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Since the day beautiful socialite Afia St. John was born, her life has been plagued with bad luck. After losing her father and two older husbands in "freak" accidents, Afia now discovers her business manager has absconded with her fortune. Vowing not to rely on another man to guide her life, Afia refuses her godfathers' help, and jumps at an unexpected job with the Leeds Investigations.With a pregnant, broke, sister, and an investigation agency in the red, control-freak Jake Leeds can't turn down the hefty but secret retainer offered by Afia's godfather for hiring her. Quickly seeing beyond her poor business skills, wacky superstitions, and sensationalized personal history, he realizes Afia is as generous in the heart as she is misunderstood. But life is never easy for the woman born on Friday the 13th. Will the sexy PI be the good luck charm that puts her on a winning streak or, like everything else in her life, will their relationship wind up jinxed?
309 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2004
33 people are currently reading
763 people want to read
About the author
Beth Ciotta
41 books470 followersStorytelling comes naturally to award-winning author Beth Ciotta. Limiting herself to one sub-genre does not. Dubbed “fun and sexy” by Publisher’s Weekly, Beth specializes in writing Romantic Comedy with a Twist of Suspense and is published in contemporary, historical, and paranormal romantic fiction. “I can’t think of anything more fulfilling than writing stories where everyone (except the villain, of course) gets a happy ending!”
Beth lives in New Jersey with her husband, two zany dogs, and one crazy cat. Although writing takes up most of her time, she still performs occasionally as a singer, character actress, emcee, and storyteller. To support literacy, Beth also works at her local library.
To learn more about her chaotic life you can visit her Web site at www.bethciotta.com
Beth lives in New Jersey with her husband, two zany dogs, and one crazy cat. Although writing takes up most of her time, she still performs occasionally as a singer, character actress, emcee, and storyteller. To support literacy, Beth also works at her local library.
To learn more about her chaotic life you can visit her Web site at www.bethciotta.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
February 7, 2015
As I expected this was light, over-the-top and fun. If lust at first sight bothers you, you won't like the story. Read it if you want something fast-paced and entertaining. Oh, and pretty unbelievable. The old cover is much better and more suitable for this story.
After her financial advisor steals all her money, Afia St. John gets a job as a PI assistant not knowing that her rich godfather asked the PI, Jake Leeds, to babysit her for two weeks.
She seems to be jinxed: born on Friday 13 to a mother who has a Friday 13 phobia (among other phobias and superstitions), lost her father, lost two husbands.
Afia is not a believable character, but I still liked her. She is a wonderful person, but she doesn't know anything. I know it sounds too broad to use the word, but it is the truth. I mean, she can only use word processor on the computer. We are talking about someone who had access to pretty much everything she wanted all her life. It's beyond unbelievable.
Even with all that, the great thing is she never whines. She has decided to be her own woman and she is trying hard to accomplish it.
I liked the fact that her best friend Rudy is gay, but he is not sassy. It isn't on his forehead that he is gay. He is just a great guy who is there for her.
As for Jake, I would have liked this book a lot more if not for his point of view. He was judgemental and prejudiced for too long. The guy gets angry how Afia's mother has been treating her all her life, but he is the first to do the same. 'Instead of instilling her child with confidence, she'd convinced her that she was jinxed. It made his blood boil.' This from a guy who calls her Jinx throughout the book even though he sees it makes her sad.
The aim of the story is not to get Afia back her money so she can return to her previous life. She changes in the story from something really unbelievable (there are no people that ignorant, are there?) to someone who can stand up for herself. From a woman who had a man to guide and help her all her life (yes, she is that type of character) she unobtrusively and quietly in her own way becomes someone who learns to stand on her own. The part 'needs a man to take care of her' might annoy a lot of readers, but she learns to be strong in the end.
She gets her happy ending under her own rules.
After her financial advisor steals all her money, Afia St. John gets a job as a PI assistant not knowing that her rich godfather asked the PI, Jake Leeds, to babysit her for two weeks.
She seems to be jinxed: born on Friday 13 to a mother who has a Friday 13 phobia (among other phobias and superstitions), lost her father, lost two husbands.
Afia is not a believable character, but I still liked her. She is a wonderful person, but she doesn't know anything. I know it sounds too broad to use the word, but it is the truth. I mean, she can only use word processor on the computer. We are talking about someone who had access to pretty much everything she wanted all her life. It's beyond unbelievable.
Even with all that, the great thing is she never whines. She has decided to be her own woman and she is trying hard to accomplish it.
I liked the fact that her best friend Rudy is gay, but he is not sassy. It isn't on his forehead that he is gay. He is just a great guy who is there for her.
As for Jake, I would have liked this book a lot more if not for his point of view. He was judgemental and prejudiced for too long. The guy gets angry how Afia's mother has been treating her all her life, but he is the first to do the same. 'Instead of instilling her child with confidence, she'd convinced her that she was jinxed. It made his blood boil.' This from a guy who calls her Jinx throughout the book even though he sees it makes her sad.
The aim of the story is not to get Afia back her money so she can return to her previous life. She changes in the story from something really unbelievable (there are no people that ignorant, are there?) to someone who can stand up for herself. From a woman who had a man to guide and help her all her life (yes, she is that type of character) she unobtrusively and quietly in her own way becomes someone who learns to stand on her own. The part 'needs a man to take care of her' might annoy a lot of readers, but she learns to be strong in the end.
She gets her happy ending under her own rules.
July 30, 2013
I was once again utterly charmed by Ciotta's writing. Romantic comedies with a hint of mad cap can so easily slip into awful. This one stayed fun and sexy all the way.
I love this kind of heroine (a little like Private Benjamin without the whine and horrible taste in men) quirky, sheltered, kind, accident prone, hard working and regaining her herself.
The hero is simply poleaxed. I love a pole axed hero. And he has cats. Great cats and an sexy PI. Yum.
The mystery is fun and gives us a good bit of action and the secondary characters are wonderful. I love Jake's sisters.
If you want charming, sexy, delight, read this one!
I love this kind of heroine (a little like Private Benjamin without the whine and horrible taste in men) quirky, sheltered, kind, accident prone, hard working and regaining her herself.
The hero is simply poleaxed. I love a pole axed hero. And he has cats. Great cats and an sexy PI. Yum.
The mystery is fun and gives us a good bit of action and the secondary characters are wonderful. I love Jake's sisters.
If you want charming, sexy, delight, read this one!
August 13, 2016
Afia St. John, the heroine in JINXED, was simply delightful. She made you understand and sympathize with her fragile emotions, and she made you laugh aloud at her entrance into the working world. The perfect counterpoint to the hapless socialite was rough, tough Jake Leeds, a P.I. who ends up as Afia's employer. Their relationship just reeked of sexual tension from the get-go. This slightly different romance was amusing, sexy, romantic, and hugely enjoyable.
August 10, 2016
Amusing at times romance story between a ditzy and unlucky heiress and a down at heels PI. If you like romance novels that are a bit saucy then you'll probably love this.
November 8, 2016
Boring. (tedious,slow,ho-hum, wearisome,deadening, tiresome, uninteresting, dull, irksome)
Robbed me out of my time so i wont spend a minute more with this review.
Robbed me out of my time so i wont spend a minute more with this review.
March 8, 2017
An easy read if a little trite. I would read the next one in the series. I'm not great with helpless women as heroines but she wants to and does find her mojo.
November 18, 2018
Quirky characters and a fun story line.
January 6, 2019
This is a lighthearted fast read. Just what I expected. Easy to follow plot with characters you know from the beginning.
September 6, 2020
A super cute and fun read!
March 20, 2017
Fun and quick read. Fairly solid story. Enjoyable. =)
June 8, 2024
A quick fun read.
May 18, 2016
I had hoped to really enjoy this book, but I was just disappointed with it. I really don't like insta-love situations, plus the character development felt forced and there was a lack of a major climax. The issues that came up weren't really issues and there was a genuine lack of consequences that just didn't make sense to me.
Afia is not a believable character, really. She is a good person, but she doesn't know anything about surviving in the world today. We are talking about someone who had access to pretty much everything she wanted all her life. Even with all that, the nice thing is she never whines about it. She has decided to be her own woman and she is trying hard to accomplish it. I admired that about her.
As for Jake, I would have liked this book a lot more if he had a better point of view. He was judgemental and prejudiced for too long. The guy gets angry how Afia's mother has been treating her all her life, but he is the first to do the same, as he calls her Jinx throughout the book, even though he sees it makes her sad.
It just wasn't a good fit for me, and I'm not really interested in continuing the series.
Afia is not a believable character, really. She is a good person, but she doesn't know anything about surviving in the world today. We are talking about someone who had access to pretty much everything she wanted all her life. Even with all that, the nice thing is she never whines about it. She has decided to be her own woman and she is trying hard to accomplish it. I admired that about her.
As for Jake, I would have liked this book a lot more if he had a better point of view. He was judgemental and prejudiced for too long. The guy gets angry how Afia's mother has been treating her all her life, but he is the first to do the same, as he calls her Jinx throughout the book, even though he sees it makes her sad.
It just wasn't a good fit for me, and I'm not really interested in continuing the series.
September 12, 2016
Wealthy socialite Afia St. John has just been embezzled out of her fortune by her business manager, a man recommended by her mother. Afia can't believe this has happened, another piece of bad luck. Her mother, an extremely superstitious women, believes Afia is a jinx and prone to bad luck since she was born on Friday, the 13th and has spent her life making Afia feel guilty. Since Afia's father and 2 husbands have died in the last 7 years she believes what her mother says. Afia's godfather tries to be supportive and counterbalance her mother hiring Jake Blaine, PI, to give Afia a job and watch over her while he tries to recover her fortune. Accidents do happen to Afia and some funny incidents happen but none are harmful and Jake realizes most of what happens is caused by her lack of self esteem. He gets her involved in making decisions about her life and learning to do a job successfully. Of course the case that they work on brings out her talents and Jake finds himself falling for her. A funny, well done romance.
August 24, 2015
Aria is a rich socialite who falls from grace when her accountant takes off with all of her money. Mommy is on her honeymoon with strict Do Not Disturb instructions so her godfather takes care of her by setting her up with a fake job with a PI he frequently employs and who needs the money in a bad way. No on expected Afia to love PI work and then to also fall in love with the PI. The title comes from her mothers serious superstitions which doesn't help things when Afia is born on Friday the 13th. Afia's father dies in a freak accident, husband #1 dies in bed and #2 dies weirdly. Afia considers herself bad luck, a jinx, so she is worried about a future with her new man. One part is a bit racy. I really enjoyed Afia come into herself. She becomes a strong, confident, and independent woman who loves a not-rich guy who decorated his old Victorian house with antiques and 5 cats.
April 24, 2015
I re-read this after reading the second book in the trilogy and still really enjoy it.
Poor Afia, she did seem jinxed, but that could also be that she lived her life based on what her mother and others expected from her. It was nice to see her come into her own.
Jake is practically a perfect hero. He wants to save everyone (he even has 5 stray cats) and is competent enough to make a difference.
The background characters are good as well. Rudy trying to begin a "real" relationship and Joni dealing with her pregnancy.
Poor Afia, she did seem jinxed, but that could also be that she lived her life based on what her mother and others expected from her. It was nice to see her come into her own.
Jake is practically a perfect hero. He wants to save everyone (he even has 5 stray cats) and is competent enough to make a difference.
The background characters are good as well. Rudy trying to begin a "real" relationship and Joni dealing with her pregnancy.
June 10, 2015
Well, this was a really good read. I liked both Jake and Afia a lot. And together were fabulous! Sparks were flying everywhere! And they were SO HOT together! Damn!
At first impact, Jake seemed a bit if a jerk but then we got to see his real self and what's inside him and he is a real keeper. Afia was a really good heroine and I liked her, well except for her superstitions. But that was her stupid mother's doings.
I liked Rudy and Jean-Pierre too. Really good friends.
I really enjoyed this book! Recommended!
At first impact, Jake seemed a bit if a jerk but then we got to see his real self and what's inside him and he is a real keeper. Afia was a really good heroine and I liked her, well except for her superstitions. But that was her stupid mother's doings.
I liked Rudy and Jean-Pierre too. Really good friends.
I really enjoyed this book! Recommended!
October 10, 2013
This book reminded me of a sweet Marilyn Monroe movie, in the very best of ways. It was sweet and cute and made me happy, even though I’m not really a fan of women who need a man to care for them.
Afia has buried her father, two husbands and has been bilked out of a small fortune – but somehow she manages to keep naiveté and sweetness. Her sweetness makes the story. I enjoyed the fast pace of the story and all the little digs at superstition.
Afia has buried her father, two husbands and has been bilked out of a small fortune – but somehow she manages to keep naiveté and sweetness. Her sweetness makes the story. I enjoyed the fast pace of the story and all the little digs at superstition.
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July 18, 2016Totally not my thing. Liked the idea more than the execution.
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Came across hundreds of saved book recs from a 2005 calendar while clearing out a box today. This one was on top and still looked good! (I'm afraid to go through the rest of them, for fear that they do, too.) They called it reminiscent of a 1930s screwball comedy, so I think it's worth tracking down.
____________________
Came across hundreds of saved book recs from a 2005 calendar while clearing out a box today. This one was on top and still looked good! (I'm afraid to go through the rest of them, for fear that they do, too.) They called it reminiscent of a 1930s screwball comedy, so I think it's worth tracking down.
May 11, 2015
Wow, that was just irritating. Insta-love and forced character development and just all around lack of major climax. The issues weren't really issues and there was a genuine lack of consequences that just didn't make sense to me. I thought this would be a fun read and instead I was just disappointed.
September 7, 2012
I actually bought this book in a dollar store a few years ago just for the heck of it...some of the best money I've ever spent! Great fast, fun, sexy story. You can't help but like the characters...they're so lovable. Great story and some hot scenes! Loved it!
May 31, 2015
Great book, weak ending
I fell in love with the characters. The damsel in distress and the PI. When paths cross, sparks fly. I loved how the damsel, Afia becomes the super hero of her own life and changes everything for herself.
I fell in love with the characters. The damsel in distress and the PI. When paths cross, sparks fly. I loved how the damsel, Afia becomes the super hero of her own life and changes everything for herself.
May 31, 2015
Fun!
I enjoyed the story and the characters very much. It was a fun and quick read. The only complaint is the main character seemed a little too naive at times, but overall I would say it is a story I would read again and will look for more from this author.
I enjoyed the story and the characters very much. It was a fun and quick read. The only complaint is the main character seemed a little too naive at times, but overall I would say it is a story I would read again and will look for more from this author.
July 26, 2015
Story was interesting, but there was a homosexual relationship in the mix. Love scenes were easy to skip, for a cleaner read, but not for my teen daughter. Girl thinks she is jinxed. Everyone who loves her dies. Then she meets a P. I.
There is some language, but not much.
There is some language, but not much.
September 18, 2007
According to USA Today Bestselling Author, Nan Ryan, "The hi-jinks of Ciotta's charmingly imperfect heroine make JINXED a hip, witty, fun read!" I agree. Very fun romp . . . I adore Beth Ciotta.
July 11, 2010
I really enjoyed this book but I feel like there were some unanswered questions in the end. Over all the characters were enjoyable and the plot interesting.
August 12, 2011
very cute... loved the hero but wasn't too sure about the heroine, until she redeems herself at the end
July 4, 2012
I'm not going to lie; I'm currently on a romance bender. This was a sweet, quick read. Good for a hot summer day.
July 16, 2012
Cute romance...don't have to think to read it.
September 29, 2012
Great fun, light read. Very funny and romantic. I really enjoyed this series!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews