Man at Work [Mass Market Paperback]

Elaine Fox (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2, 2002

Truman Fleming has spent enough days wearing a suit -- and enough nights on the arm of silly socialites -- to last a lifetime. After all, he has better things to do with his hands than push pencils and spend the family fortune, so he straps on a toolbelt and decides to live the simple life. But things definitelyget complicated when he runs smack into lady lawyer Marcy Paglinowski. Together, they rescue a terrified puppy...and soon the sparks that fly ignite more than just their sympathy.

Marcy's strived hard to become a lawyer, and the last thing she needs is a workin' man -- even one like Truman -- who's got biceps and triceps galore...and who certainly knows how to work with those hands. No, she's determined to find a reliable guy with a steady paycheck and a four-door vehicle, and Truman, no matter how sexy he looks in tight, dusty jeans and a T-shirt, isn't for her...or is he?

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Having shunned the high-powered legal world for the uncomplicated existence of a construction worker, the last thing Truman Fleming needs in his life is an ambitious, hard-driving, crusading attorney like Marcy Paglinowski, who not only represents the world he left behind but also attracts trouble like a magnet. But that's exactly what Truman gets when he rescues both Marcy and an abused puppy from his soon-to-be-former boss. Suddenly, his simple life is a lot more complicated. Romance, danger, and a touch of violence add to this upbeat, funny story, which features sizzling sensuality and well-matched protagonists you come to love. Fox's last book, Maybe Baby, was a best seller; she lives in Virginia.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Elaine Fox grew up in Maryland, graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in English. For the next ten years she engaged in a series of meaningful jobs during which she did a good deal of writing when the boss wasn't looking. In 1996 she got lucky and landed a publishing contract for her first book. That book went on to become a finalist for the Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA Award and cemented her love affair with the job of writing. Elaine currently lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and loves to hear from readers.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (July 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380817845
• ISBN-13: 978-0380817849
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,604,383 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Truman is a condescending arrogrant jerk., March 2, 2003

By 

RowliRowl "RowliRowl" (Adelaide, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Man at Work (Mass Market Paperback)

Truman Fleming, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, tires of
the shallow socialite realm. He decides he wants to find out how the other half (this being what he defines as 'poor') lives and snubs all those he has known, all that he has known and anyone interested in ensuring their future income. Meanwhile his mother buys him enough food to feed an army, hires him a personal chef, and the reader will know that his mother will bail him out if ever needed (A mummy's boy).

He meets Marcy at a construction site where he is a construction worker. He immediately assumes that she is a "rich girl", like him, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, despite abundant references elsewise (all through the book). He then decides to tell her the error of her ways (which he has determined through his assumptions). When she starts to tell him of her views, instead of actually listening, he gets angry and storms off. Marcy, for some unbeknownst reason, actually seems to like this guy, and decides to apologise for making him angry. Through Marcy's friend Calvin, he learns the error of his assumptions, and for some strange reason, seems to believe he can talk to her without some serious groveling. Which he does. Is Marcy so spineless? Once finding out who slashed her tyres, does she do anything about it (particularly since she paid US$600 for a new set!)? No. Maybe she is spineless.

Marcy has worked so hard to get where she is. She deserves someone better than Truman. If this is the kind of condescending arrogance displayed at this time, imagine what living with him for long periods of time would be like? By the end of this book, I was dreading the ending, knowing they would end up together, and hating it. I wanted the ending to be different, where Marcy shows him up for what he is (an arrogant condescending jerk), learns from it, and moves on (away from him). If we wanted to read about the conditions of poor people we would read Engels' Conditions of the Working Class Man and London's People of the Abyss. Lets see Truman in those conditions without his mummy!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, refreshing read, January 6, 2011

By 

Jolene A. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Man at Work (Mass Market Paperback)

This was such a cute, fun read. This is a new author for me, just one I came across and I can't wait to look into some of her other books. Granted it took me a little longer to finsih it, only because I was overwhelmed this week with my son's soccer and school activiities or I would have had it done a lot sooner. Her writing style reminds me a lot of Rachel Gibson and Susan Andersen who I think are both great authors. This book is about Marcy Paglinowski who grew up in a bad neighborhood in D.C. who worked her way out of it and went to law school and became a lawyer. She's not proud of her past and strives to have a life far from the life her parents led. Which includes a man from the right side of the tracks with a good education and a good job. Truman Fleming comes from a rich family and was a lawyer himself but feels like something is missing from his life. He is fed up with dating society women who are after his status and money and is frankly fed up with living a superficial life. He chucks it all to live in the slums and see how the other half lives and takes a job in construction. This is where Truman and Marcy meet. She thinks he's a blue collar worker with no incentive to better his life and he thinks she's a high society lawyer with name brand clothes. The sparks we see between these two light up the page, both thinking they are the opposite of what they want and have been running from, but under the their deceptiveness they are exactly what they have been looking for. Though I really like this book, I feel the ending was wrapped up to quickly in the last few pages. Regardless I still really enjoyed this read

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good for a very chick lit read, October 21, 2010

By 

Goddess of Blah Book Reviews "http://goddesso... (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Man at Work (Mass Market Paperback)

This is brilliant if you want a warm, LIGHT, sweet romance (with a contemporary career-successful Cinderella fairytale type story involved).

Its very chick lit and the writing style isn't sophisticated. But its excellent to relax with and has loads of sparks and fireworks. I highly recommend it for those looking for a relaxing, non-taxing, ultra romantic and easy read.

Synopsis: Truman Fleming has spent enough days wearing a suit -- and enough nights on the arm of silly socialites -- to last a lifetime. After all, he has better things to do with his hands than push pencils and spend the family fortune, so he straps on a toolbelt and decides to live the simple life. But things definitely get complicated when he runs smack into lady lawyer Marcy Paglinowski. Together, they rescue a terrified puppy...and soon the sparks that fly ignite more than just their sympathy.
Marcy's strived hard to become a lawyer, and the last thing she needs is a working man, (even one like Truman) who's got biceps and triceps galore...and who certainly knows how to work with those hands. No, she's determined to find a reliable guy with a steady pay-cheque and a four-door vehicle, and Truman, no matter how sexy he looks in tight, dusty jeans and a T-shirt, isn't for her...or is he?

but yes - truman sucks as a "hero"