Book 947: Hot Pursuit (The Hot Cannolis #3) – Eli Easton

It was a little surprising to see that this one was only written by Eli Easton but I found out that what I  believe will be the final book in the series, Hot Lips, will be authored by Tara Lain. That being said, it didn’t stop me from requesting this one when it landed in my inbox!* I knew Rick’s story would be good and it was definitely good.

Hot Pursuit is the story of Rick and John. Rick is Mike (from Hot Seat) and Donny’s (from Hot Wings) uncle and is a homicide detective and recently came out to some of his family in support of Donny. He’s assigned a new partner, John, who has a chip on his shoulder for some reason and caught Rick’s attention even before he was assigned as his partner.

I’m never really sure if I’m going to enjoy a romance novel when there’s another genre thrown in, but this one wasn’t too bad. Easton did a great job of finding a balance between the murder mystery and romance aspect. It worked for me because I always like a slow burn simmering romance that builds up to one or two sex scenes and then fades into the happily ever after and that’s what Easton gives us.

There were quite a few subplots that Easton held together really well, there’s the family subplot where we got to visit with Rick’s family and see all the favorites, there was John’s backstory and his most recent abusive relationship, there was Rick and John’s romance, and there was the murder mystery and that back story. All of these combined well, but it highlighted how quickly the book happened with Rick and John being partners for a few weeks before the book starts and then flying through the murder case and moving in (there was more to that) and ultimately falling in love.

Easton did a great job with the sex scene and the make-out scenes she threw in occasionally, but she did so much better with the little moments. When Rick and John had breakfast or dinner together it was so domestic and perfect . . . swoon. Easton didn’t quite walk the walk with verse characters, but that’s because she limited the total number of sex scenes and both offered so I’d give her 95% credit because the decision she made felt like the right one.

I’m a little annoyed we’re still waiting on Tito’s (I think that’s his name) story, but mostly because I pegged him as one of the potential protagonists back in Hot Seat and am just super impatient! It’s still not guaranteed he will be next, but that’s where my money is with a scene at the end of this one.

Recommendation: This was another great entry in Easton and Lain’s The Hot Cannolis series. It was nice to step back from the firefighter aspect but still stay within the first responders. Easton wrote two great characters and tapped into the many wonderful minor characters and previous protagonists that I didn’t really notice how quickly the entire story happened until after I was done and reflecting on it (personal pet peeve). I can’t wait to read the final book in the series, this time authored by Lain.

*I received a copy of Hot Pursuit via Gay Romance Reviews in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.

Opening Line: “The wall of the fire engine’s claxon always got my blood pumping, but especially on calls like this one, heading toward a city fire.”

Closing Line: “And I knew what was written on every page: John Rivera.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)