Fast Women by Jennifer Crusie

Title : Fast Women
Author : Jennifer Crusie
Genre : Contemporary Romance
Pages : 436
Publish Date : April 15, 2002
Publisher : St. Martin's Paperbacks 
Started Reading : March 02, 2011
Completed Reading : March 12, 2011
Book Rating : 3/5

Nell Dysart is living a too small life in a too small apartment with no visible evidence of a reason to get up in the morning. Weighed down by an inexplicable divorce and a loss of appetite for everything, Nell is frozen in place, and she’s not alone: Her two closest friends and sisters-in-law are as stuck as she is. Suze is married to a controlling lawyer who keeps her housebound while she perfects an almost zen-like denial, and Margie has been stuck in foggy limbo since her husband disappeared seven years before with a lot of money that didn’t belong to him. Good thing Nell’s new job is with a down-and-out detective agency that has huge potential and a boss who looks easy to manage.

Gabe McKenna isn’t doing too well, either. His detective agency is wasting time on a blackmail case, his partner Riley has decided he hates watching cheating spouses for money, and his ex-wife has just dumped him . . . again. Good thing his new secretary looks efficient, boring, and biddable.

But soon Nell and Gabe are squaring off over embezzlement, business cards, bribery, interior decoration, vandalism, dachshund-napping, blackmail, and unprofessional sex, all of which turn out to be the least of their problems. Because shortly after that, somebody starts killing people. And shortly after that, they start falling in love.

*****

 

No mistaking the writing.. this is from Jennifer Crusie. As always, I enjoyed the quick wit and the funny lines. That the story is not just about the main characters but we also get to know the other characters - Riley, Suze, Chloe, Lu and Jas. One thing though is that for me, I think there are too many things happening or there had been a lot of characters to take note of that I sometimes got lost in the story. LOL...

What the Lady Wants by Jennifer Crusie

Title : Trust Me On This
Author : Jennifer Crusie
Genre : Romance
Pages : 320
Publish Date : October 26, 2010
Publisher : Bantam (Reprint Edition)
Started Reading : February 11, 2011
Completed Reading : February 12, 2011
Book Rating : 4/5

Nothin' like a dame . . .

Mitch Peabody was learning pretty fast that the life of a private detective was not all it was cracked up to be. Cheating husbands, suspicious wives, unsuspecting mistresss -- case after case left him cynical and disillusioned. This was nothing like the world of tough-talking detectives and smart-mouthed, stunning dames he'd envisioned . . . 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 like 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 only interested in catching the double-crossing crooks who murdered her uncle . . . or did the lady want to catch him?

*****

Have I mentioned lately that J. Crusie is now one of my favorite authors? Hahaha... I just can't stop reading her books. I've been trying to find the rest of her books eversince I started reading her. They're just always fun, witty and really sweet. And this book is no exception. The secondary characters were all funny - Mitch's friend and attorney, Mae's uncles, June and Harold.. even Bob! And of course Mitch and Mae themselves were funny and lovable. I can't help myself but love them.

And really, the title was really apt for the story.. :)

Now, time to look for other J. Crusie novels...

Trust Me On This by Jennifer Crusie

Title : Trust Me On This
Author : Jennifer Crusie
Genre : Romance
Pages : 320
Publish Date : October 26, 2010
Publisher : Bantam (Reprint Edition)
Started Reading : February 10, 2011
Completed Reading : February 10, 2011
Book Rating : 4/5

"I bet that smile gets you everything you want...."

As soon as Alec Prentice spotted the spicy brunette in red silk, he vowed thatthe tempting con woman would not escape him! Dennie Banks was prepared to doanything to get her story, even flirt her way into the arms of a man whopromised to help-but when the feisty reporter dared him to kiss her, his mouthscorched hers with wildfire yearning. Could two passionate partners in crimeget their man and each other?

In a deliciously fast-paced and funny romance, Jennifer Crusie proves without adoubt that everyone's guilty of something-and it might just be love! Drawninto a reckless charade by a man whose dangerous charm was hard to resist,could she uncover his mysteries without surrendering her own?

*****

This is another one funny and lovely book from Crusie. I love the characters as usual. And not just the main characters, but also the secondary ones, Victoria, Alec's aunt and Harry, 'Alec's boss. As usual, the lines were quick, witty and funny. At this point, Crusie could not go wrong with me (well, maybe just Maybe This Time.. hehehe).

One really sweet line/conversation that I loved in the book was between the leads, Alec and Dennie, which goes:

"I can cover you until you're ninety-six."

"Ninety-six," Dennie's voice sounded flat, and Alec felt a clutch of fear; maybe she wasn't going to come back from this one. After a moment, she pulled back from him and asked in the same flat voice, "Why ninety-six?"

Alec tilted her chin up until she was eye-to-eye with him. "Because when you're ninety-six, I'll be a hundred, and I'll be too damn old to break your fall. Until then, I've got you covered."

Awwww... sweet huh? :)

Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie

Title : Maybe This Time
Author : Jennifer Crusie
Genre : Romance
Pages : 352
Publish Date : August 21, 2010
Publisher : St. Martin's Press
Started Reading : February 09, 2011
Completed Reading : February 09, 2011
Book Rating : 2/5

 

Andie Miller is ready to move on in life. She wants to marry her fiance 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 fiance 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-in-law, and, of course, her jealous fiance. 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.

*****

I should have read the blurb of this book. I've been on a J. Crusie mode for the past days and I was expecting a lot. I was even really excited when I got this book. Unfortunately, I just didn't get this book. The romance was 2nd only in this book :( and I wasn't expecting that (again, I should have read the blurb first). Maybe that's why I felt that I really didn't know much about North. It took awhile before he went to the house and so the interaction wasn't much. And I realized that I really don't like ghost parts on stories. I just don't get it... :/. I've got to admit though that there are parts that were really funny.. conversations between the mothers of Andie and North, with the medium and with the parapsychologist.

 

I was really hoping that I'd love the book. Sadly though, it just didn't. :(

Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie

Title : Anyone But You
Author : Jennifer Crusie
Genre : Romance
Pages : 256
Publish Date : December 01, 2006
Publisher : HQN Books
Started Reading : February 08, 2011
Completed Reading : February 08, 2011
Book Rating : 5/5

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.

*****

I think I have to take a break from reading... LOL.. my blog is turning into a book blog! LOL :).

Anyways, another big hit from Jennifer Crusie for me. I really love this book. I don't think I've read a book that deals about age-differences in a relationship, especially with the woman being the older one. I find it cute, funny and endearing. I love Alex and Nina... Even Max (Alex's brother and bestfriend) and Charity (Nina's bestfriend) were awesome. I can't remember how many times I laughed out loud, smiled and grinned while reading this book. And it wasn't just the exchange between the two main characters that I love, but also each of their conversations with their bestfriends. I find the conversations between Alex and Max the most hilarious. Some really really funny lines that I love are:

Max to Alex: "When you finally get your shot," Max said, "don't blow it. You'd better be the best damn kisser in North America, or she's going to remember the ten-year difference and say no."

Alex and Max:
"Alex, listen to me carefully," Max said. "I'm telling you this as your brother and as your best friend."

"All right," Alex said, "Let's have it."

"Never wear Daffy Duck shorts to seduce a woman. You want her gasping in awe when she looks down, not wondering how old you are."

"Oh, hell," Alex said.

One very small thing though, I wish there was more of Norma and Rich. :)

Charlie All Night by Jennifer Crusie

Title : Charlie All Night
Author : Jennifer Crusie
Genre : Romance
Pages : 256
Publish Date : December 01, 2004
Publisher : Mira
Started Reading : February 07, 2011
Completed Reading : February 07, 2011
Book Rating : 3.5/5

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?

*****

This has been a fun read. Not too surprised since it's J. Crusie's. Though not on the top of my J. Crusie favorites. I'm not totally sure why... Maybe because for me I think it's predictable. And I think the characters wasn't developed fully. I didn't feel that I know Charlie that much.

On to the next J. Crusie on my list. haha :)

Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Crusie

Title : Strange Bedpersons
Author : Jennifer Crusie
Genre : Romance
Pages : 256
Publish Date : September 17, 2004 (Reprint Edition)
Publisher : Mira Books
Started Reading : February 02, 2011
Completed Reading : February 03, 2011
Book Rating : 3/5

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 and thinks Cinderella is politically incorrect. He wants to get ahead in business, she just wants . . . him - only not the social-climbing Nick, but the sweet, caring, unbuttoned-down Nick.

And Nick wants her, too, but there's no way Tess is about to play second fiddle to his obsession to make partner. Yet somehow she finds herself agreeing to play his fiancée for a weekend business trip that could make or break Nick's career. And while he's wrapped up in convincing Tess that he needs her in his respectable world, Tess is doing her best to keep her left-wing opinions to herself and her hands off Nick.

*****

I enjoyed the book but I have to admit, it's really not one of my favorites. But don't mind me... read it anyways. Hahaha.. It's a J. Crusie book definitely - the quick dialogues, the funny comebacks. I did have fun reading it. I guess it's just not my kind of love story. haha :)

The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie

Title : The Cinderella Deal
Author : Jennifer Crusie
Genre : Romance
Pages : 288
Publish Date : January 26, 2010 (Reprint Edition)
Publisher : Bantam
Started Reading : January 30, 2011
Completed Reading : February 01, 2011
Book Rating : 4/5

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 fiancee 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 proverbial midnight hour approaching, will Daisy lose her prince, or will opposites not only attract but live happily every after?

*****

At first, I thought I was going to be disappointed. I initially thought that there's something off. I didn't feel like it's a Jennifer Crusie book 'coz I don't see the quick and funny comebacks that I've come to love about her writing style. But, it turned out that I'm wrong. I still ended up loving the book.. :). Midpart, I was already laughing, grinning and just enjoying the book.

I definitely loved these parts (Linc to Daisy):

"That's not a father. That's a sperm donor. Forget him. He's a mess. Concentrate on me. I'm terrific."

"Forget playing hard to get, cupcake. I've seen the pictures you painted of me. You think I'm God."

Hahahah.. I really had a good laugh at this book. I think I'm becoming a Jennifer Crusie fan :). Got to find more of her books!

Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie

Title : Getting Rid of Bradley
Author : Jennifer Crusie
Genre : Romance
Pages : 256
Publish Date : November 01, 2001
Publisher : Mira
Started Reading : January 17, 2011
Completed Reading : January 18, 2011
Book Rating : 5/5


Lucy Savage is not having a good week.
 
Her cheating husband, Bradley, lobbed the final insult when he stood her up in divorce court. A dye job gone wrong has left her hair green. And someone is trying to kill her. To top it off, sexy cop Zack Warren is certain the very same man Lucy is trying to wash right out of her hair is the same Bradley he wants to arrest for embezzlement.
 
When someone shoots at her and then her car blows up, Zack decides she needs twenty-four-hour police protection. Next thing Lucy knows, Zack has moved in to her big Victorian house, making them both sleepless . . . and not just from things that go bump in the night!

*****
This is not part of my TBR List but when I started reading it from Nikka's Kindle, I was hooked and I knew that I need to finish it. LOL. I think Jennifer Crusie is turning out to be one of my fave authors. I've read her other book, Bet Me, last year and I enjoyed that one as well. I think I enjoyed Getting Rid of Bradley more. :) I really love the witty banter of the characters (I believe J. Crusie's signature writing). I've been laughing out loud and grinning since I started reading the novel. I love Lucy (haha) and her crazy hair. I love how Zack is such a big softie. I love the other characters (Tina and Anthony) as well. It's such a feel-good novel that it just kinda make you happy and all after reading it.

I should start hunting for more J. Cruise novels!