Hot Stuff

Very well written, fast-moving, intelligent dialogue among the main characters. Very likable heroine (at times, though, I could have wrung her neck for not seeing what she had in Joe fast enough -- but that's just me); a totally "fall-in-love instantly" type of hero!! If this were made into a movie, I could easily see Simon Baker as "Joe." He has dreamy eyes and a drop dead gorgeous smile -- just like Joe. Good book, fast read. I only gave it 4 stars though because I would have liked to have read more on their "happily ever after..." Didn't want it to end!! :-(

A fun story about a jaded woman who has very cynical and hardened ideas about love and marriage, and the romantic man who sets out to soften her outlook and open her heart. Joe is a wonderful character - I could fall head-over-heals in love with him myself! I appreciated the gentle way he led Laurel to view love in a different light and come to her own conclusions, rather than force his ideals onto her. The dialogue was snappy and entertaining. The only reason I didn't give it a higher rating is that the story could have been faster paced and told in 50-75 less pages.

I found this romance to be fun, fast paced and made me laugh. The premise is that Laurel has decided after way too many failed romances that she is not going to marry for love and in fact the best idea is for her to "arrange" her own marriage. This premise is cemented in her brain when her boss gives her a book to review that is about the very same subject. (Point) Joe is a wealthy self made man of coffee shop fame. But, he has gone undercover with a coffee cart to research a new shop location. He is immediately drawn to Laurel. Joe is definitely a believer of love before marriage. (Counterpoint) Laurel decided to use her and Joe's opinions for her article (to prove she is right) which throws them together in different situations to see how each opinion will play out. Fun story that also looks at speed dating in a humorous way. If you want a light fun romance to read, this is a good one.

This is a really smart romantic comedy! It had me laughing out loud in so many places and rushing through the pages to finish it in 2 nights. There was something about it that reminded me of the wonderful movie "Someone Like You" with Hugh Jackman and Ashley Judd - but this book was better. The author explores the eternal question of finding a life-long mate: Should one follow a sensible plan in finding a spouse or keep searching for heart-pounding passionate love? The hero really knocked me off my feet with all the right ingredients: strong, compassionate, great one-liners, and as sexy as they come. And Fox has a way of making the reader jump into the skin of her heroine. (...)

In Washington DC at Dupont Circle, tabloid reporter Laurel Kane meets Joe who sells gourmet and high octane coffee from a push cart when she and her friend make a java purchase from him. That same day her DC Scene editor-owner Rulinda Mason assigns Laurel to do a Valentine's Day feature on Dr. Cornelius Nadalov's book "Love is not the Answer". Laurel reads the book and agrees that she wasted much of her adult life seeking someone to love and who would love her as madly in return. As Nadalov claims she accepts that love is impossible past thirty.Laurel decides to find a companion rather than a passionate lover, but Joe challenges her. Soon they agree to test the waters with dates written up in a public debate over whether love is possible after one is thirty. However, Joe, already attracted to his opponent, knows he cannot afford to lose this contest because he is living proof that love can occur at forty.Though Joe is more than he seems, the audience will appreciate this battle of the sexes because of the beliefs of the lead female and the antics of her best friend. The story line is fun to follow as Laurel and Joe date others. Especially interesting is the "fast food" dating service that many readers will agree with Joe seems a bit sad. Though there is no tension except inside the head of Laurel, fans of amusing gender skirmishes will enjoy Elaine Fox's DC war zone.Harriet Klausner