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Manhunt
A woman with a talent for numbers, Alexandra Scott wanted to escape the rat race and go someplace where the men outnumber the women. Trading in her Wall Street job and fancy condo for a rundown cabin in the woods. She's now Alaskan Wilderness Woman. It isn't long before she finds exactly what she's looking one sexy pilot named Michael Casey. But this confirmed bachelor has no intentions of getting caught in any woman's crosshairs—especially a hunter as appealing as Alex. It'll take skill, determination, and a little romantic persuasion for this big-game hunter to bag her prey.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 1988
526 people are currently reading
5642 people want to read
About the author
Janet Evanovich
332 books41.1k followersJanet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the Lizzy and Diesel series, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and Trouble Maker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author, as well as the Fox and O'Hare series with co-author Lee Goldberg.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 619 reviews
September 11, 2023
This is a well-written, entertaining, lighthearted romantic comedy novella. It has a vividly described Alaskan setting, likable characters, humor, a heart warming romance, and a happily ever after ending. I listened to the audio version of this novella, and the narrator, Ms. C.J. Critt, has lovely voice and does an excellent job depicting the characters and their personalities.
August 27, 2017
I went into this knowing it was an older book of hers. I like her older books for a quick and funny read once in awhile. This one was light, funny, romantic and whimsical. Just what I was in the mood for.
January 22, 2008
This was a 200 page lobotomy.
I hate to be such a hater, but it literally made my head hurt, it was that ridiculously banal and trite. I am a huge sucker for the formulaic romance and enjoy the old over-the-top fun romp, but there has to be some emotional investment in the characters for me to give a damn, and this made no effort to provide anything resembling depth. In fact, this little book seemingly reveled in sloshing through the shallowest end of the intelligence pool.
The dialogue and inner monologues were daft and woefully outdated and the characters were, at best, complete gibbering morons. How they managed to walk upright, let alone supposedly survive in the Alaskan wilderness is beyond me. This could all have been overlooked to some degree at least had there been some deliciously hot love scenes. But anything approaching frisky had all the smolder of a very wet, very dead dog, ended abruptly (forget 'fade to black'; the shutters were slammed shut so fast you had to kiss your fingers goodbye), and referred to with the oh-so-realistic trumpet of "That was glorious!" Retch.
Should you also possess the mile-wide masochistic streak I apparently do, as I read through to the end, have at it. But keep sharp implements out of reach, because eyes are handy for activities other than reading and you might forget that halfway through this delightful novel.
I hate to be such a hater, but it literally made my head hurt, it was that ridiculously banal and trite. I am a huge sucker for the formulaic romance and enjoy the old over-the-top fun romp, but there has to be some emotional investment in the characters for me to give a damn, and this made no effort to provide anything resembling depth. In fact, this little book seemingly reveled in sloshing through the shallowest end of the intelligence pool.
The dialogue and inner monologues were daft and woefully outdated and the characters were, at best, complete gibbering morons. How they managed to walk upright, let alone supposedly survive in the Alaskan wilderness is beyond me. This could all have been overlooked to some degree at least had there been some deliciously hot love scenes. But anything approaching frisky had all the smolder of a very wet, very dead dog, ended abruptly (forget 'fade to black'; the shutters were slammed shut so fast you had to kiss your fingers goodbye), and referred to with the oh-so-realistic trumpet of "That was glorious!" Retch.
Should you also possess the mile-wide masochistic streak I apparently do, as I read through to the end, have at it. But keep sharp implements out of reach, because eyes are handy for activities other than reading and you might forget that halfway through this delightful novel.
January 7, 2022
Cute, funny romance. If you're looking for something light and sweet, this will hit the spot. Alexandra Scott is tired of her fast-paced life in New Jersey and is looking for a lifestyle change. She wants to find love and get married and her job just isn't allowing her the time she needs to pursue this goal, so she quits her job, dumps her condo and heads to Alaska to a cabin and a hardware store business she found on the internet. Reality in Alaska is a vast difference from what she saw on the internet. The store is dismal, and the cabin is occupied by vermin, but she is now Alaskan Wilderness Woman and nothing is going to stop her, especially after she gets a look at her hunky neighbor, pilot Michael Casey. He is never going to see it coming.
A woman with a talent for numbers, Alexandra Scott wanted to escape the rat race and go someplace where the men outnumber the women. Trading in her Wall Street job and fancy condo for a rundown cabin in the woods. She's now Alaskan Wilderness Woman. It isn't long before she finds exactly what she's looking for#58; one sexy pilot named Michael Casey. But this confirmed bachelor has no intentions of getting caught in any woman's crosshairs; especially a hunter as appealing as Alex. It'll take skill, determination, and a little romantic persuasion for this big-game hunter to bag her prey.
A woman with a talent for numbers, Alexandra Scott wanted to escape the rat race and go someplace where the men outnumber the women. Trading in her Wall Street job and fancy condo for a rundown cabin in the woods. She's now Alaskan Wilderness Woman. It isn't long before she finds exactly what she's looking for#58; one sexy pilot named Michael Casey. But this confirmed bachelor has no intentions of getting caught in any woman's crosshairs; especially a hunter as appealing as Alex. It'll take skill, determination, and a little romantic persuasion for this big-game hunter to bag her prey.
December 31, 2025
A crazy premise that makes for a fun lighthearted read -- a city girl swaps her New Jersey condo for an unseen cabin and hardware store in remote Alaska. Alex is stubborn and independent, naive and slightly irrational too, so it's a good thing her sexy neighbor Casey is around to provide some of the creature comforts she's accustomed to and suddenly missing on her foolhardy venture. An amusing romantic pursuit follows, making for an easygoing and entertaining read.
August 11, 2016
Manhunt is a stand-alone pre-Plum romance novel by popular American author, Janet Evanovich. Alexandra Scott had swapped her fancy Princeton condo and her life as a corporate high flier for a cabin in the Alaskan wilderness and a run-down hardware store. She was headed there in her candy-apple red BMW sports car with her grandfather’s Rottweiler, Bruno. There were plenty of single men in Alaska and Alex wanted a husband.
The swap was, undoubtedly, less that equitable: the cabin was run-down and very basic; the hardware store, much the same. Michael Casey had already encountered the ditsy female when he tried to rescue Bruno from drowning off the Juneau docks, so he wasn’t pleased to see Alex moving in to the cabin down the hill. But somehow he found himself helping her out anyway.
As a romantic heroine, Alex maintains her silliness throughout the book. Michael seems like the right guy for her Happily Ever After, but he has his own baggage to deal with. This one is a bit slower moving than the Stephanie Plum books, and the premise is really too silly to entertain, but the result is amusing enough to persist to the HEA.
The swap was, undoubtedly, less that equitable: the cabin was run-down and very basic; the hardware store, much the same. Michael Casey had already encountered the ditsy female when he tried to rescue Bruno from drowning off the Juneau docks, so he wasn’t pleased to see Alex moving in to the cabin down the hill. But somehow he found himself helping her out anyway.
As a romantic heroine, Alex maintains her silliness throughout the book. Michael seems like the right guy for her Happily Ever After, but he has his own baggage to deal with. This one is a bit slower moving than the Stephanie Plum books, and the premise is really too silly to entertain, but the result is amusing enough to persist to the HEA.
January 2, 2018
A sweet quick read about a city girl who tries to put down roots in Alaska. Anything can happen.....
November 2, 2021
As Alex gives up city life for Alaska, she discovers who she really is while discovering living in Alaska isn’t quite what she expected. She is looking for a husband since Alaska men outnumber women. She ends up being helped along by her confirmed bachelor neighbor as she learns the ways of the land. Quick moving story!
September 2, 2017
Funny, dippy little love story.....not exactly serious literature, but it was entertaining
April 19, 2016
2.5 stars.
Look, usually these Janet Evanovich romance novels make me super ragey and I end up throwing them across the room because they're squicky and misogynistic. In contrast, this one was totally cheesy and totally predictable but actually not that terrible in comparison??
Essentially, a 29 year old woman is sick of her corporate life, and somehow ends up deciding to do a swap with some old guy she barely knows. He gets her $400,000 New Jersey condo, she gets his Alaskan cabin and hardware store. Which is CLEARLY a terrible deal. She takes her dead grandfather's enormous, overweight Rottweiler with her, and obviously meets a cute guy when said Rottweiler dives for a doughnut on the ferry and ends up in the water.
Cute Guy turns out to be her next door neighbour, and has a house with all mod cons, which is super convenient because the cabin she bought turns out to have no electricity or running water, it's infested with mice, and she manages to burn down the outhouse.
Of course, there's obligatory romantic tension in the form of her having moved to Alaska to find a husband and him being all "EW, MARRIAGE? NO THANK YOU."
So yeah. Totally cheesy. Totally predictable. Definitely had moments of "........NO, STOP". But far less than a lot of Evanovich's other romance novels. So essentially, it wasn't great. But it could have been so much worse.
Look, usually these Janet Evanovich romance novels make me super ragey and I end up throwing them across the room because they're squicky and misogynistic. In contrast, this one was totally cheesy and totally predictable but actually not that terrible in comparison??
Essentially, a 29 year old woman is sick of her corporate life, and somehow ends up deciding to do a swap with some old guy she barely knows. He gets her $400,000 New Jersey condo, she gets his Alaskan cabin and hardware store. Which is CLEARLY a terrible deal. She takes her dead grandfather's enormous, overweight Rottweiler with her, and obviously meets a cute guy when said Rottweiler dives for a doughnut on the ferry and ends up in the water.
Cute Guy turns out to be her next door neighbour, and has a house with all mod cons, which is super convenient because the cabin she bought turns out to have no electricity or running water, it's infested with mice, and she manages to burn down the outhouse.
Of course, there's obligatory romantic tension in the form of her having moved to Alaska to find a husband and him being all "EW, MARRIAGE? NO THANK YOU."
So yeah. Totally cheesy. Totally predictable. Definitely had moments of "........NO, STOP". But far less than a lot of Evanovich's other romance novels. So essentially, it wasn't great. But it could have been so much worse.
August 9, 2015
This was such a cute story! Makes me want to visit Alaska.
February 21, 2018
This is a quick, quirky read that will keep you laughing as you turn the pages. The main character knows what she wants and goes after it, even into the wilds of Alaska.
May 22, 2020
I love this book! The setting, the couple everything!!!
June 4, 2022
Cute little book, I guess it's a love story but, not in an annoying love story way.
January 6, 2025
3.25/5
Not a great book but it was a fun one.
Not a great book but it was a fun one.
February 27, 2020
I really enjoy this book. Of all of Janet Evanovich's early romantic comedies, this one is probably my favorite. Why, you ask? It's because it's set in Alaska. I really love stories set in Alaska. Alaska is a place I've visited once (twice if you count the layover I had at the airport in Anchorage, but that visit doesn't really count) and dream of living in one day. I have just got to experience one of their long and cold winters. :-)
I also enjoy this book because Alexandra 'Alex' Scott is so delightful and Michael 'Casey' Casey is so endearing. I love Bruno, the overweight Rottweiler, too. :-)
Something is holding me back from giving this book a full five stars, though. I'm updating my rating to the full five stars. I just return to this book too often to not rate it five stars.
I'm not sure what it is, but it just doesn't move me in the same way that, for instance, Jennifer Crusie's Manhunting does. When I think of Janet Evanovich's early romantic comedies, invariably this is the book that comes to mind. And I do love it, but I never feel like I can wax on and on about it in the same way I can about Jennifer Crusie's early romantic comedies. But it's still a five-star read for me. And it's on my Favorites shelf, though. After all, it is my favorite of JE's early romantic comedies. ;-)
I do laugh out loud at a few lines in this book. I'll share a couple of them:
First, on page 9, we have the scene where Bruno is resisting Alex's efforts to get him to walk with her while they wait for the ferry's departure bell, so she brandishes a doughnut and, seeing it, Bruno jumps her. He knocks her into the pier's railing, the doughnut flies out of her hand into the water, and "without a moment's hesitation Bruno jumped the rail in pursuit."
The next line I'll share comes on page 61, when Casey returns home after canceling his meeting because,
The last line I'll share can be found on page 204. It's when Alex has been out with Bubba Johanssen:
I can't really think of anything else to say about this book right now, but I do love it. I just don't LOVE-love it. It will probably always be my go-to Janet Evanovich book, but it will never be the first book I think of when I think of romantic comedies, or even when I think of stories set in Alaska. That honor goes to Northern Lights by Nora Roberts, which is a romantic suspense set in Alaska that I really, really, love.
But Manhunt is definitely a fun, quick, read and I know I'll revisit it again - multiple times - in the years to come. ;-)
I also enjoy this book because Alexandra 'Alex' Scott is so delightful and Michael 'Casey' Casey is so endearing. I love Bruno, the overweight Rottweiler, too. :-)
I'm not sure what it is, but it just doesn't move me in the same way that, for instance, Jennifer Crusie's Manhunting does. When I think of Janet Evanovich's early romantic comedies, invariably this is the book that comes to mind. And I do love it, but I never feel like I can wax on and on about it in the same way I can about Jennifer Crusie's early romantic comedies. But it's still a five-star read for me. And it's on my Favorites shelf, though. After all, it is my favorite of JE's early romantic comedies. ;-)
I do laugh out loud at a few lines in this book. I'll share a couple of them:
First, on page 9, we have the scene where Bruno is resisting Alex's efforts to get him to walk with her while they wait for the ferry's departure bell, so she brandishes a doughnut and, seeing it, Bruno jumps her. He knocks her into the pier's railing, the doughnut flies out of her hand into the water, and "without a moment's hesitation Bruno jumped the rail in pursuit."
Michael Casey couldn't believe his eyes. That crazy broad just deep-sixed her dog! She sent him sailing off to fetch The Big One.LOL!!! ;-)
The next line I'll share comes on page 61, when Casey returns home after canceling his meeting because,
"It's dangerous for you to be here alone."lol ;-)
"Oh, pooh."
Casey stared at her, dumbfounded. He didn't have an answer for "Oh, pooh."
The last line I'll share can be found on page 204. It's when Alex has been out with Bubba Johanssen:
Five hours later, Casey heard Alex stomping the snow off her boots on the deck and quickly buried his nose in the mystery he was reading. He'd been on page fifty-seven for two hours and didn't have a clue what it said.lol ;-)
I can't really think of anything else to say about this book right now, but I do love it. I just don't LOVE-love it. It will probably always be my go-to Janet Evanovich book, but it will never be the first book I think of when I think of romantic comedies, or even when I think of stories set in Alaska. That honor goes to Northern Lights by Nora Roberts, which is a romantic suspense set in Alaska that I really, really, love.
But Manhunt is definitely a fun, quick, read and I know I'll revisit it again - multiple times - in the years to come. ;-)
June 25, 2009
OK, I'm not much of a romance novel fan, but I have to read the ones by Janet Evanovich just because I read ANYTHING by Janet Evanovich, one of my favorite authors. Unfortunately, her earlier novels don't show the same wit that she subsequently developed when writing the Stephanie Plum series. That's okay though because sometimes you just need to eat Pop Tarts, know what I mean? This book has the same plot that every romance novel seems to have: incredible attraction between two hot and sexy protagonists, the mutual mind-reading and consequent misunderstandings, the lack of communication, and the eventual happily ever after ending. Darn, I wish SOMEONE could come up with a different plot! It's like reading the same book over and over --- only the hair color changes (although the women usually seem to have red). Oh well, she outgrew these early novels, thank goodness, but you might still enjoy reading them when you're sick in bed and your exhausted brain just can't handle any real thinking.
July 14, 2017
Another delightful read by one of my favorite authors. It you are looking for a fun, uplifting, romance, Janet Evanovich is a great source of novels for you!
November 10, 2008
Junk food in book form. So cliched and stilted in some instances that it made me laugh out loud- although I'm sure the humor wasn't intented.
July 29, 2019
Manhunt
I Picked Up This Book Because: I’m actually shocked I haven’t already read this. I adore these early books from Ms Evanovich
The Characters:
Alexandra “Alex” Scott:
Michael Casey: Goes by Casey
Bruno (Rottweiler)< Harry, Andy
The Story:
Alex is tired of her life and gives it all up to live in the Alaskan wilderness. Part of her new life includes the hunt for a husband, which should be easy, right? Men outnumber women by quite a lot in Alaska. After trading her Jersey condo for a cabin and hardware store Ales is off on her adventure with her deceased grandfather’s dog, Bruno. Casey spots Alex before she even arrives in her new little town and immediately has to save her and Bruno from drowning in frigid waters after a bribe gone wrong. For his troubles he gets a broken nose, what a meet cute. Hilarity ensues with Casey to the rescue, fighting his growing feelings every day.
I really enjoyed this book. It was like watching a delightful rom com.
The Random Thoughts:
The Score Card:
4 Stars
I Picked Up This Book Because: I’m actually shocked I haven’t already read this. I adore these early books from Ms Evanovich
The Characters:
Alexandra “Alex” Scott:
Michael Casey: Goes by Casey
Bruno (Rottweiler)< Harry, Andy
The Story:
Alex is tired of her life and gives it all up to live in the Alaskan wilderness. Part of her new life includes the hunt for a husband, which should be easy, right? Men outnumber women by quite a lot in Alaska. After trading her Jersey condo for a cabin and hardware store Ales is off on her adventure with her deceased grandfather’s dog, Bruno. Casey spots Alex before she even arrives in her new little town and immediately has to save her and Bruno from drowning in frigid waters after a bribe gone wrong. For his troubles he gets a broken nose, what a meet cute. Hilarity ensues with Casey to the rescue, fighting his growing feelings every day.
I really enjoyed this book. It was like watching a delightful rom com.
The Random Thoughts:
The Score Card:
4 Stars
January 31, 2018
Very typical brain-check-out book. Super cheesy. Fast read. Exactly what I expected.
The sex is overly skipped over tho, head's up. Like every time they did the do I had to reread the paragraph like "Wait what?"
Other than that, yeah, it's Janet Evanovich.
The sex is overly skipped over tho, head's up. Like every time they did the do I had to reread the paragraph like "Wait what?"
Other than that, yeah, it's Janet Evanovich.
February 5, 2025
Alex gives up her position as VP in very busy New Jersey. She buys an unseen cabin from Harry and moves to Alaska. Her neighbor, Casey, helps her get settled in the frozen north. Are Casey and Alex a sweet match made for love, or a boxing match?!
August 25, 2017
This book was ok. A lot of fluff, not much substance.
January 5, 2020
Really like these books.glad I found it
January 6, 2025
This is smooth and very entertaining book. It excite me to read more chapters in this book so I know what will happen next.
June 14, 2019
This was a fast easy read. I have thought of just picking up and leaving. I loved how she stuck in their and got him to pop the question.
August 28, 2020
Cute, fun, quick read!
November 14, 2021
This book was funny and good.
January 27, 2025
A light and quick read. I like the premise of this story, although the dialogue was a bit much to take.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 619 reviews