"One For the Money" is on the money, says author

(CBS) Katherine Heigl brings Janet Evanovich's best-selling novel, "One For the Money," to the big screen this week. The actress plays Stephanie Plum, a new divorcee, who takes a job at her cousin's New Jersey bail-bond company where her first assignment puts her on the trail of a wanted local cop and murder suspect from her romantic past.

The New Jersey-based Evanovich didn't know how the movie's director would transform her 1994 book into a feature film, but she's pleasantly surprised with the result, telling NJ.com, "I was relieved. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. I was so excited when that movie ended, I almost burst into tears."

Heigl's performance touched Evanovich so much that now she imagines the actress when she sits down and writes.

But the role wasn't the easiest one to play. The former "Grey's Anatomy" star had to tackle a New Jersey accent in "One For the Money" - a tough feat for the actress, who was born in Washington, DC and grew up in Connecticut.

"I'm hoping that it's close enough that the rest of the world ... will buy it -- that's my goal," she said, according to ABC. "It's really hard to nail an accent and to stay consistent with it."

The film, which co-stars Irish actor Jason O'Mara, John Leguizamo and Sherri Shepherd, opens wide on Friday.

Tell us: Will you go see "One For the Money"?