Getting Rid of Bradley

Hero: 3/10
Heroine: 7/10
Romance: 5/10
Humor: 10/10
Pace: 9/10
Suspense: 3/10

I fell in love with this book instantly. From the characters to the writing to the laugh-out-loud hilarity. The whole time reading the story, I gushed over everything. The dialog, the pace, the snappy and fun banter between all the characters. I was all happy sighs and ear-to-ear smiles. Until the end. When the "hero" punched the neighbors cat so hard thereby "…provoking a scream from her that could have peeled paint." Page 256 of the paperback version.

I'm very disappointed. The author couldn't have him accidentally step on her tail or something?? I've done that before… they can be quite vocal in those circumstances as well. But to PUNCH a cat?! Not cool at all. So, a 5+ star "favorite" read is now 3 stars and headed for the dump. What a pity…

Something was repetitive and a little boring about the conversations during the first third of the book. This was one of the author's first books and it wasn't as good as her later books. I was annoyed that Lucy kept saying she didn't believe she was being shot at and that she was in danger, even though a bullet hit her cheek, and a bomb went off in her car. She went out for a jog and to a beauty parlor when she should have stayed home where she had police protection. There were a few humorous lines, but I'd recommend skipping this book unless you're a die-hard Crusie fan. It was ok, but not what I was used to from her. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: one. Setting: current day U.S. Copyright: 1994. Genre: mystery romance.

I picked up this book because it looked funny and cute, and was happy to see it was well written. As I read it became clear that the author, who obviously likes dogs, is a real cat hater. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I don't have to pay good money to read a book where people hurt them. In the beginning of the book, the neighbor's cat is nearly killed by a bomb explosion, and the hero and heroine react as if it's too bad the cat wasn't killed. Later in the book it says that the cat attacked Zack's (the hero's) leg while it was trapped in their basement,and "he smacked her away with his fist, provoking a scream that could have peeled paint" (actual quote from the book!). A few pages later, he says,"I want to spend the rest of my days plotting with the dogs to kill that damn cat next door". If the cat hadn't triggered the explosion at the beginning of the book, the heroine, Lucy, would be dead. They should be spending the rest of the book feeding that cat fresh tuna!
I know it's not a big deal to some people, but it is to me. I have several cats, whose gentleness and love brings happiness to my life. And people who think that dogs are the only good pets should remember how many children are mauled and killed every year by dogs, not cats.
I will be telling all the people I know to avoid this book, and will never read another of Ms. Crusie's again.

In my opinion, reissue usually = dreadful. However, this novel was lots of fun. Granted, it's not the deepest story ever and some of the character development was pretty abrupt, but when the book was over, I had a big smile on my face. The humor in this book was great--Crusie didn't just have me laughing, she had me snorting. Also, though the hero is far from perfect, he completely charmed me. All in all, an enjoyable read.

With a heavy helping of humor, Jennifer Crusie treats the reader to a fun and witty escapist romance. No, it's probably never going to happen this way, but it's fun, it's charming, and the dogs will warm your hearts too. The Lucy character manages to be smart, cute, sassy and independent, which is a big improvement over some of the lame ladies in romantic fiction. Zach, as the macho policeman, is a bit much but able to be taught. Crusie also allows the reader a certain amount of imagination when it comes to the lustier moments. This book might just be the answer for a cold winter evening.

Her books are always intricately plotted and funny, but this one had some sibling rivalry that struck a chord with me. I felt the characters were all well developed and supported. I am a huge fan of Crusie's books and I might be biased, but this is one book I've read more than once for the reasons I've listed. You can't go wrong with any of her books.

I bought this book after reading some of the the store customer reviews. While I'm a fan of the romance genre, this is my first foray into the "romantic comedy" type book. I have to say, this book was amazing! The characters had a wonderful blend of humor, intelligence, and chemistry. Both Nick and Lucy have this great blend of strength (often that they're not aware of in themselves, but which the other character sees in them) and sensitivity. Plus, I really enjoyed the animal loving aspect to both characters-- it made them seem like people I'd want to know, or might know in real life! (Who among us can't relate to the tug of your heartstrings when you see a stray dog or cat?)Also, the plot was interesting and had a few twists and turns, but nothing that seemed outlandishly implausible. All in all, I'd highly recommend this book and plan to try to read anything Ms. Crusie puts out!

Why do I love books by Jennifer Crusie? There are a multitude of reasons why. She has that special writing quality that makes you not want to miss a word, when other books make you want to just groan and skip a few paragraphs to the more interesting parts. I have read all of Crusie's books and found them all highly entertaining, and this one was not a disappointment! I won't go into the plot because every other reviewer most likely will, be Lucy was witty and adorable, and sexy Zack was tender and so in love with her. And the cute little habit Lucy had of blinking - priceless!

Love this author! Her stories are always light and amusing. This story was quirky and the heroine was imperfect and the storyline had its twists and turns so added together it moved quickly. Just my style!

This was the first book by Jennifer Crusie that i have read and i just loved it. i had got hold of this book on a very 'bad day'. I was very depressed. it was not easy to make me laugh but this book did it. i laughed out loud... and it felt very good! As from now Crusie is my favorite romance writer. Thank you jennifer for writing this book!

This author was recommended to me in a bookstore by another mystery lover...and I'm glad she did. Once I started reading, I didn't want to put it down. The main characters are very likable and easy to relate to. It has just the right amount of romance, mystery, and humor. Now I'll have to read the rest of Jennifer Cruisie's books.

Jacqui Taylor
Author of "The Traveler's Guide to Phtographic New England: MASSACHUSETTS"
[...]

Talk about bad hair days . Lucy has just gotten divorced when she assaults Zack, thinking he's a mugger. Zack is really a detective searching for Lucy's ex-husband. One look at Lucy, her three dogs, and her house and Zack, a confirmed bachelor, is down for the count. Another great Crusie read.

Jennifer Cruise is the best! I love her books and this one lived up to my expectations. The characters were believable and loveable and the action was great. The laughs are still coming whenever I think of this book.

This is a satisfying romantic suspense novel. The two protagonists are well-developed and interesting. The plot keeps you reading, but the good and bad guys are clearly cut in black-and-white from the beginning. A worthwhile read, despite its predictablility.

Crusie's the best at funny, sexy romances. Lucy's a strong female character. The dialog is funny and witty. The chemistry between her and Zach is hot...great sustained tension.The sex is paired with affection and love. I liked it a lot.

This is one of my favorite Crusie books ever. The story is fun and fresh. The hero is deliciously masculine and protective without being overbearing to the point of disgust. The heroine is someone I could relate to really well.

The best thing about this re-release is the new cover. This cover represents the tone of the story much better than the paperback cover.

Overall, a great book with a fancy new cover. I highly recommend it!

I absolutely love Jennifer Crusie's books and her well developed characters. But I have to say, out of all her books, this was my least favorite. Don't get me wrong, it was a good book but it just didn't have the umph her other novels have.

This book was a disappointment in comparison to other Crusie books. Her books were my first foray into contemporary romance. The plot is not too developed or very interesting for that matter. And the main characters, they come off pretty flat.

Very humorous, although I would have liked a little more between the sheets. Okay plot, but the characters were likable enough for me to recommend it for a "quick" read. Also, let me recommend one I just finished, The Color of Revenge. Hot, hot, hot!

I really enjoyed this book. It had a story, great characters and it developed at a good pace. I couldnt put the book down! Most importantly there were some really funny bits in it.

I well recommend this read.

This is a lighthearted romance book with funny dialogues and an interesting mystery. I was going to give it 4 stars, but I didn’t care for the explicit sex scenes, the main characters’ hateful attitude toward the neighbor’s cat, and the part about “smacking the cat with his fist” (You mean “punching the neighbor’s cat”). I don’t find anything funny about animal cruelty. My compliments to the artist who designed the exceptionally beautiful dust-jacket, though.