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Mad About Max
Lucy, the quirky owner of a charity shop that gives designer clothes to those less fortunate, meets her match in Max Nolan, the owner of a pampered pets boutique, when he tries to buy back his "lucky suit," which had been accidentally donated to her store. Original.
Sushi for pooches. Belly dancing. Men in their underwear.
It's all in a day's work for Lucy Logan...
...and so is getting unemployed folks spruced up with designer duds at the charity shop Successfully Dressed. Anyone who knows Lucy knows her heart is always in the right place. But the guy who shows up wearing nothing but tighty-whities and a frown doesn't know Lucy--or understand why she won't just let him buy back his "lucky suit." Instead, she insists he earn it back through volunteer work. Of course, Max Nolan's killer abs and effortless charm have nothing whatsoever to do with Lucy's good intentions...
From minute one, Max can't keep his eyes off the skimpy-skirted, boho-punk vision that is Lucy Logan. She's a woman of ideals, while he's a man of action--but that doesn't mean they can't collaborate on...any number of things. Beyond getting his suit back, Max figures he can make some great contacts with the shop's rich benefactors, exactly what he needs to get his pampered pets boutique off the ground. And if he gets a little--okay, a lot--closer to Lucy in the process, well, that's a sacrifice he's only too willing to make...
"Lisa Plumley creates charming characters. Her books are a delight!" --Rachel Gibson
"A cool cast of secondary characters adds much to the story as clever Plumley, who is already known for her entertaining romantic comedies, presents another winner in this humorous and engaging tale about a man who literally loses his shirt, but finds his heart."--Booklist (starred review)
"Mad About Max kept me laughing from beginning to end. What great characters! Very highly recommended, especially for fans of romantic comedy." --Romance Junkies
"Lisa Plumley gifts us with another delight in Mad About Max. Her characters come to life with color, verve and warmth. And her plots are as unique as they are fun to read. Mad About Max is a madcap adventure with a wonderful message. Don't miss this grand, feel-good story sure to capture your heart!" --Fresh Fiction
"Plumley offers us a plethora of entertaining secondary characters to enjoy at the periphery of the main action, along with a lot of funny one-liners. You'll enjoy Mad About Max, too!" --Romance Reader at Heart (Four-Rose Read!)
"Mad About Max is another vintage Plumley, a zippy, smart, well-written and often humorous story that's a joy to read." --Bookloons
"I was really enchanted by this book, the first of this author's that I've ever read. This is a fast-reading book, and one with a bonus--a charming secondary romance. I found myself grinning the entire time I was reading this book, and really rooted for the characters. This is a great beach read--fun, light, and sweet. I will be on the lookout for the author's next book." --All About Romance
"I loved the comedic premise of Lisa Plumley's books! Humor is always on the forefront but just as prevalent is romance! A very fun read as usual from Lisa Plumley!" --Reader to Reader/New and Previously Owned Books
"Author Lisa Plumley is one of the shining stars of romantic comedy, and her new title Mad About Max is sure to bring a chuckle to romance readers everywhere." --A Romance Review
"Instead of one romance, readers are treated to two charming romance stories in one novel. Lisa Plumley's latest is a sure bet!" --Roundtable Romance Reviews
Sushi for pooches. Belly dancing. Men in their underwear.
It's all in a day's work for Lucy Logan...
...and so is getting unemployed folks spruced up with designer duds at the charity shop Successfully Dressed. Anyone who knows Lucy knows her heart is always in the right place. But the guy who shows up wearing nothing but tighty-whities and a frown doesn't know Lucy--or understand why she won't just let him buy back his "lucky suit." Instead, she insists he earn it back through volunteer work. Of course, Max Nolan's killer abs and effortless charm have nothing whatsoever to do with Lucy's good intentions...
From minute one, Max can't keep his eyes off the skimpy-skirted, boho-punk vision that is Lucy Logan. She's a woman of ideals, while he's a man of action--but that doesn't mean they can't collaborate on...any number of things. Beyond getting his suit back, Max figures he can make some great contacts with the shop's rich benefactors, exactly what he needs to get his pampered pets boutique off the ground. And if he gets a little--okay, a lot--closer to Lucy in the process, well, that's a sacrifice he's only too willing to make...
"Lisa Plumley creates charming characters. Her books are a delight!" --Rachel Gibson
"A cool cast of secondary characters adds much to the story as clever Plumley, who is already known for her entertaining romantic comedies, presents another winner in this humorous and engaging tale about a man who literally loses his shirt, but finds his heart."--Booklist (starred review)
"Mad About Max kept me laughing from beginning to end. What great characters! Very highly recommended, especially for fans of romantic comedy." --Romance Junkies
"Lisa Plumley gifts us with another delight in Mad About Max. Her characters come to life with color, verve and warmth. And her plots are as unique as they are fun to read. Mad About Max is a madcap adventure with a wonderful message. Don't miss this grand, feel-good story sure to capture your heart!" --Fresh Fiction
"Plumley offers us a plethora of entertaining secondary characters to enjoy at the periphery of the main action, along with a lot of funny one-liners. You'll enjoy Mad About Max, too!" --Romance Reader at Heart (Four-Rose Read!)
"Mad About Max is another vintage Plumley, a zippy, smart, well-written and often humorous story that's a joy to read." --Bookloons
"I was really enchanted by this book, the first of this author's that I've ever read. This is a fast-reading book, and one with a bonus--a charming secondary romance. I found myself grinning the entire time I was reading this book, and really rooted for the characters. This is a great beach read--fun, light, and sweet. I will be on the lookout for the author's next book." --All About Romance
"I loved the comedic premise of Lisa Plumley's books! Humor is always on the forefront but just as prevalent is romance! A very fun read as usual from Lisa Plumley!" --Reader to Reader/New and Previously Owned Books
"Author Lisa Plumley is one of the shining stars of romantic comedy, and her new title Mad About Max is sure to bring a chuckle to romance readers everywhere." --A Romance Review
"Instead of one romance, readers are treated to two charming romance stories in one novel. Lisa Plumley's latest is a sure bet!" --Roundtable Romance Reviews
350 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2006
2 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Plumley
63 books153 followersBest-selling author Lisa Plumley has delighted readers worldwide with more than three dozen popular novels. Her work has been translated multiple languages and editions, and includes contemporary romances, historical romances, paranormal romances, and a variety of stories in romance anthologies.
Her fresh, funny style has been likened to such reader favorites as Rachel Gibson, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, LaVyrle Spencer, and Jennifer Crusie, but her unique characterization is all her own.
Lisa’s alter ego is cozy mystery writer Colette London, whose Chocolate Whisperer mystery series featuring globe-trotting chocolatier (and amateur sleuth!) Hayden Mundy Moore includes Criminal Confections, Dangerously Dark, and The Semi-Sweet Hereafter. It will continue with Dead and Ganache in October 2017 (all from Kensington Books).
Her fresh, funny style has been likened to such reader favorites as Rachel Gibson, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, LaVyrle Spencer, and Jennifer Crusie, but her unique characterization is all her own.
Lisa’s alter ego is cozy mystery writer Colette London, whose Chocolate Whisperer mystery series featuring globe-trotting chocolatier (and amateur sleuth!) Hayden Mundy Moore includes Criminal Confections, Dangerously Dark, and The Semi-Sweet Hereafter. It will continue with Dead and Ganache in October 2017 (all from Kensington Books).
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 9, 2012
Okay. It's not like I expected this book to be some sort of literary masterpiece, but. The writing was really quite craptacular. So many eye-rolling moments. And the word "sashay" showed up about 25 times more than is ever necessary. I enjoyed the first chunk of the book, before they officially got together, and I enjoyed the last bit when they had their inevitable FALLING OUT, and then got back together. But that whole middle section where they were just happily together... BOREFEST. There is no reason to care about these characters enough to actually just sit back and enjoy their lovefest. There was absolutely nottthhiiinnnggg happening. So there's that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2011
Frankly, I'm tired of the mismatched pairing of "flaky, new age chick meets button-down, out-of-touch-with his feelings, successful businessman." I've just read this story with these same characters too many times. I'm bored with it already.
That said, the writing is good and I'm willing to give this author another shot at engaging me with a less trite story.
That said, the writing is good and I'm willing to give this author another shot at engaging me with a less trite story.
January 30, 2025
This was a very silly book that did nothing for me and did not seem to do anything new. Two stereotypically “opposite” people meet and are immediately and obviously attracted to one another and things go pretty well from there, except for one little classic misunderstanding towards the end.
A lot of the language and descriptions made me roll my eyes a bit.
A lot of the language and descriptions made me roll my eyes a bit.
November 18, 2010
Plumley’s style is very similar to Rachel Gibson or Victoria Dahl. This particular book I thought was very similar in storyline to Cathis Linz’s Bad Girls Don’t. Two polar opposites find themselves working together and realize that their differences are what was missing in all their previous relationships.
Perpetually lucky, Max Nolan has just moved to Phoenix with his entrepreneurial partner, Oliver Pickett. Intent on the next big successful venture, Max underestimates his girlfriend’s anger one morning when he finds all his suits in the donation bin for Successfully Dressed. Lucy Logan, the truck driver and manager of Successfully Dressed, meets Max, in his underwear, trying desperately to get his lucky suit back. Lucy, not falling for any smooth-talking shenanigans, offers Max an opportunity to volunteer his time and earn back his suits.
I really enjoy reading stories where couples meet in work settings. Max is hilarious in his quest to get out of volunteering or doing what Lucy wants him to do with the store. Ever the entrepreneur, Max wants to see the store become more successful, so he helps set up workshops and events to bring much needed exposure to the store. The side stories in this are great, too, but I almost wish Plumley spent more time on them. I liked Lucy’s unique style and the way it humanized Max once they started seeing each other. This really was a fun book. If you get the chance to read it, or another book by Plumley, I highly recommend it. I’ll definitely be checking her out myself in the future.
Perpetually lucky, Max Nolan has just moved to Phoenix with his entrepreneurial partner, Oliver Pickett. Intent on the next big successful venture, Max underestimates his girlfriend’s anger one morning when he finds all his suits in the donation bin for Successfully Dressed. Lucy Logan, the truck driver and manager of Successfully Dressed, meets Max, in his underwear, trying desperately to get his lucky suit back. Lucy, not falling for any smooth-talking shenanigans, offers Max an opportunity to volunteer his time and earn back his suits.
I really enjoy reading stories where couples meet in work settings. Max is hilarious in his quest to get out of volunteering or doing what Lucy wants him to do with the store. Ever the entrepreneur, Max wants to see the store become more successful, so he helps set up workshops and events to bring much needed exposure to the store. The side stories in this are great, too, but I almost wish Plumley spent more time on them. I liked Lucy’s unique style and the way it humanized Max once they started seeing each other. This really was a fun book. If you get the chance to read it, or another book by Plumley, I highly recommend it. I’ll definitely be checking her out myself in the future.
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July 24, 2007lucy is manager of a struggling used clothes store and max is a ceo with a generous, kind heart. they meet by chance and fall in love despite all their differences. kind of like a beauty and the beast story where they dont think they are right for each other but, in the end love triumphs and they have a happy ending.
October 29, 2009
I really liked this book - the heroine was unconventional and plucky and fun, the story was cute, the side characters were great fun. Of course it was predictable, and the side romantic plot was a bit over the top, but this is great chick lit/romance - lots of fun!
July 6, 2008
This book was annoying and awful all at the same time. Don't waste your time!
July 18, 2010
If you like quirky characters and shopping in thrift stores, you will enjoy this book. I did.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews