Mad About Jack (Five Star Expressions) [Hardcover]

Gayle Kasper (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1594142955 | ISBN-13: 978-1594142956 | Publication Date: September 2, 2005 | Edition: 1

Sophisticated Holly Hanford inherited her father's used car lot, which she has built into a classy business of previously owned lovelies. Then Jack Murdock comes to town and starts up his own lot, "Mad Jack's." When Holly's cars are vandalized, she's certain this is Jack's doing. Jack thinks Holly takes life - and work - too seriously. He's not out to ruin her business - he made his money on Wall Street - but his small business across from Holly's definitely has its advantages. Jack doesn't want Hanford Motors. He wants Holly, but proving that to her lands Jack in one hell-to-pay situation after another. Still, he's not about to give up on the woman he wants.

Gayle Kasper lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with her husband and one very spoiled poodle.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Holly Hanford is a born worrier, but she comes by it honestly. Her last foray into romance left her with a broken heart and a drained bank account, so now she feels justified in distrusting the motives and morals of handsome, charismatic "Mad Jack" Murdock, who delights in frustrating her at every turn by setting up a competing dealership right across the street, with tacky advertising schemes and gaudy displays. His philosophy is "Get their attention, and their money will follow," and he uses the same tactics to ensnare Holly's reluctant interest in him personally, tantalizing her with a classic red MG convertible in mint condition, enticing her with a look at the man who made his fortune on Wall Street but now wants to settle into a home in the country and build a future. The course of true love is often rocky, and Kasper's contemporary romance provides a satisfying account of this couple's personal and professional clashes in the insular setting of small-town Texas car salesmanship. Lynne Welch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 241 pages
• Publisher: Five Star; 1 edition (September 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594142955
• ISBN-13: 978-1594142956
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,685,702 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A romance with something different, December 3, 2005

By 

Louise B (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mad About Jack (Five Star Expressions) (Hardcover)

I liked this book. It was a romance with a different milieu from the standard setting. How often have you read a romace set in the world of used car buying? While reading about the sparks igniting (in more than one way) between Jack and Holly, I also learned about classic car collecting and some of the advertising techniques a used car seller can push. Jack first appears as a stereotypical used car salesman complete with loud clothing in clashing colors. Holly is much more elegant. She's vintage and he's not. It's a shorter length so it will be a quick, fun read.

4.0 out of 5 stars amusing contemporary romance, September 28, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mad About Jack (Five Star Expressions) (Hardcover)

Holly Hanford has worked hard to make a success of Hanford Motors that she inherited from her late father. She especially had to overcome the sleazy effort to take over her car sales company by a former employee Adam Stone, who sweet talked her while she was grieving her dad's death.

Holly is irate that Wall St. transplant Jack Murdock has opened up Mad Jack Used Autos across the street from her deep in the heart of Texas. Jack employs glitz and gaud to sell vehicles, but she admits his classic red MG is a beauty. Meanwhile Jack is falling in love with his competitor, but though she seems to reciprocate she rejects his advances as she does not trust handsome glib males. He knows he must do the best sale of his life to persuade Holly to one day soon be his wife; if he fails he will leave town with a whipped tail and right now things are not looking good.

This is an amusing contemporary romance though late intrigue seems unnecessary except to increase Holly's suspicion that Jack is out to drive her from business through any means possible including sexual and vandalism. The story line is fun as Jack drives Holly crazy, but she does not know him well enough to realize she has all the power. Fans will enjoy this lighthearted romp between two competing car lot owners.

Harriet Klausner