Customer Reviews

Hot Ticket (Berkley Sensation)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

How can a person read four hot novellas by four of their favorite authors this year? The answer is simple: Pick up a copy of "HOT TICKET" early May 2006. Don't believe me, you say? Too bad, because if you don't buy this gem you will miss one of the best anthologies of the entire year. I should know. I've been reading it. I will give you an example...

"YOU CAN'T STEAL FIRST" by Annette Blair is about a Boston Baseball mega-star named Juan Santiago (A.K.A. "Tiago the Stealer"). He not only steals bases, but ladies' panties. His collection is known about and envied nationally. It is also about Quinn Murdock (A.K.A. "The Mighty Quinn"). She has just become the president-elect of Murdock Inc. Tiago and Quinn met at the age of five, when Quinn gave Tiago a black-eye. They became so called friends until they graduated high school. They were each other's "first". Now, around thirteen years later, he is on his famous train, "Tiago's Hot-Ticket Express to Spring Training". Quinn is literally shoved on board by her roommates/friends. For the next three days, Tiago and Quinn will get reacquainted with each other and perhaps hit a home run together.

***** See? And that is just an example. Two of the most unlikely people find romance where they least expect it. It is like Valentine's Day in May. I began reading and kept on until the last page had been read. A marvelous book that will have you standing up in the bleachers and cheering your heart out. Very highly recommended! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Excellent! No writer-speak or plot spoilers, here, just a surprised and happy reader. Who knew sports stories could be so much fun? My sister was right. Hot Ticket has four sexy, unique and highly entertaining stories by four very talented writers about couples I wish were my friends. If I have one complaint, it's that I wanted more. I was sorry to see each of these delightful stories end, and I plan to see what else these writers have to offer, so I can read more of their books in the future.

Hot Ticket is one must read. Each story is delightfully funny and as hot as any summer day.

Lucky Charm by Julia London has the newest baseball player for the NY Mets in a major slump. Parker Price has a multi-million dollar contract and the fans are on his case to earn his keep. The loudest is sports talk radio personality Kelly O'Shay. Parker decides to go on Kelly's show to get her to tone down the trash talk. But their first meeting sends sparks of a different kind flying all over the studio. This story had me enjoying their banter as well as their chemistry in the bedroom.

Deirdre Martin weaves another sensational story about those hot hockey players in Same Rink, Next Year. Concierge Tierney O'Connor has an annual one-night stand with goalie David Hewson. Up until this year this arrangement has worked for the both of them. But when a blizzard hits Chicago, one night turns into days. Was this one-night stand ready for the long hull? Tierney and David stumble into something that we all wish we would find.

You Can't Steal First by Annette Blair has former childhood advisories Quinn Murdock and ballplayer Juan Santiago aka "Tiago the stealer" on a long train ride to spring training. Both have grown up and changed over the years. Can these two stubborn lovers get passed their old feelings and have a once in a lifetime romance. Quinn and Tiago have chemistry that explodes off the page but also have character to build a romance upon.

Geri Buckley takes us to the world of arena football in Can't Catch This. Lindy Hamilton rightly kept the tickets she bought for her cheating ex and when he tries to start trouble in the stands a handsome stranger comes to her rescue. Josh Weldon is a man on the go but something in Lindy makes him want to slow down and enjoy the ride. Once they start this romance there is no going back. Their banter is hilarious and they smoke up any room that they are in.

This is a wonderful anthology, every story is a treat. I would highly recommended this book to any and all.

While I read this for Blair's story, You Can't Steal First, because Tiago had been introduced in My Favorite Witch, I have to say that the entire book was a delightful surprise. Quinn and Tiago were hot, funny, quirky, romantic, the perfect pair of stubborn high school lovers reunited.

But every story was entertaining in its own right and allowed each author's voice to shine through. I can see why Deirdre Martin and Julia London are so successful. And there's no doubt in my mind that Blair and Buckley are stars on the rise. Home Run! Touch Down! Winning Goal! Hot Ticket is a keeper.

I had no idea that anthologies could be so much fun.

Each story in this book was a one-sitting read. All were great. Not a dud in the bunch. Blair's had a twist I didn't expect, a surprise twist, but I read hers first and bought the book for her story. The rest were icing on a great cake. You can't go wrong with this bunch. Excellent, entertaining reads.

Lucky Charm by Julia London

Kelly O'shay hosts a sports show on the radio. Mets shortstop, Parker Price, is the current object of Kelly's comedic bashing. Parker has had enough of Kelly putting him down and he's convinced that she is responsible for his bad luck on the field recently, so he heads down to the radio station to confront her.

Kelly and Parker hit it off instantly. When Parker starts hitting better, he thinks Kelly might be his good luck charm and when things get bad between them and he starts hitting bad again he's convinced that Kelly really is good luck.

With Handsome baseball player Parker, and witty and sexy Kelly, Lucky Charm hits a home run with this romantic and fun story! I was cheering for Kelly and Parker from start to finish!

Same Rink, Next Year by Deirdre Martin

David Hewson is the goalie for the Buffalo Herd hockey team. Once a year the Herd comes to Chicago for a game. They stay at the Barchester hotel where Tierney O'Connor works. For that one night, Tierney and David have hot passionate sex then part ways until next year, but this year things change when a snowstorm keeps everyone stranded in the hotel. As the days press on, David and Tierney get to know each other better, changing their relationship from mysterious to familiar and they're not sure that's a good thing.

I adore David and Tierney in Same Rink, Next Year. This incredibly romantic and sensual story is heartwarming and sexy. David is such a great guy and Tierney is a real sweetheart. They are magic together.

You Can't Steal First by Annette Blair

Quinn Murdock and Juan " Tiago" Santiago met as kids playing in the sandbox and ended their relationship after losing their virginity to each other in high school. A surprise meeting thirteen years later on Tiago's party train stirs up more than just lust for Quinn and Tiago.

You Can't Steal First is such blast! It's a sexy and romantic story. Tiago surprised me. I pegged him as a real player at first. Quinn is a lot of fun; she's witty and pretty. She and Tiago make a great team.

Can't Catch This by Geri Buckley

Lindy Hamilton is attending the Florida Moccasins football game, courtesy of her cheating ex boyfriend. She caught him cheating and took the season pass tickets that she got him, for herself. She meets handsome Josh Weldon at the first game and instead of being down about her ex, Lindy is warming right up with Josh by her side, but with her history of picking bad boyfriends Lindy wonders if Josh will be the same.

Josh could charm the pants off any woman. He's handsome and witty and so good to Lindy. Lindy is a great girl whose luck changes when she meets Josh. Can't Catch This is a ton of fun and a really romantic story.

Take four hunky guys, four beautiful women and combine them with fun, sensual, and romantic stories and you get Hot Ticket, a fantastic anthology with each story as good as the next. It's a winner in my book!

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I read this in one sitting. The stories were a fast and fun read. What a nice way to spend a cold day here in Chicago!

Is it too much to expect a short story anthology called "Hot Ticket" to actually have some sports in it?

I bought this because I love sports -- all sports. I'm not picky. And I was excited to finally get some more romance stories that featured hot athletes, and the sports they play. Like Susan Elizabeth Phillips's Chicago Stars series, or Rachel Gibson's Seattle Chinooks series, or even Deirdre Martin's "Body Check" (her first, best, and only decent hockey novel).

But in "Hot Ticket" the sports these guys play don't just take a backseat to the plot, they aren't even in it. The heroes in this anthology could be carpet salesmen, for all their supposed athletic careers figure into the story.

In Martin's "Same Rink, Next Year," the entire story takes place in a snowed-in hotel. Not a single hockey game, practice, or reference in sight. All the hero has that makes him an athlete is a great body, and jerks for teammates (who pop up every so often). Why he and his concierge get together, and stay together, is still a mystery to me. I don't have that much loyalty for Santa Claus, and I see him once a year too.

London's "Lucky Charm" was so annoying, I couldn't finish it. And for me, that rarely happens. But this heroine made me want to punch her by chapter two. Although the hero -- a baseball player who was supposedly good, but one she trashed anyway -- liked her brand of psycho foreplay, because he stuck around. I was really annoyed by this story, because London talked baseball in the beginning, rattling off stats and info that lead me to think she is a real fan of the game, and I was looking forward to what her story would develop into. Alas, I was not a fan of her two main characters, and actually couldn't read past chapter 7. It was either ditch the story, or start screaming at the pages and the most annoying heroine/hero combo ever.

Blair's "You Can't Steal First" was also a disappointment. I'd read "My Favorite Witch," which was decent, and had a great, sexy ex-hockey star hero. He got out on the ice in that book, even though an injury sidelined his career. In "You Can't Steal First," basebally player Juan Santiago never leaves the train he's taking to spring training. If I hadn't remembered him from "Witch" I doubt I would have remembered what sport he supposedly played. He could have been a train conductor, for all his career had to do with the story.

That problem continues in Buckley's "Can't Catch This," where the hero's only connection to professional sports is that his cousin is an arena football QB. This guy is just a cowboy/business man. Oh, sorry, he's a rich venture capitalist. In a sports romance anthology. No, I'm not kidding. This was the best idea Buckley could come up with? So the hero/heroine meet at a game -- big deal. Again, they could have met on Santiago's train, for all that had to do with the plot.

I am puzzled by the positive reviews this anthology has gotten. But I guess if you don't really care about sports, like short stories with plots that are implausible and characters that make you want to slap them, then you should get this book. Better yet, take mine, I will give it to you. If you want to read good romances with sexy athletes who are still connected to their sports, read Rachel Gibson or Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

This is a great collection of quick reads linked not just by their sports settings but by their quality. Each leaves you wanting more, particularly Deirdre Martin's latest, starring a superstitious goalie and a conscientious concierge.

I bought this book for Deirdre Martin's short story and was sorely disappointed. The characters were completely unsympathetic, the additional side story line was ridiculous and the believability factor was stretched waaay too thin. Plus I have to say the hero and heroine were boring and without chemistry. Julia London's story was quite good. But I will not buy another Deirdre Martin book- after this and her last offering of "Penalty Box" I'm convinced that her frist three outings were her best. Too bad, because I really enjoyed them!

The other two stories in the collection were so unmemorable I can't even offer comments....I've forgotten them.