St. Martin's, Aug 2002, 24.95, 352 pp.
ISBN: 0312284683
Matilda Goodnight is so good at copying the grandmasters that if she did not sign with her own name, professionals would have trouble separating the original from the copy. Her niece sixteen year old Nadine sells a fake “Scarlet” painting that Tilda was not planning to release to the public because the family art gallery has gone straight since grandpa died. Not only has the selling of a “Scarlet” painting placed the gallery in jeopardy, the artist Tilda could spend time in prison for forgery. Tilda knows she must steal back the incriminating painting from a Ms. Lewis.
Former con artist Davy Dempsey learns how a mark feels when his financial advisor Rabbit Abbott embezzles millions from him, giving the money to Clea Lewis. Davy decides to steal back his money from his former girlfriend.
As Davy and Tilda trip over each other with fumbled burglaries, they get stuck in a closet to avoid being caught. Soon they team up to abet one another in reacquiring their assets from Clea, but neither one expected that collaboration to lead to love.
New York Times best selling author Jennifer Crusie shows why she is so popular with a contemporary screwball romantic comedy. The amusing story line engages the audience through the bantering between the lead couple as each tries to outwit the other while attempting to accomplish their primary goal. The support cast is a delight as they augment the antics of the lead duet. No reader will claim Ms. Crusie is FAKING IT as she once again provides a humorous original tale.
"“Faking it” is what happens when a charming con-man, Davy “sex-on-legs” Dempsey, meets his match in Tilda Goodnight -- a reformed forger of famous art works. Add to this cast the other Goodnights -- Tilda's cross-dressing brother-in-law, Andrew; split-personality sister, Eve/Louise; her mother, Gwen, a crossword puzzle addict, and precocious niece, Nadine -- in a plot which involves art fraud, embezzlement, murder, arson and romance, and you'll understand how Jennifer Crusie created a madcap story which offers her readers the most fun they've had in ages. "
Alison, Resident Scholar
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Review Analysis of Faking It
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of story
- Present (2000-2010)
Action/suspense subplot?
Yes
Action:
- investigating theft/fraud
Making a living subplot
Yes
Making a living:
- working at a business
Main Male Character
Profession/status:
- thief/con artist
- business executive
Age/status:
- 20's-30's
How sexual is this person?
- very picky
- "zip'm down, zip'm up. Next!"
How romantic is this person?
- very romantic
- somewhat romantic
Sex has good effect on him
Yes
Sex makes him
- blissful
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Female Character
Age/status:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- artist
How sexual is this person?
- very picky
How romantic is this person?
- very romantic
- somewhat romantic
effect of sexing
- scared
Sex has bad effect on her
Yes
Sex has good effect on her
Yes
Effect of sexing
- confident
- blissful
How sensitive is this character?
- soggy whimpering jelly muffin
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
City?
Yes
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
- rotating 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
What % of story is romance related?
- 60%
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- descript of kissing
- touching of anatomy
- licking
- use of artificial tools
- actual description of sex
Part of a series?
Yes
Focus of story
- equally on him and her
How much dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
How much sexing?
- 5-9 sex acts
