Manhunt

Manhunt

by Janet Evanovich

HarperTorch, $59

Fans of Janet Evanovich's mystery novels may be interested in checking out the romance volumes she churned out first to establish her name. A good example is Manhunt, first published in 1989 and recently revised and repackaged. Not for the politically correct, it does, however, distract with the 'sizzle and steam' for which she's known, Book magazine wrote. The plot is simple: Wall Street broker Alexandra Scott hears her body clock ticking and trades in city life and her condo for a cabin in Alaska and a hardware store. She's determined to find a husband with whom to have children and thinks she'll have a better chance away from the Big Smoke. Enter Michael Casey, her new neighbour. A confirmed bachelor, he can't stand to see a filly in distress and Alexandra is a walking disaster. Evanovich, who says she found romance writing frustrating because of its inhibitions, knows how to grab the attention of certain readers. And although most will know from the start how the story will end, there's fun in watching characters play the mating game.