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Hot Zone (Elite Force #2)

4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 · rating details · 977 ratings · 115 reviews

"Catherine Mann delivers an emotional and action-packed story that leaves you wanting more." -- Sherrilyn Kenyon, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

HE'LL TAKE ANY MISSION, THE RISKIER THE BETTER...

The haunted eyes of pararescueman Hugh Franco should have been her first clue that deep pain roiled beneath the surface. But if Amelia couldn't see the damage, how could she be...more

Paperback, 316 pages

Published December 1st 2011 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

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Nov 14, 2012 Karla rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Karla by: Jill

Shelves: action-packed, awesome-alpha, exciting, favorites, intense, military-heroes, passionate, scrumptious-hero, second-chance, secondary-romance, strong-willed-heroine, survivors-of-tragedy, terrific-dialogue, sizzling-romance, witty, wonderful-secondary-characters, yummy-men, adorable-baby

5 Captivating Stars! I'm HOT for you Hugh, please come rescue me!!

These men do it ALL! From the first page to the last I was totally captivated by this story!

The story starts out in the Bahamas, where the island has been decimated by an earthquake. Master Sergeant Hugh Franco is crawling through the rubble, because one of the S & R dogs, Zorro, has hit on something. Even though the search cameras come up with nothing, Hugh places his trust in the dog, who’s barking his head off. Lucky for A...more
5 Captivating Stars! I'm HOT for you Hugh, please come rescue me!!

These men do it ALL! From the first page to the last I was totally captivated by this story!

The story starts out in the Bahamas, where the island has been decimated by an earthquake. Master Sergeant Hugh Franco is crawling through the rubble, because one of the S & R dogs, Zorro, has hit on something. Even though the search cameras come up with nothing, Hugh places his trust in the dog, who’s barking his head off. Lucky for Amelia and little Joshua, this Pararescueman goes with his gut, because after 2 days under a collapsed building, they are about to see what this hero is all about!! The details just consumed me, to the point where I felt as if it was me pinned under the concrete; I held my breath and got claustrophobic! The story just took off from there, and it just did not STOP!

Amelia and Hugh are quick to become sexually involved, and it’s initially based on the need for comfort, a way to deal with all they’ve been through and also I think a little hero worship. I was fine with it, because when you are in a life and death situation and are able to walk away in one piece, you’re going to grab hold of what you can, something that makes you feel, and boy do these two feel!! As they become more involved, through way of gripping circumstances, the love between them grows.

The author manages to entwine two other couples into the story; one is an established relationship, involving Amelia’s brother, sister-in-law and parents to Joshua, Aiden and Lisabeth. It was incredibly moving and sweet. The other is the set-up for the couple that will grace the pages of the next book, Major Liam McCabe, team commander, and Rachel Flores, who is there with a canine S & R unit. Liam is quite the character and so funny, he’s already stolen my heart. The only thing missing for me, was that we only got one brief moment with Wade Rocha, our hero from Cover Me. Then again, his stories been told already. It’s more a personal issue, because I like catching up with the characters from the previous books. Maybe we’ll see more of him in the next book, Under Fire.

This is one of the best military/suspense/ romances I’ve ever read. These guys are in the moment, they are on the job doing what they’ve been trained to do, and that’s what makes this series so exciting. The author takes real life situations, adds the romance aspect, some humor, and fantastic dialogue and gives the reader a story that’s a real page-turner. My guess is she based her research for this book on the devastating Haitian earthquake of 2010. The setting and descriptions are so realistic, right down to the overwhelming smells of death, which is a constant reminder of all who perished. If you are a fan of this genre of book, or are looking for some excitement in your reads and haven’t read this author, I highly recommend that you do.

Pararescuemen saving lives…I’m awestruck at their overall skills and what lengths they go to, to do their job.

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Nov 02, 2011 Auntee rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of romantic suspense with a military hero

Shelves: catherine-mann, part-of-a-series, romantic-suspense, e-books, netgalley, 2011_reads

I loved it--and I'm lovin' this series! Plenty of suspense/action, with just enough romance. And my favorite--lots of details (especially about the setting and the characters) and enough back story to make me care.

This story takes place in the Bahamas, where the heroine, divorced, pretty blue-eyed blonde lawyer Amelia, has traveled to help her brother Aiden (a doctor) and his Bahamian wife Lisabeth (a nurse) adopt a baby boy. Amelia gets trapped underneath the rubble of their hotel (with baby Jo...more

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Dec 01, 2011 Saly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cops-law-enforcement-security

Rating 3.5

This book is the second in the Elite Force series about pararescuemen and this time we have Master Sergeant Hugh Franco overcoming his demons.

Hugh loves his job and taking risks because it is all he has got left or has the emotional aptitude for. Five years ago due to no-one's fault he lost his wife and little girl and since then he's perfected having casual relationships and giving it all to his job. His current job, working earthquake rescue in the Bahamas.

County prosecutor Amelia Ba...more

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May 01, 2012 Lori Foster rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loving this story! Will share a review as soon as I finish and time permits. Highly recommended!

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Jul 11, 2012 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just started chapter 7 and its really good; action packed..good solid story line...this is the 2nd book of Catherine Mann's that I've read and its fast paced...I'm sure I'll have this book finished by either Saturday or Sunday...maybe sooner..(in between all other things that must be done)Am already on Chapter 11 and am so engrossed in this book...I know I'll finish it this evening!!! Definitely am gonna be looking for more of Catherine Mann books....finally finished...though not as early as I...more

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Nov 02, 2011 Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romantic-suspense, 2011-4-5-5-stars

4.5 stars

“Hugh, what makes you do something like this for a living? I can’t imagine anybody willingly coming down here.”

“What can I say?” He settled onto his side, stowing his gear. “I was the kid who climbed trees to rescue stranded cats.”

Amelia Bailey has been buried for two days under the rubble of the hotel where she has been staying in the Bahamas. An earthquake has buried her and her thirteen month-old nephew, Joshua. A lawyer, Amelia has come to the Bahamas with her brother and sister-in-...more

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Dec 29, 2011 Crystal ♥ RBtWBC rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: request-publisher, request-netgalley, best-of-2011

Hot Zone is another exciting edition to a fantastical series centered on a team of sexy and daring Pararescuemen!

Hugh Franco lives life on the edge as a PJ (Pararescue Jumper), running from his past and saving lives to make up for the ones that he lost so long ago. When an earthquake sends Hugh and his team to the Bahamas, he is the first one crawling through the rubble. Trapped underneath feet of debris Hugh finds Amelia Bailey and is instantly drawn to her bravery and cool head, earning his re...more Hot Zone is another exciting edition to a fantastical series centered on a team of sexy and daring Pararescuemen!

Hugh Franco lives life on the edge as a PJ (Pararescue Jumper), running from his past and saving lives to make up for the ones that he lost so long ago. When an earthquake sends Hugh and his team to the Bahamas, he is the first one crawling through the rubble. Trapped underneath feet of debris Hugh finds Amelia Bailey and is instantly drawn to her bravery and cool head, earning his respect and starting a fire in his blood even before he can tell what she looks like. Once free from the fallen building Hugh can’t seem to let Amelia and her young nephew go but before they can explore their attraction further they are swept up into an abhorrent scheme of kidnapping and human smuggling. Can Hugh extract Amelia and her nephew from the evil clutches they find themselves in before the kidnappers realizes that they’re on to them? And if he can, will their new attraction survive past the devastation they’ve found on the ravaged island?

Catherine Mann weaves heated romance with nail biting suspense in the second installment in her captivating and intense Elite Force series. If you’ve read Cover Me then you will remember the daring Hugh Franco from the PJ team in Alaska, but if you haven’t then that is okay because the author has set Hot Zone up perfectly to read as a standalone.

Hugh is a tortured soul, living through the loss of his wife and child he is easily relatable to any reader and his story tugs on your heartstrings. Having nothing left to lose he feels that it is his job to take on the most dangerous assignments and spare his team mates. Brave, honorable, self-sacrificing, sexy as all get-out with a soft spot for children…Hugh Franco is a dream boat. ;)
His story was well written and paired with the feisty Amelia they gave each other balance in all the right places. Together they sizzled and the story intrigued.

I didn’t find Hot Zone wasn't as fast-paced and riveting as the first novel, Cover Me, but it definitely made my must-read list of 2011 and the series in general is on my must-read series list so I am eagerly anticipating the next novel, Under Fire (May 2012) which features Liam McCabe, Rachel Flores and Disco, who we see a bit of here in Hot Zone.
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Nov 20, 2012 Wendy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, romantic-suspense, favorites, men-in-uniform

Hero – Pararescueman Master Sergeant Hugh Franco is an alpha male to the core, is swoon worthy, gorgeous, sweet, gentle, caring, tortured and absolutely to die for! Hugh has won my little heart.

Heroine – Amelia is headstrong, caring, sweet, smart, and I would love to have her as a BFF.

Plot and Writing – Smooth and fast paced that had me on the edge of my seat.

Steam factor – Hot and guaranteed to steam up those reading glasses. ;)

Overall – One of the best romantic suspense I’ve read, which left m...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Jane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Amelia is trapped with her nephew in the rubble of their hotel after an earthquake hits the Bahamas. When a search and rescue dog signals a survivor in the rubble, Air Force pararescueman, Hugh, is sent in to try to locate the victim and assess the injuries. An aftershock shifts the rubble and Hugh ends up trapped with Amelia. They are rescued by the rest of Hugh's team.
Both Amelia and Hugh have a tragedy in their pasts and have erected emotional walls to protect themselves. However, being trapp...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Rachel Kall rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved the first book in the series so much I was anxious to read Hot Zone. I finished it in two days while on vacation, and it did not disappoint. Mann has to be one of my new favorite suspense authors! This book had it all for me. Our heroine is a lawyer who ends up in the Bahamas during an earthquake while she is there helping her brother adopt a child. What totally made this book for me was the hero, Hugh Franco. Mann was able to create SO much emotional depth to this man. The pain he went...more

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Mar 16, 2012 BamaGal rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romantic-suspense, seals-ops-military

I had a few issues here and there, but all in all, it was an enjoyable RS read. I really liked the authors use of the Air Force's ParaRescue service (Para Jumpers) as the background for the H's of this series. I chose to start with this 2nd book in the series, as the reviews for the 1st one were a bit iffy. I don't think the reader misses anything except for some background info on the PJ team. The stories themselves are self-contained.

This one had a main storyline and 2 sub-storylines (shades...more

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Jan 25, 2012 Romancing the Book rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, romance

Reviewed By~Marissa
Review Copy Provided By~ARC NetGalley

As this book starts, Amelia is stuck under the rubble of her hotel by an earthquake, along with her just-adopted nephew, and Hugh is on his way to pull them out. Now, I’m thinking – if this is the first chapter, where can this story possibly go? Trust me – it goes many, many places.

There were so many unexpected events that it was hard to put this book down. One of the hardest scenes to absorb was when Aiden, Amelia’s brother, explained how...more Reviewed By~Marissa
Review Copy Provided By~ARC NetGalley

As this book starts, Amelia is stuck under the rubble of her hotel by an earthquake, along with her just-adopted nephew, and Hugh is on his way to pull them out. Now, I’m thinking – if this is the first chapter, where can this story possibly go? Trust me – it goes many, many places.

There were so many unexpected events that it was hard to put this book down. One of the hardest scenes to absorb was when Aiden, Amelia’s brother, explained how his father committed suicide. On one hand it was heart-breaking and on another I was glad the bastard was dead, and on yet another I was sickened by the details surrounding the event. Mann left out nothing, covering every angle and doing it with imagination and honesty.

Mann also did a wonderful job of creating the angst of parents wondering what has happened to their son. Is he alive? Has he been lost in the earthquake with Amelia? And at the same time they are dealing with other issues between the two of them and related to the adoption. This novel is just filled with anguish, torment and dilemmas.

This is also one of those rare stories where you have to wonder if the bad guy is actually bad or are they good and just assumed to be bad. Or are they doing bad for the sake of good? And does that still make them the bad guy? It definitely got my mind speculating the further I got into the book.

Mann created a wonderful follow-up to Cover Me (with Under Fire – Liam and Rachel’s story – due out in May). I easily stepped into Amelia’s shoes and threw myself into the novel. Mann’s attention to detail is meticulous and comprehensive. I have no idea how she knows what it would be like to be trapped under tons of rubble for three days but I believed every word she wrote, about both Amelia’s emotions and Hugh’s thoughts as he stayed with her. Beware – some points in this book require a tissue, others will make your heart swoon. But isn’t this what romance novels are all about?

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Jan 01, 2012 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, non-erotic, suspense-mystery

Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

Strong characters that never falter in their determination to serve “that others may live” make Hot Zone an adrenaline-pumping journey through hellish experiences and emotional upheavals.

Amelia Bailey, a tough, no-holds-barred county prosecutor, entombed under a collapsed hotel, tamps down hysteria and claustrophobia. By wiggling her arm through a small hole, she can touch thirteen-month-old Joshua, her adopted nephew whom she had tol...more Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

Strong characters that never falter in their determination to serve “that others may live” make Hot Zone an adrenaline-pumping journey through hellish experiences and emotional upheavals.

Amelia Bailey, a tough, no-holds-barred county prosecutor, entombed under a collapsed hotel, tamps down hysteria and claustrophobia. By wiggling her arm through a small hole, she can touch thirteen-month-old Joshua, her adopted nephew whom she had told her brother and sister-in-law she would take care of. She vows to do whatever it takes to keep him alive until help arrives. The ensuing dangers that Amelia meets and overcomes are hair-raising, yet read as if they are late-breaking news.

Master Sergeant Hugh Franco, a pararescueman, truly does serve “that others may live”. He has found no other reason to live since the death of his wife and daughter. He seems to work at the most dangerous assigns as if they are getting him one day closer to joining them.

When his involvement with Amelia and Joshua doesn’t end when he rescues them from the rubble, Hugh has a personal battle to fight. He balks again and again at the long-dormant emotions coming alive and making him vulnerable, making him care, maybe even love. He is somewhat of a Superman at rescues, but afraid of caring emotions.

The earthquake demolished city, the looting and crimes, the human trafficking, the jungle dangers, and human depravity keep the reader in a breath-holding mode much of the time. Amelia, so out of her depth and dependent on Hugh, creates an anxiety that keeps the reader turning pages to see how in the world they escape the many perils.

The secondary characters like three-time divorced Major Liam McCabe and the rescue dog handler Rachel Flores should have a book all their own. They are a unique couple that deals with the horrors of their jobs in ways that give the reader insight into two complex personalities that have a special connection.

Other characters that struggle with personal problems are Amelia’s brother Dr. Aiden Bailey and his nurse wife Lizabeth. They help save as many as they can in the make-shift hospital, as they look for and inquire about Amelia and Joshua in their down time from doing surgeries. But the family issue they much come to terms with threatens to derail their marriage.

Of course, the antagonists, especially the Guardian and crew are a despicable lot that ramps up the action to the max. How their twisted minds justify human trafficking is abhorrent.

The sex scenes to “decompress” and the sex scenes with love create a wrinkle in time. They help block out the horrors and terrors of that has happened. These scenes also enhance connections that help get the characters on the road back to normalcy and to a life with hope for happy-ever-afters.

Catherine Mann’s powerful writing style sweeps the reader into pulse-pounding dangers, gripping suspense, and spine-tingling passion. Moreover, she creates super heroes that send the heart racing. The women she creates have their share of flaws but are strong, intelligent, passionate and worthy of love. Hot Zone assails the senses, offers up an-off-beat sort of humor, and stirs emotions from the very depths of one’s being—a transporting read.

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Dec 19, 2011 SOS Aloha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Catherine Mann opens HOT ZONE with a chilling rescue in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. It made me uncomfortable. It made me worry. It made me cheer when the rescue was successful. During the rescue, I came to understand the heroine, Amelia, recently divorced attorney who was assisting her brother and his wife in adopting a child from the Bahamas. She stayed with her sleeping nephew while the new parents run errands. During the earthquake, their hotel room collapsed, trapping Amelia a...more

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Nov 30, 2011 Bookaholics rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hot Zone by Catherine Mann
Contemporary Romance- Dec. 6th, 2011
4 stars

The second book in the author’s thrilling Pararescueman series, this book will not disappoint as the hero, Master Sergeant Hugh Franco risks his life to save an infant and a courageous woman named Amelia after the collapse of building in an earthquake. But saving them is only the start because someone deadly is after that child. And Amelia will do anything to keep him safe.

This is another strong book in the author’s new series...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Beanbag Love rated it 4 of 5 stars

Another good suspense romance by Catherine Mann. I didn't love it as much as the first one in the series -- Cover Me -- but that's probably because this one starts in a situation that is really one of my worst phobias (I've even had nightmares) and stays there for the first 10% of the book! That's not a bad thing, I think, if you aren't like me. I actually had to skim a little at first because of it.

But enough about me. Hugh Franco and Amelia Bailey both have reasons for not falling in love with...more

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Mar 16, 2012 Ronna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romantic-suspense, adult-romance

Great sequel to Cover Me in Catherine Mann's Elite Forces series. This book follows Pararescueman Master Sergeant Hugh Franco after he is sent out on a rescue mission to find survivors in a devastating earthquake in the Bahamas. Hugh takes on the most dangerous missions with total disregard for his own safety, because he is simply biding his time here on earth until his number is up and he can be in heaven with the wife and daughter, who he lost in a plane crash 5 years back. Still consumed by h...more Great sequel to Cover Me in Catherine Mann's Elite Forces series. This book follows Pararescueman Master Sergeant Hugh Franco after he is sent out on a rescue mission to find survivors in a devastating earthquake in the Bahamas. Hugh takes on the most dangerous missions with total disregard for his own safety, because he is simply biding his time here on earth until his number is up and he can be in heaven with the wife and daughter, who he lost in a plane crash 5 years back. Still consumed by his loss, he avoids all emotional entanglements and lives only for his job and his team. What he did not expect upon taking on his current assignment was to crawl through a caved in building to find a strong and spirited woman with piercing blue eyes, who stirs something in him he didn't think existed anymore.

Amelia Bailey is a county district attorney, who has come to the Bahamas to assist her brother and sister in law in adopting a local boy. At home, she is fierce in her pursuit of locking up criminals, criminals like her father who was a pedophile and serial rapist, whom she caught in the act. Her father killed himself before he could go on trial and her mother blames her for all of it, so now she and her brother are estranged from her. She lives with the pain of their betrayal everyday. She came to the Bahamas help with the adoption and enjoy a few days reprieve with her family in the tropics. What she got was two days underground trapped in her now caved-in hotel with her new 12 month old nephew. Scared but needing to be calm for her nephew, Joshua, she tries to keep him calm while routinely banging on the walls surrounding her until she finally hears a deep and soothing bass voice telling her she is going to be okay...and not terribly long after, the man with that wonderful voice and amazing green eyes, Hugh, has her and Joshua out.

And so begins an action-packed adventure for these two (or 3 if you count little Joshua)! It starts fast and the pace of the book never slows down. The couple has to deal with aftershocks from the quake, kidnapping, an illegal baby adoption ring, guns for hire and danger at every turn. And all the while, they realize the other is a balm that can heal the deep-seated betrayal and loss each feels, and the trauma during those few days in the Bahamas seals a bond between them. But, can they make it out of the danger zone, and even if they do, can what they feel survive outside their adrenaline charged "hot zone"? Chances are good, right, considering the nature of these books - but getting there is the fun part. And these are fun books!

There were two interesting side stories in this book. One is about Aiden, Amelia's brother, and his wife, Lisabeth. Aiden deals with his father's betrayal with the same vigor as Amelia, only he's a doctor. He travels around the world trying to save one child at a time through efforts like Doctors Without Borders and Smile Train. Lisabeth is his nurse and soulmate, and goes with him wherever he goes. Aiden does not want to have a baby, because he is afraid he could become like his father or he could pass on those traits. But, Lisabeth, wants a child and he finally agrees to adopt - but he's still not sure and the earthquake and potential loss of the new baby puts him and Lisabeth's relationship in a tailspin. Their story and where it went added a lot of depth to the story. The second side story belonged to Major Liam McCabe, Hugh's senior officer, and his interest in Rachel Flores, who is an officer paired with a trained rescue dog, and helping them in their search efforts. Their banter and budding relationship adds humor and flavor helping to round out the book.

Overall this romantic suspense/military hero/love overcomes all emotional baggage book is well worth the read if this the type of book you generally enjoy or feel like giving a shot. (less)

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Nov 12, 2011 Crystal (Redheads Review It Better) Cuffley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: military-romance

Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. And yes, WOW. If someone can find Hugh and send him to me that would be great. Or a clone of him since he is now taken. Or just the guy on the cover, I'm not picky. ;)

Alright, down to business.

Hugh has been living his life on the edge to get away from a tragedy that took his wife and daughter's lives from him. He buries himself in helping find earthquake victims in the wreckage and finds Amelia. A smart, beautiful lawyer, who he can't stay away from. After she walks away from...more

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Dec 10, 2011 Stephany rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, romance, thrillers

Alabama attorney Amelia Bailey never imagined she would find herself trapped underneath a hotel building with her just-adopted nephew fighting for his life next to her. She had come to the Bahamas with her brother and sister-in-law to adopted baby Joshua and make sure everything went through the legal channels like they should. But then a terrible earthquake hits while Amelia and Joshua are alone in a hotel room (her brother and SIL had gone to get lunch for the four of them). Thanks to pararesc...more

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Dec 23, 2011 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: military-hero, romance, romantic-suspense

Another fantastic Catherine Mann book. This one starts with Amelia trapped in the rubble of an earthquake. Hugh is the one to find her and her nephew, and stays with them until they are rescued. They connect there, and after the rescue Hugh finds himself seeking her out. He has been throwing himself into his work, trying to outrun the memories of his family. Amelia senses his pain, and something about her soothes him. When Amelia and Joshua are kidnapped by a baby smuggling ring, Hugh is there t...more

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Dec 01, 2011 Maggie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Major Liam McCabe and his team of Pararescuemen (PJ) are in the Bahamas after an Earthquake hits the Island.

Attorney Amelia Bailey and her adoptive nephew Joshue are rescued by Master Sergeant Huge Franco after spending two days under a collapsed building. Huge lives on the edge, not really caring how dangerous a mission is before he takes it on. He lost his wife Marissa and his daughter Tilly in a freak plane crash five years previously and can't seem to move beyond the heartache. Amelia is the...more

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Feb 29, 2012 Tracy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romantic-suspense, netgalley, arc

Earth-Shaking Action and Romance
Waking up buried under several tons of rubble is not Amelia Bailey's idea of a good time, but she survived the earthquake that leveled the hotel she was staying in, so she can hardly complain. Being able to feel, if not see, her new nephew has also survived is even better. So long as she doesn't think about what's left to endure, or panic about not being found, she'll be okay. Relatively speaking.

Amelia had come to the Bahamas with her brother and sister-in-law to...more

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May 26, 2013 Shan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: rrrc-overall-challenge, shans-cover-to-cover-challenge, rrrc-monthly-challenge, rrrc-rita-award-winners-nominees

I really liked this story a lot.

Amelia is an attorney who goes to the Bahamas with her brother and sister-in-law to help with an adoption. While there an earthquake happens and this is how she meets Hugh.

I liked Amelia because she didn't back down from any situation. She faced everything head on and believe me she found herself in quite a few bad situations. I loved the fierce protective instincts she had for her nephew also.

Hugh has now become one of my favorite hero's. He was sensitive, wit...more

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Nov 19, 2011 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Hot Zone is the second book in the Elite Force series by Catherine Mann and a Romance from SourceBooks Casablanca.

Book Blurb:

Days Full of Danger...

For Pararescueman Master Sergeant Hugh Franco, it’s all about saving other people’s lives. Then he moves on. But when he pulls beautiful Amelia Bailey and her adopted nephew from the rubble of a catastrophic earthquake, he finds himself entangled in their lives in ways he could never have imagined...

And Desire-Filled Nights...

Amelia’s trip to the Baha...more

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Nov 30, 2011 Calisto rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of military romance

Shelves: netgalley, military-hotness

Entertaining if somewhat unfocused and ultimately over the top.

Master Sergeant Hugh Franco rescues trapped Amanda Bailey from the wreckage of her hotel in earthquake ravaged Bahamas only to land in the middle of a black market kidnapping ring. Now, he must use all his skill as an elite pararescueman in order to keep them alive.

Let me start with gushing about the beginning of this story. The rescue from the hotel wreckage was nail-biting, awesomesauce, amazing. More than once, I was tempted to p...more Entertaining if somewhat unfocused and ultimately over the top.

Master Sergeant Hugh Franco rescues trapped Amanda Bailey from the wreckage of her hotel in earthquake ravaged Bahamas only to land in the middle of a black market kidnapping ring. Now, he must use all his skill as an elite pararescueman in order to keep them alive.

Let me start with gushing about the beginning of this story. The rescue from the hotel wreckage was nail-biting, awesomesauce, amazing. More than once, I was tempted to peak at the end, just to ensure that characters had lived and what a payoff when that rescue is completed. Even in the lull aftermath of the rescue, this story held the intensity and surprised me with the romantic tension despite the devastation of the surroundings.

It simply worked. The characters were likeable and their reactions to the situation felt real. Even the shag in the closet was appropriate (and trust me, I'm ubber critical about inappropriate/tacked on smut scenes).

However... Once the story moves away from the earthquake rescue and into the black market kidnapping ring, it felt like a completely different book. Like a sequel to a great story that doesn't quite match up to the emotional intensity of the original. This part of the story (I do consider it a mash-up of two linked stories) starts off with a bang of Rambo vs. van chase.

The problem is not in the chase itself, but that it comes in the heels of an emotionally intense first part. This makes the chase and subsequent second rescue feel way over the top. Add that to the intrusion of secondary and tertiary story-lines (and their accompanying POVs which includes the - sympathetic? - 'villain') and suddenly the emotional impact of the beginning starts to fray, losing its impact.

Had the rescues, earthquake vs. kidnapping ring, been completely separate, both would have ultimately had more cohesion and rated higher for me.

As it stands, Hot Zone is a solid story with very likeable characters that starts out with an amazing bang and, although it loses its intensity, remains an entertaining read.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.(less)

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Apr 22, 2012 Rjsmommy rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 Green Footprint Tattoos

2nd in the Elite Force (so Others May Live) Series. This time Hugh Franco takes on an earthquake and child smuggling ring in the Bahamas while finally facing the tragic deaths of his wife and daughter five years to learn to love a strong willed lawyer Amelia. I enjoyed this one from start to finish. Hugh tugs at your heartstrings as he tries to deny the feelings that are emerging for both Amelia and her adopted nephew...constantly being reminded of his dead wife and da...more

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Nov 24, 2011 Kristin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: men-in-uniform

Originally reviewed on These Pretty Words.

I'm pretty sure I squealed and danced a jig when I was approved to read Hot Zone for a review. I mean really, Cover Me was put directly on my re-readable shelf when I finished it, and I've been slowly making my way through the Wingmen Warriors series as well. Catherine has such a way with romance, such a strong grasp of the military, and knows how to explain new terms, processes, and 'stuff' without bogging the reader down with details. I have loved ever...more Originally reviewed on These Pretty Words.

I'm pretty sure I squealed and danced a jig when I was approved to read Hot Zone for a review. I mean really, Cover Me was put directly on my re-readable shelf when I finished it, and I've been slowly making my way through the Wingmen Warriors series as well. Catherine has such a way with romance, such a strong grasp of the military, and knows how to explain new terms, processes, and 'stuff' without bogging the reader down with details. I have loved every book I've read of hers, and Hot Zone easily continues that streak.

Let's start with the basics – this time our pararescuemen are on an island in the Bahamas, looking for survivors after a devastating earthquake. The book really drags you into that world of chaos and destruction, of danger and confusion. You've got a woman trapped under a collapsed hotel, doing everything she can to keep her nephew safe; a pararescuman risking his life to save her; an officer determined to keep his team alive; a search and rescue dog handler with attitude to spare; and a married couple doing what they can to help while wondering if their family is still alive.

And so begins a tale of not just one romance, but three…

Reading three separate romances at once added such a wonderful depth to this book. You get a peek into six lives, a look at how couples meet, come together, and stay together. It isn't just about Hugh and Amelia, the main couple in the book. There's this whole past-present-future vibe going on – the long-married couple, the two that fall in love along the way, and the newly introduced, who barely make it through a kiss before the story ends. It's beautiful, really, to see these people interact, both as couples and with other people around them – with family and friends and fellow soldiers. Each couple has their quirks, their way of dealing with each other and the stresses around them that made them so real in my head. I never got bored with the storylines, nor did I get confused as to which couple was which. Catherine kept the writing clear and the characterizations solid.

The plot of the book was heart-wrenching. I cried for Hugh on more than one occasion, especially with the musical references Catherine brings to the story. I don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling something important, but you'll want to keep the tissues handy. Hot Zone also forces you to think about the bad side of doing good… if that makes sense (it will once you read). At times, you just can't decide whether to cheer or boo at certain characters. The story is strong, the romance is hot, the fear is tangible, and the pacing is wonderful – exactly what you need in a book like this and perfect for a cold winter night read.

As with Cover Me, this book has found a permanent home on my re-readable shelf. Hugh and Amelia really wormed their way right into my heart with their charm and witty banter. The love scenes helped a bit as well. Hopefully we'll get to see more of the 'future' couple in upcoming books. I'd love to see that story play out. But for now go buy Hot Zone – read it, love it, read it again. It's totally worth it!(less)

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Oct 23, 2011 Jae rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, suspence, contemporary, first-read-by-author, gorgeous-military-man, hot-shagging-action, 2011, 5-star, favorites, lovvit

What can I say, the HOT cover totally does justice to the AMAZING story (or is it the other way around?) Anyway my point here is, the Hero, heroine, secondary characters, plots, settings and the shagging actions were very fulfilling and I had an enjoyable time finishing this off.

Hugh and Amelia's first encounter with each other was when he was rescuing her from under some earthquake rubble. She was trapped for three days and nearly gave up hope on any rescue when Hugh heard the weak banging she...more

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Nov 21, 2011 Sbatdorf rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mama MIA!

Just because I skipped the 1st book of this series...heck I didn't even know there was a 1st book....I just saw the cover and thought, Oh Yeah! The book more than lives up to the cover.

Hugh Franco, pararescue, yummy earthquake search and rescue team member finds Amelia and her newly adopted nephew in the rumble of a hotel. I fell in love with him from the moment he reaches them. He is the perfect blend of humor, confidence and compassion. All rolled up in to a hard body. Did I say yum...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Jess rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: rom-suspense, for_review

Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads

I love it when a book draws you right into the story from page 1. HOT ZONE starts strong with the action and doesn’t let up. We open during the aftermath of an earthquake in the Bahamas; Amelia and her young nephew are trapped under the rubble of what was once their hotel. She can’t see her adopted nephew, Joshua, but she can touch him and knows that he’s alive, barely hanging on. She has no idea how long they’ve been trapped, believing it to be only hour...more Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads

I love it when a book draws you right into the story from page 1. HOT ZONE starts strong with the action and doesn’t let up. We open during the aftermath of an earthquake in the Bahamas; Amelia and her young nephew are trapped under the rubble of what was once their hotel. She can’t see her adopted nephew, Joshua, but she can touch him and knows that he’s alive, barely hanging on. She has no idea how long they’ve been trapped, believing it to be only hours since the earthquake instead of the 2 full days that has really passed. Her body is slowly giving out and she’s losing hope, until Hugh makes his way to her.

Hugh Franco has been running from his past for years. He lost his wife and young daughter in a plane crash and has never been able to heal and start living his life again. He takes on one high risk mission after another, chasing the adrenaline high, and though he doesn’t say, he thinks it - he’s waiting for his time to come so he can be reunited with his wife and daughter in the afterlife. His current mission finds him tunneling through a collapsed building, trying to find survivors after this devastating earthquake. He makes contact with Amelia and stays with her until the clean-up crews can get enough debris off them, so Amelia and Joshua can get out safely. I really enjoy when a hero and heroine meet like this. They can’t see one another, all Hugh has to offer Amelia is touch, something as simple as holding her hand to help get her through this nightmare, but they talk to pass the time and keep all the bad “what ifs” away.

“You clean up nice.”

He eye-stroked her in a way that made his answering attraction clear without crossing the line. “You’re not quite what I expected either, now that we’re in the daylight.” She slid her hand away, closing her fist to hold onto the feel of him.

“What did you expect?”

Someone with traditional good-guy looks – blond. All-American like her ex. Would she have reacted differently earlier if she’d known her gentle, steady rescuer had a bad-boy body and forbidden-sex eyes?

Once the trio is brought out of the collapsed building, Amelia is instantly worried about her brother and sister-in-law who are here with her. They all came to the Bahamas so her brother, Aiden and his wife Lisabeth, could adopt Joshua. Its craziness all around the devastated area, looters and crimes are happening in full force and information is lacking all the way around. She stays attached to Joshua’s side as he’s put in a make shift children’s area for medical attention.

Hugh can’t get Amelia out of his head, and visits her a couple times while they rest and recover. They have that spark and come together to release all the worry and fear and adrenaline and reaffirm that they’re alive and made it through. It’s not the most romantic of scenes, having sex in a storage closet, but it was hot and fast and full of emotion for them both. But, my one little annoyance with the moment, Amelia leaves Joshua in the children’s area by himself – and yes, the kids were being watched by nurses, but still. They had just survived a disaster, overcoming pretty bad odds, they were buried under a hotel for goodness sake, so leaving him alone to be with Hugh was a bad move, especially when we all can see the writing on the wall. Amelia makes it back to Joshua in time to see someone carrying him out of the area and into a waiting van. They grab Amelia too when she tries to get to Joshua and Hugh is able to follow the kidnappers as they head out of the area.

The story for Amelia and Hugh went from surviving a natural disaster to being kidnapped by people running an illegal adoption ring. The action really was non-stop, but it didn’t feel like every page was filled with it. There are sweet moments throughout the whole story between Hugh and Amelia, especially for Hugh, who’s battling trying to not get close to anyone ever again; the fear of loving and losing more people is just too much for him. But hearing him slowly open up to Amelia about his daughter and sharing little memories he has of her, helps him open himself back up to love again. There are also really nice scenes with Amelia and Joshua. She bonds with her nephew and I was counting down to the scene when she’s reunited with her brother and sister-in-law, but also dreading it because she’d have to hand Joshua over to them.

Aiden and Lisabeth have a really great supporting storyline, so much so that I wish the book would have been just a little bit longer to get their POV towards the end after all the events had taken place. Aiden is fighting with demons from his past as well, and with the help of his wife, he too learns to open up and just let go of all the worries and pain he’d been holding in.

This is a great must read from Catherine Mann. I was sucked in from the start, put immediately right next to Amelia as she was buried alive wondering if help would get to her and Joshua in time, and I loved seeing her and Hugh together. They struggled to survive when many obstacles were put in their way, and through helping each other, they were able to put parts of their past behind them for good, and have something to live for again.(less)

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About Catherine Mann

RITA Award winner Catherine Mann resides on a sunny Florida beach with her military flyboy husband and their four children. Although after nine moves in twenty years, she hasn't given away her winter gear! Catherine writes action-packed military suspense for Berkley Publishing and Silhouette Romantic Suspense, and emotional, steamy romances for Silhouette Desire. With over a million books in print...more

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“Straightening, he towered over her, his eyes glowing with unmistakable heat. "I would find the nearest supply closet and take you up on that ofer faster than you can say 'Let's get naked.” — 1 person liked it

“Hugh was a man who could stroke magic from a guitar as fluidly as he did from her body. A man who tenderly held a child when doing so exposed old grief.” — 1 person liked it

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Hot Zone (Elite Force #2)

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