Hero At Large
Author: Janet Evanovich
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Pub. Date: March 30, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061985942
Retail: $7.99
320 pagesIn a previous life, before the time of Plum, I wrote twelve short romance novels. Red-hot screwball comedies, each and every one of them. The romances were originally published between the years 1988 and 1992. All immediately went out of print and could be found only at used bookstores and yard sales.
I’m happy to tell you that those stories have now been re-released by HarperCollins, presented in almost original form. I’ve done only minor editing to correct some embarrassing bloopers missed the first time around.
Hero at Large was the very first book published. It’s about a sexy guy who cooks a potholder in spaghetti sauce and charms a single mom and former world-class ice skater with the promise of a ride on his Zamboni. It’s got broken bones, giant turkeys, cantankerous cars, and Aunt Edna.
This was the book that changed my life forever and made me a published author. When Hero finally reached the bookstores, I was almost arrested for loitering in Walden’s. I stationed myself in the romance section and wouldn’t leave until I saw someone buy my book. It took three days!
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Janet Evanovich’s “Hero at Large” is a great, funny and easy read! I sat down to read this book and an hour and a half later, found myself reading the very last page!!
I’m a huge fan of Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books. I devour each the day that they are released, always kicking myself for reading them so fast! So needless to say I jumped at the chance to review her latest release, “Hero at Large”. This was my first time reading a romance by Evanovich, so I wasn’t sure if it was going to remain along the lines of the Plum series, with humor thrown into the mix.
In this book we’re introduced to Chris Nelson, former champion figure skater and single mother, who is having a battle with her vehicle, which eventually dies on her in the middle of a busy road in Fairfax, Virginia. The very handsome Ken Callahan stops to help. Instantly Chris feels drawn to him, a fact that shocks and surprises her, so much so that she drops the hood onto his arms, breaking one of them. Chris is obliged to drive Ken and his huge rottweiller (named Dog, but later renamed Bob), to the hospital. Ken flirts with Chris on the drive and convinces her to stay with him at the hospital.
Through a chain of hilarious conversations between the Chris, Ken and Chris’s Aunt Edna, it’s decided that Ken will rent out a room in the house, much to Chris’s dismay. The two play a cat and mouse game filled with sexual tension. And a lot of it. They both know that they want to take things to the next level, but Chris holds her ground, much to Ken’s dismay. Chris’s friend keeps pointing out that Ken looks familiar, but she can’t put her finger on why. After succumbing to the sexual tension and promptly becoming engaged, it’s revealed that Ken isn’t exactly who he says he is, which turns Chris’s world upside down. I’d go into more detail as to what happens next, but I won’t…You have to read it to find out for yourself!
Janet Evanovich has a brilliant eye for humor and detail. She draws you into the lives of her characters. She has such a wonderful knack for creating stories that you don’t want to end!
My only qualm with the book is that there is such a HUGE build up of sexual tension between Chris and Ken, but when it comes to them actually making love, it only gets a two sentence focus in the book. I would have liked a bit more description of the lovemaking, only because the buildup was so fantastic and descriptive. It felt like someone doused the fires with a pail of cold water.
Like I said earlier, I love the Plum series and those of you who have also read those books will recognize the same basis of characters from the Plum novels. The car issues, the dog named Bob and Aunt Edna are similar to Grandma Mazur! It’s refreshing to see that Evanovich keeps her plotlines and humor similar in other books, especially when they work so fantastically!
This is a must read for all fans of Janet Evanovich and contemporary romance.
Rating: 8 (Very Good)
Heat-Level: 2: (Mild)
I’m going to have to look for it then. I’m completely squeeing over the bunny on the cover. ^^
Rebecca,
Thanks for your review! This books looks like alot of fun! And what a cute cover it has! 🙂
Thanks for the insight. I like books with humor in it.
I found several of her early books and read them before reading any of the Plum books. They are wonderfully funny. The ones set in northern Virginia in the DC area were especially fun since we had just moved from there. One of them was actually set in the neighborhood we had lived in. All her trademark things are in these books – cars, older people, cultural diversity, and fun.
As for the sex scenes, I like the tension and the build-up, but an one who prefers they shut the door when they get there.
Thanks for a good review.
I really enjoyed this book, I already ordered all her other contemporaries. I never thought that they would be as funny as the Plum series!!
Thanks everyone!!