When I first started reading In Hot Pursuit , I could not get into it and put it down. After hearing and seeing so many positive reviews and comments about it, I picked it back up and gave it another chance. I’m glad I did.

Roman Fitzpatrick is a tough, cop-turned-bodyguard who works for the Samantha Spade detective agency. He’s hired to protect gossip columnist Summer Love. Summer has received some threats because of an item she put into her column, and at first she doesn’t take these threats seriously. Summer is a hippie chick, and at first she puts up many barriers against Roman until she is forced to take the threats against her seriously.

What initially turned me off to In Hot Pursuit was Summer. She was a flighty, hippie, gossip columnist who at first seemed too stupid to live. I hate that kind of heroine. You know the one: she doesn’t believe she’s in danger because no one could possibly hurt her. Summer is exactly the kind of person Roman calls her worldly but naive. Summer was raised in a commune to believe in idealism and independence, and her motto is – If it feels good, do it. Her naivete shows because she believes in the basic goodness of all people and refuses to believe that someone would act on their threats to harm her. That attitude changes, as did my feelings toward her.

Roman does not want to guard Summer because years before his life was ruined by journalists who acted like gossip columnists. He has to overcome his prejudices against Summer, which he does as the book moves on. Summer and Roman end up being an excellent combination.

Those of you who like hot love scenes will enjoy the much-talked-about limousine scene, although I do have to agree with a reader who thought it stopped just when it was getting really interesting. The sexual tension between Summer and Roman is very intense and it’s a relief to the reader when they finally give in.

Overall, In Hot Pursuit was an enjoyable book. I will admit that the beginning turned me off until Ms. Ryan’s development of Summer’s character got me past her hippie chick exterior. As Summer became a more understandable and sympathetic character, I found myself liking her and the book more and more. I think you will, too.