Don't Look Down

May 1, 2006
The pairing of readers Lawlor and Raudman misses more than it hits in this uneven audiobook. Lucy Armstrong, a director of dog food commercials, accepts the job of helming the last four days of an action-adventure movie. Before she has a chance to spend time with her sister, Daisy, who is also working on the film, Lucy is soon embroiled in a real-life adventure involving money laundering, kidnapping, the Russian mob, a one-eyed alligator and a most unexpected romance. In theory, the idea of having two readers portraying the male and female characters of a novel, as well as rotating chapters to correspond with the book's alternating viewpoints, would seem like a good one. Unfortunately, the audio suffers from poor production values. Raudman gives a rich, intimate sound to her reading, but Lawlor seems to be stuck in the next room for his, thus destroying any attempt at realistic dialogue between the characters. The book itself is a fun bit of fluff, and each reader individually gives a fine performance, but the contrast in sound quality and acting styles proves more distracting than effective. Simultaneous release with the St. Martin's Press hardcover. (Reviews, Feb. 27).

February 27, 2006
A one-eyed alligator and a pre-Columbian collection of jade phallic symbols figure into this nutty swampland romp from Crusie (Faking It
, etc.) and Mayer (Operation Dragon-Sim
, etc.). Lucy Armstrong takes a break from doing dog food commercials to take over a full-length feature shoot in the Savannah River swamps, where she finds half the crew is missing, her ex-husband in charge of stunts and a nonsensical script. Meanwhile, Green Beret J.T. Wilder, stunt double to the lead actor who secretly works for the CIA, thought this gig would be easy money, but he soon finds himself embroiled in a money laundering scheme while trying to catch an arms dealer for the Russian mob, tracking a spy through the muck and resisting his growing desire for a woman who looks like Wonder Woman—Armstrong, natch. Plenty of big guns, helicopters, clichéd gender dynamics and light repartee follow—and it's all in good fun. Readers will be happy to get a bit damp.

March 1, 2006
Noted romance/chick-lit author Crusie ("Bet Me" and adventure author Mayer ("Z: A Dave Reilly Novel" team up with mixed results in this not-really-a-romance, not-really-a-thriller offering. Sensible film director Lucy is recruited to finish up a movie shoot and encounters hard-living Green Beret J.T. Wilder. The one thing they have in common is that neither of them really wants to be there. Lucy is miserable dealing with her ex-husband, the stunt coordinator for the film, and J.T., who has been hired as an advisor, ends up baby-sitting a wannabe action star. The whole production is shrouded in mystery, right down to its sources of financing (turns out it -s a money-laundering scheme for a terrorism supporter). Romantic intrigue among cast members, bumbling CIA agents, a swamp sniper, and Lucy -s family problems round out a detailed and often overly busy plot. While the writing is seamless, fans of Crusie will miss her usually snappy style and steamy love scenes. Still, her name alone is bound to generate demand. For most public libraries." -Rebecca Vnuk, River Forest P.L., IL"

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2006
It sounded simple. Go to Savannah. Finish directing an action-adventure film. Earn some quick money. Get a chance to see sister Daisy and niece Pepper. Instead, as soon as Lucy Armstrong arrives on the set of " Don't Look "Down, she discovers that nothing about her current job is simple. The cast is lackluster. What she has seen of the script is, even by Hollywood standards, unbelievably incoherent. The stunt coordinator is none other than her annoying ex-husband, Connor Nash, and her sister seems to have become a zombie. Bryce McKay, the movie's leading man, turns up with Captain J. T. Wilder, whom Bryce has personally hired to be his stunt double and military consultant. The last thing Lucy needs is a taciturn, too-sexy-for-his-own-good male like J. T. on her set, but once the going gets tough, someone like J. T. turns out to be exactly the kind of person Lucy decides she wants in her life. This first collaboration between best-selling romance writer Crusie and adventure-thriller writer Mayer is a rare delight. Mayer's delectably dry sense of humor perfectly complements Crusie's brand of sharp wit, and together the two have cooked up a sexy, sassy, and smart combination of romance and suspense that is simply irresistible.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)