Maybe This Time
by Jennifer CrusieARC provided by publisher.
PJVs QUICKIE POV: A sweetly flavored, light, romantic read that left me smiling and interested in reading Crusie's other works. Maybe This Time pairs a delightful heroine with cute, but troubled kids, a haunted mansion, entertaining secondary characters and a sexy and stoic hero that had my mouth watering. The novel kept me guessing with the underlying mystery and engrossed in the story. Overall it was original and fast-paced, gripping from page to page. I highly recommend Maybe This Time.
REVIEW: Andie Miller is finally going to confront her ex, return all his alimony checks that he insists on sending her and inform him of her impending engagement to the perfect Will. To start a new life she must put her past behind her and North Archer is by far, definitely, her past. That is, until she confronts him face to face and the old memories come flooding back - and then out of the blue he offers her a job to "save" his niece and nephew who are practically being held hostage by their fears and grief in a house that is considered haunted. Crazier still, Andie says yes to his proposal, packs up and travels to the small town to take care of poor Alice and Carter Archer.
Andie gets a bit more than she bargained for when she enters Archer House. Two very disturbed and angry children, a very surly housekeeper and a house that is literally falling down around them. Oh, and also a dancing ghost that asks way to many questions about her feelings regarding North and her lack of feelings for Will. Is the situation hopeless? Will the house defeat Andie, or was North correct in his assumption that if anyone could do it, Andie could?
I really enjoyed Maybe This Time and highly recommend this to romance fans. The characters were so highly developed they felt real, the house becoming a character itself as I imagined the moat, the towers and the spiraling staircases and grand ballroom. Crusie has a gift for making the story come alive for the reader. You won't be disappointed with this one. The plot did get a little zany at times, but it added to the confusion and intensity of the story-line. And let's just say that I'll be looking at reporters with Veneers a lot differently now.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Fans of romance should really enjoy this novel, in fact this is a great transition novel for romance readers that are looking to get a little more paranormal. This is an adult read, it's a romance. They romance. ;)
