What do you think?
Rate this book
Bad Manors
Single mother Cat McGinty dreams of a new job, a new home, and a new life of rural bliss. When Cat unexpectedly inherits a run-down health farm in the glorious Dorset countryside, it seems her prayers have been answered. Unfortunately, the farm is damper than the English channel, and she has to share its ownership with a reclusive stranger who looks at Cat as if she were ill. But Cat can never resist a challenge, especially when Toby Marks, the world's Most Handsome Man, is the one offering it.
Audiobook
First published June 1, 2004
1 person is currently reading
36 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 18, 2010
After some discussion with my wife, it appeared that I'd never read a whole chick-lit novel from cover to cover. I asked if she could lend me one, and she said that Bad Manors was about as good as it got - that's why it hadn't already been donated to the Oxfam shop.
A couple of days later, she discovered me engrossed. "Don't you find it rather boring?" she asked, puzzled. I assured her that it was interesting to read an unapologetic wish-fulfilment fantasy presented from the female point of view. So this is what women want! I suppose I had heard most of it before in one form or another, but it was fascinating to see it all written down in explicit detail. Here are some of the fantasies I was particularly struck by:
- People will notice that you are working your butt off, and appreciate it. The heroine is a hypercompetent workaholic control freak, but no one at work ever thanks her! In the end, of course, her brilliance is universally recognized. OK, I knew that one - I'm not totally stupid.
- Despite the fact that you're never able to spend any time with them, your children will grow up to be beautiful, witty and incredibly intelligent. A more subtle fantasy. Evidently, there are only 24 hours in the day, and Cat, the main character, spends most of them working or sleeping. But, miraculously, her daughter is sensible, emotionally well-balanced and does brilliantly in school. The au pair is a perfect surrogate mother, and people just spontaneously volunteer to give her free riding lessons, etc...
- You'll manage not to have sex with the person you obviously shouldn't have got involved with, so that your virtue will be more or less intact when Mr. Right comes along. This part of the plot required massive suspension of disbelief, but after I figured out what was happening it was quite funny.
- The above-mentioned Mr. Right will be handsome, kind, intelligent and moral, but will somehow still be available at the age of about 35, and will not even have any romantic past worth mentioning. Also required considerable suspension of disbelief, but what the hell.
- My personal favourite: your guy will turn down blatant sexual advances from attractive women, even when he's sure he can get away with it and it costs him personally. I just loved the scene where the hot blonde flight attendant is flirting with Toby, and he hands her back the card with her phone number, saying that she must have dropped it. She's so annoyed that she "accidentally" pours a drink over him and manages to ruin his expensive new coat.
The book was worth reading for this episode alone! For a moment, I felt that I, too, was a driven young career woman, juggling home and job, and wondering if the too-charming, too-hunky man I'd somehow started dating was being faithful to me...
A couple of days later, she discovered me engrossed. "Don't you find it rather boring?" she asked, puzzled. I assured her that it was interesting to read an unapologetic wish-fulfilment fantasy presented from the female point of view. So this is what women want! I suppose I had heard most of it before in one form or another, but it was fascinating to see it all written down in explicit detail. Here are some of the fantasies I was particularly struck by:
- People will notice that you are working your butt off, and appreciate it. The heroine is a hypercompetent workaholic control freak, but no one at work ever thanks her! In the end, of course, her brilliance is universally recognized. OK, I knew that one - I'm not totally stupid.
- Despite the fact that you're never able to spend any time with them, your children will grow up to be beautiful, witty and incredibly intelligent. A more subtle fantasy. Evidently, there are only 24 hours in the day, and Cat, the main character, spends most of them working or sleeping. But, miraculously, her daughter is sensible, emotionally well-balanced and does brilliantly in school. The au pair is a perfect surrogate mother, and people just spontaneously volunteer to give her free riding lessons, etc...
- You'll manage not to have sex with the person you obviously shouldn't have got involved with, so that your virtue will be more or less intact when Mr. Right comes along. This part of the plot required massive suspension of disbelief, but after I figured out what was happening it was quite funny.
- The above-mentioned Mr. Right will be handsome, kind, intelligent and moral, but will somehow still be available at the age of about 35, and will not even have any romantic past worth mentioning. Also required considerable suspension of disbelief, but what the hell.
- My personal favourite: your guy will turn down blatant sexual advances from attractive women, even when he's sure he can get away with it and it costs him personally. I just loved the scene where the hot blonde flight attendant is flirting with Toby, and he hands her back the card with her phone number, saying that she must have dropped it. She's so annoyed that she "accidentally" pours a drink over him and manages to ruin his expensive new coat.
The book was worth reading for this episode alone! For a moment, I felt that I, too, was a driven young career woman, juggling home and job, and wondering if the too-charming, too-hunky man I'd somehow started dating was being faithful to me...
February 26, 2014
There is no lack of interesting characters in this book, and I do love interesting characters. However, the plot problems keep this story from living up to its potential. It took a good 1/3 of the book for the story to start. There was a sagging, slow middle. The book went on too many side trips, was too long, the. Rushed the ending. I was disappointed to find the potential of the beginning was lost so quickly. I kept hoping it would get better, but alas, it didn't.
October 15, 2014
what a tangled web! Cat is bright, determined, and talented. Toby is a... well, let's not go there. Jake is a talented, hard-working, and very likeable guy who happens to be shy. Their mothers are snobbish wrecks. When dirty deeds are done insanely dirt cheap, usually secrets are kept. But, this takes secrets to a level all its own.
Yep! Karma comes in a variety of flavors! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Yep! Karma comes in a variety of flavors! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
November 14, 2012
Cat inherits a health farm with a difference. This book looks at how she inherits it and how she runs it.
I found this book boring and difficult to pick up. The last few chapters made the book get better though. This is not a book I would recommend reading though.
I found this book boring and difficult to pick up. The last few chapters made the book get better though. This is not a book I would recommend reading though.
August 9, 2013
Great fun! Chick lit at its best I think. Just what you need on the beach or when you need cheering up - a reasonably (ish) plausible story and a good love affair.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews