Sandy S.
HOT FOR YOU is the third instalment in Marie Harte’s contemporary, adult TURN UP THE HEAT erotic, firefighter, romance series. This is thirty-three year old, former US Navy Sonar Tech, and firefighter Reggie Morgan, and twenty-nine year old, primary school teacher/divorcee/single parent Maggie Swanson’s story line. HOT FOR YOU can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Told from several third person perspectives HOT FOR YOU follows the building romance and interracial relationship between firefighter Reggie Morgan, and primary school teacher Maggie Swanson. Called to the scene of a hit and run, Reggie Morgan finds himself falling for the victim, single mother Maggie Swanson. Having previously met Maggie’s precocious, six year old daughter at a children’s firefighter event, Reggie felt a kinship towards our story line heroine but Reggie has always had a need to help, to fix someone broken, and in this, Reggie believes Maggie is ripe for the picking. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Maggie and Reggie, and the potential fall-out as Reggie’s past retains control of our story line hero. Maggie Swanson is a feisty, independent, strong willed, sexual woman who refuses to be anyone’s victim. Meeting firefighter Reggie Morgan stirs something deep within our story line heroine, something Maggie long thought buried and gone but Maggie’s first priority is her six year old daughter Emily, a young child who has stolen the heart of our story line hero. Reggie Morgan has loved and lost, and in this, Reggie struggles to move on from the past. Seeing a second chance with Maggie Swanson, Reggie begins a slow seduction of the woman with whom he will fall in love, a woman whose need for Reggie is outmatched by Reggie’s want to be needed by Maggie Swanson. The relationship between Reggie and Maggie is one of immediate attraction but Reggie struggles with demons from the past. Maggie is a highly sexual woman who knows what she wants in the bedroom, and isn’t afraid to talk dirty when the situation arises. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. The secondary characters are flirty and fun-what comes out of the mouth of six year old Emily is priceless. We are reintroduced to Reggie’s fellow firefighters and EMTs: Brad Battle (Make Me Burn), Tex McGovern (Burning Desire), Mack, Hernandez and Washkowski; Reggie’s sisters Lisa and Nadia, and their father Harry Morgan; Maggie’s neighbors and Emily’s pseudo uncles Doug and Benny, as well as Maggie’s ex Stephen, their daughter Emily, and Reggie’s ex Amy. HOT FOR YOU is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; a story of betrayal, need and obsession; of love and acceptance. The premise is entertaining and engaging –the world building is detailed but I found myself skipping over what I thought were unimportant details like several paragraphs/pages of 80s movies and pop culture references; the romance is provocative; the characters are energetic and dynamic. HOT FOR YOU is another wonderful instalment in Marie Harte’s TURN UP THE HEAT sexy, firefighter series.
Patricia Anthony
Sassy, sexy and full of charm...this new single mom/hot firefighter romance is a must read. Maggie and her daughter, Emily are a duo that is the envy of any mother. Their bond, their love and their respect for each other is priceless. Emily, is an incredible young girl who packs the punch in the story of her mom and Reggie. The library scene where Reggie meets Emily and is flabbergasted by the young girl's questions, is one of my favorites in the book. The dialogue is witty, clever and sometimes downright dirty. It is very entertaining 'listening' to the conversations these characters exchange. As Reggie and Maggie's relationship grows and becomes something more, the drama gets kicked up a few notches. Reggie needs to realize what he wants and Maggie needs to know what she is willing to accept in the name of love. Another recommendation for a Marie Harte romance.
Fedora Chen
Four and a half stars Hot for You by Marie Harte is the third in her Turn Up the Heat firefighters series. Set in Seattle, it follows several of the crew of station 44. Hot for You is Reggie Morgan’s story. Determined to keep things light, Reggie doesn’t expect to be won over by an equally determined and curious six year old named Emily or her lovely mom, Maggie Swanson. Marie Harte’s story is a terrific contemporary with warm and likable people in Maggie and Reggie, and strong secondary characters in their families and friends. Reggie’s a giver and he’s been taken advantage of before. Maggie’s history also makes her somewhat cautious, since she’s keeping Emily’s needs front and center. Hot for You gives readers emotion and passion and laughter and heart. It stands well alone but readers will likely want to go back and enjoy Brad and Tex’s stories, and look forward to Mack’s!