I don't know how to say this without saying it in this way . . . there are no books like Jennifer Crusie books. There's a rhythm, a beat, a tempo and it's easy to find yourself out of sync with her if you're not paying attention. I mean this as a compliment: like, there is a precision to the timing of her dialogue and it feels like a well-crafted screenplay. A bit of a, "stay in your seats so you don't miss out on the action."


some cw's: death of spouse (MMC's wife dies, historical), death of parent (MMC's father dies, mother of MMC's daughter dies both historical), cheating (FMC is in a relationship with someone when she begins a sexual relationship with the MMC, so technically cheating however it was clear the FMC was trying to break up with this person for a while - and even on page tried to break up with them over the phone but they were trying to manipulate her - long story long, cheating in books isn't an issue for me and the cheating in this book didn't bother me since imo it was a gray area), drugging (FMC's brother drugged someone in high school), on-page sex, difficult family dynamics ( )

Funny, but a bit more erotic that first one I read.

cuuuuuuuuute! ( )

It’s marvellous to love a book as much on a re-read years later as much as when first read. This is one of those. I still rank this as Crusie’s best book. A steamy small town romance and mystery perfectly blended. This is a rare book where not one sentence seems out of place. With a perfect balance of characters (especially Sophie and Phin), and an ending that still made me laugh and smile, this book brings a bright meaning to carrying on family traditions. Top marks. ( )

Welcome to Temptation
4.5 Stars

Invited to Temptation, Ohio to shoot a short film, Sophie Dempsey wants nothing more than to finish the job and get out of town as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, events and sexy mayor, Phin Tucker, conspire against her. Before she knows it, Sophie is embroiled in a multitude of mayhem including blackmail. adultery and murder.

While this is a delightful small town romp with well-developed characters and an engaging storyline, it is also a product of its time (the early 2000s) in terms of the portrayal of and expectations from women in a small town.

Sophie and Phin's opposites attract romance is very appealing and they have fantastic chemistry. The only issue here is that he sometimes comes across as a preppie jerk who needs a good kick in the pants, but he does grovel quite well when necessary.

The murder and mayhem plot is reminiscent of a good British who-dun-it ala Midsomer Murders. There are numerous suspects as almost everyone in town wanted the victim dead, and the entire scenario is laigh-out-loud ridiculous.

All in all, a fun way to spend an afternoon and the book is recommended for fans of Rachel Gibson, Victoria Dahl, and Susan Elizabeth Phillips. ( )