electric mist

Don't Look Down

So Monday night, when I was stressing over the big screw up I'd managed to do with the deadline (previously mentioned), I was so freaking relieved to have a fun book to read to keep me from completely wigging. (I can be one with the stress, lemme tell you.)

I had been eagerly waiting for Don't Look Down, a Jennifer Cruisie and Bob Mayer collaboration, particularly after following their progress on their hilarious blog. (They have been blogging about both the good and the bad of collaborating and now, of their 40 city book tour, and every freaking blog entry has me cracking up. On one a couple of days ago, Bob had handed Jenny her apartment key, then hours later, forgot he'd done so and had her frantically help him look for a lost key -- and in that typical manly way, neglected to mention he thought he'd lost hers and let her assume she was helping him find his. When she finally realized what was going on, she reminded him he'd given her key to her earlier and he was so frustrated at the wasted time, he snapped, "Why didn't you tell me?" To which she replied, "Bob, you were there when you gave it to me... I assumed you knew.")

The book was a kick to read. It's a terrific blend of action, banter, great pacing, fun, well-drawn characters and loads of humor. It has Cruisie's humor (which I expected and love) and Bob's dry wit (which was great). It's being billed as a Romantic Adventure, which is a sort of experiment at coining a new genre term, and I hope it works, because its pacing and humor while keeping a mystery and action and tension throughout is similar to what the Bobbie Faye books will be. (See the "about" section, on the left.... except mine's very much action/adventure with a side order of crazy thrown in.) I particularly like the inside type of information Bob infused his J.T. Wilder with, the type of Green Beret POV that (usually) only a real Green Beret can bring to the game, and it made Wilder very interesting and not just a generic "good soldier" type. So if you want to laugh and enjoy a romp, go get it. You'll have fun.

(Note to Bob.... Ta Da. Now that's all of the talking points. I think. And there is no grim on book tours.)

Posted by toni at April 7, 2006 12:30 AM