FMR Book Grind: Love So Hot by Marquita Valentine

We're celebrating the release of LOVE SO HOT by Marquita Valentine!

Title: Love So Hot (Lawsons #1)

Age Group: Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: January 12, 2015

Cover Designer: Lindee Robinson Photography

Book Description:

Bank Teller and all around good girl, Sydney McKnight, is tired of being the girl all the guys want to have as a friend. Who better to help unleash her inner vixen than her best friend and secret crush, Brody Lawson? Only, Sydney has no idea how to ask him, without their friendship going up in flames, until that is, the town of Jessamine's annual Firemen's Auction gives her the perfect excuse to set her plan into motion.

Fire Captain Brody Lawson has been in love with his best friend, Sydney, for years, but he would never risk their friendship by confessing his feelings to her. So, when Sydney beats out the competition to buy his time at the annual Firemen's Auction, Brody can hardly believe his luck until she asks him to teach her how to seduce a fellow fireman.

Now, it’s up to Brody to show Sydney how perfect she already is and convince her that they only man for her is him, because if Sydney is going to seduce any man, it’s going to be him. And once he has her in his bed, he’s not letting her go.

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Review by: Erin

This is a wonderful start to what I hope will be a long series! Brody and Sydney's story was heartwarming and passionate.

Brody and Sydney have been in love with each other for years. But they are stuck in the friend zone, neither knowing how the other feels. When the chance to change that presents itself, Sydney takes it. Will her plan work or will it backfire and go up in flames? Will their friendship survive or turn to ashes?

Absolutely wonderful story. The way Brody and Sydney continually think about the ramifications to their friendship was beautiful. I could not put this down! So ready for the next book!

5 Stars

Review by: Leeann

This story is set in a Southern town in modern times where the young ones have impeccable manners and the young men know how to treat a woman…

That is right up until the part where your best friend of 23 years that you have gone and fallen in love with happens to ask you to teach her how to seduce men so she can seduce someone else!!

Brody Lawson has been in love with his best friend Sydney for quite a few years now.. And Sydney has been inlove with Brody for about the same amount of time…

The whole town knows it, Even Brody’s ex-girlfriend Cherry knows it and has made it her mission to push them together. The only people that don’t know it are Brody & Sydney!!

Cherry & her sister Lemon (yes I’m serious) get together & talk Sydney into going along with their plan & it is hilariously funny, until it gets steamy hot!! The sparks that fly off this couple are scorching hot.

Things seem to be going to plan & they are getting to know each other on a whole new intimate level, but then the cat is let out of the bag & Brody finds out that the seduction lessons were all set up to get

him to fall in love with her. He doesn’t take it well.

Can Cherry get him to see sense before it is too late & he loses Sydney forever??

Get yourself a copy of this book & find out!!

This is a quick read but still has all the ingredients to make a fantastic romance story. You will laugh at Sydney, Cherry & Lemons conversations & you may need a fan when Sydney & Brody are in the room together. The story line is good & easy

to get swept up in. I read this in a couple of hours it was easy to read & I was happy to keep going until the end to see how it played out.

I have to say I was surprised when I go to the end & discovered there was another person in on the plan that Sydney didn’t know about & it is someone I would never have picked!!

4 Stars

Review by: Amy

This southern sweet story was just a delight to read. Easy and cute, I found myself really enjoying this read. Marquita Valentine had a simple way of drawing me into the town of Jessamine and into the hearts of those who live there. This was a very easy no-stress read for me and I found myself reading through it rather quickly.

The primary and secondary characters were just adorable! They had the southern charm working for them all the way through. I love that the story was set in the south and that the mannerisms and customs were present. Marquita did a great job allowing the innocence of the characters to stay focused while giving them all a little sassy flare that was delightful. I loved watching the dynamic of the relationships change from “friend zone” to romantic with the flick of a match! With all of the town’s major families in play, Marquita was able to keep every character unique and a pleasure to read.

The flow of the book was the only area that got to me. The timeline for the events happened quickly and I was craving more depth. I would have liked to have seen more story behind the primary characters and their courtship showcased with more prominence. I did like how the author began character development for future books in the series toward the end of this one, and can’t wait to see what the next book in the series brings.

I recommend this book as a light easy read. You won’t find gritty angst here which was perfect for me! This book delivered the swoony southern love that I find just adorable and fun the read.

3.5 Stars

About the Author:

New York Times Bestselling Author, Marquita Valentine, writes sexy heroes that make you swoon and sassy heroines that make you laugh. She’s the author of the bestselling contemporary romance series, Holland Springs, and the new adult romance series, Boys of the South.

Marquita met her husband aka Hot Builder at Sonic when they were in high school. She suggests this location to all of her single friends in search of a good man—and if that doesn't work, they can console themselves with cheesy tatertots. She lives in North Carolina in a very, very small town with Hot Builder and their two children.