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Cate Madigan #1
Hot Stuff
Dear Reader,
If you like hot men, hot action and hot attraction you're going to love this HOT new series! HOT STUFF introduces Cate Madigan, a Boston native from a large and crazy Irish family. Cate has far too much going on to get involved in extracurricular activities, like men and marriage. She spends all day in school, earning her teaching degree, and all night working as a bartender in Boston's South End. Ex-cop Kellen McBride has decided to make Cate's bar his nightly haunt. He likes Cate's sassy Irish spirit and wild red hair. He also has an ulterior motive for getting close to her. Cate has sworn off all things romantic, but when she comes home to a ransacked apartment, a roommate who has flown the coop, and a sleeping bullmastiff named Beast, Cate has no choice but to ask Kellen for help. Can Kate resist the charming Kellen McBride while keeping herself out of danger? Or will Kellen turn up the heat on Cate and everything in her life?
We know you'll have a blast with HOT STUFF !
Janet Evanovich & Leanne Banks
If you like hot men, hot action and hot attraction you're going to love this HOT new series! HOT STUFF introduces Cate Madigan, a Boston native from a large and crazy Irish family. Cate has far too much going on to get involved in extracurricular activities, like men and marriage. She spends all day in school, earning her teaching degree, and all night working as a bartender in Boston's South End. Ex-cop Kellen McBride has decided to make Cate's bar his nightly haunt. He likes Cate's sassy Irish spirit and wild red hair. He also has an ulterior motive for getting close to her. Cate has sworn off all things romantic, but when she comes home to a ransacked apartment, a roommate who has flown the coop, and a sleeping bullmastiff named Beast, Cate has no choice but to ask Kellen for help. Can Kate resist the charming Kellen McBride while keeping herself out of danger? Or will Kellen turn up the heat on Cate and everything in her life?
We know you'll have a blast with HOT STUFF !
Janet Evanovich & Leanne Banks
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 3, 2007
130 people are currently reading
5080 people want to read
About the author
Janet Evanovich
332 books41k followersJanet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the Lizzy and Diesel series, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and Trouble Maker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author, as well as the Fox and O'Hare series with co-author Lee Goldberg.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 539 reviews
March 26, 2016
Hot Stuff is the first book in the Cate Madigan series by popular American author Janet Evanovich, written with Leanne Banks (although, to date, some nine years later, no second book has appeared). Cate Madigan is working in a bar and renting a room in the luxurious condo that belongs to the bar’s entertainer, drag-queen Marty Longfellow. When ex-cop Kellen McBride walks into the Bar, the attraction on both sides is immediate, but both Cate and Kellen are wary of involvement.
Then Marty disappears, sending a drooling bull mastiff named Beast to guard over Cate in his absence, perhaps something to do with the condo being ransacked on a regular basis. Socialite Kitty Bergman and her two large male sidekicks are insisting that Cate reveal Marty’s whereabouts, and a short, round, hairy tyre salesman named Patrick Pugg, who always talks in the third person, is insisting he wants to be her boyfriend.
That this is the work of the author of the Stephanie Plum series is quite apparent: there are plenty of laughs and the action is almost slapstick at times. There’s a bit of romance, a bit of intrigue, a bit of cake, a mystery resident and even a budding novelist. A fun read.
3.5★s
Then Marty disappears, sending a drooling bull mastiff named Beast to guard over Cate in his absence, perhaps something to do with the condo being ransacked on a regular basis. Socialite Kitty Bergman and her two large male sidekicks are insisting that Cate reveal Marty’s whereabouts, and a short, round, hairy tyre salesman named Patrick Pugg, who always talks in the third person, is insisting he wants to be her boyfriend.
That this is the work of the author of the Stephanie Plum series is quite apparent: there are plenty of laughs and the action is almost slapstick at times. There’s a bit of romance, a bit of intrigue, a bit of cake, a mystery resident and even a budding novelist. A fun read.
3.5★s
June 27, 2025
This was great!! I needed a good laugh!
May 19, 2025
don't know why I even started this book,
first thing first i find really hard in myself to connect with the main characters.
also there was too much dog feeding & walking also why do people assume dog drinks lots of water, they need food too actual dog food not human food.
ok and what's up with that mystery roomate.
nothing in this particular story was worth mentioning two stars.
again I'm not a big fan of third pov's story, so definitely I didn't liked it all.
from plot building, hell there was no plot building at all, and everything was too fast paced, the connection with the characters, her friends.
since the begining the story focusing on FMC becoming a teacher and seriously even in the epilogue it's not mentioned what happens to that career goal 😂
anyway I've no words to say, I'm almost done with this book for now.
first thing first i find really hard in myself to connect with the main characters.
also there was too much dog feeding & walking also why do people assume dog drinks lots of water, they need food too actual dog food not human food.
ok and what's up with that mystery roomate.
nothing in this particular story was worth mentioning two stars.
again I'm not a big fan of third pov's story, so definitely I didn't liked it all.
from plot building, hell there was no plot building at all, and everything was too fast paced, the connection with the characters, her friends.
since the begining the story focusing on FMC becoming a teacher and seriously even in the epilogue it's not mentioned what happens to that career goal 😂
anyway I've no words to say, I'm almost done with this book for now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2008
Hot Stuff Left Me Cold, April 9, 2007
I am a huge Janet Evanovich fan; this is not one of her better stories. The book jacket summary sounded very interesting to me, it had real potential to be a lighthearted, intriguing romance. The book started out decent enough, I immediately liked the main character, Cate, and fell for her and her crazy Irish family. At the same time I was falling for the Madigan's I was introduced to a not so loveable character, Patrick Pugg. This guy is so annoying it really takes away from the rest of the story. I feel he was inserted into the story to garner some laughs; unfortunately he had the opposite effect on me. He constantly refers to himself in the third person, everything is "Pugg this" and "Pugg that." It was exhausting and exasperating to read! He had absolutely zero redeeming qualities; any normal person would have sprayed this guy with mace and taken out a restraining order. For you Plum fans, think of all the faults and quirks of the character Albert Kloughn, add a few more, than multiply and magnify by 100.
The rest of the characters were endearing and likeable. Kellen McBride is a loveable hero and it's easy to see why he and Cate are so attracted to one another. The whole mystery of the missing drag queen roommate and the other surprises (don't want to spoil anything) also had some potential, but ended up falling flat for me. The ending and the wrap up of the mystery was completely unbelievable and ridiculous. And just when I'd think it couldn't get any more far fetched, it would. While I know this is fiction, and I appreciate the land of make believe, I always prefer a little reality in my books.
The humor and the dialogue seemed really forced and childish to me. Nothing in this book made me laugh out loud, like I normally do with a Janet read, I barely smiled at some parts. Another problem with this story was the introduction of yet another dog. I was happy this one didn't resort to the normal dog antics, but the dog thing is getting a bit stale for me. Not the worst book I have read, but far from the best. If you're dying to read this book, I recommend borrowing it from a friend or your local library.
I am a huge Janet Evanovich fan; this is not one of her better stories. The book jacket summary sounded very interesting to me, it had real potential to be a lighthearted, intriguing romance. The book started out decent enough, I immediately liked the main character, Cate, and fell for her and her crazy Irish family. At the same time I was falling for the Madigan's I was introduced to a not so loveable character, Patrick Pugg. This guy is so annoying it really takes away from the rest of the story. I feel he was inserted into the story to garner some laughs; unfortunately he had the opposite effect on me. He constantly refers to himself in the third person, everything is "Pugg this" and "Pugg that." It was exhausting and exasperating to read! He had absolutely zero redeeming qualities; any normal person would have sprayed this guy with mace and taken out a restraining order. For you Plum fans, think of all the faults and quirks of the character Albert Kloughn, add a few more, than multiply and magnify by 100.
The rest of the characters were endearing and likeable. Kellen McBride is a loveable hero and it's easy to see why he and Cate are so attracted to one another. The whole mystery of the missing drag queen roommate and the other surprises (don't want to spoil anything) also had some potential, but ended up falling flat for me. The ending and the wrap up of the mystery was completely unbelievable and ridiculous. And just when I'd think it couldn't get any more far fetched, it would. While I know this is fiction, and I appreciate the land of make believe, I always prefer a little reality in my books.
The humor and the dialogue seemed really forced and childish to me. Nothing in this book made me laugh out loud, like I normally do with a Janet read, I barely smiled at some parts. Another problem with this story was the introduction of yet another dog. I was happy this one didn't resort to the normal dog antics, but the dog thing is getting a bit stale for me. Not the worst book I have read, but far from the best. If you're dying to read this book, I recommend borrowing it from a friend or your local library.
December 1, 2008
This was a quick read, very amusing characters and rhetoric. There were some sexy incidents but not overly so. I found myself laughing out loud (which is usual when I read Janet Evanovich). This was a good pairing with Leanne Banks and, if they write another together, sign me up!
The main character is a student working as a bartender evenings to pay for her classes/living expenses. She rents a room from a female impersonator who disappears but sends her a big slobbery dog for protection while he's away. She finds herself with not one, but two, protectors (besides the dog) whether she wants them or not. There's mystery, death, kidnapping, and an overly protective family all in the mix, in this fun book.
The main character is a student working as a bartender evenings to pay for her classes/living expenses. She rents a room from a female impersonator who disappears but sends her a big slobbery dog for protection while he's away. She finds herself with not one, but two, protectors (besides the dog) whether she wants them or not. There's mystery, death, kidnapping, and an overly protective family all in the mix, in this fun book.
July 18, 2019
A novella with a romantic twist, a mystery, stolen jewelry and maybe a murder. Characters were okay and plot pretty simple. The narrator Lorelei King managed to give me listening enjoyment through to the end. Sort of silly with a couple of pretty goofy characters.
July 28, 2015
Just Janet
The book is a typical Janet read. I enjoy her books as they are light hearted and make me smile and laugh.
The book is a typical Janet read. I enjoy her books as they are light hearted and make me smile and laugh.
January 21, 2011
This was very nearly a DNF for me. I really struggled with forming an attachment to any of the characters. I found the main character, Cate, to have too little common-sense and too much trust in complete strangers. I also thought she was waaaay too naive and kind of dumb. I know this was supposed to be a light-hearted, fluffy read, but I just couldn't get behind ANY of Cate's actions. Also, there was absolutely NO emotional payoff in this book. There is a death in this book, and not one of the characters seems too particularly affected by this show of mortality. They're all so strident about it.
Soooo, suppose you've lived as someone's roommate for 2 years. And then they go missing. And out of the blue, some guy starts stalking you, another guy tells you that your roommate is a criminal, and your best friends suddenly start obsessing over another tenant in your building that none of you have ever seen.
When a guy stalks you, DON'T THANK HIM. GET A RESTRAINING ORDER.
When some complete stranger tells you crap about a person you've supposedly known for 2 years, DON'T JUST BE ALL "hm, I'd never have thought it!" GET SOME EVIDENCE, OR KICK THE GUY OUT.
When your friend is consumed with lust for someone she's never met or seen, DO NOT INDULGE HER AND BREAK INTO THE GUY'S APARTMENT. TELL HER TO GET A GRIP.
Ultimately, I didn't find any of this book to be believable. By the 3rd page in, I was ready to throw the book across the room, but I persevered. Only to throw the book across the room when I was done.
Soooo, suppose you've lived as someone's roommate for 2 years. And then they go missing. And out of the blue, some guy starts stalking you, another guy tells you that your roommate is a criminal, and your best friends suddenly start obsessing over another tenant in your building that none of you have ever seen.
When a guy stalks you, DON'T THANK HIM. GET A RESTRAINING ORDER.
When some complete stranger tells you crap about a person you've supposedly known for 2 years, DON'T JUST BE ALL "hm, I'd never have thought it!" GET SOME EVIDENCE, OR KICK THE GUY OUT.
When your friend is consumed with lust for someone she's never met or seen, DO NOT INDULGE HER AND BREAK INTO THE GUY'S APARTMENT. TELL HER TO GET A GRIP.
Ultimately, I didn't find any of this book to be believable. By the 3rd page in, I was ready to throw the book across the room, but I persevered. Only to throw the book across the room when I was done.
March 4, 2019
After a dinner at her parent's house, in which her mother has invited a nice "suitor" for Cate, Patrick Pugg relentlessly tries to convince her to date him. Neither words, a kick to the groin, nor a fake "boyfriend" deter Pugg, who talks about himself in the first person.
Cate's drag queen roommate gets into some hot water and disappears, but sends her a giant mastiff to protect her.
It just gets more and more funny with some murder and suspense thrown in for fun.
Cate's drag queen roommate gets into some hot water and disappears, but sends her a giant mastiff to protect her.
It just gets more and more funny with some murder and suspense thrown in for fun.
April 23, 2019
This is a very cute story, no different than Evanovich's other books. Cate is a single girl, working as a bartender, and she meets Kellen, a hunky mystery man. The two join forces to search for her missing roommate, Marty, and to find out why people want him killed (and why he recently acquired a guard dog). If you like Evanovich, there's no reason you won't like this.
April 5, 2018
Short and sweet mixed with a bit a humor.
August 16, 2019
If you are wondering why she never wrote book #2 and continue with the series, well.... this is one of the worst book JE has ever come out with! It was so poorly written, a knock-off of a stephanie plum novel with a bad storyline. I only gave it 2 stars because it did peak my interest for a hot second and made me laugh a couple times.
December 5, 2024
They fed that dog entirely too much people food.
October 16, 2025
A Janet E romp. Fun and funny. Endearing characters you do cheer for!
July 14, 2024
Fun, silly beach read.
September 10, 2022
cute story
September 8, 2017
This was a fun quirky story.
October 21, 2022
Look at the cover. Read the blurb. Note the author.
There: You now know everything you need to know about whether you want to read this book. If you have read this author, you know what you are getting. If you haven't, I'd highly recommend you start with the Stephanie Plum books (29 and counting) and if you still need more Janet Evanovich, you can try this one. It's Stephanie with a different accent and less funny friends.
There: You now know everything you need to know about whether you want to read this book. If you have read this author, you know what you are getting. If you haven't, I'd highly recommend you start with the Stephanie Plum books (29 and counting) and if you still need more Janet Evanovich, you can try this one. It's Stephanie with a different accent and less funny friends.
March 12, 2014
IDK how this book got past me. It was published in 2007 and I usually read Janet Evanovich books soon as they come out. I found out about it and got it right away and read it in a couple days. Its very similar to her Stephanie Plum books. So if you like those, youll like this! Cate Madigan is similar to Stephanie, tho she works at a bar and is studying to be a teacher. Kellen McBride is a private investigate, formerly a cop,,,, so similar to Joe Morelli. There's mystery, suspense, romance and of course, comedy! Very light reading! A quick read to help you escape everyday life for a short while.
December 18, 2012
I don't know anyone that could not instantly fall in love with each of these characters! I loved each of them for different reasons and together they embark on an adventure of their lives with the 'star of the show' being a dog named "Beast"! This was a fun, relaxing, couldn't-put-it-down 'read! Amidst the holiday preparations and the sorrow of the tragedy in Newtown, CT, this was a welcome escape.
December 18, 2007
I didn't get much read in April with all the travel and visiting I was doing. I was so tired on the flight over that I stuck to sudoku and movie-watching. A fellow passenger gave me a Janet Evanovich book on our way into Portland called Hot Stuff. It was very light reading, even more so than her Stephanie Plum mysteries, but it was cute and funny and suited my mood.
April 19, 2007
This is a typical Evanovich smut book. You'll laugh out loud many times. Don't know if this is the start to a new series or just a one off. It ended so if there aren't any more, that's fine. No cliffhangers or anything. Quick fun read.
December 4, 2008
Nice easy read my mom picked up for her trip to Hawaii and then handed off to me because it was about a young girl who lives in Boston who lives with a drag queen in Boston.
Can't imagine why she thought it would interest me.
Can't imagine why she thought it would interest me.
Read
May 19, 2013 Fun, fluffy read - I needed something quick and entertaining that wouldn't require too much effort and this fit the bill. Liked the fact that it had a dog in it, Beast but thought the character of Pugg (who is not a dog) was a little over the top.
January 26, 2008
I'm a big Evanovich fan, and while this isn't her Stephanie Plum character, it was still pretty good.
March 2, 2008
What an adorable book! If I didn't know better, I would think Cate Madigan and Stephanie Plum are twins! They are SO alike it's scary!! =)
May 16, 2008
I laughed out loud a lot! Don't remember vulgarity in this one (as opposed to the Plum series).
January 3, 2012
Wish she had more books like this. I really liked this one. She is a great author. Can't wait for the movie.
January 20, 2015
Can't make my opinion known until after book club!
July 4, 2015
Great story!! If this is #1 of the Cate Madigan series, where is #2? Need more, please.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 539 reviews