of showing the dynamics of the task force team members, and you'll respect their bravery and courage." - Love Romance Passion

"I love how this author jumps into action from the get go!" - Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf

"A wild and enjoyable action-adventure-romance." - That's What I'm Talking About

"Mann is excellent at keeping the suspense rolling..." - The Season

"The story has a love conquers all theme that makes you believe everything is possible." - Bookloons.com

"An intense, action-packed, romantic suspense with great characters and a lovely secondary romance." - Book Lover and Procrastinator

"The action and suspense in Hot Zone was truly amazing!" - Debbie's Book Bag

"Catherine Mann knows how to hold your interest and turn up the heat." - Eva's Sanctuary

"With undeniable sexual attraction, fast-paced action and equally quick-witted banter, HOT ZONE is another hit for Catherine Mann." - Under the Covers

"Hot Zone is another exciting edition to a fantastical series centered on a team of sexy and daring Pararescuemen!" - Reading Between the Wines

"Hot military guys, loads of action and suspense, and sweet love stories that will have you feeling all mushy inside. What a fabulous combination!" - NetGalley Reader Review

"Dangerously action-packed... Hot chemistry, and drama at ever turn. Sweet Read!" - Fresh Fiction

"A nail biting, page turning, can't put this book down adventure. Hot Zone gripped me from the first page to the last." - Sizzling Hot Books

"A notable military romance with engaging characters and spellbinding scenarios." - Single Titles

About the Author

Catherine Mann's military romances have sold over 2 million copies and have been on the USA Today and WaldenBooks bestsellers lists. She has won the RITA and Bookseller's Best Award, and finaled in many other prestigious contests. Her husband is an Air Force colonel and they live near Pensacola, Florida.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (December 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402244983
• ISBN-13: 978-1402244988
• Product Dimensions: 4 x 1.1 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #350,187 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

USA Today Bestseller Catherine Mann has over two million books in print in more than 20 countries. A RITA Award winner and five time nominee, she writes romance novels for Harlequin, Berkley & Sourcebooks. She resides in Florida with her military flyboy husband and their four children. FMI: http://catherinemann.com

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#89 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Suspense

#97 in Books > Romance > Romantic Suspense

#89 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Suspense

#97 in Books > Romance > Romantic Suspense

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible suspense December 2, 2011

By Christina Snow TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Mass Market Paperback

My Review:
What an incredible, action-packed, emotional book. OMG, I absolutely adored this book featuring another of Catherine Mann's incredibly sexy and courageous Air Force PJ, Hugh Franco.

This book is about Amelia, a lawyer who is in the Bahamas helping her brother and sister in law with their adoption when an earthquake strikes. Amelia is with baby Joshua when the earthquake flattens their hotel and after 2 days, they are finally found and rescued by Hugh. Amazingly, this is just the start of their life-threatening and life-changing adventure together. This book definitely keeps you at the edge of your seat, but not only in the adventure and action of it all. The romance is absolutely fantastic too.

Hugh lost his wife and 4 yo daughter in a plane crash 5 years ago. Since then, he has thrown himself body and soul into his work as a Pararescue Jumper. He is not comfortable around kids anymore because they remind him of all that he lost when that plane crashed. As a result, being around baby Joshua is bringing up all sorts of emotions that he has worked really hard to not deal with. Honestly, he never wants to fall in love again...it hurts too much.

Agreeing with that philosophy is Amelia. She had a horrible divorce and a pain-riddled relationship with her father that has left her more than a little leery about getting attached too. But there is a connection between Hugh and Amelia that is undeniable. Luckily fate steps in to push them together so that they have a chance to realize that and each other and to make their connection.

In addition to the wonderful romance and adventure happening between Amelia and Hugh, there are a couple of other side-stories that are just as riveting in this book. There is Amelia's brother, Aiden and his wife Lisabeth, who are dealing with the stresses of their missing baby, Joshua. Aiden is also dealing with lots of doubts about his becoming a father because his own father was such scum. Aiden doesn't want to do anything to hurt another child the way that his father hurt him. Both Aiden and Lisabeth are medical pros so they are also working triage on the island, which adds stress. There is a ton of things pulling at this couple, but their story was really interesting. I don't tend to like getting distracted by side-stories, but this one totally worked and I enjoyed it within this book.

There is also a new romance blooming between Liam, Hugh's commander, and a rescue dog handler, Rachel. That story line wasn't completed, so I am hoping that there is a book to come featuring those two. As friends, there could be a real romance blooming which would be fun to read esp. with Liam's history with women.

Overall, this was an amazing book. It had action. It had adventure. It had life-threatening situations. It had a riveting story line. It had a fabulous romance. It had a super-sexy military hero and one super-strong heroine. It had characters that I fell in love with. It truly did have it all and it was all tied up in wonderful writing. It was definitely a fantastic book!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Loved it.. Great addition to the series November 20, 2011

By Cindy O

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

We met Hugh Franco in the first book Cover Me. We know that he lost his wife and daughter and likes taking the most dangerous missions. When Hot Zone starts out we find our heroine Amelia and her newly adopted 13 month old nephew Joshua under a hotel after an earthquake has ravaged the Bahama island. After a search and rescue dog points to there location Hugh manages to climb down to them. In this tiny space trapped under a bld Hugh starts to feel something for this woman with the blue eyes. Its not something he wants but yet he is drawn in. Amelia has a few of her own demons. She had been in a crappy marriage and her father turned out to be a pedophile who killed himself rather than go to prison. As more aftershocks trap Hugh below with Amelia the two form a bond but both think it can go no further than what they are feeling at that moment.

Once they are rescued Amelia and Joshua are taken to a makeshift hospital where she hopes to find out news on her brother and his wife. Hugh goes back to his team to clean up and get a little sleep before starting on more searching for survivors. But he cannot get Amelia and the little one out of his head. So he continues to go and visit them at the hospital.

There are also two secondary relationships and a baby stealing plot going on.

The first is Amelia's brother Dr Aiden Bailey and his wife Lisabeth who is also his nurse. They have both worked for Doctors without Borders and now with Operation Smile. They had come to the Bahamas to finally there adoption of Joshue when the earthquake hit and separated them from Amelia and Joshua. Aiden never wanted any kids of his own due to having a pedophile for a father but Lisabeth convinced him to adopt. As Dr's and nurses are needed they end up volunteering even though both are extremely worried about the fate of Amelia and Joshua.

The second is Major Liam McCabe (Hugh's boss) He has had 3 marriages and 3 divorces. He know's he falls to fast for women and again cant help himself when he meets the replacement USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) Rachel Flores. Rachel just came out of a bad relationship and it not looking for another even though Liam is very persistent.

Now back to Amelia and Hugh... Amelia catches a person posing as a nurse trying to take Joshua and tries to stop her and ends up getting herself kidnapped along with the baby. Hugh hears Amelia's screams and rushes to try and save her..

We go back and forth between the 3 stories and also with the leader of the baby snatching ring called The Guardian who things she is doing the world a favor by taking children who have no parents and placing them with good families.

I really like angst driven books and watching how each of the characters get over there deeply traumatic issues.

Hugh has to overcome his deeply rooted sorrow over losing his wife and daughter.

Aiden has to overcome is never wanting any blood children of his own when his wife tells him she is pregnant.

I liked the first book and was really looking forward to this book from the teaser that was at the end of it. It did not disappoint. We get to experience so many characters overcoming tragedy in this book. It was a none stop thrill ride until the very end.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid story with very likeable characters December 17, 2011

By Carole "The Romance Reviews"

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Entertaining if somewhat unfocused and ultimately over the top.

Master Sergeant Hugh Franco rescues trapped Amanda Bailey from the wreckage of her hotel in earthquake ravaged Bahamas only to land in the middle of a black market kidnapping ring. Now, he must use all his skill as an elite pararescueman in order to keep them alive.

Let me start with gushing about the beginning of this story. The rescue from the hotel wreckage was nail-biting, awesomesauce, amazing. More than once, I was tempted to peak at the end, just to ensure that characters had lived and what a payoff when that rescue is completed. Even in the lull aftermath of the rescue, this story held the intensity and surprised me with the romantic tension despite the devastation of the surroundings.

It simply worked. The characters were likeable and their reactions to the situation felt real. Even the shag in the closet was appropriate (and trust me, I'm ubber critical about inappropriate/tacked on smut scenes).

However... Once the story moves away from the earthquake rescue and into the black market kidnapping ring, it felt like a completely different book. Like a sequel to a great story that doesn't quite match up to the emotional intensity of the original. This part of the story (I do consider it a mash-up of two linked stories) starts off with a bang of Rambo vs. van chase.

The problem is not in the chase itself, but that it comes in the heels of an emotionally intense first part. This makes the chase and subsequent second rescue feel way over the top. Add that to the intrusion of secondary and tertiary story-lines (and their accompanying POVs which includes the - sympathetic? - 'villain') and suddenly the emotional impact of the beginning starts to fray, losing its impact.

Had the rescues, earthquake vs. kidnapping ring, been completely separate, both would have ultimately had more cohesion and rated higher for me.

As it stands, Hot Zone is a solid story with very likeable characters that starts out with an amazing bang and, although it loses its intensity, remains an entertaining read.

Reviewed by Calisto
for The Romance Reviews