Catch a Mate by Gena Showalter
(HQN - 2007)
Rating: Good
Jillian Greene works for Catch a Mate, a company that tests the fidelity of husbands and boyfriends by using women as "bait" to prompt them to cheat. Jillian firmly believes in what she does, helping women discover the truth about their men. When she meets Marcus Brody, the first man to work for Catch a Mate, she is instantly attracted and starts to doubt her man-hating ways...
A fun romantic comedy:
This book was a lot of fun to read. I enjoyed the characters, particularly their love-hate relationship at the start. Often the "fighting their attraction" storyline doesn't work for me because the man comes off like a jerk and the woman like an idiot, but seeing Marcus's point of view kept me liking him even when Jillian didn't. Their attraction and budding friendship were both fairly believable, and the sex scenes were hot.
I also enjoyed the secondary characters, particularly Marcus's friend Jake (who still mourns his late wife, showing Marcus that love can be real) and Jillian's gorgeous-but-insecure friend Georgia, as well as a few others. In fact, I was often a little more interested in Jake or Georgia than the main characters...I wish we'd seen a little more of Jake in particular. I also wish there'd been more scenes involving the company, and Jillian or Marcus trying to seduce their victims--I feel like there was a lot of untapped material for comedy there.
The story did drag on for me a little bit by the end, and I wish there had been more comedy in the latter half of the book. At times, the sweetness was a bit much for me personally...but I would definitely recommend this book to others.
March's new-to-me theme:
I've read one of Showalter's books before, but that was a paranormal, so I feel like this worked for the new-to-me theme. I haven't read one of HQN's romances before. This book wasn't my usual sort of read, but Showalter's writing is light and fun and I enjoyed it. Once in a while it's nice to read something different.
Nice review. I was a bit
Nice review. I was a bit shocked to see you reviewing this book because I did not expect it would fit into your reading preferences. Great to read your blog. I just got tyhis one in the mail. I do like romantic comedy even though it falls outside my first choices but sometimes it hits the spot more than my norms. I did not know it had a paranormal aspect. tHANKS.
AKA Merri
Family Challenge Team: The Spine Breakers with my dh Glenn AKA Phaedrus
re: Catch a Mate
Oops, sorry, I wasn't that clear...this one doesn't have any paranormal aspect, but the previous Gena Showalter I read did (Playing With Fire).
Hope you enjoy this one! It's definitely a good choice for a light, fun read on a cold winter day (or, well, I guess it's technically spring now...). I look forward to seeing your review!
My mistake. You were
My mistake. You were clear but I had a sudden dh distraction at the end of your blog --- what to get for take out.
We are aways away from spring...we woke up to a white Easter and all the neighbors burning their fireplaces. I hope we get one more blizzard in April (typical). I am not ready for warm weather.
AKA Merri
Family Challenge Team: The Spine Breakers with my dh Glenn AKA Phaedrus
re: winter weather
I'm glad to hear you say that, because I want more winter, too! It's still nice and snowy here, and I love going for walks in the snow. Plus the summers get way, way too humid here (Southwestern Ontario), I discovered last year...have never lived this far south before!
Do people think you're crazy, too? I just get dirty looks when I mention my love of the cold weather...
Lol!!
First, great review, Lady_Amalthea! I still hae Playing With Fire to get to. So I haven't bought this book yet.
Second, I am ready for warmer weather(Yes, some might think you both are crazy
)! While I LOVE snow, I am not a huge fan of freezing temperatures. My kids, dh, and I enjoy hiking and bike riding.....and when it is below zero outside half the winter, it makes those activities not quite as enjoyable.
But I know warmer weather is on the way, because as I am typing this, I hear the geese squawking away outside....they have returned from the south
Merri, we had a white Easter too. It snowed for 3 or 4 days. I am in Minnesota, so I am assuming we recieved the same storm you had?
Take Care ladies!
Tammy
"I would be the most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves"...Anna Quindlen
Ack!
Lady A and Paisley, what are you saying!?
You can keep you cold weather. I want spring!!!!!
"Perhaps what the average member of a group is capable of doesn't limit what a given individual can accomplish." -- Boston Globe, letter to the editor
March's Member of the Month!
You cold weather people are crazy!!! :-)
You keep quiet, Lady Amalthea! I know you live close enough to me that I don't want you cursing us with any more with talk of winter. I'm done with snow, even if it's not done with me! My favorite season of the year is summer. I will likely complain bitterly about the heat come August, but deep down I really love it.
Paisley, I was also surprised to see this book review from our fair Lady - doesn't seem like her normal reading perference, but I suppose that's the whole point of the March challenge, isn't it?
Glad you like Gena's stuff! Did you know she as an AMAZING paranormal trilogy coming out this spring? It starts with an eBook-exclusive prequel in April and then there's a 3-book trilogy (with super-hot covers!) starting in May. Keep your eyes peeled.
-Angela
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