The Hot Shot (Game on, #4)

by Kristen Callihan

[stacey_is_sassy]

IT'S ALIVE!!!

***4.5 stars***

He’s more than just a pretty face

I’m fascinated by beautiful people. It’s not unusual for me to point out to hubby, men and women who I find striking. Obviously, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and what I find striking could be very different from the next person. While I may be fascinated with beautiful people, I’m also intimidated by them. I know most gorgeous people are born that way and can probably thank genes for their fine looks. Do they get embarrassed like normal people? Do they get used to people staring at them? Do they get sick of people staring at them? Is life easier because of their looks? Do good looking people get a better chance at becoming a hot shot because of the way they look?

The fact that I'm even contemplating these things...maybe it's not all fun and games being a pretty face.

ANYWAYS… Geez, completely off tangent. I started thinking about Finn and I wondered whether I would be able to talk to him. I mean, if I went by the cover of The Hot Shot alone, I know I’d make a fool of myself. Seriously, HOT is an understatement. So, I think I would struggle to have a normal conversation with Finn…let alone take a photo of him...in the BUFF.

Chester has just won a contract to photograph the New Orlean’s NFL team…NAKED!! Bloody hell!! Most women (and some men) would die for the gig, but Chess can’t seem to get excited over it. She’s physically exhausted and not in the mood to rein in a bunch of overgrown, muscle-bound boys. The fact that she’ll be taking photos while they have their bits and pieces swinging, doesn’t get her heart pumping like it should. It’s just a job. The fact that she's even thinking that is just plain sad. Imagine her surprise when one of the men actually catches her eye...and she's distracted by his swinging bits and pieces.

Finn is not looking forward to having his picture taken. It’s part of his job and he’s used to it but doing it in the buff is definitely out of his comfort zone. Finn’s quite used to being in the buff around strangers in the locker room but this is different. He’s going to be exposed. It’s for charity and that is the only reason why he’s doing it…and maybe because the marketing director told him he had to. Well, he’ll do it. Not because he wants to because he has to.

Ummm…PROBLEM!!

Finn’s a wee bit uncomfortable having his photo taken in the buff when he finds the photographer striking, enthralling and riveting. His bits and pieces swinging aren't swinging down anymore. Poor Finn's brain is scrambled and he is sure that Chester Copper is going to take him down…and he's pretty sure he’ll like it.

I really enjoyed The Hot Shot. This is not a cheesy love story where the pretty girl falls for the pretty boy. Oh, there’s plenty of pretty faces in there but looks become somewhat insignificant as Finn and Chess get to know each other better. There’s plenty of attraction, but it has a lot more to do with personality than looks. These two are friends before lovers and they get to know each other better before they even contemplate a relationship. I liked getting to know them too.

The Hot Shot touches on some very interesting subjects that made me think outside of the square I live in. Chess’s best friend James is bisexual. James and Chess have an interesting conversation about fitting into moulds and how sometimes it’s easier to stay unattached than take a risk. There is also a look into the process of recovering after a loss. When I say loss, I actually mean in more ways than one. There’s the loss of a loved one, the loss of property and the loss of something you never knew you wanted but was taken before you knew you wanted it. Kristen Callihan handles all of these subjects well. It was real, hurt a little but did try to show that there can be rainbows after the rain.

The Game On series has been one of my favourites and The Hot Shot was a fabulous addition to the series. We are told at the beginning that The Hot Shot and The Game Plan played out simultaneously. If you haven’t read The Game Plan yet, it won’t affect your enjoyment of The Hot Shot. One is not needed to be read before the other.

Definitely a winner for me and I can’t wait for more in this series…pretty please with sugar on the top.




I’m an Aussie chick who loves to read and review romance, drink coffee, be a Style Setter and stalk David Gandy. To see more of my reviews, fashion, food and pervathons -