From New York Times Bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes The Boyfriend Collector.I JUST NEED ONE GOOD MAN TO GIVE ME HOPE…Treated like a servant in my own home, I can’t stop dreaming of my twenty-first birthday. It’s the day I’ll inherit a fortune, break free from my cruel family, and finally start living my life–finish school, travel, find love. After a lifetime of hardship, it’s all I’ve … lifetime of hardship, it’s all I’ve ever wanted.
Sadly, I’m about to discover a shocking secret my family’s been keeping from me. I must marry before my birthday to claim the money. Worst of all, he must be approved by my grandparents–the same people who are trying to steal my inheritance.
It’s ugly. But there’s no time for tears. If I want my fairy-tale to come true, I’ll have to find a man I can love and trust. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done.
(Part One of Two)
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The Boyfriend Collector was another great addition to Miss Mimi’s non-paranormal contemporaries. Rose has just discovered she is to inherit a legacy that her evil grandparents are trying to hide from her. In order to obtain it, all she has to do is get married…in the next 30 days? So Rose is on a journey to find The One. No, Rose is not willing to accept Mr. Right Now, she wants true love!
And there’s only one kink in her plan – she’s already met someone she thinks may be The One? But he’s also her therapist?
Will there be a happily ever after in Rose’s future? Does she thwart the evil grandparents and save her mother’s legacy? Stay tuned for as much angst, snarky sarcasm, and suspense you could ask for!
Favorite Quotes:
This man doesn’t just have a stick up his ass, it’s an entire forest.
The maids come and go like lettuce in a vegetable drawer. They’re chewed up or they rot, but either way, they’re gone in seven days.
I’m not looking for Mr. Perfect. I’m looking for Mr. Perfect-For-Me.
I rub my eyes, disregarding the fact that I still have on last night’s mascara and that I’m going to look like last night’s trash panda, too.
My Review:
This fast-paced little missive was a quick read with a bit of everything including Ms. Pamfiloff’s trademark snarky humor, family drama involving a naïve and gullible Cinderella-type main character, greedy grandparents, fraud, a hitman, embezzlement, multiple suitors vying to be groom potential, and a wonky will. Oh my, and the story isn’t done yet. I am eager for the rest of the tale, even though I want to give Rose a few good pinches for being so dim-witted and easily deceived.
Normally I absolutely love MJP books, to the point that I’ve been known to rave about them. However The Boyfriend Collector, whilst a perfectly decent read, just didn’t grab me. There was nothing terrible I could point at and say ‘this is what’s wrong’, I just found it a little, well, boring at times. Some parts really grabbed me and held my attention, other sections not so much.
I loved the twisty and evil plot that was the basis for the whole story, though it was perhaps a touch too cliched or over-the-top for my personal taste. Sometimes I can go with stretching the bounds of what is believable and other times I struggle. Actually I don’t think it would have been an issue if I had felt more invested in the book, so it really is a ‘me, not you’ situation.
Bex and Rose were decent as the main characters, whilst there is definitely an attraction between these two, the circumstances in this part of the duet mean we don’t really get to see a lot of romance. I did like the twists (plural) at the end, and will more than likely read the conclusion of this duet. I would still recommend the book, it’s well written, has a very unusual and unique plot, good pace and great characters. What didn’t work for me may not be an issue for you.
Rose has been lied to her whole life, all in the name of greed. She has a month to fix it and enlists the help of the gorgeous but closed off Dr Bex for advice on how to find a husband.
I loved Rose, she’d been so sheltered and was naive in so many ways, but was feisty and determined to live her life on her terms at last. Bex wants to stay focused and distant, but there is something wonderful about Rose he needs to ignore! I wanted to bang his head at times, but he’s a bit broken too.
This is a fun but poignant, easy to read take on the Cinderella rags to riches story, but with the unique twists and turns Mimi Jean is so damn good at! I really enjoyed this and cant wait for part two
Rating 4.5
The Boyfriend Collector is book one in this duet by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff. I have come to expect the unexpected with any book of Mimi Jean’s, and this book definitely fits this description. I would call this a Cinderella story. It is not a cliff hanger. The book comes to an ending. But it is a “to be continued.” Because there is definitely more to our heroine’s story which will be here soon in the second book.
Rose Marie Hale grew up in the mansion of her mother’s, a mother she never knew. Instead she was raised by her grandparents. She spent her life being made to feel small, worthless. She was made to work for her keep. She was told that her mother’s fortune would become hers upon her twenty first birthday. Except Rose found the “real” copy of the will. Her entire life was a lie. In reality, her grandparents were greedy and abusive. But also, the will states that she has to marry by her birthday, or the entire estate will go to her grandparents.
In desperation, Rose seeks out the help of a therapist, Dr. Bex Hughes. She has a plan. But you know that desperate plans rarely go as hoped. There is one additional glitch to Rose’s plan. She hadn’t planned to fall for her therapist.
“She’s a force of nature, and if the right man is lucky enough to catch her wind in his sails, I have no doubt he’d stay by her side forever.”
This is told in alternating point of views, Rose’s and Bex’s. If you like strong, determined heroines, then this book is for you. Because just like in the quote, Rose is a force of nature. She doesn’t look back, just keeps looking forward, doing whatever she needs to do to achieve her goals. She might be a little naïve due to the fact that she’s been completely shut off from the outside world her entire life, but she’s a fast learner.
As I said earlier, you never know what to expect with Mimi’s books. And this one is just the same. You don’t know who to trust or what’s going to happen next. I can’t wait to see what the next chapter of Rose’s story is.
Another great read by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff. Lots of twists and turns as well as oh wow moments. Of course there were a ton of laughs as well. I can’t wait for the next installment, I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to see what comes next.
How am I gonna last til the next part? Loved it!
It’s MJP, so I knew I’d like it but I didn’t just like it. I FLOVED IT!!! Kind of a Cinderella story except Cinderella is determined to save herself. Love, love, love Rose!
Love, love, love! Not so patiently waiting for book 2
Mimi Jean Pamfiloff has an offbeat sense of humor that makes her books a whole lot of fun to read. Her characters intelligent, interesting and just a tad quirky. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Boyfriend Collector. I really loved Rose. She’s basically a small child trying to make her way in an adult world because of the horrendous way she raised by her grandparents. Yet she matures with each experience, learning as she goes despite hooking up with some nefarious characters. As for Bex, I wanted to just smack him on the head and tell him to man up and go after what he wants.
Mimi Jean never ceases to amaze me with her wicked mind and well plotted stories. This first book in a 2-part series was so fun to read with a great story line and good twists and turns throughout the book. You will definitely be wanting the 2nd book right away when you finish this one.
Rose’s life is like a modern day Cinderella tale with a twist. Her incredibly successful mother who was a bestselling author died while giving birth to her leaving Rose in the brutal care of her selfish grandparents. She is kept isolated her whole life, unloved and alone and forced to work as a maid at the family estate and to wear only hand me down clothing or work uniforms while her extended family enjoys her mother’s vast wealth and hide the real details of the stipulations in her mother’s will. Will Rose be able to escape the abuse that’s been heaped upon her for her whole life and grab control over her own life, becoming the hero of her own story?
This was yet ANOTHER gem by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff that has me rabid to read the conclusion!
Mystery. That is one of the key things that keeps me coming back to Mimi Jean’s books. The intrigue of each story captivates me and for me to no figure out what is going to happen is a rarity for me. Mimi Jean’s fill that need in me for something that I won’t figure out so easily and this book fits it to a T. I fell in the with Rose and desired for her to get justice. I don’t like leaving spoilers so I won’t. This book is complex, wonderful, and a great read. I look forward to more.
While this is a two parter, most everything is resolved so it’s not much of a cliffhanger but with everything that happened in the story it really makes you excited for part 2 to come out. It’s Cinderella meets The Bachelorette with a sprinkling of Fraser. Except Bex is way hotter the Fraser Crane and Rose’s love life is WAAAYY more complicated than any of the Bachelorettes and more twisted than Cinderella’s.
It’s an easy read with alternating first person POV. It’s angsty and messed up in all the best ways. I can’t wait to figure out where MJP is going with it next.