Hot Stuff

by Max Monroe

[Berls]

4.5 stars

When I first started listening to this I had forgotten that it was in the same world as Single Dad Seeks Juliet which I listened to earlier this year and LOVED. When the characters showed up I was super excited and hopeful that this would be just as good. I was not let down. It was really great.

Like the first book, Hot Stuff had several moments that just made me bust up. From the opening physical to the closing HEA, I laughed over and over. When Dr. Lauren gets a fish is a particularly funny moment - that keeps giving back over several scenes. Her dad and "the assholes" is also pretty great comedy. I'm hoping one of the sisters will be the third book in the series.

The characters are also just fantastic. Dr. Lauren is sweet, kind, and a marvelously complex character. Having been raised by a fire chief - and not just a city fireman, but the super dangerous wildfires type where they are gone for days - getting involved with one of his firemen is complicated. Not only is that not what he wants for her (so she feels they need to hide the relationship) but she's not sure if it's what she wants for herself. And yet, she also loves the selflessness and heroism involved.

And that's before you consider Garret (AKA "The Garret Alexander," a joke you'll appreciate if you read it) as a person. He's a great dad - dedicated and raising twins with their mom (his ex), considerate, and funny as hell. Add that to being a legit hero and yeah, how does she not fall in love?

There's a scene right after an earthquake that literally had me tearing up. I think Max Monroe did a great job of showing us the dangers of Garret's job - giving us the suspense, without being subject matter experts and misrepresenting. Same with Lauren's job as a doctor actually.

The narration was really good as well. Lidia Dornet and Nelson Hobbs complimented each other really well. It was a fun listen and I'm really looking forward to getting book 3!

Qualifies for Coyer Fall Scavenger hunt - author you've previously read and gave 5 stars (book 1 in this series was a 5 star read for me)