Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
11th out of 36 books
—
37 voters
Hero at Large (Second Chance at Love #409)
by
Janet Evanovich (Goodreads Author)
He cooks a pot holder in the spaghetti sauce and needs lessons on making Jell-O. Still, single mom and ice skating coach Chris Nelson is committed to keeping her sexy, scruffy, new “house husband” around. After all, she did break his arm…and his toe…and she can’t just turn him out into the cold…
It seemed like luck when this gorgeous stranger first stopped to help Chris wit...more
It seemed like luck when this gorgeous stranger first stopped to help Chris wit...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
March 30th 2010
by Harper
(first published 1987)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
I read One For the Money, the first Stephanie Plum book and didn't quite connect with it, but I decided to give Evanovich another try and I enjoyed this fun, fizzy little story.
The characters of Chris and Ken were fun to get to know, along with her Aunt Edna, who added a lot to the story. The romance is definitely here, but it's more in thoughts and feelings than bumping and grinding on the page. I actually like that, something left to the imagination is kind of nice.
Be warned you'll have to be...more
The characters of Chris and Ken were fun to get to know, along with her Aunt Edna, who added a lot to the story. The romance is definitely here, but it's more in thoughts and feelings than bumping and grinding on the page. I actually like that, something left to the imagination is kind of nice.
Be warned you'll have to be...more
2 likes · like · see review
view 2 comments
I'm a fan of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series but haven't read any of her earlier stuff. She wrote romances from 1988 - 1992 which have been re-released ... this is one of them. I downloaded it from the library.
The characters were likable and I especially liked our hero, Ken. He was funny and caring. Aunt Edna was cute too. I liked our heroine, Chris, but her dwelling on her past marriage got very old and tiresome. She'd been married to a cad for about two months eight years ago ... he'd...more
The characters were likable and I especially liked our hero, Ken. He was funny and caring. Aunt Edna was cute too. I liked our heroine, Chris, but her dwelling on her past marriage got very old and tiresome. She'd been married to a cad for about two months eight years ago ... he'd...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This is the first (?) of Evanovich's pre-Plum romances? I've been hunting them all down and reading them; I've got five more to go through.
Every book is essentially about the exact same two characters. They go by different names, have different appearances, have different jobs each time around, but the woman and the man are always essentially identical, personality-wise.
The reason I keep reading them anyway is because 1) I like Evanovich in general, and 2) the overall situation surrounding the o...more
Every book is essentially about the exact same two characters. They go by different names, have different appearances, have different jobs each time around, but the woman and the man are always essentially identical, personality-wise.
The reason I keep reading them anyway is because 1) I like Evanovich in general, and 2) the overall situation surrounding the o...more
A reissue of an old Janet Evanovich romance. It appears to have been updated a bit from its original release (Ken has a cell phone that he lets Chris borrow), but not much. It reads like on old romance, but is cute. Aunt Edna is a predecessor to Grandma Mazur and there is a big dog named Bob in it as well. So, once again, we can see the beginnings of the Plum clan.
Chris meets Ken on the side of the road after her car breaks down. He offers to help her and then she accidentally breaks his arm. By...more
Chris meets Ken on the side of the road after her car breaks down. He offers to help her and then she accidentally breaks his arm. By...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
4 likes · like · see review
Before Janet Evanovich authored her Stephanie Plum series she wrote twelve romance novels that were all re-released by HarperCollins in the past couple of years. This was Janet's very first book published. When I saw it on my To-Be-Read pile I knew it was perfect for the What's In A Name Challenge for the book with a size in the title.
Chris Nelson gave up her figure skating career for a man only to have the marriage end in divorce. She is now a single mom living with her daughter and her aunt. S...more
Chris Nelson gave up her figure skating career for a man only to have the marriage end in divorce. She is now a single mom living with her daughter and her aunt. S...more
She breaks down
He stops to help her
She is scared of his scruffy appearance.
Then when the bonnet crashes onto his arms while he is trying to help breaking one of his arms - she takes him to the hospital and then takes him home
(view spoiler)...more
He stops to help her
She is scared of his scruffy appearance.
Then when the bonnet crashes onto his arms while he is trying to help breaking one of his arms - she takes him to the hospital and then takes him home
(view spoiler)...more
I love Janet Evanovich's romances, they are so funny. I love them because the people in them seem real with real problems and they are easy to relate to.
This one is probably one of my favorites, I always enjoy romances that involve a single parent and this one was no exception and Evanovich always seems to find a way to include one crazy old lady into the mix!
The cover shows a dog and a rabbit and honestly I thought that would be part of the story. It was actually, but only a very small part.
T...more
This one is probably one of my favorites, I always enjoy romances that involve a single parent and this one was no exception and Evanovich always seems to find a way to include one crazy old lady into the mix!
The cover shows a dog and a rabbit and honestly I thought that would be part of the story. It was actually, but only a very small part.
T...more
Overall I really enjoyed this book, and thought it was very entertaining. When I started reading this book I thought that I really liked the character, and the climate of the book. When I visualized what was happening in the book, I really liked how the pictures in my head had alot of colors, and I was able to understand what was happening really well. My favorite character was Ken because I really liked how no matter what, he did not give up on trying to win Chris, and he never lost hope that h...more
Aug 19, 2010
Bev
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
chick-lit-indulgence,
audio-version
I thought I would treat myself to something very light and fluffy after listening to the incredibly long and heavy World Without End by Ken Follett, and this certainly fit the bill. It was Janet Evanovich's first published work, and it clearly sets the mold for all of her books--screwball romances with a harried heroine, a devilish but lovable and "hunky" man, a crazy but well-intentioned old lady, a dog, lots of mishaps and misunderstandings, and a happy ending that is too good to be true but l...more
Chris is an ice skating coach who has the worst luck with cars. When her breaks down on the way to work a nice guy stops to help her fix it, hijinks ensue as is typical of any Janet Evanovich novel. Ken falls immediately in love with Chris, even after she accidentally breaks his arm, and does everything he can to insert himself into her life including renting the basement apartment of her condo from her aunt. Even as Chris resists his charms, she realizes she has feelings for Ken as well, but is...more
The story is cute and the characters are interesting - but overall it was pretty much the same old stuff from her previous romances. Cute dialog, old ladies with agendas, and a dog. Unfortunately for the dog lovers, the dog fades out about chapter 3 and is never seen again [after digging up the neighbors garden, the hero has someone elsewhere take care of him:].
Probably the hardest thing to handle is the hero, who's supposed to be so smart, but doesn't get around to telling the heroine that he...more
Probably the hardest thing to handle is the hero, who's supposed to be so smart, but doesn't get around to telling the heroine that he...more
According to the note by Janet Evanovich in the front of the book, this was her first published novel. It seemed obvious since it wasn't as polished as her more recent works. The premise was kind of far-fetched. Seriously, how many women would take a stranger into their home after that stranger stopped to help them with car trouble and the woman accidentally broke his arm? Taking him to the hospital I could believe, but letting him live in your house, not so much. Anyway, it was an easy read and...more
Before the first Stephanie Plum novel, Janet Evanovich wrote romances under the name of Steffie Hall. Many have been re-released and more recently became available from the Boston Public Library as eBooks through Overdrive.
Hero at Large was her first romance and is the story of Chris Nelson, single mom to Lucy and former world-class ice skater, and Ken Callahan Knight, a carpenter/businessman seeking a simpler life. Add the match-making Aunt Edna, and well... you can figure out where all this en...more
Hero at Large was her first romance and is the story of Chris Nelson, single mom to Lucy and former world-class ice skater, and Ken Callahan Knight, a carpenter/businessman seeking a simpler life. Add the match-making Aunt Edna, and well... you can figure out where all this en...more
It should be noted that this was my first foray into a pure "Romance" novel but I have to say I found this novel painful. I would have given it a 1.5 if the option was there. I enjoyed some of the character development and interplay but all of the story line just wasn't believable. There was too much of a jump for the main character from conservative mom to this complete stranger can live in my house.
These books lack the substance and plot line of the Stephanie Plum adventures.
All that being sai...more
These books lack the substance and plot line of the Stephanie Plum adventures.
All that being sai...more
Chris Nelson angst about maintenance leads to roadside break down of her car. Ken Callahan stops to help her with the car. Good intentions lead to the hood falling on his arms and breaking one. Chris is forced to drive him, in his truck, to the hospital.
Chris takes Ken with her to her job at an ice rink, he's fallen asleep, so she leaves him in the truck. When she is finished teaching her skating students, she goes out to the parking l to find Ken and the truck missing, along with her purse. She...more
Chris takes Ken with her to her job at an ice rink, he's fallen asleep, so she leaves him in the truck. When she is finished teaching her skating students, she goes out to the parking l to find Ken and the truck missing, along with her purse. She...more
Evanovich's pre-Plum titles tend to be very inconsistent. This one was pretty good. When you've read a few of them, especially if you've also read the Plum series, these can also be a bit repetitive, but I've found watching Evanovich's writing (and stock characters) develop. In Hero at Large we have Bob the Dog, Grandma Mazur, and a precursor to Matt Hallahan from Smitten.
Hero at Large is also internally inconsistent in that Chris is well developed, but Ken isn't. We only understand him, and hi...more
Hero at Large is also internally inconsistent in that Chris is well developed, but Ken isn't. We only understand him, and hi...more
Fans of Janet Evanovich and Stephanie Plum will no doubt be interested in this book. This is the very first in a line of novels that finally gave birth to the best-selling Plum series. While this is a romance, glimpses of a Stephanie-like character can be seen in the heroine of this novel. Cars that don’t run, an accident-prone protagonist who breaks bones – not her own – and a bothersome but lovable aunt all seem to be the beginning of the character personalities and writing style that we all l...more
I really enjoy Evanovich's novels, they are full of wacky situations and often car problems. This one was re released in March and was one of the first ones she wrote years ago before developing the Stephanie Plum series. Both of the main characters were likable. For some reason I had a hard time getting into the book and even put it down for quite a while, but then when I picked it back up I finished it in a couple of days. It reads very fast. This would be a great book to read at the beach, pe...more
I am such a sucker for anything written by Janet Evanovich. This book was so sweet and so cute. The two goofballs, meet when Chris' car breaks down at the side of the road. Ken comes to her rescue and she gets so frustrated with him, she accidentally breaks his arm when her engine hood slams shut! When Chris' Aunt Edna gets involved and rents Ken a room in their house, Chris is doomed. Love and hilarity follow, not necessarily in that order.
I read it in less than a day, even with some major brea...more
I read it in less than a day, even with some major brea...more
WOW was this ever a bad book. I mean, I know that Janet Evanovich's re-releases are usually just pale, distant relatives of Stephanie Plum, but dang, this was BAD BAD BAD. Horrible, annoying characters who made choices that made no sense (really, you dump the guy who has done nothing but nice, romantic things for you just because he's rich and successful? Hello?), anorexic plot lines, and absolutely NOTHING to make you care about the story. There was a good chunk of the book that I totally zoned...more
Chris Nelson is one her way home from her job as a figure skating coach when her cars breaks down. Ken Callahan pulls up behind Chris and tries to help her get her stalled car started. The calamity begins when Chris knocks down the car hood on Ken's arm causing it to break. Chris takes Ken to her home to try to help with his broken arm and Ken ends up moving in. Slowly Chris comes to realize how much she cares for Ken but is afraid to commit because she was burned by her first and only marriage....more
Just finished today what I consider a 4 star book! It is a super light read which is not totally uncharacteristic for me. I believe you should have many types of books. This is my first romantic comedy EVER. I didn't even know they existed in a book format. I laughed out loud more than ever and that is truly amazing. I usually don't laugh right out at a movie very often either. I just thought this book was funny and it tickled me to know that this genre exists. Also it is very clean for a romanc...more
This is one of those early Evanovich romances that are usually pretty entertaining but in this case, just drove me nuts. The female protagonist is stereotypical beyond belief. Bad first marriage, cute but klutzy, not good with cars, irascible female relative, she's got it all. The male meets her, falls instantly in love and then moves in until she loves him too. Into her house, with her daughter. Not good parenting. This probably should have gotten one star. But I wasn't expecting much and actua...more
I liked this book from the beginning then I hated it about 3/4 though and was disappointed in the end. If Ken Callahan and Kenneth Knight were supposed to be the same person then he shouldn't have acted like two completely different people. Of course that is how Chris is going to perceive him when he acts just like she expects! Anyway, I was frustrated as you can see. I give it 3 stars instead of 2 because I really really liked the sweet love story in the beginning with the quirky guy and the li...more
Aug 01, 2012
Lyndsay
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
america-new-england,
audio,
heroine-klutzy,
harlequin,
lol,
mistaken-identity,
richy-rich,
sport,
single-parent
One of the author's earlier novels. characters unrealistic, plot scenario completely mental. What woman would let a man she has known for 2 hours move in with her and ehr 6 year old girl.
DO NOT READ if you are expecting Stephanie Plum antics and or plot.
Cute story. listened to audio book driving to work. Only real issue was the whole drama about him really being a wealthy, successful business man. Seriously that is what she is going to B*tch about?
She should have had a funnier more light heart...more
DO NOT READ if you are expecting Stephanie Plum antics and or plot.
Cute story. listened to audio book driving to work. Only real issue was the whole drama about him really being a wealthy, successful business man. Seriously that is what she is going to B*tch about?
She should have had a funnier more light heart...more
My review is cross-posted from Joyfully Reviewed: http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/revie...
When Chris Nelson’s car breaks down on the side of the road, it seems like a stroke of good luck when a sexy stranger stops to help her. Ken Callahan is a gorgeous – in a disreputable looking way – construction worker on the way to his first day at a new job. Then Chris accidentally breaks his arm and winds up with an unexpected roommate. The single mother and former professional ice skater has neither the...more
When Chris Nelson’s car breaks down on the side of the road, it seems like a stroke of good luck when a sexy stranger stops to help her. Ken Callahan is a gorgeous – in a disreputable looking way – construction worker on the way to his first day at a new job. Then Chris accidentally breaks his arm and winds up with an unexpected roommate. The single mother and former professional ice skater has neither the...more
Breaking down on the side of the road was the worst way for Chris Nelson to start her day. Adding to a broken car, when Ken Callahan stopped to help her, she accidentally broke his arm. Having a broken arm was not something that Ken had planned for his week, but his decision to go with the flow of things led him to living in Chris’ basement and then a broken toe also. The surprising attraction they both felt for each other grew even through the eggs on the floor and burnt dinners, but will it be...more
Ok, I really like Janet Evanovich's writing. So, of course, I really wanted to like this book. It was not going to happen, unfortunately. While a lot of good components are there, the really essential things I look for in her books were lacking. The main character was not particularly likeable, and she came across dumb as a brick. Not good. This book was a complete turnaround from what I consider an Evanovich book. I'm not planning on reading the her other older books if this is a preview.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Janet Evanovich is the #1 bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum novels, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and graphic novels, Wicked Appetite (the first book in the Lizzy and Diesel series,) and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author.
Also published books under the name Steffie Hall.
More about Janet Evanovich...
Also published books under the name Steffie Hall.
Share This Book
3 trivia questions
More quizzes & trivia...
“...Don't you just hate a phony-looking stiff?" - Aunt Edna”
—
5 people liked it
More quotes…
