[RLY]∎ PDF Free Dogs and Goddesses A Novel Jennifer Crusie Anne Stuart 9780312944377 Books

Dogs and Goddesses A Novel Jennifer Crusie Anne Stuart 9780312944377 Books

Download As PDF : Dogs and Goddesses A Novel Jennifer Crusie Anne Stuart 9780312944377 Books

Dogs and Goddesses A Novel Jennifer Crusie Anne Stuart 9780312944377 Books

I have never read any of Jennifer Crusie's books before and I really didn't know what to except when I read Maybe This Time. When I was asked to review the book, I was drawn to it because of the paranormal twist. I think that sometimes readers think that adult books will have a YA appeal because of the paranormal element in the book, but this is not the case with Maybe This Time. I think adults who like a little bit of romance with a paranormal twist may enjoy it.

Maybe This Time follows the book's main character Andie, as she wants to rid her ex-husband of 10 years, a prominent lawyer, North Archer from her life once and for all. When she goes to his law office to do just that, she finds herself falling for him all over again. Not one to show weakness, Andie fights that feeling and finds herself saying Yes in helping him for a month. She is to go and take care of Alice and Carter, the two kids North is a guardian for. The kids live in an old Victorian style house that was brought over from England about a hundred years ago, and they refuse to leave the house, even though attempts have been made numerous times to move them up with Archer. While they have a caregiver, the nanny's keep running away.

Having never wanted to be a mother, Andie's maternal instincts take over the minute she meets the kids, but she also realizes something is not right in the house. Not only have the children never been properly cared for, but the house is very haunted. After a series of events, North returns to the house to help Andie, both their mothers are there, North's brother, and team of people who are their to investigate the ghosts. As things heat up, the ghosts become stronger, though they'd never harm the children, nothing has stopped them from killing in the past and nothing can stop them now. Andie and North (who doesn't believe in ghosts) will stop at nothing to protect the children and each other.

What I did like- I really loved how Andie came in and took charge over the children. She is one feisty character who came to care for and love two very broken kids and worked to make them better. Where everyone else gave up on them, I should say ran away, because of the ghosts that live in the house, Andie stood her ground to everyone and every ghost in order to protect the kids. I loved seeing her relationship with kids grow and seeing the kids come around and grow to love Andie. I liked the chemistry North and Andie have, as even after being divorced for 10 years neither has gotten over the other one. They both try to deny the feelings they have for each other at first, but in the end their hearts win out. I liked both North and Andie's mothers. Bothof them have some great flaws, but both are fiercely protective of their adult children, but not in that overbearingly bad way. I did like the ghosts/haunting in the book. It was a little creepy and a little predictable, but it was still good.

What I didn't like- I had a hard time getting into the story, until close to the end. There wasn't enough character building or plot depth to really keep me hooked. Over all there wasn't any depth to the story. I had a hard time finding the characters relatable. The story left me feeling a little empty, as I didn't take anything away from it. I didn't care for the language that's spread through out the book. I'll be honest, I'm not a big fan of the F word. I over it look it if it's used or twice, but more than that and it totally bugs me and sometimes will completely turn me off of the book. I didn't care for the sex scenes, even if it was hot. But, it's an adult book and that's excepted, it's just something that wasn't for me. I wanted to sit down and get lot in a great love story with a paranormal twist and that didn't happen.

Though Maybe This Time wasn't my cup of tea, but many adult readers & Jennifer Cruise fans may enjoy it.


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Dogs and Goddesses A Novel Jennifer Crusie Anne Stuart 9780312944377 Books Reviews

Andie Miller hasn't seen her ex-husband North Archer in 10 years. Their marriage was passionate, but Andie resented North's workaholic tendencies and the two divorced after only a year. Andie arranges a meeting with North, ostensibly to return his uncashed alimony checks and inform him of her intention to remarry, but what she's really looking for is closure - to confirm to herself that her feelings for North are really, truly a thing of the past.

North manages to convince Andie to help him out with two young orphans that have been left in his care. They have been living in another part of the state with a housekeeper and a succession of nannies.

It doesn't take long for Andie to figure out why the nannies have all beat a hasty retreat. It's hard to decide which is creepier the house, the kids or ... the ghosts. Will Andie stand a chance against the undead? More to the point, will her future husband stand a chance against her not-so-ex husband?

I did enjoy this story, but it's not at all what I expected. Let's start with the "good stuff". I liked the fact that the story was set in 1992. Since that's about when I first started reading Jennifer Crusie it had a certain nostalgia. Andie is a trademark Crusie heroine attractive in a down-to-earth kind of way with a caustic wit and offbeat sense of humor. The supporting characters are quirky and well drawn and the story never dragged. It may not have been the story I was looking for, but I was certainly never bored. The "ghostly" bits are sufficiently scary without sacrificing the overall comedic tone of the book. That last part is tricky but the author does pull it off.

And yet I was disappointed. When I heard there was a new Crusie solo release I hit that pre-order button, no questions asked. Why? Because if you want a good contemporary romance you just can't beat Jennifer Crusie. Problem is, this really isn't a romance, or at least not much of one. The main relationship takes place between Andie and the little girl, Alice. Yes, there are scenes dedicated to Andie and North, but they felt like window dressing. The focus of this story is Andie's heart being won over by little Alice (although frankly it just seems to "happen" - one minute they're just two strange, distant children; the next Andie can't live without them).

Bottom Line It's a fun story but if you're expecting a vintage Crusie romance ala "Bet Me" or "Welcome to Temptation", you may be disappointed. If you don't like stories with a strong paranormal aspect then give it a pass.

Occasional strong language and some very mild sexual content.
This is the story about a young woman who is ten years divorced. She goes to her ex and returns to him all his alimony checks which she had not cashed with the purpose of severing even those ties so she could move on and agree to marry her current beau. While there he asks her to take a month and go to the family home out in the country where he has two wards he needs to have evaluated. She's a teacher and he feels she could do this so he knows how to help the two kids who are having problems. Reluctantly she agrees. When she gets there she finds her entire world changes. She falls in love with the kids. Sees ghosts. Realizes she still loves her ex and breaks off her engagement with her current beau. It's a ghostly love story all in one and a very good read.
I have never read any of Jennifer Crusie's books before and I really didn't know what to except when I read Maybe This Time. When I was asked to review the book, I was drawn to it because of the paranormal twist. I think that sometimes readers think that adult books will have a YA appeal because of the paranormal element in the book, but this is not the case with Maybe This Time. I think adults who like a little bit of romance with a paranormal twist may enjoy it.

Maybe This Time follows the book's main character Andie, as she wants to rid her ex-husband of 10 years, a prominent lawyer, North Archer from her life once and for all. When she goes to his law office to do just that, she finds herself falling for him all over again. Not one to show weakness, Andie fights that feeling and finds herself saying Yes in helping him for a month. She is to go and take care of Alice and Carter, the two kids North is a guardian for. The kids live in an old Victorian style house that was brought over from England about a hundred years ago, and they refuse to leave the house, even though attempts have been made numerous times to move them up with Archer. While they have a caregiver, the nanny's keep running away.

Having never wanted to be a mother, Andie's maternal instincts take over the minute she meets the kids, but she also realizes something is not right in the house. Not only have the children never been properly cared for, but the house is very haunted. After a series of events, North returns to the house to help Andie, both their mothers are there, North's brother, and team of people who are their to investigate the ghosts. As things heat up, the ghosts become stronger, though they'd never harm the children, nothing has stopped them from killing in the past and nothing can stop them now. Andie and North (who doesn't believe in ghosts) will stop at nothing to protect the children and each other.

What I did like- I really loved how Andie came in and took charge over the children. She is one feisty character who came to care for and love two very broken kids and worked to make them better. Where everyone else gave up on them, I should say ran away, because of the ghosts that live in the house, Andie stood her ground to everyone and every ghost in order to protect the kids. I loved seeing her relationship with kids grow and seeing the kids come around and grow to love Andie. I liked the chemistry North and Andie have, as even after being divorced for 10 years neither has gotten over the other one. They both try to deny the feelings they have for each other at first, but in the end their hearts win out. I liked both North and Andie's mothers. Bothof them have some great flaws, but both are fiercely protective of their adult children, but not in that overbearingly bad way. I did like the ghosts/haunting in the book. It was a little creepy and a little predictable, but it was still good.

What I didn't like- I had a hard time getting into the story, until close to the end. There wasn't enough character building or plot depth to really keep me hooked. Over all there wasn't any depth to the story. I had a hard time finding the characters relatable. The story left me feeling a little empty, as I didn't take anything away from it. I didn't care for the language that's spread through out the book. I'll be honest, I'm not a big fan of the F word. I over it look it if it's used or twice, but more than that and it totally bugs me and sometimes will completely turn me off of the book. I didn't care for the sex scenes, even if it was hot. But, it's an adult book and that's excepted, it's just something that wasn't for me. I wanted to sit down and get lot in a great love story with a paranormal twist and that didn't happen.

Though Maybe This Time wasn't my cup of tea, but many adult readers & Jennifer Cruise fans may enjoy it.