Hott Shot

HOTT SHOT is the first instalment in Serena Bell’s contemporary, adult HOTT SPRINGS ETERNAL erotic, romance series focusing on the HOTT siblings: Quinn, Shane, Preston, Tucker, Rhys, and their sister Hanna (Wilder at Last 5/ Wilder Adventures). This is scientist Quinn Hott, and spa manager Sonya Rossi’s story line. HOTT SPRINGS ETERNAL is a spin off from the author’s WILDER ADVENTURE SERIES but you do not have to have read the original series to follow along.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Quinn and Sonya) HOTT SHOT follows in the aftermath of the death of the Hott family patriarch, grandfather Hott who has a number of stipulations and guidelines if the siblings are to inherit or keep the family fortune. Up first, is scientist Quinn Hott, who is forced to work the reception desk at Hott Springs Eternal Spa and Salon, a sixty day assignment in which he must abide by all of the rules and regulations set out in the will but Quinn is the quiet, the grump, the deep thinking Hott sibling, and facing the public is not what he does best. Enter spa manager Sonya Rossi who is about to discover that an expensive betrayal forces her out of her comfort zone, and into the arms of our story line hero. What ensues is the building relationship between Sonya and Quinn, and the potential fall-out as Quinn’s time at the spa comes to an end.

The world building focuses on the struggling HOTT sibling relationships, relationships mired in independence, heart break, rejection and loss. Grandfather Hott recognized the dysfunctional reality of his embittered grandchildren, and each will be assigned a task to maintain a relationship with their once-close siblings.

The relationship between Sonya and Quinn begins when Quinn is forced or assigned to work as the new receptionist at Hott Spring Eternal Spa and Salon. Quinn’s arrival coincides with an expensive betrayal, and in the ensuing aftermath, Quinn finds himself using his scientific brain to help Sonya overcome the loss. Living together, a forced proximity relationship ensues but Sonya knows that Quinn’s time n Rush Creek is quickly coming to a close. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, energetic and dynamic secondary and supporting characters including all of Quinn’s sibings: Hannah and her husband Easton, Shane, Preston, Tucker and Rhys, as well as Sonya’s father Thomas Rossi and his girlfriend Wendy, and several of the couples from the author’s WILDER ADVENTURE series. Shane’s story line is next.

HOTT SHOT is a story of betrayal and loss, power and control, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is thought provoking and entertaining; the romance is tender and edgy; the characters are sassy and determined.

I love how this book picks up almost right where the Wilder series ended. I am so darn curious about what happened in between! (Maybe the author could give us a Novella about it sometime … hmmmm?)
Love the relationship between Sonya and Bella. So sweet, the love between them is just wonderful.
When you get about 30 pages in, you learn the problem that Sonya has to overcome, and you also know what obstacle/person is in her way. And you’re so deliciously frustrated but also desperately want to find out how the problem is going to be resolved and how this will be reconciled with the personality of the person who is the obstacle. It’s insanely difficult to put down.
Love Sonya’s perseverance and optimism. Her spunk is delightful to read. Positive calm in the face if adversity with a dash of sass to spice it all up. Especially as she advocates for the importance of self care and making space for people to not just take care of themselves but enjoying doing it.
Quinn’s description of the spa is hilarious and totally believable about what “manly” guys think a spa is - “aggressively soothing” might be my favourite description ever
As the book continues, the interactions between Sonya and Quinn just become even cuter and funnier. The two of them and their awkwardness is just a funny dance that you watch play out each chapter. A true comedy of errors.
And when the two of them start to listen to each other, and their story together starts to mingle and develop, your heart just melts because Quinn is so endearing. Socially awkward, but an endearing marshmallow.
And then the romance starts. And it is soooo smoothly written and just delicious to read.
I really liked the slow burn of this relationship.
When Quinn opens up and shows his vulnerability and you see the background of him and his brothers you can’t help but tear up.
This was an epic love story of two people overcoming their hurdles and finding love for themselves as well as for each other. I cannot wait to see what comes next in this new amazing series!