Most women can't get over the fact that John Roper is undeniably handsome and hot but Amy Stone quickly realizes that there is much more to this sports hero and all around hunk. These well hidden qualities are what is slowly affecting his career and jeopardizing his financial well being. He cares. Well you might not think that is a bad thing but in his case it has taken over his life. Faced with an injury that could sideline him in the coming season, physical therapy that isn't getting the job done in time for spring training and continued bad press of a disappointing performance last season, not to mention a distraught overly zealous fan -- well desperate times call for desperate measures.

Enter Hot Zones newest team member Amy whose first assignment is to help John get his priorities straight and ready for the coming season. Problem one is John's rather needy and quirky family who all depend on him for just about anything. He is so busy with their lives he can't garner time for his own. Watching them tackle each others families is like watching a vintage I Love Lucy episode and sure to entertain. Amy realizes she needs to take charge -- something John is not accustomed to and rather at odds with. Amy is used to managing people, a talent she honed at a retirement village. But handling and managing a man like John is well, certainly going to test her abilities -- not to mention her emotional well being.

So Amy decides to kind of kidnap John and sequester him at a remote lodge, virtually out of communications with any of his distracters so that he devotes his time to his needs. Amy has a reckless side she diligently represses but spending all this time with John is quickly removing all the safeguards she has in place. Both Amy and John realize their professional relationship is going to be deeply affected by the growing attraction. The gnawing question is whether either one of them is ready to accept the direction their powerful feelings are taking them.

There is no denying the sparks that fly when they are together or how bereft they are when apart. But Amy has some demons to conquer before she can commit to life with a sports figure that lives in a glass house under scrutiny of the public.

True to the integrity of all Carly Phillips stories HOT PROPERTY lets you see how vulnerable even the most powerful people can be especially when there is love involved. Falling in love with John Roper and Amy Stone is easy. It was also nice to be around other familiar characters from the Hot Zone previous stories. But getting to know two very different but equally dysfunctional families was great fun. How intuitive of Phillips to illustrate how easily our family frustrates us and yet how we can somehow find the humor in someone else's. Great summer read.