Rating: 
Summary: Very funny contemporary romance
Review: The Board that runs the multinational, multi-billion dollar Kimball Technologies hires private investigator Leo Friday to uncover who is stealing millions from the company. The board members provide Leo with little information except that the clever thief is somehow siphoning the money, but no one can explain how or even which subsidiary is being hit. Leo masquerades as an auditor, but finds nothing suspicious in the head office. Leo goes undercover inside the home of the company chair, Schuyler Kimball to determine whether a family member could be the embezzler. His first suspect is the billionaire's social secretary, Lily Rigby, who seems to run the show. Other suspects abound, but Leo cannot keep his mind or for that matter his heart from straying back to Lily. She also begins to fall in love with the so-called auditor, who she thinks is more than just another one of the many accountants employed by the firm. HER MAN FRIDAY is an entertaining, amusing contemporary romance that showcases a woman of major character, strength, and intelligence. The story line is enjoyable as Leo struggles between his gut telling him he is not in love with the prime suspect and his heart beating a different tune. As she did with MY MAN PENDLETON, Elizabeth Bevarly will charm her audience with a delightful tale that will provide much pleasure to sub-genre fans. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: A flat romance
Review: A high IQ by no means is a guarantee of judgement but it is obviously the only claim to intelligence of too many characters in this book. As an exercise in silliness, this novel almost works; it does have its moments: cute comments and unusual characters (my favorite being the prostitute), but no more. The secondary love story is a poor substitute for stronger characterization, diluting rather than adding to the story. Plot: illogical. Sexual tension: nil.
Rating:
Summary: Her Man Friday will keep you laughing all week long!
Review: Elizabeth Bevarly mixes together a zany family with tons of trouble. Leo Friday is checking out Schuyler Kimball's books . . . and his adorable social secretary, Lily Rigby. Money is missing from Kimball's corporation and the lovely Miss Rigby seems to have assets to spare. Could she be a thief, robbing the company blind, or is she just out to steal Leo's heart?? Quick dialogue, tons of laughs and a story of humorous intrigue - where no one is quite what they seem - will keep you glued to Her Man Friday! A definite keeper!
Rating: 
Summary: What is it with IQ?
Review: Elizabeth Bevarly seems to be slightly obsessed with IQ. In a previous book of hers, Beauty and the Brain (Silhouette Desire), the plot device is also the hero's lack of respect for the heroine due to her seemingly lower intelligence. Interestingly, that book of less than 200 pages does a much better job of character development and plotting than this book of almost double the length. In Her Man Friday, everyone knows and cares about each other's IQ. Do you know your IQ? I don't and I don't know anyone who does and I have never even had a conversation about it. Do you care about anyone else's IQ and do you know anyone who cares? Probably not, so it's a little difficult to identify with the characters. The story is fun, but it seems like the author threw the kitchen sink at the plot -- illegitimate genius daughter, bizarre sister (what is her story anyway?), channeling mother, hidden CEO, PIs, pseduo-gangster friends, kitchen sink... ALso it seems that Schuyler really is the main character --he's certainly more interesting -- although the main character is supposed to be Lily. I think Ms. Bevarly could have used some sound editing on this one, asking such questions as, "What's up with the IQ business? and Whose story is this, anyway?" I would recommend Beauty and the Brain as the far better book -- the characters take a similar plot device --IQ-- and turn it on its ear. In that book, the emotions, turning points and characters are natural, poignant and believable, while still being a fun read. I have kept this book in my library, while I was glad I had only borrowed Her Man Friday. In conclusion -- while you are reading Her Man Friday and suspending disbelief you may enjoy the humor and multiple plot devices -- but after you are done, you realize the contrivances and obsession with IQ do not make this a keeper.
Rating:
Summary: Romantic comedy has a new queen!
Review: HER MAN FRIDAY was a sheer delight from start to finish! After reading MY MAN PENDLETON, I couldn't wait to get Ms. Bevarly's next single title and I can promise you it was well worth the wait. Leo and Lily are one of the hottest (and funniest!) couples to come along in ages. I loved their witty repartee and the clever twists and turns the author wove into the plot. I'll be first in line to buy her next romantic comedy!
Rating:
Summary: Nice - but 5 stars?
Review: I have to admit that I am totally puzzled by the high ratings this book has received. I liked the romance that developed between Lily and Leo and, even more so, one that ignited between Shuyler and Caroline. Unfortunately, the main story line was totally ridiculous. When someone is embezzling your money, you do not hire a PI. A good accountant would be a much smarter choice. Especially that, based on the facts in this book, going over all the bank statements would instantly show where the money went to and who authorized all the transfers. I really do not understand what Leo was looking for in Shuyler's computer. Moreover, if Lily was running the whole operation from her laptop, she must have had a superior knowledge of computers. Yet, she could not find a sangria recipe in Shuyler's computer. Another thing I did not get was the entire obsessions with everyone's IQ. While it made sense with Shuyler and Chloe, it was unnecessary in regards to anyone else. Furthermore, I do not think that IQ of 147 is such a great deal. I myself have an IQ of 162, but know many people with IQ in 130s who I consider much smarter than I. I am going to give Elizabeth Bevarly another chance, but if her next book I read is anything like this one, it will be my last.
Rating:
Summary: WHAT A HOOT!
Review: I read this book at the beach, laughing out loud, with strangers staring at me the whole time. Not that I cared! It was hilarious. I loved Leo in his mild-mannered accountant disguise, Cloe who needs a companion of her own species -- a wolverine perhaps! Mrs. Puddleduck, Cloe's nanny, who's thinking of taking that nice, easy job as a prison matron instead. And can-you-spell-this Janey, who's desperate to find a man who's IQ is lower than hers. HER MAN FRIDAY is the perfect pick-me-up for anyone who's having a bad day.
Rating:
Summary: Shakespearean Plot Twists
Review: I've just finished reading this book. Usually, I'm a little leary of contemporaries, but...this story was totally engrossing. Leo Friday is a Magnum P.I.-type who is hired to find $50 million missing from Kimball Enterprises. Going in diguised as the stereotypical pencil pusher (glasses, tweed suits, the works), he proceeds to infiltrate Schuyler Kimball's household. There, he is subjected to a nonchalant if brilliant billionaire, a mother who speaks to dead celebrities, a sister who constantly throws out vocabulary tests, a young girl who looks like she belongs in a biker bar, and a social secretary who sends his pulse racing. Add to the mix an indomitable headmistress and a seedy Marlon-Brando look-alike, and it's enough to keep anyone's head spinning. The pantheon of characters in this work is what makes it truly enjoyable. They were all real, somehow, with their little foibles and eccentricities. I could have easily read an extra hundred pages describing them. Although the story contains enough plot turns to keep the reader on her toes, what really makes this story is the insight we get about many of the characters. While the story contains a good amount of overtly sensual passages, the insight gained is what allows even a look or a pause in the conversation to leave one's heart racing.
Rating:
Summary: Shakespearean Plot Twists
Review: I've just finished reading this book. Usually, I'm a little leary of contemporaries, but...this story was totally engrossing. Leo Friday is a Magnum P.I.-type who is hired to find $50 million missing from Kimball Enterprises. Going in diguised as the stereotypical pencil pusher (glasses, tweed suits, the works), he proceeds to infiltrate Schuyler Kimball's household. There, he is subjected to a nonchalant if brilliant billionaire, a mother who speaks to dead celebrities, a sister who constantly throws out vocabulary tests, a young girl who looks like she belongs in a biker bar, and a social secretary who sends his pulse racing. Add to the mix an indomitable headmistress and a seedy Marlon-Brando look-alike, and it's enough to keep anyone's head spinning. The pantheon of characters in this work is what makes it truly enjoyable. They were all real, somehow, with their little foibles and eccentricities. I could have easily read an extra hundred pages describing them. Although the story contains enough plot turns to keep the reader on her toes, what really makes this story is the insight we get about many of the characters. While the story contains a good amount of overtly sensual passages, the insight gained is what allows even a look or a pause in the conversation to leave one's heart racing.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely fabulous comedy bogged down by lies and secrets
Review: OK, I'm biased. It's not the author's fault really that I dislike characters who keep secrets from each other and just wouldn't reveal them even when they are given the chance to. The first half of the book makes me laugh so hard, it is worth five stars. Elizabeth Bevarley has a perfect timing and sense for screwball comedy. This alone is enough to make me recommend this book to my friends. However the book gets progressively darker as the story continues. Lies, mostly on the hero's part, begin to pile. The hero is just too snobbish and his continued belief that the the heroine is a dumb floozy who earns her way to the top on herback becomes irritating. "I'll come clean... later" seems to be his motto. I've met men like this in real life, and I wouldn't even want to spend a minute with them. The other hero, the genius who owns the entire story setting, is worse; he is never redeemed to my satisfaction. Yes, I will reread this book again on a bad day for the laughter and fun. I just wish I liked it more.
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