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Friends & Lovers #1
Working Man
Funny and feisty true-crime writer Dakota Phillips has almosteverything she wants. She's still looking for the perfect tall, very educated and very cultured—all wrapped up inrich chocolate brown. So far, her insecurities about her generouscurves and her independent streak have kept her searching. Nick is a self-made mogul who works hard, plays hard and loveslife's finer things. He's not perfect, but he makes Dakota feelbeautiful, desirable—and maybe a little too vulnerable. Dakotacan't surrender to a take-charge man, and Nick has worked toohard for everything to give up control. Moving on would beeasy—except for a little complication called love.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2007
13 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 17, 2008
Dakota Philips is a big girl... and although not exactly proud of it, she isn't down on herself over it either. She's dumped a fiancé, got a fender bender, and turned up to find her house ransacked by those 'cowboy builders'. Yes, Dakota is spitting mad, but her Prince Charming comes in the shape of Nick, a builder who's pulled himself up by his bootstraps, who's attracted by Dakota's curves and spirit and comes a calling.
If the book wasn't so transparent with its body acceptance issues, the story would have been a pleasant one. But no, on every page is some homily about loving one's size, tips for the 'bigger woman' and Nick saying, "Baby, you aren't fat! No, you all that" which gets tiring after a while. For a moment, I thought that Nick was one of those 'feeders' - because his focus on her weight seemed like an obsession. Ew.
Oh and 'curvy' isn't a synonym for fat, I'm just saying.
I'm avoiding Ms Schuster like the plague from now on. If I want a self help book, I go self help.
If the book wasn't so transparent with its body acceptance issues, the story would have been a pleasant one. But no, on every page is some homily about loving one's size, tips for the 'bigger woman' and Nick saying, "Baby, you aren't fat! No, you all that" which gets tiring after a while. For a moment, I thought that Nick was one of those 'feeders' - because his focus on her weight seemed like an obsession. Ew.
Oh and 'curvy' isn't a synonym for fat, I'm just saying.
I'm avoiding Ms Schuster like the plague from now on. If I want a self help book, I go self help.
August 11, 2022
This working man can certainly fill her needs in every way.
***Updated Aug 2022
loved taking a trip back to early reads
Dakota was on a trip from the man that cause self-doubt. She was embarking on a new portion of her life. She was not expecting to have so many things go wrong on the first day of her new self discovery. Nick was teaching his niece one minute and the next he was looking at his future. They both discover something special in the other. Sometimes a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. Nick took care of business and made it all right for the future he saw for himself, but was he blinded in other areas of his life.
***Updated Aug 2022
loved taking a trip back to early reads
Dakota was on a trip from the man that cause self-doubt. She was embarking on a new portion of her life. She was not expecting to have so many things go wrong on the first day of her new self discovery. Nick was teaching his niece one minute and the next he was looking at his future. They both discover something special in the other. Sometimes a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. Nick took care of business and made it all right for the future he saw for himself, but was he blinded in other areas of his life.
January 2, 2021
3 stars. This was fine for what it was. The writing was a bit of a mess and all over the place and I couldn't stand the heroine, Dakota. She jumped to conclusions too much for my tastes and she was just so unlikable. Nick was the glue of this book because I thought he was great and very charming. The relationship between them was okay, I loved how hard he had fallen for her and how he had no problems making his feelings known. I love heroes like that. The ending was solid and I'll probably read the next book in the series but not any time soon.
March 3, 2019
Love it the 2nd time around as well
This book is funny and romantic. I want to find my working man. I knew the 1st time Lettie was introduced that she was triff but i let the story unfold. It was just as good as the first time i read this series. This book and Poetry man are my favorite.
This book is funny and romantic. I want to find my working man. I knew the 1st time Lettie was introduced that she was triff but i let the story unfold. It was just as good as the first time i read this series. This book and Poetry man are my favorite.
January 23, 2025
I read this book years ago, and it’s even better the second time around.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a page-turner with brilliant dialogue and relatable characters. The spice level was just right.
Nick is a man’s man—direct, honest, and caring. I loved how he helped Dakota build her confidence and calm her fears.
I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a page-turner with brilliant dialogue and relatable characters. The spice level was just right.
Nick is a man’s man—direct, honest, and caring. I loved how he helped Dakota build her confidence and calm her fears.
I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
July 18, 2007
Definitely Worked For Me
Funny and feisty true-crime writer Dakota Phillips has almost everything she wants. She's still looking for the perfect man: very tall, very educated and very cultured—all wrapped up in rich chocolate brown. So far, her insecurities about her generous curves and her independent streak have kept her searching.~~~~~~~Nick is a self-made mogul who works hard, plays hard and loves life's finer things. He's not perfect, but he makes Dakota feel beautiful, desirable—and maybe a little too vulnerable. Dakota can't surrender to a take-charge man, and Nick has worked too hard for everything to give up control. Moving on would be easy—except for a little complication called love.~~~~~~~Melanie Schuster outdid herself with the 'Working Man'. I enjoyed the story from the first page, could not put it down until I was finished. The character development was excellent. The storyline flowed nicely. The attraction between Dakota and Nick was instantaneous, very HOT and very romantic. Nick was not only good looking, but intelligent, hard working, honest, very loyal, outspoken and very good for a woman's ego. All I want to know is where can I get me a Nick Hunter. Brother had it goin' on! I like the fact that Melanie made Dakota Phillips a 'real' woman, with womanly curves, she wasn't the 'Supermodel' heroine we usually read about, she was a size a 16 and with the help of Nick, Toni and her sister Billie, Dakota rebuilt her self-esteem and learned to love her body just the way it was. You can't get more real than that. AWESOME Read. You will not be disappointed!
Funny and feisty true-crime writer Dakota Phillips has almost everything she wants. She's still looking for the perfect man: very tall, very educated and very cultured—all wrapped up in rich chocolate brown. So far, her insecurities about her generous curves and her independent streak have kept her searching.~~~~~~~Nick is a self-made mogul who works hard, plays hard and loves life's finer things. He's not perfect, but he makes Dakota feel beautiful, desirable—and maybe a little too vulnerable. Dakota can't surrender to a take-charge man, and Nick has worked too hard for everything to give up control. Moving on would be easy—except for a little complication called love.~~~~~~~Melanie Schuster outdid herself with the 'Working Man'. I enjoyed the story from the first page, could not put it down until I was finished. The character development was excellent. The storyline flowed nicely. The attraction between Dakota and Nick was instantaneous, very HOT and very romantic. Nick was not only good looking, but intelligent, hard working, honest, very loyal, outspoken and very good for a woman's ego. All I want to know is where can I get me a Nick Hunter. Brother had it goin' on! I like the fact that Melanie made Dakota Phillips a 'real' woman, with womanly curves, she wasn't the 'Supermodel' heroine we usually read about, she was a size a 16 and with the help of Nick, Toni and her sister Billie, Dakota rebuilt her self-esteem and learned to love her body just the way it was. You can't get more real than that. AWESOME Read. You will not be disappointed!
November 14, 2012
My first book by this author and it was really good! I loved that although Dakota and Nick were both wealthy and gorgeous (as per usual with romance novels), they weren't perfect: he was a big ol' country boy who didn't have the greatest taste (the tacky apartment and the diamond pinky rings), and she was a big girl who was insecure about her body. I think these things made them a little more realistic, which was nice. I just really liked these two and thought they were pretty realistic in a lot of aspects. And although I loved Dakota and Nick, Cha-Cha was my absolute fave - and I hate cats! I was kind of curious why the issue that Billie raised re: Toni was never addressed, but I'm guessing we get to see how that plays out in one of the other books, since this is the first in a series (yay!). Anyway, a really cute story that was much better than I anticipated it would be.
October 12, 2009
I really enjoyed the story between Dakota & Nick, but I feel that the ending was a little rushed. Their relationship felt a little rushed, but they were both such likable characters that you didn't mind as much. But the ending felt rushed. Maybe if the trouble maker had been doing stuff all along, it wouldn't have felt as rushed. But I really enjoyed the story and I'm glad I read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2015
This one took me some time to finish but it was overall a really good book. I can't wait to read the others in the series. I am glad that Dakota finally got to a point where she loved herself inside and out and it was refreshing to have the hero in a book looking for someone that was full figured and not super small.
March 28, 2015
When a young girl in a huge SUV rear-ends her new car, Dakota Phillips, famous true-crime writer and journalist, never thought it would lead to her meeting, Nick Hunter, the man of her dreams! Add his crazy ex-wife to the mix and you have one hugely entertaining story!
July 25, 2012
I really enjoyed this book.Melanie really outdid herself. I certaintly will follow her from now on.
December 26, 2012
This was a really cute story!!!
January 24, 2014
Great Read
February 15, 2014
WORKING MAN
WORKING MAN
REALLY GOOD READ WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE I LOVE HOW MANY WAYS COUPLES COME TOGETHER. READ IT FOR YOURSELF.
WORKING MAN
REALLY GOOD READ WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE I LOVE HOW MANY WAYS COUPLES COME TOGETHER. READ IT FOR YOURSELF.
April 23, 2016
Working Man
The love story of Dakota and Nick kept me reading until the end. I couldn't put the book down. I recommend this book to everyone who loves romance novels.
The love story of Dakota and Nick kept me reading until the end. I couldn't put the book down. I recommend this book to everyone who loves romance novels.
April 27, 2017
The ending felt rushed but that's the only complaint I have with this book. Not a bad read.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews