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bibliobabe94's review against another edition
2.0
ehh. Some good parts, some funny parts, interesting premise (ghosts) but not well executed - not the romance and comedy typically from her, but not quite a paranormal romance either. Overall ok.
geleeregina's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first Jennifer Cruise novel I've read, and it's a keeper. I enjoyed the twist on "Turn of the Screw"! I feel in love with Alice, even though she's as annoying as any child can be, but yet there's something endearing about her. I didn't suspect who the real "monster" was in the novel, and I was surprised by the ending, but yet it seemed very fitting. The seance scenes were a hoot! Gotta love Andie! Looking forward to reading more from this author if her writing is just as good as this one.
rjozinga's review against another edition
2.0
Author: Jennifer Cruise
Title: Maybe This Time
Genre: Romance
Publication Date: 2010
Number of Pages: 342
Geographical Setting: Ohio
Time Period: 1992
Series (If applicable):
Plot Summary: When Andie Miller’s ex-husband, North Archer, asks her to drive down to southern Ohio and take care of two children of whom he has recently become guardian, she is a bit reluctant. She decides to go for a month, take the money that he offers and then be free to marry her new fiancé, Will. When she gets down there she finds two uninterested children, one lazy housekeeper and a home full of ghosts. With the help of several other family members Andie gets through to the children and discovers that the romance between her and her ex may not be dead after all.
Subject Headings: Nannies-Fiction, Haunted houses- Fiction, Domestic-Fiction, Divorce- Fiction, Paranormal- Fiction, Romance.
Appeal: easy pacing, relaxed, character centered, domestic, quirky characters, sexy, light, heartwarming, humorous, upbeat, candid, colorful.
3 terms that best describe this book:
easy pacing, quirky characters, humorous
Similar Authors and Works (why are they similar?):
3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors
Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife- Mary Roach
In an attempt to find out what happens when people die, Roach brings in the opinions of an array of contemporary and historical soul-searchers: scientists, schemers, engineers, mediums, all trying to prove (or disprove) that there is an afterlife. Readers interested in ghosts and the afterlife will enjoy this book.
Baking- James Peterson
The craft of baking is based on good technique. Learn the fundamentals well, and you can bake perfect cakes, cookies, tarts, breads, and pastries each and every time. That's the premise of Baking, revered cooking teacher James Peterson's master course in baking fundamentals. In more than 350 recipes and techniques, accompanied by step-by-step photographs, Peterson lays the foundation for lifelong baking success. Readers inspired by Andie’s baking lessons with Alice will enjoy this guide to baking.
Getting it Right This Time: How to Create a Loving and Lasting Marriage- Barry W McCarthy and Emily J McCarthy
Although divorce is common, it often holds negative associations. Husband and wife team Barry and Emily McCarthy view divorce and remarriage with optimism, showing it to be a courageous choice and a positive step towards a better life. In Getting it Right This Time, they zoom in on remarriage issues and identify the factors that led to the end of a marriage, using that information to help you learn from past mistakes and start over. The themes of divorce and starting over are a strong part of Maybe This Time.
3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors
Summer by the Sea- Susan Wiggs
Rosa Capoletti runs an award-winning restaurant that is one of the most romantic in town. She herself has not had a real romance since her love affair with Alexander Montgomery ended suddenly a decade ago. But Rosa's life takes an unexpected turn when Alexander arrives back in town and asks for her help sorting through his late mother's affairs. Reunited at the beach house where they first met and fell in love, Rosa and Alexander discuss the past and try to decide if their love can have a second chance. “Maybe This Time and Summer by the Sea are character-driven, funny, and witty contemporary romances about second chances.”- Novelist
Eat Cake- Jeanne Ray
Ruth has always found baking cakes to be a source of relief from the stresses of life. And now-as her husband loses his job; her parents arrive for an extended stay, and her teenage daughter perfects the art of sulking-Ruth is going to have to save the day. Readers who enjoy the upbeat tone and well developed characters of Maybe This Time will enjoy this book.
Demon Hunting in Dixie- Lexi George
Addy Corwin is a florist with an attitude, who knows there’s not many men to choose from in Hannah, AL. Until one day Brand Dalvahni shows up. He’s a supernaturally sexy, breathtakingly well-built warrior from another dimension.
Brand claims he’s here to rescue Addy from a demon, which she thinks is insane! But right after Brand shows up, strange things start to happen and Addy knows she wants to keep Brand close. This supernatural romance will appeal to readers of Maybe This Time who enjoyed the light and funny paranormal aspects of the story.
Title: Maybe This Time
Genre: Romance
Publication Date: 2010
Number of Pages: 342
Geographical Setting: Ohio
Time Period: 1992
Series (If applicable):
Plot Summary: When Andie Miller’s ex-husband, North Archer, asks her to drive down to southern Ohio and take care of two children of whom he has recently become guardian, she is a bit reluctant. She decides to go for a month, take the money that he offers and then be free to marry her new fiancé, Will. When she gets down there she finds two uninterested children, one lazy housekeeper and a home full of ghosts. With the help of several other family members Andie gets through to the children and discovers that the romance between her and her ex may not be dead after all.
Subject Headings: Nannies-Fiction, Haunted houses- Fiction, Domestic-Fiction, Divorce- Fiction, Paranormal- Fiction, Romance.
Appeal: easy pacing, relaxed, character centered, domestic, quirky characters, sexy, light, heartwarming, humorous, upbeat, candid, colorful.
3 terms that best describe this book:
easy pacing, quirky characters, humorous
Similar Authors and Works (why are they similar?):
3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors
Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife- Mary Roach
In an attempt to find out what happens when people die, Roach brings in the opinions of an array of contemporary and historical soul-searchers: scientists, schemers, engineers, mediums, all trying to prove (or disprove) that there is an afterlife. Readers interested in ghosts and the afterlife will enjoy this book.
Baking- James Peterson
The craft of baking is based on good technique. Learn the fundamentals well, and you can bake perfect cakes, cookies, tarts, breads, and pastries each and every time. That's the premise of Baking, revered cooking teacher James Peterson's master course in baking fundamentals. In more than 350 recipes and techniques, accompanied by step-by-step photographs, Peterson lays the foundation for lifelong baking success. Readers inspired by Andie’s baking lessons with Alice will enjoy this guide to baking.
Getting it Right This Time: How to Create a Loving and Lasting Marriage- Barry W McCarthy and Emily J McCarthy
Although divorce is common, it often holds negative associations. Husband and wife team Barry and Emily McCarthy view divorce and remarriage with optimism, showing it to be a courageous choice and a positive step towards a better life. In Getting it Right This Time, they zoom in on remarriage issues and identify the factors that led to the end of a marriage, using that information to help you learn from past mistakes and start over. The themes of divorce and starting over are a strong part of Maybe This Time.
3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors
Summer by the Sea- Susan Wiggs
Rosa Capoletti runs an award-winning restaurant that is one of the most romantic in town. She herself has not had a real romance since her love affair with Alexander Montgomery ended suddenly a decade ago. But Rosa's life takes an unexpected turn when Alexander arrives back in town and asks for her help sorting through his late mother's affairs. Reunited at the beach house where they first met and fell in love, Rosa and Alexander discuss the past and try to decide if their love can have a second chance. “Maybe This Time and Summer by the Sea are character-driven, funny, and witty contemporary romances about second chances.”- Novelist
Eat Cake- Jeanne Ray
Ruth has always found baking cakes to be a source of relief from the stresses of life. And now-as her husband loses his job; her parents arrive for an extended stay, and her teenage daughter perfects the art of sulking-Ruth is going to have to save the day. Readers who enjoy the upbeat tone and well developed characters of Maybe This Time will enjoy this book.
Demon Hunting in Dixie- Lexi George
Addy Corwin is a florist with an attitude, who knows there’s not many men to choose from in Hannah, AL. Until one day Brand Dalvahni shows up. He’s a supernaturally sexy, breathtakingly well-built warrior from another dimension.
Brand claims he’s here to rescue Addy from a demon, which she thinks is insane! But right after Brand shows up, strange things start to happen and Addy knows she wants to keep Brand close. This supernatural romance will appeal to readers of Maybe This Time who enjoyed the light and funny paranormal aspects of the story.
hippolyta's review against another edition
5.0
It is a Crusie, alright. And filled with quirky and fun characters, and good romance.
disasterchick's review against another edition
5.0
This is my second favorite Crusie book - my favorite has to be Agnes and the Hitman. I had a very hard time putting down this book. I loved the characters and was instantly drawn in to the book. I had a good idea of what was going to happen, but not 100% sure.
sophael's review against another edition
2.0
unfortunately, the most disappointing crusie book i've read. hope this was just a fluke...
tarana's review against another edition
3.0
Ok, first, I will say that I listened to the audiobook and the narrator is absolutely perfect. Really, she has some good comic timing which makes the book better than it probably is.
I WOULD HAVE given this book a 5. Lots of humor, interesting setup with the ghosts, good characters. Once you get past the implausibility of the beginning, it works for me. I can't give it a 5 because the author completely lost me finding out that the main romantic interest (North) basically abandoned two kids for two years. This is not recoverable to me. So, it just gets an average rating.
I WOULD HAVE given this book a 5. Lots of humor, interesting setup with the ghosts, good characters. Once you get past the implausibility of the beginning, it works for me. I can't give it a 5 because the author completely lost me finding out that the main romantic interest (North) basically abandoned two kids for two years. This is not recoverable to me. So, it just gets an average rating.
wildeaboutbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This was a mildly entertaining romp of chick lit, mystery and spooky supernatural. I hadn't read any Jennifer Crusie before, but promised the seniors in my book club a fast-paced and light-hearted book after the denser-than-a-doorstop last novel I chose (I exaggerate....slightly).
The main character, Andie, is feisty and independent, which I enjoyed, although some of the other characters came off as a bit two-dimensional. The exception would be Alice, the annoyingly realistic 8(?) year old in the story. The narrator of the audiobook was excellent and managed to capture each cringe-inducing tantrum and whine to eardrum-piercing perfection.
There were a few extra steamy sex scenes that I could have done without- did I mention that I chose this book for my senior book club? I didn't feel like the detailed description of this very unsanitary kitchen encounter did much to add to the story, but maybe it's expected in Crusie's books?
The main character, Andie, is feisty and independent, which I enjoyed, although some of the other characters came off as a bit two-dimensional. The exception would be Alice, the annoyingly realistic 8(?) year old in the story. The narrator of the audiobook was excellent and managed to capture each cringe-inducing tantrum and whine to eardrum-piercing perfection.
There were a few extra steamy sex scenes that I could have done without- did I mention that I chose this book for my senior book club? I didn't feel like the detailed description of this very unsanitary kitchen encounter did much to add to the story, but maybe it's expected in Crusie's books?
hollylynna's review against another edition
3.0
Great chick lit ghost story. This may have been my first Jennifer Crusie book. I will definitely read more!
taylorfennerwrites's review against another edition
5.0
All Andie (Andromeda) Miller wants is closure from her ex-husband of ten years, North Archer, so she can marry her new love Will. But on the day Andie goes to return her un-cashed alimony checks to North he has an unusual proposition for her.
North has become the guardian of a distant cousin's two children, Carter and Alice. So far the kids have gotten rid of three nannies who all claim the children are incorrigible and that the house is haunted. So North is willing to pay Andie $10,000 a month to go to the house in Southern Ohio, fix things, and bring the children back up to Columbus.
When Andie arrives at the house she finds a crumbling mansion similar to the House of Usher and Hill House combined and the worst housekeeper since Mrs. Danvers.
As she tries to bond with Alice and Carter she finds herself haunted with steamy dreams of her ex-husband and nearly-nightly midnight visits from a mysterious girl who makes her think that maybe there really are ghosts. Especially when she sees another woman dressed in 19th century garb across the pond in the backyard and a similarly dressed man peering at her from the turret's balcony.
Things spiral out of control when Andie's ex-brother-in-law Southie shows up with a child-bullying tv reporter and a parapsycologist who doesn't believe in ghosts; followed by her crazy tarot card reading mother, her ex-mother-in-law Lydia, Isolde Hammersmith the supposed best psychic in Ohio, her fiance Will, and finally North Archer himself, the one that everyone has been waiting for. Andie knows she must figure out how to put the ghosts to rest once and for all before somebody else gets killed. And then maybe she will realize that all everyone's been wanting is a second chance; and that MAYBE THIS TIME she and North can work things out.
This book rings true to Miss Crusie's usual witty banter and charm. There is never a dull page to be found and it makes you feel good reading it!
Update April 7, 2015: Yes, I've read this book again. And I still love it. But this time I find myself wishing the author would write a sequel, maybe when Alice and Carter are adults where they return to Archer House. That would be awesome!
North has become the guardian of a distant cousin's two children, Carter and Alice. So far the kids have gotten rid of three nannies who all claim the children are incorrigible and that the house is haunted. So North is willing to pay Andie $10,000 a month to go to the house in Southern Ohio, fix things, and bring the children back up to Columbus.
When Andie arrives at the house she finds a crumbling mansion similar to the House of Usher and Hill House combined and the worst housekeeper since Mrs. Danvers.
As she tries to bond with Alice and Carter she finds herself haunted with steamy dreams of her ex-husband and nearly-nightly midnight visits from a mysterious girl who makes her think that maybe there really are ghosts. Especially when she sees another woman dressed in 19th century garb across the pond in the backyard and a similarly dressed man peering at her from the turret's balcony.
Things spiral out of control when Andie's ex-brother-in-law Southie shows up with a child-bullying tv reporter and a parapsycologist who doesn't believe in ghosts; followed by her crazy tarot card reading mother, her ex-mother-in-law Lydia, Isolde Hammersmith the supposed best psychic in Ohio, her fiance Will, and finally North Archer himself, the one that everyone has been waiting for. Andie knows she must figure out how to put the ghosts to rest once and for all before somebody else gets killed. And then maybe she will realize that all everyone's been wanting is a second chance; and that MAYBE THIS TIME she and North can work things out.
This book rings true to Miss Crusie's usual witty banter and charm. There is never a dull page to be found and it makes you feel good reading it!
Update April 7, 2015: Yes, I've read this book again. And I still love it. But this time I find myself wishing the author would write a sequel, maybe when Alice and Carter are adults where they return to Archer House. That would be awesome!