Light and quick - just okay for me but fun holiday contemporary romance read

Blah. It started out really good--I was instantly impressed with Evanovich's writing style--but then on page 5-ish it went very quickly downhill with eye-rolling "plot" and farfetched, ridiculous scenarios.

And then, to top it all off, not even the build up of sexual tension is rewarding in its release--it's racy and spicy...until the moment it all comes to a head (no pun intended). It's basically a giant bucket of ice water in one sentence that leaves you feeling as though you've been teased and led on.

Most of the elements of a good cheesy romance are there, but they aren't connected with anything worthwhile, and the dialogue is gag-worthy in several places.

In short: Dumb, disappointing book. But at least SOMEONE tried to write a Thanksgiving novel!

This was cute book from 1988. Very Janet Evanovichy silly, fun, lighthearted.

I learned Janet can write a REALLY bad book!

Honestly one of my all time favorite "smut" novels...just absolutely hilarious. I remember I was lying on my side reading it and had to sit up b/c I was laughing so hard. Ms. Evanovich signed my copy at a book signing back in the 90s at Waldenbooks at Mongtomery Mall. That was pretty cool.

This was ok, kind of an annoying emotional roller coaster, sometimes I was happy, sad, excited, annoyed, angry...plug in whatever here. I was looking for more of a fluffy fun romance not an I love you but I don't charade.

My Interest
I wanted a Thanksgiving book to listen to this week. I Googled and found this one–by Janet Evanovich, pre-Stephanie Plum. Color me shocked–I had NO IDEA this woman had written 70+ books? End of my excuses for not getting my TWO professionally proofread and submitted!! Add to this the fact that the audio version is preformed by C.J. Critt, the original voice of Stephanie Plum (and the only one to me) and I had to listen. It’s 256 pages or 5 hours if you listen, just over the suggested limit, but what the heck! It’s short and moves VERY fast. I’m calling it a novella.

The Story
Meghan Murphy is new to Williamsburg, Virginia and lives in the Colonial area. (It’s an amazing place to visit, by the way). Patrick Hunter has just begun his career as a pediatrician in the same part of town. When a desperate mother leaves her baby, Timmy, with them things go a bit hay-wire (hyphen because later in the story…..) In the run up to Thanksgiving and just after they “couple” (who were not a couple until Timmy’s arrival) navigate faux-parenthood and the perils of instant attraction.

My Thoughts
This is a fun formula romance–instant attraction. A precursor of what was to come from Evanovich with Stephanie Plum. Thanks to CJ Critt’s narration I kept thinking “Why is Stephanie with a guy named Pat? It’s always Joe or Ranger?” There are many similarities between Megan and Stephanie. The fast-pace, the not-too-believable set-up and the non-stop banter make for a fast, fun, reading or listening experience. Plus, there’s left over turkey and a horse!

Note: I don’t know if Pat had one of those brick phones like Magnum, P.I. had or if the audio was updated, but a cell phone was mentioned and the book came out in 1988! Fun.



My Verdict
3.5
Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich

This is a rare Evanovich stand-alone (which is too bad) and I listened to the audio version.

This romance sails right past madcap in manic. It is a ton of fun set in Colonial Williamsburg with a just out of med school Dr, a bunny, a baby, jalopies, and a redheaded potter. Phew.

I read a lo t of Janet Evanovich before the Stephanie Plum series and it is always a pleasure to revisit her category romances.

The sex is there but beyond closed door and towards the end the hero is just kind of a twit. It feels like the book ran out of breath but a good time is had by all.

Ahahahah. Oh. My. Gosh. I don’t know where to start. The formatting was sooo weird. Almost every sentence has a paragraph space between. It was weird and made the book choppy. Where the heck did the horse come from?!?!?! Like all of a sudden she’s babysitting a horse?!?! What the??? It had potential at the beginning. But it just got bad. Like ridiculous.

This was really a 2.5 star book but I rounded up because it held my interest. It was a fast and fluffy read, but contained little substance. There was absolutely no build up so the romantic connection between the two characters was hard to believe. I think it lacked character development and the whole book felt rushed.

Having just met the small town of Williamsburg’s new pediatrician (Dr. Patrick Hunter) with the corky sense of humor, Megan Murphy was stunned that a young girl would assume she was his wife and drop a baby (Timmy) off. Deciding to give the young women a few days to come back, Megan ‘agreed’ to help take care of the child. Patrick was surprised at how quickly he became attached to Megan and Timmy. The more he thought about it, her realized that he was not in the position to take a wife, and child on, no matter what his or her parents thought of the idea during their joint Thanksgiving Day. She had already turned his joking proposals down, maybe she was right but Patrick could not let her ex have her back.

Janet Evanovich has a way of making it all so much fun. From the first time the bunny rabbit nibbled on Megan’s skirt to the last proposal (there were several), this was a fun and lighthearted story even through the few serious moments for them and the poor horse. A quick and enjoyable read, better than a dart in your backside if you know what I mean (it‘s in the book). This is an older story, it was originally published in 1988 but is part of Janet Evanovich’s re-releases, bringing happy reading to a new generation.

Meh. Not a huge fan of romance novels. This was okay. Quaint. I like that it takes place in Williamsburg and around Thanksgiving. A new lady in town falls for the town doctor....pretty quickly. Listened to it on tape. D+