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Culhane Family #1
Love in a Nutshell
Kate Appleton needs a job. Her husband has left her, she’s been fired as a magazine editor, and she only wants to go to her parents’ summer house, The Nutshell, in Keene’s Harbor, Michigan, and make a Bed and Breakfast inn. Matt Culhane needs a spy in his brewery for a saboteur, and Kate is new in town. But Kate despises beer and nobody trusts her.
Audiobook
First published January 3, 2012
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About the author
Janet Evanovich
334 books41k followersJanet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the Lizzy and Diesel series, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and Trouble Maker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author, as well as the Fox and O'Hare series with co-author Lee Goldberg.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,827 reviews
August 4, 2017
Ok, admittedly, I haven't read many of Evanovich's books, but I'd heard that she was funny.
This wasn't funny. Like, not even a little bit!
This was a total cornball mystery/romance that relied on hokey shit to keep the plot (loosely using that word) going. Every single dried up, goofy, overused trope was effectively rolled up into one dumbass story.
They even threw in a 3 legged dog to show that Matt was a good guy.
Oh my! If he rescued a hound that was missing a limb, he must be a GOOD GUY! Right? Riiiiight?!
Ok, so Kate (recently divorced & jobless) moves into her family's summer home in {generic tourist town} and tries to start over. The family home is called The Nutshell. Get it? Love in a Nutshell!
Not only is Kate unemployed and unlucky in love, her ex-husband got custody of her beloved poodle in the divorce settlement. Because the amputee hound just wasn't enough dog for this book. And the poodle thing is pounded into the story over and over and over again.
Boo-hoo! I miss Stella! Wah! I miss my dog!
Just...enough already! It's a dog. Seriously!
And, yes, I get that dogs are people too. *rolls eyes* But once we finally get to meet Stella, I couldn't reconcile why the fuck Kate wasn't absolutely thrilled to get rid of her. There was quite literally nothing even remotely lovable about the damn dog. She was just a giant pain in the ass that growled and...growled more.
The love part of this felt like it was some weird PG teen movie shit. If there was a ridiculous reason for them to almost kiss...but NOT!...it was stuffed into the story. Over and over and over and over these two did their little will-they-won't-they dance. At one point, she was even living at his house (b/c DANGER!), and they didn't even get it on. Even though, by that point, they had both admitted to reallyreallyreally liking each other.
But the Growling Poodle stopped them.
Because it's not like you could have tossed her in the bathroom and shut the door or anything. If a dog growls...sexytimes are OVER!
By the halfway point I had given up on liking the romance, so I decided to focus my energy on liking the mystery. But the 'mystery' was so ridiculous that I had a hard time keeping my eyeballs from rolling out of my head.
Someone is sabotaging Matt's brewery!
Which is why he hires Kate. You know, in the hopes that this new girl will hear or see something that will point to the culprit.
No. Really. I'm serious.
It starts out as small stuff, but quickly escalates!
OhMyGod! How will they ever figure out who is setting fire to his dumpster, or leaving the cooler doors open?! It's impossible! Not even Columbo could solve this mystery!
Unless...
Maybe, just maybe, Matt could install a camera system in his brewery?
Because that would have solved the problem within the first 5 pages.
Just sayin'.
And I know what you're thinking.
Well, maybe he can't afford a camera system, Anne?
He's going to pay Kate $20,000 to find the saboteur. $20,000!
He can afford a few cameras.
Bottom line, I thought this is the opposite of well-thought out, funny, and romantic.
I listened to the audiobook, and the woman who read the story did a good job, though. So...there's that.
This wasn't funny. Like, not even a little bit!
This was a total cornball mystery/romance that relied on hokey shit to keep the plot (loosely using that word) going. Every single dried up, goofy, overused trope was effectively rolled up into one dumbass story.
They even threw in a 3 legged dog to show that Matt was a good guy.
Oh my! If he rescued a hound that was missing a limb, he must be a GOOD GUY! Right? Riiiiight?!
Ok, so Kate (recently divorced & jobless) moves into her family's summer home in {generic tourist town} and tries to start over. The family home is called The Nutshell. Get it? Love in a Nutshell!
Not only is Kate unemployed and unlucky in love, her ex-husband got custody of her beloved poodle in the divorce settlement. Because the amputee hound just wasn't enough dog for this book. And the poodle thing is pounded into the story over and over and over again.
Boo-hoo! I miss Stella! Wah! I miss my dog!
Just...enough already! It's a dog. Seriously!
And, yes, I get that dogs are people too. *rolls eyes* But once we finally get to meet Stella, I couldn't reconcile why the fuck Kate wasn't absolutely thrilled to get rid of her. There was quite literally nothing even remotely lovable about the damn dog. She was just a giant pain in the ass that growled and...growled more.
The love part of this felt like it was some weird PG teen movie shit. If there was a ridiculous reason for them to almost kiss...but NOT!...it was stuffed into the story. Over and over and over and over these two did their little will-they-won't-they dance. At one point, she was even living at his house (b/c DANGER!), and they didn't even get it on. Even though, by that point, they had both admitted to reallyreallyreally liking each other.
But the Growling Poodle stopped them.
Because it's not like you could have tossed her in the bathroom and shut the door or anything. If a dog growls...sexytimes are OVER!
By the halfway point I had given up on liking the romance, so I decided to focus my energy on liking the mystery. But the 'mystery' was so ridiculous that I had a hard time keeping my eyeballs from rolling out of my head.
Someone is sabotaging Matt's brewery!
Which is why he hires Kate. You know, in the hopes that this new girl will hear or see something that will point to the culprit.
No. Really. I'm serious.
It starts out as small stuff, but quickly escalates!
OhMyGod! How will they ever figure out who is setting fire to his dumpster, or leaving the cooler doors open?! It's impossible! Not even Columbo could solve this mystery!
Unless...
Maybe, just maybe, Matt could install a camera system in his brewery?
Because that would have solved the problem within the first 5 pages.
Just sayin'.
And I know what you're thinking.
Well, maybe he can't afford a camera system, Anne?
He's going to pay Kate $20,000 to find the saboteur. $20,000!
He can afford a few cameras.
Bottom line, I thought this is the opposite of well-thought out, funny, and romantic.
I listened to the audiobook, and the woman who read the story did a good job, though. So...there's that.
January 8, 2012
WARNING for audiobook readers:
Janet Evanovich uses the same narrator that she used with the Stephanie Plum series. My only complaint about the narrator is that the character voice sound just the same. A few times I caught myself saying that's Stephanie, Joe Morelli or Ranger's voice.
Janet Evanovich uses the same narrator that she used with the Stephanie Plum series. My only complaint about the narrator is that the character voice sound just the same. A few times I caught myself saying that's Stephanie, Joe Morelli or Ranger's voice.
November 3, 2022
5 Stars for Love in a Nutshell: Culhane Family Series, Book 1 (audiobook) by Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly read by Lorelei King.
Janet Evanovich’s stories are so much fun. They are a great escape from the daily grind. I really liked the characters and the wonderful voice Lorelei King tops it off. Unfortunately it looks like there’s only one more book in the series.
Janet Evanovich’s stories are so much fun. They are a great escape from the daily grind. I really liked the characters and the wonderful voice Lorelei King tops it off. Unfortunately it looks like there’s only one more book in the series.
January 7, 2013
I really love these quirky romances by Janet Evanovich and assorted co-writers. They are cute with hottie guys, ditzy (but hilarious) heroines and screwy circumstances. Who could ask for more in a funny romance.
Kate Appleton has returned to her childhood vacation home with the hopes of renovating the cottage into a Bed and Breakfast. Unfortunately her parents have allowed the mortgage to go into arrears (is that the correct term?) and now someone has purchased the property and is trying to evict her so they can build a restaurant on the site. Kate is practically destitute and unemployed when she coerces Matt Culhane at the local microbrewery into a job. The pay sucks but the potential payoff is huge. Kate likes Matt alot but has sworn off men until she gets her life back in order after her divorce. Yeah like that's gonna happen. :)
Everyone in town loves Matt Culhane except for the mysterious person sabotaging his business. Matt hires Kate as a corporate spy to infiltrate his business and find the saboteur with a bonus if she pulls it off in a certain time frame. Of course, Matt is instantly taken with Kate and her quirky personality.
This is a fun romp with lots of laughs and a slow courtship that is just plain fun to experience.
Kate Appleton has returned to her childhood vacation home with the hopes of renovating the cottage into a Bed and Breakfast. Unfortunately her parents have allowed the mortgage to go into arrears (is that the correct term?) and now someone has purchased the property and is trying to evict her so they can build a restaurant on the site. Kate is practically destitute and unemployed when she coerces Matt Culhane at the local microbrewery into a job. The pay sucks but the potential payoff is huge. Kate likes Matt alot but has sworn off men until she gets her life back in order after her divorce. Yeah like that's gonna happen. :)
Everyone in town loves Matt Culhane except for the mysterious person sabotaging his business. Matt hires Kate as a corporate spy to infiltrate his business and find the saboteur with a bonus if she pulls it off in a certain time frame. Of course, Matt is instantly taken with Kate and her quirky personality.
This is a fun romp with lots of laughs and a slow courtship that is just plain fun to experience.
February 3, 2012
This was an ok book that was a quick light read but nothing that I would highly recommend. I have been a big fan of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books, but it was hard to tell how much of this was her work and how much was Dorien Kelly's work.
The plot had holes in it. After a divorce, the heroine Kate Appleton moves back to a small town in Michigan where her family has a summer home. Kate plans of fixing the home up and opening a bread and breakfast. Problem is there is a huge mortgage on the home and it needs major repairs. The repairs I can understand ... but the mortgage. Her family has owned this home since she was a child and 30 years later there is still a mortgage. Yet her parents and siblings all seem to be very wealthy.
Also, Matt Culhane, her love interest has a micro brewery / pub restaurant that is being sabotaged all the time and he can't seem to get to the bottom of it. Hello? this is the 21st century where we are surrounded by security cameras everywhere. They are also a lot of very affordable security systems that he could install himself. Instead he is willing to offer Kate $20,000 dollars if she can figure out who the culprit is behind the sabotage efforts.
I did like the dog aspect to the story. Both have their own dogs ... Matt has a 3 legged hound and Kate has a pampered toy poodle.
This had the potential of being a much better story that what it was.
The plot had holes in it. After a divorce, the heroine Kate Appleton moves back to a small town in Michigan where her family has a summer home. Kate plans of fixing the home up and opening a bread and breakfast. Problem is there is a huge mortgage on the home and it needs major repairs. The repairs I can understand ... but the mortgage. Her family has owned this home since she was a child and 30 years later there is still a mortgage. Yet her parents and siblings all seem to be very wealthy.
Also, Matt Culhane, her love interest has a micro brewery / pub restaurant that is being sabotaged all the time and he can't seem to get to the bottom of it. Hello? this is the 21st century where we are surrounded by security cameras everywhere. They are also a lot of very affordable security systems that he could install himself. Instead he is willing to offer Kate $20,000 dollars if she can figure out who the culprit is behind the sabotage efforts.
I did like the dog aspect to the story. Both have their own dogs ... Matt has a 3 legged hound and Kate has a pampered toy poodle.
This had the potential of being a much better story that what it was.
December 6, 2018
Song for summary: Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen
This was a slow read for me. The characters were quirky and unique; while the plot was a different take on a small town romance. Although I felt a lack of chemistry between the characters, and the humour seemed a little forced at times; overall this was a highly imaginative love story.
This was a slow read for me. The characters were quirky and unique; while the plot was a different take on a small town romance. Although I felt a lack of chemistry between the characters, and the humour seemed a little forced at times; overall this was a highly imaginative love story.
October 13, 2017
It's a bit discouraging when an author becomes so formulaic that the publisher holds them to a certain word or page count, and then 9/10ths into the book the writer realizes they had better start wrapping things up. "Love in a Nutshell" is one of these books. Janet Evanovich has perfected the light-romantic-mystery formula with her Stephanie Plum series; however, she may want to look at other authors' techniques for writing and concluding a stand alone book.
"Love in a Nutshell" is a fun book, nicely laid out, and one that flows easily. The characters, while limited by the length of the book are likeable, if a bit shallow, and you find yourself pulling for them. The problem is that most character realizations are instantaneous because there isn't enough "book" to have these emotions come out naturally.
By the near end you the reader quickly realize that nothing has yet happened - so instead of a carefully plotted out ending we are stuck with a rapid fire series of concluding acts.
"Love in a Nutshell" is a fun book, nicely laid out, and one that flows easily. The characters, while limited by the length of the book are likeable, if a bit shallow, and you find yourself pulling for them. The problem is that most character realizations are instantaneous because there isn't enough "book" to have these emotions come out naturally.
By the near end you the reader quickly realize that nothing has yet happened - so instead of a carefully plotted out ending we are stuck with a rapid fire series of concluding acts.
February 19, 2016
This was a really fun book. Easy to read and predictable but such a cute storyline with great characters. I hope the author writes more books with these same characters. After reading a couple of books with serious subject matters, it's nice to read some mindless fluff. I really enjoyed this book. It was extremely entertaining.
June 6, 2024
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed this one very much. Looking forward to next book
January 13, 2013
This was a sweet, lighthearted, nothing special contemporary romance. I think Evanovich has made such a name for herself with her humor and the crazy antics of her characters that I've come to expect it from her non-Plum titles. Sometimes she delivers, but not in this case.
The funniest part about this book was the way that Kate forces Matt in to hiring her at the beginning of the book. Matt is a stand up guy who was the wild boy of Keene's Harbor in his younger days. He's come home and is now not only running a successful brewery and restaurant in his old hometown, but bailing out failing businesses with substantial loans and buying the loans of homes in danger of foreclosure. He's a good guy. Kate is a bit on the frazzled side, what with being newly divorced, newly fired, and newly homeless.
When Matt hires Kate to find the person intent on sabotaging his business, this slow burning romance begins. There was an element of mystery and suspense which comes to a head toward the end, but I felt like it was such a secondary plotline as to almost be unnecessary. This would have benefitted from just being a plain ole romance.
One thing I loved about the book was the role of Matt and Kate's pets and how important they are in their lives. I'm an animal lover myself, and Evanovich always shows her animal loving side, especially in her stand alones.
I listened to the audio of this. The narrator did a good job, though I didn't really like her voice for Matt. But she barked when the dogs barked, which was the second most hilarious part of the book.
Overall, if you're expecting an Evanovich book, this isn't it. This is a bit more serious, with a few quirky side characters maybe. Overall, easily forgettable but a good palatte cleanser between angsty or intense reads.
The funniest part about this book was the way that Kate forces Matt in to hiring her at the beginning of the book. Matt is a stand up guy who was the wild boy of Keene's Harbor in his younger days. He's come home and is now not only running a successful brewery and restaurant in his old hometown, but bailing out failing businesses with substantial loans and buying the loans of homes in danger of foreclosure. He's a good guy. Kate is a bit on the frazzled side, what with being newly divorced, newly fired, and newly homeless.
When Matt hires Kate to find the person intent on sabotaging his business, this slow burning romance begins. There was an element of mystery and suspense which comes to a head toward the end, but I felt like it was such a secondary plotline as to almost be unnecessary. This would have benefitted from just being a plain ole romance.
One thing I loved about the book was the role of Matt and Kate's pets and how important they are in their lives. I'm an animal lover myself, and Evanovich always shows her animal loving side, especially in her stand alones.
I listened to the audio of this. The narrator did a good job, though I didn't really like her voice for Matt. But she barked when the dogs barked, which was the second most hilarious part of the book.
Overall, if you're expecting an Evanovich book, this isn't it. This is a bit more serious, with a few quirky side characters maybe. Overall, easily forgettable but a good palatte cleanser between angsty or intense reads.
April 18, 2012
****2.5 stars**** I know, not my usual fare. I have this need to read everything that Evanovich writes because she penned Ranger Manoso's character. Since then, she hasn't used him properly, but still I read?.... Anyway, this was a quick, ok read for me, I guess. I figured out early on who the bad guy was. Also, it is really, really obvious that Evanovich is having a hard time with sexual tension between the leads and will throw in any even remotely possible twist to stave off a love/sex scene.
March 2, 2025
Three stars because it was entertaining, but otherwise: what the heck was happening in this novel?
December 27, 2011
This was a nice light romance from the team of Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly. For readers used to the craziness of Ms. Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, this might seem a little tame, but it is an enjoyable read. The two main characters are normal everyday people who find that they need help from each other to get their lives back on track. It is refreshing to read a book that is just plain fun to read.
Kate is divorced and trying to keep her family home so she can start a new life and career. Matt is focused on keeping his career successful and not interested in a relationship. He comes off as a genuinely nice guy, trying to help other business owners and not a cut throat kind of guy. The reason why someone is trying to ruin his business is not immediately obvious. The story unfolds at an easy pace with just enough activity to keep the reader interested. Kate also seems fairly normal, not a walking catastrophe, who finds herself attracted to her boss even though she knows it is not a good idea. There are supporting characters that are interesting but the main focus stays on Matt and Kate.
This is a great book to just sit in a comfy chair with it, drink a nice glass of wine (or hot chocolate), and spend a few hours enjoying a story that will make you feel good at the end.
Kate is divorced and trying to keep her family home so she can start a new life and career. Matt is focused on keeping his career successful and not interested in a relationship. He comes off as a genuinely nice guy, trying to help other business owners and not a cut throat kind of guy. The reason why someone is trying to ruin his business is not immediately obvious. The story unfolds at an easy pace with just enough activity to keep the reader interested. Kate also seems fairly normal, not a walking catastrophe, who finds herself attracted to her boss even though she knows it is not a good idea. There are supporting characters that are interesting but the main focus stays on Matt and Kate.
This is a great book to just sit in a comfy chair with it, drink a nice glass of wine (or hot chocolate), and spend a few hours enjoying a story that will make you feel good at the end.
February 17, 2012
This book is awful in a stellar way. The plot is like every Janet Evanovich only less funny, sexy, or thrilling. The writing is pretty cheesy, and I have proof:
"She looked up from the cross word puzzle she was doing. "What's a four-letter word for idiot? She asked. "Matt." "Really. Throw me a word." "Dolt." She frowned down at the puzzle, then smiled up at him. "That fits." And it fit him, too. Since when had he not grabbed for what he wanted? "Can you call and reschedule tomorrow's meetings until next week?" he asked. Ginger snorted. "Right. Business. Blond unfinished business, maybe?" "Yeah, another four-letter word, and it means happiness," Matt said. He'd let Ginger guess on her own,because he wanted to get home and grab love.
Unfortunately the writing caries a weak plot, and the romantic tension isn't that well done either. Strangely, I would still say I enjoyed reading the book to a degree, but the only reason I will ever pick it up again is to mark it up like that^.
"She looked up from the cross word puzzle she was doing. "What's a four-letter word for idiot? She asked. "Matt." "Really. Throw me a word." "Dolt." She frowned down at the puzzle, then smiled up at him. "That fits." And it fit him, too. Since when had he not grabbed for what he wanted? "Can you call and reschedule tomorrow's meetings until next week?" he asked. Ginger snorted. "Right. Business. Blond unfinished business, maybe?" "Yeah, another four-letter word, and it means happiness," Matt said. He'd let Ginger guess on her own,because he wanted to get home and grab love.
Unfortunately the writing caries a weak plot, and the romantic tension isn't that well done either. Strangely, I would still say I enjoyed reading the book to a degree, but the only reason I will ever pick it up again is to mark it up like that^.
January 22, 2012
Kate moves into her family's old summer home when she gets divorced and loses her job with the plan to renovate it and turn it into a bed and breakfast. Only the mortgage was sold and she has to come up with the money to pay the loan in four months. She goes to work for Matt at a local microbrewery as a floater, but she is really a spy for him trying to find out who has been sabatoging his business.
I was really disappointed in this book. I read the book all in one night and can't say that I was overly entertained by it. It was just kinda dull. I think that some of the stuff was meant to be zany and crazy, like the stuff that was happening to the remodel on the house and some of the characters, but none of it really came off that way.
I was expecting it to be a much more humorous, interesting book and was rather disappointed.
I was really disappointed in this book. I read the book all in one night and can't say that I was overly entertained by it. It was just kinda dull. I think that some of the stuff was meant to be zany and crazy, like the stuff that was happening to the remodel on the house and some of the characters, but none of it really came off that way.
I was expecting it to be a much more humorous, interesting book and was rather disappointed.
January 21, 2012
Well. I finished it. Despite a lot of reasons that I shouldn't have: dialogue that didn't gel, characters that were not fully drawn, and a terribly done romance. Why then did I finish it? I wanted it to get better. And it went so fast that it was over before I knew it. Fair warning.
September 3, 2014
You lost me at the word 'crapola' (or maybe even before that). On a positive note I did actually finish the book. On the negative side, it was like going to see a rom-com and leaving completely unsatisfied - you only just kept watching because the lead guy was eye candy.
January 15, 2017
Kate Appleton just wants a chance to restart her life. Her husband divorced her, taking her beloved poodle with him, and much of her self-confidence. Movie to Keene’s Harbor, and remodeling her family’s old summer cottage, The Nutshell, into a bed and breakfast is the new start she is hoping for; until she loses her job, and she discovers that the Nutshell needs more than just a touch of paint. In a fit of temper, Kate storms in to Matt Cuhane’s office and demands a job, because she blames him for her unemployment. Matt agrees to take her on as a spy, to find out who is trying to sabotage his business, but as she gets to know more about Matt and the tiny town, she can’t help falling in love. Someone however, isn’t happy with Matt, and now with Kate.
Sometimes, old friends are the best. Janet Evanovich books are priceless, and this has to be one of my new favorites. Reading her books is like getting together with old friends. It is comfortable, safe, and best yet good for some laughs. In all honesty, I haven’t felt much like reading lately. There has been a lot on my mind and even more going on in my life. I knew that if I wanted a book to hold my attention, it would have to be one that would have humor, and a light hearted side. Love In a Nutshell is just that. Even better, it was on audio.
As with all Evanovich books you really must expect the characters to be somewhat quirky. Kate is loveable, and determined. She wants to make a life for herself and avoid future complications. Matt is strong willed, and a savvy businessman with a wonderfully large family, and a notorious history in Keene’s Harbor. Even when we go outside the main characters, we find interesting and well developed supporting characters. I loved Junior, the clueless handyman, and especially Lizzie, Matt’s police officer sister. You could easily imagine the people in this novel walking off the page, and living in this little town.
The mystery was satisfying, but I think the developing relationship between Matt and Kate is really what keeps the reader hooked. It is definitely much more romance than mystery, but I have to admit, I love my mysteries and romance together—it is a combination that works well for me.
The audiobook is produced by Macmillan Audio and read by Lorelei King. When I mentioned old friends being the best, one of those old friends would be listening to a novel read by Lorelei King. King is a stupendous narrator, and does a fantastic job narrating many of the Evanovich’s books including this one. She is a practiced narrator, and does a wonderful job with all of the voices.
This story was well suited to audio format. You can easily kick back and listen to this story. I usually listen to audiobooks in my car, but when I got to my destination, I found myself loathing to leave the vehicle. I even started taking the audiobook in with me. It is sound effect free, which tends to be my preference when listing to audiobooks, and the production is free of technical flaws.
Overall, this book was a lot of fun, and a great book to read whether you are listening to it, or reading a printed copy. Janet Evanovich and Dorian Kelly make a wonderful team, and I hope to read more books from both of them in the future.
August 17, 2018
I loved it. I can't wait to get the next one..but I have a few I need to read first.
August 8, 2024
#1 in the Culhane Family romance series
As always with an Evanovich book, this was fun, with entertaining characters, and a lighthearted romance. Matt has been facing some annoying vandalism issues lately, so when Kate shows up looking for a job, he figures the fact that she's an outsider will help her discover something about his problems. Kate, on the other hand, is just trying to get ahead so she can get her family's old home on the lake into shape so she can open a B&B. Unfortunately, neither realizes that they are working against each other. As expected, the romance moves forward quickly, although they face some challenges along the way (especially the fact that Matt happens to be the "evil landlord" who holds her family's mortgage. And someone is definitely zeroing in on Kate and is starting to get pretty dangerous. Fun, silliness, witty banter, and the usual shenanigans. This is a good start to what promises to be an entertaining series.
As always with an Evanovich book, this was fun, with entertaining characters, and a lighthearted romance. Matt has been facing some annoying vandalism issues lately, so when Kate shows up looking for a job, he figures the fact that she's an outsider will help her discover something about his problems. Kate, on the other hand, is just trying to get ahead so she can get her family's old home on the lake into shape so she can open a B&B. Unfortunately, neither realizes that they are working against each other. As expected, the romance moves forward quickly, although they face some challenges along the way (especially the fact that Matt happens to be the "evil landlord" who holds her family's mortgage. And someone is definitely zeroing in on Kate and is starting to get pretty dangerous. Fun, silliness, witty banter, and the usual shenanigans. This is a good start to what promises to be an entertaining series.
November 20, 2020
This is not Evanovich's best work, but it is an amusing romance/mystery set around Thanksgiving (I found it shelved as Thanksgiving somewhere). The only time she has co-authored something I found funny were the books she wrote with Lee Goldberg--once she started co-writing them with her son they weren't as funny and the series died--she and Goldberg made a great team for that type of book (O'Hare and Fox). But then, her books are usually 3 star likes for me and I am getting tired of Stephanie Plum because I am so sick of the love triangle. I hate extended love triangles and they turn me off a series most of the time.
Kate, divorced only a year before and missing her dog, hopes to turn her family's summer home in Michigan into a bed and breakfast, but it is a money vacuum and so she boldly makes her way into a local microbrewery and demands a job, which she gets. Yes, it is instant attraction between the two, and there is trouble afoot, which is why she is hired--to be a spy even as she works as a floater.
I will say no more, there is a blurb.
Kate, divorced only a year before and missing her dog, hopes to turn her family's summer home in Michigan into a bed and breakfast, but it is a money vacuum and so she boldly makes her way into a local microbrewery and demands a job, which she gets. Yes, it is instant attraction between the two, and there is trouble afoot, which is why she is hired--to be a spy even as she works as a floater.
I will say no more, there is a blurb.
July 5, 2019
Really cute and simple mystery for those looking for an easy beach read. The romance is a bit rushed but the hilarity of the overall story definitely makes up for it. I was in love with Matt and his very chill attitude from the start. I especially loved when he talked about his dog Chuck's "different barks" signaling different needs--a man who loves animals melts my heart every time!
April 9, 2025
Meh .. I don’t think one of her best books tbh
June 19, 2020
I listened to this audiobook.
A cute love story with a mystery thrown in.
A cute love story with a mystery thrown in.
February 12, 2012
2.5-3 stars for what it is, a fluffy, chick lit/romance read with a bit of mystery to it and not a lot of depth. It's like drinking Mountain Dew. Why did I read this? because the reviews were good and it sounded like a good beach-read type book. LJ: "Sassy dialog, laugh-out-loud humor, vastly appealing characters, and an intriguing setting make this fast-paced, suspenseful romance one to imbibe." Bah. Not so much, LJ. It's ok. It's close to that, but a few notches below achieving it. Fast read, eighth grade level, wholesome, good for the folk who prefer to avoid bad language and sexy-time; also good for chick lit romance fans.
Heroine moves into her parents' summer lake house, a rambling falling down thing in Michigan, to renovate it into a b&b after she gets a divorce & loses her magazine editor job & is broke. Her parents are behind on their mortgage (despite the fact that they seem to be wealthy, all the heroine's siblings are wealthy, and they've owned the 2nd house for 30 years, so ???) and want her to let the private investor who has bought the mortgage to take it instead. Heroine needs a job so marches into local brewery and gets one from the hot owner, who likes her sass & asks her to work undercover and spy to find out who is sabotaging his brewery. She'll be paid minimum wage and get a $20,000 bonus if she finds the saboteur. Hot brewery guy and heroine fall in love and find the saboteur amidst a bit of danger and nice family relationships.
Irritating factors: Evanovich seems to think minimum wage is $10 an hour. No. Not even here in liberal Oregon. It's $7.40 in Michigan. When you're broke, you know the difference between $7.40 & $10 per hour, trust me.
Also, hot brewery guy, smart enough to invest in other breweries and to have a booming successful business, yet too stupid to think of buying security cameras.
No interesting house renovation details at all, just a few "ooh sewage overflow" type mishaps.
And finally, the hero has a tough three legged rescue hound dog, while the heroine misses her dog terribly which turns out to be a fussy mini poodle who appears to be the alpha in the human-heroine relationship, and then also alpha over the hero. Ugh. And these people need to seriously read some dog training books.
Heroine moves into her parents' summer lake house, a rambling falling down thing in Michigan, to renovate it into a b&b after she gets a divorce & loses her magazine editor job & is broke. Her parents are behind on their mortgage (despite the fact that they seem to be wealthy, all the heroine's siblings are wealthy, and they've owned the 2nd house for 30 years, so ???) and want her to let the private investor who has bought the mortgage to take it instead. Heroine needs a job so marches into local brewery and gets one from the hot owner, who likes her sass & asks her to work undercover and spy to find out who is sabotaging his brewery. She'll be paid minimum wage and get a $20,000 bonus if she finds the saboteur. Hot brewery guy and heroine fall in love and find the saboteur amidst a bit of danger and nice family relationships.
Irritating factors: Evanovich seems to think minimum wage is $10 an hour. No. Not even here in liberal Oregon. It's $7.40 in Michigan. When you're broke, you know the difference between $7.40 & $10 per hour, trust me.
Also, hot brewery guy, smart enough to invest in other breweries and to have a booming successful business, yet too stupid to think of buying security cameras.
No interesting house renovation details at all, just a few "ooh sewage overflow" type mishaps.
And finally, the hero has a tough three legged rescue hound dog, while the heroine misses her dog terribly which turns out to be a fussy mini poodle who appears to be the alpha in the human-heroine relationship, and then also alpha over the hero. Ugh. And these people need to seriously read some dog training books.
September 2, 2015
Kate Appleton is at a point in her life where things couldn't possibly be worse. She is currently living in Keene's Harbor in Michigan in an attempt to fix up her parent's summer home into a Bed and Breakfast before the new mortgage holder takes over.
Matt Culhane is at a point in his life where things couldn't be better. His Depot Brewery and restaurant is doing great and he has plans for more businesses in the very near future. He does have one small problem, though. Someone seems to be after him.
After being fired from her job Kate starts working for Matt as a "floater" and spy. It's her job to find the saboteur in the establishment as well as help out where she is needed. What will happen between them during this time?
I didn't dive into this book the way I thought I would when I got this book from the library. Trying to continue my Janet Evanovich challenge this was the next book I picked up. I started with the Stephanie Plum series, but I am waiting for Three to Get Deadly to become available.
Mostly this was a cute story that held my interest at certain parts. About half way through, the excitement picked up and helped to carry me to the end. I like Kate's character and she seemed like someone I would be friends with. The same with Matt. He is not your typical guy, he is a true gentleman that genuinely care for those around him. He's the kind of guy every woman wants. This was not one of my favorites, but I am not giving up on my challenge.
The next book I'm going to read for the Challenge is The Husband List which is also co-authored by Dorien Kelly. I got this from the library at the same time as this book. I'm going to take a small break from JE for a while though and switch to something different.
Matt Culhane is at a point in his life where things couldn't be better. His Depot Brewery and restaurant is doing great and he has plans for more businesses in the very near future. He does have one small problem, though. Someone seems to be after him.
After being fired from her job Kate starts working for Matt as a "floater" and spy. It's her job to find the saboteur in the establishment as well as help out where she is needed. What will happen between them during this time?
I didn't dive into this book the way I thought I would when I got this book from the library. Trying to continue my Janet Evanovich challenge this was the next book I picked up. I started with the Stephanie Plum series, but I am waiting for Three to Get Deadly to become available.
Mostly this was a cute story that held my interest at certain parts. About half way through, the excitement picked up and helped to carry me to the end. I like Kate's character and she seemed like someone I would be friends with. The same with Matt. He is not your typical guy, he is a true gentleman that genuinely care for those around him. He's the kind of guy every woman wants. This was not one of my favorites, but I am not giving up on my challenge.
The next book I'm going to read for the Challenge is The Husband List which is also co-authored by Dorien Kelly. I got this from the library at the same time as this book. I'm going to take a small break from JE for a while though and switch to something different.
January 28, 2012
This book was just meh. It wasn't great and it wasn't horrible. It fell to just "ok" Maybe its me getting over the whole romance genre. Who knows. It wasn't a thick book by any means so realistically I should have been able to finish in a day maybe two. Well I kept setting it down. I liked the characters for the most part but I felt like the book was lacking something. Just not sure what. I am a HUGE fan of Janet Evanovich books. Her Stephanie Plum series is one of my faves. This book almost felt forced. Like maybe there was a deadline and lets hurry up and get a book out kind of forced. She worked with another author so maybe that's why it felt "different"
Here is the Summary:
Kate Appleton needs a job. Her husband has left her, she’s been fired from her position as a magazine editor, and the only place she wants to go is to her parents’ summer house, The Nutshell, in Keene’s Harbor, Michigan. Kate’s plan is to turn The Nutshell into a Bed and Breakfast. Problem is, she needs cash, and the only job she can land is less than savory.
Matt Culhane wants Kate to spy on his brewery employees. Someone has been sabotaging his company, and Kate is just new enough in town that she can insert herself into Culhane’s business and snoop around for him. If Kate finds the culprit, Matt will pay her a $20,000 bonus. Needless to say, Kate is highly motivated. But several problems present themselves. Kate despises beer. No one seems to trust her. And she is falling hard for her boss.
Can these two smoke out a saboteur, save Kate’s family home, and keep a killer from closing in…all while resisting their undeniable attraction to one another? Filled with humor, heart, and loveable characters, Love in a Nutshell is delicious fun.
Here is the Summary:
Kate Appleton needs a job. Her husband has left her, she’s been fired from her position as a magazine editor, and the only place she wants to go is to her parents’ summer house, The Nutshell, in Keene’s Harbor, Michigan. Kate’s plan is to turn The Nutshell into a Bed and Breakfast. Problem is, she needs cash, and the only job she can land is less than savory.
Matt Culhane wants Kate to spy on his brewery employees. Someone has been sabotaging his company, and Kate is just new enough in town that she can insert herself into Culhane’s business and snoop around for him. If Kate finds the culprit, Matt will pay her a $20,000 bonus. Needless to say, Kate is highly motivated. But several problems present themselves. Kate despises beer. No one seems to trust her. And she is falling hard for her boss.
Can these two smoke out a saboteur, save Kate’s family home, and keep a killer from closing in…all while resisting their undeniable attraction to one another? Filled with humor, heart, and loveable characters, Love in a Nutshell is delicious fun.
February 16, 2012
My Review:
If you are looking for a light, fluffy romantic read with a dash of suspense and mystery thrown in, this is a good book for you. This book was very entertaining and fun. I loved the brewery setting and I enjoyed Kate and Matt. There isn't anything too deep in this book...not even the romance. Honestly, I can think of only a handful of kisses throughout the entire book. Although saying that, I have to admit that I never did figure out who the bad guy was until it was revealed in the book. I had NO CLUE, so the mystery/suspense story line is really well written...although even that was not particularly riveting.
So why didn't this get an A rating from me? Honestly, it was too light and fluffy. There were moments in the story line which could have been brilliant, but the authors just didn't take that extra step to make the characters three dimensional and real people. They kept it all light and fluffy. There would be a moment where the character started to feel real and emotionally-vested and then within a paragraph or two, they went back to the happy-go-lucky 2 dimensional character that they started out to be. The story line was all there for a phenomenal contemporary read. It just fell a bit flat in the follow-through.
Regardless of that though, it was entertaining and an easy read. I'd just say to wait until it comes out in paperback before buying (this book is not worth the hardback price)...or go check it out at the library (which is where I am donating my copy.) Do I regret reading it? Absolutely not. Will I read it again? Absolutely not. Overall, this was a "meh" book for me.
If you are looking for a light, fluffy romantic read with a dash of suspense and mystery thrown in, this is a good book for you. This book was very entertaining and fun. I loved the brewery setting and I enjoyed Kate and Matt. There isn't anything too deep in this book...not even the romance. Honestly, I can think of only a handful of kisses throughout the entire book. Although saying that, I have to admit that I never did figure out who the bad guy was until it was revealed in the book. I had NO CLUE, so the mystery/suspense story line is really well written...although even that was not particularly riveting.
So why didn't this get an A rating from me? Honestly, it was too light and fluffy. There were moments in the story line which could have been brilliant, but the authors just didn't take that extra step to make the characters three dimensional and real people. They kept it all light and fluffy. There would be a moment where the character started to feel real and emotionally-vested and then within a paragraph or two, they went back to the happy-go-lucky 2 dimensional character that they started out to be. The story line was all there for a phenomenal contemporary read. It just fell a bit flat in the follow-through.
Regardless of that though, it was entertaining and an easy read. I'd just say to wait until it comes out in paperback before buying (this book is not worth the hardback price)...or go check it out at the library (which is where I am donating my copy.) Do I regret reading it? Absolutely not. Will I read it again? Absolutely not. Overall, this was a "meh" book for me.
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June 24, 2015This book, unfortunately, is not worth the time. Some of the dialogue and descriptions were clever, and that's about all the positive I can say about this book. The novel seemed slow, with little real plot. The "mystery" was poorly developed, and the adventure/jeopardy didn't draw the reader into the story because the particular scenes were either slighted over or (toward the end) the reader doesn't really identify with the characters enough to care about their danger. The story feels very much like the typical stereotypical romance novel, though Evanovich is more noted for her mysteries. The novel features many of the romance novel conventions: the normal stereotypical characters and dialogue, including typical romance descriptions with lots of adjectives to "develop" the beautiful, but plucky, heroine and good looking, rich, strong hero, contrasting with a few of the side characters. (Some of the most interesting are introduced, then hardly play any part except serve as possible "suspects"). The novel also includes other typical romance characteristics, with predictable relationship developments, with the obligatory explicit sex scenes that appear 2/3 of the way through the novel (easy to skip, but there's no other redeeming value to the novel, so readers may as well skip the whole book): the "mystery" seems kind of stitched on. The authors even include not one, but two quirky, but lovable dogs to put into jeopardy along with the protagonists--again very predictably. The novel was slow and with very little substance either as a mystery or as a romance. The reader keeps waiting for something arresting to happen--and this novel really never delivers.
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