Customer Reviews

Man at Work

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2 star:		(1)
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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!

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

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"

Elaine Fox combines a heartwarming romance with a delightful sense of humor in Man At Work. Not only does Ms. Fox give us a wonderful hero and heroine, but she also works in memorable minor characters. This is truly a fun read. I have been a fan of the writing of Ms. Fox and have enjoyed her time travel and historical romances. With her last book, Maybe Baby, and now Man At Work, she proves herself to be wonderfully skilled at contemporary novels also. I certainly look forward to the next effort by this very talented writer.

In DC, personal injury lawyer Marcy Paglinowski has worked hard to achieve the professional success she has attained and has a goal to continue to climb the legal corporate ladder. While seeking evidence to support a negligence case, Marcy intercedes when a nasty construction foreman kicks a dog. However, worker Truman Fleming needs to rescue the Good Samaritan from his boss. For his efforts Truman is fired. Marcy offers to help him, but he rejects her attempt. Unbeknownst to the attorney is that Truman is extremely wealthy, but he is tired of the social whirl and thus seeking solace by using his hands.

Marcy tries to persuade Truman to assist her on her case against his former employer. He assumes that like him she was born with a silver spoon and rejects her materialism. However, love still surfaces though neither has enlightened the other about their true background.

Using miscommunication, misinterpretation, and misconceptions caused by omission, Elaine Fox provides an amusing romance with serious undertones involving work place safety and stereotyping. The story line engages the reader who wonders when the truth will surface. The lead couple is interesting to observe the way they stereotype and consequently put down the other, but on the other hand this leads to questioning how a relationship can form when the foundation's material is made of uncorrected falsifications. MAN AT WORK is fun and will leave readers pondering when Ms. Fox will release her next work.

Harriet Klausner