Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie

Book blurb: High school physics teacher Lucy Savage is finally getting rid of Bradley-and his hideous green recliner. In fact, her front lawn is littered with her cheating ex-husband's belongings. Because despite standing her up in divorce court, Bradley is out of her life for good. Or so she thinks.

When her sister takes her to lunch to celebrate Lucy's single status, all their talk of a no-good louse named Bradley catches the attention of a cop-who wants to arrest the very same Bradley for embezzlement. And Officer Zach Warren figures the lovely Lucy can lead him straight to his target.

When someone shoots at Lucy and then blows up her car, Zach insists she needs twenty-four-hour protection. What does he think her three dogs and an attack cat are for? Still, he insists on moving right in to Lucy's house...

Now there's danger lurking outside and in her own kitchen, bathroom-and bedroom. Or maybe Zach, who looks like a bad boy with that shaggy dark hair and black leather jacket, is really one of the good guys, and just what Lucy needs.

My take: I liked her second novel, though Crusie's Bet Me is still my favorite of hers so far. Kate likes everything to be logical. Zach relies on instinct. So when Zach tries to convince Lucy that someone is trying to kill her, she dismisses the idea. He knows Lucy is the key to him catching Bradley: he can feel it. Lucy is convinced her ex-husband is not a threat and is sure that Zach is over-protective. Even though Zack has forbidden her to leave the house, he hasn't even bother to call to let her know what is going on. Lucy thinks nothing of leaving for a little run...

Lucy's hair misfortune is hilarious; her dog's dead-dog joke is precious. Jennifer Crusie's characters are zany and funny: Lucy's neighbour's attack cat, her nosy neighbour, Zack's well-meaning but interfering partner, Anthony, whom I think deserves his own story.

Now I'm off to find Crusie's third book so I can read that one too.