Product Description
New York Times bestselling novelist Jennifer Crusie combines fast-paced banter, sexy situations, and unforgettable characters in this delightful romance about two reluctant lovers who couldn’t be more wrong about being right for each other.
 
TRUST ME ON THIS
 
Dennie Banks is an investigative reporter chasing down the biggest story of her career. Alec Prentice is a government agent working undercover to catch an elusive grifter. When they meet by accident, it’s a case of mistaken identities at first sight. What they don’t mistake is the instant attraction they have for each other, an attraction they’ll do everything in their power to resist—because Dennie thinks that Alec is running interference for her interview subject, and Alec suspects that Dennie is linked to his swindler. As the confusion grows, so do their feelings for each other, and what begins as a romantic comedy of errors may just end in the love affair of a lifetime.Amazon.com Review
Jennifer Crusie believes there is a difference between male and female humor: male humor is slapstick and often pokes fun at people (like Three Stooges); female humor is derived from the relationship of things or people to one another, such as in a Seinfeld episode on television. A case of mistaken identities is the perfect soil for Crusie's "female" humor in Trust Me on This. Dennie Banks is a serious reporter, hot on a story, not a con man's moll. Alec Prentice is a clever, undercover agent, not a dumb male chauvinist hunk. Dennie and Alec can't quite read each other because they have ulterior motives. Thank goodness their hormones keep getting in the way. Eventually they are going to get to know each other, whether they want to or not. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Good, but not great
It still had her wit and appeal, but it was a weak story line. I love Crusie's work, but have to say I was disappointed after all the anticipation of the new book.

Trust Me on This by Jennifer Crusie
I have read several Jennifer Crusie books and enjoyed them.I therefore wanted to read everything she has written but found several out of date (no longer published).When I found this book on Amazon.com I purchased it - it arrived quickly but unfortunately I read it in only a couple of days.The price was good (as well as s/h).If you enjoy reading Crusie's books you should get this one.

Vintage Crusie
The word that best describes TMOT is fun. I started smiling practically on the first page, and by the time the book was over, my face was aching from laughing so hard.

Reporter Dennie Banks is in a bad place professionally, so she needs a good story, an important story. Her best idea is to go to an upcoming Literary Conference to try to interview a famous feminist author, the authority on what makes a good marriage. See, Dennie has just caught wind of the woman's impending divorce, and she just knows this will be an incredible story.

Of course, Dennie very definitely does not intend to exploit this story. Oh, no, she wants to help, she wants to make sure the first story to come out about it is respectful and sympathetic, hoping this might set the tone for the rest of the press' coverage. Too bad she doesn't handle the initial approach very well. The author doesn't believe her, and Dennie ends up accused of harassment and almost kicked out of the hotel where the conference is taking place. But she refuses to give up. She will get this interview, even if she has to approach her quarry in an indirect way, maybe through one of her friends...

Also present at the hotel is Alec Prentice, a Federal agent working undercover to catch a conman. Alec is there with his aunt Victoria, a well-known academic. Through some funny coincidences, he becomes convinced that Dennie is an accomplice of the conman he's hunting, and so it begins: Alec trying to use Dennie to get at his man, and Dennie trying to use Alec to get at her woman, because it just so happens that Alec's aunt is very good friends with her...

I think what I loved best of all here was the dialogue. That was the main thing that kept me smiling. No one does banter like Crusie. It's witty and funny and it makes the chemistry between Alec and Dennie just sizzle.

And there is quite a lot of chemistry between them in the first place. There's tons of energy in their relationship, and you could see the compatibility perfectly. Sometimes you don't really understand why these two people in particular are so hung up on one another, but with Alec and Dennie it's so obvious. It's really obvious they are absolutely perfect for one another, and when they think that they'll never find someone who suits them so well as the other person, I had to agree completely.

There's also a wonderful secondary romance here, between Harry, Alec's boss, and Victoria, his aunt. This was a surprisingly sweet romance, considering how strong and temperamental these were, and though they don't get much space, Harry and Victoria totally steal the show when they're onstage.

Even the conman plot (which is a theme I usually don't see why people are so fascinated with, really), with all its comings and goings, was entertaining and felt fresh. I really urge you to pick this one up if you ever come accross it in a UBS, and not just because of the great resale value!

One more great Crusie
A great Crusie story.Fun, quick and witty.Great, full main and secondary characters.Alec and Dennie really deserve each other.Both have gotten along on their looks and charm for too long. Harry and Victoria are a wonderful second story. A joy to read.

Mistaken Identity Theme Done Well For A Change
In this book Ms. Crusie gives us two fine romances for the price of one.The mistaken identity theme concerns the thirty-somethings' romance, and there's also a romance between a "mature" couple that puts a new twist on the older woman/younger man storyline.Both romances are fun, sexy, and true to their characters.

Dennie Banks is stuck in a dead-end society page reporter's job and decides to take charge of her life and get an interview with a famous writer who's know for her astute observations about interpersonal relationships.However Dennie has just gotten the scoop that the writer is on the verge of a divorce, and she sees this as her chance for the big time.Alec Prentice works for the government investigating fraud cases.He is on the trail of a land swindler, and just happens to wind up at the same conference that Dennie is attending.Of course, he mistakes her for the swindler's accomplice, and the story takes off from there.It is pure fun to watch two people who are used to getting their own way on charm alone finally meet their match.

In other hands this would be a trite and ho-hum story, but Ms. Crusie's excellent characterizations and sharp dialogue make this a joy to read.What I like best about her writing is that she lets you know all of the main characters' thoughts and emotions, not just the female lead.This is one book that is worth finding, and here's hoping that it'll be reissued soon. ... Read more

Product Description
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Crusie brings humor and storytelling magic to this modern-day romance of a match made anywhere but in heaven—but destined for a fairy-tale ending.


Daisy Flattery is a free spirit with a soft spot for strays and a weakness for a good story. Why else would she agree to the outrageous charade offered by her buttoned-down workaholic neighbor, Linc Blaise? The history professor needs to have a fiancée in order to capture his dream job, and Daisy is game to play the role. But something funny happens on their way to the altar that changes everything. Now, with the midnight hour approaching, will Daisy lose her prince, or will opposites not only attract but live happily ever after?
  ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Disappointing but good.
To say I love Jennifer Crusie would be an understatement.This was the last of her novels I had yet to find and read.After 10 long years of searching and rating I found and read this book in one day.Enjoyable characters but not her best.She started strong and finished as if it was a rush.Still a good read but a disappointment to someone who is as big of a fan as I.

Cruise is my fairy godmother!
It was short and very sweet and sometimes we all need a quick enjoyable escape. Once again I am very happy with a cruise-y story.

Fun and quick.
This book remains fun thought-out its quick read.It is light and funny and the characters hit just the right note.The development of the relationship between the hero and heroine is a joy to read and rings true.

3 ½ stars.Fluffy, enjoyable, light romance.The characters were stereotypes but fun.It's a nice little escape.
STORY BRIEF:
Daisy is an artist; she paints pictures.She also tells stories at local libraries and book stores.She buys clothes and furniture at thrift shops.Her home is full of color.She adopts damaged dogs and cats.She's desperately in need of a thousand dollars for back rent and other necessities.

Linc is Daisy's neighbor.He drives a black Porsche which Daisy calls the nazimobile.His home is decorated in black and white.He is an English professor at the city college.He wants a teaching job at Prescott College which would give him time to finish writing a book.During the job interview Dr. Crawford (dean of humanities at Prescott College) makes it clear that Linc be married.Therefore, Linc tells Crawford he is engaged.Crawford insists on meeting Linc's fiancé.Linc hires Daisy to pose as his fiancé for 24 hours to meet Crawford.She agrees for $1,000.

After Linc gets the job and starts working, he informs Crawford that he and Daisy broke up.This is unacceptable to Crawford who insists Linc get her back.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
I had one problem which is a pet peeve of mine.Soon into their relationship Linc was falling for Daisy and desired her sexually.But he refused to act on it or to show her that he cared.And Daisy did the same thing.She never let Linc know that she desired him.I saw no reason for them to "deny that they wanted each other" other than as a plot device.This went on for four months.If you don't mind that, it's a fun story.

I noticed another reviewer was unhappy with Daisy being self-absorbed.An example given was Daisy moving Linc's furniture out to make room for hers.But after Linc discussed this with Daisy, she worked hard to recover and repaint her own furniture to make it more appealing to Linc.He also ended up liking where she put his furniture - a good place for his home office.They communicated over their differences, so I wasn't as troubled over this part of Daisy.

DATA:
Story length: 278 pages.Swearing language: mild.Sexual language: none.Number of sex scenes: 2.Total number of sex scene pages: 5.Setting: current day unspecified city and Prescott, Ohio.Copyright: 1996.Genre: contemporary romance.

OTHER BOOKS:
I reviewed the following Jennifer Crusie books.
5 stars:Bet Me, Anyone But You, Welcome To Temptation
4 stars:Charlie All Night
3 ½ stars:The Cinderella Deal
3 stars:Crazy For You, Getting Rid Of Bradley
2 stars:Faking It, Fast Women, What The Lady Wants
1 star:Tell Me Lies

Jennifer Crusie "Cinderella Deal"
Cute book!I love the way Jennifer Crusie writes.A little too many swear words for my taste, but her character development is great.Fun story. ... Read more

Product Description
Andie Miller is ready to move on with her life. She wants to marry her fiancé and leave behind everything in her past, especially her ex-husband, North Archer. But when Andie tries to gain closure with him, he asks one final favor of her. A distant cousin has died and left North the guardian of two orphans who have driven away three nannies already, and things are getting worse. He needs someone to take care of the situation, and he knows Andie can handle anything....

When Andie meets the two children, she realizes the situation is much worse than she feared. Carter and Alice aren’t your average delinquents, and the creepy old house where they live is being run by the worst housekeeper since Mrs. Danvers. Complicating matters is Andie’s fiancé’s suspicion that this is all a plan by North to get Andie back. He may be right because Andie’s dreams have been haunted by North since she arrived at the old house. And that’s not the only haunting....

Then her ex-brother-in-law arrives with a duplicitous journalist and a self-doubting parapsychologist, closely followed by an annoyed medium, Andie’s tarot card–reading mother, her avenging ex-mother-in-law, and her jealous fiancé. Just when Andie’s sure things couldn’t get more complicated, North arrives to make her wonder if maybe this time things could just turn out differently....
Amazon.com Review
Product Description
The New York Times bestselling author of Bet Me, Tell Me Lies and Welcome to Temptation delivers her long-awaited new novel--Maybe This Time.

Andie Miller is ready to move on in life. She wants to marry her fiancé and leave behind everything in her past, especially her ex-husband, North Archer. But when Andie tries to gain closure with him, he asks one final favor of her before they go their separate ways forever. A very distant cousin of his has died and left North as the guardian of two orphans who have driven out three nannies already, and things are getting worse. He needs a very special person to take care of the situation and he knows Andie can handle anything.

When Andie meets the two children she quickly realizes things are much worse than she feared. The place is a mess, the children, Carter and Alice, aren’t your average delinquents, and the creepy old house where they live is being run by the worst housekeeper since Mrs. Danvers. What’s worse, Andie’s fiancé thinks this is all a plan by North to get Andie back, and he may be right. Andie’s dreams have been haunted by North since she arrived at the old house. And that’s not the only haunting.

What follows is a hilarious adventure in exorcism, including a self-doubting parapsychologist, an annoyed medium, her Tarot-card reading mother, an avenging ex-mother-inlaw, and, of course, her jealous fiancé. And just when she thinks things couldn’t get more complicated, North shows up on the doorstep making her wonder if maybe this time things could be different between them.

If Andie can just get rid of all the guests and ghosts, she’s pretty sure she can save the kids, and herself, from the past. But fate might just have another thing in mind…

---

Amazon Exclusive: Susan Elizabeth Phillips Interviews Jennifer Crusie

Susan Elizabeth Phillips is the bestselling author of Nobody’s Baby But Mine, What I Did for Love, and many others.She is the only four-time recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious “Favorite Book of the Year” Award and was also honored with their “Lifetime Achievement” Award.Read on for Susan Elizabeth’s hilarious and entertaining conversation with Jennifer Crusie:

Susan Elizabeth Phillips: Exactly why is Susan Elizabeth Phillips your dear friend?

Jennifer Crusie: Susan Elizabeth Phillips is everything I aspire to be in a writer, a Comic Genius with Incredible Insight into the Human Condition, so I stay close so I can be just like her.I remember the first time we met.It was in an elevator in Dallas.It was magic. She got off at the next floor.

SEP: What do you like most about Susan Elizabeth Phillips?

JC: I think it's her modesty, her willingness to give to others.And her shoes.

SEP: Which Susan Elizabeth Phillips book is your favorite, or do you love them all too much to choose?

JC: Heaven, Texas because I love a Cinderella story.

Also her last one, whatever it is when whoever is reading this is reading this.The one that's on sale now.That one.It's amazing and you should buy it.There's probably a button for it on here somewhere.Hit that button.

SEP: Oh, wait!This is supposed to be about YOU?Sheesh...For those who haven’t read it and are waiting breathlessly, share a little something about your new book Maybe This Time?

JC: Maybe This Time is my version of The Turn of the Screw. It's about a woman who goes back to tell her ex-husband that she's marrying somebody else and takes a job caring for two orphans he's inherited who are living in southern Ohio.When she gets to southern Ohio, she finds out the kids are delinquents and the house is haunted.Also, the ex-husband?Still very hot.

SEP: What is special about this book?

JC: It's a ghost story!And a love story!With kids! It's a Romantic Comedy Ghost Story With Kids.By me!

(You don' t have a copy because it's not out yet.We'll send you one as soon as we get them.Pretend you've read it and it's the most amazing book EVER.I did for you.)

SEP: What gave you the most difficulty writing Maybe This Time and what gave you the most joy?

JC: Difficult--Ghosts.Ghosts are not easy to write without getting cheesy.Also, I generally do not write horror so the I-wants-to-make-your-skin-creep parts were a real departure for me.

Joy--The kids.I'm living with two little girls right now, ages eight and 11, and I stole from them to write Alice.Alice was so much fun to write.Not so much fun to live with in the book, but to write?Alice rocks.

SEP: How do the stories you want to tell now differ from the ones you wanted to tell when you started writing? How are they the same?

JC: Such good questions.Are you a writer, too?Oh, wait.Never mind.

I had no idea how difficult writing fiction was when I started so I just wrote stories.Then I Learned My Craft.Now I spend a lot of time staring into space, thinking about how much I don't know and panicking.So it's harder.But the books are better, more complex, better structured, better written.Also I'm kind of over that Oh-My-God-They-Have-To-Have-Sex-Right-Now-Let-Me-Describe-It-In-Graphic-Detail.I figure anybody reading my books has either had sex or seen it on cable so maybe there's something more interesting in the characters' lives to describe in depth.Like, oh, GHOSTS!

SEP: You're an amazingly entertaining writer.Are you funny in real life? (I know the answer to this, but I'm thinking all of your readers might not.)

JC: Well, not as funny as Susan Elizabeth Phillips, who is a Comic Genius, but I have inspired a few chuckles here and there.Mostly, no.

SEP: Once I start a Jennifer Crusie book, I can't put it down. I know your loyal readers feel the same. What's your secret? (Please reply in 10 words or less because I hate making things too easy on you.)

JC: I do everything Susan Elisabeth Phillips does, except backwards in high heels.(That's twelve words.We can cut the "Elizabeth Phillips" part if you want.)

SEP: Did you finally get your messy office cleaned up so it looks as good as mine? (Oops...This is about you.I keep forgetting.)

JC: Yes.And then it got messy again.Because I'm a creative person and we creative people cannot be bound by the shackles of conventionality that stifle the expression of those who feel compelled to clean their offices.How's your office look?

... Read more

Customer Reviews (84)

Not the Jennifer Crusie I enjoyed in the past.
For some reason, Jennifer Crusie has completely changed her writing style.Not aware of this until after purchasing the last two books, (giving her a second chance with the second), I have been disappointed in both books. I loved the earlier laugh out loud all through the book stories."Maybe This Time" was a big disappointment.The story went into evil with a couple of the ghosts. The mention of ghosts and children led me to expect a less gruesome story.

Maybe This Time
About a quarter of the way through this book, I was confused.Huh?Was this a romance?What was this book?

I kept reading and since I was enjoying the story, I just continued on, although my head was spinning from confusion.I'm so glad I kept reading.I really, really enjoyed this book.I loved the characters, loved the story, loved the spookiness.

Towards the last pages, I was sad!I didn't want the story to end!It was exciting and chilling and a very fun story.And it was a surprising story, as I expected something totally different.I'm glad for what it turned out to be and not another plain romance novel.I'll re-read this again and again and again.

I want more!
I really enjoyed this book.It's one I've read so quickly, I wish I could read it new again.

Wonderful read!!
Loved Maybe This Time, and while I wouldn't call it 'classic' Crusie, her wit and quirky characters abound!!And isn't that what makes us love her books so much?I wasn't so sure about the premise of the book, but she totally sold me on Andi and North, understanding and cringing and feeling every moment ~~ which is yet another reason she always snags me!I will say it's not Welcome To Temptation, and I'm not head over heels in love w/ the hero, but it was a great story!

Perfect read for Halloween
I love all of Jennifer Crusie's books, they are funny, sexy, romantic and well written.Maybe this time is no different, even a surprise ending.

Some romance books are predictable, and parts of this one are too, but they are so funny who cares?

The supernatural (in the forms of ghosts and possessions) invade this book, so there is a bit of a spooky factor.

There is a big old rotting castle, where the ghosts reside that is both scary and romantic.

The children are adorable, although I kept picturing the Addams children when reading about them.

Great book, highly recommend, one of her best, although I still think Agnes and the Hitman is the topper. ... Read more

Product Description
Minerva Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairy tale, especially with a man who asked her to dinner to win a bet. Even if he is gorgeous and successful Calvin Morrisey. Cal knows commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs. Even if she does wear great shoes, and keep him on his toes. When they say good-bye at the end of their evening, they cut their losses and agree never to see each other again.

But Fate has other plans, and it's not long before Min and Cal meet again. Soon, they're dealing with a jealous ex-boyfriend, Krispy Kreme donuts, a determined psychologist, chaos theory, a freakishly intelligent cat, Chicken Marsala, and more risky propositions than either of them ever dreamed of. Including the biggest gamble of all-true love.
Amazon.com Review
Setting: small city in Ohio

Thirty-three-year-old Minerva Dobbs is annoyed when her current boyfriend dumps her three weeks before her sisters' wedding. But she's downright furious a few moments later when she overhears her now "ex" boyfriend bet hunky Calvin Morrisey that he can't take her home and bed her. In fact, she's so angry at them both that she lets Cal take her to dinner and decides to string him along until after her sisters' wedding. Minerva pegs Cal as a handsome "used car salesman of seducers." Cal thinks Minerva is a "cranky, starving, risk-averse statistician." But Minerva's hormones keep whispering "this one," although she knows the gorgeous Cal isn't the man for her practical, white-cotton-bra, several-pounds-over-thin, self. And Cal is blindsided by the lust he feels for the voluptuous, sensual woman he glimpses behind Min's actuary exterior. While Cal and Min struggle to deal with their mutual distrust and attraction, their friends and families try their best to interfere and direct the progression of the unlikely romantic connection.

Bet Me is unabashedly, irrepressibly romantic. In the wacky, wonderful world of Min and Cal, author Jennifer Crusie leaves no humorous situation unexplored--no potential comedic cauldron left unstirred--no hysterically funny complication left undeveloped. The reader is treated to a seemingly mismatched hero and heroine who fling caution to the winds to explore their unexpected attraction. The sexual tension is hot, the dialogue witty and wickedly sarcastic, and the supporting cast of secondary characters hilarious. Like Min's favorite Krispy Kreme donuts, this novel is rich and sinfully delicious. Indulge. Enjoy. --Lois Faye Dyer ... Read more

Customer Reviews (300)

So So
Well, let me break it down to you the way I felt about the book as I was reading it. The beginning of the book was pretty good. With quick one liners and funny predicaments. I thought the book had real potential at that point, with the scene at the bar and the bet, etc. Then the entire theme dashing hero falls for her plain plump girl really hit you over the head - repeatedly. It isn't that I haven't read previous books about the ugly duckling getting the prince charming. It's just that it wasn't believable in this case. Even romance novel believable. Generally the plain girl isn't told over and over how unattractive she is without the reader still finding some qualities, physical and otherwise, in her that are attractive. Her eyes are gorgeous, her skin is luminous, or her smile lights up the room....she posseses some outstanding qualitiy that makes her worthy of heroine material. She might have have that dynamic personality or an umbeatable sense of confidence that compensates for her lack of beauty. But, in this book, I was constantly reminded of how unlovely this girl was. How lacking in confidence she was. How everyone found her so unattractive. It was hard for me to see why the hero found her attractive. Sure, they had some funny exchanges, but...come on...not enough to carry on a strong romantic attraction.

And why as the hero constantly having to reassure her of how beautiful she was? Explain to her how she looked so "round" and plump and real, and that she was never going to be thin, but that she was beautiful anyway...was he her counselor? I mean, I'm all for a guy pumping up your self esteem, but this guy was took it as a second job, it was so over the top. It made you think that the physical attraction was too manufactured. Just what was it that liked about her?

The weight issues in this book were over-emphasized to death. I don't mind reading about it in books, but this book took it to an extreme. It overshadowed talking about anything positive that the heroine had that would make somebody want to be with her.

There was no secondary storyline. In Crusie's other novels, there generally is a murder story, an adulterous affair, or a mystery that is being conducted in parallel with the romance. Or rather, the romance develops as a by-product of that mystery. Here, there was absolutely no other subject other than the love affair between the two characters. Therefore, all the emphasis was placed on the romance, and the romance failed to entirely deliver.

I'm not against this book. I'm all for satisfying the inner plain jane in every female reader by having the hot stud pick out the less dazzling beauty. But, his getting turned on by her "sturdy legs" and her admittedly unattractive wardrobe...I just wish the author had made the attraction a bit more convincing, that's all.

Bet Me
This was one of the most boring books I've ever read.The story line is/could be cute but the writing is horrible.Too many he said / she saids and details that don't help to develop the characters.

Ridiculous
This book is so lame. I bought the Kindle version out of the rave review and the cheap price, but I couldn't believe I was reading a crap like this. It's full of cliche and unrealistic plots and characters. I love reading romance and enjoy watching romantic comedy movie, so I understand it can sometimes consist some coincidences and events just to add that romantic spice. And I think this book has a good potential to go on a movie if it were not so ridiculous and stupid. The characters are one dimensional and the entire story is surrounded with a silly bet, which is alright if the author can develop more depth on her story. The lines just keep jumping from Cal and Min and their silly friends, with coincidences and trashy comments. I gave it two stars for its sometimes funny lines, but other than that this book is totally waste of time. I would have gone for Sophia Kinsella over this.

4 1/2 stars for a cute contemporary romance
I don't normally enjoy contemporary romances very much, so I was a little nervous about trying this one even with the rave reviews.I normally like historicals and paranormal romances because I am more drawn into the world and out of mine.Cruise successfully captured my intrest even without a unique setting or super powers.

Min has just been dumped when she secretly hears her ex betting a gorgeous man at the same bar that he can't get Min in bed in a month.Pissed off, she decides to let the handsome Cal take her out this once and make him regret it.Cal has no intention of taking the stupid bet.He is willing to get away from his ex girlfriend though, so he decides to ask Min out to dinner to make an escape.What follows is a story about two people who fate has decided need to be together whether they like it or not.

I really liked Min.Her character is real and likeable.I like that she wasn't perfect looking, and her friends add humor to the story.Cal was an interesting hero. He has depth beyond good looks.I love it when a hero thinks the heroine is gorgeous even when she isn't looking her best, which Cal did. The two ex's added some more drama with there outragous plans to get Cal and Min back, and I really liked the idea of fairy tales and how they would play out in real life. Overall, this was a really enjoyable read.It is certainly my favorite contemporary that I have read.I still prefer historical and paranormal romances, but I will probably give Cruise another go since I enjoyed this novel so much.

Very cute story
I love Jennifer Crusie's books and loved this one too.The part when he has her tied up feeding her doughnuts is hilarious.Although with all the food in this book it made me hungry. ... Read more

Product Description
Tess Newhart knows her ex-boyfriend Nick Jamieson isn't the right guy for her. He's caviar and champagne; she's take-out Chinese pot stickers. He's an uptight Republican lawyer; she was raised in a commune. He wants to get ahead in business; she just wants…him. But there's no way Tess will play second fiddle to his job.

Yet somehow she finds herself agreeing to play his fiancée on a weekend business trip that could make or break Nick's career. And while he's trying to convince Tess that he needs her in his respectable world, Tess is doing her best to keep her opinions to herself and her hands off Nick. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

Dated, but it's a decent "old school" Crusie read...
Tess Newhart was a child of the sixties, raised by hippie parents who embraced all the ideals of that era.Now in her late thirties, Tess may be more mainstream but she's definitely a liberal Democrat and is not about to water down her beliefs to suit a man.The only problem is, while that sounds good in theory, she's fallen hard for Yuppie Nick Jamieson who is trying to make partner in a conservative law firm.How far will Tess go to help Nick with his career?Hint:Don't ask her to give up her ratty jacket for a tailored pin-stripe blazer.

Well, there's no doubt that with a publication date of 1994 this one is showing its age.However, there was plenty to like about the story.Tess is very much a Crusie standard heroine - attractive but not a beauty; a little offbeat with a sharp wit (and a mouth to go with it!).There's a lot of funny banter between Tess and Nick and the supporting characters beef up the storyline.There's one scene that takes place near the end of the book where Tess and Nick go out to dinner at a posh restaurant that really shows off Crusie's comedic ability.She can sustain a scene way beyond a funny one-liner and I like her sense of humor.

The problem for me was that there's just not enough here to build a story around.Once you get beyond the Yuppie vs. Liberal/opposites attract premise there's not much there.And Tess's biggest gripe with Nick seems to be that he doesn't want to have sex in public with her, not that they have any real fundamental differences.Neither character ever felt `real' enough for me to buy into their story.

Bottom line:I doubt this one will attract any new Jennifer Crusie fans, but if you want a quick, funny read it's not a bad choice.The storyline and characters are very close to Crusie's The Cinderella Deal.If you don't think you can get past all the early 1990's political and pop-culture references then give this one a pass.

Occasional swearing and mild sexual content.

Highly entertaining & fun!
I love Crusie's books, and this one was no exception!I liked the huge contrasts between the two main characters.I found Tess to be very endearing, and could easily see how she would become more attractive once you got to know her.As the book played out, you found out more about each character, which explained some of their actions, as well as making them real.Yes, some of the characters are a little over-the-top.But that also makes them stand out -to love or hate.

Overall, it is another good read from Jennifer Crusie.

Still Fun

Jennifer Crusie has built a very successful career writing romantic comedies about couples that are, at first glance anyway, completely wrong for one another. While her recent works in that vein may have a bit more depth and polish, she clearly had mad skills right from the very start. Strange Bedpersons was first published over fifteen years ago but, like any well crafted novel, it's still an entertaining read today.

Tess Newhart is in her late thirties and a true child of the hippie generation. A crusader for the underprivileged, disenfranchised,and down-and-out, Tess has nothing but derision for those who pursue the path of wealth and status. That explains why she broke up with successful lawyer Nick Jamieson, but it doesn't really explain how she ended up with him in the first place or why she still misses him. The good thing, the incredibly attractive thing about Nick is that he is sweet and caring and fun to be around - when he's not worrying about his career. The bad thing about Nick is he's almost always worrying about his career.

Still, Tess is seriously tempted by Nick when he comes to see her five weeks after the big break-up. At least until she realizes he's not there to try to win her back, exactly. He just needs her to pretend to be his fianceé. For a weekend. To help him in his career (of course). Because Nick had been a good friend before he was her boyfriend and because she feels like she owes him, Tess agrees to the charade on one condition: no sex. Holding Nick to that promise is going to be difficult enough, making herself keep it may be impossible.

Too Dated For Me
Originally published in 1994, there's little about this quirky romance about the ladder-climbing yuppie Republican lawyer Nick and the hippie, commune-raised, militant-feminist liberal Tess that doesn't feel almost painfully dated. That being said, Crusie pens a fast-paced plot that delves more deeply than I'd anticipated into the potential disaster of a relationship between two people who love each other, but who are so different they will never see eye to eye.

Nick, despite his career-loving little heart, is a fun character who is actually pretty forgiving and able to compromise, though he does have a rather vanilla predilection for sex in bed. He's pretty darn forgiving of some pretty radical behavior and recognizes before Tess does that some compromise is in order, yet he still manages to mess up a little as he presses his own sense of fashion off onto the bohemian Tess and tries to wear down some of her rougher edges before he realizes that he's got to decide to accept her as is or lose her. I found Tess harder to like, though I did respect her commitment to her values. Still, her uncompromising attitude and selfish judgments of those who don't share her militant views were off-putting through most of the book.

Strange Bedpersons started abruptly, too abruptly, with Nick banging on Tess' door and Tess closing it in his face, the two of them obviously already sharing a history. It took a little while to get the story on their history, so the opening of the book seemed jarring and left me feeling like I missed something. It made it hard to get into and I had to struggle a bit to 'catch up.' That did subside a bit as the story progressed, though the other issues - the dated feeling and my issues with Tess - didn't. Still, I can't argue Crusie's ability to nail witty, fast-moving dialogue and touch on human truisms with humor and intelligence. I just wish that prior to republication, this story had gone through a bit of a brush up to make it more socially and culturally timely and not quite so anachronistic to contemporary romance.

Originally reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.

Good light read
Jennifer Crusie was suggested to me by a friend who loves her books as a light read.She was right, in this book, Jennifer pairs up the unlikeliest of characters...a hippie educator and an attorney wanting to move up.With friends and odd family members, a steady plot with few twists and turns,the book was good without being heavy or thought evoking.I am reading all of Ms. Crusies books and have started with her first one and have noticed her stories improving with each book.This one was perfect as a just before sleep story, and has a good happy ending. ... Read more

Product Description
LOVE AND DECEPTION HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.
Meet the Goodnights, a respectable family who run a respectable art gallery-and have for generations. There's Gwen, the matriarch who likes to escape reality, Eve the oldest daughter who has a slight identity problem (she has two), Nadine, the granddaughter who's ready to follow in the family footsteps as soon as she can find a set that isn't leading off a cliff. And lastly, Matilda, the youngest daughter, has inherited the secret locked down in the basement of the Goodnight Gallery, the secret she's willing to do almost anything to keep, even break into a house in the dead of night to steal back her past.

THE RISKS ARE INTOXICATING.
Meet the Dempseys, or at least meet Davy, a reformed con man who's just been ripped off for a cool three million by his financial manager, who then gallantly turned it over to Clea Lewis, the most beautiful sociopath Davy ever slept with. Davy wants the money back, but more than that he'll do anything to keep Clea from winning, including break into her house in the dead of night to steal back his future.

AND IF YOU'RE REALLY GOOD AT THEM, THEY BOTH PAY OFF.
One collision in a closet later, Tilda and Davy reluctantly join forces to combat Clea, suspicious art collectors, a disgruntled heir, and an exasperated hitman, all the while coping with a mutant dachshund, a juke box stuck in the sixties, questionable sex, and the growing realization that they can't turn their backs on the people they were meant to be...or the people they were born to love.
Amazon.com Review
Setting: Columbus, Ohio

Sensuality: 7

Mural artist Tilda Goodnight is struggling to pay off the mortgage on the family business and keep the Goodnight secrets safely hidden. Juggling her life gets even more complicated when she hides in Clea Lewis's closet and collides with sexy Davy Dempsey. Tilda is in Clea's bedroom to steal back a forged painting; Davy's there to steal Clea's account codes and retrieve the $3 million the larcenous blonde stole from him. Somehow, Tilda finds herself exchanging a mind-blowing kiss with her fellow burglar, and when Davy follows her home and rents a room from her mother, she's forced to deal with the charming con man. Everyone in Tilda's world is pretending to be someone else, including her daydreaming mother, her split-personality sister, and her cross-dressing ex-brother-in-law. All of them, including Tilda and Davy, are Faking It. What will happen when all the secrets are out and everyone knows the truth about everyone else? Will Davy recover his 3 million? Will Tilda recover all the forged paintings and find her true artistic calling? Will Tilda's mother run off to Aruba with a hit man named Ford? And exactly what is the difference between a man labeled a "doughnut" and one who deserves the title "muffin"?

Faking It is a hilarious, warm novel with a cast of quirky and wonderful characters that endear while they charm. Readers who met the Dempsey siblings in Crusie's Welcome To Temptation will be delighted to revisit the family and discover what happens to Davy Dempsey when he meets his romantic nemesis, Tilda Goodnight. --Lois Faye Dyer ... Read more

Customer Reviews (159)

Slow to start, but worth the investment!
I have found with most of Crusie's books that it takes a while to get into them, and 'Faking It' was no exception for me. However, once in, it was a wild ride! I loved the quirky characters, the movie references, the doughnut vs. muffin analysis of men. The situations were crazy, but fun. I was invested in all of the characters and hated for the book to end. I wish there was a sequel!

Fun read
Faking It was a pretty good spin off of Welcome To Temptation.Faking It was funny, mysterious, had sexy moments and was romantic at time.Davy was clever and nice.Matilda was feisty and sweet.The other secondary characters played the parts they were supposed to.Another great thing about the book was the mention of what happened to Sophie and Amy from Welcome to Temptation.

Overall I liked the story, but at times it did get slow and I got tired of reading about art.The end felt kind of rush and left me with questions as to what happened to some of the other characters.

Kindle Version TYPOS!!!
I have loved this book for years and have read it many times.I just got it on my kindle and I am SO DISAPPOINTED that this kindle version is packed full of typos and punctual errors.A lot of the typos aren't even a misspelling of a word, they are complete gibberish.For instance, instead of "that's junk" in the kindle it's "ihaVsjunk".Instead of "unashamed" it's "mashamed"."casde' instead of "castle", "hauUing" instead of "hauling", and on and on.There are multiple errors on the same page even.Extremely distracting.

Fun Book
This book is a great book to really just sit down and enjoy!It is a quick read and very light hearted.

Try authors other books... this one is best forgotten

I didn't like the beginning and kept reading,hoping it would get better and meet the authors usual standard, it didn't get better.

Too many characters, too long a book.Boring.

I love some of this authors other books (Manhunting, Anyone But You) and liked others (Bet Me).Every author can pen a "clunker" and this is Crusies.

Rated two stars because the English was readable, appropriate grammar etc.

Bottom line, this plot is a loser, especially compared to other books by this author. Don't bother... but find another book by Jennifer Crusie. ... Read more

Product Description

With hot sex, clever characters, and Crusie's trademark wit, Welcome toTemptation will keep your eyes glued to the page and your stomach aching with laughter. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien ... Read more

Customer Reviews (222)

Twists and an interesting romance story
Welcome to Temptation was full of mystery and witty dialogue.The story takes place in a little town where Sophie and her sister Amy go to shoot a movie for Clea.The town was a typical small gossip town so of course the woman showing up brought curiosity.I liked the main characters despite their flaws.Sophie was stubborn, smart, loyal, and had a soft side.Phin was funny, direct, and caring.Dillie was a cute character and one of my favorite.She was sweet and lovable.

There were a few things that annoyed me.The writing style got tiresome.I got tired of reading she said and he said all in one line.It would have been nice if that had just been taking out and the dialogue put on separate line.The police investigation seem somewhat unrealistic and there were so many characters involved in things it was hard to keep them straight.There were a lot of mean and self-centered characters.

Overall the book was good.It keeps you guessing till the end, had lots of twist, had a good story between the characters, funny parts, and lots of sex.

Steamy Comedic Romance
This book was a hilarious, steamy read.The story line was very interesting and a little twisted (in a funny way).I love the small town atmosphere and scandal.I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light read without anything too deep.If you like the romance HOT and the reading light and funny this book is perfect for you!

Lost in Temptation
I had this book for three months before reading it, then I couldn't put it down. From the minute I started reading I was captured by the saucy Dempsey sisters, Sophie and Amy. Two women who are from a lineage of cons, visiting the town of Temptation, Ohio for a few days. Their visit to Temptation ends up turning their world and that of the town's people upside down. Especially for the hot-young mayor, Phin, who finds himself entangled with Sophie in and out of the bedroom. Temptation, described by the uptight Stephen Garvey, city councilman, as a town with "family values," soon becomes a haven for murder, gossip, and vanilla porn. As the story unfolds, the reader finds that the citizens of Temptation have secrets to hide, and they will do anything to keep them hidden, even murder.

I am a huge Jennifer Crusie fan, she keeps the story moving and the reader's interest. Humor, steamy sex, action and adventure, it's all in Welcome to Temptation.

A fun read!
A fun romance set amid dysfunctional families and small town politics.Laugh out-loud entertainment for me.Believable and likable characters.

One of the funniest books I've ever read. LOVED IT!!!
OMG... ten stars. lol. This was one of the funniest books I've read. It makes Bridget Jones Diary look lame. I was laughing my head off through the whole book. It does start slow, but it's so worth it, because 2/3rds of the way through, when we have a dark mystery going on, the book gets really funny. It gets totally insane and the author is a riot... so much so, I had tears in my eyes, I was laughing so hard. I was reading passages out loud to my family. I think men and women would be into this kind of romantic comedy. There's enough tough talk and such to appeal to both men and women. My only complaint about the book, besides the slow start, would be that Davey and Phin seem like the same person in dialog. I didn't feel like Davey was a separate character. He's the only one where the character development lagged in the dialog. Phin is funny as anything. He's just priceless. I want a Phin in my life! Can't wait to read more of the author's work. A suggestion to the author... change your name to Susie Crusie! ... Read more

Product Description
Part basset, part beagle, all Cupid . . .

For Nina Askew, turning forty means freedom -- from the ex-husband, freedom from their stuffy suburban home, freedom to focus on what she wants for a change. And what she wants is something her ex always vetoed -- a puppy. A bouncy, adorable puppy. Instead she gets . . . Fred.

Overweight, middle-aged, a bit smelly and obviously depressed, Fred is light-years from perky. But he does manage to put Nina in the path of Alex Moore, her gorgeous, younger-by-a-decade neighbor.

Alex seems perfect -- he's a sexy, seemingly sane, surprisingly single E.R. doctor -- but the age gap convinces Nina that anyone but Alex would be better relationship material. But with every silver-haired stiff she dates, the more she suspects it's the young, dog-loving doc she wants to sit and stay. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (96)

Story good: graphic sex unnecessary!
Chose this book for a light-hearted Kindle read based solely on the book description blurb and noting the customer reviews positive (of the ones I read). Was enjoying the story and the author's style (having never read any of Cruisie's works).What a surprise to discover this a (UGH) Harlequin Romance - not my cup of tea.

A second half smash
I didn't realize that this is/was a Harlequin romance when I picked it up - I just saw it as chick lit. Now that I know this, I have to say that it is head and shoulders above most romance books I've read.But my review is written from a chick lit perspective because that's how I saw it and that's also what I write.

The beginning of this book started out slow for me - not so much in terms of pace but in terms of drawing me into the characters and particularly plausibility of the plot. In my experience, sexy guy and strong attraction trumps age gap and body image issues every time. Hormones are powerful stuff! The main character seemed far too reticent about the relationship for far too long. I was just about halfway through the book, feeling a bit disappointed because I had heard wonderful things about Jennifer Crusie's books, when things changed significantly.The dialogue improved, I became invested in the characters, and I suddenly couldn't put the book down.I stayed up very late to finish the remainder of the book in one sitting (good thing it's a pretty short read!).The second half got much steamier than I expected, without being overly graphic.In fact, as a writer, I envied some of her treatments of the intimate scenes - very well crafted! The second half was 5-star, but with an entire first half being less, I couldn't give it the full 5 stars overall even though it ultimately left me with a very pleasant and fond feeling.I would definitely recommend this book to chick lit and romance readers alike - just know that like Fred, it took a bit to really get going. ;)

-Jenn
Reunion
The Cinderella Curse

It's hard not to like this book!
It's hard not to like this book. This is laugh your head off funny, even if the story is serious behind the laughs, as only Jennifer Crusie can pull off! This is one of Crusie's best efforts. It was very funny and with Harlequin books, you have to expect short. This is way too good for a Harlequin book and it's too bad it isn't longer and with another publisher. I enjoyed it. Yikes, yes hitting 40 is awful for a lot of women and younger men are way too scary. This is about breaking age barriers and going with unconditional love. Love is blind and all. Each sees the other so differently. Alex sees a mature woman of the world who is used to much. Nina sees herself as an older woman with an older body, not meant for a younger man. She seems him as immature and he sees himself as such! They both saw him the same way, however, she realizes that in order to be a doctor, you have to be smart. She doesn't want all the glitz and glamor she had with her ex husband and he doesn't get that. Also his brother makes him realize that as an older woman, she sees herself physically different than he sees her. He gets it that she isn't comfortable with her body, but doesn't get why she wants to live a lesser lifestyle. She understands why being an ER doctor is good enough for him, but it takes him a while to chill out and not try to prove something to her, that isn't him. He's happy with a lesser lifestyle also. They both try to make themselves over for each other, when each like the other just the way they are. I liked this book, but it had some issues. Why did he have bills from medical school, when his father was a rich doctor? He is immature actually and at times I cringed wondering why she wanted him, except he had a great body. So, some of this doesn't work. I'm not sure 40 year old women would want such an immature man, smart or not. Neither want children in life, but I had hope she'd have a baby and that they'd both realize this was a good thing. All in all, it was laugh out loud funny and she has to tell Max and Charity's story... they have to get together!

BLAH...BLAH...BLAH...
BORING AND REDUNDANT...I (a "40-something woman") thought I'd NEVER get through this one...ALL BUT THE LAST FEW PAGES was the 'heroine' whining about having feelings for her younger neighbor (and how very inadequate she felt.) I really wished one of them would have moved and put me out of my misery but they finally got together at the very (very) end, by then I could not have cared less.

Charming and smart
Hilariously funny, Anyone But You is Cruisie at her very best.Nina is a delightful heroine--angsty about encroaching age, but determined not to return to a Stepford Wife existence with her ex-husband.Does she have the self-confidence to have a relationship with a hunky neighbor who's ten years younger than she is?

Movies, junk food and Fred the dog play strong supporting roles in Nina's very credible struggle to make up her mind.Alex's struggles aren't quite as convincing, but this is light fiction so who cares?Anyone But You is a great read and Cruisie keeps a consistently nice balance between humor and character throughout. ... Read more

Product Description
Lucy Savage is finally getting rid of Bradley—and his hideous green recliner. Bradley is out of her life for good. Or so she thinks. Turns out Officer Zack Warren wants to arrest the very same Bradley for embezzlement and figures the lovely Lucy can lead him straight to his target.

Good thing there's a cop around. Because someone shoots at Lucy and then blows up her car. Zack insists she needs twenty-four-hour protection. What does he think her three dogs and attack cat are for? Still, he insists on moving right in to Lucy's house.

Now there's danger lurking outside and in her own kitchen, bathroom—and bedroom. Or maybe Zack is just what Lucy needs.… ... Read more

Customer Reviews (74)

Great Fun

Lucy Savage doesn't live her life according to impulse or whim. Everything she does is logical. So, when the second law of thermonuclear dynamics seemed to suggest that she marry Bradley Porter, she went ahead and did it. Obviously, that decision was moved by impulse and spontaneity masquerading as logic, because it didn't work out at all. Freshly divorced, Lucy promises herself that things are going to change. For one thing, she's going to be more independent. No letting her sister tell her what to do, no letting a man take care of her. From now on, she's going to do things on her own.

Lucy's first test of her independence comes right outside the diner where shejust had a post-divorce lunch with her sister. When a crazed (rough and sexy, sure but definitely crazed) man pulls her into an alley, Lucy asserts herself by clobbering him with her physics textbook laden purse and sprinting away. As she tells her dogs later that afternoon, standing up for yourself is strangely exhilarating.

That thrilling feeling lasts right up until Lucy's erstwhile mugger shows up at her front door. It turns out that he's neither crazed nor a mugger, he's a cop - Detective Zack Warren. Zack thinks Lucy's ex, Bradley Porter, is somehow tied to fugitive master-embezzler John Bradley. Furthermore, Zack's convinced someone is trying to do Lucy harm, possibly even trying to kill her.

Zack figures that once he's outlined the situation for Lucy, she'll be sensible and do exactly what he says. He figures wrong. Lucy doesn't believe her ex, rat though he is, would ever get involved with anything criminal. And, she informs the pushy detective, if someone really was shooting in that alley, they were most likely aiming for Zack. So no, she's not going to go stay at her sister's house. That leaves Zack with one choice. He'll just have to move in with Lucy until he sorts the whole mess out. Now Lucy has to deal with a dangerous attraction inside her house as well as (possibly) a dangerous criminal outside.

Jennifer Crusie's second novel ranks right up there with some of her best. Lucy and Zack are extremely likable,both as individuals and as a couple, and the romance is realistic and fun. The mystery of the Bradleys adds an additional element to the story and keeps everything moving along with extra zip. Getting Rid of Bradley is a blast to read from beginning to end.

Not Fun
After reading and loving Jennifer Crusie's Bet Me I quickly downloaded a few more of her titles. I was looking forward to more light, quirky and amusing fun. I should've been a little more specific.

Lucy Savage just got divorced. Her newly ex-husband didn't even bother showing up for the final signing. Her controlling, though well-intentioned, sister is ready to remove body parts off the man, but Lucy is feeling more confused than heartbroken. She wants answers for why her husband was making time with a blonde bimbo in their house. Over lunch, she tries to explain to her sister that she's okay but ready to take control over her own life...as soon as she gets answers from Bradley for why he did what he did.

Across the restaurant, two cops working on an embezzlement case overhear Lucy talking about Bradley and officer Zack Warren realizes that the tip he and his partner got to show up at this dive to nab Bradley the embezzler just went live. He confronts Lucy as she's leaving the restaurant...and then bullets are flying and he's getting beat up by the woman who's life he just saved.

Lucy feels nothing but empowered as she realizes she's successfully defended herself against a mugging and takes off after the police show up to grab the wretched scruffy guy in leather who put his hands on her. She feels so empowered, in fact, she decides to die her hair. Blonde was a mistake, so she tries for brunette. Just as she's realizing that the attempted dye job left her hair dead and...well...green...the doorbell rings and the thug she'd beat up is standing there...with his policeman's shield in hand. Oops.

Today Lucy got divorced, shot at, manhandled, dyed her hair green, and beat up a cop. She isn't having a good day.

What started out as a sort of loony but amusing premise was quickly strained by an anorexic plot that pushed beyond the boundaries of plausibility or credulity and by characters that lacked more than superficial development. Zack is the Peter Pan who equates committed relationships with death and Lucy is the pushover who is so intent on remaking herself she's willfully blind to common sense.

Though I prefer more three dimensional characters and found Zack's abrupt about-face on relationships as soon as he spends time with Lucy a bit hard to swallow, I honestly liked him. He's pretty uncomplicated and generally a nice guy - and any male who still wants a woman with ugly green hair is worth something. His character and his reaction to things is where all the humor in this book lays for me. I didn't find him believable, and he's pretty two dimensional, but I did generally enjoy him.

What really turned me off this book was Lucy. I found her character to be so irredeemable - between her lack of common sense and worse, lack of intelligence, her absurdly obtuse reactions even after things started blowing up, and her apparent lack of self preservation, I couldn't figure out for the life of me how Zack could even tolerate her, let alone love her. I actually found her distasteful as a character and difficult to read when paired with Zack.

Unfortunately, for a book like this to work for me, I have to like both leads - like I did Min and Cal in Bet Me. I so disliked Lucy that what would have been a silly and unrealistic but entertaining light romantic comedy, Getting Rid of Bradley, was ruined for me. 1.5 Stars.

Originally reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.

THIS BOOK NEEDS TO BE PUT ON THE TOP 10!!!!
I'm 3 years too late, but I just came across this book and finally.......an author who got it right!! Many write a book around 1-2 lines of wit whereas this author wrote the story and the wit was automatic.

I read this book in one day!!!

Funny and Great
I love this book. I've had to buy several copies, because I read it so often that I often leave it somewhere I shouldn't. But I don't like not having it, so I almost always have a copy somewhere in the house. This book is one of my favorite of Crusies. I like this, Agnes and the Hitman, and Manhunting, and that's about it.I like this one because details like Lucy's green hair, and the "dead dog joke" not being "that's no lady, that's my wife" are great and make lasting impressions.I really fell in love with the characters in this book, and I hope that anyone who reads Jennifer Crusie and doesn't like her reads the three I have recommended, because they are worth it, and that's why I watch out for her books.These are gems, and worth buying.

truly boring
This book was a waste of my time - I bought the bundle and now I'm not going to bother reading any more of Ms Cruise's ghastly stories. The dialogue was atrocious (and not at all amusing), not once did I even crack a smile, let alone laugh out loud, and the plot was so neatly wrapped up that it underscored its decided lack of depth.

Agree with another reviewer - if you want mystery and romance, read Janet Evanovich! ... Read more

Product Description
If he's Cary Grant, where's his Girl Friday?

Mitch Peabody was learning pretty fast that the life of a private detective was nothing like the movies. He'd envisioned a world of tough-talking detectives and smart-mouthed, stunning dames. Instead he saw case after case of cheating husbands, suspicious wives and unsuspecting mistresses…until she walked through the door.

Right down to her stilettos, Mae Sullivan was a knockout with a lethal body—and a lethal family to go with it. There was something not quite on the up-and-up about her, but she came with a case he couldn't afford to refuse…and left him with a case of lust he hadn't had since high school. It didn't take long for him to fall for her, hook, line and sinker. But was Mae interested only in catching the double-crossing crooks who murdered her uncle…or did the lady want to catch him? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

Light Fun With A Bit of Everything
Mitchell Peatwick Kincaid is a stockbroker, but a fondness for Sam Spade and a mild feeling of discontent with his job convinced him to get a private investigator license, and about a year ago, a bet with his boss and some friends - and a lot of alcohol - goaded him into leaving his prosperous career with his prestigious firm, putting the stuff from his monied life into storage, and taking on private detecting as a career under the name Mitchell Peatwick. And if he can get his private investigation firm into the black in a year, he'll win that $10,000 bet.

Twelve months of private investigating, however, taught Mitch two things: everybody lies, and real life private investigation work doesn't resemble anything remotely similar to Sam Spade's life. Until SHE walked in.

SHE is Mae Belle Sullivan and she's looking for a PI who isn't all that bright so she can lie to him. Not for kicks, but to get help finding answers following the death of her uncle. Answers that will save Mae from financial ruin and explain what her reprehensible old fart of a relative was doing with all the art and keepsakes that have been disappearing from his house for the past few months. An overheard conversation pointed her in the direction of her uncle's journal, but it's been missing since he died and Mae's starting to get frantic to find it. So she lies. And she uses her feminine wiles. And she pays Mitch Peatwick just about everything in her bank account to investigate the murder of her uncle. Who was in his seventies, had a heart condition and a twenty-five year old mistress, and died in her bed. Mae's fairly certain it wasn't murder.

Mitch knows he's being lied to by the delicious-looking Mae Belle, but her retainer pushes him into the black and secures his bet...and anything is better than trailing cheating spouses, so he takes her case. There are just a couple of problems for them both. Mitch isn't anywhere near as slow as Mae had hoped, and as more and more clues start to pile up, her uncle's death starts to look more and more like an actual murder - even to Mae.

With a quirky cast of primary and secondary characters and a twisting, rollicking plot that includes suspense, mystery, romance, and comedy, What the Lady Wants delivers a lot of charm and a few good hours of light entertainment. Originally published in 1995, the story is a little worn around the edges and has a bit of a dated patina to it, but not so much that it detracts from the story as in some of Crusie's books. It's more like a faint scent on the air than a bat upside the head. Noticeable, but not painful.

Mitch is a fun character, and quicker than he looks. Which is probably a good thing. I'm dating myself here, but he reminded me a lot of Magnum PI or Rick Simon from Simon & Simon - a bit cynical about life, a bit sloppy on the outside but sharp and thorough when he needed to be. Mae was endearing. Intelligent and kind, with a streak of independence a mile wide and a determination that is formidable. She's a bit stubborn when she needs to be, but not so cold as to be unappealing as a person. She cares about the people she loves and takes on the responsibility of caring for them, as needed. Together they made a good couple, and their banter was one of the high points of the book.

Crusie excels at quickly paced plots with quirky characters and a lot of witty, intelligent, and sarcastic banter. It's what keeps me coming back to her when I want or need some brain candy. I'd love to see this book get a bit of a modernized polish to clear away the dated patina, but even as it stands, I liked it quite a bit.

Originally reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.

Really, really bad
This would be a great book except for one thing: the "hero" of the story is a complete and utter j***off. What a horrible, horrible character! He's the stupid alpha type found in so many subpar romance novels, but with the added annoyance that novel is supposed to be "funny." It is not.

Example of a typical "funny" scene (at least I assume it's meant to be funny): Mae, the heroine of the book, joins the hero and a group of people, and Mitch (the hero) tells her not to sneak up on people, it's rude. Later in the same scene Mitch-the-hero sneaks up on Mae and a group of people, making them all jump. Is this supposed to be funny? It's not.

Througout the book Mitch annoys people just to be annoying, calls Mae (the heroine) snotty and spoiled, like he's just telling it like it is. Then when Mae (correctly) calls him a jerk, he objects. Again, is this supposed to be amusing? Is this like some sort of witty repartee, or a battle of wits? Pretty bad.

The heroine is pretty great, and the supporting cast is enjoyable. It's just the hero that sucks. Zero stars for the hero, and one star for the book overall. Such a shame. It could have been a great book.

Also, a note on the reissue: the picture on the front cover is unattractive and the copy on the back cover is incorrect. The back cover calls the hero "Mitch Peabody," but his name is "Mitch Peatwick." Also, it references Cary Grant and his Girl Friday, but the running theme of the book is Sam Spade and Brigid O'Shaughnessy. Somebody clearly was not paying much attention to this stupid book, and that makes me glad.

Crusie fan in need of a fix...
I've been reading Jennifer Crusie for a little over 10 years now and with no "solo" releases in sight decided to read some of her earlier work.With a 1995 publishing date this one is showing its age.Mitch is a thirty-something wanna be private detective who discovers that the reality of the job is not even close to his Sam Spade fantasy.Mae Sullivan hires him to investigate the murder (sort of) of her Uncle and to locate his missing diary. They fall in love (this is a romance after all) and solve a murder along the way.This book does have some of Crusie's trademark witty dialogue but doesn't offer much beyond that.There are too many characters thrown in to this fluffy little story.Instead of coming across as zany and endearing they are just...weird.The plot is utterly forgetable, which I could overlook if the romance was good enough but sadly that's not the case.There's not much chemistry between Mitch and Mae and the one (or was it two?) "love" scenes are pretty generic.Bottome Line:If you are new to Crusie she has a bunch of great books to pick from - this just isn't one of them.For long-time fans...re-read a favorite and let this one R.I.P.

Great book!
This is my favorite Crusie's book ( I read almost all of them). Witty dialogs, great plot, amazing hero! Loved every page!

A fun read
This book was one of Crusie's earlier works (copyright in my edition said 1995) and while I'd say her newer stuff is a little more riveting, it was still a fun read.

Mitch is posing as a private detective after making a bet with his stockbroker peers that he could run a PI Agency into the black in less than a year. His last week on the bet, it's not looking good for him. Until Mae walks in dressed to the nines and hires him to find the missing diary of an uncle who died of a heart attack, but she insists was murdered (mostly to garner enough attention so he'll take her case). The story is a whodunnit with a hot attraction mixed in. Mae's surviving relatives are mob-wannabes and it seems pretty much everybody wanted this particular scheming, swindling uncle dead. The plot is cute, with excellent dialogue. I'd love to come across a Mitch, a man willing to face down multiple cut-throat male relatives for the woman he loves.

It took me some time to read this book on my Sony Reader (6 weeks!). Not because of the writing, but because of the formatting. It seems to be a print book the publisher decided to send out in ebook form as an afterthought. I'm glad it was available, I just wish all publishers would "get" that certain things need to be done to a file in order to make it into an ebook. Once a reader changes their font size, if the file isn't properly formatted, paragraphs virtually fall apart. The dialogue tag from one character gets moved to the next paragraph, which is the next character's dialogue. A page gets cut off with only 1 ½ lines of text on it. Or in the middle of a sentence, a paragraph breaks. This makes for very difficult reading. And while the file looks fine in the smallest typeface, publishers really need to plan for the adjusted sizes (just let them try to read a page in the smallest font!). For example, when going from print to ebook, page breaks need to be removed except for at the end of chapters (whereas in a to-print file, the page breaks are all specified).

The book itself, I give a Nice Bang for Your Entertainment Buck. Well worth your time and money. Pass it on to someone who'll enjoy it and keep the author on your radar. Crusie just keeps getting better, and she was something to write home about from the start. I'm a fan.

... Read more

Product Description
objective: Find a Rich, Handsome and Successful Man

Kate Svenson may be a dynamite businesswoman—but after three failed engagements, she's decided she's hopeless at romance. What she needs is a Business Plan to help her find Mr. Right.

The Cabins resort is ripe with eligible bachelors, all rich and ambitious—just her type. But they're dropping like flies, and after fishing Kate's latest reject out of the swimming pool Jake Templeton is convinced that Kate is nothing but trouble. Especially for him.

A man who's sworn off ambition and a woman hanging from the top of the corporate ladder don't have much in common. But in that unpredictable territory known as the heart, anything can happen….

... Read more

Customer Reviews (75)

Fun, intellectual read!
I read this book within the day it arrived- I couldn't put it down! Of course, I know this is what I'm getting into each time I pick up a Jennifer Crusie novel!

Classic Crusie

Kate Svenson is one of the best management consultants around and her income gives her access to the finer things in life. Too bad most of the executives she works with are the worst kind of pond scum. Kate figures she wouldn't mind her job so much if she had any kind of a personal life at all but, after three failed engagements, she has almost given up the search for Mr. Right. Then Kate's wacky best friend comes up with a plan so crazy it just might work. And that explains how Kate finds herself and her increasingly bad attitude at an exclusive Kentucky golf resort scoping out her fellow guests for husband material.

Jake Templeton takes one look at the cool blonde in the silk suit and says, `no, hell no.' Once a high-flying tax attorney, Jake fled Boston and the get-ahead rat race after his marriage failed spectacularly. He's left suits and success behind, preferring instead to spend his days lazing on the lake and overseeing the grounds crew at his brother's resort.Once they've firmly established that they want completely different things in life, Kate and Jake strike up an odd sort of friendship over pretending to fish while napping and playing pool at a local, non-posh bar. And even though they both recognize that they are utterly wrong for one another, Kate and Jake find that being together feels exactly right.

This early novel by Jennifer Crusie (her first, in fact) has all the hallmarks that have made her one of the most successful romantic comedy writers on the market. Fast-paced and well-written with characters you can root for, Manhunting delivers lots of fun in the classic Crusie style.

Laugh Out Loud Funny & Touching.
I admit it..I consider lots of romance novels to be cotton candy for the brain. So what? This book made me laugh out loud at several points. A very satisfying read, in my opinion. Oh, and when I lent it to my co-worker, she laughed as well..althought I'm a bit irritated that she spilled coffee on it & bent both covers. I am even looking at other books by Jennifer Crusie to see if they look interesting. If you like quirky lead & supporting characters & a somewhat bumpy road to romance..here you go! Enjoy!Ms. Kay

Loved this Book
I read this book when it 1st came out - found it on my shelf last week and enjoyed it all over again. Kate Svenson wants to meet Mr. Right so she takes off on vacation with a plan of action to find a husband.While she dates and rejects (in a very funny way) all her dates - Jake Templeton continues to be man who is becoming her friend.It left me with a smile - the second time around.

I am looking forward to her new book Maybe This Time due out Summer 2010.If you are looking for some classic Crusie I would suggest; Faking It &Welcome to Temptation.

Fun light romance
Really good for this genre-- light romance.Likable characters.Humerous.

I read this at a perfect time-- on an airplane that got diverted due to bad weather.
It was perfect because the book kept me occupied and happy and was light and fast reading so I did not have to concentrate very hard.
I laughed out loud several times while reading it!Excellent mood-lifter when on a bumpy delayed plane ride!
Length was perfect too--I finished the book as we landed at our final destination (about 4 hours after take-off).

I have read several of this authors later books-- and this is my favorite so far!(Though I am partial to the dog Fred in another fun romance by this author, "Anyone but You"). ... Read more

Product Description
Dumped by her boyfriend and demoted from WBBB's prime-time spot, radio producer Allie McGuffey has nowhere to go but up. She plans to make her comeback by turning temporary DJ Charlie Tenniel into a household name. And if he's willing to help her cure her breakup blues with a rebound fling, that's an added bonus.

Charlie just wants to kick back, play good tunes and eat Chinese food. He's not interested in becoming famous. But he is interested in Allie. And after all, what harm in a little chemistry between friends?

But suddenly their one-night stand has become a four-week addiction. Night after night on the airwaves, his voice seduces her. . .and all the other women in town. He's a hit. It looks as if Charlie's solved all Allie's problems. . .except one. What is she going to do when he leaves? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

Charlie All Night
Allie has been demoted at the radio station where she works as a producer and was dumped by her boyfriend. She plans to use the fill-in DJ, Charlie, to make her comeback, and turn him into a household name. If she can use him to make her ex-boyfriend jealous, well that's just a bonus. Charlie, however, has no intentions of becoming famous, but he is willing to be Allie's rebound guy. When their one-night-stand becomes a four week gig, neither Charlie nor Allie are sure how they feel about him leaving to go back home.

This is a quick, fun, and entertaining read. The interactions between characters are funny and the dialog is witty. There's even a little mystery, as Charlie tries to find out what's behind a threatening letter that was sent to the station owner. Not a deep, thought provoking book, but if you're looking for a light romance I'd recommend this.

Quite a Few Chuckles, But...
When you're the go-to girl at the radio station and you're producing the number one drive time show in the area, you've got a lot of responsibility and your future is looking bright. When the talent of that show dumps you, then two months later fires you from the show, you're bright future starts to look more like flames from a crash and burn. Allie McGuffey is feeling the heat from those flames after her radio personality ex-boyfriend Mark dumps her as producer and the station puts her on a new overnight time slot. Pushed from drive time to overnight is humiliating. Pushed there by her ex-boyfriend with his supercilious attitude and delusions of competency is even worse.

Putting on a good face just leads to another crisis as a mad dash to the nearest bar/restaurant with her ex hot on her heels forces Allie into uncharted waters. She picks up the first non-suit wearing male she can find and desperately tries to act like she's perfectly okay while her insides are still quaking. Though the rugged man she clings to is obviously surprised by her blatant come on, he doesn't sell her out, which makes him a hero in Allie's book.

Charlie Tenniel is a bit of a bounce around. He doesn't stay in one place too long, doesn't limit himself to doing one thing for his life, either. His wanderlust is a constant disappointment for his socially formidable father. His brother, radio personality Ten Tenniel, was more the man his father wanted him to be, but look where that got him - a drug habit and escape from prosecution courtesy of their father's connections. Charlie wasn't going to go out like that. He was, however, going to take the job his father wanted him to take as a favor to the station owner, an old family friend. An anonymous tip claims knowledge of a drug ring opperating from the station and Charlie's been conscripted to chase down the responsible party. He just wants to fly under the radar for the six weeks or so he plans to stay in town, so having Allie pressed up against him is just fine, but when he realizes she's his new producer and intends to make him a star, he's just as adamant that she doesn't.

His position would probably be a lot stronger if he could just stay out of her bed.

While the premise of Charlie All Night is a bit of a stretch and the actions of Allie and Charlie seem more than a little irresponsible both sexually and professionally, I can't argue that the story itself is light, fun entertainment with plenty of endearing moments. I enjoyed the banter and romantic development between Allie and Charlie. Crusie does banter and endearing really well and it's definitely in evidence here. There's not much to the plot, though, and with an original publication date of 1996, there's a dated feel to both the technology and equipment described in the station and a definite pre-Monica Lewinsky air of sexual permissiveness in the work place that didn't translate well for me.

So long as you don't take the book too seriously, or expect much in the way of depth of plot or character, there's still a lot of entertainment to be had from the story of Charlie and Allie, two people who won't be poster children for sexual harassment litigation any time soon, but who still managed to make me chuckle. 3.5 Stars.

Originally reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.

Not Crusie at her best.
This was okay, not great. It's an old Crusie book, but Amazon doesn't always tell you that. Still, I love to read anything by Jennifer Crusie. Usually you are in for a good laugh. She doesn't take the laughs far enough as in her newer work. This is just blah. There was so much to work with and if this were going to be reprinted, perhaps the author should have rewritten the book. It's okay, not great and not funny enough. The dialog is lame and I didn't understand why the characters liked each other. I didn't feel the heat at all. There is a lot of political/social issues discussed that were just thrown in your face. Too in your face. There is no suspense, no real conflict between the characters to spice it up, etc. This could have been so much more. What you get is a skeleton of a book with no muscle to it.

Quick and fun.
I love this book and read it about once a year.It is quick and funny and sweet.I know I can pick it up and it will raise my sprits.Charlie is just too lovable.JC is not writing a plotline where the reader doesn't know where it's going...but who cares when she does it so much better than others have and with so much more fun.The dialog between Charlie and Allie is realistic, witty, and you can see why they fall in love - it's believable.I fell in love with Charlie myself.JC has the ability to give her secondary characters, well character, and with an economy of words.All making this a quick, delightful read.

Chinese Food, Radio, and "Special Brownies"
Allie McGuffey and Charlie Tenniel are the main characters.

Charlie comes to town to help out the owner of the radio station (Bill)...or so he believes. Actually, Charlie's dad asked Bill to give Charlie a job, and concocted a plan to make Charlie think he was helping out Bill. He does end up helping out Bill, and the radio station family.

Allie is a producer at the radio station, and just got dumped from the position she created and turned into a big money-maker for the station. She is still employed, but is now Charlie's producer for the ten-to-two show. From drive-time to insomniac's antidote in one day. Luckily, Allie knows how to take a good guy and make him great. She decides that she'll turn Charlie into the next big money-maker for the station. There's only one teensy little problem...Charlie doesn't want to be made into a big hit.

The story opens with Allie meeting Charlie, picking him up in a bar to show her ex-show (and boyfriend) that she is so over him. Allie doesn't know that Charlie is her new show...and Charlie doesn't know that Allie's his new producer.

Charlie and Allie eat lots of Chinese food, fall in lust-then-love, and solve the radio station's problem...that no one knew was a problem...

The supporting cast is great, and the story is wonderful.

I recommend this book fully. I've read, re-read, and re-read again and again. It's worth the time, effort, and money expended to obtain and read. You won't be disappointed. ... Read more

Product Description

Fast Women has well-rounded characters, an interesting mystery to resolve, and author Jennifer Crusie's trademark humor. In addition, Crusie gives readers a little something extra in her exploration of the emotional stages of divorce, the viability of marriage, and the value of self-honesty--all of which add up to an excellent fictional tale layered with a thought-provoking look at contemporary culture. --Lois Faye Dyer ... Read more

Customer Reviews (151)

Not a big fan
I'm a big fan of Jennifer Crusie but this book just didn't do it for me.It wasn't bad per-se but it wasn't very good either.I did finish it however I was tempted to quit several times.

A little bit quirky - but bonus points for originality
Fast Women is like a fish taco.At first, you're just not quite sure what to make of it. Fast Women is a strange combination in the romance genre. While Crusie's books are usually played for love and laughs, Fast Women is more a mockery of the state of marriage. And the romantic relationships are pretty rocky too.The book circles around three women friends, their unhappy marriages, conniving mistresses, cheating husbands, abandoned wives, an old-school guy as the leading man who is stuck in a different decade, his skirt-chasing partner, aging men with trophy wives, and freezers full of mysterious things.

While it is not always a rosy picture, in many ways, it's an honest one with amusements thrown in to keep things rolling along.In fact, the bickering duo of Nell and Gabe remind me of my mother's second marriage where two very strong-willed people found they were only really happy if they could win the Argument Of The Day.It was always a game of one-upmanship.Then, the sparks and pheromones would fly.

Fast Women is certainly not a fairy tale romance.Still I found myself thinking about the characters long after I finished the book.Isn't life full of people who repeat the same mistakes over and over again, just with different partners.Can people who love one another, but are stuck in old patterns of behavior, really change? If you have some baggage from a prior relationship, when do you make little compromises just to get along, when do you stand your ground, and when do you surrender your whole soul? Does someone who really cares about you try to mold you into a different person?Is that love?What is love?

Gabe is an intriguing leading man and unlike any romance hero I've ever "encountered."And yet, he is like a few real people I have known--people who want to live in the past with a yearning for nostalgia while the world passes them by.In Gabe's case, he clings to the past because of his own abandonment issues involving the two people he loved most - his parents. In his own failed marriage, he tries to be loyal and honorable long after the marriage has ended and clings to it because it's like an old worn coat--it's comfortable and safe.Gabe is one of those guys who you want to fix up with a friend - he's a good guy, he just needs someone who will understand him and who won't leave him.

Nell storms into his life like a bull in a china shop.I've known people like Nell too--people who are fixers and live their lives with "if only" intentions."If only I get him a new couch and chair and business cards, and maybe a new wardrobe, then he'll be perfect and I'll be happy."But, somehow, the "fixers" of our world can always find one more thing to fix (criticize) and, for them, feeling real contentment with themselves and with a partner is always just beyond their grasp.So, in pitting Nell with Gabe, there's a reckoning (or a wreck) on the horizon.They will either have to come to grips with their own foibles and risk changing their behaviors, or they can stubbornly win each daily battle and make each other miserable.Luckily, there's just enough of a glimmer to hope they can be the yin to the other's yang and break out of old patterns.

Crusie actually creates an inventive role for china and place settings in the three women's lives.It seems like a metaphor for who they are or who they want to be.Fanciful wares with higgledy-piggledy houses and running legs are a passion for Nell, a woman who needs a bit of a fanciful spirit and/or independence. The expensive, traditional Spode ware that Suze inherits from her husband's family only increases her feelings of being trapped in a marriage where she must never change or risk losing him. Margie hoards boxes and boxes of common Franciscan ware as a way of trying to fill a huge void left by an abandoning husband.

The story is littered with a large cast of characters and the plot is not always easy to follow with its twists and turns.So, to say the least, unlike most traditional romances, it's a little quirky. There are characters I didn't like much (Budge, Jack and Margie), yet I liked the level-headed, skirt-chasing Riley, who seemed to be just biding his time until Suze notices him. Nell and Gabe were challenging personalities, but I liked them, empathized with them and saw them as two people at a crossroads in their life.

So, it's like that fish taco that you try for the first time - it's a little bit off kilter from what you expect, a strange combination but pretty tasty.Maybe it's not quite as good as gooey cheesy enchiladas, still it's a nice change of pace.

I'm a big fan of authors who take risks and gamble with some originality rather than rehash and recycle old plot lines ad nauseum.So I'm giving this one an extra star for that reason.

Invest in Depends before reading!
This has to be one of the funniest books I've ever read, hence the Depends warning. I related to the reviewer who was reading it on a beach.. I was on a plane, and I started chuckling, then I progressed to howling, with tears streaming down my face. People around me were looking at me oddly. I love all of Jennifer Crusies books, but this one is hysterical, with GREAT characters. Not to mention the dog. The scene with Nell dog-napping the dachsund was the one that did me in. My only problem with the book was it's threat to my bladder control. Too funny!

Not one to re-read for me
This book was the first one I've read of Jennifer Crusie's, I read it around 4 or so months ago. I didn't have the courage until a couple of days ago to attempt another one of her books, but I'm glad I did. The other book was actually a good read unlike this one. I liked the fact the heroine was a middle-aged woman, but I didn't like the fact she fell into the "woe is me, my ex hubby left me for a younger woman mold". She didn't seem to break out of it until the middle of the book. This isn't on my re-read shelf, once was more than enough for me.

I want my wasted day back 1.5 stars
A friend from work loves this book so much she said she loans it out to all her friends and if they don't return it she buy a new copy. Lucky me. I now think I might know why they weren't returning it, they were trying to save future friends.

Where to start? It was funny at first. The whole job interview where she destroys his office had me giggling. From there, it all went down hill.

Let's start with Gabe, he is sleeping with his ex-wife and treats her like a stupid whore. Literally. He just wants her to spread her legs and shut up. Their whole relationship made my hackles rise. I was very glad when she left. My opinion of him however did not improve. I could understand his frustrations with Nell undermining his authority in his own business however that is no excuse for the way he treated her or the things he said. He might be a loyal spouse but he wasn't a very good guy.

Nell. She slept with Riley on the 3rd day (does this explain the title "Fast Women"?). Class act that one. Knowing she was going to end up with Gabe and that she slept with Riley just bothered me. By the end of her first week she was acting like she owned the place. Being yelled at turns her on. Mmmkay. She was bossy, always thought she was right and she didn't listen any better than those she accused of the same crime. Not someone I would want working for me or as a friend.

Suze. Hated her. I had no sympathy for her character at all. I admit I was disgusted with the whole 18 year old cheerleader bit for dirty old man Jack and their entire relationship in general. She was so conceited. It bothered her that Riley wasn't flirting with her? As a friend I supposed she was fine however as a person in general, horrible. The whole kissing Nell thing was strange as well.

Riley was at least a funny guy and honest. I might have liked him more if he didn't sleep with anything that moved and if there wasn't a foreced connection between him and Suze. His obsession with Suze just confirmed her conceit.

Speaking of forced connections, Lu and Jase? Overkill. Margie and the whole murder and blackmail mystery was crazy. Almost as crazy as Margie herself. In the end, I still am not completely clear on who did what to whom and when.

China obsession, yawn. The dog was annoying. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if it had more focus. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (60)

NOT what you're used to.
If you are looking for Agnes & the Hitman again, or even something as passable as Don't Look Down, then this is NOT the book for you. The dialogue is not as easy as the other two books, and the characters seem to be forced and inconsistant. They start with a familiar mold, but then go sadly and wildly askew from the Crusie/Mayer likability. The storyline seems "phoned in" with some familiar elements meant to inspire comfort, but just seem to miss the mark and comes off as mocking the other two (GREAT) books. I am a big fan of Crusie, but seriously considered re-selling my collection upon reading this mess.

I was expecting to laugh
"Don't Look Down" was a good read and funny and "Agnes and the Hitman" is one of my all time favorites as it had me laughing out loud, so I had high expectations for "Wild Ride".I was initially surprised to find it a paranormal but went with it anyway hoping for some really unique opportunities for humor.Although it was entertaining, it never really sucked me in (you know, where you are drawn back to real life but your mind is still in the story. . .) and while mildly humorous, it never forced a laugh out of me.

The action was less than I'd hoped for as well.Although it was promoted as being most exciting at the end (just like a roller coaster), the big "splash" just felt rushed and overly simplified.This book seemed to me to focus on just getting to the conclusion, and I found the 'joy in the journey' missing. In spite of this I'm still looking forward to their next collaboration.

I wanted to like it, because I love Jennifer Crusie, but ...
I have a real thing about reading books.When I start a book.I finish it.Whether it be the good, the bad, or the ugly.I finish it, because I feel I owe it to myself to at least finish it once I've bought it whether I like it or not.

It pains me to say I couldn't finish this book.Well, I tried.I tried on several occasions.I couldn't get into the plot, I didn't like the characters, and about halfway through, I gave up.

I've been reading Jennifer Crusie books for years, starting back when she wrote Harlequins and up to and including her books with Bob Mayer.

I'm hoping she gets back on track.

Another disappointed reader.
I also had expectations that this would be a romance.But not only was that not the case, the main characters were foolish and goofy and kind of unlikable.I won't even go into the paranormal stuff.Let's just say I don't believe it even when it's done seriously -- and as slapstick, it's unbearable.The only thing that kept me reading was the fact that I like the author and was hoping for some redemption in the ending.My mistake.

Not what I expected from Crusie
I've read several of Crusie's books, both solo and collaborated. This was a bit of a disappointment. The plot, while other-worldy, was not at all captivating. I'm surprised I finished the book at all. It seemed like a futile attempt to bring in the elements that have made previous Crusie books a big success. Don't spend money on it. If you really want to read it, borrow it fromlibrary. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (139)

Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous!
Can you tell - I am absolutely in love with this book!I picked it up yesterday and read it in a night!

I came online to check and see if this has been made into a movie.Part of me wants to see this onscreen (I've even got a cast in mind), but another part would hate it if the story was ruined (the way Hollywood has a tendency to do).

I loved the plot, the characters, the insanely hot sex and the beautiful and spirited little Katie!I hate, hate, HATED Bill - so much so that I wanted a longer and more graphic description of his come uppance.

I'm off now to find other stories by this gifted, funny and enchanting writer.Highly recommended.

Excellent and entertaining!
When I started reading this book, I thought it was just going to be your average, formula romance.But the plot quickly pulls you in and you keep going, fascinated, as the ex-boyfriend evolves into a stalker and the two main characters fight the chemistry.THIS IS A GREAT BOOK!!!The ending is very satisfying, on several levels.Check other reviews for the plotline.This book is DEFINITELY a keeper for me...

Too disturbing to be fun
This summer I'm re-reading as many favorite romance writer stories as I can find in the library.I love Jennifer Crusie, so I grabbed a bunch including Crazy for You, which I couldn't remember reading before though eventually the story came back to me.There are funny parts and sweet parts in CFY, though I am not totally convinced of the main love story between Quinn/Nick; however, the Max & Darla love story was excellent and hilarious.

Unfortunately, Quinn's ex-boyfriend is creepy and as I continuted to read, his creepiness started to poison the entire story.It stopped being light summer reading, it stopped being fun, it stopped being a romance.The ex not only stalks the heroine, he abuses her, terrifies her and tries repeatedly to kill her dog - and this storyline is probably more detailed and dominant in the book than the one between Nick and Quinn.The ex progressively gets worse, so that as the climax draws near, I wasn't wondering how Nick and Quinn would finally "get together," but wondering if the boyfriend would have to be shot by police in order to finally stop him (seriously.) The stalking/abuse/animal abuse was so real and detailed (we get to see into the stalker's mind, which is supposed to show how screwed up he is in a "ha-ha" way, but instead reinforces how chillingly sick in the head he is) that it began to feel obscene to be putting that kind of story line in a "funny" romance.There are woman who undergo this kind of terror and humiliation everyday, and animals too -- its not funny and its not fluff.I worry that there are going to be people who've been victimized that pick this up to bring to the beach for a fun read and will instead be dragged down to a dark place.Honestly, I think this book should come with a warning label.And it isn't that great a romance even without this disturbing story line that permeates the book starting a third of the way in and going until practically the very last pages.There are plenty of great JC stories out there - I recommend a pass on this one.

BTW, I also re-read Welcome to Temptation, one of the best JC books ever, an outstanding, fun romance and very clever story.In WTT, besides lots of funny parts and romantic parts, etc., one of the characters dies in what appears to be a gruesome manner, someone repeatedly tries to kill off the female lead, and there are some other unsavvory elements.But I would recommend the story in a nano-second --- it worked and wasn't creepy, not like CFY.Other good ones:Bet Me, Fast Women.

Fizzy, Funny Novel from a Comic Master
Jennifer Crusie returns with //Crazy for You//, a joyfully comic tale of love, lust, high school politics, deranged stalkers, and even more deranged dog-napping.Quinn McKenzie enjoys her job, loves her family, and is mildly pleased with her relationship with the high school football coach - but she's bored to tears with her life.A chance encounter with a stray dog sends Quinn looking for new, exciting experiences - including some with her lifelong best friend, a sexy, commitment-phobic mechanic named Nick.

//Crazy for You// is a finish-in-one-gulp book that will please long-time fans, and send newer Crusie readers racing to order other backlist titles.Quinn is a fizzy but strong-minded heroine caught in a series of ludicrous but completely believable situations, and her long-simmering chemistry with Nick has genuine heat.

Crusie specializes in fully fleshed-out secondary characters.Dog lovers will adore the plot twists with Katie, the wiry stray with a mind of her own.In addition, anyone who's ever taught (or attended) high school will appreciate Crusie's deft rendering of teenagers and the occasionally regressed adults who deal with them.The result is a read with real wit and wisdom.

Reviewed by Jennifer King

Unsettling...
I have read other books by this author in the past and I've enjoyed them.This is not one of her best.The connection between Quinn and Nick is a bit oversimplified, but I can forgive that since it isn't unusual to see this in romance novels.Honestly, it would only have taken a few more scenes showing the progression from long time friends to romantic interests to make their relationship seem much more plausible.The secondary characters added a nice mix to the story.I found Barbara to be a caricature of a husband stealer, who's whole purpose was just to add unnecessary drama.It would have been nice to see her grow during the book and see the error of her ways by the end.I do have a huge complaint about this book that would keep me from recommending it to a friend.The author spends a good portion of the book (I would estimate about 30% if not more) writing from the perspective of Quinn's ex Bill.It is obvious early on that he is a complete psychopath.Reading scene after scene written from such a creepy perspective just really doesn't fit in a romance novel- especially one I picked up expecting a humorous read.I think this book would have been much better if it utilized some other plot device to move the story forward, rather than having Bill be the main focus.Bottom line:If you are new to Crusie, start elsewhere.I especially recommend Bet Me if you are looking for a place to start reading.This book gets three stars because Quinn and Nick are likeable characters, as are the two main secondary characters. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (133)

Pure fun!
A light, romantic murder mystery. Love Crusie's characters--makes me sad when the book is done. I'm sure that over the next few months, I'll have read everything she's written!

Not her best but still good
I just finished this book and to me it was just okay as compared to her other books.This book was a bit more serious than her other books, which are usually very funny, and I suppose that makes sense as this was a bit of a more serious story.I found some of the scenes that followed the main character's daughter tedious.I just didn't care what a couple of kids (elementary aged kids at that) were planning and thinking. I loved all of the scenes with C.L., especially the ones with his uncle.

Maddie, the lead character, almost went on my stupid list near the middle of the book when she started complaining that the C.L., her love interest, had lied about why he came to town, which was untrue.However, the narration did not stay on that theme for long.

Overall, the book was written well.There was LOTS of chemistry between the main character's, Maddie and C.L.Ms. Crusie did an excellent job of weaving a complicated thread about a small town murder and how small town life played a role in it.Overall I really enjoyed the book and definately left me smiling and happy at the end.I am still a big fan of this writer.

A rare miss in Crusie's backlist
In //Tell Me Lies//, protagonist Maddie Faraday's life has taken a serious nose-dive. Her husband is cheating, her mother is only worried about avoiding scandal, her neighbors can't mind their own business, her small town has an unspoken code of conduct, and, oh yeah, her first lover is back in town and maybe still in love with her. Now if she can only keep most of this from her daughter, figure out why her house is getting burgled, and decide what she wants from her life, things might start looking up.

Jennifer Crusie is one of the most dependable current writers for consistently solid stories, but this book is a marked exception. The characters are unrealistic and often despicable. There's very little chemistry between Maddie and the love interest. It would probably be more accurate to describe the supporting characters as "unsupporting" because, as they say, with friends like these, who needs enemies? Small town set-ups can be a solid backdrop for good comedy but, in this case, it seems merely to serve as an excuse for nonsensical law enforcement. Casual romance fans will want to skip this one; even solid Crusie fans will probably be left unsatisfied.

Reviewed by Rachel Wallace

Tell Me Lies
Tell Me Lies by Jennifer Crusie

Maddie Martindale Faraday finds black crotchless lace panties under Brent Faraday's front seat, and she realizes her husband has started cheating on her again.On the same day Maddie's high school beau, C. L. Sturgis, shows up at her door--more muscular and sexier than 20 years ago--looking for Brent; intimate, adulterous and funny encounters follow.

Maddie deals with stress by eating chocolate. Seeking chocolate which she can only find in the freezer, Maddie attempts to pry and to hack the brownie with a butcher knife--this day the microwave also happens to be dysfunctional.The doorbell rings; Maddie ends up stabbing and then eating the brownie from the butcher knife while answering the door.C.L. keeps his eye on the knife while trying to ask questions concerning Brent and his bookkeeping at Basset and Faraday Construction; humorous episode ensues.

Large amounts of unexplained cash appears in golf bag and safe deposit box along with visas for Brent and Emily, their daughter; Maddie discovers her bank accounts have been emptied.She would divorce Brent except for two reasons:Emily loves her Daddy and Frog Point, Ohio, gossips will have a heyday with their divorce.The gossips will blame her since Brent is the big shot from high school that just happens to be running for mayor.

Later when Brent is found dead, suspicion falls on Maddie and C.L.The strong longtime friendship with Treva is much admired and gets her through some of the harrowing days ahead.

This novel has mystery, interesting characters and mirthful entertainment.

An example of the amusing part of this book is the way Maddie's character handles stress:
"Calm down.Be rational.Eat chocolate."

I like the humor that Ms. Crusie uses with the character Maddie to deal with the stress of a cheating husband, the stress of nosey neighbors and the stressful predicaments in which she finds herself.

This is a fast paced book, and you may need to lay it down just to catch your breath.This could be the only down side of such an enjoyable novel.

Tell Me Lies is not your usual romance novel as it handles the sexual encounters in a hilarious way, and you just feel good after the commendable read.

I would recommend Jennifer Crusie's book to anyone who enjoys a book about romance, friendship, chocolate and hilarity.Like all Crusie novels, it's wildly funny.

Another 5 Star?...YeS!
Here's another 5 Star read by Crusie...There's just something about the way this women brings a story to life. She just includes everything; mystery, romance, comedy and the right amout of sarcasm that'll have you laughing out loud hoping you'll at some point in your life get to use that exact same line.

To all of you that could use a break with paranormal or historical let me just say...just try one of her books!

My favorites by her are...

-Bet Me
-Tell Me Lies
-Welcome To Tempation &
-Faking It ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (135)

***HORRIBLE***
First, let me say this -- my review is for the book, not the seller, product, or transaction. Seller was great, as was the experience. It's just a really convoluted book, and a very poorly done audio version. The male lead sounds like he's standing in a closet shouting all his lines through the door. I didn't even make it through the second disc before I gave up on it. I love Jennifer Crusie normally, but this one was bad.

Great romance with "real men" viewpoint
I have been a Crusie fan for years so this was an interesting departure from her previous novels.I really liked having the man's viewpoint from a MAN.Yes, he says "get out of the kill zone" frequently - that's what his character SHOULD do.She is not petite, 85 lbs and drop-dead gorgeous.She's surrounded by movie-star type beauty, but she is compared to an "action hero" not Barbie!I bought the music used as background in the book ("In these Shoes", "Us Amazonians", etc.) and loved them.I appreciate a little more reality in a romance - family problems, work problems, ex-spouse problems, and being attracted to someone who sleeps with someone else isn't science fiction - it's the way life is.The romance part is that it all works out - even the alligator gets dinner!

romance
it is good but with more than one author it has a violent flavor. that is not my favorite.

Couldn't get past 100 pages
I've liked most of Crusie's novels (Manhunting is great!!), but this one was a dud. The writing was overworked and self-conscious, and lacked any real humor. I guess this author combination just didn't work. I couldn't get attached to any of the characters, even the "spunky kid" who was clearly thrown in there to give a little life to a soulless character list. After about 100 pages, I asked myself why I was bothering continuing a book that I found so completely uninteresting--and promptly put it down.

Hilarious Hijinks!
What a great duo!Her sense of humor and his manly input is fantastic. Don't miss it! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (55)

ease up folks
Ease up folks. This novel makes no pretense to being Pulitzer prize, Booker prize or any other prize material. It is a summer read and like most it can have serious writing, plot or character flaws. If JC had a background in any other than light fiction I would have put the book down Instead it is a quick break from serious books I must read or the murder mysteries I enjoy. And its not a trilogy.This is a book to just enjoy and trade. Therefore I give it 5 stars and hope JC et al write a sequel for next summer.

What's Not to Like?
This was a totally fun read.I've read "The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes" and find that I am really enjoying the collaborative stories because they seem to take the writers in different directions from their usual paths.Multiple author books exhibit a dynamic that I find appealing:it's less about character development than about plot progression. Having read the other reviews, I felt they couldn't go unchallenged.The plot may be simple but I found that it succeeded in taking me away from my surroundings for a couple of hours and left me with a smile.Isn't that the point of this type of romantic fiction?

Thought it would improve - I was very wrong.Waste of time!
I have never not finished a book that I started, but was very tempted with this one.The cheesy plot line and sad attempt to mix current culture with Mesopotamian history set up to be a terrible read.I have never read anything by Jennifer Crusie, although reading other reviews she appears to be a popular author among her aimed demographic.It's up in the air whether I will give her other books a shot.

Fun with Goddesses
Dogs And Goddesses
By Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart, and Lani Diane Rich
Published by St. Martin's Press, 2009

Review by Debra Louise Scott

You bake cookies and suddenly an orgy breaks out all around you. You click your Bic pen and stuff just `happens' to people. Painting your kitchen gives you an orgasm. And, oh yeah, the dogs are talking to you. No, I mean really, they're TALKING! To badly paraphrase a song: Who let the Gods out? Woof, woof, woof, woof!

Dogs And Goddesses is somewhat akin to Neil Gaiman's American Gods at least from the standpoint of ancient deities living ordinary lives and having to work their way around modern conventions and conveniences. But whereas Gaiman's gods are schlepping around America with their own agenda, using the protagonist like a pawn in their game, the three main characters of this story have to deal with deity inside their heads competing for control over daily life in an otherwise sleepy college town.

When a Goddess from Mesopotamia (a fictional contemporary of Ishtar) is called into being at the site of a transplanted Ziggurat, aided and abetted by a family that has remained loyal to her from ancient times, the three women find themselves caught up in a war of divine proportions. The Goddess, accompanied by her retinue of dogs, tries to set up her temple like it used to be in the old days, but times have changed and it's not so easy to get people to worship and swear blind allegiance anymore. She's not pleased and unleashes divine mayhem.

The Three along with their dogs go through a great trial and error period learning to control the heritage they discover inside themselves, a good part of which is an eroticism of mythological proportions! It takes all of that and a sacrificial God to turn the tables on the Ziggurat Goddess.

This cleverly written book is a fun read, and will ring bells of recognition to anyone in the esoteric arts who has experienced the odd sensation of having deity `in your head' in the form of ritual invocation or as some traditions would say, `riding'. It's especially fun for dog-lovers, hearing the canine perspective of the human's world.

perfect book for a lazy afternoon
Fun and sexy, Dogs and Goddesses is one of my favorite books for this year. I loved the multiple storylines, the fantastic heroes, and especially the dogs! I thought the setup that all the heroines were secretly godesses was very original. There's also a lot of humor in the book. I hope these authors will team up again. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (115)

An overdone joke, with only the straightman left talking.
I love Jennifer Crusie books, but combining her talent with Bob Mayer doesn't work. They try too hard and over explain the joke. They don't leave you with the punchline, they go on to explain the punchline or worse, connect a line that isn't funny to the punchline. You are then left with the straight man narrator annoying you as you read. It's dull to read and I kept putting it down. It doesn't have you splitting your sides as Crusie often does. The combination of the two authors leaves everything overdone and it isn't funny at that point. I don't need a joke explained by the narrator.

The other thing they do is hit you with something funny and don't leave it there. They connect it to something boring and here's an example of that. "Off in the swamp, somebody fired a gun several times, and Agnes jerked around, expecting to see a guy with a bandanna come out of the swamp and demand her dog, but nothing happened except that Evie looked displeased." Talk about killing a joke! End it with the demand on her dog, not Evie looked displeased. So either you have the joke killed or the joke explained and neither end up being funny.

Agnes and Shane seem great. Basically they are nearing middle age. She perhaps, late 30's and he, early 40's. Great, finally a book that isn't about great looking 20 year old kids. The problem is, there is no explanation as to why they like each other. He likes her curvy slightly overweight body and her spunk. She likes his ability with a gun to protect her and perhaps she can trust him. Mentally what is the connection? Nothing it seems. There is no great mental connection that brings out the romance. They have hot sex once and then it's dull as anything between them. You lose the hotness that Crusie also usually brings to a book. You also lose the good flow from one funny moment to the next. The book gets bogged down in too many details that aren't useful to tell the story.

I feel as if Mayer brings her down and reigns Jennifer Crusie's wildness in. I've never read his books, but he's ruining hers, so this isn't a good combination. The story was good and the plot kept you somewhat interested, but the characters didn't have good dialog between them to make you want to care about them. Lisa Livia and Carpenter are just there in the background having a good time, but you don't feel it. Lisa Livia? What an annoying name for a character. What was that about? ... LL this and LL that. Really annoying. Her daughter Marie is a jerk and you wonder why Palmer wants to marry her. She's 19 and stupid. You aren't convinced at all she is smart, although the authors try to convince you of this at the end. Agnes the heroine is a dull woman. They try to make her funny, but she's an overdone joke. Shane the hero is rather dull. He's a hitman with the emotions of an ant. Other characters are stereotypes.

The jokes got boring. How many Rhett dog jokes can you have? It all falls flat like one big bad joke. It's a shame, as it was a good idea for a story with a lot of interesting twists and turns, but the telling of it is a joke gone straight to the straight man and he isn't funny. Brenda is tedious after a while. Basically it all boils down to... they overstate things too many times and overdo much to the point of not funny at all. They don't develop good dialog between some of the characters so you get a feel for them and what they feel for each other. There isn't enough visualization of the characters themselves and just the basics are covered. It's a worthy read and they went to a lot of trouble and there were jokes, but not told in the usual Jennifer Crusie way that has you laughing your brains out. It's much better than other books, but on a Jennifer Crusie scale, this is a three.

***BIG Spoiler Alert*** there was a huge cringe factor. The hero kills a woman by snapping her neck. I know she was constantly trying to kill him, but it still had that ick factor... that by shear masculine power, he could twist her neck and kill her, but could not subdue her and restrain her? I hated that one.

Crusie and Mayer have a perfect "hit"
I have always been a Crusie fan, and I have even had the privilege of meeting her at a writer's event. Perhaps some will think I am not completely objective, but I disagree. When Jennifer Crusie first said she would be collaborating with former Green Beret Bob Mayer on a romance novel, I was highly skeptical. After their first collaboration, I was greatly impressed. I wasn't sure they could pull it off a second time. I was quite pleasantly surprised.

This book has just the right balance of screwball comedy and romantic suspense. I loved Agnes, but perhaps most of all I loved that she was a 'real' woman. She wasn't some young tart. She wasn't a size 6 middle aged woman. She wasn't perfect, in her looks nor her personality. And that is what made her the best heroine of all and such a delight to read. Crusie has a way of pulling that off, where some other writers leave you feeling a bit uncomfortable around the heroine or not really believing the character.

I have, and will continue to, read this book over again. Each time, I am finding new delights. The first time, I laughed out loud but rushed to the end due to the suspense. I went back for a second helping, and this time I savored each word - more laughs because I could enjoy their romantic tension (and the mystery suspense) without feeling it myself. It is a good book that leaves you wanting more. It is a great book that leaves you wanting to read it again - and giving you more the next time around. THIS is a great book.

Not Crusies' best
Agnes is a food writer struggling with her latest article, hosting a wedding, renovating her beloved new home, having doubts about her chronically absent fiance, when someone breaks into her house to steal her dog. Her good friend, and retired mobster, calls in his (maybe shady) nephew Shane to help protect Agnes. And then the plot goes out of control. I liked the characters of Agnes and Shane, but how could they possibly keep up with a story that kept bigger and weirder?
Agnes and her fiance Taylor originally bought her home from Brenda, the mother of a childhood friend. Part of the contract was that Brenda's granddaughter's wedding be held at the home in lieu of 3 months of mortgage payments. If there's no wedding they Taylor and Agnes will basically loose the house. Agnes has become accustomed to dealing with the groom's mother who wants the wedding at the country club, but suddenly the florist, photographer, and reverend don't want to do the wedding. On top of this, Brenda is suddenly trying to move the wedding to the country club also. On top of this, poorly nicknamed swam rats keep breaking into Agnes house to steal her dog. Then hitmen are showing up in her kitchen trying to kill her. Her ex mobster Knows something, but he isn't telling. Hint: a possible dead body in the basement, some actual dead bodies, and a missing 5 million dollars!
I like Crusie's books, but this one just got out of hand. I also find that Bob Mayer's writing really sticks out from the rest of the book, so you don't get a nice flow. However Crusie's signature humor was present throughout the book. I enjoyed the Cranky Agnes articles that preceded every chapter. Agnes and the Hitman also had the funniest angry sex scene I've read.However, this was not the best Jennifer Crusie book I've ever read, and I don't really care for these Crusie/Mayer joint ventures.

Agnes and the Hitman
I thought the first 2 chapters started out a bit slow, but the rest of the book makes up for it.This is a witty, full action, romance, which made it a quick (I didn't want to stop reading), fun summer read.
Agnes and the Hitman

Love it to Death
I love this book. Let me get that out of the way, because every time I think about this book, it makes me grin and go fetch it to read again. I've probably read it ten or eleven times since I first bought it, and I fully expect it to stand the test of time.
Agnes is a spirited, extremely quirky, and strong heroine, who has been abandoned by too many people, and yet still has so much love in her heart. She's not beautiful, not as I picture her, but she is sexy and funny and a whole lot of interesting.The little inserts of her newspaper articles are hilarious and fresh and add that extra something special to this book.She's smart, and yet vulnerable, because she wants to trust people. But don't get on her bad side, because she's dangerous with a frying pan. The part where she talks about it "not being a weapon of CHOICE"- that just makes me break out into laughter.
The hero is awesome. He's dangerous, but not "you jane" macho, and he's funny, and secure, and once he's there, you understand completely why the two of them are so perfect together. You don't really wonder why their relationship moves so fast, because the character development is amazing.
Jennifer Crusie really shines in this book, which is great for me, because I am not the fondest of her other works. Maybe its because Bob Mayer is such a great collaborator. I couldn't say, as I haven't read his other stuff.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes to laugh while they're reading, anyone who likes romance and anyone who likes the bad guy to be unpredictable and not so cut and dried as the rest of the suspense genre. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (27)

Interesting and Fun
I am not a huge fan of romance, but Jennifer Crusie makes romance so much fun that I can't help myself. The other two authors for this book are also excellent and the stories that are in this collection in particular give Christmas and the Christmas season a flair of tinsle and a flash of heat.

It's okay but definately a library book read
The best story is Hot Toy by Jennifer Crusie.It's something we can all relate to in the holiday season - Evil Nemesis Brandon, shopping for the hottest toy and all the other 'fun' aspects of the holiday.It's a nice read, a little confusing in the warehouse when you don't know who to believe but a nice overall story.

Christmas Bonus didn't do much for me.There was no actual party planning in it - it was all 'she's hot, he's hot.'A little more substance would have been a good thing.

Naughty Under the Mistletoe was okay.I think the book took place over maybe two days.There was a lot packed into that time.The family dynamics added an interesting sidenote to the story.

Overall, definately a library read.

Santa Baby
Blood Red is not your typical romance/thriller. It wasn't what I'd normally pick up, but I really enjoyed it. Three women are in New Orleans for a wild batchelorette weekend and find themselves the target of a vampire. The Vampire chases them and almost succeeds in killing them all, except for a tall, dark and handsome vampire chaser. At first the women don't believe his tales of vampires-until they see the evidence with their own eyes. What follows is a battle between good and evil where everyone is not what they seem. This book is a great read

Crusie's story shines in pitiful company
Santa Baby is obviously an anthology. The Crusie novella is new--the Foster and Phillips ones are reprints.

***** "Hot Toy" by Jennifer Crusie.

It's Christmas Eve, and Trudy Maxwell has to find a Major MacGuffin for her nephew... which cracked me up every time I read it, because I know why it was called that. In the very last toy store, she finds last year's model and an ex-boyfriend, and ends up involved in a dangerous game of espionage. It's short, but Crusie makes it work.

The fact that Trudy and Nolan had already started falling in love helped, as did the ending. But mostly it's the fact that, in typical Crusie fashion, she made every word count.

*** "Christmas Bonus" by Lori Foster.

Meh. Maggie and Eric have both loved each other from afar for years, and now that her father has died and left the company to Maggie instead of Eric, and she's now his boss, any potential relationship appears to be doomed, until Maggie decides to take matters into her own hands.

The unrequited love helps with the length, but I had trouble with 1) her father just died, but all she can think about is how hawt Eric is, 2) her father knew she had the hots for Eric, so he left her the company to give her a chance with him (???), and 3) she's The Best Boss Evah, but what she really wants is something else. Just too much to swallow for me.

** "Naughty Under the Mistletoe" by Carly Phillips.

Antonia has had the hots for her boss for a while, and now that she'll be moving to another office, the annual Christmas party is the perfect chance to seduce him. Except that when she starts kissing him, she discovers it's his twin brother Max. And she's even hotter for him.

This is one of those "romances" in which hot sex = love. And to top it off, there's the dreaded trust issue and Big Misunderstanding. After a one-night stand. Shoot me now.

Wonderful
This book arrived in the exact condition the seller described.Quick delivery.Thank you! ... Read more