Full House (Janet Evanovich's Full)
Originally published in 1989 under the pen name Steffie Hall,  Evanovich's comic romantic suspense novel Full House reappears  here in what the author calls a "bigger and better" form.  Wealthy newspaper owner and horseman Nick Kaharchek meets  divorced mom Billie Pearce when she makes polo lessons at his  stables part of her summer self-improvement program. Though  she's hopeless at polo, Billie is so cute that Nick begins to  invent excuses to spend time with her. First, he takes care of  her when a horse steps on her foot; then, he arranges for his  nutty cousin Deedee, a self-absorbed airhead, to board with  Billie while her kids are away. As if that isn't enough, Billie  must also contend with a bomb-setting teenager, professional  wrestlers, an outbreak of spiders and threats from a mysterious  intruder. Evanovich acknowledges in a note to readers that her  plotting has gotten more intricate since this book was first  written (she's right), but her attempt to rework a formulaic  '80s love story for the new millennium doesn't come off. The  outcome of the artificial romance between Nick and Billie is  obvious from the start, as is the identity of the intruder.  Instead, the book's focus is on the slapstick comedy provided by  the cast of wacky, though mostly loveable, eccentrics. (Sept.)  Forecast: Thanks to Evanovich's sterling reputation and  substantial fan base, sales won't falter much, but this  trussed-up tale may fall flat for both her mystery-loving fans  and readers seeking a truly contemporary romance.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.