Helpful Score: 6
I love love loved this story. Jennifer Crusie has an amazing ability to make me laugh out loud one moment, and then wiping away tears in the next. The two kids in this story are as unique and entertaining as they are heartbreaking.
This story has a host of characters that liven the pages, from a psychotic news woman to a dancing ghost.
I love stories about second chances, reunited soul mates and this one was all that and more. North and Andie have an incredible love and the mystery, the ghosts and the plot are the perfect backdrop for this zany couple.
This story is a reminder of why I love Jennifer Crusies work so much. She creates an extraordinary tale that is simply impossible to put down. This book is a keeper and will be read and reread by me at least a zillion times. This is Jennifer Crusie at her finest.
Have I mentioned that I loved it?
Cherise Everhard, August 2010
This story has a host of characters that liven the pages, from a psychotic news woman to a dancing ghost.
I love stories about second chances, reunited soul mates and this one was all that and more. North and Andie have an incredible love and the mystery, the ghosts and the plot are the perfect backdrop for this zany couple.
This story is a reminder of why I love Jennifer Crusies work so much. She creates an extraordinary tale that is simply impossible to put down. This book is a keeper and will be read and reread by me at least a zillion times. This is Jennifer Crusie at her finest.
Have I mentioned that I loved it?
Cherise Everhard, August 2010
Helpful Score: 3
Great characters. Lots of laughs and a fun read. You won't be sorry.
Helpful Score: 3
OMG this is one of the neatest books! I have read a lot of other od Cruisie's books and picked is up from the library cause it was on sale! I could not put it down! This is a bit of a departure for Cruisie, whom generally writes light and airy good fun chick lit! At least those that I have read! This is a wonderfully imagine ghost story/ love story! You really cling to every word, waiting to discover what's making things go bump in the night! There of course is an underlying love story, but the meat is the haunting! It's a perfect blend of spookiness, she doesn't go over the too at all. I must admit this is a first foe me. I don't know that I've read any chick lit haunting stories! But it's great! A definite must read!
Helpful Score: 2
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were all interesting and fun. I couldn't put it down. I haven't read a good Jennifer Crusie book in a long time and this one was great!
Helpful Score: 1
Can't even tell you how long I've been waiting for Jenny Crusie to publish a solo book, but it's been a long time. Then I read the reviews of this at places like Dear Author and tried to prepare myself by not expecting so much. So maybe my delight in this comes somewhat from having lowered my hopes, but the things others criticized about this didn't seem like such a big deal. Yes, the hero and heroine spend a significant part of the book apart, but the absent person was there in their thoughts and in their hearts in a way that this didn't bother me. And the criticism that Andie didn't do anything to help Carter even though it was pointed out that Carter's danger was more subtle just didn't wash with me, because Andie had a lot of other things going on, demanding her attention, and when crunch time came she was there.
I've never read the Turn of the Screw (of which Jenny says this is a modernized retelling) but I may have to. Because this is a good story with lots of great creepy stuff in it.
I've never read the Turn of the Screw (of which Jenny says this is a modernized retelling) but I may have to. Because this is a good story with lots of great creepy stuff in it.
Helpful Score: 1
Grade A-
Andie Miller goes to see her ex-husband North whom she hasn't seen in ten years to ask that he stop sending her alimony checks. After all, she has every single one he has sent over the years and not a single one was ever deposited. But seeing North is a shock to Andie's senses. She can't believe the overwhelming feelings that come rushing back after that brief encounter. Plus, she somehow finds herself the nanny to two unruly children who have recently been orphaned which North now has sole custody. When Andie arrives to whip the children into shape, she realizes it's not the children who are the problem, its the unruly ghosts that are haunting the house.
The last Jennifer Crusie book that I read earlier in the year, Wild Ride was a very big disappointment. I really wasn't sure what to expect with Maybe This Time, but I was definitely intrigued by the summary. It turns out that Maybe This Time is a huge score for me and I think fans of Ms. Crusie will delight in this latest release.
Where to begin...the characterization is great. Andie and North just jump off the pages. Andie and North are opposites. Andie is whimsical, flighty, impulsive and fun, whereas North is responsible, organized and serious. We get to see a lot of Andie through North's eyes and vice versa North through Andie's. These characteristic s are what attracted the other, but it is also what eventually drove them apart.
Even though these two aren't together through a lot of the book, we relive their past relationship through flashbacks including how they first met. I think this is the first book with the reconciling couple theme that I have really enjoyed. Ms. Crusie gets it right. This time I really do believe that they can make it work the second time around.
One little odd ball thing that I would like to point out with this book was that there were references to electronics that lead me to believe that this book was written a few years ago. For example, the little girl Alice likes to listen to her Walkman instead of an iPod and also there are references to them watching videos instead of DVDs. It just made the story seem dated. At any rate, this one was a page turner and it worked really well for me.
Andie Miller goes to see her ex-husband North whom she hasn't seen in ten years to ask that he stop sending her alimony checks. After all, she has every single one he has sent over the years and not a single one was ever deposited. But seeing North is a shock to Andie's senses. She can't believe the overwhelming feelings that come rushing back after that brief encounter. Plus, she somehow finds herself the nanny to two unruly children who have recently been orphaned which North now has sole custody. When Andie arrives to whip the children into shape, she realizes it's not the children who are the problem, its the unruly ghosts that are haunting the house.
The last Jennifer Crusie book that I read earlier in the year, Wild Ride was a very big disappointment. I really wasn't sure what to expect with Maybe This Time, but I was definitely intrigued by the summary. It turns out that Maybe This Time is a huge score for me and I think fans of Ms. Crusie will delight in this latest release.
Where to begin...the characterization is great. Andie and North just jump off the pages. Andie and North are opposites. Andie is whimsical, flighty, impulsive and fun, whereas North is responsible, organized and serious. We get to see a lot of Andie through North's eyes and vice versa North through Andie's. These characteristic s are what attracted the other, but it is also what eventually drove them apart.
Even though these two aren't together through a lot of the book, we relive their past relationship through flashbacks including how they first met. I think this is the first book with the reconciling couple theme that I have really enjoyed. Ms. Crusie gets it right. This time I really do believe that they can make it work the second time around.
One little odd ball thing that I would like to point out with this book was that there were references to electronics that lead me to believe that this book was written a few years ago. For example, the little girl Alice likes to listen to her Walkman instead of an iPod and also there are references to them watching videos instead of DVDs. It just made the story seem dated. At any rate, this one was a page turner and it worked really well for me.
Helpful Score: 1
If you are a Jennifer Crusie fan, of course you will read this book. Keep in mind this book is not her typical over the top zany wacky story. And GET This NO dog in the story!!! This book is different from her past styles in some ways, but different doesnt mean bad. It was a great story, that keeps you interested. Please keep in mind that the authors writes on page one that "this story takes place in 1992 because" .... and then the story starts. If you want an answer to the because keep reading. The main character's mom Flo was the typical zany Jennifer Cruise character, and when all the characters show up at the house on dark and stormy night the comedy chaos ensues. I adored the 2 kids. I think the only thing I didnt like was that at the end, the author spent a page telling us what she thinks about the afterlife, heaven and hell, and it seems kinda like she was on her soap box expounding a belief systems that was better left out. The end was kinda rushed, and of course everyone lives happily ever after. I prefer comedic bossy ghosts to scary evil ghosts. You get some of both.
Keep in mind this is a retelling of the TURNING OF THE SCREW.
Yes, even the names are the same as the characters in the turning of the screw.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Turn_of_the_Screw
Keep in mind this is a retelling of the TURNING OF THE SCREW.
Yes, even the names are the same as the characters in the turning of the screw.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Turn_of_the_Screw
Helpful Score: 1
This was a great book! I loved the characters and it was funny, scary and romantic .
Took me a day to read it. I coulnd't put it down
Took me a day to read it. I coulnd't put it down
Andromeda Miller decides to meet with her ex-husband, North Archer, to return her alimony checks and tell him she is getting married soon. But Archer asks her for a favor before the wedding. He is the guardian of two orphaned children. The kids have driven away three nannies and he is having a hard time finding a replacement. He wants Andie, who has teaching experience, to take care of the kids for a month until he can find a new nanny. Andie agrees and quickly makes her way to find an old house with a moat, a creepy
housekeeper, and two very strange children. When Andie puts out an "SOS" to Archer asking claiming the house is haunted, she instead gets her ex-brother-in-law, a TV-anchorwoman, a Parapsychologist, and a Medium ready to hold a seance. When Archer finally arrives, he finds the place in chaos and everyone is seeing ghosts.
I usually love Jennifer Crusie's books, but this one really didn't work for me. This story is about a haunted house that won't let the children leave. These ghosts aren't fun. They are murderous and scary, but the story didn't feel scary at all...just weird. The romance doesn't work either since the hero and heroine are separated for over half of the book when Archer finally makes an appearance at the house when 180 pages have passed. The story does have some humorous parts, including a seance that keeps getting interrupted. And I liked all of the goofy characters that come to the house to "help out" with the children. My rating: 3 Stars.
housekeeper, and two very strange children. When Andie puts out an "SOS" to Archer asking claiming the house is haunted, she instead gets her ex-brother-in-law, a TV-anchorwoman, a Parapsychologist, and a Medium ready to hold a seance. When Archer finally arrives, he finds the place in chaos and everyone is seeing ghosts.
I usually love Jennifer Crusie's books, but this one really didn't work for me. This story is about a haunted house that won't let the children leave. These ghosts aren't fun. They are murderous and scary, but the story didn't feel scary at all...just weird. The romance doesn't work either since the hero and heroine are separated for over half of the book when Archer finally makes an appearance at the house when 180 pages have passed. The story does have some humorous parts, including a seance that keeps getting interrupted. And I liked all of the goofy characters that come to the house to "help out" with the children. My rating: 3 Stars.
Rating: 4*
Jennifer Crusie is known for writing light hearted romances. But in this novel, the romance takes second stage to the main plot, which is a spooky, send chills up your spine haunted house ghost story.
Although this story has its romantic moments, its light-hearted and sometimes even farcical moments, the main story is serious and sometimes downright chilling. Being a romance, we know in advance that this story has a happy ending, but there are quite a few scary moments on the way to that ending. I wouldn't call myself a believer in ghosts, but like much of America it is a topic that fascinates me. I fell in love with the kids in the story and wanted to give them big hugs! And as it was clearly obvious that Andie and North still loved each other, I really wanted them to work out their differences and get back together. This was a great story and I was glued to every page!
Jennifer Crusie is known for writing light hearted romances. But in this novel, the romance takes second stage to the main plot, which is a spooky, send chills up your spine haunted house ghost story.
Although this story has its romantic moments, its light-hearted and sometimes even farcical moments, the main story is serious and sometimes downright chilling. Being a romance, we know in advance that this story has a happy ending, but there are quite a few scary moments on the way to that ending. I wouldn't call myself a believer in ghosts, but like much of America it is a topic that fascinates me. I fell in love with the kids in the story and wanted to give them big hugs! And as it was clearly obvious that Andie and North still loved each other, I really wanted them to work out their differences and get back together. This was a great story and I was glued to every page!
This is not one of my favorite Jennifer Crusie books. I did not think that it was near as funny as her others. I only gave it three stars. I liked the 'living' characters and one of the 'dead' ones wasn't bad but overall, I would not spend money on it. If you would like to read some good books by Jennifer, you should read any of her others as I enjoyed all of them. :-)
I really like Jennifer Cruises style of writing. I like the way this book started but then it started to unravel. The writing is good but the story feels thrown together and not smooth. Her earlier books were better. At one point there is so many characters in the story that you cannot keep track of them all and wonder where some of them are.
Andie is ready to begin her new life but first she must close the door on her past. 10 yrs ago she walked out on him but she must now face him for closure. But he asks her for a favor before she begins her new life. All she has to do is take care of 2 kids and help them make a transition to move to his home. The money is tempting and her new life with her fiancé can wait and will benefit from the money.
I wish the author shared Andies recipe for Banana Bread. Throughout the whole book all I kept hearing was how great that bread is.
Andie is ready to begin her new life but first she must close the door on her past. 10 yrs ago she walked out on him but she must now face him for closure. But he asks her for a favor before she begins her new life. All she has to do is take care of 2 kids and help them make a transition to move to his home. The money is tempting and her new life with her fiancé can wait and will benefit from the money.
I wish the author shared Andies recipe for Banana Bread. Throughout the whole book all I kept hearing was how great that bread is.
Crusie takes the skeleton (you should excuse the pun) of Henry James' "Turn of the Screw" and clothes it in a screwball romance with ghosts, mediums, a hunky hero, a shrewish television newswoman, and a couple of genuinely tragic children, for a thoroughly satisfying read.
