Book Review: The Kept Woman

The Kept Woman

by Susan Donovan

When a Good girl divorcee playing by the rules has left Samantha Monroe with an AWOL ex husband, maxed out credit cards, and the task of raising three children on a hairstylist's salary. Its time for a new game plan. When Sam learns that politician Jack Tolliver needs someone to play the part of his fiance for six months in return for a generous paycheck, she's ready to sign up on the spot. 

Meets a Bad Boy Politician. Jack needs Sam and her kids to help tone down his image from a womanizing cad to a dependable dad. But he was expecting Sam to be a frumpy single mom, not a wickedly smart, sexy redhead. Keeping nosey  newshound from discovering that his engagement is a charade is going to be a tough job, but one mind blowing kiss from Sam and suddenly Jack is ready to put in all the overtime necessary.

Love wins in a landslide. Now with a scheming opponents itching to bring Jack down, Sam's ex returning to stir up trouble, one stubborn pre-schooler, two squabbling teenagers, a crazy dog and some out of this world sex, jack and Sam are discovering that playing make believe can be complicated but not nearly as much as falling inlove. 

Truth be told, I picked this book among the many title of little black dress books because I craved for a plot that revolves around a playboy guy falling head over heels for a simple woman. And this book just gave me what I wanted for the moment. 

The plot was nothing out of ordinary. Its almost as predictable as it can get. Yet, I guess what kept me from reading was the author's very profound description of the scene. Its detailed enough that we can imagine the whole scene playing out. As I may point out though, there were some explicit parts wherein the whole sex, though i do not condemn was predominantly dominated by Jack giving it less luster than if it was an alternate exchange between Jack and Sam. And since it has been a repeated event in the plot, it almost consumed the space that should have been allotted in making progress with Jack's relationship with Sam's children. and everything would have made sense. There's also a great momentum already picking up and Donovan should have worked closely on slowly building it up to a great climax but instead, as it go on, it just drone on and only drag the story on. There were also a few loose ends that has a lot of potential but was wasted with all the superficiality and endless money which doesn't really make sense when you look at the whole picture. 

The turn of events is nothing short of expected and its actually what made this chick lit less unique compared to others. But its an enjoyable read at the same time because its easy and funny and the witty comebacks and quick but overly decisive decision and conversations make it up for all the uninteresting parts which includes Christy being a bore of a villain and her train of thoughts that doesn't in any way help in the progression of the plot. 

An easy and slightly enjoyable read. nothing close to spectacular though.

Rating: 5.9/10