hot flash:
(American Library Assn) Booklist named Hot Flash one of the Top 101 Romance Fiction Titles of the Last Ten Years and gave it a Starred Review!
This story is very dear to my heart since I, too, went through early menopause while writing Hot Flash. I spent a lot of time trying to climb into my deep freezer! I hope you’ll relish Jill’s overheated journey of self discovery and enjoy a few laughs along the way.
What’s the recipe for a happy marriage?
“Only Kathy Carmichael could make menopause hilarious.” ~ Trish Jensen, USA TODAY Bestselling Author*
What’s the recipe for a happy marriage?
That’s what chef Jill Morgan Storm wants to know, and according to responses to the “Marriage Satisfaction Surveys” she and her closest friends cooked up, the answer is to marry a traveling salesman who is rarely home.
And Jill certainly deserves some happiness, after everything she’s been going through. Her teen-aged son, who only speaks to her in French, needs college tuition. Her crazy mother is determined to find her a man—and only brings her unsuitable ones. A pesky schoolteacher keeps annoyingly trying to fix her life. Her sous chef job is in jeopardy, and, most aggravating of all, her ex-boyfriend has absconded with her favorite skillet.
What’s a single mom to do?
Faced with the answers to her surveys, she sets off to find the traveling salesman who can share her dreams. Along the way, can she find herself and a man who will claim her heart?
HOT FLASH
Preface
Dear Happily Married Woman:
I saw your recent announcement in the newspaper celebrating many years of marriage.
Since my first marriage failed and I’ve been unsuccessful in my attempts to find a partner in life, I want to learn from the experts, women like you who’ve been married for years, about what makes a relationship work.
Would you mind, please, filling out the enclosed survey? I’ve included an SASE.
Many thanks,
Jill Morgan Storm
An Unhappily Single Woman
Prologue
Birthdays are like a box of Tampax.
When the box is new, you thoughtlessly reach in and grab another, but as the box empties you start worrying about running out before you’re ready.
Not only was my Tampax supply getting low, but it was my fortieth flipping birthday, and did I mention I was bloated, too?
I stood in my bathroom, styling my hair and trying to get ready for a night out with the girls, when my phone rang. My stomach sank as I read the caller ID and saw it was from the hotel restaurant where I work as sous chef.
“Hello?”
“Jill, you’ve got to get down here. Right now,” Big E, the pastry chef, blurted out.
I put down my blow dryer. “What’s wrong now?”
“Chef Radkin is what’s wrong. He’s always what’s wrong.”
“It’s my birthday,” I whined, but I knew my protestations were useless. The five-star chef, while incredibly talented, was equally gifted at creating problems—especially when I wasn’t at La Papillon to discourage him from drinking. For some reason, I was the designated problem fixer. “Can’t you handle the disaster du jour?”
“You’re the only one he’ll listen to.”
“I don’t want to be late to my own birthday party. Can you put Radkin on the phone?”
“That’s not possible. I’m sorry, Jill, but if you don’t come, Juan will freeze to death. You don’t want that on your conscience, do you?”
I hate it when he appeals to my inner guilt and makes me feel like I’m responsible for what happens there.
Within a short time, I entered the kitchen at La Papillon, only to observe Chef Radkin standing in front of the huge restaurant freezer, swinging a saucepan at one of the dishwashers who looked as if he was trying to open the freezer behind the mad chef.
As I stepped close, sure enough, I could just make out a very blue and probably frostbitten Juan through the tiny freezer window. Surely that wasn’t an icicle dangling from his nose?
“So, Radkin,” I said boldly, counting on his creepy crush on me to keep him from smashing my face in with the shiny pan and hoping that I was far enough out of reach for him to grope me. Did I mention that was one of his favorite pastimes?
“Jill!” He stopped midswing when he saw it was me. “Happy birthday!”
“I left my birthday petit fours in the freezer,” I said as casually as I could, again hoping to preserve my facial features. “Mind letting me through?”
He looked a little mulish over the idea, and I made a mental note to not actually go into said freezer for fear I’d soon join Juan in his frozen hell. “Please?”
“Anything for you, Jilly,” he said, turning and opening the freezer with a gallant flourish, fully intent on feeling me up if I took a step nearer.
However, he’d temporarily forgotten his captive. Juan spilled out and Big E quickly enfolded him in a few crisp white tablecloths while a cook rushed forward with a cup of coffee for the close-to-stiff man.
I turned to Radkin. “Thanks.”
Unfortunately, I’d let my guard down and the chef took full advantage by grabbing my left breast. However, despite his smarmy smile, he must have gone heavy on the sauce celebrating my birthday because he slowly sank to the floor in an unconscious heap.
I’d need to bathe for a week to get the imprint of his hand off my mental body. “Clean up on aisle five.”
After making sure he was safely stowed in his office and that Juan was okay and didn’t plan to sue, I headed out, only a little late for meeting my friends for dinner and contemplating whether there was time for a quick shower first.
The Irish poet, Thomas Moore, said, “What though youth gave love and roses, Age still leaves us friends and wine.” Updated for our current millennium, that means—hit forty and it’s all over except for friends and good saki.
I hope he’s wrong, but with fabulous friends and enough saki, who cares if he’s right?
HOT FLASH
By Kathy Carmichael
Readers’ Group Guide
1. Jill used sticky notes to make a list of her life to date.If you had to make a summation of your life to date, what five items would you include?
- Taking a survey is a great way to find out what people think about a subject.However, sometimes the writer of the survey can unconsciously skew or turn the result to reflect her own feelings. Do you think Jill took the results of her survey too literally, or did not think them through enough? What did you think of the conclusion Jill drew about the survey responses?
- If you were to write Jill giving her marital advice, what would you recommend?
- The happily married women who filled out Jill’s survey rated the items they thought helped their marriages. Is there any one thing you believe makes a marriage last?
- If you were to make a checklist of important qualities for a husband, what would you add? Do you think after you have been married for some time, the list would change? Just for fun, fill in Jill’s survey. Did you learn something about yourself or your mate?
- Jill handles her son’s relationship with her former husband unusually well, even though it’s a sticky situation. In what ways did she handle it well? In what ways could she have done better?
- As Jill prepares for a date, she answers the door wearing a T-shirt, a plastic bag over her hair, hot pink toe separators to protect her pedicure, and a green facial mask. She’s totally embarrassed. Has something like that ever happened to you? What is your most humiliating moment?
- After Jill’s breakup, she was determined to get her frying pan back from her ex-boyfriend. Was it worth the effort she went through to get it back? Did you ever have a breakup in which you obsessed over something? If so, what was it?
- Did you notice that Jill’s frying pan was a symbol of her emotional growth? In what ways did you see that she grew during the course of the story?
- Jill’s mother was anxious to see her daughter safely remarried and wanted to find Jill a husband. Did anyone ever try to set you up on dates? Have you ever played matchmaker? What happened?
- Throughout the story, Jill had a number of disastrous dates. What are some of your dating disasters? What is your worst date ever?
- Jill’s group of friends is very important to her and each relates to her in different ways. Who are your dearest friends? What sets your friendship apart from others who are less close to you? Who is your most long-term friend? How are your friends part of your support system? In Hot Flash, Jill’s friends each give her a unique perspective. What do you get out of each of your closest friendships?
- In addition to themes regarding friendship and dating, did you notice any other themes in Hot Flash? What do you think they are?
- Jill began going through pre-menopause during the course of the story. Can you relate to her hormonal changes? Have you ever had a hot flash? If so, how would you describe it?
- Readers have said they laughed out loud while reading Hot Flash. What were some of your favorite scenes in the book? What are some of the funniest things that have happened in your life? Would they make for a good book?
A special fun survey has been prepared to accompany the book. You can take the survey or read the responses here.
What are the critics saying about Hot Flash?
Witty dialogue and wickedly funny characterizations make Kathy Carmichael’s Hot Flash a jewel among romantic comedies. Great fun! ~ Eve Gaddy, Harlequin Superromance author
BOOKLIST Starred Review! “The road to true love has many twists and turns, and Jill stumbles across all of them in Carmichael’s delightful romantic comedy.” — Shelley Mosely, Booklist
Just be warned: you may end up snorting milk out of your nose, with this one, or at the very least, gain a funny look or two from anyone in your vicinity, when you burst into a guffaw while reading. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. 😉 ~ Julianne Draper, Tampa Books Examiner
Five Cups! CTRR Award! I love, love, love this book! Ms. Carmichael has written a sensational novel that will leave you laughing throughout all of Jill’s hijinks. Hot Flash is the story of what one woman will go through to give her child all he deserves. The way Jill jumps blindly into dating and comes out smelling like a disaster is hilarious. I especially loved the bikini wax episode. This is a book that has feel good chick flick movie written all over it. Pay attention book and movie fans alike because I would not be surprised to see this on the big screen! A laugh-out-loud treasure of a book for women and mothers of all ages! ~ Danielle Russell, Coffee Time Romance
Top Pick! Kathy Carmichael’s Hot Flash is a keeper! It is a journey of discovery and self-acceptance that shows that even when things look to be under control there is still room for surprise. Hot Flash has heart, and I’m going to read it again. And again. Wonderfully well done! ~ Kay James, Romance Reader at Heart
Reviewer Top Pick! 4-1/2 stars. A pure joy to read. ~ Tammie King, Night Owl Romance Reviews
4 Stars! Hot Flash is funny and endearing, a light, warm read to lose one’s self in…. Very nice, Ms. Carmichael! ~ Viviane Crystal, Crystal Reviews
4-1/2 Stars! This story is beyond worthwhile and highly entertaining. Carmichael’s writing is easy to lose yourself in.
Rista Tompkins, The Romance Readers Connection
Five Cups! I love, love, love this book! Ms. Carmichael has written a sensational novel that will leave you laughing throughout all of Jill’s hijinks. Hot Flash is the story of what one woman will go through to give her child all he deserves. The way Jill jumps blindly into dating and comes out smelling like a disaster is hilarious. I especially loved the bikini wax episode. This is a book that has feel good chick flick movie written all over it. Pay attention book and movie fans alike because I would not be surprised to see this on the big screen! A laugh-out-loud treasure of a book for women and mothers of all ages!
Danielle Russell, Coffee Time Romance
Top Pick! Kathy Carmichael’s Hot Flash is a keeper! It is a journey of discovery and self-acceptance that shows that even when things look to be under control there is still room for surprise. Hot Flash has heart, and I’m going to read it again. And again. Wonderfully well done!.
Kay James, Romance Reader at Heart
(Review publication pending)
Witty dialogue and wickedly funny characterizations make Kathy Carmichael’s Hot Flash a jewel among romantic comedies. Great fun!
Eve Gaddy, Harlequin Superromance author
Hot Flash is a laugh out loud read. Accompany Jill on her dates as she hunts for her ideal man, not realizing she knows him already.
Joan Burton, BookLoons Reviews
Reviewer Top Pick! 4-1/2 stars A pure joy to read..
Tammie King, Night Owl Romance Reviews
(Review publication pending)
4 Stars! Hot Flash is funny and endearing, a light, warm read to lose one’s self in…. Very nice, Ms. Carmichael!
Viviane Crystal, Crystal Reviews
A very fun read.
Leslie Granier, Armchair Interviews
Kathy Carmichael is the Erma Bombeck of romantic humor.
Sandra Hill, New York Times Bestselling Author
Only Kathy Carmichael could make menopause hilarious.
Trish Jensen, USA TODAY Bestselling Author
Kathy Carmichael’s well-seasoned heroine cooks up fabulous fun!
Heather MacAllister, USA TODAY Bestselling Author
I have never laughed or cried so hard.
Kathy Boswell, Fresh Fiction
AVAILABLE NOW!
“Just be warned: you may end up snorting milk out of your nose, with this one, or at the very least, gain a funny look or two from anyone in your vicinity, when you burst into a guffaw while reading. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. 😉 ” ~ Julianne Draper, Tampa Books Examiner