Line #18 Literature/LoveInANutshell


1	[[quoteright:221:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/LoveInANutshellCover_8881.jpg]]
2	''Love in a Nutshell'' is a 2012 romance novel by [[Literature/StephaniePlum Janet Evanovich]] and Dorien Kelly. The book follows Kate Appleton, a recent divorcée who has also lost her job as magazine editor. Trying to start her life over, she moves back to Keene's Harbor, Michigan to live in her parent's summer cabin. Kate hopes to fix up the cabin (titled "The Nutshell") and turn it into a bed and breakfast.
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4	Needing money to achieve this goal, she goes to Matt Culhane, owner of a local micro-brewery, and demands a job. Recently, Matt's company has had a string of suspicious events that has lead him to believe that someone is trying to sabotage his company. He decides to hire her as a way to have an insider report any suspicious activities that go on during the day. Kate agrees to the arrangement but only if she will get a $20,000 bonus if she catches the culprit.
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6	!!Tropes used in this book:
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8	* AlliterativeName: Missy Mortensen.
9	* AllWomenLoveShoes: Discussed by Kate who notes that Matt has more shoes than her.
10	* AmateurSleuth: Kate.
11	* BeeAfraid: The drywall in Kate's house had a bee colony living in it.
12	* BerserkButton: For Kate, anyone hurting a dog.
13	* CanineCompanion: Stella [[spoiler: once Kate gets her back.]] Also Matt's dog Chuck.
14	* TheCasanova: Matt has a reputation in town for being one. [[spoiler:He confesses to Kate that while he has dated many women, he hasn't slept with many of them and is more interested in having a relationship.]]
15	* ChekhovsGun: [[spoiler:The thread Kate finds in the factory, Laila's and Harley's lighters.]]
16	* ClingyJealousGirl: Deena Bowen to Matt.
17	* DamselInDistress: [[spoiler:Kate becomes one when Harley holds her at gun point. However [[DamselOutOfDistress she attacks him]] after he kicks Chuck.]]
18	* DisneyDogFight: Kate participates in one for her poodle Stella. [[spoiler: She wins as she knows that being disinterested is the way to get Stella's attention.]]
19	* HeroesLoveDogs: Both Kate and Matt.
20	* {{Hunk}}: Matt gets described as one several times.
21	* KickTheDog: [[spoiler: Harley does a literal kick the dog to prove his villainous-ness in the climax. The dog in question has three legs.]]
22	* {{Jerkass}}: Richard, Kate's ex.
23	* MeaningfulName: Ginger Monroe, Matt's office manager in Traverse City. Her name is doubly meaningful: She has red hair and is obsessed with the 1950s. Her name comes from Ginger Rogers and Marilyn Monroe.
24	* NewAgeRetroHippie: Starflower Creed.
25	* OutlawCouple: Discussed in-universe by Kate in regards to [[spoiler:Harley trying to sabotage Matt's business so that he and Laila can retire together]].
26	* PlotAllergy: Kate's allergy to hops (which are used in beer).
27	* QuirkyTown: Keene's Harbor.
28	* SeeminglyWholesome50sGirl: Kate's mother Barb used to be like this.
29	* ShirtlessScene: Matt gets one, right after he's worked out to boot.
30	* ShoutOut: Ginger Monroe's name references to actresses from the 1950s: Ginger Rogers and Marilyn Monroe.
31	* SoProudOfYou: [[spoiler: Having felt like her parents are disappointed in her, Kate's mom writes how proud she and Kate's dad are of Kate.]]
32	* TookALevelInBadass: [[spoiler: Kate after Harley kicks Chuck.]]
33	* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler:Harley towards the end when he has kidnapped Kate.]]
34	* WellDoneSonGuy: Kate has some of his towards her parents.

Context Literature / LoveInANutshell