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White Hot
Ten years ago Sayre Lynch escaped from her small Louisiana hometown. Now she must return to Destiny to bury her brother, and confront her manipulative father and he painful memories she attempted to flee.
As investigators raise questions about the nature of Danny's death, Sayre examines her family's turbulent relationships. Complication her attempts to learn exactly how her brother died is Beck Merchant, her father's brilliant and canny attorney, who seems every bit as corrupt as her father. Yet despite her low opinion of Beck, Sayre finds herself irresistibly drawn to him.
Tension between the workforce and management is mounting in Sayre's father's steel mill. While another hotbed of lies, secrecy and depravity smoulders and then ignites within his own family...
As investigators raise questions about the nature of Danny's death, Sayre examines her family's turbulent relationships. Complication her attempts to learn exactly how her brother died is Beck Merchant, her father's brilliant and canny attorney, who seems every bit as corrupt as her father. Yet despite her low opinion of Beck, Sayre finds herself irresistibly drawn to him.
Tension between the workforce and management is mounting in Sayre's father's steel mill. While another hotbed of lies, secrecy and depravity smoulders and then ignites within his own family...
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
2575 people are currently reading
5654 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Brown
351 books19.1k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including STING (2016), FRICTION (2015), MEAN STREAK (2014), DEADLINE(2013), & LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011).
Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages.
In 2009 Brown detoured from romantic suspense to write, Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving historical fiction story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.
Brown was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer’s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including STING (2016), FRICTION (2015), MEAN STREAK (2014), DEADLINE(2013), & LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011).
Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages.
In 2009 Brown detoured from romantic suspense to write, Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving historical fiction story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.
Brown was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer’s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 830 reviews
November 28, 2014
Okay so it has happened. I have stumbled upon a Sandra Brown book that hasn't blown me away. It will be added to my liked it but didn't love it shelf.
I finished it the other day and have been trying to figure out what really didn't work for me and honestly, it wasn't any one thing.
I liked the main characters. Beck was sexy and mysterious, Sayre was sassy and had a back bone and the side characters were interesting enough.
The plot had intrigue and had me wondering but when it all came together it just didn't wow me. I reached about the 30% mark and remember thinking something needs to change. And I am kinda bummed because for me it didn't.
Normally SB books make me do this....
But in the end it was more of this....
Not a highly recommended read from me but if your a SB fan, give it a go and see what happens. It really might be a case of it's me and not the book. :)
I finished it the other day and have been trying to figure out what really didn't work for me and honestly, it wasn't any one thing.
I liked the main characters. Beck was sexy and mysterious, Sayre was sassy and had a back bone and the side characters were interesting enough.
The plot had intrigue and had me wondering but when it all came together it just didn't wow me. I reached about the 30% mark and remember thinking something needs to change. And I am kinda bummed because for me it didn't.
Normally SB books make me do this....
But in the end it was more of this....
Not a highly recommended read from me but if your a SB fan, give it a go and see what happens. It really might be a case of it's me and not the book. :)
February 2, 2017
I'm happily adding this author to my go to list. Always quick to deliver romantic suspense, smouldering heat is always at the fore with her her storylines, it's always there. I like a strong female character, and Sayre (pronounces as rhyming with chair, or with two syllables with a southern accent) was the one here. What a skilled narrator! Characters were voices separately to the very smooth narration, I could listen to this guy all day. His voice was calm but always in control. Lots of characters to love and despise, and good solid twists to boot. I love a southern accent, and added to this, the descriptive elements of the hot climate against the back drop of industrial wrong doings was as descriptive as it was entertaining. Huff was the patriarch with a dark dark history, at the reigns of an evil empire. Enter Beck as his legal side kick trying to smooth the waters in an agitated fed up community that are quickly tiring of this ruthless family and the empire it has built. Loved it as my work commute.
July 7, 2024
**2024 reread. Holy crap I still love this book as much as I did when I first read it! It will be in my top 10 books of ALL TIME, forever!!!!**
So this was the first Sandra Brown book that I ever read and was the one that started my obsession with her books! To this day it remains one of my favourite books of all time.
Huff is a manipulative tycoon with the town of Destiny Louisiana in his pocket.
Sayre, Huffs estranged daughter, returns to Destiny following the death of her brother Danny. There she must confront her father, her remaining brother Chris, and the new family lawyer Beck Merchant, after there is suspicion to believe her brother was murdered. So begins Sayre's quest to find the killer while trying to stay clear of her father.
Despite vowing to despise Beck because of her affiliation with her hated family, she finds herself drawn to him. With typical Sandra Brown style, there are many twists and turns and a touch of romance, until the ultimate conclusion - which I never saw coming!
I have read other reviews of this book saying that it is not one of Sandra Brown's best novels, but I totally disagree. The characters that she has created in this book have moved me more than her others. Huff! What a character! I have never loved to hate a character so much! And the tension between Sayre and Beck is so palpable and fantastically written that every time I read it I get goosebumps!
Sayre's past comes out gradually throughout the book and in the end you completely understand why she hates Huff so much and her family, and totally understand why she would distance herself from them.
Yes, I admit it does have moments where it moves slightly slowly, but even that cannot have me deducting a star from a book that means so much to me.
I must have read this book at least 20 times and it still gets me every time.
So this was the first Sandra Brown book that I ever read and was the one that started my obsession with her books! To this day it remains one of my favourite books of all time.
Huff is a manipulative tycoon with the town of Destiny Louisiana in his pocket.
Sayre, Huffs estranged daughter, returns to Destiny following the death of her brother Danny. There she must confront her father, her remaining brother Chris, and the new family lawyer Beck Merchant, after there is suspicion to believe her brother was murdered. So begins Sayre's quest to find the killer while trying to stay clear of her father.
Despite vowing to despise Beck because of her affiliation with her hated family, she finds herself drawn to him. With typical Sandra Brown style, there are many twists and turns and a touch of romance, until the ultimate conclusion - which I never saw coming!
I have read other reviews of this book saying that it is not one of Sandra Brown's best novels, but I totally disagree. The characters that she has created in this book have moved me more than her others. Huff! What a character! I have never loved to hate a character so much! And the tension between Sayre and Beck is so palpable and fantastically written that every time I read it I get goosebumps!
Sayre's past comes out gradually throughout the book and in the end you completely understand why she hates Huff so much and her family, and totally understand why she would distance herself from them.
Yes, I admit it does have moments where it moves slightly slowly, but even that cannot have me deducting a star from a book that means so much to me.
I must have read this book at least 20 times and it still gets me every time.
February 6, 2015
2.5 but I will round it up to 3 as she can write.
This one was a disappointment. Although when I saw Sharon's review I should have known that I would not LOVE it as I have noticed that the SB books that we have read, we more or less have the same opinion about them.
There was chemistry between the heroine and the hero but my main problem was that they were rarely together in the book. I swear they were only interacting for about 10% of the book. And the book was way too long. I was getting bored.
Not going to spend a lot of time on the review. Spent enough time on the book.
There are better SB books out there. Check them out instead.
Huff sure was a piece of work.
And Chris was no better. The apple doesn't fall far ...
This one was a disappointment. Although when I saw Sharon's review I should have known that I would not LOVE it as I have noticed that the SB books that we have read, we more or less have the same opinion about them.
There was chemistry between the heroine and the hero but my main problem was that they were rarely together in the book. I swear they were only interacting for about 10% of the book. And the book was way too long. I was getting bored.
Not going to spend a lot of time on the review. Spent enough time on the book.
There are better SB books out there. Check them out instead.
Huff sure was a piece of work.
And Chris was no better. The apple doesn't fall far ...
September 13, 2014
My first Sandra Brown novel was a perfect experience. Thanks to Linda Howard, I started to read more suspense novels and it is slowly pushing down other genres on my favorite list.
White Hot is a story about small town people, mystery and corruption that will keep you wondering what happened and who is a bad guy until the very end. It is a bit longer novel, but every page would be worth your time. Other than the great story, main thing why I enjoyed it this much are characters. Adults who are actually acting like the adults and not kids with hormone issues.
It is funny how after reading for years, you can notice if the book was written over ten years ago or even more. I guess that even writers are following current trends so they are offering to their readers what they want. That is why I think that not everyone would enjoy White Hot or other similar books, because if you are expecting alpha males and damsels in distress from Kristen Ashley novels, you would be disappointed. But if you want something different, go ahead and read this book.
White Hot is a story about small town people, mystery and corruption that will keep you wondering what happened and who is a bad guy until the very end. It is a bit longer novel, but every page would be worth your time. Other than the great story, main thing why I enjoyed it this much are characters. Adults who are actually acting like the adults and not kids with hormone issues.
It is funny how after reading for years, you can notice if the book was written over ten years ago or even more. I guess that even writers are following current trends so they are offering to their readers what they want. That is why I think that not everyone would enjoy White Hot or other similar books, because if you are expecting alpha males and damsels in distress from Kristen Ashley novels, you would be disappointed. But if you want something different, go ahead and read this book.
January 18, 2010
One of my favorites by Sandra Brown. Both leads were intriguing and effortlessly pulled me into their complicated world on the verge of exploding. Sayre is a fantastic female lead, both strong and vulnerable, and it was great to watch her battle both her own and her family's demons. Huff, her father, filled the role of the tyrannical father perfectly, but as readers we were also invited deep enough to see how damaged he was and watch this mountain of a man fall apart as his world crumbled. And Beck? An absolute favorite. His placement in the family was interesting and his banter and pull to Sayre was steamy.
All of these fascinating characters were then thrown into the mystery surrounding the murder of Sayre's brother as well as the fall-of-Rome type conditions at the family's iron foundry. Everything about this book was pitch perfect and it was one of the rare books that almost had me dropping it from its surprising, but oh so fulfilling, twists.
A perfect Sandra Brown book.
All of these fascinating characters were then thrown into the mystery surrounding the murder of Sayre's brother as well as the fall-of-Rome type conditions at the family's iron foundry. Everything about this book was pitch perfect and it was one of the rare books that almost had me dropping it from its surprising, but oh so fulfilling, twists.
A perfect Sandra Brown book.
June 25, 2011
Another awesome narration by Victor Slezak. The heroine's southern accent didn't always work for me, but otherwise it was perfect. The story is chock full of crazy: corrupt old Southern family doing all sorts of horrible things. Lots of fun twists and a hot romance. I don't know if I would have enjoyed it if I'd read it, but Slezak could make a pamphlet on savings bonds sound sexy.
March 7, 2016
Overall rating: 5 "Who the hell is the bad guy" stars!
Triggers:
Cheating:
Love triangle:
Sex with om/ow:
Intimate pasts:
Push/pull:
OW/OM drama:
HEA:
My review:
First and foremost, this is not really a romance. It is more so a suspenseful read with a dash of romance thrown in for good measure. I honestly would have loved a little more romance to be honest, but because there was nothing that hit on any of my triggers regarding this couple, it didn't bother me a whole lot. The story was so intriguing and literally kept me guessing almost until the very end, when I was finally able to put some pieces together.
I seriously didn't know what to think about Beck so many times or any of the side characters for that reason. In this book, we meet some really horrible characters. Huff, Sayre's dad, and Chris, her brother were just absolutely horrible. Reading what happened to Sayre in the past and what Huff did to her ... God, I had tears flowing! I cannot believe a father would do that to her daughter.
Just like most of her other books, I am being very vague on purpose with this review because it's best not to spoil the plot lines in her books.
Now I have no idea what I'll read next LOL!
Triggers:
Cheating:
Love triangle:
Sex with om/ow:
Intimate pasts:
Push/pull:
OW/OM drama:
HEA:
My review:
First and foremost, this is not really a romance. It is more so a suspenseful read with a dash of romance thrown in for good measure. I honestly would have loved a little more romance to be honest, but because there was nothing that hit on any of my triggers regarding this couple, it didn't bother me a whole lot. The story was so intriguing and literally kept me guessing almost until the very end, when I was finally able to put some pieces together.
I seriously didn't know what to think about Beck so many times or any of the side characters for that reason. In this book, we meet some really horrible characters. Huff, Sayre's dad, and Chris, her brother were just absolutely horrible. Reading what happened to Sayre in the past and what Huff did to her ... God, I had tears flowing! I cannot believe a father would do that to her daughter.
Just like most of her other books, I am being very vague on purpose with this review because it's best not to spoil the plot lines in her books.
Now I have no idea what I'll read next LOL!
June 22, 2017
Classic Sandra Brown with twists & turns leading to a shocking reveal near the end. I was held captivated and couldn't put it down until I finished. Another Must Read by a Master! Full review to come.
July 4, 2023
This is Yellowstone meets Norma Rae plus just about any Tennessee Williams or Eugene O'Neill you want to toss in the mix.
Lots of interesting stock Southern Gothic bad family tree characters: overbearing and ruthless Big Daddy, handsome and ruthless elder son, weak and moral wannabe younger son, firebrand daughter that hates some/all of her family, weak lawman to hide the bodies, married floozy for the elder son to have sex with, and the handsome and charming outsider and more. I would say these are just ridiculously fictional characters, but sadly that's not the case if you read the news or study history. The world is littered with real life Hoyles like the Kennedy's, Murdaughs and who knows else.
The suspense and mystery are the stars of the show. There's a romance of sort between the rebellious daughter and the familyflunky lawyer, but it's secondary to the strutting arrogance of the pretty horrible father of the clan and his equally horrible possibly worse oldest son. Their disregard for rules would be entertaining if it didn't have such a ring of truth. Victor Slezak does an excellent job narrating with a southern accent especially the male voices.
The oddest part of the book is the issue of the factory and its dangerous practices and OSHA violations. Given the outrageousness (is that spelled correctly) of the work conditions I wonder if Sandra Brown wrote this much earlier, or maybe I'm being naive and there are places of work that have this level of disregard for the safety of their employees.
Lots of interesting stock Southern Gothic bad family tree characters: overbearing and ruthless Big Daddy, handsome and ruthless elder son, weak and moral wannabe younger son, firebrand daughter that hates some/all of her family, weak lawman to hide the bodies, married floozy for the elder son to have sex with, and the handsome and charming outsider and more. I would say these are just ridiculously fictional characters, but sadly that's not the case if you read the news or study history. The world is littered with real life Hoyles like the Kennedy's, Murdaughs and who knows else.
The suspense and mystery are the stars of the show. There's a romance of sort between the rebellious daughter and the family
The oddest part of the book is the issue of the factory and its dangerous practices and OSHA violations. Given the outrageousness (is that spelled correctly) of the work conditions I wonder if Sandra Brown wrote this much earlier, or maybe I'm being naive and there are places of work that have this level of disregard for the safety of their employees.
December 17, 2010
Review Date: 10/28/2008
"OOOOH YESSS...WHITE HOT is Entertainment at it's BEST.....!
WHITE HOT wondrously written by none other than the legionary talents of a True trail blazer& Gifted prodigy ...SANDRA BROWN!
(((much)) props to the beautiful the eloquent....SANDRA BROWN...!
You'll notice specially while listening on AUDIO....
WHITE HOT flames sparkles ...Tenaciously & Teasingly and yummmm what a nice savory Intense Kick it has!
..Yes indeed...Most definitely some will find that the AUDIO is the way to go if you wanna be Carried away...
After a hard consuming rat race of a day and your Inner self screams a Sweet Rapturous release YOU can find it in Relaxing with this READ.
WHITE HOT is your Remedy to get Carried away Audio Utopia Style..teeheee!
This reader experience..a soothing Cure or so to speak a bliss of pure listening pleasure that jumps starts ones entire Being with rthymic vibrations ,also it can best be describe as.."OOOH Snap, what a wild Rush...WOWWEE..!!!"
As the Story line un folds into separate entities or piece by piece of life forces ups and downs struggles,plus survival of the fitness,who ,why what and How the HECK..?!!!
it delicately weaved into a it Story.
It's story is...ATTENTIONNNN...SIT UP TAKE NOTICE.. demanding while it peaks little by little then show signs of revolving,and at the same time blends into sharing portions of it's secrets.
The story teller makes it seem with little of ease(what a season Writer!) to connect,cross,and joined everything together...all as ONE all proper like.
Yet and still the climaxes kept being reborn with Bursts of explosion, dissolving in to colorful arrays of real life fast pace suspense ,romance & drama.
I didn't want it to end..but the ending was on POINT..holllaaa!
WHITE HOT subconsciously made me have thoughts &desires of reading RICOCHET also..yuppp by Sandra Brown...hmmmhh..what a nice touch!
Prolonging the story for me would've continue to be a pleasurable intriguing delicious treat!
this Reader's deepest thought was..," noooooo...don't end...PLEAZZZE more....Mr. Victor Slezak.......aaha a don't Stop!"
Then again,That's ONLY the Magic, the talents of SANDRA BROWN...affects on you.
This is one Reader whose glad to have thrown caution to the wind....
As I Listen I heard and took in the Story with an...OPEN MIND. Heyyy that's sooo American to demonstrate...my Freedom Choice!!
The Hero/Heroine blend&jellied very well together!
The Hero-BECK was smart,sexier than he had a right,also Tough too!
You know,this Reader was not at all taken back by the character,disposition of the Heroine.
It was different cause usually it's the HERO who act ornery,because of sigma's society places on us...we don't say much about it..men acting out how they feel..it's the NORM. but when WOMAN...acts ornery she gets persecuted.
It's a wonder SAYRE...what a lovely name didn't have a breakdown...what a tough Cookie;O)
All the lemons that what smacked up side SAYRE head,and knives diggers thrown into her heart her feelings,however her actions&feelings were justifiable,also how her own blood/relatives mistreated her It sunk!
I felt Sayre's pain.
What a passionate Spitfire Sayre was and I give kudos to her for taking a stand for the TRUTH cause some folk wouldn't nor couldn't separate themselves from family the way she did!
Sayre was such a TRUE... SHE-ROE ,
like most STRONG BRAVE COURAGEOUS woman she endure hardship liken to a good solider.
I Champion for the love Sayre & Beck shared...even in the mist of sooo much pain,suffering&death...Love prevail in the end...!
THANKS once again Ms. Brown for entertainment at it's very,very BEST!
Best wishess!"
"OOOOH YESSS...WHITE HOT is Entertainment at it's BEST.....!
WHITE HOT wondrously written by none other than the legionary talents of a True trail blazer& Gifted prodigy ...SANDRA BROWN!
(((much)) props to the beautiful the eloquent....SANDRA BROWN...!
You'll notice specially while listening on AUDIO....
WHITE HOT flames sparkles ...Tenaciously & Teasingly and yummmm what a nice savory Intense Kick it has!
..Yes indeed...Most definitely some will find that the AUDIO is the way to go if you wanna be Carried away...
After a hard consuming rat race of a day and your Inner self screams a Sweet Rapturous release YOU can find it in Relaxing with this READ.
WHITE HOT is your Remedy to get Carried away Audio Utopia Style..teeheee!
This reader experience..a soothing Cure or so to speak a bliss of pure listening pleasure that jumps starts ones entire Being with rthymic vibrations ,also it can best be describe as.."OOOH Snap, what a wild Rush...WOWWEE..!!!"
As the Story line un folds into separate entities or piece by piece of life forces ups and downs struggles,plus survival of the fitness,who ,why what and How the HECK..?!!!
it delicately weaved into a it Story.
It's story is...ATTENTIONNNN...SIT UP TAKE NOTICE.. demanding while it peaks little by little then show signs of revolving,and at the same time blends into sharing portions of it's secrets.
The story teller makes it seem with little of ease(what a season Writer!) to connect,cross,and joined everything together...all as ONE all proper like.
Yet and still the climaxes kept being reborn with Bursts of explosion, dissolving in to colorful arrays of real life fast pace suspense ,romance & drama.
I didn't want it to end..but the ending was on POINT..holllaaa!
WHITE HOT subconsciously made me have thoughts &desires of reading RICOCHET also..yuppp by Sandra Brown...hmmmhh..what a nice touch!
Prolonging the story for me would've continue to be a pleasurable intriguing delicious treat!
this Reader's deepest thought was..," noooooo...don't end...PLEAZZZE more....Mr. Victor Slezak.......aaha a don't Stop!"
Then again,That's ONLY the Magic, the talents of SANDRA BROWN...affects on you.
This is one Reader whose glad to have thrown caution to the wind....
As I Listen I heard and took in the Story with an...OPEN MIND. Heyyy that's sooo American to demonstrate...my Freedom Choice!!
The Hero/Heroine blend&jellied very well together!
The Hero-BECK was smart,sexier than he had a right,also Tough too!
You know,this Reader was not at all taken back by the character,disposition of the Heroine.
It was different cause usually it's the HERO who act ornery,because of sigma's society places on us...we don't say much about it..men acting out how they feel..it's the NORM. but when WOMAN...acts ornery she gets persecuted.
It's a wonder SAYRE...what a lovely name didn't have a breakdown...what a tough Cookie;O)
All the lemons that what smacked up side SAYRE head,and knives diggers thrown into her heart her feelings,however her actions&feelings were justifiable,also how her own blood/relatives mistreated her It sunk!
I felt Sayre's pain.
What a passionate Spitfire Sayre was and I give kudos to her for taking a stand for the TRUTH cause some folk wouldn't nor couldn't separate themselves from family the way she did!
Sayre was such a TRUE... SHE-ROE ,
like most STRONG BRAVE COURAGEOUS woman she endure hardship liken to a good solider.
I Champion for the love Sayre & Beck shared...even in the mist of sooo much pain,suffering&death...Love prevail in the end...!
THANKS once again Ms. Brown for entertainment at it's very,very BEST!
Best wishess!"
March 18, 2016
Sayre Lynch returns to Louisiana for her brother's funeral. She left home years before vowing never to return. There she meets the family's new lawyer, Beck Merchant. When the police decide that her brother's death was not suicide but homicide she ends up staying longer. Sayre is then forced to confront past demons.
I read this book for several reasons. First, I found out it is going to be a movie on Hallmark. Cool! So second, it fit a few challenges I have chose to participate in. Third, it's been on my TBR shelf for quite a while. And then fourth, it's Sandra Brown! It was a fairly good book but not my favorite of hers. I struggled at first but as the story got going there were some interesting twists and turns.
I read this book for several reasons. First, I found out it is going to be a movie on Hallmark. Cool! So second, it fit a few challenges I have chose to participate in. Third, it's been on my TBR shelf for quite a while. And then fourth, it's Sandra Brown! It was a fairly good book but not my favorite of hers. I struggled at first but as the story got going there were some interesting twists and turns.
June 5, 2018
One of my favorite reasons to read Sandra Brown is that I know that there will be at least one or two surprises, even if I feel like I've figured it all out. "White Hot" did not disappoint in that regard. I wouldn't say the small town foundry with the crooked ownership lording over beleaguered workers is my favorite set up of hers, but it worked. This one was light on the romance, but I did enjoy a genuine connection between Sayre and Beck - it was rooted in compassion for people and that's so much easier to read than long passages of glorying in rippling pecks and strong jaws. A solid read that got me out of my slump.
June 7, 2021
My walk down memory lane came to a screeching halt with this one.
I didn't like it.
I was interested in the murder mystery and honestly I didn't ever figure that out so yeah! but the rest? No. I didn't like Sayre at all, not ever. And Beck, well, let's just say no matter what, I didn't really like him either. Both their motives were selfish if you ask me and made them just unlikeable characters.
I was mostly just bored and it felt like it took forever to read. I was so tired of reading about the factory and Huff. There honestly was more romance between Chris and his side piece than there was between Sayre and Beck.
Not a good one by this amazing author if you ask me.
I didn't like it.
I was interested in the murder mystery and honestly I didn't ever figure that out so yeah! but the rest? No. I didn't like Sayre at all, not ever. And Beck, well, let's just say no matter what, I didn't really like him either. Both their motives were selfish if you ask me and made them just unlikeable characters.
I was mostly just bored and it felt like it took forever to read. I was so tired of reading about the factory and Huff. There honestly was more romance between Chris and his side piece than there was between Sayre and Beck.
Not a good one by this amazing author if you ask me.
January 19, 2019
I’m sad to this this book didn’t do it for me... very slow and I wasn’t a fan :/
April 24, 2011
Sandra Brown holds true to the genre with main characters who tantalize the reader with their dangerous attraction. The two characters begin as enemies: Sayre, the estranged daughter who comes home only after her brother's death, and Beck, her father's lawyer and confidant. Sayre is on a mission to close the family business down because of the unscrupulous business deals that she does not want associated with her name. Beck is assigned to keep his eye on her and "handle" her if she causes problems. He makes several advances toward her throughout the story and the reader is left to question the sincerity of his motives.
Brown has a command of language that allows the reader to truly visualize the setting and tone of the novel. Even the way the sheriff shifts his hat in his hands helps the reader to visualize the tense atmosphere in the room. She sets the scene nicely while not going to the extent that will bore readers. The book is heavy on action and dialog which keeps the plot moving along.
Other than a few flips in point-of-view through out the novel and the stereotypical hearts "flip flopping" and "clenching" inside people's chests, it made for a good read.
Brown has a command of language that allows the reader to truly visualize the setting and tone of the novel. Even the way the sheriff shifts his hat in his hands helps the reader to visualize the tense atmosphere in the room. She sets the scene nicely while not going to the extent that will bore readers. The book is heavy on action and dialog which keeps the plot moving along.
Other than a few flips in point-of-view through out the novel and the stereotypical hearts "flip flopping" and "clenching" inside people's chests, it made for a good read.
December 13, 2014
3.5 just wasn't into Sandra Brown stars. It was okay, and wasn't a waste of my time but when you are used to sheer literary genius time and time again, this can't be anything but a disappointment. It felt cliche and predictable and at the same time so far fetch with other elements. My feelings are hard to describe but I read it and I will never regret reading a Sandra Brown story but this certainly was nowhere near her other books that I think are outstanding.
Some elements were very visual and some things took my breath away but at the same time I found myself shaking my head towards the end. No worries though because there are lots more Sandra Brown books to make up for this one and seriously how bad was it really if I scored it 3.5?
Some elements were very visual and some things took my breath away but at the same time I found myself shaking my head towards the end. No worries though because there are lots more Sandra Brown books to make up for this one and seriously how bad was it really if I scored it 3.5?
July 20, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5 - 4 Deceitful Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sayre Hoyle Lynch has returned to the small town of Destiny, Louisiana for her younger brother’s funeral. Her intention was to attend Danny’s funeral and immediately catch a flight back to San Francisco where she lives and owns an interior design business. Huff Hoyle, her father and patriarch of the Hoyle family is a tough, ruthless man with no moral compass, truly he has zero morals or scruples! The Hoyle’s own and operates the foundry which is pretty much the only means of employment in their small town.
Hoyle had two sons, Chris, who’s cut from the same mold as his father and Danny, the more sensitive of the two who was initially thought to have committed suicide. Questionable circumstances and a call Sayer received from Danny before his death surrounded Danny’s death and is keeping Sayre in town. Sayre hates her father. Years earlier Sayer left town vowing to never return or to speak to her father again. Following the service, she meets Beck Merchant, the Hoyle corporate attorney. He’s friend & confident to both Chris and Hoyle…..They naturally butt heads immediately because of her distrust and hate for her father and his loyalty to her father….Regardless of their strong mutual attraction. Sparks definitely flew between the two of them making it difficult for them to stay apart for very long.
This is a quick read, interesting in spots and drawn out in others. As always, there are many twists and turns in the final pages that keep you guessing till the end. Definitely worth reading.
November 5, 2024
Too long for the actual plot of Sayre's brother's death as most of the story revolved around the foundry and the security measures (or lack thereof) and Sayre's grudge against her family. I've seen to the big twist in the story almost from the start so it came as no surprise to me, and the chemistry between the MC's wasn't up to par with the levels Mrs Brown has treated us in her other works.
Also, some of the expressions and the writting style at perticular scenes, reminded me of books from the 80's and 90's and I guess my stomach couldn't deal with that this time, especially since this book was written in 2004.
Well, I can't fault a favourite author for her shortcomings of the past especially since her latest works were sublime. I'll just have to settle for going through the rest of her oeuvre until her next releash Blood Moon in 2025.
Also, some of the expressions and the writting style at perticular scenes, reminded me of books from the 80's and 90's and I guess my stomach couldn't deal with that this time, especially since this book was written in 2004.
Well, I can't fault a favourite author for her shortcomings of the past especially since her latest works were sublime. I'll just have to settle for going through the rest of her oeuvre until her next releash Blood Moon in 2025.
June 21, 2017
I love Sandra Brown.. and darn it I just about worked this one out. Well, was on the right track anyway with concealed identities and characters not being what they seemed. But i will say at over 600 pages I thought this one could have been edited by about 100 pages and it wouldn't have detracted from the overall plot.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
April 4, 2009
Excellent suspense/mystery! I couldn't wait to get to the end to find out if a certain person or persons got their just desserts!!
From the dust jacket:
"When she hears that her younger brother Danny has committed suicide, Sayre Lynch relents from her vow never to return to Destiny, the small Louisiana town in which she grew up. She plans to leave immediately after the funeral, but instead soon finds herself drawn into the web cast by Huff Hoyle, her controlling and tyrannical father, the man who owns the town's sole industry, an iron foundry, and in effect runs the lives of everyone who lives there.
As she feared, Sayre learns that nothing has changed. Her father and her older brother, Chris, are as devious as ever, and now they have a new partner-in-crime, a canny and disarming lawyer named Beck Merchant, who appears to be their equal in corruption.
Soon, Sayre is thrown in closer contact with Beck and becomes convinced that something more sinister is at play than her father's usual need to dominate people and events. As she sets out to learn just what 'did' happen to Danny, she comes to realize that there are many secrets in Destiny-secrets that hide decades of pain and anger, and that threaten at any moment to erupt and destroy not only her father and brother, but perhaps Sayre herself.
Underneath the rigid control that the Hoyles exert over the town, trouble is brewing. Old hatreds foster plans for revenge, past crimes resurface, and a maverick deputy Sheriff determines that Danny Hoyle's death was not suicide, but murder.
As tensions mount, threatening to ignite a powder keg of long-held hostility, Sayre finds herself inextricably drawn into a struggle with striking laborers, her unscrupulous father, and her own emotions over the love/hate relationship that is growing with Beck, a man apparently with his own agenda, and mysteries of his own."
From the dust jacket:
"When she hears that her younger brother Danny has committed suicide, Sayre Lynch relents from her vow never to return to Destiny, the small Louisiana town in which she grew up. She plans to leave immediately after the funeral, but instead soon finds herself drawn into the web cast by Huff Hoyle, her controlling and tyrannical father, the man who owns the town's sole industry, an iron foundry, and in effect runs the lives of everyone who lives there.
As she feared, Sayre learns that nothing has changed. Her father and her older brother, Chris, are as devious as ever, and now they have a new partner-in-crime, a canny and disarming lawyer named Beck Merchant, who appears to be their equal in corruption.
Soon, Sayre is thrown in closer contact with Beck and becomes convinced that something more sinister is at play than her father's usual need to dominate people and events. As she sets out to learn just what 'did' happen to Danny, she comes to realize that there are many secrets in Destiny-secrets that hide decades of pain and anger, and that threaten at any moment to erupt and destroy not only her father and brother, but perhaps Sayre herself.
Underneath the rigid control that the Hoyles exert over the town, trouble is brewing. Old hatreds foster plans for revenge, past crimes resurface, and a maverick deputy Sheriff determines that Danny Hoyle's death was not suicide, but murder.
As tensions mount, threatening to ignite a powder keg of long-held hostility, Sayre finds herself inextricably drawn into a struggle with striking laborers, her unscrupulous father, and her own emotions over the love/hate relationship that is growing with Beck, a man apparently with his own agenda, and mysteries of his own."
September 18, 2007
Yeah. So I got this book for free, and, as we know, I will read anything. This book got one star because I am not computer savvy enough to give it half a star. It may be trying to be a romance novel. It may be trying to be a mystery. It is failing on both levels. Hm. Poorly played, Sandra. Poorly played. You'd think I'd know better....
June 19, 2019
It was a good book. I didn’t guess part of the twist, but it was out there. However, I did guess there was more to the hero than met the eye. I also guessed the killer and who he was in league with. Overall a solid read that wasn’t worth a credit, but certainly worth the time spent listening.
April 12, 2015
In Sandra Brown's White Hot, she gave us a white hot romantic suspense that exploded with lots of tension and action. When Sayre Lynch learned about her brother's suicide, she vowed never to return to her hometown of Destiny, Louisiana. She discovered that things never changed with her controlling father who ran the foundry, and that Beck Merchant, was their newest partner in crime. As Sayre investigated the dealing of the laborers in the machine, she dealt with Beck and white hot sparks fly between them, which complicated things for each other. In the end, they tackled her family and had a happy ending.
December 16, 2015
3.25 stars
March 26, 2020
Wow, whole lot of family drama. Glad it's not my family.
January 8, 2019
Not great literature, but still a story that holds your attention. Brown’s writing makes you think you are experiencing the hot humid days of Louisiana’s bayou country. It’s enough to drive someone to kill. The sexual tension between Sayre and Beck adds to the reading pleasure, and a twist made the book quite enjoyable.
August 6, 2021
Gosh, masih speechless sama adegan-adegan terakhir di buku. Pelakunya sudah dikasih tau dari awal cuman aku masih ragu utk percaya huhu sejahat2nya dia ku tdk mengharapkan dia mati, dengan setragis itu sih :"(
June 24, 2021
This book had some good twist at the end that I didn't see coming.
September 10, 2011
Dysfuctional is a mild word to describe the family named Hoyle, led by the evil patriarch Huff Hoyle. Ms. Brown smoothly tkes us into Huff's past as a child, where he witnesses his father being murdered by a man not unlike his adult self. Although this even provides us with motivation for the things that Huff Hoyle does, one doesn't feel sorry for him, nor does it make us justify his behavior.
The heroine, Sayre Lynch, hates Huff so much that at times her decisions are not wise. For example, she enlists the aid of a former sweetheart and not the town drunk to spy on coworkers at Hoyle Enterprises, a foundry because of an imminent labor strike. As I was reading this I became dismayed because up to this point Sayre doesn't strike me as stupid. I remember thinking she's going to get this man killed. He nearly is. Beck Merchant, Hoyle Enterprises' astute attorney points out to Sayre that everything she does is motivated by her hatred for her father. Ms. Brown shocks us when we find out the reason for this hatred.
Now more on Beck Merchant, the attorney for Hoyle Enterprises. At fisrt he annoyed me when Sayre tries to say good bye to her brotherr, Danny, who died of an apparent suicide, and insists she join her father and surviving brother, Chris for the wake at the house. At first, Sayre refuses, but the way Beck gets her to attend grabs the reader and the race is on to read the rest of the book to find out what happens.
The oly thing I'm going to say about Sayre's brother, Chris, is that he's a slime ball.
I highly recomend White Hot to reader who like good suspense and romance. I keep all of Ms. Brown's books. The storytelling is so well done that nothing gets lost in a reread of Ms. Browns works.
Linda Kilgren
The heroine, Sayre Lynch, hates Huff so much that at times her decisions are not wise. For example, she enlists the aid of a former sweetheart and not the town drunk to spy on coworkers at Hoyle Enterprises, a foundry because of an imminent labor strike. As I was reading this I became dismayed because up to this point Sayre doesn't strike me as stupid. I remember thinking she's going to get this man killed. He nearly is. Beck Merchant, Hoyle Enterprises' astute attorney points out to Sayre that everything she does is motivated by her hatred for her father. Ms. Brown shocks us when we find out the reason for this hatred.
Now more on Beck Merchant, the attorney for Hoyle Enterprises. At fisrt he annoyed me when Sayre tries to say good bye to her brotherr, Danny, who died of an apparent suicide, and insists she join her father and surviving brother, Chris for the wake at the house. At first, Sayre refuses, but the way Beck gets her to attend grabs the reader and the race is on to read the rest of the book to find out what happens.
The oly thing I'm going to say about Sayre's brother, Chris, is that he's a slime ball.
I highly recomend White Hot to reader who like good suspense and romance. I keep all of Ms. Brown's books. The storytelling is so well done that nothing gets lost in a reread of Ms. Browns works.
Linda Kilgren
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