Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie
Paranormal Romance
August 31, 2010
Hardcover, 352 Pages
St. Martin’s Press
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite Quote: “I think if your ex-wife comes to your room in the middle of the night, throws up on your feet, and tells you she’s possessed, the absolute minimum she has to say when she leaves is, Thank you for being so kind.”
Andie Miller just wants to marry her fiancé and get on with her life. But her ex husband needs just one tiny favor from her. He has “inherited” two children and needs some serious help. The third nanny has flown the coop and he needs someone to go down there and find out what’s going on. Once Andie gets down there she realizes this is more then one tiny favor. The kids are a bit odd, the house is a wreck, and the housekeeper is creepy. Andie’s fiancé thinks this is all a ploy by her ex to get her back.
As Andie tries to save the kids and deal with a house full of craziness, she thinks he may be right.
In Jennifer Crusie’s first solo book out in six years, Maybe This Time, we are treated to the classic Crusie style with a delicious twist. A snarky paranormal romance suspense that had me hooked and laughing from page one.
Andie Miller approaches her ex husband North Archer to return her alimony checks. 10 years worth. She wants a fresh start with her fiancé and feels that returning the checks will give her that. Instead of just accepting the checks back, North asks a favor. He needs someone to go check on his young cousins. He was made their guardian after their parents died but all his nannies keep quitting. He feels Andie is the only one who can reach these kids. He also offers her $10,000 for a month of her time. $10,000 would get Andie out of debt so she agrees. Once she arrives at the house, she realizes that things are very wrong here. As Andie attempts to befriend the kids and deal with the multiple personalities of the housekeeper; she is dismayed to find that ghosts are real and want her out of their house. Dead or alive.
In a comedic loose rendition of Harry Jame’s Turn Of The Screw, Andie is besieged by bored psychics, ghost debunkers, annoying reporters, and eccentric family members. And when her ex-husband and her current fiance show up at the house, Andie needs to make a decision concerning her life and her priorities.
Andie is a deliciously snarky heroine. Between the screaming kids and spooky ghosts, Andie manages to keep her sanity one cup of spiked tea at a time. As with all of Crusie’s heroines, they only take so much before mouth over takes brain and the one liners start flying. Andie’s strong personality and take charge manner makes for some heartfelt and funny scenes.
You don’t see a lot of North till the end- but you hear him. He is a steadfast rock who took over the family business and kept it a float. I enjoyed hearing his feelings and POV of what happened. He also has a snarky streak through him which delighted me.
He and Andie are not together but stay in contact by phone. North never stopped loving Andie. Her happiness meant the world to him so when she said she was unhappy, he let her go. Now he is beginning to realize that he made a mistake and decides to fight for her. Even though you don’t get a whole book of romantic scenes…the brief ones they have are emotionally impacting.
“I lost your scent first. I kept your pillowcase unwashed for three weeks then Lydia sent it to the cleaners and it was gone. It’s hard to remember scent. I kept your voice longer. At least a year. But it was a tape and it didn’t sound quite right and I lost your voice.”
“I never lost your face.”
Their chemistry is strong and believable. You get a lot of flashbacks about how much passion and heat was in their marriage. Even though there is hardly any actual physical relations in the book-it doesn’t take away from the story.
As Andie and North try to discover what is going on and how to get the kids out of there, we are introduced to the spooky aspect of the story. It isn’t all fun and games. These ghosts are playing for keeps and are eliminating those who try to thwart them. I know some reviewers felt that Crusie went too far on the paranormal aspect and not enough the romance but I have to respectfully disagree. I found it had a healthy balance and provided a interesting mystery.
The secondary characters are full of life and personality. The kids, Carter and Alice tug hard at your heart strings. Andie’s relationship with them progresses slowly but in a believable fashion. North and Andie’s family all come out of the woodwork to offer opinions,suggestions, and off the wall behavior. It was a treat getting to know the other characters. Each has some ulterior motive and it fleshes out well in the story. Even the ghosts provided some stimulating reading.
I have to say that I was impressed and thrilled to see Ms. Crusie writing solo again and taking her stories to a whole new level. I look forward to reading more from her.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recent Reviews:
Tracy’s Place – 4/5
Parajunkee’s View – 4.5/5
Goodreads
I have one copy of Maybe This Time to giveaway! To enter, just leave a comment with your email address (if not in your profile).
Open to US/Canada through Thursday, September 2nd.
August 30, 2010 at 2:17 pm
This one sounds like a good one. I love a dash of paranormal. Thank you for the great giveaway.
seriousreader at live dot com
August 30, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Ghosts are always tough with me but this one sounds interesting
Thx for doing all these lovely giveaways. email-carly.togher@gmail.com
August 30, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Great review – sounds like a book I'd enjoy, too.
~Lindy
aromagik@gmail.com
August 30, 2010 at 2:38 pm
I have been reading great reviews of this book! It's on my "gotta have" list!
August 30, 2010 at 2:38 pm
AWWW! That QUOTE about losing a scent, voice… sniff sniff! I want to win this one!
spazp at me dot com
August 30, 2010 at 2:42 pm
I'm sold on the "scent" quote! Sounds like a great read Tori! Count me in!
August 30, 2010 at 2:53 pm
OMG I'm downloading this one tomorrow your review gave me chills T.
August 30, 2010 at 2:57 pm
I heard many good things about this book! Great cover too.
Count me in!
natashajennex(at)gmail(dot)com
Tasha
August 30, 2010 at 2:59 pm
I would love to win this one. It sounds like a romance I'll truly enjoy.
carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com
August 30, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Sounds like loads of fun!
akbabcock at gmail dot com
August 30, 2010 at 3:09 pm
The dash of paranormal is what sold me on Jennifer's latest. Would love a chance to read it.
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
August 30, 2010 at 3:33 pm
This sounds like such a fun read. Please throw my name in the hat for the giveaway.
Mary
meah56 AT gMail [dot]com
August 30, 2010 at 3:37 pm
This sounds like a book I'd love to read!
chey127 at hotmail dot com
August 30, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Crusie always did get a smile out of me, I wonder if the library has any books I haven't read, must have a look now
August 30, 2010 at 3:51 pm
I love to read books with ghosts in them. Thanks for the giveaway.
forwhlz at gmail dot com
August 30, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Oh Yes PLEASE!!!
auroraboriealice@gmail.com
August 30, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Maybe This Time sounds like a wonderful story, especially with the paranormal aspect to it.
Barbed1951(at)aol(dot)com
August 30, 2010 at 4:48 pm
I love snarky heroines!
kissinoak at verizon dot net
August 30, 2010 at 5:06 pm
I'm delighted it lived up to your expectations, Mandi! Looking forward to it and would love to be entered in the giveaway.
August 30, 2010 at 5:48 pm
I wasn't sure about this one, but it sounds like a great read! Thanks for the chance at reading it myself!
August 30, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Maybe This Time sounds like a good read. I love anything paranormal and can't wait to read it. Thanks for your time and consideration for entering me into the giveaway.
~Felicia.
fchien16@gmail.com
August 30, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Sounds like an interesting read. Please count me in too. I love books with humor!
robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com
August 30, 2010 at 5:58 pm
It sounds good count me in please! Thanks for the giveaway!
myra0402@yahoo.com
August 30, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Sounds really good. Thanks for the chance!
bacchus76 at myself dot com
August 30, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Sounds like a good read. Great review.
August 30, 2010 at 7:05 pm
OOHH! Sounds light, but still paranormal. Going on my TBR pile. YAY!! Thanks Tori!
August 30, 2010 at 7:34 pm
I want to read thiss!!
van
Littopandaxpress(at)yahoo(dot)com
August 30, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Snarky? I got the giggles just reading your review. I'm not too fond of ghosts, but your review gave me that nudge I needed. The favorite quote; now, I have to read that in context to get the big picture. My devious mind is so wandering right now.
cindersmaria@yahoo.com
August 30, 2010 at 9:22 pm
Crusie is simply fab, this one sounds like it was worth the wait.
August 30, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Sounds like such a fun ready and I love ghost in my Books
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com
August 30, 2010 at 10:34 pm
Love, love paranormals!! Please enter me for this one. It looks really good.
I follow on gfc
mlawson17 at hotmail dot com
August 30, 2010 at 10:43 pm
I loved Jennifer Crusie's solo stuff, but I admit I just wasn't interested in reading any of her co-written books. Part of the charm of reading a Crusie book is her *very* distinctive writing style.
This sounds like it'll be a lot of fun!
buriedbybooks at gmail dot com
August 31, 2010 at 8:22 am
I love Jennifer Crusie! She is one of my favorite go-to authors when I get in a reading slump. I know her books will be funny, her characters will be real, and her endings always happy. LOVE THEM!
August 31, 2010 at 10:18 am
Sounds really good. Can't wait to pick this one up. Thanks!
August 31, 2010 at 11:35 am
Would Love to check out this book!!! Sounds great…
August 31, 2010 at 3:45 pm
I enjoy Crusie's books and would love to read about this new, "deliciously snarky" heroine. Thanks for the review.
August 31, 2010 at 5:53 pm
I love Jenn's writing and am thrilled she has a new release! Please count me in for this.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
August 31, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Always enjoy her books. THis one sounds particularly interesting.
Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust
steph@fangswandsandfairydust.com
September 1, 2010 at 9:42 am
Throw me into to the giveaway hat please… I'm hearing good things about this book & I've really enjoyed her other ones so I'm totally excited about this one.
September 1, 2010 at 3:26 pm
So glad to see another good reveiw for this! I've been disappointed in her co-authored books recently and am glad to hear her solo's still got it!
September 1, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Forgot my email: bookfaredelights[at]gmail[dot]com
September 1, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Great review! Sounds like a pretty good book
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
September 1, 2010 at 7:05 pm
This book sounds great! I'd love to read it.
September 1, 2010 at 10:17 pm
Sound like this is one read not to be missed=)
Luvaylilies at bellsouth dot net
September 1, 2010 at 11:12 pm
This book sounds delightful. Count me in!
missyreadsreviews@gmail.com
September 2, 2010 at 12:28 am
This sounds like my kind of book!!!!
nedsped at verizon.net
September 2, 2010 at 3:34 am
I find Crusie hit or miss but this one looks interesting
thejoyofthejoyofcooking at blogspot dot com
September 2, 2010 at 1:51 pm
This sounds good. Count me in the giveaway. juliecookies(at)gmail.com