HOT PROPERTY - Susan Johnson
Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-22173-0
August 2008
Erotic Romantic Suspense

The Town of Ely, Midwestern United States – Present Day

Zoe Chandler rents a cabin by the lake where she is busy at work writing a tell-all book about some shady dealings involving some high-class art collectors. Bill Willerby and his wife are the subject of Zoe's investigation, and they would like nothing better than to make this problem go away. Willerby has money and many resources at his disposal and will use them to try to pay off Zoe. He'll also send some of his men to talk some sense into her. They'll use their own ways of bargaining to make her drop the book.

Nick Mirovic enjoys living like a hermit, especially if it helps him stay alive. He used to work for the CIA as an interpreter, but ever since CIA agent Harry Miller had a bad habit of killing the men he interrogated, Nick decided to get out. And now that Harry is up for CIA director, he is pulling out all the stops so nothing gets in his way of gaining the position, even if that means taking Nick out for good.

The summer should be an easy one for Nick, but he is always looking over his shoulder. He doesn't trust anyone, and that includes his sexy next-door neighbor. Even when Zoe comes to Nick asking for protection against the two goons Willerby sent, Nick is not sure if this is a set up by Harry. Zoe's story seems too coincidental and convenient. Nick may not trust Zoe but still would like nothing more than have her horizontal in his bed. He believes she may be a mole sent to either find his whereabouts, or kill him herself. That still doesn't stop Nick from seducing Zoe. As these two get down and dirty, Harry finally finds Nick. Now Nick must go on the run, and that means taking Zoe with him. Nick is unsure whether it is still to protect her, or to watch her to see if she has betrayed him, all he knows is that Zoe is his HOT PROPERTY and nothing will take her away from him.

When you have a man and a woman on the run who can't keep their hands off of each other, you have quite a hot thriller with a whole lot of sex going on. Susan Johnson is a pro at writing some of the best sex scenes in this genre. HOT PROPERTY sure does have a lot of them, but for the most part, I was a bit uncomfortable reading them. I think my main issue is with Nick, who doesn't trust Zoe as far as he can throw her, but doesn't mind getting down her pants every chance he can get. There was one such scene between them that left a bad taste in my mouth. When the so-called hero is in the middle of having sex with the heroine and begins to strangle her because he thinks she is about to kill him, that makes me wonder if these two have any chance of a future with one another. I also have an issue with the way Zoe acted after being strangled, almost passing out from lack of air. I would have run for the nearest exit, but no, Zoe forgives Nick and continues to have sex with him.

Harry Miller is a true degenerate and amoral individual, which makes for the best type of villain. The Willerbys may seem threatening to Zoe, but compared to the brutality of Miller, they are tame. Nick's buddy, Alan, who is a great guy, is there to lend back-up for Nick and Zoe, and he and Nick make a great team.

I really did want to like HOT PROPERTY because the action and suspense was non-stop, but I simply couldn't find any valid reason why Nick and Zoe were so attracted to each other. Nick constantly thought Zoe was a mole, and any possible love that could grow between them was not believable. But all in all, their physical attraction for each other was pretty intense, so if you are looking for two hot bodies who just want to release some sexual frustration, this latest by Susan Johnson may be up your alley.

Some readers may not mind Nick's sometimes rough and harsh treatment of Zoe, and she doesn't seem to mind either, probably because Nick is so good in bed. I find myself wanting a more compassionate hero and one who will not try to kill his own true love while they are in the middle of sex because he is afraid she may stab him in the back. HOT PROPERTY may be a hot read for others, but, as for myself, I would take a pass on this latest by Susan Johnson.

Kate Garrabrant