Janet Evanovich is well known for her Stephanie Plum mysteries (One for the Money, Two for the Dough, etc.). Did you know that before she created the best-selling bounty hunter mysteries, Evanovich wrote romance novels?
Maggie Toone wants to take some time away from her regular teaching job to write a novel based on her Aunt Kitty’s diaries. Hank Mallone needs a loan to expand his apple orchard business. Seems pretty straight-forward.
But the twists (and laughs) come when Maggie reveals her Aunt Kitty was a madame. The diary talks about all the details for running a successful… house of ill repute. And Hank needs to show he is a respectable member of the community in order to get the loan, so he goes through a temp agency to hire a wife. Too bad he didn’t ask about the diary before the deal was struck!
Hank is attracted to Maggie from the start, which should have disqualified her for the job. He doesn’t want any emotional entanglements in this business arrangement. But with a lack of candidates to choose from, he is desperate. Maggie is uncertain of the arrangement as well, but she wants to start over in a place that doesn’t know every detail of her “crazy Maggie” history. If she hears the story about how she wouldn’t eat green beans as a child one more time… she’ll scream.
Their first dinner together is a disaster with Hank’s ex-girlfriends showing up and the tablecloth catching fire. And at their first dance together, Maggie is kidnapped. Add a pistol-toting housekeeper, a wacky best friend… it’s a recipe for a quick, diverting read.
I listened to this book in my car and looked forward to each new calamity, I mean, each new chapter, knowing that it would all work out in the end! C.J. Critt reads the book, which I found very enjoyable. She kept it lively.
No big mystery to solve, no steamy sex scenes – just breezy, lighthearted fun. Wife for Hire is perfect for a day at the beach.
Check the WRL catalog for Wife for Hire
Check the WRL catalog for the audiobook of Wife for Hire
I did not know about the romance novels. I did not start reading the Stephanie Plum series until this past February after I watched the movie. I love the books, just finished #12 last night where Stephanie finally told Joe that she loves him!!! I read these just for fun in between other ‘heavier’ books and was wondering what I would read after I am done with this series. Some of Janet Evanoivich’s other books will be a good possibilty. Always fun to have something fun and light to read!!
Out of all the books that Janet Evanovich has written, I have only read One For the Money and that was several years ago. I recently purchased the first three in the Stephanie Plum series so that I can go back and read the first and finally continue with the series.
I have not heard a lot about Wife, but I can always go for a good light, just for fun, read. Thank you for your review.
I love Janet Evanovich’s books, including her Stephanie Plum novels and her Alex Barnaby series. I don’t really love romance novels but I would read her’s because she is funny. I am giving away a signed copy of her novel “Motor Mouth” to people who leave comments on my blog tour posts. Really easy. http://betweenboyfriendsnovel.blogspot.com/2012/10/like-janet-evanovich-or-lauren-alaina.html#