"amusing romantic romp"

Biology professor Dr. Marietta Dalrymple believes that males cannot be monogamous. Feeling the natal need to have a child to raise by herself, Marietta meticulously plans her pregnancy to the most minuscule detail. She advertises in a scientific journal for male donors, establishes a valid checklist, and evaluates each candidate based on her criteria. High on her list are the attributes family health history and genius IQ. After careful consideration, she chooses biochemist Harold McGinty to serve as the sire.

Unable to do what he agreed to with Marietta, Harold struggles with his feelings of guilt. At the airport, Harold meets his friend Cash "Jax" Jackson and asks Jax to tell Marietta he is not "coming". Jax agrees, but before he can inform her, he finds himself sharing the best lovemaking of his life. Forced to leave for a while, he returns to their hotel room only to find she is gone, but two months later learns she is pregnant. Jax plans to prove to his beloved that he will remain faithful and jointly raise their child and future children. That is if he can overcome her stereotyping MISCONCEPTION that men will leave. Of course his professional wrestling persona, The Secret Stud, does not help his cause.

MISCONCEPTION is an amusing romantic romp that is character- driven. The story line contains a zany plot as Marietta refuses to believe Jax can think with his brain though the anecdotal empirical evidence shows he can use both heads quite compassionately. At times Marietta's stubbornness can become frustrating, yet fans of jocular romances will take pleasure in this laugh a minute novel.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted April 20, 2002

Summary

Evolutionary scientist Marietta Dalrymple views romantic love -like the myth of the monogamous male - as a fairy tale. Men are only good for procreation. And she has found the ideal candidate to satisfy her strongest biological urge - motherhood. On paper Jax Jackson has all the necessary advantages, including a high IQ and a successful career. In person his body drives her to reconsider the term animal magnetism. But in the aftermath of their passion, Jax claims there has been a mix-up; he is not the sperm supplier with whom she contracted, but an aspiring family man. The erudite professor is stupefied. Until she recognizes that she has found the wrong donor, but the right man for her heart.