Some Like It Hott

Bell’s diverting third Hott Springs Eternal contemporary (after Hott Take) finds New York City financial analyst Preston Hott angling to cinch a promotion when he learns of the life-altering provisions in his curmudgeonly late grandfather’s will. To keep Hott Springs Eternal—the wedding venue run by Preston’s sister, Hanna—in the family, Preston must return to the Oregon property and create an activities program for the town’s upcoming summer festival. If the program gets less than a 4.5 rating from attendees, the family land and business will be sold to a mining company. Fortunately, uptight Preston will have help from Natalie Archer, Hott Springs Eternal’s spunky activities coordinator. As they work together, sparks fly and Preston quickly realizes how much he needs Natalie’s creative flair in his life. Their chemistry soon becomes too much to ignore, but will their relationship survive Preston’s return to his high-flying life in New York? Bell mines her leads’ opposites-attract dynamic for some heady sexual tension. The result is both sizzling and poignant. (Self-published)