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Family Secrets #1
Maggie's Man
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Catch Me and The Perfect Husband...
Three siblings searching for the truth about their family are about to find more than they bargained for.
When shy and reserved Maggie Ferringer was called for jury duty, she never expected to be kidnapped by an escaped convict. But when Cain Cannon, disguised as a prison guard, pulls a gun, she has no choice but to be taken hostage. Cain claims that he’s innocent of killing his girlfriend six years ago and now he wants revenge on the people who put him behind bars.
Soon, Maggie becomes more than just a hostage to Cain. As they slowly begin to share the secrets of their respective pasts, Maggie discovers that she wants to fight for Cain’s freedom—because he just might be the kind of man she could love.
Three siblings searching for the truth about their family are about to find more than they bargained for.
When shy and reserved Maggie Ferringer was called for jury duty, she never expected to be kidnapped by an escaped convict. But when Cain Cannon, disguised as a prison guard, pulls a gun, she has no choice but to be taken hostage. Cain claims that he’s innocent of killing his girlfriend six years ago and now he wants revenge on the people who put him behind bars.
Soon, Maggie becomes more than just a hostage to Cain. As they slowly begin to share the secrets of their respective pasts, Maggie discovers that she wants to fight for Cain’s freedom—because he just might be the kind of man she could love.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1997
About the author
Alicia Scott
24 books110 followersA pseudonym used by Lisa Gardner.
Series:
* Walking After Midnight
* Guiness Gang
* Maximillian's Children - re-released by Penguin (2013) under the updated series name Family Secrets
Series:
* Walking After Midnight
* Guiness Gang
* Maximillian's Children - re-released by Penguin (2013) under the updated series name Family Secrets
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
December 2, 2019
3.25 stars
December 8, 2016
I liked the book, it was great and the h and H are pretty adorable plus the h has cats and that is always a huge win for me.
But what I REALLY liked about this book is that Lisa Gardener republished it as a mainstream and I am laughing myself silly at the regular mainstream mystery readers who have no clue they are reading a Category romance and are completely lost to the nuances.
I kinda feel a bit mean, but still -- is funny.
Tho maybe I should go comment and give little helpful understanding category romance 101 hints to these poor people who obviously have NO CLUE what they just stumbled into. :)
But what I REALLY liked about this book is that Lisa Gardener republished it as a mainstream and I am laughing myself silly at the regular mainstream mystery readers who have no clue they are reading a Category romance and are completely lost to the nuances.
I kinda feel a bit mean, but still -- is funny.
Tho maybe I should go comment and give little helpful understanding category romance 101 hints to these poor people who obviously have NO CLUE what they just stumbled into. :)
November 11, 2017
Sweet, engaging and so heartwarming.
Both the mcs are extremely likable. He’s a convict who makes a run for it from the courtroom and taking the h hostage. The whole story gets rolled up within 24 hours. The love and connection should seem untenable but it doesn’t.
The h is a sweet, caring and a generally optimistic person who sees the good in everyone and everything. So it doesn’t take long for her to see beneath the obvious, to the good in her captor.
Also almost absurdly it’s her brooding captor who brings out the spark and assertiveness in this normally mousy and plain woman. And she blooms in these few short hours, as she never has in all her 27 years.
She'd just never realized how empty she'd been, how cold, how barren, how lonely until he'd wrapped his arms around her and told her she was perfect. It meant so much to her, this man, this moment, this feel of her cheek against his chest.
Although for a guy on the run with the authorities and a murderous relative breathing down his neck, he wastes a lot of time exchanging angsty bg tales with the h.
A point the author makes about fanaticism rings so true, wherever in the world one might be…
“People have a tendency to mistake fanaticism for stupidity and that's not the case—fanaticism is very clever, very insidious in its own way.”
The book is a part of a series ‘Maximillian’s children’ about three siblings – the h and her two half brothers – and a thread of mystery about their secretive father runs throw them all and probably gets solved in the last book.
Both the mcs are extremely likable. He’s a convict who makes a run for it from the courtroom and taking the h hostage. The whole story gets rolled up within 24 hours. The love and connection should seem untenable but it doesn’t.
The h is a sweet, caring and a generally optimistic person who sees the good in everyone and everything. So it doesn’t take long for her to see beneath the obvious, to the good in her captor.
Also almost absurdly it’s her brooding captor who brings out the spark and assertiveness in this normally mousy and plain woman. And she blooms in these few short hours, as she never has in all her 27 years.
She'd just never realized how empty she'd been, how cold, how barren, how lonely until he'd wrapped his arms around her and told her she was perfect. It meant so much to her, this man, this moment, this feel of her cheek against his chest.
Although for a guy on the run with the authorities and a murderous relative breathing down his neck, he wastes a lot of time exchanging angsty bg tales with the h.
A point the author makes about fanaticism rings so true, wherever in the world one might be…
“People have a tendency to mistake fanaticism for stupidity and that's not the case—fanaticism is very clever, very insidious in its own way.”
The book is a part of a series ‘Maximillian’s children’ about three siblings – the h and her two half brothers – and a thread of mystery about their secretive father runs throw them all and probably gets solved in the last book.
July 9, 2011
I loved Maggie's Man, it took a while for me to like it but I loved it totally.
Maggie is one of those women who sees goodness in everyone, she will help out people on the street, adopt pets no-one will, refuse to have non-veg and she is also a marriage counselor. Everyone calls her sweet and that's her tag, she's every guy's best buddy. Her father, fathered children with different women and her two-half brothers and even her grandmother cosset her. So, one day when summoned for jury duty, a man keep calling her and then he pulls a gun on her, Maggie realizes that he is no prison guard but an escaped convict.
Caine has spent the last six years behind bars for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, he is innocent but he doesn't have any faith left. His father and brother made his life hell(they are supremacist) and when he thought he had gotten out(he became a computer programmer) his brother framed him. Life in prison was no picnic either and rather than join some gang, he made himself so bad that he ended up in solitary, hardly seeing the outside world. His escape was an impulse and now he is panicking, he doesn't have much of a plan, he picked Maggie since she seemed the quiet sort and how he misjudges. She seems like a conscience of the entire world, telling him to drive slow so as not to kill innocent people, not to steal a car as they may have a family, she drives him crazy. He threatens her but she seems scared but still persistent.
Caine doesn't tell her that he is innocent and Maggie doesn't even think of that at first, she talks a lot about her brothers, father and tries to convince him to let her go. I loved the book, how Maggie tried to seduce him, she was so innocent and her strip-tease was awesome. She herself sees through Caine's anger and tells him that he is innocent, her take on life was refreshing.
And that scene when she tells him that she loves him and is planning their future and when he is injured and telling her to leave were so emotion filled.
I enjoyed the book totally despite the bumpy start.
Maggie is one of those women who sees goodness in everyone, she will help out people on the street, adopt pets no-one will, refuse to have non-veg and she is also a marriage counselor. Everyone calls her sweet and that's her tag, she's every guy's best buddy. Her father, fathered children with different women and her two-half brothers and even her grandmother cosset her. So, one day when summoned for jury duty, a man keep calling her and then he pulls a gun on her, Maggie realizes that he is no prison guard but an escaped convict.
Caine has spent the last six years behind bars for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, he is innocent but he doesn't have any faith left. His father and brother made his life hell(they are supremacist) and when he thought he had gotten out(he became a computer programmer) his brother framed him. Life in prison was no picnic either and rather than join some gang, he made himself so bad that he ended up in solitary, hardly seeing the outside world. His escape was an impulse and now he is panicking, he doesn't have much of a plan, he picked Maggie since she seemed the quiet sort and how he misjudges. She seems like a conscience of the entire world, telling him to drive slow so as not to kill innocent people, not to steal a car as they may have a family, she drives him crazy. He threatens her but she seems scared but still persistent.
Caine doesn't tell her that he is innocent and Maggie doesn't even think of that at first, she talks a lot about her brothers, father and tries to convince him to let her go. I loved the book, how Maggie tried to seduce him, she was so innocent and her strip-tease was awesome. She herself sees through Caine's anger and tells him that he is innocent, her take on life was refreshing.
And that scene when she tells him that she loves him and is planning their future and when he is injured and telling her to leave were so emotion filled.
I enjoyed the book totally despite the bumpy start.
August 17, 2013
What a lovely story! This was a sweet love story and I loved how Maggie became a Hawthorne Red! Loved her brothers and loved Cain.
The ending was a little fast for me. I definitely wanted a longer epilogue. I hope we get a peek if Maggie and Cain in her brothers's books. I am sure we will because we still have no idea who the woman is in her locket.
The ending was a little fast for me. I definitely wanted a longer epilogue. I hope we get a peek if Maggie and Cain in her brothers's books. I am sure we will because we still have no idea who the woman is in her locket.
August 4, 2023
“Gripping… the pages turn with speed.”
— The Wall Street Journal
I’m literally cringing as I write this. For the first time in my life I am ashamed of my name. I tried to read this book but I just could not finish. I think I stopped reading three pages in, it’s THAT BAD.
This book lost me on the first page.
No.
The first paragraph.
Let’s try and see what went wrong, shall we:
*Ahem*
Chapter 1
“Don’t move.”
Maggie Ferringer looked up blankly from her seat on the wooden bench outside the second-floor courtroom. Eight fifty a.m. and she hadn’t had coffee yet. She was tired, disgruntled at being called for jury duty and still preoccupied with how she was going to rearrange all her appointments for the next five days. Plus, one of her cats was sick. She was thinking she’d better take him to the vet. (Riveting stuff)
“Don’t move,” the prison guard repeated, and this time his voice was very hard.
She blinked rapidly, looking at the man with mild confusion. Strangers were always approaching her. There could be one hundred people on the street and the tourist would ask Maggie for directions (Uh, what does this have to do with anything?). She supposed it was because she was so unassuming. At five feet, she had a slight build and pale skin that only burned, never tanned (Oh right, so the author has an excuse to dive right in to Maggie’s physical description. Such flow. Much organic). Her clothes ran toward the admittedly conservative—she had a weakness for low-slung sensible pumps. Today, she’d matched her favorite pair of beige heels with a brown plaid wool skirt and simple pink blouse that declared, I am an intelligent professional woman with really boring taste in clothes.
Last week, her mother—one of those tall, wildly beautiful women who could actually wear leopard-print jumpsuits—had flown into town, greeted Maggie with two fofooey (uh… wat?) cheek kisses and dramatically exclaimed, “My God, Maggie darling! How did I ever give birth to a creature who will probably marry an accountant?”
(Getting tired yet? I know I am. Don’t worry we’re almost at the story).
And Maggie, who felt the same sting she always felt when trying to understand her exotic mother, had the sudden urge to toss back her red hair and retort fiercely. “At least an accountant would come home every night for dinner!” She hadn’t said such a thing, of course. She was still slightly surprised she’d bothered to think it. After twenty-seven years, she’d come to the realization that Stephanie would always be Stephanie. Getting angry with her self-centered, extremely un-Mom-like behavior was as productive as hating the sun for shining. “Lady,” the guard (remember him? oh yeah! He’s a main component of this story. I’m sorry, I just got lost in all that mind numbing exposition above) was now growling “I said move!” (he’s probably a little miffed because he just watched Maggie stare blankly into space for five minutes as she thought about her entire life story, drooling)
“Move where?” she asked him politely. As far as she could tell, the second floor of the old courthouse was still deserted. Space should not be a problem for him.
Then Maggie noticed the gun.
HALLELUJAH.
Halfway down page two, she finally notices the gun.
And what comes next, ladies and gentleman, is one of the most profound, exquisite, succinct lines of prose ever committed to the page.
The big gun.
Wow. The big gun.
The big black gun pointed right at her, here, in Multnomah County Courthouse.
What kind of gun? Pistol, rifle, hand gun, shot gun? Bazooka? How big are we talkin’ here? I doubt loveboat hauled an AK-47 into the courthouse but, you know, it’s a big gun. A big black gun.
Save me.
And immediately after being held hostage at gun point, Maggie, like any sane, level-headed person, swoons after her hunky captor.
He shifted, positioning his solid body between her and the top of the stairs…
Oh yeah. Solid body.
The guard in front of her shifted again and her universe was reduced to bulging biceps, a granite chest, and a pair of chilling green eyes that told her he was bigger, better and badder than she would ever be in her whole entire life.
Then, Maggie notices that the uniform doesn’t quite fit on this hunky “guard,” something she should have noticed when she first looked at him. I guess those biceps, granite chest, and “chilling” green eyes were just too distracting…
“You’re not a prison guard!” she exclaimed softly.
(Also how does one exclaim softly.)
I can’t. I just can’t.
At this point I tossed the book aside because I knew what kind of story this would be. I think you know the one. Yes, that kind of story.
Let me see. Terrible, contrived writing. Ridiculously implausible situations. All centered around the hot, beefy bad boy.
Oh no.
This is porn.
This is lady porn.
I just couldn’t read anymore, but trust me, the writing only gets worse.
Like this gem from page 194.
His green gaze was so steady, so true, and his calloused thumb brushed her cheek, as soothing as a kitten’s lick.
Yes, we get it, Maggie’s a cat lady. But this is just a terrible simile. A kitten’s lick isn’t really soothing, but the mama cat’s lick to the kitten is, probably.
But I digress.
Maggie’s Man is cliché and forgettable. There’s nothing of value here, except the first few pages, which are an excellent example of how not to start your book. (Hint: avoid action-retardant info dumps).
That’s it. I’m done with romance. No more love for me. From now on I’m sticking with hatred, pure and simple.
— The Wall Street Journal
I’m literally cringing as I write this. For the first time in my life I am ashamed of my name. I tried to read this book but I just could not finish. I think I stopped reading three pages in, it’s THAT BAD.
This book lost me on the first page.
No.
The first paragraph.
Let’s try and see what went wrong, shall we:
*Ahem*
Chapter 1
“Don’t move.”
Maggie Ferringer looked up blankly from her seat on the wooden bench outside the second-floor courtroom. Eight fifty a.m. and she hadn’t had coffee yet. She was tired, disgruntled at being called for jury duty and still preoccupied with how she was going to rearrange all her appointments for the next five days. Plus, one of her cats was sick. She was thinking she’d better take him to the vet. (Riveting stuff)
“Don’t move,” the prison guard repeated, and this time his voice was very hard.
She blinked rapidly, looking at the man with mild confusion. Strangers were always approaching her. There could be one hundred people on the street and the tourist would ask Maggie for directions (Uh, what does this have to do with anything?). She supposed it was because she was so unassuming. At five feet, she had a slight build and pale skin that only burned, never tanned (Oh right, so the author has an excuse to dive right in to Maggie’s physical description. Such flow. Much organic). Her clothes ran toward the admittedly conservative—she had a weakness for low-slung sensible pumps. Today, she’d matched her favorite pair of beige heels with a brown plaid wool skirt and simple pink blouse that declared, I am an intelligent professional woman with really boring taste in clothes.
Last week, her mother—one of those tall, wildly beautiful women who could actually wear leopard-print jumpsuits—had flown into town, greeted Maggie with two fofooey (uh… wat?) cheek kisses and dramatically exclaimed, “My God, Maggie darling! How did I ever give birth to a creature who will probably marry an accountant?”
(Getting tired yet? I know I am. Don’t worry we’re almost at the story).
And Maggie, who felt the same sting she always felt when trying to understand her exotic mother, had the sudden urge to toss back her red hair and retort fiercely. “At least an accountant would come home every night for dinner!” She hadn’t said such a thing, of course. She was still slightly surprised she’d bothered to think it. After twenty-seven years, she’d come to the realization that Stephanie would always be Stephanie. Getting angry with her self-centered, extremely un-Mom-like behavior was as productive as hating the sun for shining. “Lady,” the guard (remember him? oh yeah! He’s a main component of this story. I’m sorry, I just got lost in all that mind numbing exposition above) was now growling “I said move!” (he’s probably a little miffed because he just watched Maggie stare blankly into space for five minutes as she thought about her entire life story, drooling)
“Move where?” she asked him politely. As far as she could tell, the second floor of the old courthouse was still deserted. Space should not be a problem for him.
Then Maggie noticed the gun.
HALLELUJAH.
Halfway down page two, she finally notices the gun.
And what comes next, ladies and gentleman, is one of the most profound, exquisite, succinct lines of prose ever committed to the page.
The big gun.
Wow. The big gun.
The big black gun pointed right at her, here, in Multnomah County Courthouse.
What kind of gun? Pistol, rifle, hand gun, shot gun? Bazooka? How big are we talkin’ here? I doubt loveboat hauled an AK-47 into the courthouse but, you know, it’s a big gun. A big black gun.
Save me.
And immediately after being held hostage at gun point, Maggie, like any sane, level-headed person, swoons after her hunky captor.
He shifted, positioning his solid body between her and the top of the stairs…
Oh yeah. Solid body.
The guard in front of her shifted again and her universe was reduced to bulging biceps, a granite chest, and a pair of chilling green eyes that told her he was bigger, better and badder than she would ever be in her whole entire life.
Then, Maggie notices that the uniform doesn’t quite fit on this hunky “guard,” something she should have noticed when she first looked at him. I guess those biceps, granite chest, and “chilling” green eyes were just too distracting…
“You’re not a prison guard!” she exclaimed softly.
(Also how does one exclaim softly.)
I can’t. I just can’t.
At this point I tossed the book aside because I knew what kind of story this would be. I think you know the one. Yes, that kind of story.
Let me see. Terrible, contrived writing. Ridiculously implausible situations. All centered around the hot, beefy bad boy.
Oh no.
This is porn.
This is lady porn.
I just couldn’t read anymore, but trust me, the writing only gets worse.
Like this gem from page 194.
His green gaze was so steady, so true, and his calloused thumb brushed her cheek, as soothing as a kitten’s lick.
Yes, we get it, Maggie’s a cat lady. But this is just a terrible simile. A kitten’s lick isn’t really soothing, but the mama cat’s lick to the kitten is, probably.
But I digress.
Maggie’s Man is cliché and forgettable. There’s nothing of value here, except the first few pages, which are an excellent example of how not to start your book. (Hint: avoid action-retardant info dumps).
That’s it. I’m done with romance. No more love for me. From now on I’m sticking with hatred, pure and simple.
January 18, 2020
Maggie's Man
4.5 Stars
This is one of Lisa Gardner's earlier romantic suspense works before she began writing more mystery/thriller type books. The trademarks of Gardiner's gripping plots and skilled characterization, nevertheless, shine through.
The suspense plot is reminiscent of Judith McNaught's Perfect revolving around an escaped convict, Cain Cannon, and his hostage, Maggie Ferringer. Determined to clear his name, Cain's actions are morally questionable at times, yet he has his own ingrained code of honor. Maggie is a sweet heroine whose naivete is endearing even if she has one or two TSTL moments.
Maggie and Cain have intense chemistry and their romance is believable despite their short acquaintance and the Stockholm Syndrome potential of their circumstances.
Overall, a fast-paced, action-packed and entertaining read. I look forward to reading C.J.'s book next.
4.5 Stars
This is one of Lisa Gardner's earlier romantic suspense works before she began writing more mystery/thriller type books. The trademarks of Gardiner's gripping plots and skilled characterization, nevertheless, shine through.
The suspense plot is reminiscent of Judith McNaught's Perfect revolving around an escaped convict, Cain Cannon, and his hostage, Maggie Ferringer. Determined to clear his name, Cain's actions are morally questionable at times, yet he has his own ingrained code of honor. Maggie is a sweet heroine whose naivete is endearing even if she has one or two TSTL moments.
Maggie and Cain have intense chemistry and their romance is believable despite their short acquaintance and the Stockholm Syndrome potential of their circumstances.
Overall, a fast-paced, action-packed and entertaining read. I look forward to reading C.J.'s book next.
September 30, 2013
I am glad I have read Lisa Gardner in her more modern works. This book had an interesting plot, but there were too many steamy scenes that slowed down the action. I don't think I'll even try to read the rest of the "Family Secrets" series. Bring on "Fear Nothing"! I loved the excerpt that was included in the paperback I read of "Maggie's Man". DD Warren is back!
September 26, 2021
This was a sweet romance!
I love when quirky sweet heroines turn the emotionally tortured hot guy into the hero he should have been all along. This story was that and so much more. I loved, loved sweet Maggie’s character with all her good hearted ways.
4.5 sweet stars⭐️
I love when quirky sweet heroines turn the emotionally tortured hot guy into the hero he should have been all along. This story was that and so much more. I loved, loved sweet Maggie’s character with all her good hearted ways.
4.5 sweet stars⭐️
November 11, 2019
I’m a big Lisa Gardner fan, and have recently given myself the goal to work through all the author’s books. Thus, when I found out Lisa Gardner had written romantic suspense as Alicia Scott, I was curious. I’m always willing to dive into a romantic suspense, and I was curious to see how Lisa Gardner would go about it.
Although I did not enjoy this one quite as much as I have enjoyed other Lisa Gardner books, Maggie’s Man did hook me. It’s more on the romantic side than the suspense side, it isn’t quite up to the usual thrilling standard of Lisa Gardner, but it certainly gripped me throughout.
I was addicted to the story, curious as to how all the details would come together. I was hooked on the interactions between the characters, giving me plenty of reasons to keep turning the pages. Add in the curiosity I have towards the side characters and the fact I want to know more about the family, and I’m left eager to dive into book two.
All in all, Maggie’s Man has me eager to dive into the next book in the Family Secrets series.
Although I did not enjoy this one quite as much as I have enjoyed other Lisa Gardner books, Maggie’s Man did hook me. It’s more on the romantic side than the suspense side, it isn’t quite up to the usual thrilling standard of Lisa Gardner, but it certainly gripped me throughout.
I was addicted to the story, curious as to how all the details would come together. I was hooked on the interactions between the characters, giving me plenty of reasons to keep turning the pages. Add in the curiosity I have towards the side characters and the fact I want to know more about the family, and I’m left eager to dive into book two.
All in all, Maggie’s Man has me eager to dive into the next book in the Family Secrets series.
July 10, 2021
Loved the first 3/4. Wish the prologue was longer and more detailed. Somehow it felt rushed and a totally different style. I love 3 person multiple POV and the first part was had a lot of humor, suspense and seemed so real. The ending fell short and seemed as if written by another author.
September 6, 2016
I'm really having a laugh and enjoying reading all these reviews by readers for whom 'romance' is not their usual thing and the sense of outrage that 'their' crime writer has 'left her wits behind' in writing romance. Some of these reviews are really funny and the range of viewpoints is vast.
In recent years I strayed widely into genres I normally wouldn't have delved nor to such an extent. I listen to audio books from an Australian library situated in the country. I've almost permanently, when possible, got a book stuck in my ear. Due to the way books get circulated, as time has gone on it's a battle to find books I've not listened to before. I have listened to a pile of crime and drama/romance as these seem to be the most popular genres bought by our library.
This lack of choice used to get my goat but I'm now resigned to it just .... enjoy. But in being subjected to so much crime and drama/romance it became very obvious that when you open one up you'd best leave your sense of reality behind - they are stories and I think meant as pure escapism.
I used to get all het up over this (particularly far fetched story lines or dialogue) and on occasion still do but most books that get published are listenable and written well enough to the end.
In the past 10 years I listen more than read and get more het up over a bad narrator. A bad or badly chosen narrator kills a book even if it's a good book. Sometimes despite a bad one, I doggedly persist in finishing the book, taking my annoyance out by wildly mimicking the reader all the way through. Though at times this has put me in a bad mood, like I've done a bout with some inane person and their lame politics with no hope of either side backing down and both of us being left with high blood pressure and the feeling of wanting to punch something.
So Alicia Scott (Lisa) likes writing romance with quite far fetched plots and lots of sex. Before I shoot her down in flames I'd like to throw in some trite truisms in reference to the story line 'life is often stranger than fiction' and the sex 'horses for courses'.
In this case Alicia/Lisa writes well and the narrator has been well chosen.
Keep those funny reviews coming.
In recent years I strayed widely into genres I normally wouldn't have delved nor to such an extent. I listen to audio books from an Australian library situated in the country. I've almost permanently, when possible, got a book stuck in my ear. Due to the way books get circulated, as time has gone on it's a battle to find books I've not listened to before. I have listened to a pile of crime and drama/romance as these seem to be the most popular genres bought by our library.
This lack of choice used to get my goat but I'm now resigned to it just .... enjoy. But in being subjected to so much crime and drama/romance it became very obvious that when you open one up you'd best leave your sense of reality behind - they are stories and I think meant as pure escapism.
I used to get all het up over this (particularly far fetched story lines or dialogue) and on occasion still do but most books that get published are listenable and written well enough to the end.
In the past 10 years I listen more than read and get more het up over a bad narrator. A bad or badly chosen narrator kills a book even if it's a good book. Sometimes despite a bad one, I doggedly persist in finishing the book, taking my annoyance out by wildly mimicking the reader all the way through. Though at times this has put me in a bad mood, like I've done a bout with some inane person and their lame politics with no hope of either side backing down and both of us being left with high blood pressure and the feeling of wanting to punch something.
So Alicia Scott (Lisa) likes writing romance with quite far fetched plots and lots of sex. Before I shoot her down in flames I'd like to throw in some trite truisms in reference to the story line 'life is often stranger than fiction' and the sex 'horses for courses'.
In this case Alicia/Lisa writes well and the narrator has been well chosen.
Keep those funny reviews coming.
September 21, 2013
This is Lisa Gardner writing as Alicia Scott. While I thought the book was ok, I'm really glad Gardner starting writing under her own name and writing the thrillers I'm used too.
Maggie gets called to jury duty, and while waiting is kidnapped by a man, Cain, who's been in solitary confinement for 6 years. As they travel across Oregon, Maggie metamorphs into a strong-willed woman and in the course of less than 20 hours and only 300 miles - falls in love with her captor and has sex with him. There are lots of pages describing the sex - much laving of the firm breasts and running of hands over the rock hard chest. I skipped those pages - sex is sex.
Outside of the sex which I know sells books and if I ever get around to writing one, will have sex in it so people will buy it, the story gets bogged down in all the half-siblings, marriages, divorces...Maggie chatters about all these people from time to time. Lots of loose ends, which are probably tied up in the next two books in the series. Another great marketing ploy to sell more books.
In the end...well...I can't tell you or it will ruin this book if you choose to read it. I did buy a recent copy of the book and Gardner states in the forward in it that this isn't her typical book and warned me ahead of time of the romance and sex. It is also set pre-9/11 so things work a bit differently than they do today.
Maggie gets called to jury duty, and while waiting is kidnapped by a man, Cain, who's been in solitary confinement for 6 years. As they travel across Oregon, Maggie metamorphs into a strong-willed woman and in the course of less than 20 hours and only 300 miles - falls in love with her captor and has sex with him. There are lots of pages describing the sex - much laving of the firm breasts and running of hands over the rock hard chest. I skipped those pages - sex is sex.
Outside of the sex which I know sells books and if I ever get around to writing one, will have sex in it so people will buy it, the story gets bogged down in all the half-siblings, marriages, divorces...Maggie chatters about all these people from time to time. Lots of loose ends, which are probably tied up in the next two books in the series. Another great marketing ploy to sell more books.
In the end...well...I can't tell you or it will ruin this book if you choose to read it. I did buy a recent copy of the book and Gardner states in the forward in it that this isn't her typical book and warned me ahead of time of the romance and sex. It is also set pre-9/11 so things work a bit differently than they do today.
May 9, 2016
Ok... Maggie is stupid. Not just stupid but STUPID!!! She's slow, dim witted and I'm pretty sure that her mama dropped her on her head multiple times as a baby! I got maybe 2 chapters into this book, maybe 3, before I gave up on her and her stupid. And yes, it is necessary to re-iterate how STUPID she is as many time's as possible! Cain is a bit stupid too, but that's only because he doesn't knock her out or give her a good scare too make her shut up and do what he wants. But the only thing I can forgive Maggie for is dropping her purse, the only thing.
She argues with the guy who has a gun, protests about the vehicle that he want's to steal. She complains about how long it will take to get to Idaho, yeah get this, she has 'dependents'! Not a boyfriend, friend, husband, child or any human being, but CATS! So not only is she stupid but she is crazy as well! She try's to 'reason' with this guy, who has told her that he was convicted of murder, and get him to 'give up' his plans for escape. She thorws a tantrum because he might 'hurt' someone in the process of his escape!
My GOD, Shoot me now! Worst female lead ever written, E-V-E-R!!! Yeah, do yourself a favor and don't even try it. I'm not one for slapping, in fact I've never slapped anyone, but I so want to bitch slap her!
She argues with the guy who has a gun, protests about the vehicle that he want's to steal. She complains about how long it will take to get to Idaho, yeah get this, she has 'dependents'! Not a boyfriend, friend, husband, child or any human being, but CATS! So not only is she stupid but she is crazy as well! She try's to 'reason' with this guy, who has told her that he was convicted of murder, and get him to 'give up' his plans for escape. She thorws a tantrum because he might 'hurt' someone in the process of his escape!
My GOD, Shoot me now! Worst female lead ever written, E-V-E-R!!! Yeah, do yourself a favor and don't even try it. I'm not one for slapping, in fact I've never slapped anyone, but I so want to bitch slap her!
July 14, 2019
I have been a huge fan of Lisa Gardner for years. She is my favorite Murder mystery/ suspense author. So when I found Maggie’s Man written in her pen name Alicia Scott, I had to see give it a try.
Cain and Maggie’s story blew me away. Yes it’s not written like Ms. Gardner’s modern books, this one is pre 911, before cell phones were at everyone’s fingertips. This has way more romance than her usual books, but still carries Ms. Gardner’s legendary nail-biting suspense.
Ms. Gardner is known for graphic forensic detail, but this book is definitely tamer and sparked with heated romance.
So yeah, I’m happy I discovered the book under her pen name.
Cain, Maggie, her two brothers C.J. And Brandon rocked my suspense loving world.
So if you love a great Suspense story where the good out maneuver evil, this one is for you!!!
I can’t wait to read her sequels with C.J. and Brandon’s stories!!!!
Cain and Maggie’s story blew me away. Yes it’s not written like Ms. Gardner’s modern books, this one is pre 911, before cell phones were at everyone’s fingertips. This has way more romance than her usual books, but still carries Ms. Gardner’s legendary nail-biting suspense.
Ms. Gardner is known for graphic forensic detail, but this book is definitely tamer and sparked with heated romance.
So yeah, I’m happy I discovered the book under her pen name.
Cain, Maggie, her two brothers C.J. And Brandon rocked my suspense loving world.
So if you love a great Suspense story where the good out maneuver evil, this one is for you!!!
I can’t wait to read her sequels with C.J. and Brandon’s stories!!!!
May 31, 2013
The book was good as is anything by Lisa Gardner. However, I can't say I loved it. Maggie was a sweet character but I didn't find her wholly 'believable'. She was too naive, too ridiculous at times. Cain never came together for me at all. Other than the fact that he was good-looking and was a good person, he stayed two-dimensional. I also found that I was looking for less description and more dialog. I often just skipped through the description to get to the 'meat' of the story. Overall, I enjoyed this book but I don't think I'd read it a second time. Please note, I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
August 16, 2015
Not an interesting book, and the two MC were stupid. Maggie was naive and just too trusting of a strange man who abducted her. This guy grabs her and she eventually starts to trust and lust after him. She had so many chances to escape! I don't care that Cain ended up being a good guy, she didn't know that for sure at the time. Cain must have caught the stupid from Maggie because he manages to get the truck (he stole) stolen from himself by two youngsters. He was lucky his brother was even dumber than him.
September 16, 2013
I didn't like this book nearly as much as McNamara's Woman. I think Maggie's character is schizophrenic - the transformation from meek to empowered just didn't work for me. When the development arc of a major character doesn't work, the story is just less enjoyable. It struck me as a more conventional romance and much less a mystery or suspense story.
Nothing wrong with that, but I prefer my romantic suspense stories more suspenseful than this.
Nothing wrong with that, but I prefer my romantic suspense stories more suspenseful than this.
October 27, 2012
what a great book...!!
Beautifully done...I can clearly see why they fell in love with each other;p
overall, 5++ stars!
Beautifully done...I can clearly see why they fell in love with each other;p
overall, 5++ stars!
January 6, 2015
I can't finish this garbage.
December 10, 2014
Dumb,dumb,dumb -both the book and the characters.
June 16, 2022
Plenty of excitement and suspense.
The author has included a little reminder at the beginning of the book that the story was written in the 90's. Yeah, I was feeling it for sure. The female main character is this cringing but kind fluff ball who is overwhelmed by the manliness of the male main character. So there's that. Even a trip to a convenience store requires male assistance.
The male main character is straight out of The Fugitive; he's been framed for a crime he didn't commit and has to escape to prove his innocence. The bad guys are after him, the good guys are after him, and he has to have a hostage for some not-exactly-explained reason. By the end of the story we see examples of how hostages can be useful but him grabbing her isn't one of them.
The romance part of the story is SUPER messed up. Again, 90's era influence there. She's supposed to be a marriage counselor which is pretty ironic considering they both need therapy. So, yeah, no.
Two and a half stars rounded up because it could work without all the hormones. Handcuffed together and the bad guys are closing in... isn't that already an action movie plot somewhere?
Anyway.
The ending had some happiness and resolutions while leaving some openings for the next book in the series to continue filling things in.
Violence. Sex. Mild language. Themes of racism/white supremacy, abuse of a child, hate crimes.
The author has included a little reminder at the beginning of the book that the story was written in the 90's. Yeah, I was feeling it for sure. The female main character is this cringing but kind fluff ball who is overwhelmed by the manliness of the male main character. So there's that. Even a trip to a convenience store requires male assistance.
The male main character is straight out of The Fugitive; he's been framed for a crime he didn't commit and has to escape to prove his innocence. The bad guys are after him, the good guys are after him, and he has to have a hostage for some not-exactly-explained reason. By the end of the story we see examples of how hostages can be useful but him grabbing her isn't one of them.
The romance part of the story is SUPER messed up. Again, 90's era influence there. She's supposed to be a marriage counselor which is pretty ironic considering they both need therapy. So, yeah, no.
Two and a half stars rounded up because it could work without all the hormones. Handcuffed together and the bad guys are closing in... isn't that already an action movie plot somewhere?
Anyway.
The ending had some happiness and resolutions while leaving some openings for the next book in the series to continue filling things in.
Violence. Sex. Mild language. Themes of racism/white supremacy, abuse of a child, hate crimes.
August 8, 2017
I had a fun time reading other reviews by "serious" readers who don't usually read romances !
Of course, it's not exactly Lisa Gardner's usual style - or else she wouldn't have written those books under a pseudonym, what did you expect ? Of course, they fall in love very quickly. Of course, Maggie is a little mouse during a big part of the story.
But I think it was a very good romantic suspense, I enjoyed it very much. I had my strong heroin (one of the things I enjoy the most with Lisa Gardner's novels) even if I had to wait some ! I found the characters to be a little deeper than I expected. And the background was completely unusual : white supremacy ! Good book, I'll read the rest :)
Of course, it's not exactly Lisa Gardner's usual style - or else she wouldn't have written those books under a pseudonym, what did you expect ? Of course, they fall in love very quickly. Of course, Maggie is a little mouse during a big part of the story.
But I think it was a very good romantic suspense, I enjoyed it very much. I had my strong heroin (one of the things I enjoy the most with Lisa Gardner's novels) even if I had to wait some ! I found the characters to be a little deeper than I expected. And the background was completely unusual : white supremacy ! Good book, I'll read the rest :)
January 20, 2018
One of my favourite books ever!
January 29, 2022
I loved this story. Easy to read and great characters.
October 22, 2023
Heroine is so dumb I couldn’t stop laughing. Also I can’t believe she fell in love and gave her virginity to a man she has known for only ONE day!!
August 22, 2021
So glad I came across this sweet little gem! I am in love!
Maggie is a little brown mouse with a big, warm heart. When she is taken as a hostage by convicted murderer Cain, she is terrified both for herself and on behalf of any other innocent bystander that might get hurt, her innate compassion makes her go toe to toe with the big gun-toting thug and object to small felonies even on the run. If he has to steal a car, it should be one of the sleeker ones because they will be insured, and not a truck that probably doubles up as a student's home. Or not to trash the stolen car and not to ditch it too far away so the workman can still retrieve it and get back home in the evening to his wife and two kids. Or stop in the middle of the night, in pouring rain, to help out a soaked young couple whose car had broken down. She has a three-legged cat whom nobody wanted - but as she says, if the cat can get used to three legs, why can't we? She has two badass protective brothers that I absolutely adored, and I loved, loved the bond they share! I am just in love with Maggie!
Here is Cain's thought when Maggie, with all her open heart, confesses she has long term plans with him:
And as Cain realises he may never be the man for her:
It takes a special man to appreciate somebody like Maggie, and even after six years in prison for a murder he did not commit, Cain is not so far gone as to not recognize the treasure he has stumbled upon. I absolutely loved how indulgent he becomes towards Maggie, how protective, how gentle. Maggie, who has always been passed over as the little sister by all the men around her, basks in the tenderness and affection. They develop a beautiful bond with love and trust. And guess what - even though the events of this little book unfold over a couple of arguably intense days, the buildup never feels rushed, and the romance is believable.
And on the sex front - Maggie is a virgin who CANNOT give a BJ! O horror of horrors! The book has no oral - can you BELIEVE it?? It is a wonder Maggie ever made it to the pages of a published romance novel!
I am so SICK of reading about virgins who can apparently suck like pornstars. *Eye roll* Let us be analytical about this please, ladies. Controlling your gag reflex takes a LOT of painstaking effort and practice, and somebody cannot do that first day on the job. Writing that in a book is just cheating on the part of the author.
I adored Maggie. I loved Cain. I cannot wait for CJ and Brandon's stories to come up next! :D And I desperately want more peeks into Maggie and Cain's life! This little book is a keeper!
Addition: Many of the reviewers apparently see Maggie as TSTL, but if she is so, she is so in the best sense of the word. She isn't naive or annoying or affected - she is simply a trusting, optimistic person. She wants to help people and rather than assuming the worst of them, she assumes the best of them. It is sad that that seems stupid to so many of us - I think we need more Maggies around to make this world a nicer place.
Maggie is a little brown mouse with a big, warm heart. When she is taken as a hostage by convicted murderer Cain, she is terrified both for herself and on behalf of any other innocent bystander that might get hurt, her innate compassion makes her go toe to toe with the big gun-toting thug and object to small felonies even on the run. If he has to steal a car, it should be one of the sleeker ones because they will be insured, and not a truck that probably doubles up as a student's home. Or not to trash the stolen car and not to ditch it too far away so the workman can still retrieve it and get back home in the evening to his wife and two kids. Or stop in the middle of the night, in pouring rain, to help out a soaked young couple whose car had broken down. She has a three-legged cat whom nobody wanted - but as she says, if the cat can get used to three legs, why can't we? She has two badass protective brothers that I absolutely adored, and I loved, loved the bond they share! I am just in love with Maggie!
Here is Cain's thought when Maggie, with all her open heart, confesses she has long term plans with him:
"And he thought she was the most beautiful person he’d ever known. So many reasons to be bitter, yet there wasn’t a bitter bone in her body. So many reasons to be tough and cynical, yet she remained warm and generous and determined to save everyone. She tried so hard and the world was running out of people who were willing to try."
And as Cain realises he may never be the man for her:
“Love isn’t free,” he said levelly. “You of all people should know that. It requires commitment, time, care. I’m running from the law. I could be running a long time. I may never get free. I won’t bind you to that, Maggie. That wouldn’t be love.”
She stared at him a suspended moment. “No,” she agreed at last. “But the fact that you don’t want to bind me to your problems—that’s love.”
It takes a special man to appreciate somebody like Maggie, and even after six years in prison for a murder he did not commit, Cain is not so far gone as to not recognize the treasure he has stumbled upon. I absolutely loved how indulgent he becomes towards Maggie, how protective, how gentle. Maggie, who has always been passed over as the little sister by all the men around her, basks in the tenderness and affection. They develop a beautiful bond with love and trust. And guess what - even though the events of this little book unfold over a couple of arguably intense days, the buildup never feels rushed, and the romance is believable.
And on the sex front - Maggie is a virgin who CANNOT give a BJ! O horror of horrors! The book has no oral - can you BELIEVE it?? It is a wonder Maggie ever made it to the pages of a published romance novel!
I am so SICK of reading about virgins who can apparently suck like pornstars. *Eye roll* Let us be analytical about this please, ladies. Controlling your gag reflex takes a LOT of painstaking effort and practice, and somebody cannot do that first day on the job. Writing that in a book is just cheating on the part of the author.
I adored Maggie. I loved Cain. I cannot wait for CJ and Brandon's stories to come up next! :D And I desperately want more peeks into Maggie and Cain's life! This little book is a keeper!
Addition: Many of the reviewers apparently see Maggie as TSTL, but if she is so, she is so in the best sense of the word. She isn't naive or annoying or affected - she is simply a trusting, optimistic person. She wants to help people and rather than assuming the worst of them, she assumes the best of them. It is sad that that seems stupid to so many of us - I think we need more Maggies around to make this world a nicer place.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2013
I really wanted to like this book because I like Lisa Garner's other stories. However, I ended up skipping over a lot of the useless wordiness and found several huge flaws.
1. I’m really into the book and by chapter 2 (43 pages in) I come to a screeching halt. Maggie is sitting in a stolen truck with escape convict Cain handcuffed to him. He’s driving with both hands and she is sitting right next to him. See the picture? They are tight and cramped in a truck driving down the road. This is where I stop. Maggie is trying to determine how to escape Cain – “…she stared at the handcuff morosely, then at the gun tucked in the small of his back…” How is that humanly possible? How can she see the small of his back without shoving him forward and breaking her neck to see the gun? There were some other instances of unrealistic views.
2. Page 102 Maggie is telling Cain the history of her great-great-great-grandmother who put arsenic in lotion she rubbed onto a bad guy to kill him and rescue her great-great-great-grandfather. The arsenic worked to kill the bad guy but what about her? Her hands were exposed to the same toxin and she should have died as well. Skin absorbs no matter who's skin it is. Also, would the arsenic have worked within seconds, minutes, hours, or days? The logic of that historical story is flawed.
1. I’m really into the book and by chapter 2 (43 pages in) I come to a screeching halt. Maggie is sitting in a stolen truck with escape convict Cain handcuffed to him. He’s driving with both hands and she is sitting right next to him. See the picture? They are tight and cramped in a truck driving down the road. This is where I stop. Maggie is trying to determine how to escape Cain – “…she stared at the handcuff morosely, then at the gun tucked in the small of his back…” How is that humanly possible? How can she see the small of his back without shoving him forward and breaking her neck to see the gun? There were some other instances of unrealistic views.
2. Page 102 Maggie is telling Cain the history of her great-great-great-grandmother who put arsenic in lotion she rubbed onto a bad guy to kill him and rescue her great-great-great-grandfather. The arsenic worked to kill the bad guy but what about her? Her hands were exposed to the same toxin and she should have died as well. Skin absorbs no matter who's skin it is. Also, would the arsenic have worked within seconds, minutes, hours, or days? The logic of that historical story is flawed.
September 14, 2018
This is my first book to read that was written by Alicia Scott, Lisa Gardner's pen name. Actually I didn't even know that Gardner wrote under a pen name until now. Gardner is one of my favorite murder mystery authors and this book did not disappoint. This book really pulled me in because I was a maximum security correctional officer at one time. It brought to my mind the "sitting duck" theory that we were taught in the academy. I don't want to give away the plot so you'll just have to google what that theory is for yourself. The characters in this book will draw you in and make you want them to triumph in the end. What an ending this book has. As I read the last paragraph I thought to myself, 'what if there wasn't an epilogue and I had to wait for another book to see what happens!' This is a great read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2019
i like a good romance with plenty of sex just as much as the next girl, but not like this. maggie is supposed to be 27, but that's not how it reads. she's so innocent, so ignorant and so trusting that i could only picture her as a child in her early teens. that made reading about her losing her virginity and repeated sexual encounters really uncomfortable. no thanks.
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