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Frisky Business
Marley Cartman is fed up with arrogant rich guys who treat her like garbage, so she vows to only date men with modest paychecks and a little dirt under their nails.
Her new boss, William Barclay, is exactly the kind of man she's trying to avoid: an eccentric millionaire with duct shape shoes and an unexplained vendetta against her.
But as Will and Marley butt heads over grumpy badgers and phallic artifacts, they discover that sometimes the opposite of what you want is exactly what you need.
Her new boss, William Barclay, is exactly the kind of man she's trying to avoid: an eccentric millionaire with duct shape shoes and an unexplained vendetta against her.
But as Will and Marley butt heads over grumpy badgers and phallic artifacts, they discover that sometimes the opposite of what you want is exactly what you need.
347 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
28 people are currently reading
397 people want to read
About the author
Tawna Fenske
73 books1,614 followersWhen Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA Award finalist, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”
Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, step-kids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.
Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, step-kids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
July 5, 2018
This story is chock-full of sophomoric sexual innuendo and inappropriate jokes. And...I found myself chuckling at quite a few of them. So what does that say about me? Yep, I'm officially a dirty old woman. Next thing you know, some years down the line, I'll be squeezing the tush of that cute FedEx guy when he delivers my new state-of-the-art walker. Although the characters of this romance have a few emotional issues, it's mostly an easy-breezy, light and fluffy little story. Fun to read for escape and relaxation with some sexy scenes. Even has animals (not in sexy scenes) to round out your reading pleasure.
Heroine Marley Cartman has moved to a new town to begin her job at a wildlife center, partly to get as far from her ex-fiance as possible. Marley has some secrets in her past, family-related, that will play a part in the "conflict" of the story. First day on the job she meets two heterochromatic males (eyes of two different colors): William Barclay, the center's hunky chairman of the board, and Magoo, slobbery, adorable rescue dog.
She fights her attraction to the human heterochromatic male, since she has now vowed to date only blue-collar guys, because of her disillusionment with rich jerks such as her ex and with her 6-times married father. This lends itself to some very exaggerated, broadly amusing dates with a plumber, a bike repairman, and a co-worker at the animal center.
And there's hero Will, who has trust issues after his wife leaves him for his sister. Yeah...and they all live in the same town and are in a friendly relationship except for the bitterness Will can't keep himself from feeling. So Will doesn't trust Marley, Marley is obviously keeping secrets and that doesn't help the situation, not to mention that Will has too much money for her blue-collar-romance decision.
Another important part of the story deals with some (perhaps) valuable old Native American stone phallic figures. These are owned by Will's crusty aunt, a Dr. Ruth-type sexologist, who can't stop asking too many personal and invasive questions and talking about sex and only sex. And the whole story is full of banter with sexual innuendo. This becomes almost too much after a while. But it's a quick read and I got several chuckles before the overload began.
So this is amusing. I got some laughs from it and managed to get all 25 miles on the exercise bike rather quickly. It's not, however, a book I'll brag about having read and want to discuss with my friends.
Heroine Marley Cartman has moved to a new town to begin her job at a wildlife center, partly to get as far from her ex-fiance as possible. Marley has some secrets in her past, family-related, that will play a part in the "conflict" of the story. First day on the job she meets two heterochromatic males (eyes of two different colors): William Barclay, the center's hunky chairman of the board, and Magoo, slobbery, adorable rescue dog.
She fights her attraction to the human heterochromatic male, since she has now vowed to date only blue-collar guys, because of her disillusionment with rich jerks such as her ex and with her 6-times married father. This lends itself to some very exaggerated, broadly amusing dates with a plumber, a bike repairman, and a co-worker at the animal center.
And there's hero Will, who has trust issues after his wife leaves him for his sister. Yeah...and they all live in the same town and are in a friendly relationship except for the bitterness Will can't keep himself from feeling. So Will doesn't trust Marley, Marley is obviously keeping secrets and that doesn't help the situation, not to mention that Will has too much money for her blue-collar-romance decision.
Another important part of the story deals with some (perhaps) valuable old Native American stone phallic figures. These are owned by Will's crusty aunt, a Dr. Ruth-type sexologist, who can't stop asking too many personal and invasive questions and talking about sex and only sex. And the whole story is full of banter with sexual innuendo. This becomes almost too much after a while. But it's a quick read and I got several chuckles before the overload began.
So this is amusing. I got some laughs from it and managed to get all 25 miles on the exercise bike rather quickly. It's not, however, a book I'll brag about having read and want to discuss with my friends.
May 6, 2014
The perfect combination of laughter and lust!
Hot? (Fans self.) Check.
Funny? (Still laughing.) Check.
Characters I loved hanging with during my precious reading time? Check!
You can always count on Fenske for a fun read, and Frisky Business is no exception--best mental vacation I've had in a long time. My recommendation? Grab your favorite beverage, kick back, and enjoy the escape!
Hot? (Fans self.) Check.
Funny? (Still laughing.) Check.
Characters I loved hanging with during my precious reading time? Check!
You can always count on Fenske for a fun read, and Frisky Business is no exception--best mental vacation I've had in a long time. My recommendation? Grab your favorite beverage, kick back, and enjoy the escape!
March 12, 2018
This was my least favourite Tawna Fenske read to date.
Apparently I have strong loyalty issues, because I couldn't get over the fact that Will's sister stole his wife and everyone was still friends. It wasn't just that Will and April divorced and then she married his sister, it was that they had an affair while Will and April were still married, and everyone's great pals. The way his sister constantly made jokes about it didn't help - it felt really off to me.
The innuendo was too much. This is an early Fenske book and she definitely handles her humour much better these days. This felt really over the top.
I also couldn't help wishing Marley would take a break from dating. Her choices aren't just terrible, they're desperate. Stop dating. You'll survive without a man. Especially when you're making out with Will at every opportunity.
Will's also a jerk. Yes, he has trust issues. No, that is not an excuse.
So yeah, definitely not a keeper for me.
Apparently I have strong loyalty issues, because I couldn't get over the fact that Will's sister stole his wife and everyone was still friends. It wasn't just that Will and April divorced and then she married his sister, it was that they had an affair while Will and April were still married, and everyone's great pals. The way his sister constantly made jokes about it didn't help - it felt really off to me.
The innuendo was too much. This is an early Fenske book and she definitely handles her humour much better these days. This felt really over the top.
I also couldn't help wishing Marley would take a break from dating. Her choices aren't just terrible, they're desperate. Stop dating. You'll survive without a man. Especially when you're making out with Will at every opportunity.
Will's also a jerk. Yes, he has trust issues. No, that is not an excuse.
So yeah, definitely not a keeper for me.
April 15, 2014
Laughing has never been so sexy in FRISKY BUSINESS, the newest book by the very funny Tawna Fenske. You'll not only find characters you'll want to be BFF's with, but you'll also learn more than you ever thought possible about the mating habits of wild animals (including humans)!
A chance meeting between Marley Cartman, the new development coordinator for a prestigious philanthropic organization, and Will Barklay, an animal shelter volunteer, ends with heated kisses and both of them wanting more. It's just too bad that Marley has decided to give up wealthy men, especially when she discovers Will is actually William Barclay the Fifth, chairman of the board at her new job. If only his different colored eyes, penchant for wearing slippers and totally irreverent sense of humor didn't turn her inside out every time she sees him!
Will is cautious where women are concerned, after all, his ex-wife inconveniently decided to become a lesbian and leave him for his sister! While he's drawn to Marley, Will is skeptical of someone who embellishes the truth for a living. Like it or not, Marley had Will tied in knots, but he has a sinking feeling that she's hiding something from him. With his trust issues, that's a major stop sign, no matter how much she appreciates a good penis joke. When push comes to shove, can they come to an understanding or is their relationship over before it starts?
FRISKY BUSINESS is spectacular, combining lighthearted banter, hilarious situations and a romantic story to make an irresistible combination! I truly haven't read a book in a long time in which I absolutely connected with every character immediately, wishing that I was BFF's with a group like that. Marley was terrific, an interesting mix of self-deprecating goofball and confident woman that I found immensely attractive. Adorable and quirky yet completely classy, Marley was that perfect woman who both men and women adore (and you may find yourself a trivia night hero with some of the things you learn from her character about wild animals!).
And Will….oh Will….where are the real life guys like this? Good looking, smart, laid back and outrageously funny, his character was absolutely ideal for Marley. Their banter and romantic situations had me LOL'ing the entire book, excitedly waiting until the couple finally came together (officially). The chemistry between the two of them was outstanding, both sexy and fun without being over the top. Actually the chemistry between all the characters was amazingly well written, from the lesbian relationship between Will's ex-wife April and his sister Bethany to his hilariously offbeat sex therapist Aunt Nancy and her "rock cocks," I loved every second of this romantic comedy.
While you won't find anything earth shatteringly unique about FRISKY BUSINESS, Ms. Fenske made the typical "boy meets girl, they fight their attraction, cue conflict, solve conflict, happily ever after" scenario much more fun with a different setting and characters you'll fall in love with from page one. I cannot wait to pick up more from this talented author and wholeheartedly recommend this lighthearted and sexy book as the perfect beach (or fireplace) read this year!
A chance meeting between Marley Cartman, the new development coordinator for a prestigious philanthropic organization, and Will Barklay, an animal shelter volunteer, ends with heated kisses and both of them wanting more. It's just too bad that Marley has decided to give up wealthy men, especially when she discovers Will is actually William Barclay the Fifth, chairman of the board at her new job. If only his different colored eyes, penchant for wearing slippers and totally irreverent sense of humor didn't turn her inside out every time she sees him!
Will is cautious where women are concerned, after all, his ex-wife inconveniently decided to become a lesbian and leave him for his sister! While he's drawn to Marley, Will is skeptical of someone who embellishes the truth for a living. Like it or not, Marley had Will tied in knots, but he has a sinking feeling that she's hiding something from him. With his trust issues, that's a major stop sign, no matter how much she appreciates a good penis joke. When push comes to shove, can they come to an understanding or is their relationship over before it starts?
FRISKY BUSINESS is spectacular, combining lighthearted banter, hilarious situations and a romantic story to make an irresistible combination! I truly haven't read a book in a long time in which I absolutely connected with every character immediately, wishing that I was BFF's with a group like that. Marley was terrific, an interesting mix of self-deprecating goofball and confident woman that I found immensely attractive. Adorable and quirky yet completely classy, Marley was that perfect woman who both men and women adore (and you may find yourself a trivia night hero with some of the things you learn from her character about wild animals!).
And Will….oh Will….where are the real life guys like this? Good looking, smart, laid back and outrageously funny, his character was absolutely ideal for Marley. Their banter and romantic situations had me LOL'ing the entire book, excitedly waiting until the couple finally came together (officially). The chemistry between the two of them was outstanding, both sexy and fun without being over the top. Actually the chemistry between all the characters was amazingly well written, from the lesbian relationship between Will's ex-wife April and his sister Bethany to his hilariously offbeat sex therapist Aunt Nancy and her "rock cocks," I loved every second of this romantic comedy.
While you won't find anything earth shatteringly unique about FRISKY BUSINESS, Ms. Fenske made the typical "boy meets girl, they fight their attraction, cue conflict, solve conflict, happily ever after" scenario much more fun with a different setting and characters you'll fall in love with from page one. I cannot wait to pick up more from this talented author and wholeheartedly recommend this lighthearted and sexy book as the perfect beach (or fireplace) read this year!
February 11, 2015
Review from: http://mischievousreads.blogspot.com/
WARNING: Reading this book while sipping tea/hot chocolate or anything liquid anywhere is unadvised.
This book almost made me spit out my hot chocolate while in bed but it surely helped in burning my tongue because this book is funny as hell. And for that, I give Ms. Fenske FIVE STARS for burning my tongue, Yup.
In this beautiful piece of hilariousness, we meet Marley Cartman, ready to move on from her previous relationship by getting away to Bend to work as a Development Director a wildlife sanctuary. Day one, she ends up adopting a dog and meeting hottie "Just Will" at the center and things get quite heated up. Oh, and she's decided to date blue collar job guys instead because they're less jackasses than the filthy rich ones. And Will definitely fits her checklist: Animal Shelter Volunteer. Check. Torn faded jeans. Check. Duct tape slippers. Check. Definitely the perfect guy. Imagine her shock and disappointment when she finds out he's actually not "Just Will" but the "William Barclay the Fifth" as in the board chairman of her new company. He wants her, but she's sworn of wealthy men and is absolutely determined to find a guy with a modest paycheck.
I love how spontaneous this book is, and the wittiness and hilarity of the story plot. There's not just hilarious comebacks and jokes to ease the awkward tension, but also mentions about phallic rock statues and lots of stuff about sex.
But despite the hilarity of the book and as much as I love it, I just couldn't quite give it a complete five stars. Why? One word, Marley.
Marley's desperation to find the right guy in the wrong areas was just frustrating, like girl, he's right in front of you. But no, she's determined to find Mr. Perfect Blue Collar. But you still gotta love her for her funny wit.
Now, Will, the oh so sweet, adorable, cute "Just Will". He's everything you'd want. Modest, down to earth and hilarious despite being an eccentric billionaire. Heck, he wears faded torn jeans to a company event and wears worn out flip flops. But like any other almost perfect human, he's got issues, especially when it comes to women. Imagine the thought of having your ex-wife go lesbian for your own sister. Yup. She'd decided she liked playing "palm the softballs" instead.
There also tons of hilarious characters in this book, especially the awesome Aunt Nancy. She's the reason why I almost choked on my hot chocolate. I'd rather not spoil who she is and what she does, but she's decided she wants to name her organization the "Nancy Ursula Thomas-Smith Arts Center" aka NUT SAC. Aunt Nancy will definitely make your day once you come across her in this book.
I'm definitely going to read this book again some time. Highly recommended! A good laugh before bed time will definitely result to smiling in your sleep. (Creepy much lolz)
WARNING: Reading this book while sipping tea/hot chocolate or anything liquid anywhere is unadvised.
This book almost made me spit out my hot chocolate while in bed but it surely helped in burning my tongue because this book is funny as hell. And for that, I give Ms. Fenske FIVE STARS for burning my tongue, Yup.
In this beautiful piece of hilariousness, we meet Marley Cartman, ready to move on from her previous relationship by getting away to Bend to work as a Development Director a wildlife sanctuary. Day one, she ends up adopting a dog and meeting hottie "Just Will" at the center and things get quite heated up. Oh, and she's decided to date blue collar job guys instead because they're less jackasses than the filthy rich ones. And Will definitely fits her checklist: Animal Shelter Volunteer. Check. Torn faded jeans. Check. Duct tape slippers. Check. Definitely the perfect guy. Imagine her shock and disappointment when she finds out he's actually not "Just Will" but the "William Barclay the Fifth" as in the board chairman of her new company. He wants her, but she's sworn of wealthy men and is absolutely determined to find a guy with a modest paycheck.
I love how spontaneous this book is, and the wittiness and hilarity of the story plot. There's not just hilarious comebacks and jokes to ease the awkward tension, but also mentions about phallic rock statues and lots of stuff about sex.
But despite the hilarity of the book and as much as I love it, I just couldn't quite give it a complete five stars. Why? One word, Marley.
Marley's desperation to find the right guy in the wrong areas was just frustrating, like girl, he's right in front of you. But no, she's determined to find Mr. Perfect Blue Collar. But you still gotta love her for her funny wit.
Now, Will, the oh so sweet, adorable, cute "Just Will". He's everything you'd want. Modest, down to earth and hilarious despite being an eccentric billionaire. Heck, he wears faded torn jeans to a company event and wears worn out flip flops. But like any other almost perfect human, he's got issues, especially when it comes to women. Imagine the thought of having your ex-wife go lesbian for your own sister. Yup. She'd decided she liked playing "palm the softballs" instead.
There also tons of hilarious characters in this book, especially the awesome Aunt Nancy. She's the reason why I almost choked on my hot chocolate. I'd rather not spoil who she is and what she does, but she's decided she wants to name her organization the "Nancy Ursula Thomas-Smith Arts Center" aka NUT SAC. Aunt Nancy will definitely make your day once you come across her in this book.
I'm definitely going to read this book again some time. Highly recommended! A good laugh before bed time will definitely result to smiling in your sleep. (Creepy much lolz)
September 18, 2015
A really cute,fun,comical read. I enjoyed it and would recommend reading this if you want a few good guffaws!
May 21, 2020
Starting over can be challenging for anyone. For Marley Cartman – a move to a new town is the perfect opportunity to leave behind a former fiancé and start a new job. Determined have better prospects in the romance department, Marley has vowed to only date men who are blue collar workers. This new line of thinking is driving Marley’s decisions to turn away from all prospects with monetary means.
Working with donors at the wildlife sanctuary, Marley knows the value of a dollar. While visiting the animal shelter, Marley found herself struck by TWO sets of mix-matched eyes. Magoo is the shaggy dog that captured Marley’s heart, but William Barclay captured her attention with his wit and demeanor. Unbeknownst to Marley, Will is the chairman of the board at the wildlife sanctuary. As the two share more than stiff drinks and unique fundraisers, Marley begins to question her new rules for dating. Only time will tell if Will’s inept use of snark and wit will win Marley’s heart at the end of the day.
Tawna Fenske has quickly become a ‘go to’ for me when I am looking for a light and witty romance. I snatched up Frisky Business in the hopes that this rom con would provide a much-needed pick me up during a reading lull. Unfortunately, the corniness far outweighed the humor in this story. The push to throw all of the unique story ideas into one story became a bit of overload.
There were also some very not so subtle plugs for Pure Romance. The overload of products and puns related to the sex toy company were shamelessly placed in areas of the story that reeked of compensation. As a former consultant – I am familiar with the products and names to the point that I could tell when the items were mentioned for ‘shock factor’. The story was so blatant it would mention looking over and seeing a catalog in story plots that stood without the additional promo. One might would think there was a ‘trade’ of products for quick mentions based on the blatant way most of the product ‘nods’ were irrelevant to the content.
All in all – Frisky Business wasn’t as humorous as it was intended. It felt more like middle school humor at one point. How many times can you talk about ‘Hide the Salami’? One thing I can say is I REEEEAAALLLLYYYYYYY wanted to love this book. I mean – when have I not loved a Tawna Fenske book?? Alas – this was just a ‘meh’ on my scale of epic reads.
Working with donors at the wildlife sanctuary, Marley knows the value of a dollar. While visiting the animal shelter, Marley found herself struck by TWO sets of mix-matched eyes. Magoo is the shaggy dog that captured Marley’s heart, but William Barclay captured her attention with his wit and demeanor. Unbeknownst to Marley, Will is the chairman of the board at the wildlife sanctuary. As the two share more than stiff drinks and unique fundraisers, Marley begins to question her new rules for dating. Only time will tell if Will’s inept use of snark and wit will win Marley’s heart at the end of the day.
Tawna Fenske has quickly become a ‘go to’ for me when I am looking for a light and witty romance. I snatched up Frisky Business in the hopes that this rom con would provide a much-needed pick me up during a reading lull. Unfortunately, the corniness far outweighed the humor in this story. The push to throw all of the unique story ideas into one story became a bit of overload.
There were also some very not so subtle plugs for Pure Romance. The overload of products and puns related to the sex toy company were shamelessly placed in areas of the story that reeked of compensation. As a former consultant – I am familiar with the products and names to the point that I could tell when the items were mentioned for ‘shock factor’. The story was so blatant it would mention looking over and seeing a catalog in story plots that stood without the additional promo. One might would think there was a ‘trade’ of products for quick mentions based on the blatant way most of the product ‘nods’ were irrelevant to the content.
All in all – Frisky Business wasn’t as humorous as it was intended. It felt more like middle school humor at one point. How many times can you talk about ‘Hide the Salami’? One thing I can say is I REEEEAAALLLLYYYYYYY wanted to love this book. I mean – when have I not loved a Tawna Fenske book?? Alas – this was just a ‘meh’ on my scale of epic reads.
November 22, 2019
I found Frisky Business absolutely delicious. I have no idea why I left it for so long in my to-read list.
The plot flows wonderfully, most of the dialogs will make you smile, if not laugh out loud, and all the characters are amazing in their own quirky way. Of the two main characters, Will is definitely my favorite, but Marley is a close second, and all the others are great too.
I found the happily ever after a bit rushed - or maybe I was just not ready for the book to end. But as romance novels go, I still had a lot of fun with Frisky Business and I totally recommend it.
The plot flows wonderfully, most of the dialogs will make you smile, if not laugh out loud, and all the characters are amazing in their own quirky way. Of the two main characters, Will is definitely my favorite, but Marley is a close second, and all the others are great too.
I found the happily ever after a bit rushed - or maybe I was just not ready for the book to end. But as romance novels go, I still had a lot of fun with Frisky Business and I totally recommend it.
January 23, 2016
Book Info
Paperback, 352 pages
Expected publication: May 6th 2014 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN 1402293151 (ISBN13: 9781402293153)
edition language English
other editions
None found
Source:Netgalley EARC
Book Buy Links
Amazon
B&N
Marley Cartman is fed up with arrogant rich guys who treat her like garbage, so she vows to only date men with modest paychecks and a little dirt under their nails.
Her new boss, William Barclay, is exactly the kind of man she's trying to avoid: an eccentric millionaire with duct shape shoes and an unexplained vendetta against her.
But as Will and Marley butt heads over grumpy badgers and phallic artifacts, they discover that sometimes the opposite of what you want is exactly what you need.
From the very start this book will nab your attention with it’s wit, warmth, easy pace and total disregard for acceptable topics for discussion within mixed company.
We all want the same things as Marley, respect, honesty and devotion from the man we find ourselves wanting to spend time with and get to know. William Barclay may seem like the exact opposite of what she is looking for but the more time they spend together, bonding over silly innuendo, mutual love of animals, music and movies the more comfortable Marley finds herself becoming in his company.
I loved the fact that the author took these characters and made them so likable as well as showed their insecurities allowing both Marley and Will a chance to work through some conflicts that cropped up causing them to both learn that trust is a two way street and without just falling into a relationship right off the bat when their mutual chemistry for each other was immediate.
This is a fast, fun, totally lighthearted read which was a nice introduction for me to the author’s style and one that makes me look forward to more of her work. At the finish was left with a delighted smile on my face!
The first but not the last book I hope to read written by Tawna Fenske!
Paperback, 352 pages
Expected publication: May 6th 2014 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN 1402293151 (ISBN13: 9781402293153)
edition language English
other editions
None found
Source:Netgalley EARC
Book Buy Links
Amazon
B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS
Marley Cartman is fed up with arrogant rich guys who treat her like garbage, so she vows to only date men with modest paychecks and a little dirt under their nails.
Her new boss, William Barclay, is exactly the kind of man she's trying to avoid: an eccentric millionaire with duct shape shoes and an unexplained vendetta against her.
But as Will and Marley butt heads over grumpy badgers and phallic artifacts, they discover that sometimes the opposite of what you want is exactly what you need.
My Thoughts
From the very start this book will nab your attention with it’s wit, warmth, easy pace and total disregard for acceptable topics for discussion within mixed company.
We all want the same things as Marley, respect, honesty and devotion from the man we find ourselves wanting to spend time with and get to know. William Barclay may seem like the exact opposite of what she is looking for but the more time they spend together, bonding over silly innuendo, mutual love of animals, music and movies the more comfortable Marley finds herself becoming in his company.
I loved the fact that the author took these characters and made them so likable as well as showed their insecurities allowing both Marley and Will a chance to work through some conflicts that cropped up causing them to both learn that trust is a two way street and without just falling into a relationship right off the bat when their mutual chemistry for each other was immediate.
This is a fast, fun, totally lighthearted read which was a nice introduction for me to the author’s style and one that makes me look forward to more of her work. At the finish was left with a delighted smile on my face!
The first but not the last book I hope to read written by Tawna Fenske!
[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]
June 2, 2014
I’ve been on a contemporary romance kick lately (and have had MAJOR puppy-fever), so when I saw Frisky Business on Netgalley? I couldn’t help but request it! A light hearted romance with a puppy? It’s sure to be a win, right?
Light Hearted is exactly what I got – Marley has just left a bad relationship and is now looking for the exact opposite of her normal type (rich and successful) and Will is skeptical of everyone he meets. (But who could blame him, his ex-wife leaving him for his sister and all?) Which lends itself to some pretty hilarious moments.
But those hilarious moments quickly got old for me, with the jr high sex jokes abound. (Seriously – I couldn’t go two pages without some cheesy innuendo – and while Tawna Fenske explains it as a coping mechanism? I’m sorry, I just don’t see two 30-somethings making crude sex jokes CONSTANTLY as funny.) And example? Will and his ex-wife were constantly discussing how his wife, April, left him to play: Tickle the Tulips, Tickle the Jelly Bean and Tickle the Lint-trap. Not to mention the hide-the-salami jokes, an about 300 other tasteless innuendos. (And while I occasionally find them funny? When I could keep a running tally for the book and it would be well over 100 in 300 pages? Not my thing.)
Aside from the annoying jokes, I didn’t find Will to be all that endearing. (Why have I been picking up books with pathetic/lost-dog-like leading males lately??) He was so insecure, and his eccentric nature(wearing bedroom slippers in public) was just too much for me.
That aside? I felt like Tawna Fenske told a good story, and her humor was wonderful most of the time! A great example? Marley has a string of REALLY bad dates – including a guy who asks her all about her plans for marriage/babies/etc before the appetizer even arrives! Her dates were hilarious.
I wanted to love this one, I really did – but there was just too much on the side of humor that didn’t really appeal to me, so I felt a bit let down! (But that said? There are a TON of 4 and 5 star reviews on Goodreads! So I think I’m in the minority on this.)
Light Hearted is exactly what I got – Marley has just left a bad relationship and is now looking for the exact opposite of her normal type (rich and successful) and Will is skeptical of everyone he meets. (But who could blame him, his ex-wife leaving him for his sister and all?) Which lends itself to some pretty hilarious moments.
But those hilarious moments quickly got old for me, with the jr high sex jokes abound. (Seriously – I couldn’t go two pages without some cheesy innuendo – and while Tawna Fenske explains it as a coping mechanism? I’m sorry, I just don’t see two 30-somethings making crude sex jokes CONSTANTLY as funny.) And example? Will and his ex-wife were constantly discussing how his wife, April, left him to play: Tickle the Tulips, Tickle the Jelly Bean and Tickle the Lint-trap. Not to mention the hide-the-salami jokes, an about 300 other tasteless innuendos. (And while I occasionally find them funny? When I could keep a running tally for the book and it would be well over 100 in 300 pages? Not my thing.)
Aside from the annoying jokes, I didn’t find Will to be all that endearing. (Why have I been picking up books with pathetic/lost-dog-like leading males lately??) He was so insecure, and his eccentric nature(wearing bedroom slippers in public) was just too much for me.
That aside? I felt like Tawna Fenske told a good story, and her humor was wonderful most of the time! A great example? Marley has a string of REALLY bad dates – including a guy who asks her all about her plans for marriage/babies/etc before the appetizer even arrives! Her dates were hilarious.
I wanted to love this one, I really did – but there was just too much on the side of humor that didn’t really appeal to me, so I felt a bit let down! (But that said? There are a TON of 4 and 5 star reviews on Goodreads! So I think I’m in the minority on this.)
April 30, 2014
*ARC Courtesy of Netgalley*
This author's books should seriously come with a disclaimer that reads "Please do not attempt to read this book should you be eating or drinking as choking can and will occur....Also do not attempt to read this book at night, while your significant other is trying to sleep as this will lead to lots of grumpiness from said other as you laugh your ass off"
Tawna Fenske is hands down one of the funniest authors I have ever come across. I want to be this women's BFF....she has such a wicked good sense of humor.....
This is the delightful little story of Marley and Will. Marley has just recently broken up with her fiance and taken a new job in another town. She is fed up with dating only rich guys and has decided that from now on wards she will only date regular "blue collar" men. She firsts meets Will at a animal shelter, where he is dressed in his ratty old slippers and old clothes. There is a spark between them and it leads to a sizzling kiss. She is delighted as he is exactly her "new type". The next day as Marley shows up for her first meeting with her new board of directors, imagine her surprise when she not only sees Will in a suit but he is also the chairmen of the board of directors...
This really is a funny, wonderful story that will have you laughing out loud from start to finish, with not only great lead characters but also hilarious secondary characters....
Great Read, Highly Recommend....Just take not of my disclaimer, for your own safety!!!")
This author's books should seriously come with a disclaimer that reads "Please do not attempt to read this book should you be eating or drinking as choking can and will occur....Also do not attempt to read this book at night, while your significant other is trying to sleep as this will lead to lots of grumpiness from said other as you laugh your ass off"
Tawna Fenske is hands down one of the funniest authors I have ever come across. I want to be this women's BFF....she has such a wicked good sense of humor.....
This is the delightful little story of Marley and Will. Marley has just recently broken up with her fiance and taken a new job in another town. She is fed up with dating only rich guys and has decided that from now on wards she will only date regular "blue collar" men. She firsts meets Will at a animal shelter, where he is dressed in his ratty old slippers and old clothes. There is a spark between them and it leads to a sizzling kiss. She is delighted as he is exactly her "new type". The next day as Marley shows up for her first meeting with her new board of directors, imagine her surprise when she not only sees Will in a suit but he is also the chairmen of the board of directors...
This really is a funny, wonderful story that will have you laughing out loud from start to finish, with not only great lead characters but also hilarious secondary characters....
Great Read, Highly Recommend....Just take not of my disclaimer, for your own safety!!!")
May 10, 2014
This book was a hoot to read. Marley Cartman has left her life in Portland to move to Bend and become the Development Director of a wildlife sanctuary. She drops off some materials at the Humane Society and ends up adopting a dog and meeting the quirky but attractive Will. Marley and Will meet up again when he delivers kibble and things get hot and heavy. Imagine her surprise when she starts working and finds out Will is the heard of the Board at her new job and fraternizing is a big no-no. Marley has secrets in her recent past that she's determined to keep under wraps and Will has issues with trust ever since his wife left him for his own sister. The attraction is too big to ignore but Marley tries by dating a series of losers on dates that have unforgettable endings. Both Marley's and Will's relationship issues rear their ugly heads before these two can find happiness with each other.
I got a kick out of how Marley's job was portrayed since I am a Development person for a library and enjoyed the portrayal of some of the donors and events. I also thought that the running gag of euphemisms for discovering lesbian sex that Will and his sister kept spouting off were hilarious. This book is a nice blend of romance and humor with a bit of angst thrown in. Ms. Fenske is a relatively new author for me and I'm going to look up her older books to read since this one was so much fun to read.
I got a kick out of how Marley's job was portrayed since I am a Development person for a library and enjoyed the portrayal of some of the donors and events. I also thought that the running gag of euphemisms for discovering lesbian sex that Will and his sister kept spouting off were hilarious. This book is a nice blend of romance and humor with a bit of angst thrown in. Ms. Fenske is a relatively new author for me and I'm going to look up her older books to read since this one was so much fun to read.
May 13, 2014
Frisky Business is a must read, if you are looking for a funny, entertaining story that will keep you laughing, grinning like an idiot, and rooting for Marley to finally have a good date!
I absolutely adored this book and now want to read all of the other books by Tawna. Her writing style is easy to read, fun, and allows for this to be an easy world to step into. From the sexual innuendos to the funny storylines (sorry, no spoilers here) to Marley's desire to want to find a guy that meets all of her criteria - only she doesn't have a clear idea of that criteria herself - all of these things make you want Marley as a bestie, Will as your boyfriend, and a sister as awesome as Bethany. For me, the addition of cute and cuddly animals, like Magoo from the Humane Society, just made my heart love the story and the characters so much more.
Bottom line - you totally need to read this book! I am so glad I found this author, as this is definitely going to be one of my go-to books when I want a good laugh and a reminder that bad dates are normal before you find that someone that is perfect for you.
I absolutely adored this book and now want to read all of the other books by Tawna. Her writing style is easy to read, fun, and allows for this to be an easy world to step into. From the sexual innuendos to the funny storylines (sorry, no spoilers here) to Marley's desire to want to find a guy that meets all of her criteria - only she doesn't have a clear idea of that criteria herself - all of these things make you want Marley as a bestie, Will as your boyfriend, and a sister as awesome as Bethany. For me, the addition of cute and cuddly animals, like Magoo from the Humane Society, just made my heart love the story and the characters so much more.
Bottom line - you totally need to read this book! I am so glad I found this author, as this is definitely going to be one of my go-to books when I want a good laugh and a reminder that bad dates are normal before you find that someone that is perfect for you.
March 25, 2014
Review featured on www.books-n-kisses.com
This is a delightful humorous story which I enjoyed very much. I was chuckling/smiling before chapter 3 and didn’t stop most of the story. The humor that is written for Will and Marley is so funny. They are so snide and quick witted. Besides the humor the writing of the story is well done as well.
I have not read anything from this author before but I will be reading her again. While funny the story was also poignant in understanding who you are and what you need to overcome to become that person. I will say that I had a problem with each “average” guy being a jerk or dork. Sure we all want to end up with the millionaire sweetheart average guys are not all bad. I wish there had just been one guy who was average and sweet and a good guy but they just didn’t connect. But that being said I really enjoyed this book very much.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a delightful humorous story which I enjoyed very much. I was chuckling/smiling before chapter 3 and didn’t stop most of the story. The humor that is written for Will and Marley is so funny. They are so snide and quick witted. Besides the humor the writing of the story is well done as well.
I have not read anything from this author before but I will be reading her again. While funny the story was also poignant in understanding who you are and what you need to overcome to become that person. I will say that I had a problem with each “average” guy being a jerk or dork. Sure we all want to end up with the millionaire sweetheart average guys are not all bad. I wish there had just been one guy who was average and sweet and a good guy but they just didn’t connect. But that being said I really enjoyed this book very much.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2014
3.5
I enjoyed this cute romance. Great development, loved the sister and the rest of Will's family. I liked the writing, lightheartedness of the story, bit of mystery, and honesty. It was a bit too eccentric at times and the potential other dates were too cliched. However, I need to read these light romances!! They are romantic, witty, fun, and easy to read.
I enjoyed this cute romance. Great development, loved the sister and the rest of Will's family. I liked the writing, lightheartedness of the story, bit of mystery, and honesty. It was a bit too eccentric at times and the potential other dates were too cliched. However, I need to read these light romances!! They are romantic, witty, fun, and easy to read.
May 21, 2022
I am torn between two and three stars. I’m ultimately going with 2, because the ending was very rushed and a bit weak. It really needed to be given more detail, but the story kinda fizzled out real quick. Honestly, Marley and Will have no real relationship. They have banter and lust. Fun, but not compelling. What this story really does to propel their “relationship” is to have every OTHER guy Marley tries to date be so comically, buffoonishly awful that Will becomes the only worthwhile man in town. Now, I admit, these crazy dates were entertaining. And the banter was amusing and silly and also entertaining. But banter is not relationship or character development. So, in the end, I had no real reason to think these two were in love even remotely - they just find each other super hot. Marley’s professional activities in the story were more interesting and could have been part of a deeper relationship story with Will, instead of one that just appeared to be about having a few chuckles and getting laid. I did appreciate the unique aspect of having Will’s sister’s lesbian relationship displayed prominently and with total acceptance by all in the story. Plus, the book I read right before I started this was The Handmaid’s Tale, which is super bleak, so the humor aspect was welcome.
August 25, 2022
Solidly left of the middle for me. The dog, Magoo, as well as the MMc's ex-wife and sister, were the standout characters of the book. I liked the random humor of the MMc for a bit but then whenever he was "on screen", per se, almost every other line of his was a zinger meant to pop the bubble of awkwardness that sprung up between him and the FMc. I cannot stand people like that so that was one star off. And then how unsure of herself the FMc was for almost the entirety of the story (with some random blips of her standing up for herself); that was another star off. I understood the FMc's intentions behind WHY she didn't want to date wealthy men but her thinking was still bigoted. Her dates were really freaking bizarre and the amount of them could've been halved and the story would've been the same. The narrative stuttered towards the end and frankly could've been tied up in around 50 or so fewer pages.
December 25, 2022
Meh. It started out good but I didn't like either Marley or Will as a character and disliked the typical plot of 'he has trust issues and she didn't tell the whole truth at her new job'. If the plot had been better, then the parts that were supposed to be funny (Will and Bethany's dirty phrases and Marley's bad dates) would have amused me. Since I was annoyed at the plot and disliked the characters, I didn't think it was funny and skimmed the last half of the book to discover who took Aunt Nancy's worthless phallic figurines. The only reason I gave it 2 stars was because Marley adopted a dog at the beginning and Will had three rescue dogs that he doted on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2018
I read this book because I love Jennifer Crusie, and this was recommended as a similar read. To me, it was not. Whereas Crusie’s characters are funny in a natural way that makes them real and relatable, the characters in this book were juvenile. The first couple of sexual puns were funny, but then it was just constant, several per page, and it got tiresome. It interfered with my being able to enjoy the romance, and so I was not very invested in it. It was all kind of Ho hum. Plus, some of the characters on the periphery were annoying and unrealistic. Would not recommend.
December 21, 2016
This had some interesting dialogue and characters, but the constant innuendos and off-color jokes got old and were not funny. I got so tired of this and just lost interest in the whole story/characters no longer caring about what would happen to them. Also very predictable. I was really glad this was a library book sale.
April 18, 2018
Charming and funny but flawed by a male protagonist who fluctuates between annoying and decent. The Cheez whiz joke wore out its welcome early on and became annoying but the female lead, Marley, is charming and appealing and almost makes up for it.
November 3, 2019
I am a big fan of Tawna Fenske, but this book was not her best. Her writing and character development have only gotten better since this work from a few years ago. It was cute, and had some funny moments, but it just didn’t click. As an Oregonian, I enjoyed the Bend setting. The dog was reliably adorable. But it’s not my favorite of her books. (For that, see The List or anything in the Ponderosa Resort series!)
September 28, 2020
Great story!
The only thing I thought was a bit over done was the amount of angst and insecurity shown by both main characters. Other than that, the story was most interesting and well written!
The only thing I thought was a bit over done was the amount of angst and insecurity shown by both main characters. Other than that, the story was most interesting and well written!
May 29, 2017
Rounding to 2.5...lighthearted, but fairly boring
June 1, 2017
Marley and Will have lots of chemistry and several big reasons not to be together. They overcome their differences with communication and humor. I need to read more by Tawna Fenske.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2017
Cute and comical. The big plot reveal had me rolling my eyes.
February 14, 2018
The dialogue was funny but then it got repetitive.
Not my favorite of hers. But cute.
Not my favorite of hers. But cute.
March 24, 2018
Wacky brilliant dialog
Imagine spending four hours with Robin Williams - this book is that funny! Almost to the point of being unbearable, but not quite.
Imagine spending four hours with Robin Williams - this book is that funny! Almost to the point of being unbearable, but not quite.
June 25, 2019
Hilarious 5 star romcom chapters 1-10 and 4 star romance with comedy for the rest.
July 12, 2020
Hilarious, easy romantic comedy, although Marley's a little too self-sacrificing and I'm skeptical about some of Will's emotional growth.
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