The Misplaced Affections of Charlotte Fforbes

Imperfect Lives #3

by Catherine Robertson

When Charlotte Fforbes inadvertently falls in love with her boss, her usually cool self-control is tested to its limit. Thus far, Charlotte has carefully avoided love's emotional tar pit, but suddenly she is in it up to her neck. Her first strategy is to ignore it – for one thing, boss Patrick is a husband and father.

Then Charlotte is given a clue that Patrick's marriage may not be as stable as believed, and that is enough to fan a spark of hope into an infatuation-fuelled inferno. Transformed from efficient PA into a woman whose reason has been muffled with duct-tape and locked in a cellar, she'll now do anything to find a way into Patrick's heart.

Anything includes arranging to be nanny-for-a-month to the small children of Patrick and his wife and two other families at a Lake Como villa. Charlotte's complete lack of child-minding experience daunts her the least. If she's to win Patrick, she must also prevent his cousin's wife being seduced by her charming, feckless ex, while fending off dogs, Gypsy gatecrashers and a large, vengeful ghost from Patrick's past.

But Charlotte's biggest test will come when she is forced to question whether her affections have been entirely misplaced – and, if so, was this her last ever chance to feel love like this again?

352 pages, Paperback

Published July 5, 2013

About the author

If you like fast-paced plots, sparkling funny dialogue and heartfelt emotion, I'm the romcom author for you. I write about real people struggling with real stuff, but who each get their own happy ending. My brand of humor is perceptive and kind and I love jokes and wordplay. I love to write series with characters who develop through each book - basically, I hate to let them go! I live in the glorious wine country of New Zealand, and share my life with one husband, two grown sons, four cats, two dogs and a flock of no longer spring chickens. Get good (and free) stuff by signing up to my newsletter: google catherinejrobertson author

Reviews

[Catherine Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author's privilege :)

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5 stars.

I did enjoy this book, just not as much as the Sweet Second Life of Darrell Kincaid (and I liked that one so much it would always be hard to live up to). I did enjoy seeing more of Darrell in this one (though the things that annoyed me about her in the previous book were present in force in this, hence a lower rating). The MC - Charlotte was actually really interesting. A strange personal set of ethics and morals, she makes some odd choices, which propel the story along nicely.

Must find some more by this author, now that I remember how great her writing is!

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hooray, the gang's all here! All those readers with taste, class and a sense of humour who have read and enjoyed Catherine Robertson's previous two books will be thrilled to discover all their favourite characters are back - in the same book. And on holiday for a month in a beautiful sun-dappled Italian villa beside Lake Como. With a fulltime nanny. Sigh. Sounds truly idyllic doesn't it? It's far from smooth sailing however. The nanny, really a personal assistant who has little experience with and even less love for children, has romantic designs on her boss Patrick, who is happily (maybe!) married to Clare. Throw in a cousin or two, some hilariously forthright women with no tact filters, four children, lots of wine, and more than your usual fair share of gorgeous men (ahhh, welcome back Marcus and hello Ned!) and it all promises to be a holiday like no other.

Another very funny, very clever read. More please.

[Chris Meehan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok I guess. Took a while to really get into it and it was a bit predictable but light enough for late at night.

[Lemurkat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and intensely readable.
I enjoyed the protagonist (although her morals irritated me at first) and Patrick and the kids. Found Darrell and Anselo's situation frustrating. Wouldve liked a bit more closure around Ned but that's what imagination is for.
Have been googling Lake Como to get a feel for the place.

[Delwyn Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I love this series and this book definitely lived up to the first two.
A well written and highly enjoyable book.

[Jill Shortt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable holiday read.

[Priscilla Gough · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book - but I didn't love it. I did/do love Catherine Robertson's writing style, loved her turns of phrase, use of colloquialisms and reference and nods to current and recent events. I didn't mind the often predictability (expected and classic in chic-lit).
It was a bringing together of the characters from parts 1 and 2 of the trilogy (apart from the protagonist, who was a new character) and this was fun, reconnecting with all of those people. Charlotte, I really tried to like or even relate to her..... Most of the other characters, as I met them through the Trilogy, The Sweet Second Life of Darrell Kincaid and The Not So Perfect Life of Mo Lawrence I found a certain connection with - yep I've met someone like that..... Charlotte not so much. However neither that, nor the fact that I would have loved the opportunity to slap Darrell many times throughout this novel really spoiled the story too much.
All in all, yes I did enjoy the book but just not as much as the first two.

[Penguin Books NZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Rebecca) Another wonderful book from Catherine. I am so pleased that her female characters are strong and intelligent and that the book is funny and entertaining without having to have the main heroine make a fool of herself like most chick-lit. Good, light-hearted reading but does look at topics that are relevant to most of us girls.