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Book Review of White Hot

White Hot
White Hot
Author: Sandra Brown
Genres: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Romance
Book Type: Paperback
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Sandra Brown's cross from the romance genre into mystery has been an excellent move in my opinion. Of the many authors who have made this switch, she is one of the best!

In WHITE HOT, Sayre Lynch returns to Destiny, LA for her brother Danny's funeral. Even though she's not had contact with her family for over ten years, she is tossed into the middle of a minefield, some of which is her own doing. Huff, her father, is still the same egotistical, domineering person he always has been. He continues to run his foundry with an iron fist, and dares union reps and government officials to try to make him change the way he does business. Chris, Sayre's brother, is his father's yes-man. The sad part is that he's been spoiled by Huff and in growing up in this environment has been corrupted into Huff's way of thinking. Beck Merchant, Chris' college buddy, and now legal counsel to Hoyle Enterprises, is just like a member of the family and his level of corruption is often at the center of debate between he and Sayre.

As Sayre says a final farewell to Danny at the grave, she meets his fiancée and begins to doubt that her brother committed suicide. This begins the journey into corruption, self indulgence, and a good old fashion "who dun it" that at times leaves the reader just as breathless as those in Destiny trying to endure a heat wave. Between the accidents at the foundry, the union strike, the attacks by a local reprobate (Slap Watkins), flying sparks between Beck and Sayre, and other incidences the reader isn't given a chance to relax!

Character development is excellent, as usual for Brown. Sayre lives up to her redhead temperament, and her bouts with Beck will make the reader chuckle, and also feel the electricity between the two. A bit predictable, we are not surprised when Sayre and Beck give in to temptation and begin an affair.

Being fooled very seldom as to the villain's identity, Brown did have me wondering if I was correct in my choice. She confused the issue right up until the last 20 pages, and the twist left me smiling and being thoroughly entertained! But a few of the loose ends that she tied up were not a surprise even if they were extremely minor!

Overall, WHITE HOT was fast paced, action packed, and full of life. The story had life, as well as the characters. This book emphasizes why Sandra Brown is one of my favorite authors!