I spotted Busy Woman Seeks Wife by Annie Sanders (Annie Ashworth and Meg Sanders) on display at the library. A woman working her way up the fashion design ladder puts out a want ad for a "wife" to help her keep her elderly mother company and keep her domestic life under control.I was hoping that the "wife" who responded would actually be a woman. It would have made for an interesting twist on things. Instead, it's a man — a struggling actor. What kept me reading at first was his immediate friendship with the main character's mother, known in London theater scene as "The Bean." She reminded me of Castle's mother.Ultimately it was the design show plot that got me to the end. It read like something out of Ugly Betty. Throughout the book the main character struggles with a series of bad luck or small goofs. By themselves they are just glitches. Together, though, they add up to sabotage. Solving the mystery and seeing revenge served made the book a fun read. Busy Woman Seeks Wife is the fourth novel of writing duo Annie Ashworth and Meg Sanders. Having already read – and reviewed – nevermind enjoyed Warnings of Gales I was thrilled to find another Annie Sanders novel. Could Busy Woman Seeks Wife live up to the great Warnings of Gales?Yes, actually it could. It was a brilliant read – so much so that I read it in about 4/5 hours. Busy Woman Seeks Wife tells the story of Alex a high-flying marketing executive who ends up having to look after her mother – The Bean – after she has an accident. Because Alex is so busy she hires Ella to be her “wife” – trouble is Ella is just as undomesticated as Alex so Frankie, Ella’s brother and an actor, takes up the mantle. Also involved is Saffron, Alex’s best friend and her family. Then there are the minor characters who make up Alex’s working life. Not only that but Alex’s work seems to be being sabotaged!Again I wondered which parts Annie wrote and which Meg wrote and again couldn’t really tell. Comparing the two novels I found Alex like Jo from Warnings of Gales and Saffron a bit like Imogen but that doesn’t mean a thing because I’m still clueless to who wrote what!I found Alex an absorbing character – fiercely independent and great at what she does, I really enjoyed reading about her and wondered if she ever would need any help.I loved The Bean – she was by far the funniest character. A sixties-style icon who spends her time regaling everyone with tales from the good old days. I loved her flamboyance and just loved her character.Ella and Frankie were great. I loved that they were chalk and cheese when it came to domestic matters but I loved their closeness and felt the scenes between the two really worked.Saffron was also a great character and I understood how she felt when no-one seemed to appreciate what she does in her role as housewife.I liked how Alex had no idea it was Frankie doing her work for her and enjoyed Frankie, The Bean and Saffron’s scenes together.It really was a great read and I was curious to know exactly who it was sabotaging Alex’s work. I admit I guessed it well before I was told but it was fun reading how it all came out and how everyone figured out exactly who it was.Overall it really was a fabulous read. Annie and Meg really know how to write an addictive novel. I found it really hard to put it down for any amount of time and just wanted to keep reading to see how the relationship between all of the characters developed and to see if Alex could pull off her event even with the sabotager ever present.Annie and Meg are becoming firm favourites of mine and I really can’t wait to read the last remaining novel I have of theirs Goodbye, Jimmy Choo. Not only that but they also have three other novels out (or nearly in the case of Getting Mad, Getting Even) which I can’t wait to get my hands on!Rating: 5/5
What do You think about Mister Mädchen Für Alles (2009)?
Average..It had a good ending it was just a little hard to get a good feeling for characters..
—Shayecam
Really enjoyed this book. Good lighthearted read for a lazy weekend.
—jennifer1324
Never underestimate the power of men at household jobs!
—william
