Summary
#1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood returns with a novel of family drama, suspense, and--of course--romance.
Peyton Lockhart and her sisters have inherited Bishop's Cove, a small, luxurious oceanfront resort, but it comes with a condition: The girls must run the resort for one year and show a profit--only then will they own it.
A graduate of a prestigious French culinary school, Peyton has just lost her job as a food critic. Out of work and in a bad place personally, a year doing something completely different sounds wonderful.
There are countless challenges and too many people who want to stop the sisters from succeeding. Among them are Peyton's contentious cousins, who are outraged that they didn't inherit the resort, as well as a powerful group of land developers who have been eyeing the coveted beachfront property.
It's soon apparent to Peyton that their efforts are being sabotaged, but she refuses to let the threats scare her--until she's nearly killed. She calls on her childhood friend and protector, Finn MacBain, now with the FBI, and asks for his help. He saved her life once; he can do it again.
Julie's previous two titles, The Ideal Man and Sweet Talk , both debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list.
Author Notes
Julie Garwood was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1946. Her writing career began when the last of her three children entered school. Her first novel, Gentle Warrior, was published in 1985. She has written over 25 romance novels since then including Shadow Dance, Slow Burn, Murder List, Killjoy, Mercy, Heartbreaker, Ransom, Come the Spring, The Ideal Man, Sweet Talk, Hotshot, and Fast Track. Her novel For the Roses was adapted into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. She also wrote a children's book, What's a Girl to Do?, and has also begun writing a novel for young adults under the pseudonym of Emily Chase.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Kirkus Review
When Peyton Lockhart and her sisters agree to reboot their uncle's Florida resort, troubles arise from all quarters, putting Peyton in danger and bringing childhood protector Finn MacBain to her side.Peyton should have known that landing a job as a food critic for a major foodie magazine with no experience was too good to be true, but she never expected she'd be harassed and threatened by her new employer. After driving from Texas to Minnesota for the opportunity, it's not too long before she can't get out of there fast enough. Not long after, their uncle offers Peyton and her sisters the opportunity to work at his resort, supervising a major renovation and planning a grand re-opening, with the possibility of taking over ownership at the end of the project. It's an offer they can't refuse, and one Peyton is especially grateful for, given the stress of her recent employment fiasco. But when they get to the resort in Florida, it becomes clear that someone is out to get Peyton, and is sabotaging the resort renovation. Could it be their greedy, self-serving cousin? Or could it be someone from the magazine, exacting revenge for her sexual harassment lawsuit? Whoever it is, Peyton is in danger, and when she runs into Finn MacBainthe boy-next-door hero who saved her life when she was a little girl and is now an FBI agenthe decides to look into the matter. Finn is larger than life and has always been too old for Peyton, but she's all grown up now and when they reconnect, sparks fly. She knows his interest is fleeting (he's a no commitment kind of guy) but she'll take his help with gratitude, and nurse her broken heart when it's over. If she can stay alive. Legendary romance author Garwood delivers a novel that is at times clever, original and sigh-worthy, at other moments, silly and simplistic. Fans of romance and especially Garwood will find glimpses of her brilliance, but elements of the suspense, plot and characterization are sprawling, disjointed and disappointing. Uneven and oddly framed, though true believers will find enough Garwood in here to keep them satisfied.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Library Journal Review
Disgusted and unnerved by her lecherous boss's aggressive behavior, chef Peyton Lockhart flees into a Minnesota blizzard, barely avoids being run off the road by her ex-boss's hit man, and heads home to Texas to consider her options. There, she runs into her childhood hero, the Olympic medalist who once saved her from drowning, lawyer and FBI agent Finn MacBain, who is just as appealing and protective as ever. When he learns the story behind the bullet holes in Peyton's car, Finn knows it means more trouble. But Peyton and her sisters move to Florida to run Bishop's Cove, their uncle's island resort, and where she gets a new bullet hole in her car. VERDICT A swift pace, electric sexual tension, an abundance of fascinating characters, and an engaging plot with plenty of action and a touch of humor make this a perfect summertime page-turner. RITA Award winner Garwood (Sweet Talk) lives in Leawood, KS. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Excerpts
Finn wasn't ready to go inside yet. Beck would come and get him when it was time. It was warm today. The sun was shining, and it was at least seventy degrees, he guessed, maybe seventy-five. He and Ronan had spent a week working in Chicago where it had been around ten degrees every single day with crazy below-zero wind chills. The heat felt good on his face. He liked being outside, cold or hot, and he liked being home, too. It had been such a long time. His cell phone rang, reminding him that he needed to turn it off before the ceremony. He saw who was calling and felt a wave of exhaustion. On-again off-again Danielle was trying to reconnect with him. He wasn't about to get into that drama. He'd had enough, and he simply didn't have the stamina for any more of her games. He declined the call and turned off the phone. He should go in, he decided, and was about to do just that when he saw her. The vision in blue. He watched her cross the parking lot and start up the walkway, her high heels clicking against the brick. He noticed her body first, of course. It was damn near perfect. The short, fitted dress showed off her curves and her long, gorgeous legs. Her stride was every bit as sexy as her body. The way she moved was sensual and seductive. She was absolutely beautiful. Her long dark hair, the color of midnight, fell in soft curls just below her slender shoulders. She must have felt him watching her, for she suddenly turned and looked up the hill. When she saw him, she stepped off the path and started walking toward him. He wanted to swallow, but he couldn't seem to remember how. He had never reacted to any woman this fiercely, this quickly. What had happened to his self-control? He excused his bizarre behavior by reasoning that she was no ordinary woman. He didn't want to stare, but the closer she came, the better she looked. Beneath her thick dark eyelashes were the most beautiful, crystalline blue eyes he had ever seen, and her rosy lips were full and inviting. She stepped directly in front of him and gave him a heart-stopping smile. The dimple in her cheek was sexy as hell. So was her scent, which was light and feminine. Her eyes sparkled with laughter when she stretched up, kissed him on his cheek, and said, "Hello, Hotshot." He was speechless. Peyton Lockhart? He couldn't believe it. She was all grown-up. She had gone from a skinny little girl to this beautiful woman with a devastating smile. When did this happen? The transformation seemed to have taken place overnight, but then Finn realized he hadn't been around while she was growing up. He'd gone to California to do his undergraduate work at Stanford and had stayed there for law school. During that time his parents had downsized to a smaller, more energy-efficient home about a mile from their old house in Brentwood. Whenever Finn was home on break, he never had enough time to go back to the old neighborhood. Finn overcame his surprise enough to speak. "Don't call me Hotshot." "You didn't know who I was, did you, Finn?" she asked, saying his name to placate him. "I didn't have a clue," he admitted. He was still trying to get past his initial reaction and stop acting as though he had never seen a beautiful woman before. This was Peyton, the little girl who would sit on the front steps and wait for him to come home from high school so she could tell him about her day. She was a nuisance back then, and now a temptress. "Are your sisters here? I won't recognize them, either, will I?" "Yes, they're here already. I'm running late." Beck whistled from the doorway to get Finn's attention. "Aren't you in the wedding?" she asked. He nodded. "Yeah, I should go in. It's good to see you again." Peyton didn't want to miss the bride walking down the aisle. "It's good to see you, too." It had suddenly become awkward, and she didn't understand why. He wasn't leaving. Beck whistled again, but Finn didn't move. "Are you going to the reception?" he asked. "No, I'm afraid I can't." "Maybe I'll see you after the wedding, then." Peyton continued on, but when she glanced back, she thought it strange that Finn was still standing in the same spot. Finn had walked down to the parking lot to get away from the noise. He was listening to phone messages and turned just as Peyton was approaching. He offered to walk her to her car. "How come you aren't coming to the reception?" he asked. "I have to work," she answered. She dug the keys out of her little clutch and hit the unlock button. Standing beside her car, she said, "It really was good to see you." "I'm sorry we didn't get to--" He stopped. "When did you get this car?" he asked, staring past her and frowning. "About a year ago. Why?" Finn moved closer and squatted down behind the rear bumper. "These are bullet holes." "Yes, they are," she agreed. She didn't seem the least fazed. "I've got to get going or I'll be late for work." He wasn't about to let her leave. "They haven't been here long." "The bullet holes?" "Yes, the bullet holes," he said. He was asking questions so rapidly he wasn't giving her time to answer. "Yes, I was in the car. I was on the highway when it happened. He wanted me to stop. I didn't know he shot at me until I was back in Texas. The holes are so low, I didn't see them until a few days later. In fact, you're the only other person who's noticed them." "You couldn't hear gunshots?" His voice was brisk, no nonsense. He was all FBI now. Her hand went to her hip. "I was in the middle of a blizzard at the time. All I could hear was the howling wind." "Where exactly were you?" "Northwest of Minneapolis. Finn, I've got to leave." She wasn't going anywhere until she gave him a few more details. "Who did you report it to?" Peyton knew he wasn't going to like her answer. "I didn't report it." "Because you didn't realize he was shooting at you." "Exactly." "But when you did see the bullet holes--" She cut him off. "I didn't report it." "Why the hell not?" Frustration made his voice sharp. "He could be out there now trolling for his next victim, and maybe this time he'll hit the gas tank or, worse, the driver." She shook her head. "No, he won't." "Did you get the make or model?" "I have to leave." "No, you have to answer me." "You know what, Finn. You're just as bossy and stubborn as you were when I was a little girl." "And you're just as aggravating. Now answer me." She gave in. "It was a big white truck, and I know for a fact that he isn't out on the highway looking for other victims." Unless someone gets on Drew Albertson's bad side , she silently added. She took a step closer. "And I'm not a victim. I took control of the situation and forced him to stop chasing me." "How?" he asked, trying to concentrate on what she was saying and not how sexy she was or how good she smelled. "I sent him into a field. Actually, I sent him through a fence into a field." "How did you do that?" "Some...intricate driving moves." Slamming on the brakes and going into a spin that she was helpless to control could be considered an intricate move, couldn't it? "Intricate driving moves, huh?" he repeated, smiling. "Yes," she said. "He didn't get hurt," she hastened to add. "His car sank into the snow, and he was stuck. I pulled over to make sure he didn't need an ambulance. I watched him get out and start pounding his fists on the truck." "You saw the shooter?" Uh-oh. Too late, she realized she shouldn't have mentioned that fact because now he was going to ask her another hundred questions. She decided to stop him before he got started. "I didn't get a close look at him, but I've got a good idea who he is." He seemed to take the news in stride. "Okay. Who is he?" "His name is Rick Parsons, and he works for the company that hired me." He nodded calmly, but she noticed his jaw was clenched. "Since you never reported the incident to the police, he wasn't arrested." "That's right." "Why was he chasing you?" "Because I left," she said, evading the details. "They really hate it when you leave the company"--she shrugged--"so they shoot at you." Peyton thought he would think her answer funny, but apparently he wasn't amused. She was sure he would have kept her there with his questions for the rest of the evening, or until he had the entire story, if a groomsman hadn't appeared and told him he had to return to the church for photos. Finn answered that he would be right there, then opened the car door for Peyton. Before he started back up the hill toward the church, he turned to Peyton and said, "We aren't finished with this." Excerpted from Hotshot by Julie Garwood All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
