Tess Elliot wanted to be taken seriously. Just because she happened to have been raised with a silver spoon in her mouth, so to speak, didn't mean she wanted everything handed to her on a silver platter. Take for example her career choice: Investigative Reporter. While that's what her goal was, she was willing to start with fluff stories; and that's why she was on the entertainment desk doing movie reviews. However, since she was doing the reviews, she might as well put her best foot forward; and that meant not allowing Mike Grundel to get the best of her with his superior he-man reporter attitude. She may have been attracted to him, but she was still going to scoop him at his own game.

Mike Grundel made one mistake and was demoted to reporting entertainment fluff. What burned his butt was that there were so many good reporters out there looking for a job, and Tess Elliot got hers handed to her because of who her father was-not because she was qualified for the job-or so he thought. He was not about to be in the fluff business for long, but while there he might as well enjoy it. What Tess did for blue jeans should have been outlawed, and the word play between them always made his day. She may not have been a serious reporter, but she sure was easy on the eyes: rather like his favorite female lead, Grace Kelly.

When Mike treated Tess as undeserving of her job one too many times, she made a bet with him that she would get her serious investigative lead story on the front page of her paper before he'd get one on his. Mike agreed to the bet, adding that the loser would have to eat crow, which would be cooked by the winner. Thus, the chase was on. Soon, however, they were working together on the same story, sharing information, trying to bring a corrupt official down, and things were heating up between them. Passion burned brighter and things became serious. It was anyone's guess where things would end up personally and professionally for those two would-be investigative reporters.

Nancy Warren does a wonderful job of drawing the reader into HOT OFF THE PRESS. It's funny, racy, sexy, and just plain hot to read! Readers are able to see why Tess might feel put out that Mike doesn't take her seriously. Yet they are able to see why Mike might feel disgusted that Tess was given a job others were more qualified for. The attraction between Tess and Mike, while something written about on the pages of HOT OFF THE PRESS, is something that is also felt by the reader.

Ms. Warren has a way with words that makes you almost believe you are watching a movie rather than reading a book. It is because of her descriptive use of words that the reader's emotions are drawn into the story so easily. So if you want to read a funny, warm, racy, sexy, romantic story then HOT OF THE PRESS is the story for you!

Reviewed By: RogueStorm
© August 2004