Review: Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly - Love in a Nutshell

Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly - Love in a Nutshell

• Pub Date: January 3, 2012
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Format: Audio Book CD
• Age Range: Adult

Kate Appleton needs a job. Her husband has left her, she’s been fired from her position as a magazine editor, and the only place she wants to go is to her parents’ summer house, The Nutshell, in Keene’s Harbor, Michigan. Kate’s plan is to turn The Nutshell into a Bed and Breakfast. Problem is, she needs cash, and the only job she can land is less than savory.

Matt Culhane wants Kate to spy on his brewery employees. Someone has been sabotaging his company, and Kate is just new enough in town that she can insert herself into Culhane’s business and snoop around for him. If Kate finds the culprit, Matt will pay her a $20,000 bonus. Needless to say, Kate is highly motivated. But several problems present themselves. Kate despises beer. No one seems to trust her. And she is falling hard for her boss.

Can these two smoke out a saboteur, save Kate’s family home, and keep a killer from closing in…all while resisting their undeniable attraction to one another? Filled with humor, heart, and loveable characters, Love in a Nutshell is delicious fun.

I received this audio book for review from Macmillan Audio. Here is my honest review:

I adore Janet Evanovich's novels. I thoroughly enjoy Lorelei King's performances in audio books, especially Evanovich's books. But this book is not a typical Janet Evanovich novel. I am unfamiliar with Dorien Kelly, but this novel lacks the hilarity of a normal Evanovich book. Yes, it's funny sometimes, and I'm not saying that it's serious in the least. It just isn't constantly laugh-out-loud like her other stories.

It's still very enjoyable though. The essence of the story is true Evanovich. There is scandal, romance, large families, and animals. Matt and Kate have that struggle of "should we or shouldn't we" while trying to make it through their own individual problems in life and solve a mystery at the same time. It's a light, easy read, and I certainly liked listening to it.

Lorelei King is just the bomb. I can never say enough good things about her as a narrator. Her different voices are always easy to listen to and tell apart. She has such great range, and her voice is just lovely to listen to. If you've never heard a Lorelei/Janet partnership, this is a good start!

Bottom line: If you enjoy romance with "humor, heart, and loveable characters," then you'll love this one!

Rating:

3/5 book sharks