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Elsie Hawkins #3
Wife for Hire
Hank Mallone knows he's in trouble when Maggie Toone agrees to pretend to be his wife in order to improve his rogue's reputation. Will his harebrained scheme to get a bank loan for his business backfire once Maggie arrives in his small Vermont town and lets the gossips take a look?
Maggie never expected her employer to be drop-dead handsome, but she's too intrigued by his offer to say no . . . and too eager to escape a life that made her feel trapped. The deal is strictly business, both agree, until Hank turns out to be every fantasy she ever had.
Maggie never expected her employer to be drop-dead handsome, but she's too intrigued by his offer to say no . . . and too eager to escape a life that made her feel trapped. The deal is strictly business, both agree, until Hank turns out to be every fantasy she ever had.
234 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
391 people are currently reading
5087 people want to read
About the author
Janet Evanovich
333 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 684 reviews
January 19, 2023
4 Stars for Wife for Hire: Elsie Hawkins, Book 3 (audiobook) by Janet Evanovich read by C. J. Critt.
This is a fun romance where Janet Evanovich gets to play with a couple of interesting tropes. I find her books are a nice treat between more serious stories.
This is a fun romance where Janet Evanovich gets to play with a couple of interesting tropes. I find her books are a nice treat between more serious stories.
February 10, 2017
Wife For Hire is a pre-Plum novel by popular American author, Janet Evanovich. It is the third book in the Elsie Hawkins series, on whom, Evanovich says, Grandma Mazur was modelled. Fans of the Plum series will be interested to know that in this book, Grandma Mazur’s famous big gun in the handbag has its prototype.
Maggie Toone needs to get away from Riverside, away from her mom and Aunt Marvina: she needs somewhere quiet to write her novel. Her Aunt Kitty was once a madam in a brothel, and she left Maggie her diaries. Hank Mallone’s job offer sounds just the ticket: pretend to be his wife for six months while she writes her book.
Hank Mallone needs to seem respectable: everyone in Skogen, Vermont knows about his rogue reputation, but he’s serious about his apple orchard and the cider press, bottling plant and apple pie bakery he wants to build. But the President of the bank (Hank’s dad) won’t approve his loan. With Maggie Toone as his wife he will look stable and settled.
This is a cute romance with plenty of zany characters. Instant attraction between hero and heroine, a bit of sexy action and a real marriage proposal make this a fun tale which, unfortunately, drags on just a bit too long.
Maggie Toone needs to get away from Riverside, away from her mom and Aunt Marvina: she needs somewhere quiet to write her novel. Her Aunt Kitty was once a madam in a brothel, and she left Maggie her diaries. Hank Mallone’s job offer sounds just the ticket: pretend to be his wife for six months while she writes her book.
Hank Mallone needs to seem respectable: everyone in Skogen, Vermont knows about his rogue reputation, but he’s serious about his apple orchard and the cider press, bottling plant and apple pie bakery he wants to build. But the President of the bank (Hank’s dad) won’t approve his loan. With Maggie Toone as his wife he will look stable and settled.
This is a cute romance with plenty of zany characters. Instant attraction between hero and heroine, a bit of sexy action and a real marriage proposal make this a fun tale which, unfortunately, drags on just a bit too long.
November 5, 2009
Living in the small town of Skogen Vermont, Hank Mallone’s youthful antics were part of town legends - as entertainment. Needing a loan from the bank to expand his business, Hank found that those past mistakes really can impact his future. Coming up with a scheme to convince the whole town that he had become a responsible and stable member of the community led him to New Jersey to find a wife. The only person to respond to his request was Maggie Toone, she was tired of living under her mother and Aunt’s judgments. Maggie had decided she needed someplace quiet to write her book and the offer of a fake marriage might just be exactly what she needed.
Each of the characters have such a sense of humor and wit that, when put together makes for a laugh out loud story. The mystery of who is breaking into house and why may be a serious concern but how each of the situations turn out is just one more thing to laugh at. From the dinner party with the ex’s showing up and the flaming table to being kidnapped with the housekeeper and her handy-dandy pocketbook this is a loaded with lots of fun and misunderstandings. There is also a love-at-first-sight romance that has a few highs and quickly turns the fake marriage into a real proposition. I have read several of Janet Evanovich’s re-releases and this, so far is my favorite, it has such a great mix of emotions and out right comedy to keep the pages turning. I can actually say I couldn’t put it down till it was done.
Each of the characters have such a sense of humor and wit that, when put together makes for a laugh out loud story. The mystery of who is breaking into house and why may be a serious concern but how each of the situations turn out is just one more thing to laugh at. From the dinner party with the ex’s showing up and the flaming table to being kidnapped with the housekeeper and her handy-dandy pocketbook this is a loaded with lots of fun and misunderstandings. There is also a love-at-first-sight romance that has a few highs and quickly turns the fake marriage into a real proposition. I have read several of Janet Evanovich’s re-releases and this, so far is my favorite, it has such a great mix of emotions and out right comedy to keep the pages turning. I can actually say I couldn’t put it down till it was done.
February 7, 2023
Love it! I just love this whole series and all of Janet's early romances. How come no one writes these wonderful comedy, light mystery, romances???? They are just fantastic, and I eat them up. If I were an author this is what I would write. I am supposed to be reading a "Romantic-Suspense" right now, but I'm hooked on this book. It is just sooooo fun! I want more!!!
July 15, 2012
It was like a bad Hallmark movie. You knew it was going to be okay at the end, but the process made you roll your eyes countless times.
September 12, 2018
Before she made it big with the Stephanie Plum books, Janet Evanovich wrote several screwball romances. This is one of those books. If you like Stephanie, you'll probably really enjoy this, too. You can see the pieces coming together for what will be that series. Maggie, the main character in this, is sort of a proto-Stephanie, just more together... mostly.
Maggie Toone wants to at least take a year off from her teaching job, if not outright quit, to write a book based on the diary of her Aunt Kitty, who was a madam. Desperate for a job, she responds to a really weird offer-- leave New Jersey behind, move to small town Skogen, VT, and pretend to be Hank Mallone's wife for six months. He needs to look like he's settled down to get a loan for the company he's starting.
Of course, sparks fly as they get to know each other. The love scenes are a bit more explicit than anything in the Stephanie books, but well done. And then there's the ongoing mystery of someone trying to steal Aunt Kitty's diary. Will they get married for real? Will the book get finished? Will they find out who is behind the ridiculous offer for the dairy?
It's a fun little story and a really quick read. Recommended to Stephanie Plum fans, Evanovich fans, and anyone who likes a screwy, slightly sexy, comedy/romance. Not usually my style, but I have to admit I'm a fan of Evanovich.
Maggie Toone wants to at least take a year off from her teaching job, if not outright quit, to write a book based on the diary of her Aunt Kitty, who was a madam. Desperate for a job, she responds to a really weird offer-- leave New Jersey behind, move to small town Skogen, VT, and pretend to be Hank Mallone's wife for six months. He needs to look like he's settled down to get a loan for the company he's starting.
Of course, sparks fly as they get to know each other. The love scenes are a bit more explicit than anything in the Stephanie books, but well done. And then there's the ongoing mystery of someone trying to steal Aunt Kitty's diary. Will they get married for real? Will the book get finished? Will they find out who is behind the ridiculous offer for the dairy?
It's a fun little story and a really quick read. Recommended to Stephanie Plum fans, Evanovich fans, and anyone who likes a screwy, slightly sexy, comedy/romance. Not usually my style, but I have to admit I'm a fan of Evanovich.
May 14, 2010
Maggie Toone has always been a bit of a problem child. Even now, at age 27, she is driving her mother and aunt crazy because she refuses to settle down - both in a relationship and in her job. She has quit her teaching job (which she wasn't all that good at) and wants to write full time. Her late Aunt Kitty was a Madame and Maggie thinks her diary will make a perfect book. But she needs to earn some money while writing, so she agrees to pose as Hank Mallone's wife for six months. Hank too has been a bit wild in the past but needs to prove to his father, president of the local bank, that he is settled down with a wife so his father will lend him money for his beloved apple crop. The arrangement is supposed to be no strings attached and in name only, but that's far easier said than done as sparks fly whenever Maggie and Hank are near each other.
"Wife for Hire" is a very funny but extremely light romance novel. It is an early Janet Evanovich novel, written before her success with the Stephanie Plum series, but you can see hints of the Plum series even in the early books. Housekeeper Elsie especially reads like a Plum character - she's a pistol carrying older woman who will remind readers of Grandma Mazur. The main characters - Maggie and Ben - are okay but largely forgettable as characters. Neither one of them has any characteristics to make them stand out. The same is true with the rest of the townspeople, and it is hard to understand why Maggie takes a dislike to the town and its inhabitants including Bubba, Ben's best friend. The romance between Maggie and Ben feels rushed and not very believable. One plot line - why someone is trying to steal Aunt Kitty's diary - could have been better. It comes too late in the novel and when the reason why everyone is trying to steal the diary is revealed it is quite a let down.
What makes the novel worth reading at all is the slapstick humor throughout it. There are lots of laugh out loud moments including a dinner party that Maggie and Ben have (which will remind readers of dinner at the Plum house); the various burglary attempts; and a couple of kidnapping attempts. All of the townspeople are very funny characters. However, the humor doesn't disguise the fact that there is little plot to the book.
"Wife for Hire" is short on plot and long on humor.
"Wife for Hire" is a very funny but extremely light romance novel. It is an early Janet Evanovich novel, written before her success with the Stephanie Plum series, but you can see hints of the Plum series even in the early books. Housekeeper Elsie especially reads like a Plum character - she's a pistol carrying older woman who will remind readers of Grandma Mazur. The main characters - Maggie and Ben - are okay but largely forgettable as characters. Neither one of them has any characteristics to make them stand out. The same is true with the rest of the townspeople, and it is hard to understand why Maggie takes a dislike to the town and its inhabitants including Bubba, Ben's best friend. The romance between Maggie and Ben feels rushed and not very believable. One plot line - why someone is trying to steal Aunt Kitty's diary - could have been better. It comes too late in the novel and when the reason why everyone is trying to steal the diary is revealed it is quite a let down.
What makes the novel worth reading at all is the slapstick humor throughout it. There are lots of laugh out loud moments including a dinner party that Maggie and Ben have (which will remind readers of dinner at the Plum house); the various burglary attempts; and a couple of kidnapping attempts. All of the townspeople are very funny characters. However, the humor doesn't disguise the fact that there is little plot to the book.
"Wife for Hire" is short on plot and long on humor.
July 16, 2015
Silly. Weak. Quick read. Cute trash. Not my kind of book and I was definitely not expecting anything profound or life changing. However, this book belongs to a whole new and superior level of uselessness. I managed to finish reading it at the expense of my intelligence being severely assaulted. This book and its content or the lack of it, is everything that is wrong with the way we approach love these days. So much for diversification - never again.
May 24, 2016
A quick funny read to break up my harder quests. This is the first of Evanovich's numerous titles that I've read. It was fun to just get lost in this for a few hours and laugh along with the characters. There was a LOT going on, REALLY fast paced and a super quick wrap up. Good for in between some of my lengthier more emotional reads!
September 14, 2015
Sometimes you just want to read a cute little love story. This is it. Just heart-warming fun.
August 8, 2018
I love Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series so when I saw she was the author I grabbed this book. I wasn't disappointed.
Wife for Hire is the third in her Elise Hawkins series. Maggie Toone is hired to bt Hank Mallone's to act as his wife in order to get a loan from the bank. Maggie sees this as a good opportunity to write the book she has been planning. Since nothing is really required of her besides appearing as Hank's wife, she takes the offer. Then the fun ensues.
This book is laugh out loud funny and introduces us to a range of characters that have good hearts even if they are misguides. It has a sweet love story that will have you giggling through this little book. If you like Janet and enjoy laughing, you'll enjoy this book.
Wife for Hire is the third in her Elise Hawkins series. Maggie Toone is hired to bt Hank Mallone's to act as his wife in order to get a loan from the bank. Maggie sees this as a good opportunity to write the book she has been planning. Since nothing is really required of her besides appearing as Hank's wife, she takes the offer. Then the fun ensues.
This book is laugh out loud funny and introduces us to a range of characters that have good hearts even if they are misguides. It has a sweet love story that will have you giggling through this little book. If you like Janet and enjoy laughing, you'll enjoy this book.
November 27, 2024
Fake dating, insta-love, silly writing. The romance is meh, but the book was fun.
January 26, 2025
Fun but forgettable.
July 24, 2010
Good early Evanovich, even though a nearly plotless love story...
We didn't know Janet Evanovich wrote romance stories earlier in her career, but we stumbled across this title and couldn't resist seeing how she did before she got famous with her Stephanie Plum bounty hunter series. The good news is: Janet is just as funny and whimsical here as are her better known recent works. The bad news is, the plot synopsis can be stated in about 20 words: man hires woman to pose as wife, they immediately fall insanely in love, and will they stay together after the gig?? Bet you can guess! Between the heated blood coursing through their veins at every touch, to -- well you get the drift. I guess that's why they call such tales "bodice rippers..." For a nice easy read, no mental stress, little doubt about the story line, and some heart warming (I guess) relationship study (with no explicit sex), coupled with that great Evanovich sense of humor, give it a try. Supposedly she did a few others for Loveswept, but I'll take my chances on missing those.
We didn't know Janet Evanovich wrote romance stories earlier in her career, but we stumbled across this title and couldn't resist seeing how she did before she got famous with her Stephanie Plum bounty hunter series. The good news is: Janet is just as funny and whimsical here as are her better known recent works. The bad news is, the plot synopsis can be stated in about 20 words: man hires woman to pose as wife, they immediately fall insanely in love, and will they stay together after the gig?? Bet you can guess! Between the heated blood coursing through their veins at every touch, to -- well you get the drift. I guess that's why they call such tales "bodice rippers..." For a nice easy read, no mental stress, little doubt about the story line, and some heart warming (I guess) relationship study (with no explicit sex), coupled with that great Evanovich sense of humor, give it a try. Supposedly she did a few others for Loveswept, but I'll take my chances on missing those.
July 21, 2013
"Let me get this straight. You want to marry me so you can autograph copies of your book for the quilting club?"
"Yes."
He couldn't resist teasing a little, "I don't know. That's not very romantic. I'm not sure that's a good reason for marriage."
You crack me up Janet Evanovich.
I loved the story, it was fast, simple and funny... Though, I'm glad it isn't the first book I read for Janet Evanovich.
"Yes."
He couldn't resist teasing a little, "I don't know. That's not very romantic. I'm not sure that's a good reason for marriage."
You crack me up Janet Evanovich.
I loved the story, it was fast, simple and funny... Though, I'm glad it isn't the first book I read for Janet Evanovich.
September 11, 2011
Short book read it in a couple of hours, very predictable, only read it cause my mother in law left it while visiting. Typical romance novel if you like Janet Evanovich you'll like this book.
January 27, 2016
This book was a quick read and really funny. I love the between the Plum stories.
June 6, 2013
Quick read. Adorable. Made me laugh a lot.
August 8, 2015
I just love Janet Evanovich!! She writes about real people with real problems!!! Liked the idea behind the story but liked her One for the money, Two for the dough series better.
August 12, 2020
Cute lightweight book. A little romance, a little humor and a little drama (that quickly fizzled out). This was my bedtime book and it was perfect for that.
August 7, 2020
The Character of Elsie Hawkins is great; she brings a comic element to a formulaic romance which listens it up a little. Janet Evanovich knows how to write a love story, complete with frustration, resolution, slightly steamy scenes and always a happy ending. Another great beach read.
January 30, 2025
I am really amazed at the writing style of Janet Evanovich. I find this book very romantic even though the scene is just very light.
October 6, 2022
Cute enough read! I was mad at Hank's dad when I thought he offered money to have someone steal Aunt Kitty's diary so Maggie couldn't write her book. He redeemed himself when he told her that he jokingly said he'd pay someone a million dollars to steal the diary but didn't really mean it. The "stupid" guy listening thought he really meant it.
February 27, 2025
It took to the end of the book for the romance part of the story to actually click. Thankfully, the subplot and all the side characters carried the book to the end.
.
.
October 14, 2022
A fun read. The characters rang true in their emotions, character frame of minds, and I loved the modern independence of the book writing young woman. Reminder of friends and myself in our younger days.
I want to give this humorous romance three and a half stars.
I want to give this humorous romance three and a half stars.
June 20, 2015
http://opoksociety.com/article/wife-f...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro
Wife for Hire is an amazing book! First you have Maggie, who just wants some time for herself and to write her book. But she’s unemployed and that isn’t the best of things to her mother and aunt eyes. They would prefer for her to get married and settle down before she gets any older. Maggie definitely will not agree to that.
Then we have Hank, who just wanted a blonde girl to play the role of his dear wife. But instead he gets red haired Maggie, who always has to have the last word. Having no money himself, he agrees to Maggie’s terms and vice versa, each to obtain what they want. Things change when they get to Vermont and Maggie sees the marriage she has signed herself to.
This was such a funny and romantic story. I was caught instantly by its characters and could relate to one or two things. There is not a character I didn’t like, one could probably go and live in that little town just for the fun of it. Elsie Hawkins is just hilarious, along with Hank’s friend Bubba, the ex-girlfriends, mom and dad, practically every living person in town, and let’s not forget Horatio and Fluffy our Dynamic Duo pets.
The fake marriage is only the icing on the cake for all of the crazy events that happen during the time Maggie is in Vermont. I never expected anything like that to happen. But it was well plotted. What a few missed heard words can make you do, and at the same time bring our couple together.
“They had me trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey, brought here in a flour sack. Can you imagine that? After I paid sixteen dollars to have my hair done too.”
“It looks okay, and we washed the flour sack out last night so it wouldn’t ruin your dress. We tried to think of everything.”
Though Wife for Hire is a book that was published years ago, it is a story you can always go back to and enjoy. It’s a great story for the summer, and if you’re in for some romance and a good read Wife for Hire is the book for you.
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro
Wife for Hire is an amazing book! First you have Maggie, who just wants some time for herself and to write her book. But she’s unemployed and that isn’t the best of things to her mother and aunt eyes. They would prefer for her to get married and settle down before she gets any older. Maggie definitely will not agree to that.
Then we have Hank, who just wanted a blonde girl to play the role of his dear wife. But instead he gets red haired Maggie, who always has to have the last word. Having no money himself, he agrees to Maggie’s terms and vice versa, each to obtain what they want. Things change when they get to Vermont and Maggie sees the marriage she has signed herself to.
This was such a funny and romantic story. I was caught instantly by its characters and could relate to one or two things. There is not a character I didn’t like, one could probably go and live in that little town just for the fun of it. Elsie Hawkins is just hilarious, along with Hank’s friend Bubba, the ex-girlfriends, mom and dad, practically every living person in town, and let’s not forget Horatio and Fluffy our Dynamic Duo pets.
The fake marriage is only the icing on the cake for all of the crazy events that happen during the time Maggie is in Vermont. I never expected anything like that to happen. But it was well plotted. What a few missed heard words can make you do, and at the same time bring our couple together.
“They had me trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey, brought here in a flour sack. Can you imagine that? After I paid sixteen dollars to have my hair done too.”
“It looks okay, and we washed the flour sack out last night so it wouldn’t ruin your dress. We tried to think of everything.”
Though Wife for Hire is a book that was published years ago, it is a story you can always go back to and enjoy. It’s a great story for the summer, and if you’re in for some romance and a good read Wife for Hire is the book for you.
November 21, 2012
Wife for Hire by Janet Evanovich is a cute, fun and quick read.
Maggie Toone is an English teacher who doesn't fit in. Her grandmother gives her a diary, and asks her to make a book out of it. She decides to do it, but needs time off from work, but also needs an income while she writes it.
Hank Mallone is also a mitfit in his own town. He's a happy-go-lucky type of guy. But after years of having fun, Hank decides to set roots in his hometown. His grandmother left him an apple orchard. He decides to make a business for it, but needs a loan from the bank. The bank does not want to grant him a loan, because is known to not set any roots. So he decides to hire a wife so town folk would think he's finally settling down.
Maggie and Hank are brought together by their own needs, but then blooms a love.
My thoughts about the romance, is Hank and Maggie had fallen in love too suddenly. It's just like suddenly there, so the romance part felt forced to me.
But solid three stars for enjoyability. I did chuckle a couple of times.
Maggie Toone is an English teacher who doesn't fit in. Her grandmother gives her a diary, and asks her to make a book out of it. She decides to do it, but needs time off from work, but also needs an income while she writes it.
Hank Mallone is also a mitfit in his own town. He's a happy-go-lucky type of guy. But after years of having fun, Hank decides to set roots in his hometown. His grandmother left him an apple orchard. He decides to make a business for it, but needs a loan from the bank. The bank does not want to grant him a loan, because is known to not set any roots. So he decides to hire a wife so town folk would think he's finally settling down.
Maggie and Hank are brought together by their own needs, but then blooms a love.
My thoughts about the romance, is Hank and Maggie had fallen in love too suddenly. It's just like suddenly there, so the romance part felt forced to me.
But solid three stars for enjoyability. I did chuckle a couple of times.
July 12, 2008
OK, so this isn't the most emotionally deep or content heavy book on the planet... but it's cute. I hate that word but that is really the one word that popped up in my head over and over while reading... cute.
Longtime Janet Evanovich fans will recognize some similarities between the characters in this book to some of those in the Plum series. Elsie Hawkins is a character in this book as she is in a few of the other early romances written by Ms. Evanovich.
The mystery portion of this book was weak and beyond silly; I think I had it solved as soon as it began, but it does add a few chuckles here and there. This book won't win any literary awards, but I found it enjoyable just the same. Hank and Maggie have some chemical attraction and there are some sexy and sweet moments between them. It helped me pass a gloomy Saturday afternoon curled up on the couch; it was short and sweet and just what I needed.
Cherise Everhard, November 2007
Longtime Janet Evanovich fans will recognize some similarities between the characters in this book to some of those in the Plum series. Elsie Hawkins is a character in this book as she is in a few of the other early romances written by Ms. Evanovich.
The mystery portion of this book was weak and beyond silly; I think I had it solved as soon as it began, but it does add a few chuckles here and there. This book won't win any literary awards, but I found it enjoyable just the same. Hank and Maggie have some chemical attraction and there are some sexy and sweet moments between them. It helped me pass a gloomy Saturday afternoon curled up on the couch; it was short and sweet and just what I needed.
Cherise Everhard, November 2007
June 16, 2012
I'm not a huge fan of romances, so I'm probably not the best person to judge this. I don't think it was a "good" book, per se, and it seems especially flawed when compared to the Stephanie Plum series, but Evanovich certainly scores points for keeping me entertained. While the premise is a little shaky and the characters start out pretty flat, the second half of the book really picks up, and parts of it are very funny. I liked the little mini-mystery; it's enough to keep the book from just being "romance," yet it's not serious enough to change the book's overall tone. (I don't tend to read many mysteries either, as I find them stressful. Yes, I know. I'm hard to please.) It's strange that a book that combines these two genres would appeal to me, but it does. Between the polite but inept (sorta) bad guys, the gun-wielding Grandma-Mazure-type old lady, and the refreshing way that the book doesn't make the mistake of taking itself seriously, I rather enjoyed it.
December 16, 2013
Some jobs are unusual, but it seems like there is always someone willing to take on the task. When Hank decides he needs a pretend wife for 6 months, Maggie thinks this is an opportunity she can’t pass up. But that old adage, “Be careful what you wish for, you may get it,” comes into play. Now Hank has changed the rules a bit, and he wants a real wife. Add in the diary of a relative who just happened to be a madam and you have the plenty of material for a rollicking good story. Maybe the writing isn’t as humorous as the Stephanie Plum series, but it is still an entertaining tale.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 684 reviews