Hester Browne The Little Lady Agency

The Little Lady Agency

Hester Browne

Pocket, Feb 2006, $23.00

ISBN: 1416514929

In London twenty seven year old office assistant Melissa Romney-Jones learns she is redundant when the Americans buy the firm she works at. Her best friend Gabi and her flatmate Nelson meet Mel at Bluebird. At the bar is Bobby, a classmate of Mel, with an older man. Bobby suggests Melissa call their former teacher Mrs. McKinnon for work.

Mrs. McKinnon arranges a "date" with a bachelor that goes reasonably well. However, another "date" turns ugly as the man demands sex. Nelson's friend Roger has problems with his mother who wants to see him come to social events with a woman, when he just wants to be left alone. Nelson mentions Melissa is available so Roger hires her to be his dinner date at his mom's seventieth birthday party. This proves successful, so Melissa opens up the Little Lady Agency to help bachelors with their relationship problems, and invents Honey.

Gabi invites Melissa to the office party, welcoming American Jonathan Riley. Mel arrives as Honey so no one will recognize her, and impresses Jonathan. He hires her to arrange a party, and to find him a "permanent" date to keep the female vultures away. They begin seeing one another on a professional level and fall in love, but she assumes he cherishes Honey, not old fashioned "Saint Mel".

The strong lead female supported by a solid cast holds the fun storyline together. Interestingly it is after Mel is fired that the office recognizes her true value; something that Jonathan sees early in Honey. Though Mel's father is unbelievable with no redeeming qualities, fans will appreciate this fine contemporary romance starring a likable heroine reinventing herself after learning she is redundant.