Red Hot

Bryant’s latest in the Strong Family series (after The Hot Spot) is a gritty romance sizzling with passion and misconceptions. Kaitlyn Strong’s wealthy father has finally decided to put an end to her nonstop spending, and she is now living in a cramped apartment on a very limited budget. Her working-class apartment manager, Quinton Wells, is a single dad determined to never risk his daughter’s happiness by falling in love. Lei, Quint’s 12-year-old daughter, brings out the best in both Kaitlyn and Quint, and soon their verbal sparring becomes friendship and then romance. Quint’s conniving ex-wife, Kaitlyn’s backsliding spending sprees, and mutual stubbornness and anger challenge the relationship. Bryant emphasizes that love takes maturity and tolerance, and while the main characters aren’t very likable in the beginning, they improve greatly by the end. The scorching love scenes, and the loving relationships and characters of the Strong family, make this story worthwhile. (Sept.)