Customer Reviews

The Write Man For Her

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I can't believe that I am the first reader to review this book. It is well written and I found it quite interesting. Both main characters have been divorced ( for different reasons) and have basically given up on love. What makes this book so interesting is that the Hero is a paraplegic.

Both he and the heroine have doubts when dealing with that fact (on many levels). However they eventually find there HEA. I do think that Brant is portrayed as a very well adjusted paraplegic. (almost too well) Few people in this situation are able to adapt their surroundings so perfectly to fit their needs. Of course being a college professor he is not lacking in funds to remodel his houseboat and make it perfect for himself.

The sex is tame by today's standards, so if you are looking for Hot and Steamy this is not the book for you.

If you are looking for a Contemporary Romance that is different then this is worth a read.

Jessica "JA" Singer is a hard working advertising executive with no love life since her divorce. She has Merlin her bird for company and her best friend Cath for moral support, if not a good laugh. Jessica has decided to take an online creative writing class to help her in the writing of her novel. She is instantly drawn to her professor and can't figure out why he won't meet her in person, and why he will only give her a C on every assignment. Cath helps her cook up a plan to find him and uncover who he is really is, and why he's a recluse.

Brant Wilson, online professor extraordinaire, hasn't dated since a few failed attempts after his wife left him six years ago. He is intrigued by JA Singer but, he has learned the hard way not to break his rules for anyone. When he is fallen over, literally, by an enchanting mid-30 year old he can't help but flirt. But, when she reveals herself as JA will he pursue the attraction or take off for the hills?

Add an office jerk to the mix, some fun loving and accepting friends and a love meant to be and you get this wonderful tale.

I found The Write Man For Her to be a very fun story with a number of tough subjects dealt with by the author, in a way that made the entire book pleasurable. I think Ms. Bos not only dealt with a physical challenge but she also handled the sexual harassment aspect of the storyline with class. Many could probably learn from how her character reacted to things. I enjoyed that banter between the main characters as well as the secondary ones, and hope that The Write Man For Her is the first in a number of stories by Christie Walker Bos that I am going to be able to enjoy. The more I think about this story the stronger my convictions to make this one of my July recommended reads.

Tanya

reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Despite the rash of friends and family 5-star reviews here (really guys, you weren't at all subtle, and that sort of thing hurts rather than helps) I must agree that this is actually a pretty good book, although far from a perfect one.

Set adrift after her marriage dissolves, Jessica Singer has been all work and no play. At her best friend's urging to get out of her rut and enjoy life a bit more, she signs up for an online creative writing class taught through a local college. As the weeks go by, she grows more and more fascinated with the handsome professor in the video. Not only is he handsome, but he's a quick wit, and someone she enjoys arguing with in the class' weekly discussion forums. Bolstered by her BFF's cheerleading, she sets out to meet him in person.

Brant Wilson, however, isn't having it. Left paralyzed and relying on a wheelchair since a bicycle accident, he makes it a rule to not meet his students in person. While part of it is that he wants to be seen simply as Professor Wilson rather than the disabled professor, the other part is a fear of being wrongfully accused of misconduct, as a student had done to him in the past. When Jess finally runs him aground, however, he's too intrigued by the headstrong woman to push her away.

What I liked best about the novel was how the hero was paralyzed, but that the disability did not define him. He was a man, first and foremost, and an English professor second. His disability was far down the totem pole to be as logistical matter as it was a character-altering state. None of the romantic conflict revolves around his two-wheeled state, he is not consumed by angst, and Jess is not made out to be a better person for wanting to date a cripple. He's a man, she's a woman, and they're drawn together for all the same reasons men and women are drawn together - shared sense of humor, companionship and desire.

Which is not to say the wheelchair or disability is glossed over or forgotten. It's certainly a part of who he is. His wife left him after he was paralyzed because she wasn't happy with being married to a less than whole man, and the experience causes him to be wary of Jess' initial overtures. They encounter poor attitudes and accessibility issues. But, the book avoids defining the relationship by his injury or lecturing the reader with awkward info dumps on living with SCI (I'm glaring at you, Catherine Anderson.)

A few things hold it back from being a great, rather than good book. It is a sweet romance, in that the sex is fade to black. Was this just a stylistic choice, or does it speak to the author's discomfort with disabled sex? In either case, I thought it robbed the reader of a valuable insight into the characters' relationship. Did Jess enjoy having to do all the "work?" What went through their heads as they experienced sex in this new way? How, if at all, was it different than able-bodied sex for them? I needed that knowledge and was disappointed at its exclusion.

It was still an enjoyable romance to read, and the author's fair treatment of living with SCI was a welcome breath of fresh air. Despite its flaws, I'd still recommend it to anyone who seeks out disabled characters in romance.

Jessica works writing ad copy, but more than anything she wants to be writing fiction. She hears about the on-line courses at UCLA so she signs up for a creative writing course and is immediately smitten with her Professor, Brant. She wants to meet him for an student teacher conference (read date) but he doesn't meet his students in person so Jessica is forced to get creative to get to know her teacher a little bit better.

I have to say I really enjoyed this book. Brant was incredibly sweet, charming and romantic and Jessica was fun. I really enjoyed that this book went into their dating relationship. Most books like this have some kind of plot device to keep the characters together without any actual dates, and the awkward moments and the blissful moments were equally wonderful to read about.

The main problem I have with the book the villain Simon. For the most part the whole beginning of the book is much weaker than towards the end and it is espeically apparent with how Simon is dealt with. The author tells us he's weird and creepy because he enters her office without waiting for her to say come in, and yet her assistant does the exact same thing. She also is creeped out that Simon knows what kind of drink she likes, something he remembers from a company Christmas party. Simon's villainy was glaring towards the end but in the beginning I just couldn't relate. I understand you can get bad vibes from people but for me it's a little like the pot calling the kettle black when she literally STALKED Brant. I am not over exaggerating. She called the college for his home address and they would only give her a P.O. Box so she sent him a package, called them to tell them it was urgent and he had to get it asap and then waited. Brant's neighbor picked it up and then Jessica followed her back to where he lived trying to spot him and came back three times. I had a hard time sympathizing with her because Simon made her feel "watched."

There are a few annoying descriptions about Jessica cleaning the house, her mother's chotchkies or a crystal ball she keep on her desk at work that took me out of the story and did nothing to add to what was going on, and yet important scenes like Jessica telling him about how she was hurt by her ex-husband were shockingly missing, being that would have been a very emotional and touching scene. The book is definitely written with the perspective of Brant dealing with his personal issues and her issues, other than work, are pretty much totally ignored. But at the core this is a very sweet romance and Brant is the kind of guy we all wish we could meet in real life, espeically with the unrealistic never makes love in less than an hour and always has candles, wine and mood music on hand.

3 1/2 stars.

I just had about given up on authors that wrote for Cerridwen Press until I read THE WRITE MAN FOR HER by Christie Walker Bos. This is a surprisingly well-written book on a subject that is usually taboo in romances: paraplegia. Creative writing professor Brant Wilson was in an accident seven years ago and lost the use of both of his legs; he is in a wheelchair now. He was happily married before the incident that caused him all his grief but his wife left him. She was unable to cope with a paraplegic.

Brant has learned to deal with his physical disabilities. He is 42 now and has given up on romancing a woman, and children. He lives on a houseboat that is set up with wheelchair access. He teaches writing classes online. Everything he does is organized to help him avoid heartbreak again. His students love his classes and he happily coasts along in life.

And then there is a BUMP! J.A. 'Jessica Anne' enters his life. (The start of the story may be slow for some readers. All I can say is stick with it.) In her 30's, divorced but with a career, she is trying to better herself and takes one of Professor Brant Wilson's online classes. Her secret goal is to pursue writing full-time. Attracted to both his looks and engaging personality she wants to get to know him better. Prodded by her best friend, Cath, she tries to find out more about him but learns, the hard way, that she is going to have to do some serious digging.

It took about a quarter of the story to read before they finally meet but I admired Jessica Anne for her honesty. She was aware that he used a wheelchair but was not discouraged. She could have lied to Brant to avoid looking like a stalker but she didn't. What she did do was talk to him in a way that finally gave him pause for thought. Maybe someone could actually enjoy a relationship and treat him as a man first, paraplegic second.

There are secondary stories involving her boss and another about her friend Cath that blended with with Jessica's relationship with Brant. All of the characters were interesting; I could actually see this book made into a movie. There were a couple of editing glitches with content but they were barely noticable. THE WRITE MAN FOR HER was well thought out. If you enjoy contemporary romances and are looking for something different to read I would encourage you to try this story. I am glad I did.

This book is a really enjoyable read, with an easy-to-relate-to main character and interesting problems in the way of her finding love. In particular, the "bad guy" who is always trying to pressure her is satisfyingly annoying and the confrontations between him and the "write" man for her are great.

You can find out what it's about by reading other reviews. What I will tell you is that I laughed, cried, got angry and all around enjoyed this story and the characters. I would highly recommend this book well worth the money.

I can use the word quaint to sum up my thoughts on the book but I have time to complain a little...

Too much detail. I do not care what anyone is wearing and I certainly don't need details on each item they might change out and/or into. If you are going to read this book have a friend white-out the boring parts and it'll be much better (and shorter.)

STRONG DECISIVE CHARACTERS MOVE THIS GENUINE LOVE STORY FROM BEGINNING TO END. GIRL SEES GUY, GIRL WANTS GUY, GIRL GETS... SURPRISE, THAT THE READER WANTS TO EXPLORE RIGHT ALONG WITH THE HEROINE, JESSICA ANNE SINGER. BY DAY, SHE CAN HOLD HER OWN AS A TOP ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE, EVEN WHEN IT BRINGS HER TO A STICKY OFFICE SITUATION WITH THE OFFICE LOTHARIO WHO WON'T BE IGNORED. BY NIGHT HOWEVER, HER PASSION FOR WRITING THE GREAT AMERICAN ROMANCE NOVEL CONSUMES HER BEING TO THE POINT THAT SHE ENROLLS IN AN ONLINE WRITING CLASS ONLY TO FIND THAT PROFESSOR BRANT WILSON STIRS ADDITIONAL PASSIONS SHE WASN'T EXPECTING. THEIR STEAMY REPARTEE HAS THE READER ROOTING THEM THROUGH EACH OBSTACLE THAT THE SEARCH FOR TRUE LOVE ALWAYS BRINGS. A GREAT READ FOR GUYS AS WELL AS GALS BECAUSE OF THE CREDIBLE, REALISTIC AND COMPLICATED CHARACTER FORMATION.

Fun and still thought provoking. I began rooting for Jessica's success immediately. This main character becomes a full dimensional person from the start, with decisions to make and personal fears to conquer. Visuals spring to mind clearly and quickly without long boring descriptions. Relationships run the full gamut from sizzle to giggle. Hope you give this book a read!