Hot Blooded
4 Stars

Radio psychologist, Samantha Leeds, becomes the target of a malicious stalker who uses a traumatic experience for her past to torment her on air. Detectives Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya have the hands full investigating a possible serial killer with religious undertones, and soon come to realize the similarities between Sam's case and the murders. Can the killer be stopped before he makes Sam his final victim?

Some of the elements in this book are reminiscent of Leslie Tentler's Midnight Caller, such as the radio host subject to stalking, a connection to a serial killer, and a romance with an investigator. Nevertheless, there are sufficient differences between the storylines to make each book unique.

Jackson's book is more of a thriller with romantic elements than a romantic suspense novel. While the romance is satisfying overall, it does require some suspension of disbelief to accept that Sam would so easily forgive a man who lied to her about everything. That said, the serial killer/stalker plot is intense with many spine-tingling moments and an exciting climax and resolution.

In sum, this is a good beginning to the series, but readers expecting a more traditional mix of romance and suspense may be disappointed. The next couple of books focus on the two detectives and they both sound very promising.
( )

I thought this book would be about brothers, not the sordid details of one of the brother's sex lives that is written out every three paged. It started out interesting and then it just became garbage. I quit reading it about 80 pages in because it became about the one brother and his sex life. ( )

Psychologist Dr. Samantha Leeds hosts a late night radio talk show called Midnight Confessions. Still haunted by the death of a caller in Houston that committed suicide, Sam is now being threatened by someone named John, who tells her that he wants her to repent her sins. Several suspects include handsome writer Ty who recently moved into a house just down the beach from Sam's. As she and Ty get closer, Detectives Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya connect "John" to the deaths of at least two women and begin to sort through the possible suspects. They have suspicions about Ty and tell Sam to stay away from him because they believe he is hiding something.

Hot Blooded provides the basic plot and suspects in this serial killer thriller. It is interesting that Bentz and Montoya aren't the main characters of this story even though this book is the first of a series in which they star. Nothing new or Earth shattering is evident in this story, but it does have some nice twists and keeps the reader guessing throughout the book. The setting of New Orleans is evident, but the Creole atmosphere is lacking. Some authors are able to permeate their stories with this atmosphere. Hopefully, New Orleans will be a bigger part of other books in this series. Overall, this is a good beginning to the New Orleans series - 3 1/2 stars. ( )

Une psychologue (Samantha) est poursuivie par un homme qui tue ses victimes avec un rosaire (chapelet). ( )

Talk show host Dr. Samantha Leeds is being stalked. She is receiving phone threats and letters saying that she needs to be repented for her sins and that she will die soon. Sam doesn't understand what this nutcase is talking about until a girl calls up saying her name is "Annie." This frightens Sam even more. (I won't explain about Annie because that would take about a decade in writing). At the same time, prostitutes are being found murdered with a set of rosary beads, at the same time Samantha is on the radio. Detective Rick Benz and his partner belive that the prostitution murders are connected to Sam's stalker.

Lisa Jackson is a great story teller. I love that she uses some of the same characters in several different stories. I really enjoyed this book. ( )