Crazy Hot

by Tara Janzen/Glynna McReynolds

The Steele Street Story:

CRAZY HOT (Book 1 of 12) (2005)

Paleontologist Regan McKinney races across the West searching for her missing grandfather, leading her to ex-fighter pilot Quinn Younger in a ghost town. When danger follows, Quinn, once on a criminal path but now redeemed, becomes her protector in a high-speed chase involving terrorists and dinosaur bones.

CRAZY COOL (Book 2 of 12) (2005)

Katya Dekker returns to Denver for a high-society event that turns deadly, pulling her into a web of old secrets and betrayal. Steele Street operative Dylan Hart, haunted by their shared past, must protect her from assassins while confronting unresolved tension and a conspiracy tied to powerful figures.

CRAZY WILD (Book 3 of 12) (2006)

Creed Rivera, a Steele Street bad boy with a shadowy history, is sent to rescue a woman from a dangerous situation in the Colombian jungle. The mission spirals into survival against drug lords and personal demons, forging an intense bond amid gunfights, betrayal, and raw attraction.

CRAZY KISSES (Book 4 of 12) (2006)

Nikki McKinney, a talented artist with a wild streak, gets entangled in a deadly game after witnessing a murder. Steele Street operative Kid Chronopolous steps in to keep her safe, leading to a passionate, high-risk romance as they evade killers and uncover a larger threat.

CRAZY LOVE (Book 5 of 12) (2006)

Skeeter Bang, the team’s brilliant tech genius and car customizer, finds herself in the crosshairs when old enemies target her skills. Travis “Skeeter” James teams up with operative Dylan Hart (or related arcs), blending high-tech intrigue, explosive action, and deepening personal connections.

CRAZY SWEET (Book 6 of 12) (2006)

Gillian “Red Dog” Pentycote, a tough operative recovering from trauma, crosses paths with former lover Travis in a mission involving stolen tech and revenge. Their reunion ignites old flames amid car chases, betrayals, and a fight to reclaim trust and survival.

ON THE LOOSE (Book 7 of 12) (2007; also published as Steele Street: Loose)

Cherie “Torch” Faulkner, a skilled thief and driver, gets pulled into a dangerous heist gone wrong. Steele Street’s Creed or related team members intervene, leading to a fast-paced adventure of redemption, high-speed pursuits, and unexpected romance.

CUTTING LOOSE (Book 8 of 12) (2008)

Former operative Lily Robbins returns to Denver with a secret mission that puts her at odds with the team. Skeeter and the crew must navigate betrayal, corporate espionage, and personal stakes in a story of loyalty, high-tech thrills, and rekindled connections.

LOOSE AND EASY (Book 9 of 12) (2008)

Esme Alden, a clever con artist with ties to the underworld, teams up with operative Zach “Easy” McClane for a high-stakes job involving stolen art and dangerous players. Their partnership sparks heat and trust amid chases, cons, and moral gray areas.

BREAKING LOOSE (Book 10 of 12) (2008)

Sofia “Slick” Delgado, a fierce operative, faces off against a ruthless enemy from her past while protecting a key asset. The team rallies for a mission blending action, espionage, and intense personal growth as old wounds reopen.

LOOSE ENDS (Book 11 of 12) (2009)

Conroy “Farouche” Farrel, a shadowy figure with loose ties to Steele Street, gets drawn into a final reckoning involving international threats and unresolved vendettas. The story ties up lingering threads with high-octane action, betrayals, and hard-won resolutions.

CRAZY HEARTS (Book 12 of 12) (2020)

In the long-awaited finale, the core team confronts a massive, multi-layered threat that tests every alliance and skill they’ve built. Amid global stakes, personal crises, and explosive finales, old favorites find closure, new bonds form, and the Steele Street legacy roars to a close with signature speed and passion.

The Series:

The Steele Street series by Tara Janzen (Glenna McReynolds’ pseudonym) follows the high-octane exploits of a tight-knit crew of elite operatives based out of a custom-car garage called Steele Street in Denver, Colorado. These guys—mostly reformed juvenile delinquents, car thieves, and street-smart bad boys turned Special Defense Force (SDF) agents—handle black-ops missions for the U.S. government, taking on terrorists, international threats, stolen tech, and shadowy conspiracies with fast cars, firepower, and unbreakable loyalty. Led by the enigmatic Dylan Hart and featuring a rotating cast of alpha heroes (like Creed Rivera, Kid Chronopolous, Travis James, and others), the series blends pulse-pounding action, high-stakes chases (often in souped-up muscle cars), global intrigue, and steamy, passionate romance that develops amid danger and banter. Over the 12 books (from Crazy Hot in 2005 to Crazy Hearts in 2020), the overarching arc tracks the team’s evolution from ragtag Denver crew to one of America’s most elite covert units, while individual stories resolve personal demons, rekindle old flames, and confront escalating enemies—culminating in massive threats that test every bond and skill they’ve built.

It’s escapist romantic suspense at its most fun and over-the-top: think explosive car culture, military-grade ops, witty dialogue, and couples who fall hard while dodging bullets and bad guys. The early “Crazy” books introduce the core team and Denver roots, while later “Loose” titles expand the scope with more international flair and wrap up lingering vendettas, making the whole run feel like one long, adrenaline-fueled ride with heart.

boookwyrm Review:

Crazy Hot by Tara Janzen (Steele Street Book 1 of 12)

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (still revving hard in the hoard, engine hot and tires smoking)

We—boookwyrm and the Cybernet Book gnomes—popped the hood on this one expecting a quick gear-shift romance with some action, and instead got slammed into overdrive from page one. Fast cars. Hot heroes. The kind of muscle-car worship that makes you smell burnt rubber and hear the growl of a V8 even when you’re just sitting still. Quinn Younger rolls in like the bad-boy redemption poster child: ex-Air Force pilot, former car thief, all sun-bleached hair and scarred knuckles, the guy who once stole for kicks and now steals hearts (and occasionally bad guys’ rides) for the greater good. Regan McKinney is the paleontologist with a missing grandfather and a stubborn streak wide enough to drive a semi through—she’s smart, determined, and completely out of her depth when the dinosaur bones she’s chasing turn out to be bait for something way deadlier.

But here’s the spark that lights the fuse: fifteen years ago, when Quinn was a shaggy-haired sixteen-year-old delinquent in her grandfather’s summer work-rehab program, he carried a massive, unspoken teenage crush on Regan—the older, unattainable paleontologist granddaughter who visited the site. He admired her from afar, fantasized about her, even pulled a sly prank on her ex-husband as a quiet act of devotion. Then came the pivotal moment: Quinn accidentally walked in on her changing in her tent, catching her nearly naked. That awkward, electric encounter seared into both their memories—Quinn used it as fuel to turn his life around (joining the Air Force, becoming a hero), while Regan retained a lingering image of the sly-grinned kid with assessing eyes. Neither forgot. When they collide as adults in that ghost town, the recognition hits like a spark plug firing: old longing crashes into present danger, turning instant chemistry into something deeper, sweeter, and far more combustible.

The romance isn’t handed to us on a silver platter; it’s clawed out of the past and the present—longing from those teenage years fueling Quinn’s quiet pride in having “bettered himself” for a shot he thought impossible, and Regan’s own spark of reciprocal attraction once the pieces click. Lush descriptions of steamy heat during high-tension scenes of guns and running—sweat-slick skin pressed against cold metal, breaths ragged between gunshots, hands gripping more than just steering wheels. Janzen doesn’t shy away from the chaos: bullets flying, engines roaring, terrorists on their tail, and the two of them tearing across the desert like the world is ending and they might as well go out hot. There’s angst here—not long-drawn-out brooding, but sharp edges of emotional grit: Quinn’s scars from his delinquent past and the debt he owes her grandfather, Regan’s fear for her missing granddad and the vulnerability of being out of her element. It gives the banter bite and the heat real weight.

Quite the chaotic, hot ride—plot zigs when you expect zags, humor sneaks in between the adrenaline dumps, and the banter keeps pace with the horsepower. This opener sets the tone for the whole Steele Street crew: reformed delinquents turned black-ops badasses, unbreakable loyalty, cars that are practically characters, and romance that burns bright amid the explosions. No deep philosophy, but enough heart and grit to keep it from feeling too fluffy. If you like your romantic suspense with horsepower, hero worship, second-chance longing, and zero brakes, this one’s a hell of a launch. We floored it and never looked back.

Cybernet Books • Affiliate links help support the Cybernet Book gnomes and fill the Hoard • Enjoy responsibly!