Hot and Bothered » (Reprint)

Susan Andersen grew up in a house filled with testosterone... and things haven't changed. Still in the minority in her own home, she's surrounded by her high-school sweetheart, her son and all-male pets.

According to Andersen, who grew up in Seattle, having two older brothers was a mixed blessing. "When anybody messed with me, my brothers were always quick with an offer to beat them up. That was sorta nice, although I personally believe it had more to do with the fact that guys just like to fight than with any towering concern for my welfare. You might think that's cynical, but guess who the target was if no one else was around and they were tired of fighting each other? I must've spent half my childhood locked in the bathroom, screaming, 'Dad's gonna get you when he gets home.' I know, nobody likes a stoolie. But it was either that or have my block knocked off on a regular basis, and trust me, Daddy was the best deterrent going."

Andersen started writing books later in life. "I wrote bits and pieces all my life, but I never really felt as if I had the life experience to string an entire book together until I turned 30," she said. When her son was young, a friend suggested series romances to Andersen and from that point on, she was hooked. She never intended to be a writer. "I actually wanted to be a dental assistant. I went to college to learn the craft, only to discover that as employers, I didn't like 99% of the dentists I worked for," Andersen admits.

Given her early training in dealing with men, she was a natural at the dynamics and pitfalls of the male/female experience. Susan's first novel, Shadow Dance, hit shelvesin1989. She reached bestseller lists with her book Baby, I'm Yours, which went on to be named one of Romance Writers of America's Top 10 Favorite Books of 1998 and also won the Romantic Times magazine Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Contemporary Romance of 1998. Susan has gone on to have her books appear repeatedly on the New York Times extended list. Today she continues to write stories where the guy gets the girl, as long as he's willing to bend a little.

While Hot & Bothered is her first novel for MIRA Books, Susan has published a total of 14 novels. Her fast-paced story lines, wry humor and edgy writing style have consistently placed her books on both the mass market charts and on bestseller lists including the New York Times extended, USA TODAY.. She currently lives in the Seattle with her husband.

When Victoria Hamilton's vacation fling resulted in a baby, she began a new life far from her overbearing family. Now Tori's father has been murdered—and her half brother, Jared, needs her help to prove his innocence. But confronting her past when she comes face-to-face with private investigator John "Rocket" Miglionni sure isn't what she had in mind.

Thrilled to find the woman who once rocked his world, John takes one look at her little girl and gets the shock of his life. Now the rugged former Marine has two females holding a big piece of his heart, a troubled teenager who expects the worst in life…and a second chance to make it right for all of them.

Publishers Weekly

A classic plot line receives a fresh, fun treatment in the final book in Andersen's trilogy (Head over Heels; Getting Lucky) featuring hunky former Marine buddies who find love-or rediscover it-in unexpected places. A weeklong, no-last-names romance in Pensacola leaves John Miglionni with the determination to take a hard look at his life, and high-society architect Victoria Hamilton with memories of hot loving and a very real pregnancy. Now, six years later, when Victoria's younger brother, Jared, disappears the night their father is fatally stabbed, Victoria hires a detective from Semper Fi Investigations to track down Jared and prove his innocence-only to discover the PI is her long-ago lover, John. Surprise daddyhood, concern for Jared and an awareness of their disparate backgrounds delay the sexual sparks between John and Victoria, but once the fire starts, there's no putting it out. Still, John and Victoria have to work through their issues of mistrust and uncover who really killed Victoria's father before they can have a future together. John's worries about his ability to be a good father and several likable, well-developed secondary characters add depth to this zesty novel, placing it a level beyond most of its competition. Agent, Meg Ruley. (Aug.) Forecast: This book's electric pink cover, which places heavy emphasis on the word "Hot," will stand out on the shelves like a neon sign, beckoning browsers. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.