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Collection
Publication
St. Martin's Press, Kindle Edition, 323 pages
Description
North Archer, Andie Miller's ex-husband, asks her to become the guardian of two orphans who have driven out three nannies already--and live in a haunted house! 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 fiancé. And just when Andie 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.
User reviews
LibraryThing member ijustgetbored
Maybe This Time is a feather-light romp through romance and the paranormal. Andie Miller, a "bolter" who won't be tied down, has shown up in her ex-husband North Archer's law office to return ten years' worth of uncashed alimony checks. While there, North (strong, silent type name much?) makes her
It quickly becomes clear that the situation is pretty far out of hand. Mrs. Crumb, the housekeeper, is cantankerous and rude and many other unwholesome adjectives, Carter, the boy, is wholly drawn into himself, Alice, the girl, simply falls into screaming fits when things don't suit, the castle is falling apart, and yes, it may indeed be haunted. Or maybe not. I'm not telling; that's for you to read and find out.
The book is light enough; I read it on Labor Day and considered it worthy of a day of leisure. Beach reading, definitely. But Cruise tries to pack a lot in. There are a lot of characters in the novel; as the action starts to ratchet up, so does the cast of characters, leaving you sometimes asking, "now, who was that again? Where did she come from? Is he currently in or out of the house?" Things move a little slowly at first, with the reader and Andie bogged down in childcare, and then they do a 180 into out-of-control, page-turning action. The novel could have been paced a little better overall.
Quirkiness is charming in characters, and there's plenty of that. However, there are points when you get the feeling that a particular character has maxed out their quirkiness potential and needs to come back down to reality a few degrees to keep things from getting too silly. The TV reporter Kelly is a good example of this; page after page of her inflected dialoge gets tiresome.
The child Alice is endearing, if Carter is underdeveloped. Some peripheral characters like Flo, Andie's mother, are charming and delivered in suitable-sized doses; I wish there had been more like her.
The romance angle isn't overplayed; it's there, but it's not what's driving the whole plot. I think this goes in favor of the novel as a whole, focusing on Andie as a strong, capabable woman who's in charge and who can do things on her own. For the most part of the novel, the men are concerned voices in the background, not things that threaten to drag Andie into unrelated dramas; she's focused on the children and what she can do for them, and she's a more admirable heroine because of that.
A solid three stars: got the occassional snicker, didn't try to get in over its head with depth and insight, quirkiness (though sometimes too much) was appealing), somewhat predictable ending.
I received this book as an advance copy from the publisher.
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an offer she can't refuse: for one month, go to the wilds of Southern Ohio and be nanny to his two orphaned, difficult wards who have gone through three nannies in rapid succession. The payoff? $10,000. Andie can't say no. The catch? Well, the kids are, by all accounts, a little peculiar, the house is a hundreds-year-old transplanted English castle, and it may be haunted. But Andie won't bolt on this one, so she tells her (unsurprisingly) miffed fiance that she'll be heading down south and doing some babysitting.It quickly becomes clear that the situation is pretty far out of hand. Mrs. Crumb, the housekeeper, is cantankerous and rude and many other unwholesome adjectives, Carter, the boy, is wholly drawn into himself, Alice, the girl, simply falls into screaming fits when things don't suit, the castle is falling apart, and yes, it may indeed be haunted. Or maybe not. I'm not telling; that's for you to read and find out.
The book is light enough; I read it on Labor Day and considered it worthy of a day of leisure. Beach reading, definitely. But Cruise tries to pack a lot in. There are a lot of characters in the novel; as the action starts to ratchet up, so does the cast of characters, leaving you sometimes asking, "now, who was that again? Where did she come from? Is he currently in or out of the house?" Things move a little slowly at first, with the reader and Andie bogged down in childcare, and then they do a 180 into out-of-control, page-turning action. The novel could have been paced a little better overall.
Quirkiness is charming in characters, and there's plenty of that. However, there are points when you get the feeling that a particular character has maxed out their quirkiness potential and needs to come back down to reality a few degrees to keep things from getting too silly. The TV reporter Kelly is a good example of this; page after page of her inflected dialoge gets tiresome.
The child Alice is endearing, if Carter is underdeveloped. Some peripheral characters like Flo, Andie's mother, are charming and delivered in suitable-sized doses; I wish there had been more like her.
The romance angle isn't overplayed; it's there, but it's not what's driving the whole plot. I think this goes in favor of the novel as a whole, focusing on Andie as a strong, capabable woman who's in charge and who can do things on her own. For the most part of the novel, the men are concerned voices in the background, not things that threaten to drag Andie into unrelated dramas; she's focused on the children and what she can do for them, and she's a more admirable heroine because of that.
A solid three stars: got the occassional snicker, didn't try to get in over its head with depth and insight, quirkiness (though sometimes too much) was appealing), somewhat predictable ending.
I received this book as an advance copy from the publisher.
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LibraryThing member minjung
When Andromeda (Andie) goes to her ex-husband, North's, office to return every single alimony cheque from the last ten years (did he not notice that she hadn't been cashing them?), he surprises her by offering her a job. He has become guardian of two children who have gone through a string of
As soon as the plans are revealed, all hell breaks loose. Andie's boyfriend Will (who North believes is her fiancé) thinks North planned this as a way to win Andie back; therefore, he must go there to ensure that his girl remains his. North's brother is dating Kelly, a news reporter, and they both race to the house as she's in search of a story to redeem her after a scandal that has the talk of Ohio (and not in a good way). When North gets wind of this, he decides to check everything out in person. And Andie's and North's mothers both decide to join the party as soon as they find out what's going on. Meanwhile, strange things start happening, and Andie decides she might believe in ghosts in after all. Enter two experts on the paranormal.
This was a departure from what I usually expect from Crusie - light-hearted, fun, flirty romance with a healthy dash of humour. While this had some humour, it was heavy on the paranormal and was downright dark at times. There was one part near the end that reminded me a LOT of one of the worst books I've EVER read, and I almost dreaded finishing it. Thankfully, this book didn't end like That One, although it was a close call. The typical Crusie humour showed up in flashes, but I'm hoping that her book will be more in the ilk of "Tell Me Lies," "Crazy For Me," etc.
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nannies. Since he knows her to a competent teacher who is good with children, he asks her to go downstate to care for the children for one month until arrangements can be completed for the children (Alice and Carter) to be moved back to Columbus. Oh, and by the way, the house there are reports that the house is haunted. Since neither Andie nor North believe in ghosts, they both really just want to get to the bottom of whatever is going on.As soon as the plans are revealed, all hell breaks loose. Andie's boyfriend Will (who North believes is her fiancé) thinks North planned this as a way to win Andie back; therefore, he must go there to ensure that his girl remains his. North's brother is dating Kelly, a news reporter, and they both race to the house as she's in search of a story to redeem her after a scandal that has the talk of Ohio (and not in a good way). When North gets wind of this, he decides to check everything out in person. And Andie's and North's mothers both decide to join the party as soon as they find out what's going on. Meanwhile, strange things start happening, and Andie decides she might believe in ghosts in after all. Enter two experts on the paranormal.
This was a departure from what I usually expect from Crusie - light-hearted, fun, flirty romance with a healthy dash of humour. While this had some humour, it was heavy on the paranormal and was downright dark at times. There was one part near the end that reminded me a LOT of one of the worst books I've EVER read, and I almost dreaded finishing it. Thankfully, this book didn't end like That One, although it was a close call. The typical Crusie humour showed up in flashes, but I'm hoping that her book will be more in the ilk of "Tell Me Lies," "Crazy For Me," etc.
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LibraryThing member hoganedix
I was so disappointed. I always count on Crusie for a laugh, often to laugh-out-loud. Unfortunately, I grabbed this one even though I sensed it was going to be about ghosts (I'm not a paranormal fan). And that seemed to be all that this book was about - the romance and humor were vaguely there. I
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finished it because it was compelling enough to want to see it through but this is one novel I will not reread as I have many of Crusie's others. Show Less
LibraryThing member hailelib
Having never read a book I didn't like by Jennifer Crusie, I grabbed this one as soon as I noticed it in the library. While not quite what I've come to expect from this author, it was a fun read even with the somewhat malevolent ghosts.
Andie, our heroine is persuaded to do her ex-husband one last
Recommended for those who like Crusie and a good ghost story.
Andie, our heroine is persuaded to do her ex-husband one last
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favor and goes to take care of his wards who are driving away every nanny he hires. On arrival Andie is appalled at what she finds and plunges in to 'fix' everything. With an assortment of offbeat characters, ghosts, and a really incompetent housekeeper, she has her hands full. As if that wasn't enough, does she really want to marry her new fiance or is she too hung up on her ex?Recommended for those who like Crusie and a good ghost story.
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LibraryThing member anyother
What an interesting book. It hearkens back in many ways to vintage Crusie: the quirky, lovable heroine, the uptight male (ex-husband in this case), the riotous cast of supporting characters. However, the ghosts are real and variously intent on possession or murder. Not what I expected -- I thought
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the story would be a lot more fluffy. It still has the romantic elements -- once again the heroine is described as being rounded and warm, or some such thing; the ex-husband is the career-driven alpha male, but the love story is almost incidental. If anything, the real love story is the love that develops between Andie and the two orphans, in particular, the engaging Alice. I am so happy that Crusie is on her own again without Mayer; however, I could not even finish the last book Wild Ride, so that is not all there is to it. Don't expect this to be the same as earlier works but it does come much closer than the books of the last few years. Show Less
LibraryThing member SissyCa
Her books are usually hit or miss with me and this one was a miss. As with all her books this one is very well written, has a great developing storyline, and a cast of characters. My only complaint is that it centers around the paranormal, which I am not a fun of. If you are, and are looking for a
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funny, touching, and spirited tale them I would recommend this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member khager
Andie is engaged and her life's going really well. Until she sees her ex-husband, who hires her to head to the middle of nowhere and take care of two children in a house that may or may not be haunted. The kids are orphans and they've scared off three nannies already. (Carter has a tendency to set
This is a book that shouldn't work but does. It's part The Philadelphia Story (in terms of Andie's relationship with past husband and future husband) and part Rebecca (creepy house, creepier housekeeper) and part Mary Poppins (hello, children! I will solve your problems!), and that sounds incredibly schizophrenic, right? And a little ambitious for one book that's less than 350 pages? But it works, and it all flows together quite well.
I gave it three and a half stars, because parts seemed kind of rushed. And also because ghosts should be really scary. (So on the plus side, if you want to read this but are concerned about being freaked out, you should be okay.)
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fires and Alice is a screamer.)This is a book that shouldn't work but does. It's part The Philadelphia Story (in terms of Andie's relationship with past husband and future husband) and part Rebecca (creepy house, creepier housekeeper) and part Mary Poppins (hello, children! I will solve your problems!), and that sounds incredibly schizophrenic, right? And a little ambitious for one book that's less than 350 pages? But it works, and it all flows together quite well.
I gave it three and a half stars, because parts seemed kind of rushed. And also because ghosts should be really scary. (So on the plus side, if you want to read this but are concerned about being freaked out, you should be okay.)
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LibraryThing member scoutmomskf
I won this book from LibraryThing and was very happy about it. Crusie is one of my favorite authors. This one was a bit different from her others because of the ghosts. I wasn't sure at the beginning if I was going to like it, but it got better and better as the book went on. The characters are
This book was great, and I can't wait for the next one.
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great - each one has a distinct personality, unlike some books where the secondary characters just sort of exist. The events that happen are both spooky and fun. For the first half of the book I wanted to beat North - he was so uninvolved with the kids. Once he finally showed up things got much better. For all that she insisted that she didn't want children, Andi was fantastic with the kids, helping them through the problems with the hauntings.This book was great, and I can't wait for the next one.
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LibraryThing member ksattler
Maybe This Time is Crusie's homage to Henry James' The Turn of the Screw. Having never read James' version, I can't say much to that. I was excited to have in my hands the newest Crusie solo work even if it is a bit of a departure from her previous solo work.
In this case, I'd classify the book as
As always, Crusie's writing is top notch. The pacing of the book is quick and tight. She pulls you in and you're with her for the ride. The characters are well formed and a few surprises happen along the way.
There is a romance but I wouldn't call it the primary part of the book. As mentioned in other reviews, we have Andie who is engaged to Will at the beginning of the story when she returns the alimony checks her ex-husband, North, has sent her over the past 10 years. She feels she needs a clean break from him before starting her new life with Will. By going to the house to take care of the kids, she'll be debt free and able to join Will without attachments to her past. Both men are generally good guys with faults - like not listening to what the woman they love is telling them (!Argh!!), which makes it all the more satisfying when they get slapped up the head.
The spookiness isn't overwhelming and won't keep a sensitive person from sleeping. The primary ghost, May, seems friendly and helpful at least at the beginning. The other two that came with the house don't talk much and won't be bothering the reader since we are in their way. More ghosts join as we encounter a death or two, but again, it simply makes having a ghost around to be a normal thing for Andie, Alice, and Carter's life. I will say that the very last segment of the book was a bit on the creepier side.
Overall, it is still a great read and good Crusie fun. I easily heard Crusie's voice after reading an "Oh, hell." proclamation. I also could see Crusie embodiment in the medium that was called in to perform a seance.
The areas where I was pulled out of the story due to the story include trying to figure out how to pronounce the medium's name, Isolde (yes, there were a LOT of unusual names in this one), a few times I mixed up Alice and Andie (the names look too much a like), and the section where Andie preached her beliefs about the afterlife. She was trying to convince May to go into the light and let loose a bit of a tirade on those who believe in hell as being sadists. I get that if you're trying to convince a ghost to leave the earthly plane for the unknown, bringing up an option that they'll end up in hell is not going to be a good argument, but that doesn't mean you need to slam anyone who does believe in it. So, those 3 things took half a star away from my rating.
In this case, I'd classify the book as
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a gothic. We have a heroine, Andie, in a creepy, haunted castle trying hard to protect others (2 kids - Alice and Carter) and herself. She tries hard to give the kids a normal routine as she figures out why they won't leave. In the place with them is Mrs. Crumb, the housekeeper, who isn't doing her job very well and who has been with the house & its ghosts for nearly the whole time it has been in America.As always, Crusie's writing is top notch. The pacing of the book is quick and tight. She pulls you in and you're with her for the ride. The characters are well formed and a few surprises happen along the way.
There is a romance but I wouldn't call it the primary part of the book. As mentioned in other reviews, we have Andie who is engaged to Will at the beginning of the story when she returns the alimony checks her ex-husband, North, has sent her over the past 10 years. She feels she needs a clean break from him before starting her new life with Will. By going to the house to take care of the kids, she'll be debt free and able to join Will without attachments to her past. Both men are generally good guys with faults - like not listening to what the woman they love is telling them (!Argh!!), which makes it all the more satisfying when they get slapped up the head.
The spookiness isn't overwhelming and won't keep a sensitive person from sleeping. The primary ghost, May, seems friendly and helpful at least at the beginning. The other two that came with the house don't talk much and won't be bothering the reader since we are in their way. More ghosts join as we encounter a death or two, but again, it simply makes having a ghost around to be a normal thing for Andie, Alice, and Carter's life. I will say that the very last segment of the book was a bit on the creepier side.
Overall, it is still a great read and good Crusie fun. I easily heard Crusie's voice after reading an "Oh, hell." proclamation. I also could see Crusie embodiment in the medium that was called in to perform a seance.
The areas where I was pulled out of the story due to the story include trying to figure out how to pronounce the medium's name, Isolde (yes, there were a LOT of unusual names in this one), a few times I mixed up Alice and Andie (the names look too much a like), and the section where Andie preached her beliefs about the afterlife. She was trying to convince May to go into the light and let loose a bit of a tirade on those who believe in hell as being sadists. I get that if you're trying to convince a ghost to leave the earthly plane for the unknown, bringing up an option that they'll end up in hell is not going to be a good argument, but that doesn't mean you need to slam anyone who does believe in it. So, those 3 things took half a star away from my rating.
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LibraryThing member Cats57
Maybe This Time - Jennifer Crusie
It has been 6 long years between Jennifer’s last solo effort---was it worth the wait? That’s a difficult question to answer. Jennifer’s writing style has changed so much since her last solo book, and so has her subject matter. It’s neither a good thing nor
Andie Miller is divorced from North Archer and trying leave behind what they had together. It is now the time for her to remarry and to gain closure. She confronts North only to find out that his cousin has died and left him the guardian of two young children, AND in the possession of what appears to be a haunted house. North asks Andie to help him out, offering her a large sum of cash which will be handy to pay off her bills and pay for her up coming wedding. But once she meets the children and scopes out the house she realizes that things may not be quite as they seem.
Now the descriptions of the books claims that “ What follows is a hilarious adventure in exorcism…”, but I didn’t find that to be so nor did I find this to be on par with Ms Crusie’s usual ability to make me laugh with the comedy and bring me to tears with the romance. If you doubt she can’t deliver both, then please read “Bet Me” or “Fast Women”. Don’t judge the rest of her work by this book. While it’s not horrible and at times it’s engaging and even mildly giggle worth it’s just not what I could have hoped for after a drought of 6 years. Another funny and engaging read is “Agnes and the Hitman” collaboration with Bob Meyer.
It has been 6 long years between Jennifer’s last solo effort---was it worth the wait? That’s a difficult question to answer. Jennifer’s writing style has changed so much since her last solo book, and so has her subject matter. It’s neither a good thing nor
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a bad thing---it just is. I’m not thrilled with the change in directions of this book. I didn’t like it when Jennifer and Bob tried to use a paranormal theme with their last collaboration and I don’t like it any better with “Maybe This Time“.Andie Miller is divorced from North Archer and trying leave behind what they had together. It is now the time for her to remarry and to gain closure. She confronts North only to find out that his cousin has died and left him the guardian of two young children, AND in the possession of what appears to be a haunted house. North asks Andie to help him out, offering her a large sum of cash which will be handy to pay off her bills and pay for her up coming wedding. But once she meets the children and scopes out the house she realizes that things may not be quite as they seem.
Now the descriptions of the books claims that “ What follows is a hilarious adventure in exorcism…”, but I didn’t find that to be so nor did I find this to be on par with Ms Crusie’s usual ability to make me laugh with the comedy and bring me to tears with the romance. If you doubt she can’t deliver both, then please read “Bet Me” or “Fast Women”. Don’t judge the rest of her work by this book. While it’s not horrible and at times it’s engaging and even mildly giggle worth it’s just not what I could have hoped for after a drought of 6 years. Another funny and engaging read is “Agnes and the Hitman” collaboration with Bob Meyer.
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LibraryThing member TooBusyReading
When Andie's ex-husband asks her to go to southern Ohio to watch his two wards whom he hasn't seen in two years, she takes him up on it. She'll earn enough money to go into her new marriage with no debts, a fresh, clean start. And of course, she doesn't believe in ghosts even if the ancient house
This was a fun, light read, good for when you are in the mood for some casual escapist reading. The alleged ghosts aren't too scary, there is a cast of strange characters who often don't like one another, there is romance, a little sex, and nothing is too gruesome, kind of a Modern Gothic Light. That mysterious knocking during the séance? People keep coming to the door and interrupting, very funny. The ghost are real, or maybe not, or maybe yes or maybe no...I'm not telling.
The story loses a little for me by being a bit too predictable, and Alice, the younger child, seems even younger than her eight years. Despite that, Maybe This Time is an entertaining book that I think will appeal to Crusie's fans.
I was given an Advanced Readers' Edition of this book by the publisher.
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brought from England is supposedly haunted, there have been mysterious deaths, and the children can be downright creepy. Not to mention the housekeeper, Mrs. Crumb. And of course, Andie is so over her ex-husband.This was a fun, light read, good for when you are in the mood for some casual escapist reading. The alleged ghosts aren't too scary, there is a cast of strange characters who often don't like one another, there is romance, a little sex, and nothing is too gruesome, kind of a Modern Gothic Light. That mysterious knocking during the séance? People keep coming to the door and interrupting, very funny. The ghost are real, or maybe not, or maybe yes or maybe no...I'm not telling.
The story loses a little for me by being a bit too predictable, and Alice, the younger child, seems even younger than her eight years. Despite that, Maybe This Time is an entertaining book that I think will appeal to Crusie's fans.
I was given an Advanced Readers' Edition of this book by the publisher.
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LibraryThing member sycamore52
For fans of Jennifer Crusie, be prepared that this is not like her other solo works. That being said, I did not put down this book from the moment I started it until the moment I finished. While not quite as funny and light-hearted as her other books, the story was quite compelling and well worth
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the read. While I am not a fan of vampires or any of the other supernatural works, I do enjoy a good ghost story, and this book provided both that and a little bit of romance (though I wouldn't have minded a more extensive exploration of the relationship between Andie and North). All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable book. Show Less
LibraryThing member CSMcMahon
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Jennifer Crusie’s latest book, Maybe This Time, from GoodReads. There was a note on the back of the book from an editor singing Crusie’s praises and urging people to read the book. “So, I’m stopping you in the street. I’m grabbing you by the lapels
Generally when I see notes like that from Publishers I’m skeptical - because hey, they have product to sell. But I found myself doing the exact same thing. Halfway through the book I emailed two friends telling them that they had to add the book to the top of their ‘To Be Read’ pile. There was something about it that was so charming. I’ve already loaned out my copy to a coworker with another coworker begging for it next.
Andie Miller is trying to get on with her life and break completely free from her ex-husband, North Archer. She visits him at his office bringing with her ten years of alimony checks. Andie wants North to stop sending the checks because she is looking to marry her fiance and start a new life. North agrees but he has just has one last request. It seems that North was made guardian to two children when a distant cousin passed away. The children have had it rough. They have gone through three different nannies. North requests that Andie “fix” the children so that he could bring them up to live with his family. In exchange for Andie’s assistance North will pay Andie $10,000 a month plus room and board and expenses, a lot of money today - even more in 1992 when the book was set. Andie sees this as an opportunity to eliminate her debt and enter into her marriage without baggage.
Andie reluctantly agrees to move to Southern Ohio and live in the reported haunted house with the creepy children. When she arrives she discovers that the house is being cared for an old woman who could only win an award for worst housekeeper of the year. What follows are adventures involving Andie’s jealous fiance, North’s irresponsible brother “Southie” and his girlfriend - a desperate reporter trying to make a name for herself with her investigative reports, a tarot-card reading mother, a determined ex-mother-in-law, a medium, a professor and a ghost named May. Right as things begin to fall apart North arrives to assist Andie in saving the children.
I’m afraid to admit that I haven’t read Henry James' The Turn of the Screw, the story which inspired Crusie to write this tale. So I can’t comment on how her story borrows or diverts from James’ tale. (I’ve added it to the TBR pile)
I enjoyed that Crusie created a strong female character that wasn’t sitting back and waiting for a man to rescue her. Andie is more than capable of handling the situations that she encounters and when North arrives at the house he moves to help her save the children. And while initially he does so for his love for Andie, he soon grows to love and appreciate the children.
I loved Alice. She was was delightful and I just wanted to take her shopping and watch her pick out sparkly things. Carter was smart, determined and brave. He loves his sister and will do anything to protect her.
While there is some romance between Andie and North it isn’t the focus of the book. It takes a back seat to the story involving Andie trying to care for the children, Carter and Alice, and dealing with the ghosts. This story was more humorous than scary. You can read this book and go to sleep without imagining every movement or noise is a ghost in your home.
I really loved this book. It’s definitely one that I would enjoy re-reading.
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and I’m saying “You’ve got to read this book.”Generally when I see notes like that from Publishers I’m skeptical - because hey, they have product to sell. But I found myself doing the exact same thing. Halfway through the book I emailed two friends telling them that they had to add the book to the top of their ‘To Be Read’ pile. There was something about it that was so charming. I’ve already loaned out my copy to a coworker with another coworker begging for it next.
Andie Miller is trying to get on with her life and break completely free from her ex-husband, North Archer. She visits him at his office bringing with her ten years of alimony checks. Andie wants North to stop sending the checks because she is looking to marry her fiance and start a new life. North agrees but he has just has one last request. It seems that North was made guardian to two children when a distant cousin passed away. The children have had it rough. They have gone through three different nannies. North requests that Andie “fix” the children so that he could bring them up to live with his family. In exchange for Andie’s assistance North will pay Andie $10,000 a month plus room and board and expenses, a lot of money today - even more in 1992 when the book was set. Andie sees this as an opportunity to eliminate her debt and enter into her marriage without baggage.
Andie reluctantly agrees to move to Southern Ohio and live in the reported haunted house with the creepy children. When she arrives she discovers that the house is being cared for an old woman who could only win an award for worst housekeeper of the year. What follows are adventures involving Andie’s jealous fiance, North’s irresponsible brother “Southie” and his girlfriend - a desperate reporter trying to make a name for herself with her investigative reports, a tarot-card reading mother, a determined ex-mother-in-law, a medium, a professor and a ghost named May. Right as things begin to fall apart North arrives to assist Andie in saving the children.
I’m afraid to admit that I haven’t read Henry James' The Turn of the Screw, the story which inspired Crusie to write this tale. So I can’t comment on how her story borrows or diverts from James’ tale. (I’ve added it to the TBR pile)
I enjoyed that Crusie created a strong female character that wasn’t sitting back and waiting for a man to rescue her. Andie is more than capable of handling the situations that she encounters and when North arrives at the house he moves to help her save the children. And while initially he does so for his love for Andie, he soon grows to love and appreciate the children.
I loved Alice. She was was delightful and I just wanted to take her shopping and watch her pick out sparkly things. Carter was smart, determined and brave. He loves his sister and will do anything to protect her.
While there is some romance between Andie and North it isn’t the focus of the book. It takes a back seat to the story involving Andie trying to care for the children, Carter and Alice, and dealing with the ghosts. This story was more humorous than scary. You can read this book and go to sleep without imagining every movement or noise is a ghost in your home.
I really loved this book. It’s definitely one that I would enjoy re-reading.
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LibraryThing member Jac8604
I love Jennifer Crusie's contemporary romances - they're always funny, have interesting characters and plenty of action. Maybe This Time is no exception. While the ghost story part is what it all revolves around, the family dynamics are what the story is really about and what ends up bringing the
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estranged hero and heroine back together. Show Less
LibraryThing member onyx95
Engaged to a nice man who adored her, Andromeda (Andie) Miller just wanted to make a fresh clean start, meaning she had to sever all ties with her ex-husband North Archer, including returning his ten years worth of un-cashed alimony checks. Every time he saw her, he still knew that she was the only
Comedy, Drama, Horror, Suspense - yep, it’s in there. The characters are great, including the ghosts, and their interactions with each other are even better. Jennifer Crusie does such an amazing job of combining contemporary romance with a hit of supernatural. The pre-existing relationship between North and Andie is an emotional rollercoaster - seeing through memories of hers and his the good and the bad of their original relationship and then them coming together (not a spoiler - the romance was predictable from page one). It is partly the romance, but it is also the uninvited guests and the ghosts that make this book so much fun.
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one he would ever love, hearing she was going to re-marry through him and so he did the only thing he could think of to do, he hired her. It was more of a spooky, creepy castle than any home she had ever been in and it was complete with a mote and a rumor of haunting, but the two young children had lost their mother, then their father, and now their aunt, leaving North their legal guardian and he had only been sending nannies to do the job. Finding a way to convince the kids out of the house was going to be tricky, they needed to trust someone and maybe Andie could be that someone. Less than a month into the deal, Andie realized that she had been dreaming of North and not her fiance. Thinking that might be a bad sign, she broke it off with Will but was still not sure of any future with North. It could have been the ghost that had continually put North on her mind, she had been visiting Andie lately, no matter how hard she tried not to believe in them.Comedy, Drama, Horror, Suspense - yep, it’s in there. The characters are great, including the ghosts, and their interactions with each other are even better. Jennifer Crusie does such an amazing job of combining contemporary romance with a hit of supernatural. The pre-existing relationship between North and Andie is an emotional rollercoaster - seeing through memories of hers and his the good and the bad of their original relationship and then them coming together (not a spoiler - the romance was predictable from page one). It is partly the romance, but it is also the uninvited guests and the ghosts that make this book so much fun.
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LibraryThing member readinggeek451
Not as much fun as Crusie's romances usually are. The heart is there, but it's as much a ghost story as it is a romance, so there's horror instead of humor. The kids are great, though.
Worth reading, but not re-reading.
Worth reading, but not re-reading.
LibraryThing member Zedd
Once again Jennifer Crusie delivers a fun, easy and very endearing read with Maybe This Time. Andie and North have been divorced for 10 years, but when North needs a favor Andie just can't help but say yes. Sent to take care of Carter and Alice, North's nephew and niece, Andie finds herself in a
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strange, some say haunted mansion in the middle of nowhere. Not only does Andie face two unruly children but she may just have to face a few ghosts terrorizing the living. Quick, whitty dialouge, quacky characters and of course a little romances makes Maybe This Time the perfect summer read. Show Less
LibraryThing member amf0001
Hot Farce
I liked this a lot better than Crusie's recent collaberations, so much happier with this. I loved how Crusie used Andie's ghost induced dreams to get us to feel her connection with North, and how North's flaws became strengths over the course of the book. I didn't even mind the ghosts, I
I liked this a lot better than Crusie's recent collaberations, so much happier with this. I loved how Crusie used Andie's ghost induced dreams to get us to feel her connection with North, and how North's flaws became strengths over the course of the book. I didn't even mind the ghosts, I
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felt much more comfortable with this supernatural element than with the demons in Wild Ride. I was just surprised that North let it all drag on for 10 years! I liked the teasing referrals to the McKenna's detective agency (from Fast Women) though the brief return of Gabe wasn't enough, I would have loved to see more of him (he's one of my all time fav Crusie men!) Show Less
LibraryThing member susanamper
Crusie is back in near top notch form. Thank goodness she dumped Bob Mayer as co writer for this book at least. He was a real drag on her stories. Maybe This Time has lots of charm and Andie and North are great characters. The book gets a little too ghostie in the last 1/3rd but this is the best
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Crusie book in years. Show Less
LibraryThing member Cajunbooklady
I was able to tell right from the start that I would like this one! I enjoyed the author's fast paced writing style; there was no fumbling over words or over descriptivness. (Is that even a word?) It was a meat & potatoes story right from the start! (Hopefully everyone knows what that expression
It was a refreshingly new storyline (for me) and the characters were very "interesting" shall we say. The lead character Andie was totally spunky and determined.
My only complaint....I don't think the cover matches the story. The cover made me think that it would be a much more "romantic" story but it had just a bit of romance and in my opinion a lot of spook! While looking at the author's website I saw that there were quite a few covers that were looked at. You can see them here. I think they could have gone with a "darker" one.
Really though, that is irrelevant to the story itself. I thought the book itself was excellent and this is an author that I plan on reading more of.
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means LOL!)It was a refreshingly new storyline (for me) and the characters were very "interesting" shall we say. The lead character Andie was totally spunky and determined.
My only complaint....I don't think the cover matches the story. The cover made me think that it would be a much more "romantic" story but it had just a bit of romance and in my opinion a lot of spook! While looking at the author's website I saw that there were quite a few covers that were looked at. You can see them here. I think they could have gone with a "darker" one.
Really though, that is irrelevant to the story itself. I thought the book itself was excellent and this is an author that I plan on reading more of.
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LibraryThing member rdh123
I loved this book. ex husband/wife. ghosts. 2 orphan children, carter and alice. Andie Miller and North Archer. Kind of scary at time but has enough humor to make it light and enjoyable reading. Library book.
andie is sent to an old, haunted house where kids are being raised by nannys who leave
andie is sent to an old, haunted house where kids are being raised by nannys who leave
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because ghosts are present. Show Less
LibraryThing member SunnySD
Engaged to be married, Andie wants to cut all ties with a very brief marriage ten years past. Ex-husband North needs something, too - his two wards need a new nanny. And Andie walks in the door at a very opportune moment.
A very pleasant surprise - Carter and Alice are very believable children, and
A very pleasant surprise - Carter and Alice are very believable children, and
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Andie and North and the whole rest of the odd cast of characters Crusie's created are a riot. Show Less
LibraryThing member sithereandread
MAYBE THIS TIME, by Jennifer Crusie, is a romantic and thrilling book that will keep you glued to the pages. Crusie created a great story that is sweet and almost scary at times. I love the supernatural aspect of the ghosts and how the children factor into everything.
I absolutely loved this book!
I even liked experiencing the mystery of the house and the ghosts that inhabited it. I was pulled back and forth between siding with Andie or North in the debate about the ghosts and Crusie never allowed me to put my guard down until the very end! I liked how Alice and Carter fit into the larger aspect of the book. It was no mystery that these children have seen their share of horrors and neglect but Andie and her determination did stand a chance against them.
I don't think I can give higher praise to this book. It was funny, fresh, romatic, with some added suspense. I highly recommend it to those looking for a great mystery and a little romance.
I absolutely loved this book!
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I fell in love with the characters and I was enamored by their uncontrolled predicaments. Andie was such a doll and I would have loved to snatch her out of the book and make her my best friend. She was extremely patient with Alice and Carter and protected them with every inch of her soul. Crusie also let us into the mind of North, Andie's ex-husband, and it was a pleasurable experience. I thought North and Andie's past was a bit rocky but I am true believer that time heals all wounds, it just took some effort to get Andie thinking the same way. Even some of the more minor characters were hilarious. Mrs. Crumb, as the crochity housekeeper, was ecentric and sometimes too secretive which made me question her motives. I even liked experiencing the mystery of the house and the ghosts that inhabited it. I was pulled back and forth between siding with Andie or North in the debate about the ghosts and Crusie never allowed me to put my guard down until the very end! I liked how Alice and Carter fit into the larger aspect of the book. It was no mystery that these children have seen their share of horrors and neglect but Andie and her determination did stand a chance against them.
I don't think I can give higher praise to this book. It was funny, fresh, romatic, with some added suspense. I highly recommend it to those looking for a great mystery and a little romance.
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LibraryThing member jayble
I have yet to read a book by Jennifer Crusie that I didn't like. The extra additions of ghosts make it an even more compelling read. Normally, I am not a big fan of a hero and heroine who have already screwed up their relationship so much that divorce has either occurred or is about to occur, but
Crusie brings her trademark humor as well as her wonderful characters to life in this book. While romance readers may want much more romance in their novels, I felt this book was more about the characters. Characters who happen to be dealing with many issues, not just issues of the heart.
I think that this is one of her better books, but with Jennifer Crusie, all of her books are fantastic. I highly recommend this fun, supernatural romance novel.
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somehow I liked these characters and cared about their relationship anyway. Only a Jennifer Crusie novel could be so well written.Crusie brings her trademark humor as well as her wonderful characters to life in this book. While romance readers may want much more romance in their novels, I felt this book was more about the characters. Characters who happen to be dealing with many issues, not just issues of the heart.
I think that this is one of her better books, but with Jennifer Crusie, all of her books are fantastic. I highly recommend this fun, supernatural romance novel.
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LibraryThing member Sashana
If you’ve read Cruise’s previous works then you will not be disappointed in this one. This was typical Jennifer Cruise genius, filled with believable, funny, and tender characters. It surprised me that this book included ghost, something completely unique for Cruise. I thought it would be your
After being divorced for 10 years, Andie visits her ex husband, North, to inform him of her upcoming nuptials and to return years of alimony checks. North surprises Andie with an offer she cannot refuse, $10, 000 a month to look after his orphaned cousins, to which Andie grudgingly accepts. Of course there were all the makings of a good ghost story; Creepy house (check!), strange housekeeper (check!), stranger kids (check!), unexplained phenomena (check and check!). Andie feels like she’s losing her mind so she calls for reinforcement. What happens next is for you to find out; I promise you won’t be disappointed :)
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run of the mill contemporary romance but I was pleasantly surprised.After being divorced for 10 years, Andie visits her ex husband, North, to inform him of her upcoming nuptials and to return years of alimony checks. North surprises Andie with an offer she cannot refuse, $10, 000 a month to look after his orphaned cousins, to which Andie grudgingly accepts. Of course there were all the makings of a good ghost story; Creepy house (check!), strange housekeeper (check!), stranger kids (check!), unexplained phenomena (check and check!). Andie feels like she’s losing her mind so she calls for reinforcement. What happens next is for you to find out; I promise you won’t be disappointed :)
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Original publication date
2010-08-12
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Pages
323