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Manley Maids #4
What a Woman
After starting her housecleaning company, Manley Maids, one woman is determined to make it on her own. And what a woman she is…
Now that Mary-Alice Catherine Manley—Mac—has her hunky brothers working for her, she can sit back and watch the business roll in. But her new assignment quickly tosses that plan out the window. Mildred, her grandmother’s best friend, needs her house cleaned and Gran has volunteered Mac for the job. The problem is Mildred’s cocky grandson. He thinks Mac’s at his beck and call, but she has a few things to tell him…aside from how hot he is.
Jared Nolan is currently lying low, nursing some broken bones—and a bruised ego. The former professional baseball player let himself be used by woman once, and now it could rob him of his beloved career. No woman is ever going to call the shots again, which is why, when the bossy Mac shows up, he’s going to show her who’s really in charge. He’s just not prepared for the undeniable attraction between them. And with the two of them in one house, there’s no telling who will come out swinging…
Now that Mary-Alice Catherine Manley—Mac—has her hunky brothers working for her, she can sit back and watch the business roll in. But her new assignment quickly tosses that plan out the window. Mildred, her grandmother’s best friend, needs her house cleaned and Gran has volunteered Mac for the job. The problem is Mildred’s cocky grandson. He thinks Mac’s at his beck and call, but she has a few things to tell him…aside from how hot he is.
Jared Nolan is currently lying low, nursing some broken bones—and a bruised ego. The former professional baseball player let himself be used by woman once, and now it could rob him of his beloved career. No woman is ever going to call the shots again, which is why, when the bossy Mac shows up, he’s going to show her who’s really in charge. He’s just not prepared for the undeniable attraction between them. And with the two of them in one house, there’s no telling who will come out swinging…
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 3, 2015
36 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Judi Fennell
98 books266 followersAward-winning, best-selling author Judi Fennell loves to laugh and loves love, so it’s no surprise there’s a little bit of each in every book she writes. Check out her flirty fun… seriously sexy light-hearted tongue-in-cheek paranormal and romantic comedies. From mermen to genies, to men in maids’ uniforms and male strippers, there’s always a laugh and love to be had.
And, in her copious (?) amounts of spare time, she helps authors with all aspects of writing and indie-publishing with her formatting, cover/promotional design, editorial company, www.formatting4U.com.
Judi lives in suburban Philadelphia with a menagerie of four-legged friends, and the minute those creatures start A) singing, B) sewing clothing, or C) cleaning the house will be the day she retires from writing…
And, in her copious (?) amounts of spare time, she helps authors with all aspects of writing and indie-publishing with her formatting, cover/promotional design, editorial company, www.formatting4U.com.
Judi lives in suburban Philadelphia with a menagerie of four-legged friends, and the minute those creatures start A) singing, B) sewing clothing, or C) cleaning the house will be the day she retires from writing…
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 8, 2015
I have been eager for this next book in the series since I realized that the last book was setting up for it. The books have each told the story of a different Manley brother who lost a bet to their sister in a poker game and so owed her one month of cleaning for her company and in the process found their romance. This final book is their sister's book and her second chance romance with the boy next door now grown and suddenly aware she's a woman.
The books all take place time-wise at the same time so could be read out of order or as standalones. They do work better in order, but just by a bit.
The story opens with Mac Manley congratulating herself on using a bit of honest deception and her grandmother's scheming to get her brothers to help her start up her cleaning business by providing one month of free work. Her grandmother's motivations were to see some matchmaking action since none of her grandchildren have married yet. Mac was fine with it all until she realized that she was part of the matchmaking enterprise when her grandmother requested she help gran's best friend clean up her old home to sell it. This would have been alright, but Mrs. Nolan's old home is now occupied by her grandson, Mac's childhood crush while he recuperates from severe injuries. Jared Nolan was her crush for years and she knew to him that she was just her older brothers' annoying little sister, but that didn't stop her from throwing herself at him her senior year and getting humiliated when he made it clear what he thought of kissing young Mac Manley. But she'll do this job for his grandmother because she is long over Jared, right?
Jared is bitter and scared over the potential loss of his ball career, he's lonely and hurt that his parents are off doing their thing as usual leaving only Gran to care for him, and he's forced to wonder what his future will be like now that he's nearing the end and might not be able to go back to pitching. Into this morass of thought, he is invaded by Hurricane Mac. Where she was disaster always followed. And now she's a grown woman with a temper and a long memory for the past. His hopes that she would be out of his way quickly are crushed when they find themselves caring for four skampish kittens, a quest to find his gran's wedding ring in the attic, and his sudden realization that Mac is a gorgeous woman that he has to avoid at all cost. Telling himself he's off women after the conniving Camille and the fact that this one is unavailable since he's best friends with her brother. But forced time together makes them both see things past and present in a whole new light.
Mac and Jared's story had as many sparks flying as I assumed it would have and I was tickled by those mischievous kittens and the matchmaking grandmothers. I was so sad about Jared's home life and relationship or lack there of with his parents. I even enjoyed the camaraderie of Jared with all the Manley including Mac. It was the romance- or actually the impediment to the romance that didn't entirely grab me. I loved these two together don't get me wrong. The build up of tension, playfulness, snappy dialogue, flaws that were fixed, sizzle- all there. The tone of nostalgia, happiness, family and small sweet moments was such a cozy thing to just sink into and enjoy.
My one niggle is going to sound picky and it probably is. The conflict in the romance didn't do it for me. Mac holds an unrequited childhood crush against Jared from over a decade ago. She acts like a victim of some horrid deed like abuse or infidelity when he never did anything to her other than see her as his best friend's annoying tagalong baby sister. Her hang-ups and resistance didn't match the situation particularly the way she doubts his word and his actions. The guy is tripping over his own crutches trying to show he's interested now- the guy who adopts four high-maintenance baby kitties, ignores all the women in heat for him, in spite of his injuries and pain plays catch with a neighborhood boy, is patient with all his fans, agrees to his gran's schemes just because it makes her happy, participates in Mac's community programs when nothing's in it for him. Not that Jared was perfect, oh heck no- oblivious male used to girls stroking the ego and all that. Cranky because he has to rely on others and he's in pain from his injuries. So she has some legit reasons to snark.
Alright, so Mac's hang-ups aside, I had a good time with this story. There is humor, heart-warming moments, passion, family love and just an overall lovely, engaging story. I'm a sucker for the boy next door romance. Mac was the last of the Manleys to get a story so this might be the final book, but I really hope not. Those who enjoy adorable, humorous family life type Contemporary Romance should give this series a go.
My thanks to Penguin Group and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
The books all take place time-wise at the same time so could be read out of order or as standalones. They do work better in order, but just by a bit.
The story opens with Mac Manley congratulating herself on using a bit of honest deception and her grandmother's scheming to get her brothers to help her start up her cleaning business by providing one month of free work. Her grandmother's motivations were to see some matchmaking action since none of her grandchildren have married yet. Mac was fine with it all until she realized that she was part of the matchmaking enterprise when her grandmother requested she help gran's best friend clean up her old home to sell it. This would have been alright, but Mrs. Nolan's old home is now occupied by her grandson, Mac's childhood crush while he recuperates from severe injuries. Jared Nolan was her crush for years and she knew to him that she was just her older brothers' annoying little sister, but that didn't stop her from throwing herself at him her senior year and getting humiliated when he made it clear what he thought of kissing young Mac Manley. But she'll do this job for his grandmother because she is long over Jared, right?
Jared is bitter and scared over the potential loss of his ball career, he's lonely and hurt that his parents are off doing their thing as usual leaving only Gran to care for him, and he's forced to wonder what his future will be like now that he's nearing the end and might not be able to go back to pitching. Into this morass of thought, he is invaded by Hurricane Mac. Where she was disaster always followed. And now she's a grown woman with a temper and a long memory for the past. His hopes that she would be out of his way quickly are crushed when they find themselves caring for four skampish kittens, a quest to find his gran's wedding ring in the attic, and his sudden realization that Mac is a gorgeous woman that he has to avoid at all cost. Telling himself he's off women after the conniving Camille and the fact that this one is unavailable since he's best friends with her brother. But forced time together makes them both see things past and present in a whole new light.
Mac and Jared's story had as many sparks flying as I assumed it would have and I was tickled by those mischievous kittens and the matchmaking grandmothers. I was so sad about Jared's home life and relationship or lack there of with his parents. I even enjoyed the camaraderie of Jared with all the Manley including Mac. It was the romance- or actually the impediment to the romance that didn't entirely grab me. I loved these two together don't get me wrong. The build up of tension, playfulness, snappy dialogue, flaws that were fixed, sizzle- all there. The tone of nostalgia, happiness, family and small sweet moments was such a cozy thing to just sink into and enjoy.
My one niggle is going to sound picky and it probably is. The conflict in the romance didn't do it for me. Mac holds an unrequited childhood crush against Jared from over a decade ago. She acts like a victim of some horrid deed like abuse or infidelity when he never did anything to her other than see her as his best friend's annoying tagalong baby sister. Her hang-ups and resistance didn't match the situation particularly the way she doubts his word and his actions. The guy is tripping over his own crutches trying to show he's interested now- the guy who adopts four high-maintenance baby kitties, ignores all the women in heat for him, in spite of his injuries and pain plays catch with a neighborhood boy, is patient with all his fans, agrees to his gran's schemes just because it makes her happy, participates in Mac's community programs when nothing's in it for him. Not that Jared was perfect, oh heck no- oblivious male used to girls stroking the ego and all that. Cranky because he has to rely on others and he's in pain from his injuries. So she has some legit reasons to snark.
Alright, so Mac's hang-ups aside, I had a good time with this story. There is humor, heart-warming moments, passion, family love and just an overall lovely, engaging story. I'm a sucker for the boy next door romance. Mac was the last of the Manleys to get a story so this might be the final book, but I really hope not. Those who enjoy adorable, humorous family life type Contemporary Romance should give this series a go.
My thanks to Penguin Group and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 26, 2015
Amanda's review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
What a Woman is a fun romance that now completes the wonderful Manley Maid series with the last Manley. Mary-Alice Catherine Manley, aka Mac, runs a cleaning business and pulled off a coup when she got her 3 older brothers to work for her for a month. Each of these stories run simultaneously and it has been very enjoyable to see each of them unfold as you read the present one. The best was saved for last when it comes to Mac getting her happily ever after with her childhood crush.
Jared Nolan is an only child who has been Liam Manley’s best friend since they were young children. He knew of Mac’s crush on him and wasn’t very nice about rejecting her. Now she was here to clean his grandmother’s home in order to put in on the market and has to deal with him as he undergoes rehab from his bad car accident. It didn’t take long before they were coerced into work together for them to see each other as adults and not the kids they once were. After they bonded over 4 stray kittens, Jared got to thinking that it was time to put the past behind him and work on his future with the woman whom he’s come to know. Jared had a lot on his plate in this story from confronting his parents, dealing with his ex-girlfriend, and getting back in shape in order to return to his baseball career.
Mac was a woman who knew what she wanted to make it on her own and she did what she had to do in order to win. Winning the poker game with her brothers was the best hook that definitely grabbed my attention, and had me invested to see how it would all pay off for each of the Manley siblings. She couldn’t help still being attracted to Jared, but she could stand up to him and call him on his stuff. I like it when her character isn’t persuaded by fame or money. Once Jared apologizes for his past behavior and she accepts his apology, they can now move forward and see if they can be a couple. How appropriate that it is all decided over another game of poker.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading What a Woman by Judi Fennell and am sorry to see this series end. She created unique romance stories, which made me, laugh and smile through reading all 4 of them. The romance that she creates for Mac was just the right one for a simple girl with simple tastes and likes. With the addition of the four kittens, and how similar were they to the Manley children, was a nice touch. Although there was an epilogue I just wish it had to do with the four siblings and a conversation among them instead of the one at the end of this story. Overall, I have to say it was worth knowing that they each found love in a most unexpected way.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
What a Woman is a fun romance that now completes the wonderful Manley Maid series with the last Manley. Mary-Alice Catherine Manley, aka Mac, runs a cleaning business and pulled off a coup when she got her 3 older brothers to work for her for a month. Each of these stories run simultaneously and it has been very enjoyable to see each of them unfold as you read the present one. The best was saved for last when it comes to Mac getting her happily ever after with her childhood crush.
Jared Nolan is an only child who has been Liam Manley’s best friend since they were young children. He knew of Mac’s crush on him and wasn’t very nice about rejecting her. Now she was here to clean his grandmother’s home in order to put in on the market and has to deal with him as he undergoes rehab from his bad car accident. It didn’t take long before they were coerced into work together for them to see each other as adults and not the kids they once were. After they bonded over 4 stray kittens, Jared got to thinking that it was time to put the past behind him and work on his future with the woman whom he’s come to know. Jared had a lot on his plate in this story from confronting his parents, dealing with his ex-girlfriend, and getting back in shape in order to return to his baseball career.
Mac was a woman who knew what she wanted to make it on her own and she did what she had to do in order to win. Winning the poker game with her brothers was the best hook that definitely grabbed my attention, and had me invested to see how it would all pay off for each of the Manley siblings. She couldn’t help still being attracted to Jared, but she could stand up to him and call him on his stuff. I like it when her character isn’t persuaded by fame or money. Once Jared apologizes for his past behavior and she accepts his apology, they can now move forward and see if they can be a couple. How appropriate that it is all decided over another game of poker.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading What a Woman by Judi Fennell and am sorry to see this series end. She created unique romance stories, which made me, laugh and smile through reading all 4 of them. The romance that she creates for Mac was just the right one for a simple girl with simple tastes and likes. With the addition of the four kittens, and how similar were they to the Manley children, was a nice touch. Although there was an epilogue I just wish it had to do with the four siblings and a conversation among them instead of the one at the end of this story. Overall, I have to say it was worth knowing that they each found love in a most unexpected way.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
March 9, 2015
After reading how Mary-Alice Catherine Manley, aka Mac, and her grandmother managed to find perfect matches for the three Manley brothers in the previous books of this enjoyable series, this time around it’s Mac’s turn to discover romance and love. As owner of her own cleaning/maid service (Manley Maids), Mac schemed with her grandmother to get her three attractive (and well-known in one case) brothers to work for her company to help promote the Manley Maid name. Now Grandma tells Mac she must clean the house of a dear friend, who happens to be the grandmother of Mac’s childhood crush (and her brother Liam’s BFF), professional baseball player Jared Nolan. Mac will never forget how he teased her in their youth and how on the night of her 17th birthday, made it all too clear he wasn’t interested in her.
Jared is living at his grandmother’s home, recuperating from an accident caused by his ex-girlfriend’s current boyfriend. After he fell for Camille and let her move in to his condo, he found out she was still with her boyfriend and using Jared for fame and fortune. When Mac blusters like a tornado into his life again, Jared realizes the younger sister of his best friend has grown into a remarkable and sexy woman. But he can’t ask out his best friend’s sister… can he?
After witnessing Mac and Grandma push her brothers in the right direction to find love, I was excited to see how Mac would get her HEA, and I was mostly pleased with her story. As in the previous books, there is some overlap with scenes from and references made in the first three titles; however, What a Woman can be easily enjoyed as a standalone story. Mac and Jared share a history from childhood and watching the pair work through past perceptions and hang ups was rewarding.
Right from the start, Mac and Jared sizzle together. For Mac, time has only added to the teenage crush she felt for Jared, one that she would rather forget. But for Jared, he’s seeing Mac anew, and the more time he spends with her, the more he realizes what a woman she truly is. Reading the romance from the alternating POVs of Jared and Mac, I was able to fully understand how much each enjoyed being around the other regardless of their outward actions.
The pair fall back on childhood teasing and ribbing as a comfortable means to hide their adult feelings, making this a slow-building romance. While the speed could have been off-putting, the author uses that time to allow real emotional growth, giving her characters time to come to terms with the past so they can move forward. Generally, I really enjoyed the character development and didn’t mind the slower pace; however, having both individuals constantly trying to mentally talk themselves out of his/her growing feelings and rationalize why they wouldn’t work as a couple did go on a bit too long.
There were a few things in the book that had both good and not-so-good sides to their storylines. For example, Mac discovers a family of motherless kittens that require constant care. I enjoyed the silliness that the kittens created, as well as how they allowed readers to see a compassionate side of Jared. Yet, I was really put off at how Jared used the kittens as a means to an end later in the book. Additionally, while I loved how Jared charmed Mac, I didn’t care for how he got her into his bed, and because of that, once the pair got together I found that their chemistry wasn’t as hot as it was during earlier parts of the book. There is also a side story about Jared’s parents that felt like forced drama for the sake of having drama.
Overall, I enjoyed What a Woman, but parts of the story fell a little flat for me. Whether I was overly excited to read the book, expecting too much, or it just wasn’t on par with its predecessors, I found the book didn’t leave me with the warm fuzzies like early books in the series did. I really enjoyed how the author created honest emotional growth in both characters and gave them time to work out their feelings, but I needed more action in between. The kittens were a cute addition, but how Jared used them later in the book was upsetting. I liked how Jared finally woo’d Mac but again, he does something that left me uncomfortable. And while What a Woman was a solid and entertaining wrap-up for the Manley siblings, I was disappointed the epilogue was about someone else (set-up for a future book?). Overall the Manley Maid series is a wonderful, light-hearted contemporary series, and even thought I didn’t find What a Woman to be my favorite of the bunch, I still whole-heartedly recommend it to fans of the genre.
My Rating: B/B- Liked It, but I had a few small issues
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by publisher.
Jared is living at his grandmother’s home, recuperating from an accident caused by his ex-girlfriend’s current boyfriend. After he fell for Camille and let her move in to his condo, he found out she was still with her boyfriend and using Jared for fame and fortune. When Mac blusters like a tornado into his life again, Jared realizes the younger sister of his best friend has grown into a remarkable and sexy woman. But he can’t ask out his best friend’s sister… can he?
After witnessing Mac and Grandma push her brothers in the right direction to find love, I was excited to see how Mac would get her HEA, and I was mostly pleased with her story. As in the previous books, there is some overlap with scenes from and references made in the first three titles; however, What a Woman can be easily enjoyed as a standalone story. Mac and Jared share a history from childhood and watching the pair work through past perceptions and hang ups was rewarding.
Right from the start, Mac and Jared sizzle together. For Mac, time has only added to the teenage crush she felt for Jared, one that she would rather forget. But for Jared, he’s seeing Mac anew, and the more time he spends with her, the more he realizes what a woman she truly is. Reading the romance from the alternating POVs of Jared and Mac, I was able to fully understand how much each enjoyed being around the other regardless of their outward actions.
The pair fall back on childhood teasing and ribbing as a comfortable means to hide their adult feelings, making this a slow-building romance. While the speed could have been off-putting, the author uses that time to allow real emotional growth, giving her characters time to come to terms with the past so they can move forward. Generally, I really enjoyed the character development and didn’t mind the slower pace; however, having both individuals constantly trying to mentally talk themselves out of his/her growing feelings and rationalize why they wouldn’t work as a couple did go on a bit too long.
There were a few things in the book that had both good and not-so-good sides to their storylines. For example, Mac discovers a family of motherless kittens that require constant care. I enjoyed the silliness that the kittens created, as well as how they allowed readers to see a compassionate side of Jared. Yet, I was really put off at how Jared used the kittens as a means to an end later in the book. Additionally, while I loved how Jared charmed Mac, I didn’t care for how he got her into his bed, and because of that, once the pair got together I found that their chemistry wasn’t as hot as it was during earlier parts of the book. There is also a side story about Jared’s parents that felt like forced drama for the sake of having drama.
Overall, I enjoyed What a Woman, but parts of the story fell a little flat for me. Whether I was overly excited to read the book, expecting too much, or it just wasn’t on par with its predecessors, I found the book didn’t leave me with the warm fuzzies like early books in the series did. I really enjoyed how the author created honest emotional growth in both characters and gave them time to work out their feelings, but I needed more action in between. The kittens were a cute addition, but how Jared used them later in the book was upsetting. I liked how Jared finally woo’d Mac but again, he does something that left me uncomfortable. And while What a Woman was a solid and entertaining wrap-up for the Manley siblings, I was disappointed the epilogue was about someone else (set-up for a future book?). Overall the Manley Maid series is a wonderful, light-hearted contemporary series, and even thought I didn’t find What a Woman to be my favorite of the bunch, I still whole-heartedly recommend it to fans of the genre.
My Rating: B/B- Liked It, but I had a few small issues
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by publisher.
February 26, 2015
What a Woman, Manley Maids #4, by Judi Fennell
Grade: C
Mac Manley is determined to make her housecleaning company a success, even if that means cheating her way through a poker game with her brothers. Now that she has all three working for her she is ready to take things to the next level. What Mac didn’t plan on was helping out her grandmother’s best friend by cleaning her house, which just so happens to be the place Mac’s childhood crush, Jared Nolan, is staying. As a young girl Mac threw herself at Jared relentlessly and was crushed when he blew her off on her seventeenth birthday. Mac is no longer that little girl and no matter how her body reacts she has given up on Jared once and for all.
Jared Nolan has one goal and that’s to get back to his job pitching in the Major Leagues. He didn’t count on Mac Manley showing up to clean his grandmother’s house or to find four orphan kittens in the attic. Jared desperately needs Mac’s help but being around him stirs up old and new feelings. As the consequences of how Jared treated Mac come back to bite him, he soon realizes she has turned into an amazing woman. It’s up to Jared to convience Mac he’s changed and that he will do whatever it takes to make her his once and for all.
I love books where the characters have a past and grew up together so I was super excited to finally get Jared and Mac’s story. I was intrigued with Mac from the very first book when she beat her brothers at poker and helped her grandmother with her matchmaking scheme. I found myself loving Mac at the beginning and then slowly starting to lose interest in her. I found her to be annoying at times and she should have told Jared off more than a few times.
Jared on the other hand was a character that I couldn’t stand at first and ended up loving at the end. It was very interesting that my feelings for the two switched and if it hadn’t of been for Jared I would have quit reading halfway through. I really enjoyed seeing scenes from the other books from a different perspective and the grandmothers stole the show. I really love matchmaking grandparents and find them to be so much fun to read about.
Even though I didn’t love this book, I still enjoyed it. This is a great contemporary romance series that I highly recommend. The next book looks like a lot more meddling grandparents and I can’t wait to read it!
Grade: C
Mac Manley is determined to make her housecleaning company a success, even if that means cheating her way through a poker game with her brothers. Now that she has all three working for her she is ready to take things to the next level. What Mac didn’t plan on was helping out her grandmother’s best friend by cleaning her house, which just so happens to be the place Mac’s childhood crush, Jared Nolan, is staying. As a young girl Mac threw herself at Jared relentlessly and was crushed when he blew her off on her seventeenth birthday. Mac is no longer that little girl and no matter how her body reacts she has given up on Jared once and for all.
Jared Nolan has one goal and that’s to get back to his job pitching in the Major Leagues. He didn’t count on Mac Manley showing up to clean his grandmother’s house or to find four orphan kittens in the attic. Jared desperately needs Mac’s help but being around him stirs up old and new feelings. As the consequences of how Jared treated Mac come back to bite him, he soon realizes she has turned into an amazing woman. It’s up to Jared to convience Mac he’s changed and that he will do whatever it takes to make her his once and for all.
I love books where the characters have a past and grew up together so I was super excited to finally get Jared and Mac’s story. I was intrigued with Mac from the very first book when she beat her brothers at poker and helped her grandmother with her matchmaking scheme. I found myself loving Mac at the beginning and then slowly starting to lose interest in her. I found her to be annoying at times and she should have told Jared off more than a few times.
Jared on the other hand was a character that I couldn’t stand at first and ended up loving at the end. It was very interesting that my feelings for the two switched and if it hadn’t of been for Jared I would have quit reading halfway through. I really enjoyed seeing scenes from the other books from a different perspective and the grandmothers stole the show. I really love matchmaking grandparents and find them to be so much fun to read about.
Even though I didn’t love this book, I still enjoyed it. This is a great contemporary romance series that I highly recommend. The next book looks like a lot more meddling grandparents and I can’t wait to read it!
February 24, 2015
A cute romantic read about Mary-Alice Catherine (Mac) Manley and her childhood crush and professional baseball player Jared Nolan.
Jared has known Mac for most of her life. She was the annoying little sister to his best friend Liam, who constantly was his shadow well into her late teens. After a confrontation with Mac on her seventeenth birthday, telling her she had no chance of ever being a part of his life, he left Mac devastated.
Now almost 15 years later Mac is back in his life. And no one is more surprised about how Mac has grown from the girl constantly under his foot, the the beautiful woman full of spunk and spitfire, than Jared.
Mac can't believe that her grandmother talked her into cleaning her best friend's house - who just so happens to be Jared grandmother, and living in the said house while recovering from an accident.
The two grandmother's have a plan to finally get these two together. The only problem is that Mac is having a hard time getting over the hurt she suffered from Jared as a teen. And Jared has been jilted in love, and not sure of how to handle his new feeling for woman who has reentered his life like a tornado.
This book as fun, flirty and full of surprises. This is book 4 in the series but each book can be read as a stand alone. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from Judi!
Jared has known Mac for most of her life. She was the annoying little sister to his best friend Liam, who constantly was his shadow well into her late teens. After a confrontation with Mac on her seventeenth birthday, telling her she had no chance of ever being a part of his life, he left Mac devastated.
Now almost 15 years later Mac is back in his life. And no one is more surprised about how Mac has grown from the girl constantly under his foot, the the beautiful woman full of spunk and spitfire, than Jared.
Mac can't believe that her grandmother talked her into cleaning her best friend's house - who just so happens to be Jared grandmother, and living in the said house while recovering from an accident.
The two grandmother's have a plan to finally get these two together. The only problem is that Mac is having a hard time getting over the hurt she suffered from Jared as a teen. And Jared has been jilted in love, and not sure of how to handle his new feeling for woman who has reentered his life like a tornado.
This book as fun, flirty and full of surprises. This is book 4 in the series but each book can be read as a stand alone. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from Judi!
August 23, 2017
The little girl who followed her brothers and their best friend around crushing on the best friend has really grown up. Mary Alice Catherine Manley for short Mac has just beat her three brothers at Poker, thereby winning them working for her house cleaning business for a month. Her and her grandmother set them up to work for Manley Maids. Hot men doing housework is great for her business. But what Mac dosent know is her grandmother and Jared's grandmother have set them up. Jared, her brothers best friend that broke her heart at 17 is back. He has had a horrible experience with a woman and was in an accident. Now Mac is cleaning the house Jared lives in and things are tense to day the least.
May 14, 2022
I love Judi Fennell's romances! This one is the conclusion of the Manley Maids series, and she wraps it up nicely. Her books are charming with lots of emotion and humor. You will definitely smile and laugh while reading all of her novels. The hero and heroine are appealing, and so are the secondary characters. It's an absorbing book that's also fun!
June 2, 2020
It’s not the greatest or best written book in the world, it’s just nice reading some easy romance once in awhile.
March 12, 2015
What a Woman by Judi Fennell is the 4th book in her Manley Maids series. If you have read my earlier reviews on this series, the premise is about Mac Manley, the sister who owns Manley Maids and her winning bet with her brothers. The boys had to each spend a few weeks at a different house being a maid, but underneath it all, the grandmother plotted to make the boys find their mates. What a Woman belongs to Mac Manley, as she is pushed as a favor to her grandmother to take care of the house now being lived in my the man who was once her childhood crush, Jared Nolan.
Jared is an injured baseball ballplayer, who is also best friends with the brothers. Mac does not want to deal with Jared, since he was always nasty to her when she was a kid, which hurt her more with her school girl crush. Now when she is forced to clean Jared’s house, and look at him, she realizes despite her dislike of him, she still feels the attraction. But Mac is determined to be distant, and ignore Jared. She will show him she is the one in charge now. Jared still thinks of Mac, as his friend’s baby sister and isn’t interested. However, as he watches her work, and how she has grown to a beautiful woman, he begins to see her in a new light. By some comments and sarcastic responses from Mac, he realizes how cruel and nasty he was to her during the early years. Determined to change, he finds a wall that will be difficult to break, as Mac will not let herself fall for Jared again.
What follows is a fun storyline, where both Mac and Jared try to keep their feelings private, and not allow their growing attraction for each other become any kind of relationship. There was a lot of humor also in this story, with the doorbell constantly ringing with the women in town who bring baked goods to the handsome baseball star trying to get his attention, which allows Mac to have the upper hand.
This was a sweet romance that built slowly, with each trying to avoid the inevitable. Jared tries to apologize for his cruel behavior as a youth, and Mac just doesn’t want to get hurt again. But the time they spend together will make it difficult, as each begins to see how much they have changed. As they succumb to their feelings, the romance becomes very hot and sizzling the pages (or ereader). Judi Fennell has done it again with another wonderful romance, and a great couple. I look forward to what comes next in her Manley Maids series.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
Jared is an injured baseball ballplayer, who is also best friends with the brothers. Mac does not want to deal with Jared, since he was always nasty to her when she was a kid, which hurt her more with her school girl crush. Now when she is forced to clean Jared’s house, and look at him, she realizes despite her dislike of him, she still feels the attraction. But Mac is determined to be distant, and ignore Jared. She will show him she is the one in charge now. Jared still thinks of Mac, as his friend’s baby sister and isn’t interested. However, as he watches her work, and how she has grown to a beautiful woman, he begins to see her in a new light. By some comments and sarcastic responses from Mac, he realizes how cruel and nasty he was to her during the early years. Determined to change, he finds a wall that will be difficult to break, as Mac will not let herself fall for Jared again.
What follows is a fun storyline, where both Mac and Jared try to keep their feelings private, and not allow their growing attraction for each other become any kind of relationship. There was a lot of humor also in this story, with the doorbell constantly ringing with the women in town who bring baked goods to the handsome baseball star trying to get his attention, which allows Mac to have the upper hand.
This was a sweet romance that built slowly, with each trying to avoid the inevitable. Jared tries to apologize for his cruel behavior as a youth, and Mac just doesn’t want to get hurt again. But the time they spend together will make it difficult, as each begins to see how much they have changed. As they succumb to their feelings, the romance becomes very hot and sizzling the pages (or ereader). Judi Fennell has done it again with another wonderful romance, and a great couple. I look forward to what comes next in her Manley Maids series.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
March 22, 2015
Judi Fennell brings readers the fourth book in her Manley Maids series, What a Woman. This has been a very enjoyable series with a great premise, a meddling grandmother and four siblings not exactly looking for love. Fennell does a great job of giving readers a light hearted romance that will keep them laughing until the very end. Mac Manley, the only girl in the bunch finally gets her story in What a Woman and readers will really enjoy this high school crush turned romance. A great addition to the series!
There is so much to love about this series. First of all the premise was great. A sister and her grandmother forcing her brothers to not only clean houses as part of a bet, but to also find true love. I love it when matchmaking involves the extended family. This was a great idea and I think it panned out very well for Fennell. I'm glad that not only the boys get their stories and happy endings but Mac as well. She has been an enjoyable secondary character throughout the series and really shines here.
Mac is feisty and full of sass. I've liked that about her character from the beginning. She not only catches her brother in bet, but she seems to know exactly where to send them to get the most for her money. It was nice to see more of her backstory here and learn about her school girl crush on Jared. I liked their banter and the romantic tension in the air when they were together here. She doesn't back down from him and he isn't about to let her get the upper hand in the relationship... so much fun.
Jared is a handsome former baseball player and he's lonely. He has spent a lot of time with women who didn't appreciate him or wanted to run all over him and when Mac shows up to get his grandmother's house ready for sale, the fight is on. It was fun watching them together and in spite of treating Mac badly when he was younger he comes off as a genuinely nice guy, especially with the puppies, yes I said, puppies.
Bottom Line:
A very enjoyable addition to this series. What a Woman met all my expectations for a story about Mac, the feisty sister. She was a great character and deserved her own happy ending. I liked Jared a lot too but the best part was the easy banter and enjoyment they got from each other. There was a little bit of steam and some unusual antics with a condom that will have readers in giggle fits. A great addition to the series!
There is so much to love about this series. First of all the premise was great. A sister and her grandmother forcing her brothers to not only clean houses as part of a bet, but to also find true love. I love it when matchmaking involves the extended family. This was a great idea and I think it panned out very well for Fennell. I'm glad that not only the boys get their stories and happy endings but Mac as well. She has been an enjoyable secondary character throughout the series and really shines here.
Mac is feisty and full of sass. I've liked that about her character from the beginning. She not only catches her brother in bet, but she seems to know exactly where to send them to get the most for her money. It was nice to see more of her backstory here and learn about her school girl crush on Jared. I liked their banter and the romantic tension in the air when they were together here. She doesn't back down from him and he isn't about to let her get the upper hand in the relationship... so much fun.
Jared is a handsome former baseball player and he's lonely. He has spent a lot of time with women who didn't appreciate him or wanted to run all over him and when Mac shows up to get his grandmother's house ready for sale, the fight is on. It was fun watching them together and in spite of treating Mac badly when he was younger he comes off as a genuinely nice guy, especially with the puppies, yes I said, puppies.
Bottom Line:
A very enjoyable addition to this series. What a Woman met all my expectations for a story about Mac, the feisty sister. She was a great character and deserved her own happy ending. I liked Jared a lot too but the best part was the easy banter and enjoyment they got from each other. There was a little bit of steam and some unusual antics with a condom that will have readers in giggle fits. A great addition to the series!
March 5, 2015
Reading is very subjective and everyone has a different experience, a different preference. With this book I am just going to point out what worked and did not work for me.
First I love stories of heroines who have loved a boy from afar when they were children only to meet see them/reconnect later in life. I also loved the premise that the grandmothers of the hero and heroine were the matchmakers more or less.
Jared is professional baseball player that got “scammed” by his ex-girlfriend so his heart is leery of getting attached to anyone ever again. What happened was that Jared asked his girlfriend to move in with him and then she moved her boyfriend into his home. Now he is the one living with his grandmother while he is trying to evict the ex-girlfriend and the boyfriend. Mac, the heroine, owns a cleaning service and her grandmother had asked Mac to clean Jared’s grandmother’s home. Mac is first leery to see Jared after all those years, but she has no choice but to say yes to her grandmother.
I loved that Mac had crushed on Jared since they were kids. Love these stories. What I did not like is how negative Jared felt about Mac in the beginning. He thought she had grown up into an attractive woman, but the whole time he gave off the vibe of “stop obsessing over me”.
I do not care for stories with insta-love, insta-sex, so I was glad it was not going that route. However, I think it would have been better if this story was written in only Mac’s POV, because the more Jared opened his mouth, the less I cared for him. There were scenes that were supposed to make the reader see a different side of Jared, but I still saw a jerk. There were scenes that were supposed to make the reader swoon over Jared like Mac did, but I could not get over Jared’s attitude. When things started happening, it just felt forced. I never felt that Jared had that undeniable attraction to Mac. I was disappointed.
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
First I love stories of heroines who have loved a boy from afar when they were children only to meet see them/reconnect later in life. I also loved the premise that the grandmothers of the hero and heroine were the matchmakers more or less.
Jared is professional baseball player that got “scammed” by his ex-girlfriend so his heart is leery of getting attached to anyone ever again. What happened was that Jared asked his girlfriend to move in with him and then she moved her boyfriend into his home. Now he is the one living with his grandmother while he is trying to evict the ex-girlfriend and the boyfriend. Mac, the heroine, owns a cleaning service and her grandmother had asked Mac to clean Jared’s grandmother’s home. Mac is first leery to see Jared after all those years, but she has no choice but to say yes to her grandmother.
I loved that Mac had crushed on Jared since they were kids. Love these stories. What I did not like is how negative Jared felt about Mac in the beginning. He thought she had grown up into an attractive woman, but the whole time he gave off the vibe of “stop obsessing over me”.
I do not care for stories with insta-love, insta-sex, so I was glad it was not going that route. However, I think it would have been better if this story was written in only Mac’s POV, because the more Jared opened his mouth, the less I cared for him. There were scenes that were supposed to make the reader see a different side of Jared, but I still saw a jerk. There were scenes that were supposed to make the reader swoon over Jared like Mac did, but I could not get over Jared’s attitude. When things started happening, it just felt forced. I never felt that Jared had that undeniable attraction to Mac. I was disappointed.
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2015
What a Woman (Manley Maids #4)by Judi Fennell
Now that Mary-Alice Catherine Manley—Mac—has her hunky brothers working for her, she can sit back and watch the business roll in. But her new assignment quickly tosses that plan out the window. Mildred, her grandmother’s best friend, needs her house cleaned and Gran has volunteered Mac for the job. The problem is Mildred’s cocky grandson. He thinks Mac’s at his beck and call, but she has a few things to tell him…aside from how hot he is.
Jared Nolan is currently lying low, nursing some broken bones—and a bruised ego. The former professional baseball player let himself be used by woman once, and now it could rob him of his beloved career. No woman is ever going to call the shots again, which is why, when the bossy Mac shows up, he’s going to show her who’s really in charge. He’s just not prepared for the undeniable attraction between them. And with the two of them in one house, there’s no telling who will come out swinging…
My Review:
I don't why I'm such a sucker for these reunion stories but almost every time I read one its instantaneously a hit with me. What a Woman wins a place in the favorites pile. Jared and Mac's are reunited by a little secret plan to bring them close to one another because of their childhood history. (That's what you get when you have families that are that close. They get involved.) Mac winds up at Jared's grandmothers place playing house/nursemaid where her feelings for Jared begin to surface and Jared begins to question his assumption that Mac is still an annoyance from his past. What a woman was fun, its was sometime silly but all in all it was heart warming and won me over.
My Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed By:
Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews
http://kkmalott.booklikes.com/
Note: I received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley.
Now that Mary-Alice Catherine Manley—Mac—has her hunky brothers working for her, she can sit back and watch the business roll in. But her new assignment quickly tosses that plan out the window. Mildred, her grandmother’s best friend, needs her house cleaned and Gran has volunteered Mac for the job. The problem is Mildred’s cocky grandson. He thinks Mac’s at his beck and call, but she has a few things to tell him…aside from how hot he is.
Jared Nolan is currently lying low, nursing some broken bones—and a bruised ego. The former professional baseball player let himself be used by woman once, and now it could rob him of his beloved career. No woman is ever going to call the shots again, which is why, when the bossy Mac shows up, he’s going to show her who’s really in charge. He’s just not prepared for the undeniable attraction between them. And with the two of them in one house, there’s no telling who will come out swinging…
My Review:
I don't why I'm such a sucker for these reunion stories but almost every time I read one its instantaneously a hit with me. What a Woman wins a place in the favorites pile. Jared and Mac's are reunited by a little secret plan to bring them close to one another because of their childhood history. (That's what you get when you have families that are that close. They get involved.) Mac winds up at Jared's grandmothers place playing house/nursemaid where her feelings for Jared begin to surface and Jared begins to question his assumption that Mac is still an annoyance from his past. What a woman was fun, its was sometime silly but all in all it was heart warming and won me over.
My Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed By:
Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews
http://kkmalott.booklikes.com/
Note: I received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley.
April 17, 2015
Another great read from Judi Fennell
If you've followed this series, Mac finally gets her story. For those that haven't, here's a bit of back story.
Mac has three older brothers who are all pretty successful and she's in the process of building her house cleaning business.
She talks her older brothers into letting her play poker with them and in an "all in" move gets them to bet working a month for her against her bet of a month of free house cleaning.
Of course she wins and dresses them in skin tight mint green uniforms that showcase their great bods and sends them off to work for some demanding ladies. In the m meantime she agrees to clean an elderly friend's home, to find her old childhood crush is living in his grams house.
Jared is a pro baseball player rehabbing from a car accident who has female admirers descending on the newly accessible hottie.
I love the banter and bickering between Jared and Mac as they learn to navigate around close proximity and old memories and misconceptions while under the same roof for most of the day.
As with all Judi's stories, there is lots of laughter and sweet romance, plenty of sexual tension, and lots of hot guys to go around.
And if I'm not mistaken, there was a hint of another story to come. It can't get here fast enough! I love this series.
If you've followed this series, Mac finally gets her story. For those that haven't, here's a bit of back story.
Mac has three older brothers who are all pretty successful and she's in the process of building her house cleaning business.
She talks her older brothers into letting her play poker with them and in an "all in" move gets them to bet working a month for her against her bet of a month of free house cleaning.
Of course she wins and dresses them in skin tight mint green uniforms that showcase their great bods and sends them off to work for some demanding ladies. In the m meantime she agrees to clean an elderly friend's home, to find her old childhood crush is living in his grams house.
Jared is a pro baseball player rehabbing from a car accident who has female admirers descending on the newly accessible hottie.
I love the banter and bickering between Jared and Mac as they learn to navigate around close proximity and old memories and misconceptions while under the same roof for most of the day.
As with all Judi's stories, there is lots of laughter and sweet romance, plenty of sexual tension, and lots of hot guys to go around.
And if I'm not mistaken, there was a hint of another story to come. It can't get here fast enough! I love this series.
May 22, 2015
saving the best for last is Mac's story. She won the hand and got her brother's to clean for her and she herself is delighted. She's doing her grandmother a favor and will clean her friend's home. Unfortunately her grandson is there recuperating and makes it a little difficult to do it around him. I liked the story and the conclusion to this series.
November 28, 2015
Oh my gosh. Not until March?!! *flails* I cannot wait!
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