Gimme Back My Clothes

by Anna Hales Owen

A ferry tale come true!Socialite playboy Jaro Cruse loses his clothes—and his name and identity—as part of witness protection, all so that he won’t lose his life. But did they have to send him disguised as a nerd to a wacko island community off the coast of Maine? What’s a celebrity like him to do? Get out, of course. But then why then did he so oddly free, now that he’d escaped fame and fortune?Roslyn McGuiver, the young mayor of the island, knows that nerds are safe. After all, they’re like a third sex! Yet why does she have to fight off this weird attraction to her geeky, uncooperative summer student employee? Meanwhile, she has a community in desperate need of a new direction that needs her attention. And as annoying as he is, Jaro has an even more annoying habit of becoming very useful—and very smooth— he wants to. They’re not exactly fighting but not exactly getting along. He’s not being honest, and she’s not being open-minded. But thanks to the intervention of the island’s cult, biker gang, and pirates, the Women’s Muffin League, the town council, and of course, Hurricane Hubert, both learn to let go of the past.

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary

187 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2010

Reviews

[Shh I'm reading! · Rating 1 out of 5]

I dislike stupidity in heros and Jaro is the first hero I found TSTL. His characteristics just don't add up. A 31yo with an MBA, former VP of [daddy's] hotel empire turned firefighter, turned bank robbery hero. Yet, I'm supposed to believe this person would throw a temper tantrum with the law enforcement who have him placed in WitSec. Because heaven forbid that you would want to disguise yourself when someone is trying to kill you and you've become the handsome, heroic face of America. To be forced to hide in a remote Maine island? Naturally, a grown man with his level of education would react like a teenage diva and purposefully attempt to botch a job interview.
Add to that the unbelievable fact that the cops would allow him to continue using an unusual first name like Jaro, I found the book unbelievable and was irritated by the number of times they used the word dweeb. Nerd/geek okay. But dweeb. How 1989 of you. I could go on. But I won't. Just like I won't recommend this book.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Poor Jaro plays hero, taking down a bank robber and winds up in the Witness Protection Program. He finds himself wearing glasses that resemble Coke bottles and a fake mustache and beard to disquish his appearance. If that isn't bad enough, the police send his newly nerdy self to a little island in Maine where everyone seems to be crazy. Everyone, that is, except for their mayor--his new boss.

Roslyn is cursed! Every man she's ever been involved with ends up behind bars. When her new dweeb of an assistant walks into her office, she's relieved--until she finds herself attracted to him.

Gimme Back My Clothes is a complete giggle-fest! For a romance, it's very tame with only one intimate scene that is very vanilla (no steam here). Good or bad, you decide. I thoroughly enjoyed this cute story and look forward to reading more from Anna Hales Owen!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check your brain at the door, light romance. Take a bored high society type working as a NY fireman for excitement who is under a death threat because he saw the face of a bank robber when he jumped him thus foiling the robbery. Send him to hide out in Maine on an island populated by folks who look at life from a different angle. Add in a smart young lady mayor and let the fun begin. Jaro is sent incognito to work for the mayor of Dagger Township. He looks like a dweeb which is a good thing because Mayor Roslyn has a bad record when it comes to men. Can ladies man Jaro score even looking like a dweeb? Is Roslyn’s loser streak about to end?

I enjoyed this quick escape. There were some truly funny scenes. If you are looking for scorching sex skip this one.

[Dorothy Timm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actually I suppose I'd give it two and a half stars. However, there was just so much unbelievable in this book. First, there was very little mention of his disguise, except the occassional mention of his "pocket protector", as if that would cover it completely. No understanding of why the mayor was attracted to him except that he had an atractive body. And of course, to use the same, unusual name as part of his disguise as was his real name-that made no sense. The book was just too unbelievable, even for me who tends to accept things in books for the storyline.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fun book to read. Bewteen Jaro's arrogant, teasing attitude and crazy-fun islanders, Gimme Back My Clothes will have you grinning and laughing through the whole story.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was OK

[jackie frye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an odd read more so for the odd characters who weren't what they seemed. Not sure what to say without repeating the blurb or giving away too much. If the blurb sounds interesting to you or peaks your curiosity then give this one a try.

[Chayrl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, non-serious read,,I loved it!

[Chelsea Langston · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a strange romance/action book. Very short. Funny though in some parts.

[Lucy McCoskey · Rating 4 out of 5]

suspend disbelief & have fun! this is a quick, silly read that is good medicine for the temporarily gloomy