Love Under Cover: A Novel [Paperback]

Jessica Brody (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 2009

Can a former fidelity inspector tear herself away from her old calling for the sake of the perfect guy, or is the temptation to conduct love under cover just too strong?

Jennifer Hunter never saw herself as the relationship type. After all, she’d spent the last two years of her life as an undercover fidelity inspector, hired to test men’s faithfulness—not exactly the kind of job that lends itself to intimacy. But when Jamie Richards walked into her life, everything changed, and Jennifer vowed to trade in her undercover lifestyle for something more normal. That’s why she formed the Hawthorne Agency: five full-time fidelity inspectors, hired to carry out Jennifer’s mission while she manages the process from a safe (relationship-saving) distance. Jen's business is booming, and just when it seems like things can’t possibly get any better, Jamie proposes. Despite her lifelong issues with trust and commitment, Jen says yes.  But can a woman who’s seen nothing but failed marriages ever come to terms with tying the knot herself?  And when Jen receives a frantic phone call from one of her employees in trouble, she’s forced to make a choice. A choice that lands her in an all-too familiar place—a strange hotel room, kissing another man. And she knows that nothing will be the same.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"With a complicated, sympathetic protagonist, worthy stakes and a clever twist on the standard chick lit narrative, Brody will pull readers in from the first page." --Publishers Weekly 

"Those who enjoyed Brody’s debut will be eager to catch up with Jennifer, but newcomers will be intrigued, too... [A]n honest, witty portrayal of modern love." --Booklist

"Brody's follow-up to The Fidelity Files is another fast-moving, titillating read centered around our favorite "fidelity inspector."... At its core, this novel has great sensitivity, humor, and heart." --Romantic Times BOOKReviews, 4 stars

"Love Under Cover is a thoughtful and compelling follow-up to The Fidelity Files. With her usual smart, deft, and witty prose, Brody delves deep into the psychology of a woman who tests the fidelity of strangers for a living but struggles with commitment in her own life." --Joanne Rendell, author of Crossing Washington Square

Praise for The Fidelity Files:

"Sisters unite! This is a total revenge fantasy for anyone really tired of men with overactive zippers." -- USA Today (a Hot Summer Reads pick)

“It's an absorbing story and fun to read.” -- Associated Press

"This quick, engaging story has well-defined characters and a deftly paced plot… a terrific debut novel." -- Romantic Times Book Review

"A sexy plot with a main character every woman would like to have on speed dial." -- Rocky Mountain News

About the Author

Jessica Brody knew from a young age that she wanted to be a writer. She started "self-publishing" her own books when she was seven years old, binding the pages together with cardboard, wallpaper samples and electrical tape.

 

Brody graduated from Smith College in 2001 with a double major in Economics and French and a minor in Japanese. She went to work for MGM Studios as a Manager of Acquisitions and Business Development, and then, in 2005, she quit her job to follow her dream of becoming a published author.

 

Brody is the author of the novel The Fidelity Files and the young adult novels The Karma Club and My Life Undecided. Jessica's books are published in over ten foreign countries including the U.K., France, Germany, Czech Republic, Russia, Brazil, China, Portugal, and Taiwan. She now works full time as a writer and producer, and currently splits her time between Los Angeles and Colorado.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 327 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (November 10, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312383649
• ISBN-13: 978-0312383640
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,416,561 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jessica Brody knew from a young age that she wanted to be a writer. She started self "publishing" her own books when she was seven years old, binding the pages together with cardboard, wallpaper samples and electrical tape.

After graduating from Smith College in 2001 where she double majored in Economics and French and minored in Japanese, Jessica later went on to work for MGM Studios as a Manager of Acquisitions and Business Development. In May of 2005, Jessica quit her job to follow her dream of becoming a published author.

In four short years , Jessica has sold nine novels (two adult novels to St. Martin's Press and seven young adult novels to Farrar, Straus, Giroux.) THE FIDELITY FILES, her debut, released in stores (in real binding) in June of 2008 and the the follow-up, LOVE UNDER COVER in November 2009. THE KARMA CLUB, Jessica's first young adult novel released in April of 2010 and her second YA release, MY LIFE UNDECIDED hit bookstores in June 2011.

52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER (which was recently optioned for film) will be out in Summer 2012 and UNREMEMBERED, (also optioned for film), the first book in a new teen sci-fi series, will be released in early 2013.

Jessica's books are published and translated in over twelve foreign countries including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Russia, Brazil, China, Portugal, Israel, and Taiwan.

Jessica now works full time as a writer and producer. She currently splits her time between Los Angeles and Colorado.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Jessica Brody Love Under Cover Review, January 2, 2011

By 

Ginger Snapp - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Love Under Cover: A Novel (Paperback)

The whole thing was utterly boring for those of us who enjoyed the Fidelity Files for its undercover bits and missions. The disappearance of Ashyln ruined any chance the book had. Had I not gotten it free, I would have asked for a refund.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very Disappointing, January 23, 2010

By 

Laura Clark - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Love Under Cover: A Novel (Paperback)

Spoilers.....

Like others, I loved The Fidelity Files and anxiously awaited the release of its sequel, Love Under Cover and pre-ordered it last summer.

I was very disappointed in what I read. Initially it was hard to tell if Jamie was going to continue to be Jennifer's love interest because she didn't seem to really be into him. I was okay with that though because he had given her an ultimatum of continuing with her fidelity inspections or he was walking. When he met her, she was a fidelity inspector and that is who he fell in love with. Yet, for him to continue to be her boyfriend, he expected her to give it up. Since she owned the business, he allowed her to continue to work there but he put limitations on what she could do there - and she let him! Then he tested her and walked out on her because she 'failed his test'. At that point I thought she was going to get her backbone back but she didn't. She went to see him to beg him to take her back but he had already moved on. So she gave away her business and moved away. It looked like she had the potential to redeem herself but Jamie had gotten wind of the fact that she was "out of the business" and came to take her back - with stipulations and conditions. If she'd told him to take a flying leap, I would be rating this book a 5 but the fact that she took him back, well, I can't. The message I got from this story is that it's okay for men to treat women like crap and control them and that, as women, we're lucky to have a man care enough about us to treat us that way.

The writing was great but the story itself was lacking. It just puts a message out there that I can't get behind and I was so disappointed in it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking...Fun...Great Writing!, February 10, 2010

By 

Allison Sanborn "A Sanborn" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love Under Cover: A Novel (Paperback)

As I am already a huge fan of the Fidelity Files The Fidelity FilesJessica Brody's first novel, I had high expectations for Love Under Cover Love Under Cover: A Novel. I absolutely could not put Love Under Cover down - whenever I had a moment to read, even if it was just a page or two, I immediately got absorbed into the life of Ashlyn/Jennifer.

This book is not just your ordinary Chick Flick. It had so much more depth and insight into what fidelity and infidelity means and what it does to a human being and those around he or she. It was not at all cheesy but sophisticated and philosphical at times too.

Jennifer/Ashlyn grew tremendously in this book and Ms. Brody did an incredibly job allowing her readers to truly understand this character. At the end of the book, you felt you were one of her best friends... you wanted to her change - to make her life better - and her transgression was played out perfectly,

This book is a must read. From Los Angeles to Cabo to Paris... a book about the struggle of love and the stuggle of learning about one self.