Hot Finish Book Review *Erin McCarthy*

Suzanne and Ryder Jefferson were first introduced as a divorced couple in Erin McCarthy's Flat-Out-Sexy. These two would snarl and verbally spar at each another, but underneath all their blustering, they still had feelings, or at least lust for one another. Now in Hot Finish, they're in the "hot seat", so to speak. Suzanne and Ryder are on friendlier terms, although Ryder wants Suzanne back as his wife and in his bed. Suzanne feels the opposite. She wants to be start a new phase in her life. That's why she's going into wedding planning and working with the Bridezilla of the century. But Suzanne has no choice, because she's out of money and Nikki, the beyond ditzy bride-to-be, who is marrying one of NASCAR's finest, Jonas Strickland, is ready to hand over a nice pay check for the wedding of her dreams (even if in entails dressing like Priscilla Presley and recreating her wedding to Elvis with high hair and baby blue tuxedos). Suzanne grins and bears it, and actually doesn't mind that Ryder is there to lend a hand because of his friendship with the groom.

Things become even more difficult when Ryder is sent a letter from their divorce lawyer. It seems they are still married and have only been separated after two years since Ryder never did his part with finalizing the paperwork for their divorce. Suzanne is now stressed out beyond belief because not only does she have to be in charge of this weeding from hell, but when they file for taxes, there's bound to be even more headaches. Ryder doesn't see what the big deal is. He's actually quite pleased and this will give him the perfect excuse to win Suzanne back.

While Suzanne navigates through bridesmaids and wedding dress fittings, including searching for the perfect wedding cake for Nikki, Ryder tries to keep her calm and help her relax through hot sex. Since Suzanne is in desperate need of stress release and Ryder is such a sweetheart in helping her out in more ways than one, she takes him up on his offer, making sure he knows that their "friend's with benefits" situation can't go any further than that. Ryder is all for it and has a plan to make Suzanne fall for him all over again where she'll want to tear up those divorce papers instead of signing them.

Hot Finish was a much anticipated book for me since Erin McCarthy is one of the best contemporary romance authors writing today. Unfortunately, Hot Finish felt flat in so many ways. Ryder and Suzanne do engage in some steamy animalistic sex together, but other than that, I can't see this couple together in an emotionally stable relationship. There is a major lack of growth on both their parts that doesn't improve by the end. Ryder is very laid back, perhaps a bit too much. Even when he has an emotional break through with Suzanne because of something heartbreaking that occurred in their marriage, it rang very false to me. Suzanne, who in the first two books of the Fast Track novels came across as a cunning and intelligent women. Here she is more of a shrew and a worrier if anything. I guess you can chalk that up to all the stress she has to deal with. But then why would she play around with Ryder knowing he wants her back and will do whatever he can to make it so? Suzanne and Ryder's relationship reminded me a great deal of Isabella and Mac's, marriage separation, "but let's fool around anyway because we're so horny" in Jennifer Ashley's Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage. I wouldn't say Suzanne teases Ryder as much as Isabelle did with Mac, but her actions left a lot to be desired.

I couldn't root for the Jeffersons in the way I wanted to and there were still many unanswered questions in regards to trust between these two. Yes, Suzanne and Ryder have a go at it with too many sex scenes to count, but even with that, I felt there was no tenderness or understanding, just two people relieving their frustration with one another.

Hot Finish is a steamy romance with some moments of humor and outlandish behavior, mainly on the part of the character of Nikki, who became a bit too grating. Hot Finish does end in a way that should make most readers happy, but I can't help but wonder how long it takes until Suzanne begins to second guess her decision to be with Ryder, while he just acts uninvolved to the point he'll take her to bed to make her forget. (Berkley)

Final Grade: C+

A few other Hot Finish reviews:
All About Romance
Dear Author
Smexy Books