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Title: The Cinderella Deal
Author: Jennifer Crusie
Genre: Contemporary romance
Thingummies: 3.5
Synopsis: Conservative, buttoned-up Linc lies about a fiancee in a job interview and suddenly is required to produce her. When he pays his flighty neighbor to pose as his intended for the weekend, he gets more than he bargained for.
Thoughts: The whole "pretend to be married and actually fall in love" is an old standard in the genre, and I was looking forward to seeing what spin Crusie gave it. Unfortunately, this is one of her weaker efforts, I think. Fortunately, even a mediocre Crusie is often better than many other romances.
I have to admit, I didn't like Daisy much from the beginning. She's kind of an immature idiot. Fortunately, she grows up over the course of the book, becoming a real adult instead of staying in Manic Pixie Dream Girl land. (Points just for that--yes, stick-up-his-butt Linc needs to learn how to loosen up, but Daisy also needs to learn how to become a little more responsible. When they're each acting like reasonable, well-adjusted human beings, then they're capable of having a romance on equal terms. I like that no one coasts here, and they both have flaws to overcome.)
It's quick read, but I'm not sure that there's really ever that much in the way of stakes. There are a couple of moments that were really sweet--I especially loved Daisy's second Christmas present. But there's also a lot of missed opportunities. Linc's mom folds too easily. The lecherous department chair does, too. A huge deal is made over Linc's car--Daisy doesn't understand why he loves it. If he ever explained, she'd understand him a lot better. But it seems like that scene got forgotten--it's meticulously set up, and then never happens, and the new car at the end feels a bit like a betrayal of Linc's own personality. And while everyone doesn't always have to end up happily ever after with everyone else, I found Prof. Eeyore's abandonment by the plot to be disappointing. I was expecting, if not a happily-ever-after ending for him, at least an ending. Caroline the Ice Queen gets a similar sudden disappearance.
It's sweet, if not nearly as hot or as funny as some others. The characters sometimes act like idiots, but they don't stay that way. Perfectly serviceable, if not stand-out.
Author: Jennifer Crusie
Genre: Contemporary romance
Thingummies: 3.5
Synopsis: Conservative, buttoned-up Linc lies about a fiancee in a job interview and suddenly is required to produce her. When he pays his flighty neighbor to pose as his intended for the weekend, he gets more than he bargained for.
Thoughts: The whole "pretend to be married and actually fall in love" is an old standard in the genre, and I was looking forward to seeing what spin Crusie gave it. Unfortunately, this is one of her weaker efforts, I think. Fortunately, even a mediocre Crusie is often better than many other romances.
I have to admit, I didn't like Daisy much from the beginning. She's kind of an immature idiot. Fortunately, she grows up over the course of the book, becoming a real adult instead of staying in Manic Pixie Dream Girl land. (Points just for that--yes, stick-up-his-butt Linc needs to learn how to loosen up, but Daisy also needs to learn how to become a little more responsible. When they're each acting like reasonable, well-adjusted human beings, then they're capable of having a romance on equal terms. I like that no one coasts here, and they both have flaws to overcome.)
It's quick read, but I'm not sure that there's really ever that much in the way of stakes. There are a couple of moments that were really sweet--I especially loved Daisy's second Christmas present. But there's also a lot of missed opportunities. Linc's mom folds too easily. The lecherous department chair does, too. A huge deal is made over Linc's car--Daisy doesn't understand why he loves it. If he ever explained, she'd understand him a lot better. But it seems like that scene got forgotten--it's meticulously set up, and then never happens, and the new car at the end feels a bit like a betrayal of Linc's own personality. And while everyone doesn't always have to end up happily ever after with everyone else, I found Prof. Eeyore's abandonment by the plot to be disappointing. I was expecting, if not a happily-ever-after ending for him, at least an ending. Caroline the Ice Queen gets a similar sudden disappearance.
It's sweet, if not nearly as hot or as funny as some others. The characters sometimes act like idiots, but they don't stay that way. Perfectly serviceable, if not stand-out.
