From the #1 New York Times bestselling author comes a revised, repackaged novel sure to please her many fans. She writes "high speed comic mayhem" (Detroit Free Press); she's "a blast of fresh air" (Washington Post); "side-splitting funny" (Publishers Weekly) and "a winner" (Glamour). In other words, she's Janet Evanovich.
Berry Knudson had a talent for disaster, but when she climbed a tree to rescue a kitten, she wasn't prepared for the scrumptious hunk undressing in a nearby window, or her dive downward that smashed Jake Sawyer's pizza and won his heart! But was there room in her chaotic schedule for a risk-taking inventor with dreams? She took classes, delivered pizzas, and cared for three eccentric old ladies she rescued from the train station. But Jake thrived on a challenge, and he could be very inventive. Could he teach her there was time to make butterscotch pudding and let herself be loved?
Janet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the Lizzy and Diesel series, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and Trouble Maker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author, as well as the Fox and O'Hare series with co-author Lee Goldberg.
Bought while waiting for my sister to finish shopping.
Summary:
Girl: [stupid/clumsy/love-burned/focused:] I am stupid and clumsy and love-burned and focused! Boy: [good-looking/rich/persistent/patient:] I am good-looking and rich and persistent and patient!
Girl: I don't want to fall in love! Boy: Let's have sex!
Girl: I don't want to have sex! Boy: Yes you do! Girl: Okay!
Secondary characters: [crazy/helpful-but-in-an-unhelpful-way/judgmental/analogies:] We are crazy and helpful-in-an-unhelpful-way and judgmental and our lives are analogies for you! Learn from us! We are the comic relief!
Girl: Oh, Secondary Characters, I have learned so much from you! Boy: Wow, you Secondary Characters are very funny!
Girl: I must focus! Boy: Yes ... on me!
Girl: I don't want to love you! Boy: Yes, you do!
Girl: I love you! Boy: I'm not so sure now!
Girl: I'm ready to commit! Boy: I'm having an emotional crisis!
Secondary Characters: Look at us! We're funny! And we teach a lesson in a not-so-subtle way! Boy: Secondary Characters, I have learned so much from you!
Fate: I will magically erase all obstacles to your love, happiness, and economic well-being. Also, here's a dog!
Girl: I love dogs! Fate: I know! And this one poops a lot! Girl: Yay!
Girl: I love you! Boy: I love you!
Me: I did not appreciate the stalker/rapey undertones in this book! I did not find the "humor" to be very humorous! Poop is not funny! I am tired!
The Grand Finale is a Loveswept pre-Plum romance by American author, Janet Evanovich. Divorcee Lingonberry Knudsen has a plan for her life: a night time delivery run for her pizza parlour while she goes to daytime classes to get her college degree. Along the way, Berry has acquired three old ladies in need of accommodation and employment, and life is running smoothly.
Falling out of a tree while trying to rescue a kitten, onto a customer’s pizza, was not in the plan; nor was getting distracted by the owner of the kitten. Jake Sawyer, part-time first grade teacher, part-time inventor, is immediately taken by this quirky beauty. But Berry is having none of it, thank you. She has had one go at marriage, an unsuccessful go, and men are permanently off the agenda. But Jake is determined to win Berry’s heart. Sweet, funny, but just a bit too repetitive, and therefore too long.
This was the worst Evanovich book I have read to date. It was the same cheesy romance as the rest of her earlier books. But girl meets guy by spying on him while he is changing. And when she finally sees him naked eventually, he says something along the lines of "See it is more than a few inches." Ewww. The girl's name is Lingdonberry, which is the worst name I have ever heard for a character. There are three random old ladies thrown in, and I am not really even sure where they came from. There is also stuff about school and a pizza place. It seemed like a mess.
This was the last book in her romance series and I loved them all but this was one of the best of them! A lot of people don't like romance, its to unrealistic or cheesy for them. Janet Evanovich does end her stories happily and they might be a bit cheesy, but I'm reading a book I don't want a big dose of reality here. I want to escape my reality for a minute and that is something she does brilliantly with all her books.
These romances are so funny. The characters are very realistic with problems and issues and quirks, just like us. Sometimes there is a bit of mystery or some kind of hardship woven into the story. By the time I get to the last page, I love the characters and I'm sad to close the book. If you love romance, give these a try. If you think romance is not for you, give these a try. If you like to laugh, give these books a try. Janet Evanovich is a hoot!
3 Stars I this book was another ok to read book. It is not my favorite book that I have read. I thought that the "Hero at Large" was a little bit better than this book simply because this book was not really interesting like "Hero at Large" was. I thought that this book was just a another book that I would read only one time. Overall it was cute and just a ok book to read.
A cute little G-rated romance written in typical Evanovich style. Not my favorite book by the author. Not even a close 2nd. I prefer the Stephanie Plum series, but in reading the author's earlier works it is obvious how the Plum series developed.
The Grand Finale opens in screwball comedy style when Berry is delivering a pizza to hunky schoolteacher, Jake, and ends up seeing him in his birthday suit. Throw in a big goofy dog (Bob), three little old ladies (think Grandma Mazur), and a couple of blown up/stolen cars (a la' Plum). The plot was a little thin and the romance is cheesy, but it made for a quick, easy read. I would recommend it if you're a fan of Evanovich and are interested in her earlier works. If you haven't read her books, I wouldn't suggest you start with this one. Naughty Neighbor was better.
If you need a break from all those depressing books with "messages" or the grisly murder mysteries with a gallon of blood on every page and just want a bit of "fluff" to pass a few hours and give you a couple of chuckles then THE GRAND FINALE by Janet Evanovich might be just what the doctor ordered.
No Stephanie Plum in this tale. Instead, this story of a quirky divorcee who owns a pizza joint, attends college, rescues little old ladies living in bus stations and rates an above average in the klutz department is sure to provide a chuckle or two as well as some pretty HOT love scenes.
Berry Knudson is the gal with a genuine talent for calamity and while delivering a pizza she comes upon sexy hunk Jack Sawyer. This chance meeting is a bit unorthodox since it occurs when Berry accidently sees him undressing from her perfect perch in the branches of a tree. (Why she was up in the tree and what happens after she comes crashing into Jacks life is the basis for the story......and it's a hoot).
The Keystone Cops mis-adventures of Berry and Jack.......and their three little old ladies is an easy read that will keep you wondering what will happen next to this disaster prone group. This tome is guaranteed to give you a few laugh out loud moments as well as love scenes that promise long dreamy sighs. This is DEFINITELY a fantasy novel and Jack is MY fantasy.
Cute little bit of fluff. It has all the marks of an Evanovich romance: Cars destoyed and or stolen? Check. Little old ladies? Check. Floppy dog that eats anything? Check. Plucky heroine? Check. Too good to be true sexy man meat? Check.
Sadly the plot on this was rather thin. Berry is our girl in this one and she is so sweet she sends girlscouts into diabetic shock. She is divorced from an icey cold husband who cheated on her but doesn't hate him. She went back to school after the divorce to get her degree and she works full time at the Pizza Shop that she owns. She has to deliver the pizza's herself and it's while out doing the deliveries that she meets (in true screwball comedy styling) Jake Sawyer.
To say anymore would probably give away ALL the plot so we will leave it at that. This is worth reading if you are already an Evanovich fan but definetly do not start reading her writing with this book. The plot is thin - the romance is light and it's Evanovich's humor that carries this book all the way.
I'm giving up on JE. This book is boring and the characters are shallow. It was like reading an early draft of a Plum book. JE uses characteristics that she later developed better in the Stephanie Plum series (the amazingly hot guy who falls instantly in lust/love with the main character, destroyed/disappearing cars, eating so much sugar a real person would be in diabetic shock, quirky elderly lady's love of the word "pip"). One commendable point is JE always develops good, respectful relationships between the younger and older generations, Berry taking in the 3 ladies and later Stephanie Plum's relationship with her Grandmother.
I also must say I know it isn't fair of me to compare this early book to the later Plum books but it seems early on JE created certain plot devices that she likes to use in book after book. This sounds more harsh than intended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Basically an entertaining love story told in the Evanovich style with enjoyable side stories and wonderful characters and sexual innuendos and some humping.
This is the last of Janet Evanovich's romance novels from back when she first started writing. I do like them even though I'm not generally a fan of romance novels. This stuff doesn't happen in real life, but I do find them amusing.
I also like Janet Evanovich's quote:
"Romance novels are birthday cake and life is peanut butter and jelly...everyone should have lots of delicious romance novels lying around for those times when the peanut butter of life gets stuck to the roof of your mouth." - 1988
I come back to this book every time I need to happy break - a push to chill out. I've lost count how many times I've read it, and it always puts me in a good mood. Berry Knudsen is trying to get her life back on track. She has a plan: finish school, work at her pizza place, get married, etc. But life gets in the way in the form of three really adorable old ladies and Jake Sawyer, who meets Berry and has a plan of his own.
I really love Evanovich's early romance series - they're light, funny and full of great characters who have 'pip'.
If your suffering from Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series withdrawl you may want to check this book out. Girl meets handsome guy in the most unusual of circumstances. One dog, two compromised cars, three old ladies, and a partridge in a pear tree later (just kidding about the partridge and tree) you get one funny romance that will tickle your funny bone and appease your need for Plum.
I was in the mood for a rainbows, gumdrops and unicorns type of romance book to read over the weekend and this book fit the bill. Nice and lighthearted which is what I needed to escape reality. Great read and likeable characters.
I picked this on up at our local, neighborhood library box, because I saw the author was Janet Evanovich...Evanovich's Stephanie Plum mysteries has always been a guilty pleasure, but this one was one of her pure romance title she published before taking us on a Stephanie Plum mystery ride...One of those will they or won't they things...We have Berry Knudson, a klutzy divorcee who owns a pizza joint, attends college, rescues little old ladies living in a bus station and Jack Sawyer a wealthy hunk of an inventor and substitute teacher "meeting cute" then falling head over heals...No mystery here on all levels...Meh!!!
This was the first adult book I was able to complete since the election of 2016. I figured I'd just try to read light light light since the state of the country was so dark dark dark. It didn't make me any happier about the new president but I was able to complete a book. It was fun - not great - silly - and predictable. Characters were likable enough. At least I finished it. Still working on reading anything of substance. I didn't have to worry about that with this one.
I absolutely fell in love with Berry and Jake and the little old ladies! I smiles and giggled through the entire book. This feel good romance will have the coldest heart warming right up.
This was one of those browsing-for-something-for-a-long-car-ride accidental finds, and I do like Janet Evanovich, and she is funny. This is touted as "early Evanovich" so her fans will read it, and it's true, I can definitely see Alex Barnaby, Stephanie Plum, Ranger, and Grandma Mazur prototypes. This is more straight-up romance, though, which is less my style. But it was funny, and charming, and quick, and really good for the long car ride.
So why does it only get two stars? Let me be one of those cranky liberals for a moment: Heteronormative Gender Roles. (Ugh, I feel like a hipster just writing it.)
But it's true. What drove me nuts about this book was that Jake, the heartthrob, is fantastic in all ways--except for the bits where he's absurdly controlling. And the romance is funny--except for the bits where Berry (which was really hilarious to listen to, as a good [male] friend of mine is Barry and he would definitely not be in these sentences) seems to think that she has to choose between her education and her guy and never really gets to the place where both is an option. Also, I found it irksome how very 50s housewife love made Berry; I get that that's fine, but seriously, there's more to life than kids and butterscotch pudding.
I did really appreciate that it wasn't a "she falls for him and they live happily ever after" story (well, not totally); there was exploration of the push and pull of being a relationship, which not a whole lot of romances do. But I just couldn't get past what a cardboard cutout of a woman Berry wanted to become, because I can't in any way relate to that character. It was a fun story, but I'll stick with the indecisive self-assertiveness of Plum.
Not a bad little story. It was a quick, easy read with no deep plots or things to think about, which is nice. I laughed out loud quite a few times, which hardly ever happens when I read. The story itself was an interesting one I thought, with cute little twists and turns and funny characters. My main problem is just how fast Berry and Jake fell in love, moved in together, got engaged, etc. It was just unrealistic. I get that Jake is good looking and so she falls in lust with him, but I'm still not sure I entirely buy the whole "in love within twenty pages" bit. At the end of the book, I still didn't buy it. The lack of believability in that one regard is what knocked this down to three stars for me rather than four - because even as I was reading and enjoying the book, I felt like the whole basis of the plot - that Berry and Jake were in love - was not true. I just didn't believe that it happened as fast as it was supposed to, and though they spent a lot of time together, they never really went on dates and I don't feel like they had a loving relationship. Lusting relationship for definite, but I just didn't feel that the relationship I was reading about was one that was built on love and ready for marriage and kids.
In a short amount of time, Berry Knudsen was able to see a half naked man, which caused her to fall out of a tree, land on a large pizza, then she had to watch her own Jeep fly off a cliff, see two different cars get stolen and watch her apartment burn to ash. The next week she was living with Jake Sawyer in his unfurnished Victorian style home with three old ladies, all while she was still trying to run her pizza place, and go back to school. Luckily Jake was a 1st grade teacher and had the patience to wait, and the determination to win her over - maybe.
Another great example of Janet Evanovich's earlier work, it is light hearted and fun and the characters are written in a way that allows a connection (at least for me it does). Absolutely great way to start a book, (in a tree going after a cat and seeing a man undressing in the window)and the addition of the old ladies and there personalities gave a great mix to the story.
Oh my goodness! I did not want to put this book down. Not only is this book an easy read, it is fun and light hearted. It was a cute, simple, funny little love story. This story had me smiling or laughing almost the whole book. Berry is a simple girl with goals set in life. She owns a pizza parlor, is going to school to finish her degree and after that is when she plans to look for love. Life had a much different plan for her. Enter Jake, a study specimen of a man who instantly falls in love with Berry in all her clumsy cuteness and even more with her stubbornness. While dealing with a string of bad luck, Berry tries to deny her extremely obvious attraction to Jake. While he never stops persuing her, his tenacity would make any woman swoon. Eventually, Berry gives in to her feelings and they will have an amazing life together.... Well if they improve their communication that is. If you enjoy comedy, romance, stubbornness, and want a fun read, this book is the book for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
"The Grand Finale" was not, in my opinion, one of Janet Evanovich's best earlier works. The story never quite gelled and moved entirely too quickly to ring true. It's a G rated romance with lots of quirky humor...maybe just a bit too much.
The story is the tale of a young, divorcee who is struggling to get by with her pizza business while finishing college. Since her first marriage derailed her life plan, she's now determined to stick with her goals without deviation. And none of those goals involve a hunky, inventor/schoolteacher...no matter how great he looks, and acts, and kisses, and...oh dear!
For me, this was just too lightweight all around. But it is cheery and witty and quick.
This was a very light romantic comedy and a very fast read. It was an early work, and clearly Ms. Evanovich was still working on trying to find her style. The characters never caught my interest, the writing seemed hectic and scattered, and she was running off-stride and tripping a lot. Although this book was a forerunner of the Stephanie Plum books, it is sorely lacking compared to her later works. It would be a good beach/airplane/waiting room read since it was entertaining and took little concentration--kind of like watching cartoons or a TV sitcom, but for a quiet night of reading in bed, I would prefer something with more cohesion, substance, and engaging characters. I gave it an extra star for the cute kitty on the cover--it made me warm to anything that may be inside.
I love most anything by Janet because most of her books are light and fluff filled and The Grand Finale was no exception however I must say after the first chapter this particular story just got to fast for me. I think the romance should have taken a bit longer but then theres always the love at first sight angle...
Berry is a mess. I loved her character so much. She was just a comedy of tragic events waiting to happen and that poor man, Jake happens to get caught right up in the middle of her life of chaos and he falls madly in love with her but it takes Berry some convincing because she has her life headed and planned out just as she wants it and romance is not included in that!
I don't think I want Berry delivering any pizza's to me! LOL
I use the Stephanie Plum series as brain-candy, so I was looking forward to more of the same when someone lent me this. Unfortunately, I just wan't able to get into the story. The characters felt more like stereotypes, and while I realize that is, to an extent, what she was shooting for, it's just a bit dull. This reads like someone who hasn't really found a voice yet, but is gamely making do with a mishmash of borrowed plot devices (hot man, plucky divorcee, nosy and slightly inappropriate old ladies, absent-minded scientist, etc.)
Once burned, twice shy Berry Knudsen is very leery of the cute guy who has taken an interest in her. It's kind of funny how Berry turns into a klutz whenever Jake Sawyer is around. Berry is one of those woman who is just good-people, rescuing little old ladies from being homeless and even though she can barely afford to feed herself, moves them into her apartment and has them working in her pizza restaurant. And then along comes Jake whom she meets while delivering a pizza and things go all topsy-turvy.
Another cute and funny romance from Janet Evanovich.
I read all of Janet Evanovich, even the 12 books that were reprinted after she became such a popular author. This is the last of the 12 to be re-issued, and I am so glad that we are done with them. Formulaic, silly, a bit enjoyable but less so as I read more and more of them. I still love the Stephanie Pum novels, but the straight romance novels simply are not as good.