Rating: 4.25 stars
Buy Links: Amazon | All Romance
Length: Novel
When new student and punk extraordinaire Paul Gibson walks into his classroom, Grey Talbot is taken aback by his sudden and strange attraction to the student. Not that he’d ever act on it. Weeks go by and Grey’s, not to mention the female faculty’s, curiosity is peaked by Paul. It’s just another lonely night at home alone for Grey, so he decides to head out for dinner and beer. On his way home he is taken by surprise by a mugger and even further shocked by the cop chasing the criminal: Paul Gibson.
Detective Paul Gaines, aka Paul Gibson, was blessed—cursed, if you ask him—with a youthful face. As in, even at thirty, he still looks like a teenager. And that face is the reason he’s working the job he’s been assigned: flushing out a drug ring in an Alabama high school. What he didn’t expect was the attraction he’d have to his history teacher. When Grey ends up in the middle of a chase, Paul has no choice but to tell him the truth. And when the truth is out, both men have an even harder time fighting their attraction to one another.
The fact that Grey could still lose his job because of the appearance of impropriety is reason enough to stay away from each other. But the need between them is just too strong. Still in the middle of an investigation, Paul and Grey take on a secret relationship, while trying to balance professionalism, careers, and appearances.
Little do they know the threat to them and their relationship is closer than they think. And if they are outed not only will their careers be on the line, but so will their lives.
I loved this book, but that shouldn’t be a surprise. I loved 21 Jump Street too. Crazy from the Heat is a play on the student/teacher flirtation from the aforementioned film. Except this time the teacher knows the student is a cop and of age. And this book way hotter than the film ever hoped to be. I like not only the steamy bedroom scenes—cuz let’s face it, if there’s one thing Mercy Celeste is known for it’s hot sex (and angst, but this book has none of that)—but the plot, the mystery, is wonderful, and something I never saw coming. They mystery of this book is exciting and frustrating and captivating, which are all points I look for in a good cop story. So yes, the relationship/sex attracted me to the story, but the mystery kept me wanting more until the very end.
I loved both Grey and Paul. There is more to both men than what you originally see. They both live with shady pasts that have shaped who they are. Grey lives with the stigma of his past. It’s a past I didn’t see coming, and honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about it right now. But the fact of the matter is, Grey dealt with who he was in his past and what happened to him, his choices and the consequences, and he moved on. He accepted his role and mourned the love he felt back then, and he’s a better man, a better teacher for it. Then there is Paul. Paul is a man of mystery. His past follows him everywhere. He’s haunted by the ghosts of his past jobs. I love the man Paul is because of his past. I love his strength and intelligence. There is far more to him than meets the eye. And that’s all I’m gonna tell you about him. Other than he’s freakin’ awesome.
No, this story is not one hundred percent realistic, but let’s be honest, it’s that escape that draws us in right. I love that this story caused me to use my imagination while giving me the drama, romance, and mystery I craved.
I’ve said this before and it stands true still. It may or may not be fair, but I tend to be harder on self-published books when it comes to editing and proofing because in my head, if an author believes so wholeheartedly in a work that they publish it out of their own accord, I want it to be well-planned, well-written, and well-published. This book is well plotted and written, but it could have used a good proofing. The errors happened enough to merit mentioning, but I’ll stick behind my statement that the story is good. I enjoyed it so much.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the characters and their steamy relationship. And I loved the play on the popular film. And I loved the story. It’s so good. So much entertaining. So much fun. I definitely recommend Crazy from the Heat by Mercy Celeste.
