Maybe This Time: Library Journal
Jul292010
Another bullet dodged. She said optimistically.
Library Journal:
“Andromeda Miller is finally ready to get over her ex-husband, North Archer, and marry again, when he asks her for one last favor. He’s been appointed guardian to two children and can’t seem to keep a nanny—the house the children inherited is supposedly haunted, and the children are, well, odd, causing nannies to flee. Andie agrees to live with the children and tutor them for one month to get them back on track to move in with North and return to school. She discovers that the children aren’t really all that strange, but the house may indeed be inhabited by several ghosts. There are other complications—a crazy, hostile housekeeper; a ghost-hunting TV reporter; and North’s still strong feelings for Andie.
VERDICT: Fans waiting for Crusie to return to her original style of sassy, witty romances after her collaborations with action writer Bob Mayer (Wild Ride) might be a little disappointed with this foray into the paranormal, but her sense of humor and knack for fun characters are all here.” [150,000-copy first printing.]—Rebecca Vnuk, Forest Park, IL
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63 Comments to 'Maybe This Time: Library Journal'
On July 29, 2010 at 1:59 am Micki said...
Can’t wait (-:. I think I need to make the book arrival more of an event . . . should plan some lovely book snacks that will also keep the family fed while I devour this book!
On July 29, 2010 at 2:10 am marly said...
The reviewer got some things right – sense of humor, great characters, etc., but I think she missed the mark a little. Even though the romance takes something of a back seat, it’s there, and definitely sassy and witty. And now I’m thinking about the really hot sex scene. The divine Isaac is fantasy worthy but seemingly buttoned up North pushed all my buttons. I’ll be astonished if anyone is disappointed. And please don’t be mad that I got to read it – it’s almost August!!!!
On July 29, 2010 at 2:37 am marly said...
Why have I been calling him Isaac when his name is Isaiah?!? And I love the name “Isaiah”. Well, whatever I call him, he’s gorgeous and funny. I loved the part where he dropped to his knees and begged Ellen not to make him recite any more. He’s a bell-ringer, all right – and the big bell, at that. Someone said he was her idea of Carpenter. Oh, yeah, I can see that. As great as he is, though, there’s still something about North.
On July 29, 2010 at 3:49 am colognegrrl said...
As much as I love the funny part of this blog, I need to ask a serious question here – it really refers to the last post, but I guess here it might meet more traffic. As much as I know about American English, there still seem to be a few blanks from time to time. So, here goes:
You described the actor of the commercial as “capable of reinventing himself”, in a context which was really positive, so I guess that is meant as a strong point. So far, I always thought that it was rather dubious (yes, there is a German equivalent), meaning that someone is not very stable but constantly looking for a new image. But I suppose that’s not what you meant, right?
On July 29, 2010 at 3:55 am Jenny said...
Hi, CG.
I admire anybody who can move from one thing to another when the time is right. Mustafa had a big football career, and when that was over he didn’t mourn or rest on his laurels, he went into acting. I think the ability to say, “That was great, but now it’s done; moving on now. . .” shows a great deal of emotional and intellectual flexibility, and I admire that.
I read somewhere that the average American has three careers during her or his life. Not jobs, careers. Can’t wait to find out what my third one’s going to be.
On July 29, 2010 at 6:33 am Moth said...
Custom luggage designer?
On July 29, 2010 at 8:01 am Betty Fokker said...
That would work!
On July 29, 2010 at 8:02 am Betty Fokker said...
You are not “average”. Have as many, or few, careers as you want.
On July 30, 2010 at 1:59 am Micki said...
Nooooo! Love the luggage, but let’s ADD it to the skill set, not re-invent the person (-:.
On July 29, 2010 at 9:19 am Jenny said...
Something with art. I miss it. Thank God for Ravelry and the collages because otherwise . . . well, I spent a couple of hours the other night trying to design a logo for the bathroom door that looked like the regular circle-headed woman on regular restroom doors, except I wanted something a little different so I added a dachshund, and then the dachshund wasn’t quite right . . .
Back to the book.
On July 29, 2010 at 10:23 am McB said...
So you know we’re going to want pictures of your bathroom door now, right?
On July 29, 2010 at 11:21 am Jenny said...
It’s not right yet. It was a great concept, but the door is defeating me because it’s one of those paneled mothers with a narrow central panel. It limits my scope.
On July 29, 2010 at 12:02 pm McB said...
You say, “Thank God for Ravelry.” I say, “Ravelry, *&^%.” Because if Ravelry didn’t exist I would have more money in my pocket, and wouldn’t even be considering working a shawl pattern that’s written in Russian!
On July 29, 2010 at 3:58 pm Jenny said...
Ooooh, are those the patterns she does the colored diagrams for? Because I love those patterns.
Try the free Japanese stuff. The charts will make you insane, but the patterns are gorgeous.
On July 29, 2010 at 12:50 pm JulieB said...
Put her in the bathtub. With bubbles.
On July 29, 2010 at 4:04 pm inkgrrl said...
This is why your brain is so much fun to watch
On July 29, 2010 at 4:35 pm Betty Fokker said...
I have the artistic ability of a cave fish. It’s just not my “thing”. I love color tho. And I know what makes me feel ‘happy’ and looks ‘good’ to me. I can also recognize art in that I feel emotion in response. But it’s like music; it is something I cannot replicate. I comfort myself for these shortcoming by having great sex, eating bacon, and listening to the adoring masses chant my name in unison. I muddle through. But I really, really wish I could create art. Or even pretty stuff. So I think that is more *you* than it is a career. It is intrinsic, and thus beyond concepts like career.
On July 29, 2010 at 11:48 pm toni said...
I keep dreaming up website ideas (completely unrelated to writing) and registering the domain names. And then I have no time to create the site.
After this book is done, I am buying a new easel and paints and getting back to my oils. It’s been years, and I am sure I am utter craptastic at it, now, but every time I walk into a gallery, I stand there, choked up, tears in my eyes, because I could be creating. No one need ever see them. I just need to do it.
On July 30, 2010 at 12:01 am Jenny said...
Exactly.
So give: What are the names of the websites?
On July 30, 2010 at 12:28 am toni said...
The one I registered last night (er, 3ish this morning?) is thedailywoman.com
What I want to do is a site which honors women who are amazing–not just famous women (we know those), but women who are doing break-through work in their fields, or who are championing something important, or who have made a difference in the lives of people around them. Strong women, smart women, women from all walks of life.
I realized as I was watching my grand-daughter–who is 2 1/2 now–that all she really has being touted in the media are reality TV stars and actresses and twist-tie thin models. Even athletes get the over-sexed treatment in order to try to appeal to the male sports audience. I want to change that–at least a little corner of the world.
The goal would be to make it a gorgeous site, and to have the ability for people to submit articles for it. (In other words, I couldn’t possibly do that many interviews.) And I’d want it to be a place where women could talk about the obstacles they face in their lives/careers/families–be a place for women reaching out to women.
There may already be something like that out there–but I wanted this to be a daily thing–a new featured woman every day.
Except, you know, the whole “Uh, Toni, you kinda have two other careers going here” thing. (In other words, I need help.)
The other site was themisfitchronicles.com — and I started to put up a site (a photoblog/blog template) and got sidetracked by the book (which really grabbed me by the throat this last month). So the template is about half-way done and, duh, looks like drap.. That was going to be more or less a celebration of always being the weird one, and how that really turned out to be a benefit, years later.
But I like the daily woman one, better.
On July 30, 2010 at 2:05 am Jenny said...
I love the Daily Woman one.
On July 29, 2010 at 5:43 pm Deborah Blake said...
Believe it or not, it isn’t three–it’s SEVEN careers in their lifetimes. So you must be a little behind… (Hey, we all want a little behind, right?)
On July 29, 2010 at 11:56 pm Jenny said...
Whoa. I’m a slacker.
Unless you count all that waitressing I did in college. And my short stint as a switchboard operator. And there was that awful time I sold craft supplies. Or the time I worked in a bookstore (VERY valuable that was, like a boot camp in publishing). And I worked at JoAnn Fabrics for awhile.
Maybe I’m ahead of the game.
On July 29, 2010 at 8:41 am Lora said...
“may be disappointed”?
Bah, I think not.
On July 29, 2010 at 9:21 am Diann said...
What is the reference to VERDICT fans?
On July 29, 2010 at 9:41 am Jenny said...
It’s missing a colon, Diann, which I will put in now. It’s supposed to be
VERDICT:
Fans waiting for Crusie . . .
On July 29, 2010 at 10:12 am Mary Stella said...
If some fans are a tad disappointed that it isn’t an all-out romance, I’m sure the trademark Crusie wit, storytelling and characters will get them over it.
Wishing you an out-of-this-world, high velocity and volume opening for a rocket ride to the NY Times list and a fabulous sell-through on that first printing! (The dogs need kibble.)
On July 29, 2010 at 10:22 am McB said...
I think that’s a pretty good review, actually. I haven’t read the book yet (she says with great impatience) but you’ve said yourself that its a departure from your usual, so I’d say that LJ played fair. You know, some romance readers are hardcore and don’t like anything that strays from the template; but I think most Crusie fans read your books for the great dialogue and memorable characters. So its all good.
CG – I understand where you are coming from with the questions. Someone who is constantly reinventing themself because they need the rush or get bored easily is lacking in stability. But someone who can, when a good run has ended, pick themselves up and dust themselves off and start again with a positive attitude – that’s something to be admired.
On July 29, 2010 at 12:47 pm colognegrrl said...
Thanks for dealing with my question. I can see why this is very positive in the case of this special person, but up to now I had met the term in more questionable cases. So obviously, it’s a matter of individual contexts.
On July 29, 2010 at 3:59 pm Jenny said...
You always ask great questions. It may be a cultural thing, too. Americans love new and shiny. Well, I love new and shiny.
On July 29, 2010 at 4:37 pm Betty Fokker said...
Shiny beats dull … unless you are in camo. Then you are toast.
On July 29, 2010 at 12:20 pm Jacie said...
I like the idea of a “departure”. Who wants to read the same book, where only the names were changed, over and over again? Well… I guess maybe a lot of people.
I recently read two books by an author after reading and enjoying the first book I’d read by the same writer. The second two books were so close to the first, it was like the author was following a template.
I would much rather read a variety of different stories from my favorite authors, rather than the same story where only the names and cities have been changed (for instance, instead of the youngest, most beautiful VP of marketing the firm had ever seen, she’s the youngest, most beautiful VP of FINANCE in the history of the firm).
Which all leads me to…The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes. It came in the mail yesterday, and right after listening to the audio of the wonderful Dogs and Goddesses, and discovering Getting Rid of Bradley on a trip home from Dallas, I can’t wait to read it. I actually have a stack of books to read (literally, a box of 40 books that I picked up on eBay), but I keep getting distracted by The Crusies.
On July 29, 2010 at 2:22 pm Susan D said...
“Distracted by The Crusies.” I like that.
On July 29, 2010 at 3:55 pm Electric Landlady said...
Sounds like a girl group waiting to happen!
On July 29, 2010 at 3:47 pm Jenna said...
150,000? are you sure that will be enough?
On July 29, 2010 at 4:01 pm Jenny said...
That’s way inflated. Never believe any number anybody in publishing quotes to you. The print runs are always at least doubled from the real print run. A friend of mine once had a reported print run of 100,000 and they printed 50,000. Except her book became a runaway bestseller and she hit 100,000 with reprints in the first weeks the book was out so the print run was real. Which only meant they could have reported 200,000 so her editor was annoyed.
On July 29, 2010 at 3:50 pm Jennifer said...
Honestly, I’m bored with fantasy and paranormal. I read them nearly exclusively for over twenty years, and I have the elf ears to prove it.
But Maybe This Time didn’t feel like a paranormal- I mean, except for the ghosts, of course. It read like a Crusie. Complex characters who stick with you, and a plot that won’t let you put the book down until you’ve finished the last page.
Of course there will be a few people who are disappointed. There are always a few, right? The vocal ones.
But I’m betting the vast majority of Crusie fans are going to be thrilled. After all, I’m bored with paranormal, and I loved it.
On July 29, 2010 at 4:02 pm Jenny said...
Oh, good. I was a little worried with everybody focusing on the ghosts in the review. This is very reassuring.
On July 29, 2010 at 5:49 pm Deborah Blake said...
I haven’t read the book yet (argh!) but I haven’t been thinking of it as a paranormal–just a book with ghosts in it.
On July 29, 2010 at 6:14 pm marly said...
Yes, exactly – plus, take a group of people and ask if anyone in the group believes in vampires or werewolves. There probably won’t any takers. Ask how many believe in ghosts, and a lot of hands go up.
On July 29, 2010 at 4:39 pm Betty Fokker said...
It’s true … you characters are so developed that, in my head, they feel like people I have “met” and hung out with. That is super-awesome with a side-order of cool beans.
On July 29, 2010 at 4:44 pm McB said...
Jenny – in reply to your comment about the Russian pattern, yes, its one that’s charted in colors. The Scarlet Evening Shawl. It also has a Google English translation which is really hysterical … “Classic, geometrically calibrated cell inherent rather masculine things, but softened by a filigree pattern of simple arches, it is perfect for women’s evening dresses. “
I do have a Pierrot pattern queued, a really simple looking cardigan. I’m still not brave enough to start it, but I’m collecting tips and info on Japanese charting while I work up my courage.
I don’t think I’ll be starting either for a little while yet, but I love dreaming over geometrically callibrated inherent cells in the meantime..
On July 29, 2010 at 5:32 pm Jenny said...
I have that one queued. So pretty. Also the Drops scarf which people swear is easy but that border gives me pause (http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/visoppskrift.php?d_nr=104&d_id=11&lang=us). Still there’s a chart. Charts have saved me many times.
On July 29, 2010 at 6:31 pm colognegrrl said...
Long ago, I made a similar scarf. The problem was I never wore it – when do you wear stuff like that, particularly when you work from home?
I wonder what happened to it. Maybe it left by itself because it felt so neglected.
On July 29, 2010 at 11:58 pm Jenny said...
I thought it’d look great with a winter coat. Of course, I’m often wrong.
On July 29, 2010 at 8:09 pm McB said...
I see what you mean. It might be a struggle at first, but I bet once you get it down it won’t be bad. And with charts too …
On July 29, 2010 at 10:29 pm Merry said...
Craft people. You’re all mad; you do realize that, don’t you?
On July 30, 2010 at 12:00 am Jenny said...
No, we would be mad if we didn’t make things. It siphons off the crazy.
On July 29, 2010 at 10:31 pm Merry said...
Um… in a cheerful, kind, non-violent way, that is.
On July 29, 2010 at 10:53 pm McB said...
Bwhahahaha!!!!
On July 29, 2010 at 6:32 pm Brooke said...
Disappointed? Never! Library Journal, shut yo mouth!
On July 29, 2010 at 9:33 pm GatorPerson said...
You could give the dog a “fool the eye” (forget the French words) doggie door of one of the bottom panels so that he’s halfway through the door.
On July 29, 2010 at 9:49 pm Skye said...
Trompe l’oeil
On July 29, 2010 at 10:48 pm Betty Fokker said...
Gesundheit.
On July 30, 2010 at 12:00 am Jenny said...
trompe l’ oeil
The problem is, it has to be super simple to evoke the restroom graphic connection. I did a darling silhouette of a dachshund that was completely unusable because it wasn’t simple enough. Have to do the dachshund equivalent of a round ball for a head. That simple.
On July 29, 2010 at 10:37 pm Louis said...
Three for three….even if one is a bit left handed.
Still looking forward to reading this one. (on order)
On July 29, 2010 at 11:22 pm Ami said...
I found my first Crusie at the local library (Faking It) about six years ago and what I liked about it was that it had a bit of romance, a bit of mystery, and off-beat characters. I went back and checked out everything else with your name on it. Why would LJ think I’d be disappointed with a new book that is a bit of romance, a bit of mystery, off-beat characters, AND ghosts?
On July 30, 2010 at 12:01 am Jenny said...
Oh, some of the reviewers on Amazon are already annoyed about that. If you’re reading for romance, there’s not enough there. It’s okay. I knew the job was dangerous when I took it.
On July 30, 2010 at 2:07 am Micki said...
Obviously, to off-set the one-track minds who want pure, “unadulterated” romance, I’m going to have to shout: I LIKE ME SOME GENRE-BENDING IN MY BOOKS. (-: OK, I’m done shouting until I get the book.
@ Toni: I think the dailywoman is a fabulous idea. It’d be a boon for social studies teachers, too, and other educators. I hope you’ll get it off the ground!
On July 30, 2010 at 2:36 am toni said...
Thank you, Jenny & Micki–it’s really encouraging to hear it might have a wider appeal than my hazy addled brain had originally thought. I do love the idea, and in a beautiful magazine-style layout, I think it could have wide appeal. (Well, I see what I’ll be doing in my spare time now!)
On July 30, 2010 at 10:11 pm George said...
Toni, you could definitely count me among the many who would cry hallelujah to find such a wonderfully valuable resource as your website. Strong everyday (contemporary! YAY!) role models for young women to emulate are grossly underrepresented in today’s media, and you’d better believe I would be recommending it far and wide (and since Australia is quite literally the end of the earth, and pretty damn wide to boot, that’s a guarantee).
As Kerry Greenwood puts it, “Not that one woman can, but that every woman can.”
The real tragedy is that most of the seemingly brainless sex-kittens who are put forward as role models these days are almost certainly intelligent, capable women who have been indoctrinated into believing that the only way they can get ahead is by exploiting their bodies, as opposed to other assets… *sigh*
On July 30, 2010 at 9:10 am stephanie said...
i’m just scrolling through the comments while watching the kidlets run around the yard with sharp pointy sticks so my focus isn’t entirely on what’s been said and now I have a vision of trompe l’oeil doggie butts disappearing into imaginary bathroom doggie doors. it’s an interesting visual.
as for ravelry and argh inspired crafts i’ve worked two of the knitted curly scarves and while they are beautiful they really gnarled my fingers and because they are knitted vertically they can only get but so long so I’m moving on to another pattern. Many thanks for pointing out where the curly scarf/ boas were in ravelry and hopefully i’ll have pics to post soon in the cherry group on ravelry
On August 1, 2010 at 12:22 pm KerryK said...
I’m late to the comments as I am playing catch-up. Jenny, as soon as you said simple and dachshund, the balloon ones came to mind. I don’t know if people still do it but in my younger days at fairs etc. someone would make all different types of animals with balloons, clean lines and with dachs being so recognizable shouldn’t be a problem.
As for art I adore it, paintings, sculpture, pottery – you name it I love it. The thing is for years I thought that I had zero talent, then one day a beading book passed through my hands, bells and whistles, this I can do. AND I WAS RIGHT! I realize there is a huge battle between art and crafts, but my feeling is that putting colors that work together is part of the artist eye, not to mention coming up with designs. It fills my need to create. I also got into interior design which works my creative juices.