Claremont, California - Present Day

The Economic Sex Hex is Ivy York’s radio show at KCEX. This former accountant was fired from her old accounting firm because of her sleazy ex-boyfriend who stole from her company, mainly because she trusted him. Ivy has given up on men and allows her opinion about men in general to come out daily on her radio show. But life is never easy for Ivy, especially when she has a sexpot for a mother who is getting busy with a contractor in the radio station’s kitchen! Ivy has enough on her plate along with her mother trying to get inside the pants of every man she meets. And the fact that her mother has a more active sex life than Ivy ever will is way too depressing for words.

Now, it is one thing to find your mother that way in the kitchen, but another when a crazed lunatic comes after Ivy because of some advice she gave to his girlfriend. But Ivy is soon saved by Luke Sterling who has come to apply for a job as Ivy’s assistant. But Luke is really not who he says he is. He is an undercover investigator, and Ivy York is an alleged criminal. He believes she masterminded the theft of some statues called the Jade Goddesses of Fertility and Virility from a private collection. These puppies are valued at over five million dollars because they are thought to be aphrodisiac. Plus, Luke is also known as the Urban Legend, a man who is a “love 'em and leave 'em" type of guy who finds missing property and gets a pricey fee for his work. Luke does like the way Ivy looks, regardless if she is guilty or not. He won’t mind trying to get as close as he can to her and kill two birds with one stone -- find the statues and perhaps have some fun with the lovely Miss York. But Ivy is not that gullible, and she is not going to fall for Luke, aka the Urban Legend. She has had enough with slimy men, thank you! She soon finds out who Luke really is and what he is looking for. Of course, Ivy is innocent and she proclaims this, but Luke still thinks she’s lying.

The statues have indeed been stolen and inadvertently fallen into the hands of Mallory York, Ivy’s mom. But before Ivy can get them from her, they are stolen again! Soon Luke, Ivy, and Mallory are on a wild goose chase to find the statues. Also, Luke’s cousin Arnold is trying to ruin him because of some past family animosity, and Ivy’s ex-boyfriend, Dirk, is stalking her because he also wants the statues. While Ivy tries to take some control of her life, host her radio show, keep her mother happy, and maybe have some nice sex with Luke, she has to keep watching her back and all those around her. And it doesn’t help matters that Luke definitely wants to bed her, but doesn’t trust her. Ivy wanted some excitement in her life, but this is ridiculous. Maybe being a mundane accountant wasn’t so bad after at all.

Talk about one madcap adventure! EXTREMELY HOT is one funny and loopy tale. Poor Ivy just wants stability in her life, but between her mother, who acts as if she's eighteen, and a man who wants her body, but has major trust issues, I am surprised Ivy knows which way is up! Ivy and Luke’s tentative romance could be annoying at times because of Luke’s emotional problems, but when they let their inhibitions go, their lovemaking is very steamy and fun to read. There is also a nice romance between Mallory and Isaac, a balding and staid lawyer who only has eyes for Mallory and is a bit of a firecracker in bed. I found Jennifer Apodaca’s characters to be engaging, especially when Mallory explains her way of life to her daughter and why she needs so much love, whether it be from men or Ivy herself; I became a little bit weepy. There may be thieves and killers running amuck, but EXTREMELY HOT is one story that had me smiling till the last page.

Kate Garrabrant