Maggie's Man: A Family Secrets Novel

I have read everything that Lisa Gardner has written. If there is a bigger fan of her books and writing, I would love to meet him or her. But this attempt at romance lit is just too light. It is not sexy or raunchy enough to be "real" romance lit. It is romance lite. Very prim and proper romance lit for a younger reader, perhaps. The story is very interesting in the beginning and then goes off into romance land. But having said that, I would read a recipe for hard boiled eggs if Lisa Gardner wrote it so I am sure that I will give her next books a try.
I do not know who her audience is. If she is writing for a young audience reading their first romance book, I get it. But without knowing the direction she wants to go, it is tough to judge this book.

I cannot believe that Lisa Gardner has put her name to this book. It's is written in the most childish fashion and to me is unreadable...very sad and definitely not in the league of her previous books. Don't waste your money

Maggie's Man by Lisa Gardner
Contemporary Romance -Aug 6th, 2013
4 stars

Maggie's Man a re-print of the author's Family Secrets Trilogy written under her pseudonym, Alicia Scott. This book focuses more on the romance and suspense rather than mystery. As a desperate con breaks out, kidnaps an innocent young woman and seeks revenge against his unjust sentencing.

Cain Cannon's only thoughts have been of revenge. He want to punish his extremist brother for killing his ex-girlfriend and framing him for the murder. When he gets the chance to free himself he decides to take a mousy woman as a hostage. But Cain under estimates Maggie. Maggie does have a soft heart and timid nature so even she knows she should be easy to control. However, Maggie finds a deep inner strength and resilience and gives Cain lots of trouble. She won't stand for other people being hurt and slowly lets her feelings be known. As they grow to know each other Maggie becomes more convinced of Cain's innocent and so does her need to help him. But Cain's dangerous brother and Cain's troublesome reputation make any hope of them having a real future together difficult.

Cain is a hard, desperate man. I really felt that Maggie wasn't safe with him. At first, I really questioned that they could have a relationship at all! They felt like complete opposites. However, as Cain relaxes and opens up I saw him for the man behind the mask. His extremist family and the false conviction have marred his life. But with gentle, kind Maggie he is able to be human again. She sees him as a individual and he really starts to shine. I slowly warmed up to him. In contrast, Maggie becomes stronger and more able to stand up for herself as the story progresses. She finds a side of herself even she didn't know she had! I really liked how each of the character transformed and became the best of the characteristics of other person! As they evade the police and try to hunt down Cain's brother the tension mounts and makes this book even more exciting!

Close quarters with a desperate and sexy man on a mission of vengeance make for steamy and thrilling reading.

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

MAGGIE'S MAN
By Lisa Gardner (writing as Alicia Scott)
Alicia Scott...Lisa Gardner...the name doesn’t matter. What does is the magic between the covers of this novel. And that’s what Gardner/Scott writes.
Maggie, a meek, redheaded twenty-seven-year-old woman is duty bound to honor her calling to serve as juror. But instead, ends up being kidnapped by Cain, a convicted murderer, who is there at the courthouse to defend himself pro se. After knocking out a guard, he steals the guard’s clothes, a truck, and Maggie. He binds her to him with the handcuffs he steals from the guard and makes a run for it.
He doesn’t expect meek and mild Maggie to put up a fight and she doesn’t; at least not a physical one. Drawing upon her knowledge and experience of being a marriage counselor, she uses simple morality to turn Cain into someone he never dreamed he’d become.
Whether it be Stockholm Syndrome or just plain loneliness, Maggie begins to believe Cain and everything he tells her. As she fights for her sanity and safety, she begins to see not everything is just in the world and Cain’s cause may just be an injustice.
I was captivated from page one until the end by Cain and Maggie’s stories. And at the culmination, which is typical of romantic suspense, I cheered on Maggie’s heroics and Cain’s desperate entreaty to be seen as someone other than a convicted murderer, and was thrilled when love won out. But what is atypical is Gardner/Scott’s ability to pen an entrancing tale of fanaticism mixed with gripping suspense and love. Well done and I absolutely recommend this book.
Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of “The Other Side: Melinda’s Story”

Unfortunately I didn't connect well with Maggie - she was far, far too "good". Constantly lecturing Cain (the escaped murderer) about morals and how he should treat people, there were times I wished she would do something mean or wrong just to make her more human. Cain on the other hand, was the perfect tortured hero, falsely accused and wanting to make things right, knowing that it might mean hurting people to get it done.

Cain's part of the story was great. I loved his character as well as his backstory. They both combined to lead him down the path he is on, taking Maggie along with him for the ride. I was surprised at how quickly they fell for each other, and sometimes it seemed like they both forgot Maggie was a hostage. I think a little more realistic heroine would have made this book fantastic.
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Please, a little research! Pg160: "Her oldest brother, Joseph, died in Utah, from an overdose of penicillin given to him by an ignorant doctor ". She's talking about her grandmother's siblings, and this presumably took place in 1927 or 1928. Penicillin was discovered in Sept. 1928, but it was another 10 years before a formulation was available for humans. It was used extensively in WWII, but was not generally available to the general public until after the war. And, btw, you can't die from an overdose of penicillin. You might die from anaphylaxis. Penicillin was rapidly marketed without the intensive research protocols and hoops necessary today. The anaphylaxis part would have been discovered as its use progressed.
I have noticed a lot of comments from the crowd of people who don't normally read romance, belittling the genre. There are some extremely good writers in that field. Also very bad. The term bodice rippers comes from those lurid covers which seemed to be the norm, even for excellent books. I used to make sure no one could see the cover of a book I was reading, because it was downright embarrassing. People would snigger.
About this book though-it was a true bodice ripper. The heroine, a virgin, and tightly wrapped in her avoidance of men, was a successful marriage counselor!?!? Also she was completely dense and a dreadful Pollyanna to boot. She made my fillings ache.
Anytime the sex makes the reader uncomfortable and feeling intrusive, it is because the author has made the characters irritating and unconnected. (in my humble opinion).
Anyway, really disliked this silly adolescent fantasy of a novel, but I will of course read her contemporary thrillers as always. The only reason I picked this one up was because of the authors name and it's a very early effort. I won't read the rest of the series. But I will no longer consider her an automatic read.

This is an old book written originally under the name Alicia Scott. Published by Silhouette, which ought to tell you what kind of book it is. Totally lame romance with a little suspense thrown in (very little). If you love Lisa Gardner's suspense books, then you will want to pass on this one. It's got the whole lame thing going: gorgeous guy who life has done wrong, saved by the virgin who is dumber than a rock. Don't waste your time unless you are in to that kind of thing. From the first page, the reader knows how it's going to play out. Extremely boring characters -- all too "good" to be believable.

I could not put this book down! Granted, Maggie seemed a bit 'slow' on the draw but once she got over herself she became someone to be reckoned with.

Thanks Ms Gardner for some great entertainment!

I you want a short, sizzling and suspenseful romance, you should read "Maggie's Man" by Alicia Scott. It is the first in the "Maximilian's Children" series and a great way to start the series! Maximilian fathered three children during his life with three different women, Maggie and her brothers C.J and Brandon. Each of them gets their story. Maggie is a shy and reserved woman with a kind heart and a thirst for adventure in her life, but she did certainly not expect to be kidnapped by an escaped convict. Cain was accused of murdering his girlfriend six years ago. Now he seeks revenge and wants to bring the real murderer to justice. First frightened and then increasingly fascinated, Maggie becomes his hostage and later his accomplice. The attraction between them is palpable, and both are fully fleshed characters. Cain was a great and very sexy hero, and not in the least a cold-blooded kidnapper! Maggie is adorable in her efforts to impress him and appear seductive, you cannot help liking her. All in all, a great read!