57 of 57 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mistaken Identity Theme Done Well For A Change, June 6, 2002
This review is from: Trust Me on This (Loveswept) (Paperback)
In this book Ms. Crusie gives us two fine romances for the price of one. The mistaken identity theme concerns the thirty-somethings' romance, and there's also a romance between a "mature" couple that puts a new twist on the older woman/younger man storyline. Both romances are fun, sexy, and true to their characters.
Dennie Banks is stuck in a dead-end society page reporter's job and decides to take charge of her life and get an interview with a famous writer who's know for her astute observations about interpersonal relationships. However Dennie has just gotten the scoop that the writer is on the verge of a divorce, and she sees this as her chance for the big time. Alec Prentice works for the government investigating fraud cases. He is on the trail of a land swindler, and just happens to wind up at the same conference that Dennie is attending. Of course, he mistakes her for the swindler's accomplice, and the story takes off from there. It is pure fun to watch two people who are used to getting their own way on charm alone finally meet their match.
In other hands this would be a trite and ho-hum story, but Ms. Crusie's excellent characterizations and sharp dialogue make this a joy to read. What I like best about her writing is that she lets you know all of the main characters' thoughts and emotions, not just the female lead. This is one book that is worth finding, and here's hoping that it'll be reissued soon.
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37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Vintage Crusie, September 12, 2006
This review is from: Trust Me on This (Loveswept) (Paperback)
The word that best describes TMOT is fun. I started smiling practically on the first page, and by the time the book was over, my face was aching from laughing so hard.
Reporter Dennie Banks is in a bad place professionally, so she needs a good story, an important story. Her best idea is to go to an upcoming Literary Conference to try to interview a famous feminist author, the authority on what makes a good marriage. See, Dennie has just caught wind of the woman's impending divorce, and she just knows this will be an incredible story.
Of course, Dennie very definitely does not intend to exploit this story. Oh, no, she wants to help, she wants to make sure the first story to come out about it is respectful and sympathetic, hoping this might set the tone for the rest of the press' coverage. Too bad she doesn't handle the initial approach very well. The author doesn't believe her, and Dennie ends up accused of harassment and almost kicked out of the hotel where the conference is taking place. But she refuses to give up. She will get this interview, even if she has to approach her quarry in an indirect way, maybe through one of her friends...
Also present at the hotel is Alec Prentice, a Federal agent working undercover to catch a conman. Alec is there with his aunt Victoria, a well-known academic. Through some funny coincidences, he becomes convinced that Dennie is an accomplice of the conman he's hunting, and so it begins: Alec trying to use Dennie to get at his man, and Dennie trying to use Alec to get at her woman, because it just so happens that Alec's aunt is very good friends with her...
I think what I loved best of all here was the dialogue. That was the main thing that kept me smiling. No one does banter like Crusie. It's witty and funny and it makes the chemistry between Alec and Dennie just sizzle.
And there is quite a lot of chemistry between them in the first place. There's tons of energy in their relationship, and you could see the compatibility perfectly. Sometimes you don't really understand why these two people in particular are so hung up on one another, but with Alec and Dennie it's so obvious. It's really obvious they are absolutely perfect for one another, and when they think that they'll never find someone who suits them so well as the other person, I had to agree completely.
There's also a wonderful secondary romance here, between Harry, Alec's boss, and Victoria, his aunt. This was a surprisingly sweet romance, considering how strong and temperamental these were, and though they don't get much space, Harry and Victoria totally steal the show when they're onstage.
Even the conman plot (which is a theme I usually don't see why people are so fascinated with, really), with all its comings and goings, was entertaining and felt fresh. I really urge you to pick this one up if you ever come accross it in a UBS, and not just because of the great resale value!
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hackneyed, November 14, 2010
First of all, I love Jennifer Crusie, but there's a reason why this book has been out of print for so long. Early Crusie includes such winners as Manhunting, Getting Rid of Bradley and What the Lady Wants, books that had heart, zinging dialogue, interesting characters and plots that weren't entirely predictable. This book is a paint-by-numbers affair. Supposedly, a "screwball" comedy, the plot is completely predictable. The characters are ok but we've seen their like before and the dialogue, while not bad, does not measure up either to Cruise's earlier or later efforts. It's not a bad book, it's just that the reader has read it many times before.
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