Customer Reviews

The Stranger in Her Bed

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The daughter of the town tramp and one of her many lovers, Abby Fox was shipped away to live with her father at 11 after being attacked by some local boys. Her savior, Ethan Knight was beat up and never got the chance to say goodbye. Fast forward 18 years, and Abby is now Anna Segee, daughter of a Canadian lumber baron and currently the foreman of the Loon Cove Lumber mill. She has inherited the old sawmill ranch owned by her estranged grandfather, and keeping her identity secret, she tries to reconnect with gramps (whom she feel abandoned her) by reading his many journals.

Anna has always had a crush on Ethan, so when he steps out in front of her loader, she dumps her load in order to protect him. On his first day at the mill, he doesn't make a good impression - Anna fires him. When he returns weeks later as the owner/manager, sparks continue to fly, particularly since his father has arranged for him to bunk in one of the vacant cabins on Anna's property (and Ethan discovers what she wears under her work clothes). As the two start to fall for each other, they discover that someone wants to do harm to Anna, and the culprits have broken into her many outbuildings in search of who knows what...

Chapman's second in the Knight family of Maine is a fun read from cover to cover. When the mention of a ghost appeared in the first chapter, I almost tossed the book at the wall, but thankfully there was no paranormal crud to be found. Ethan and Anna are a great and charismatic couple - definitely equals in a battle of the sexes. The secondary characters, including her four burly French-Canadian lumberjack brothers, keep the story grounded.

In the sequel to The Seduction of His Wife Janet Chapman focuses on Ethan Knight. Ethan is set to take over the family's new acquisition, a sawmill. After being fired by the mill's foreman for a stupid accident prior to the sale of the sawmill, he is holding a small grudge. Not only does he end up keeping the foreman, but unknowingly rents a cottage on her property as well.

Anna had a huge crush on Ethan when she was young and he saved her. Her grandfather shipped her off to her father after "the incident." He did it for her own good, but Anna is just now figuring that part out, after his death. She's gotten past her childhood traumas, but can't get past her crush on Ethan. The fact that he keeps saving her doesn't help.

A great story, and a beautiful addition to the series.

As with any book by Janet Chapman, I find myself reading some, then checking to see how much of the book is left---I just hate to see the pages go by! You want her books to last forever, and The Stranger in Her Bed is no exception! Janet Chapman hooks you from the first few words, and this book is fun, and full of people you'd like to know in real life. I would recommend it for any day rain, shine, or in between.

It's been a while but I remember enjoying Janet Chapman's stories of rugged men in wild and manly Maine with strong women showing them the way to a blissful future but this book didn't do it for me. Anna Segee works as a foreman, or is that forewoman?, at a mill and when Ethan Knight walks in front of her loader she does avoid killing him but fires him on the spot. Little does she know at that point that he is to be the new owner of the mill. Turns out that Anna has had a crush on Ethan since childhood, that once he saved her from rape and that of course he doesn't recognize her for who she is until later.
I missed the chemistry that should draw one character of a romance novel to the other. When Ethan and Anna get down to the kissing part (oops, I hope I didn't ruin anybody's experience of the book with that bit of info) it seemed to me that the author did it because she knew she had to get them to kiss rather than in a way that has you on pins and needles until it finally happens. Clumsy, that's the word. The book felt clumsy to me. The story, Anna inherited land after her grandfather had what looked like a deadly accident, is boring. I had to make myself finish the book. Still, I gave it 2 stars rather than 1 because I did enjoy (very short) parts of it. My advice: Wait until your library gets it in, read it and if you like it great and if you don't you didn't waste any money.

While I have not read this yet, my sister-in-law says it has been pretty good so far. I don't recall reading anything by Janet Chapman before but based on what I read on the site and what little she has revealed to me, I think it will be a good one. When I borrow it from her, I will update my review :)

The man wants you, stop playin hard to get when you want him too. Why is that so hard??? LOL Loved the book! Love Janet!

I liked this one better than the first in the series! Ethan and Anne (Abby) are made for each other. Great writing as usual and the story moves along nicely.
Thanks Janet

I have to admit it was not as good as The Seduction of His Wife, but still it was a fantastic read. Good follow-up to the first book. Highly recomended!

Strong woman turns into wimp.
Man overbearing, arrogant, sexist jerk.

Anna being the foreman was a big part of the plot yet Ethan fired her for something anyone else would have gotten away with, at most, a reprimand. She barely raises a fuss and she still keeps seeing him and letting him use her. I hate books like this where the tough, independent woman turns into a doormat.

Inconsistencies. EX: Anna could hear a whispered conversation from over 300 feet? Not unless she has Superman ears.

Why didn't Paul's get his own book? His story was covered in a few pages. I'm not sure if this is the end of this particular series or not. I like Janet Chapman but this book just didn't do it for me. A 3 is kind.

This is the first book I've read by this author. I took a chance and I'm glad I did. There was a little of everything in this book. I can't wait to read her other books.