HOT PROPERTY

Author: Carly Phillips ISBN: 9780373773336 7/2008 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: HQN

Just one short season ago, major league center fielder John Roper had it all: the looks—and personal life—of a sports hero and the public's adoration. But this hot property's lucky streak has run out. After a World Series disaster, fans diss him, shock jocks mock him and his dysfunctional family hassles him for money he really can't spare. Now it's up to him, and Hot Zone publicist Amy Stone, to get his life back on track. Amy finds it's easier said than done. What with the constant intrusions of his nutty family, a crazed fan playing stalker, and Roper's refusal to put his own needs first, she's starting to think that life in the fast lane isn't all it's cracked up to be. But when the two retreat to a secluded lodge, the sexy center fielder throws Amy a curveball—one she never saw coming...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

I truly love the Hot Zone series. I have loved all of the characters, Carly Phillip's sense of humor, the sense of adventure that all of her heroines have... the steamy, sexy relationships that dominate the pages. I was pretty excited about HOT PROPERTY because I have waited FOREVER for John Roper's story!

John is a bad boy. He has all the ladies clamoring around him, never settles for just one, the entire world loves him, he's rich and famous—what could possibly go wrong? Well, let me tell ya what can go wrong... and there's a lot of it! When he costs his team the World Series game, his fans and the media almost immediately ostracize him. Things have gotten so out-of-hand that a stalkerish type fan is sending him hate mail that is turning increasingly scary. And to top it all off, his mother is in town, his brother is begging for money every five minutes, and his sister is getting married and going crazy with the above mentioned mother! So John is right in the middle of all this craziness, with no respite in sight when in walks Amy into his not-so-perfect, cluttery, crazy life.

Amy is ready to try new experiences. She has been working for many years as an activities director for a nursing home, living at home with her mother and basically living the life of an old lady. When she is offered a job as a publicist for the Hot Zone, she jumps at the chance without thinking twice. And that is before she walks into the upheaval that is John Roper's life. She is assigned John as her first case, and boy, does he give her a run for her money! He can be the most exasperating guy at times, but Amy cannot help but feel herself pulled towards him over and over again.

I love Carly Phillip's writing. Hands down she is absolutely one of my favorite authors! Her stories are witty, fun and full of romance and HOT PROPERTY is another one for my keeper shelves!

Kristal Gorman