What do you think?
Rate this book
Hotbed
Two sisters, Natalie and Patti, become rivals when they challenge each other's daring and begin a dark, downward spiral where nobody is quite who or what they seem, and transgressing sexual boundaries is the norm.
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
7 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Portia Da Costa
170 books514 followersI'm a Sunday Times, New York Times and USA Today bestselling British author of romance, erotic romance and romantic fiction. My novels have been published by a variety of different houses, both in the US and the UK, and translated into many languages including German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian and Japanese. I'm best known for my many novels for the pioneering British erotica publisher Black Lace and I writing books with contemporary, paranormal and occasionally futuristic settings. I'm now venturing into historical erotic romance too, with a new novel for Harlequin Spice set in London in the year 1890.
I also write as Dorothy Starr and Megan Paul
I've been writing for publication since 1990, and have had over twenty novels published and around 100 short stories. I've contributed to many different short story anthologies and women’s magazines. I've also written a number Spice Briefs for Harlequin.
I'm a member of Romance Writers of America, the Passionate Ink RWA Chapter, the Romantic Novelists Association [UK] and the Society of Authors [UK].
I live in the heart of West Yorkshire, UK, with my husband and my cats. When I'm not writing I enjoy reading, watching TV and movies, hanging out on Twitter and Facebook, and online life in general. I was formerly a librarian and have also worked in local government.
I also write as Dorothy Starr and Megan Paul
I've been writing for publication since 1990, and have had over twenty novels published and around 100 short stories. I've contributed to many different short story anthologies and women’s magazines. I've also written a number Spice Briefs for Harlequin.
I'm a member of Romance Writers of America, the Passionate Ink RWA Chapter, the Romantic Novelists Association [UK] and the Society of Authors [UK].
I live in the heart of West Yorkshire, UK, with my husband and my cats. When I'm not writing I enjoy reading, watching TV and movies, hanging out on Twitter and Facebook, and online life in general. I was formerly a librarian and have also worked in local government.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 20, 2018
This is early Da Costa in her erotica iteration. Repeat after me: This is erotica, this is erotica, this is erotica. Got it? OK, now repeat after me: Erotica does not equal erotic romance, erotica does not equal erotic romance, erotica does not equal erotica romance.
Good Lord, is this book filthy. I mean, really filthy. There's half-sisters and a drag queen and a corrupt politician. There's people taking bribes, an S&M sex club and a randy window washer. I have no idea how to rate this book. None. I'm not even sure I would recommend it. But it ticked a lot of my erotica boxes (I like challenging and taboo and dear Lord is this book both).
I think I need to go lie down now, maybe take some aspirin and put a cool cloth on my forehead. It's been a while since I read a Black Lace novel and now I need to recover.
Good Lord, is this book filthy. I mean, really filthy. There's half-sisters and a drag queen and a corrupt politician. There's people taking bribes, an S&M sex club and a randy window washer. I have no idea how to rate this book. None. I'm not even sure I would recommend it. But it ticked a lot of my erotica boxes (I like challenging and taboo and dear Lord is this book both).
I think I need to go lie down now, maybe take some aspirin and put a cool cloth on my forehead. It's been a while since I read a Black Lace novel and now I need to recover.
August 26, 2009
Started reading this one before leaving on summer holiday, and finally got back to it now. Da Costa and Emma Holly are two of Black Lace's best authors, in my opinion. This one is a bit discombobulated at times and the main character's motives are rather off the wall (we never really discover what the super scandal is that the journalist is trying to prove and reveal), but it's still a fun steamy read. The theme of sibling rivalry, much touted on the cover, is not terribly convincing, but again, one isn't really looking for great lit when reading black lace.
April 3, 2016
I found the storyline in this book a little weird to say the least! And I found it a bit creepy
with there being incest. Which I found surprising as I've always enjoyed Portia Da Costa's books before.
with there being incest. Which I found surprising as I've always enjoyed Portia Da Costa's books before.
February 1, 2018
Enjoyable read even if the storyline did not quite live up to expectations of investigative journalism it certainly captured the imagination from a BDSM point of view although it could have gone further. looking forward to further reads of Portia's books.
May 27, 2021
Wasn't as impressed by this novel as I was "The Tutor".
It felt too uncomfortable reading about 2 step-sisters and their sexual interests with others...and each other.
It felt too uncomfortable reading about 2 step-sisters and their sexual interests with others...and each other.
March 25, 2016
I missed the humour which I'm more or less used to finding in Black Lace novels, which is why I only rated this one two stars. So nothing in here to make me chuckle or grin this time, but apart from that, the book was okay.
June 25, 2013
A bit far fetched for me and not enough true love/desire
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews