I like the contrast in the first image, John.
Do you think you should pp expose more to make the light more brighter to illustrate your "hot" title ? #1 is nicely exposed and I believe that alone will best illustrate your "hot" title...I prefer#2 though...I can feel the oomph on the right hand side with the more brightness there than the left side..
+1 to Izzie's comment.
I like the first image more. It has more of a focus (no pun intended).