title: The Spare Wife: A Novel
author:  Alex Witchel 
description: A wonderful escape into a world of beautiful, glamorous women and their troublesome men. The dialogue is witty and true. You will have a great time.<br />Barbara Walters<br /><br />Alex Witchel is already treading on Henry James territory as a chronicler of wealthy Manhattan. <i>The Spare Wife</i>, serves up a skirmish in the firmament of the Upper East Side with all the careful maneuverings of a Jamesian fortune hunter. a tight comedy of bad manners.<br />Ellen Wernecke, <i>The Onion</i><br /><br />Witchels Manolo-sharp send-up of Manhattan high society. The fact that many characters bear more than a fleeting resemblance to real New Yorkers (is that Tom Wolfe?) makes it all the more delicious.<br />Tina Jordan, <i>Entertainment Weekly<br /><br /></i>A blast to read. In Witchels scintillating second novel[she] writes with an informed, natural voice.<br /><i>Los Angeles Confidential<br /><br /></i>Think of it as the perfect beach read, just in time for resort season. <br /><i>Gotham Magazine</i><b><br /></b><i><br /></i>smart and savvy account about this group of movers, shakers, and climbers.<br />Barbara Fisher, <i>Boston Globe<br /><br /></i>crisply written page-turner<br />Donna Doherty, <i>New Haven Register<br /><br /></i>All these fast-paced antics have the comic energy of farce the gossipy anecdotes also have the quality of insider dish<br />Diane Johnson, <i>New York Times</i><br /><br />the choreography and the emotional unveilings are clever and most welcome.<br /> Elinor Lipman, <i>New York Times Book Review<br /><br /></i>Witchel writes with insider's insight about a high-powered world where the personal trainer has replaced the bartender as confidante, and where aging women look warily over their shoulders at young beauties.<br />Cristina Rouvalis, <i>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette<br /><br /></i>In the Manhattan jungle, it takes an urban anthropologist like Alex Witchel to explain the mysterious customs and rituals of its social tribes. Whats fun about The Spare Wife[is] Witchels depiction of the laws of this particular jungle, which is populated by lusty billionaires, once-famous authors, media moguls, wanna-bes and has-beens. And as it develops in Witchels book, women are the true Masters of the Universe. <br />Jane H. Furse, <i>New York Daily News<br /></i><br /> . . . this spry and pithy satire bursts with nipping, sardonic humor.<br /><i>Booklist</i><br /><br />Witchel returns to the romances of Manhattans upper echelons in this Gawkeriffic potboiler . . . Its extravagant . . .closely observed and entertaining.<br /><i>Publishers Weekly</i><br /><br /> Witchels eye for detail is delicious . . .<br /><i>Kirkus Reviews<br /><br /></i>
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  ## Alex stretched out on the ground with his head against his saddle. Who was
  his companion?
  
  
  
  
  
  The attractive musical voice was not that of a servant. Perhaps his companion
  was a legal offspring of Sir James! A daughter who resented her stepmother and
  had raised the lady’s wrath by saying her father had been murdered. When
  threatened, the slightly crazed Mistress Appleby had fled and headed for
  Lathom House, only to encounter himself on the way.
  
  
    
  
  
  It was now that Alex’s imagination stalled. His young companion had not
  behaved as if crazed, but that was women for you. Illogical. They were too
  often ruled by their emotions.
  
  
    
  
  
  For one in fear of her life, who did not trust him, he reckoned she showed a
  foolish faith in her disguise. Alex made up his mind that for now he would
  play her game. But sooner or later he was going to have to inform her about
  what was needful to impersonate a man….
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  His Runaway Maiden  
  Harlequin® Historical #268—September 2009
  
  
  
  
  
  