Naughty Neighbor

DearReader:Inapreviouslife,beforethetimeofPlum,Iwrotetwelveshortromancenovels.Red-hotscrewballcomedies,eachandeveryoneofthem.NineofthesestorieswereoriginallypublishedbytheLovesweptlinebetweentheyears1988and1992.Allimmediatelywentoutofprintandcouldbefoundonlyatusedbookstoresandyardsales.I'mexcitedtotellyouthatthoseninestoriesarenowbeingre-releasedbyHarperCollins.NaughtyNeighboristheeighthinthelineup,andit'spresentedhereinalmostoriginalform.UsuallywhenIeditthesebooksIdosomemodernizing.Forinstance,IchangeVHStoDVD,androllerskatestoRollerblades,andsticksofgumarenowpiecesofgum.Idothisbecausethebooksweremeanttobecontemporary(asopposedtohistorical),andIdon'twantthereadertohaveatimedisconnect.InthebeginningoftheoriginalNaughtyNeighbor,myheroinethrowsahandheldphoneintothetoilet,andthenextmorningshegoesintothebathroomandseesthe"slimsilverantennacaughtbetweenthetoiletlidandseat."Okay,somostphonesdon'thaveextendedantennasanymore,butIjustlovedtheimage...soIleftitin.AndIdon'tknowhowmanywomenwearfront-closurebrasanymore,butthatgotleftin,too.NaughtyNeighborisprobablythemostromanceyofalltheLovesweptsIwrote,butthere'sstillasmallmysterytounravel.LouisaBranniganisano-nonsense,hardworkingpresssecretary,fightingherwaytothetopofCapitolHill,withnohelpfromherannoyingneighbor,PeteStreeter.Hereceivesphonecallsallnightlong,hestealshermorningpaper,hethinksjeansareformalwear,andworstofallhe'sinvolvedLouisainthedisappearanceofapig.SothisisthestoryofapiginWitnessProtectionandlovebeingfoundbyaworkaholicwomanandafun-lovingmanwhomakesterriblepotsofcoffee.Enjoy!JanetEvanovich