Busy Woman Seeks Wife [Paperback]

Annie Sanders (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 29, 2009

To a casual observer, Londoner Alex Hill is every inch the calm and collected executive of a global sportswear company. In reality, she's constantly frantic, with barely enough time to take out the trash. When her demanding mother, a 1960s style icon, has a bad fall and has to move in with her indefinitely, Alex realizes she needs someone more committed than a maid-what she needs is a wife. An ad in the local paper soon produces a young woman who seems both enthusiastic and capable. But something odd is definitely happening behind the scenes of Alex's new, perfectly ordered existence. Someone distinctly male is charming her mother as well as doing all the ironing. He's no one Alex would ordinarily ever notice, never mind date. But now she can't help wondering if her new "wife" could perhaps have husband potential...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Its title alone should win this frothy fantasy a following among harried gals juggling craven ambition and goddesslike domesticity. It can't hurt that Sanders, the pseudonym for Brit writing partners Annie Ashworth and Meg Sanders, has been there and done that (Goodbye, Jimmy Choo). Here, the duo take traditional gender roles and turn them upside down with busy sportswear marketer Alex and perennially out-of-work actor Frankie. Alex realizes she needs somebody to cook, clean, run errands and babysit her imperious mom, Bean, and through a series of mishaps she ends up with Frankie—a wacky twist that plays out with all the predictable pratfalls. But a tepid love story gets a shot of adrenaline from strong supporting characters, including diva Bean, who strikes just the right balance between fragile and fierce. Delightfully harebrained, there's a method to everyone's madness and an unwavering moral compass: follow your heart, trust your family and friends—and don't be too quick to judge the hired help. (Apr.)
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From Booklist

The winning duo behind the pseudonymous  Annie Sanders—Annie Ashworth, and Meg Sanders—puts forth a highly entertaining story, high concept but fleshed out with realistic, contemporary characters of modern London. What sets it apart are the rich inner lives given not just to the lead couple but also to a sampling of their family and friends. Female sports executive Alex may be too busy to breathe, and struggling actor Frankie may have a rare gift for the home arts; but Frankie’s best friend, Saffron, and his kid sister Ella have their own troublesome problems and complicated situations. This book is equal parts funny, thoughtful, and touching, and it’s sheer joy to watch all of the characters grow and change, adjusting to fit into their own lives. --Valerie Hawkins

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Product Details

• Paperback: 303 pages
• Publisher: 5 Spot; First Edition edition (April 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446505447
• ISBN-13: 978-0446505444
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #624,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Bad "translation" for the American audience, October 7, 2009

By 

M. A. Shambo "jazzie99a" (Davenport, IA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Busy Woman Seeks Wife (Paperback)

As the other reviewers said, this book has a great cast of characters who interact with each other quite well. Yet, the story line is predictable.

I noted that the authors (two women, Annie Ashworth and Meg Sanders, using the nom-de-plume of Annie Sanders) are television and print writers. This book would make an entertaining television programme.

My only fault of this book is that someone decided to convert some of the language from British English to American English. Examples are "soccer" in lieu of "football" (but only in one instance, returning to football further into the book); "sneakers" instead of "trainers"; and even a mention of a Jell-o chocolate mousse!

Come on! Are Americans considered to be *that* stupid?

I did go to the publishers' website, but was unable to find a placer where I could make my comments, hence I am writing here.

3.0 out of 5 stars Totally predictable but a fun read, September 1, 2009

By 

Debbie's World of Books "Debbie's World of Books" (Union City, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Busy Woman Seeks Wife (Paperback)

I had to pick up this book based on the title. Between work, commuting, reading, blogging and my daughter I would love to have a "wife" to help with dinner, cleaning, etc. I did guess what was going to happen about halfway through but it was still a fun read. Frankie was a great character that you can't help love. His sister, Ella, was a pain in the butt and I might have missed how old she was but sometimes I felt like telling her to get with the program. Alex's character was ok, she didn't really grab me nor did I dislike her. Some of her actions made me scratch my head like why she would stay with her boyfriend who was obviously a jerk and I thought she blew things way out of proportion with the Bean, Saff and Frankie. Like I said you can pretty much guess what is going to happen with Alex, who the saboteur is and what Saff will end up doing. Still if you are looking for a light and funny read this is one to pick up.

3.0 out of 5 stars Ramps up to a great ending!, April 22, 2009

By 

Mint910 (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Busy Woman Seeks Wife (Paperback)

Busy Woman Seeks Wife has a very cute and original premise. I'm definitely not sharing more than what the blurb gives you, it's more fun to find out for yourself! While it was a bit slow to start, by the last 100 pages or so it was pushing ahead at full steam.

The whole story centers around Alex, who is busy beyond belief trying to put together a launch for a sports apparel crossover line. And she's sure that someone in her office is out to sabotage her. I will admit, she took awhile to grow on me but when she finally did I was totally on her side and I wanted her to pull off her launch without a hitch. I really liked how all the parts of her life and all the characters came together in the last 1/3 of the story, that was my favorite part.

My favorite character in the story was Frankie, a struggling actor that just so happens to be great at domestic chores. He was kind to everyone, from his flighty sister to "The Bean" an aging model and actress to the sweet Saff. Whenever Frankie was on the page I had a grin on my face.

I thought the saboteur plotline was really fun but there was never a question in my mind who the guilty party was. I also thought that Saff's (Alex's friend) plotline of realizing she wasn't satisfied with just being a homemaker was treated rather well and I also liked seeing Frankie's sister's (Ella) come into her own and mature a bit. I also completely understood Alex's feeling about her once famous mother "The Bean". Overall there is a great cast of characters here.

All in all a somewhat slow start but it completely ramps up to a great finish!