The Trouble with J. J.

by Tami Hoag, Deanna Hurst (Narrator)

Just what Genna Hastings needed: a conceited creep of a new neighbor with rippling muscles and mile-wide shoulders. It wasn't often that women resisted star quarterback J.J. Hennessy, but he was ready to trade all the cover girls he's dated for the adorable lady next door. J.J. was impossibly charismatic, magnificently male--and a bachelor father who was in danger of losing custody of his little girl, unless he could persuade Genna to help change his fast-lane image in time

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Fiction, Sports, Modern

1 pages, Audio CD

First published May 1, 1988

About the author

Tami Hoag is the #1 internationally bestselling author of more than thirty books published in more than thirty languages worldwide, including her latest thrillers—BITTER SEASON, COLD COLD HEART and THE 9TH GIRL. Renowned for combining thrilling plots with character-driven suspense, Hoag first hit the New York Times Bestseller list with NIGHT SINS, and each of her books since has been a bestseller.

She leads a double life in Palm Beach County, Florida where she is also known as a top competitive equestrian in the Olympic discipline of dressage. Other interests include the study of psychology, and mixed martial arts fighting.


Visit her at www.tamihoag.com, Facebook.com/TamiHoag and on Twitter @TamiHoag

Reviews

[Mo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very old fashioned and dated.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

J. J. is hilarious! He wears an earring, has a daughter, and has a manequin in his front yard! Along with several flamingos! And for plain 'ole Genna next door, this is just too much. But when the two of them meet, the chemistry is more than either one imagined and J.J. is just arrogant enough to pursue it. He comes up with a plan for them to spend time together and even thought Genna knows it's a bad idea, she believes him to be sincere, so she agrees to help him out.

J.J. is also a football player, so that particular fact kept me going with this one. And with an ending as spectacular as this book had, I could have laughed all the way to the library. J.J.'s persistance in getting what he wants is often quite funny and most of the time kept Genna on her toes. Overall, this was a great book. I've read this author before, but never this genre. But this one is worth checking out if you want something light and fun that doesn't require any brain power.

[Mindy]

There are few things that annoy me more in books than having a heroine that I hate. I ended up not reading the last few pages of the book because I just couldn't stand the girl anymore. First she wants JJ to love her, then she can't believe he really does even after he proposes marriage in a very elaborate setting. And once he convinces her he's not joking, she still makes him practically beg her to accept him. I usually love Hoag's books, but this was just terrible.

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely like her thrillers much better since she really seems to have found her niche there. But this was a cute one. Funny and sexy. It was pretty apparent it was an older novel too, though it did read sometimes like it had been updated to be more suited to present day, rahter thant the 15 or years ago that it was written.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what Genna Hastings needed, a conceited creep of a new neighbor with rippling muscles, mile-wide shoulders, and a wicked Jack Nicholson smile that could melt stone! It wasn't often that women resisted star quarterback J. J. Hennessy, but he was ready to trade all the cover girls he'd dated for the adorable lady next door. With his summer sky eyes and kisses that stole her sanity and her willpower, J. J. was impossibly charismatic, magnificently male—and a bachelor father who was in danger of losing custody of his little girl...unless he could persuade Genna to help change his fast-lane image in time! She was tempted by his offer, and by him—but she couldn't be head over heels in love with a wildman football player...could she? J. J. insisted that opposites attracted, just like magnets, but Genna wanted security, a man who'd always be there. Could he make her believe he was her man for all seasons?
A really good quick read. 5 stars.

[Lorrea - WhatChaReadin'? · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genna Hastings, had returned home early from her vacation since she had sprained her ankle. Shortly after getting out of the car, she is hit in the head by the kids in the neighborhood who were playing football. They had been using her yard while she was gone and playing with J.J. Hennessey, the Hawks quarterback. Genna, had no idea who he was, but was definitely taken aback when she saw his yard full of pink flamingos. As if that wasn't bad enough, his whole bad boy exterior was enough to scare anyone away.

When J.J. Hennessey first meets Genna, he is taken aback. Most women swoon over him, she was having none of that.

After losing her job for the summer(Genna's a teacher), J.J. presents her with an opportunity she really can't turn down. Throughout the summer, Genna and J.J. will learn things about each other that will surprise them both.

Will this summer job lead to a summer romance? What will happen when the summer is over?

This was a cute, romantic comedy by Tami Hoag. This is the first book that I have read by her, and I'm interested to read more.

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Who proposes with not only a letter, but on page 2 of said letter? Then creates an elaborate "proposal" just to say hey I proposed on a letter that I left with your check and the thank you for working for me. Then in said "elaborate proposal" say you are acting irrational you must be pregnant. Overall, I found the book lacking. I found the main character aggregating, creating alternate scenarios in her head and not listening to actual words being said to her. I wanted to put the book down multiple times, even starting a second book during the middle of reading this one. But mustered through because I hate abandoning a book. I recommend skipping this book and opt for Hoag's murder mysteries instead.

[Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This may have rated higher than 3 stars as it was a sweet romance, but unfortunately it is very dated. Page 3: "His black hair was sheared off on top in a spiky, grown-out crew cut but trailed down his thick neck in back." Yikes!

[Jan (the Gryphon) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read: a step or two up from the one-hour romance. Replete with flamingoes, a dog, baking, flaky relatives, etc.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute fun early category romance has been reissued.

[Ashley Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lighthearted, fast paced book.

[P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I suppose it is a romance but it drives me crazy when a couple can't just communicate. In this book the girl is so stupid she can hardly see the nose on her face.

[Socrate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Acasă. Niciodată acest cuvânt nu sunase mai plăcut în urechea ei, ca acum, îşi zise în gând Genna Hastings, în timp ce-şi mişca atentă piciorul cu glezna luxată, scoţând cârjele din maşină. Apoi rămase nemişcată şi trase cu putere în piept aerul cu miros de zambile specifice Connecticut-ului. Poc! Ceva o lovi după cap cu puterea unei rachete Titan. Frecându-şi cu o mână locul lovit se întoarse şi privi cu ochii mari mingea de fotbal care se rostogolea paşnic pe lângă piciorul ei, pe alee.
Era un sfârşit demn pentru o vacanţă mizerabilă.
— Atenţie, domnişoară Hastings, se auzi cu îndârjire strigătul unuia dintre cei doi puşti care traversau în fugă strada venind spre ea.
— Doamne, domnişoară Hastings, îmi cer scuze, îi zise Brad Murray, aplecându-se să-şi ridice mingea.
— Chiar aşa, scuze, Genna, interveni Kyle Dennison. Nu te-am văzut, continuă ridicând din umeri.
Kyle, un puşti rotofei de vreo zece ani, era finul celei mai bune prietene a Gennei şi de aceea se simţea îndreptăţit să i se adreseze pe numele mic. In schimb pentru Brad, ea va fi totdeauna fosta lui educatoare de la grădiniţă, domnişoara Hastings.
— M-am liniştit, mormăi Genna, tresărind când dădu cu mâna de cucuiul ce se formase la locul cu pricina.
— Mama spunea că te întorci abia luni şi astăzi este vineri. De ce n-ai mai stat? Foloseam aleea ta pentru a ne exersa pasele. Hei, de ce ai cârje?
— Toate deodată, îi zise Genna cu un zâmbet ironic, plecându-şi privirea spre Kyle. Vacanţa a fost un fiasco. Mi-am luxat glezna în timp ce jucam tenis.
— Nasol.
— Chiar aşa.
— îl aşteptăm pe J.J., o anunţă Brad.
— Cine este J.J.? Un nou puşti de prin vecini?
— J.J. Hennessy, îi răspunseră într-un glas cei doi, privind-o fix, cu speranţă în priviri.

[Ann Stoudt]

It took only one look for Genna Hastings to make up her mind about her new next-door neighbor, J. J. Hennessy. She knew his type all too well: Jared Jay Hennessy was tall and handsome, a man who thought he was God’s gift to women. From the pink flamingos dotting his front yard to the all-night boozy barbecues, he threatened to disrupt Genna’s peaceful summer off from teaching. But beneath his carefree smile and teasing nature, J.J. was a man as serious about the future as he was about Genna. He’d come to this quiet Connecticut town to change his life, and he challenged Genna to help him become Mr. Right. It was a challenge she knew she’d be smart to refuse . . . and one J.J. knew she couldn’t resist.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! Sometimes I am in the mood for a quick romance novel especially one where there is humor involved. This story was very heartfelt. J.J. was a popular quarterback who came to a quaint town in Connecticut to stabilize his life with his daughter after her mother died. Genna Hastings doesn't care for her new neighbor J. J. Hennessy. He had pink flamingos in his front yard and was so good looking, she assumed he felt he was god's gift to women. But J.J. surprises Genna. To win her over, he challenged her to improve his appearance to "normal" so he wouldn't lose his daughter. Genna of course gets sucked into his challenge.

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jared Jay Hennesey, aka JJ, a well known football player just moved in next door to Genna Hastings. The pink flamingo’s in the front yard, mannequin mascot, loud boozey barbeques and noisy friends did not make a good impression on Genna. Genna is hired by JJ to help him look like a responsible Dad to keep custody of his daughter.

This was a fun summer romance. I felt that the love scene details were over emphasized. It distracted from the true feelings that were occurring between JJ and Genna.

All the baking Genna did for distraction kept me drooling for a piece of cake or cookie.

[Isis Ray-sisco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this a 3.5. I really enjoy this author but my favorites by her are her mystery/thriller books. I would love to read more books by her. It was fun to see all the references to the 80's. I liked the interaction between the main characters and their chemistry too. I liked that it wasn't insta love...it didn't take too long for them to fall for each other. I loved how she was with his daughter. I think the two of them complemented each other and brought out the best in each other as well. I think others may enjoy this story as well.

[julie blake · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not really a romance fan but have read my fair share of it. This book was corny at best. No one literally falls on the floor laughing and flipping like a flounder or does any of the other strange things that pop up in this book. Bleh. I’ve read other books by her that were neither romance nor corny. I really
Only read this one because there were flamingos in the cover. Lol. The cover was the best part.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Tami Hoag's "Still Waters" long before I read this and I have to say, I love her writing style. I didnt realize that she'd be so amazing at depicting both an overtly confident woman and then also a woman who second guess everything with a confident exterior. Every character had layers and I love their backgrounds too! One of my new favorite romance novels for sure, I cant wait to pick up another one of her books!

[Karen Sheldon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to admit that this was definitely not what I expected--it was just OK; if one wanted to read a frilly romance, this book is for them. I had a tendency to scan through a lot of the book as it just wasn't written with the depth that I usually find with this author.

[Pebble Tedford · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my type of book usually, but I was curious about what Tami Hoag's first book was like. A cute little romance book...a little too detailed (sex) for me, but cute. I think I like her mysteries better. ;)

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun vacation read. Will definitely get the rest in the series.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unreadable

[J.Q. Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining, fun and spicy story, but Ms Hoag repeated the "contract" with J.J. over and over and over. Could have eliminated some of that.

[Pamela Lake · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lighthearted read, fun and funny.

[Diana H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

sweet and fun

[Etta Kaufman · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a fast read love story.

[Anne Purwitsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like a harlequin romance. Her writing definitely improved with age.

[Paschalis]

elibrary

[Cassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my fav

This is the author 's first book. Let's just say her suspense and thrillers are way better. Checked of the reading list.