Hot Hires

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The details…

• Title: Hot Hires
• Authors: Nan Campbell, Alaina Erdell, Jesse J. Thoma
• Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
• Publication date: June 1, 2024
• Editor: Cindy Cresap
• ISBN 13: 978-1-63679-652-9
• Available formats: ebook, paperback
• Print Length: 312 pages
• Genre: romance
• Themes: women loving women, family, culture, marriage, careers, relationships, independence, striking out on one’s own, love, romance, white collar crime, whistle blowers, getting framed for murder, running from bad guys

The blurb…

When business turns to pleasure, romance ignites.

In “New York is Losing Hope” by Nan Campbell: With thirty-five on the horizon and still single, Hope Mason is abandoning her beloved New York City to try her luck in bright, shiny Los Angeles. One problem. This New Yorker is terrified of driving, an essential skill for Californians. She hires instructor Val Caceres to teach her how to drive off into the sunset, but Val could be the one thing she doesn’t want to leave behind.

In “Two Women, Two Weddings” by Alaina Erdell: Aarti Singh’s brilliance in cardiology hasn’t diminished her longing to be an event planner, even if familial expectations demand a career in medicine. Meanwhile, Jo Samuels’s love life has taken a back seat to her demanding chef career and her desire to keep her life simple. When Aarti hires Jo to cater a wedding, their attraction is undeniable, but how can they fall in love when they’re struggling to be true to themselves?

In “For Love or Money” by Jesse J. Thoma: Short-seller Frances “Frankie” Sender has always been good at picking winners, but her skills might make her the ultimate loser when a company she is researching frames her for a crime. Her only chance at staying alive is Dakota “Oz” Osborne, a woman with a million-dollar reason to toss her in jail. They’ll have to trust each other and avoid the easy cash out if they want the stock to rise on a chance at love.

My thoughts…

Anthologies are wonderful because they give readers a nice sampling of a publisher’s authors. It’s especially appealing when they pick a solid lineup of writers, like Bold Strokes Books did with their most recent release, Hot Hires. It features Nan Campbell, Alaina Erdell, and Jesse J. Thoma, and each writer puts their best foot forward, showcasing their distinct talents as storytellers. 

Nan Campbell gets top billing in this publication, and with four books to her name, Campbell is quickly becoming a hot commodity at Bold Strokes Books. Her debut, The Rules of Forever, was not only a hit with readers but also earned her a Lambda Literary Award. Her second and third books, The No Kiss Contract and Like They Do in the Movies, garnered her even more praise. Both are currently up for an Ann Bannon Golden Crown Literary Award. Though her career as an author is still in its infancy, it’s quite clear that Bold Strokes has struck gold with her. 

Once readers get into Campbell’s contribution, they’ll quickly see that she was a good choice for this anthology. Her writing is a real treat; there’s just so much to enjoy. Readers easily fall in love with Hope and Val. They are appropriately fleshed out and likable characters—quite adorable actually. Furthermore, Campbell does a nice job building the romance between them. I must say, I was impressed; for a short story, Campbell accomplishes a lot. Her use of secondary characters and setting (which almost acts like a supporting character) make the writing shine. Each is well developed and well structured, adding nice dollops of contrast and texture to the storytelling. Bottom line—the whole piece is just nicely done. In fact, I wouldn’t mind an expanded version of “New York is Losing Hope” 😉

The second short story is written by Alaina Erdell, and she never misses with her work. Like Campbell, her debut also earned her some healthy attention. Fire, Water, and Rock tallied six awards, which is certainly something to crow about. Her second book underscores that her talent is real, and that she’s not just a one-hit wonder. Off the Menu collected seven awards and is my personal favorite.

One of the things that readers appreciate about Erdell is the way she weaves her unique passions into her storytelling. She has a real knack for captivating readers with the details, whether it be art, geology, or cooking, but especially cooking. Her Hot Hires contribution involves a lovely romance between an uptight, high-strung wedding planner (who happens to be the bride’s sister) and a chef for the wedding festivities. Even though “Two Women, Two Weddings” is short, Erdell demonstrates that she knows how to create believable tension while keeping the romance fun. Her vivid descriptions and fluid prose add so much life to the storytelling; it truly makes for an enticing read. Like Campbell, Erdell may have just recently cut her teeth in this business, but she’s proven she’s quite comfortable on the page. Whether it’s a full-length novel or a short story, she always provides a pleasurable read. 

The last selection in this anthology, “For Love or Money,” is written by Jesse J. Thoma. Unlike her fellow co-authors, she’s not new to the storytelling game. She wrote her first book, The Chase, in 2013 and garnered positive feedback for it. Since then, she’s produced eight more novels, spanning genres like butch-femme romance and crime fiction. Many of them have caught the attention of award panels, garnering nominations from both the Golden Crowne Literary Society and the Lambda Literary committee. Readers are drawn to her high-octane, fast-paced dramas, and that’s what she delivers in Hot Hires. Her story “For Love or Money” packs a punch and leaves readers wanting more. For just a short tale, she’s able to develop a complex plot without any confusing leaps or jumps, tying everything up neat and sweet in the end. She sets it up perfectly too with a real flash-bang start; readers are pulled into the high-speed drama immediately and they don’t want to let go. Furthermore, the leading ladies are much too alluring to be denied. They have chemistry for days, and their sizzle jumps off the page. This was my first story by Thoma, but it won’t be my last!

Final remarks…

Hot Hires is a fun anthology. I enjoyed all three stories. The writing is strong and cohesive with tight themes throughout. The character development is solid and the plots are completely engaging. This is a perfect beach read—light, entertaining and easy to enjoy. I highly recommend it. 

Strengths…

• Well-written, well-edited 
• Entertaining storylines
• Fun, likable characters 
• Steamy romances

This book is available from…

• Bold Strokes Books
• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• BAM!
• Indie Bound
• Powell’s
• Kobo
• Google Books
• Booktopia
• Thriftbooks

A bit about the authors…

Nan Campbell’s debut novel, The Rules of Forever, is a Lambda Literary Award winner. She grew up on the Jersey Shore, where she first discovered her love of romance novels as a kid, spending her summers at the beach reading stories that were wholly inappropriate for her age. She was, and continues to be, a sucker for a happy ending. Nan lives in New York City.

Alaina Erdell lives in Ohio with her partner and their crazy but adorable cats. Prior to writing contemporary sapphic romances, she worked as a chef. She enjoys painting, cooking for friends and family, experimenting with molecular gastronomy, reading, traveling, and spoiling her beloved nephews.

Jesse J. Thoma: Although she works best under the pressure of a deadline, Jesse Thoma balks at being told what to do. Despite that, she’s no fool and knows she’d be lost without her editor’s brilliance. Seneca Falls was a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award in romance. Data Capture, Serenity, and Courage were finalists for the Golden Crowne Literary Society “Goldie” Award.

Want to know more about these authors? Check out their websites or Goodreads page:

• Nan Campbell
• Alaina Erdell
• Jesse J. Thoma