Customer Reviews

Improper Etiquette

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Three modern women each find a time-worn copy of `Miss Matilda' s Guide to Love and Romance for the Proper Young Lady', copyright 1949. Flipping through the aged advice book, each woman scoffs at first, but soon each finds that Miss Matilda was right on the money when it came to romantic advice as her tips work magic on the men of their dreams...

I have read Janice Maynard previously and thoroughly enjoyed her stories, so when Improper Etiquette was offered to Ck2S Kwips & Kritiques for review, I snapped it up as quick as possible! As before, I was in no way disappointed with this author's work. Maynard has a knack for penning fun little romances that are sweet and sexy all at once. Even her novellas draw the reader in quickly, and she is adept at telling what feels like a full story without overloading the story with too much plot. The end result is always a romance that is guaranteed to captivate the readers from page one, and satisfy them with a tidy little happy ever after at the finish.

I will admit, after reading the sound and sometimes sexy advice Miss Matilda's guide gave our three heroines in Improper Etiquette, I find myself hoping against hope that a copy will land in my hot little hands one day soon! I believe Ms. Maynard has heard that wish from more than one fan since this book was released... LOL

~Catering to His Needs~

Francesca was known for both her warm sticky buns and her warm heart. Determined to give her new neighbor Brett a taste of each, she inadvertently causes him to fall off of his ladder while working on his house. But the scowl on his face couldn't just be from that little mishap, could it? There had to be some deeper reason behind his unfriendliness... Still, Francesca can't stop thinking about her hunky neighbor, and resolves to break through his unwelcoming façade with a few home-cooked meals, thanks to Miss Matilda's handy little guide.

Brett Gilman moved to the remote town of Camron to get away from the public eye and recoup. Company is the last thing he wanted - until he met his beautiful and hard-to-discourage neighbor. Her cooking may have gotten his attention, but it is the woman herself who has stirred his long dormant libido...

With her simple, homespun charm and her collection of man-pleasing recipes, it was easy to see why Francesca quickly won both Brett's and our hearts. As unassuming as she is tenacious, her selfless nature ensured that Brett could not easily run and hide as he had hoped when he moved to Tennessee. Her sweet, nurturing personality was the perfect balm for his wounds and did more for his soul than her cooking did for his stomach.

Brett just broke my heart when we met him. Obviously in pain from the moment we met him, it was not long before we discover the betrayal that has left his heart bereft. Watching as Francesca did not allow his rudeness to dissuade her, I wondered if I would have been able to forgive his brusque manner as quickly as she did. But Francesca never wavered, and soon she wriggled her way firmly into the hole in his heart, filling it with more love than he could ever imagine.

~Tag, You're It!~

Lily has had a crush on her neighbor since she first moved to Boston. He helped her unload her moving van the day she arrived across the street from his 2-story house, and they'd fallen into a kind of informal friendship ever since. But Lily is ready for more, and Miss Matilda's advice seems just the thing to stir Ben's male instincts to hunt and capture... With Lily being the prey, of course!

The typical clueless genius, Ben has no idea what has come over Lily. All of a sudden she is missing their daily runs, gallivanting with strange men, and cooking dinner without inviting him over to join her! Every instinct inside him is raging to claim her and stake his territory, though the logical side of him knows he isn't cut out for a long term relationship and Lily is most certainly wife and mother material. But somehow all of his logic goes right out the window when it comes the lovely Lily...

This story made me laugh out loud more than once! Ben reminded me of the clueless Professor from Gilligan's Island, never noticing that the most beautiful woman on the island had eyes only for him. Ben may have been different in that he noticed Lily, but it is also certain that he took her presence in his life for granted, and underestimated his own reaction if she were gone. Miss Matilda must have known a Benjamin or two in her own day, because she had him pegged to a 'T'! The very first time Lily tries Miss Matilda's advice on Ben, his reaction is immediate, shocking Lily with its unexpected predictability. (Yes, I know that should be an oxymoron, but trust me it fits here! Lol)

Lily is the perfect woman for Ben, able to anticipate his needs, his shortcomings, and most importantly - his desires. Having insinuated herself subtly into his life over the last year, her sudden absence jolts him into action, much to her delight!

~Seducing the Duke~

Serves her right for daydreaming during an important meeting. Because that is the only way Caitlyn Anderson would allow herself to be teamed up with the insufferable Duke Yancey. Well, that and because the mayor asked, of course. Truth is, she wanted to dislike Duke, but she couldn't help being drawn to the handsome business owner - and that is what scared her most. She was not about to become another filly in his stable of cast-offs...

Duke couldn't be more pleased to be paired with the beautiful Caitlyn and is determined to make the most of his chance to spend time with her. He isn't sure why he seems to rub her the wrong way, but he will use every seductive tool in his arsenal to change it...

The story of Duke and Caitlyn spoke to that woman inside me who loves to be chased! And I identified with Caitlyn in more than one way - her fear of Duke's player past and doubts about their ability to have a future together are palpable. Duke's persistent pursuit is ultra-romantic, and his reaction when disaster strikes stirs the heart like nothing else.

Duke is a man I could fall for, and Caitlyn is a woman I could easily call friend. The two together were a wonderful match and I enjoyed every moment of this story!

I really enjoyed this book mostly the first and second story. Over all worth getting.

When Francesca Fremont takes a meal to her new neighbor to welcome him to the neighborhood, they don't exactly get off on the right foot. Despite their disastrous introduction, Francesca catches the eye of Brett Gilman. Brett has moved into the old fixer upper just to catch some breathing room from scandal that has his life in a shambles. It isn't long before Francesca takes the sage advice of Miss Matilda's writings and sets out to seduce Brett. The two are soon heating up the kitchen and every other room in the house.
Lily Lanford has her own guy to snag and she decides that Miss Matilda's advice to play it cool might be just what it takes to heat things up with her neighbor, Ben Reynolds. Lily and Ben are very good friends and while Lily wants more, Ben seems oblivious. Lily decides to take a clue from Miss Matilda and play hard to get, and it isn't long before Ben finds Lily simply irresistible and he wants to be more than just her next-door neighbor.
Caitlyn Anderson is thrilled at the opportunity to serve on a mayoral-appointed committee whose purpose is the improvement of impoverished neighborhoods in her city. Duke Yancey is also serving on the committee. While the two are both hard-working, highly successful business owners, the similarity ends there. Caitlyn is poised and serious, a lady through and through, and Duke is a born ladies' man, smooth, suave, and rarely serious, which thoroughly chafes Caitlyn. When these two get together, the fun - and the passion - are ever so sweet.
If you like romance with characters that are successful and sweet, and passions that are sizzling with depth, then this anthology is for you! I give it a high recommendation and hope that you'll be tempted to get your own copy!

Improper Etiquette is done in Janice's usual style. This is an anthology of three women who find a book called Miss Matilda's Guide to Love and Romance for the Proper Young Lady - but written in 1949. Within the first few pages you are pulled into each story and enjoy the ride as to how a guide from 1949 can still apply today.

Catering to His Needs - gives us Francesca Fremont who is a caterer. She makes a treat to take to her new neighbour, Brent Gilman to welcome him. Their first meeting is anything but stellar. Even though he wants to be left alone he is drawn to Francesca. These two have spontaneous combustion down to a science. Francesca finds that Brent brings out her inner tigress, while Brent feels he has been knocked over by a sarcastic, quasi, demonic cupid. The ride that results is a hot one for the reader, because after all the way to a man's heart is through his stomach or is it?

Tag Your It - brings Lily Langford a pediatric nurse and her neighbour, Benjamin Reynolds who is a genius mathematician inventor. But even the smartest of people can be not wise when it comes to noticing what is in front of him. Lily is frustrated with trying to get Benjamin to notice her, so decides to heed the guide and back away from Benjamin. This makes Ben determined to sort out the riddle of Lily. What we do find is that both are head over heels in lust, and bodies ignite and can go from tender to flaming hot in a heartbeat. How Ben solves the Lily riddle is a terrific read but watch out it is also a hot one.

Seducing The Duke - Caitlyn Anderson, owner of Designer Women is thrown together with Duke Yancey the owner of numerous male only gyms and an entrepreneur to work together on a project headed up by the Mayor. Caitlyn is determined that even though they have known each other since childhood, she has no use for Duke. She will not be another notch on his belt. She hates everything that he stands for but as we all know there is a fine line between hate and love. Duke has feelings for Caitlyn, but has never stood a chance. Watching these two sort through the mire of feelings is enough to burn up the pages and have the reader reaching for ice. Again can the guide be right? Can they settle their differences?

This is an enjoyable read. Janice has done a super job of showing us that Miss Matilda's Guide has merits even for today. I enjoyed the ride that these couples took me on, and look forward to more from Janice Maynard in the future.

"Miss Matilda's Guide to Love and Romance for the Proper Young Lady" gives three modern women romantic advise to get their dream men.

Catering To His Needs

Francesca Fremont uses the guide to find a way to crack the hard shell of her new neighbour Brent. Maybe the way to his heart is through his stomach.

Brent's story really touched this reviewer's heart. Francesca is the perfect mate for him and she has the healing touch that he needs.

Tag, You're It!

Lily fell in love with her neighbor from the moment he helped her unload her moving van. Now she just has to find a way that Ben sees more in her than a good friend and what is better than to awaken his male instincts.

This story was so funny. Ben is a genius, but he doesn't know his own mind and heart, so that Lily nearly must step on his feet to make him see what is directly in front of him.

Seducing the Duke

Caitlyn never dreamed of being teamed up with the insufferable Duke Yancey, because she doesn't want to be another notch on his bedpost of cast-offs, but somehow he is fascinating. He is determined to find out why she doesn't like him.

Caitlyn is character with whom you can easily identify. Everyone knows the fear to become just another number in a man's black book and the doubts if you can redeem a player. This story was absolutely believable.

Ms. Jaynard really knows how to captivate her readers and this reviewer is always surprised where she gets the ideas for her stories. Each of her books is always very special and IMPROPER ETIQUETTE is no exception.

Courtesy of Love romances and more

Janice Maynard delivers another top-notch series of hot and spicy tales in Improper Etiquette.

Each of the three stories are connected to a lovers guidebook by Miss Matilda published in 1949.

Caterer Francesca Fremont in Catering To His Needs makes a welcome to the neighborhood treat for her new neighbor Brett Gilman. Brett has come to town to hide after a rough patch in his life. He wasn't looking for a romance with anyone. But Francesca takes a page from the guidebook she bought to satisfy one of Brett's needs hoping that others will follow.

Pediatric Nurse Lily Langford has tried to do everything to get the attention of her neighbor in Tag Your It. After reading some pearls from Miss Matilda her plans change to now being hard to get. This fire's up her neighbor's passions. Ben Reynolds wasn't sure that Lily being so needy and helpless was the woman for him. But now he sees a whole new side to her and Ben can't keep his hands off of Lily.

Caitlyn Anderson does not see eye to eye with entrepreneur Duke Yancey in Seducing The Duke. They have an attraction that is off the charts. Now she isn't sure she did the right thing after reading some of the pages from the guidebook. But Duke has his own playbook to keeping Caitlyn by his side.

Each couple in this anthology are equally matched in and out of the bedroom. The dialogue is fast paced and smoking hot. All the couples light up the pages when they give into their desires. The guidebook plays a funny and sexy character in each of the stories. Janice Maynard is a keeper for me, her stories will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.