Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: No lie...this one is a winner! Review: I've been a fan of Jennifer Crusie's for quite some time although I haven't read too many of her books. I own them all, but it's a case of too many books, too little time. Anyhow, I'm glad I made some time for Tell Me Lies. It was a nice romantic story with a little page-turning mystery thrown in. Light and simple and perfect for a day of relaxation.Tell Me Lies is the story of Maddie Faraday who, during the course of a clean-out of her husband, Brent's, car, finds a pair of black, crotchless underwear under the seat - and they are not hers! But that situation turns out to be the least of Maddie's problems - throw in an 8-year-old daughter who notices something awry with her parents, as well as two nosy neighbors, a best friend who has a big secret of her own, and gorgeous C.L. Sturgis, the boy who took her virginity 20 years before, back in town trying to get some answers. Oh, and then there's that pesky little murder that really sends Maddie over the edge.... This is a funny story about a marriage gone wrong in the middle of a small town that sees everything. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to finally reading the rest of my Jennifer Crusie collection. If you are looking for something light, yet page-turning, I suggest Tell Me Lies with two thumbs up - and that ain't no lie!
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: What a hilarious uptake on a small town life! Review: As some of my online friends know, I am from Ohio and I eagerly read any books by a Buckeye native ~~ this is the fourth book I've read by Jennifer Cruise and I love it. I have to admit, it took me awhile to get into the book ~~ but once I did, it snared me into a hilarious story. Maddie has it all ~~ a perfect marriage, an adorable daughter and a good reputation in her hometown that she has lived in all her life. Then one day, she finds a pair of black lace panties in her husband's car and her perfect life begins to unravel. A former lover comes back into her life and turns everything upside down ~~ there's murder, intrigue, good home-cooked meals and everything a reader loves to read ~~ suspense, great sexy scenes and funny dialogue. If you're going to the lake for a day and need a book to while away the time, I highly recommend this book. It's not a deep, thought-provoking book, but it's a great escapism book and fun to read. You won't regret reading Jennifer Cruise's first novel. Just like her other books, it's saucy and fun to read. Have fun!
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Read Crusie's Review: Feeling virtuous for volunteering to clean her husband's car, Maddie Faraday reaches under the front seat of the Caddy and pulls out a pair of black lace crotchless panties - Not Hers! Thus begins a roller coaster series of events that will forever change her life. Maddie lives in Frog Point, Ohio, a very small town where everybody knows everybody's business, and the business of their neighbor's long dead ancestors to boot. Maddie, forever the good girl, has never given anyone anything but "nice" things to say about her, her daughter Emily, and her soon-to-be-in-divorce-court husband Brent. Not even her mother, nor her best friend since grammar school, know how unhappy she has been with her marriage to a man who is not often home, and disinterested when he is. She had threatened to leave him once before when he cheated on her, but this time she is positive - the marriage must end. Then her old high school flame turns up at her door. Says he's looking for Brent. Maddie hasn't seen him for twenty plus years, and although she is distracted and upset, she still feels the chemistry radiating between them. Later, she confronts Brent with his infidelity. He becomes enraged and knocks her around - something he has never done in all their married life. He leaves, slams the door behind him, and Maddie never sees him again - alive! And Maddie is a prime suspect in the murder investigation. This lighthearted romance, with a good mystery included, also deals with some serious issues - a youthful middle age woman's coming of age, among them. Ms. Crusie fills her novel with humor, terrific characters, and lots of good lovin'. Maddie's dilemmas just seem to grow in number, as she tries to prove her innocence, redefine her life and care for and protect her grieving daughter. Jennifer Crusie reminds me of a Midwestern, Susan Isaacs, who is from Long Island. Their ethnicity and 'regionality' notwithstanding, both women tackle humor, romance and mystery in a similar way - and both are terrific writers. This is a really good light read, with a twist - don't miss it! JANA
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Thoroughly entertaining. You'll laugh out loud! Review: If you're from a small town, you'll recognize and appreciate a lot of real-life humor in Ms. Crusie's delightful novel. Even if you've never traveled far from a major metropolitan area, Maddy is a character worth reading about and her world will entertain you. Treat yourself to this book. It's worth the money and the time invested. This was actually the first book I'd read by the author. I'm so glad I picked it up. [Admittedly, the feet sticking up out of the convertible on the cover drew my attention at first.] I've since located and enjoyed all of the author's books [through Amazon's Auctions & zShops, since many were hard to find]. If you love cats &/or dogs there's an added bonus in Ms. Crusie's work. She portrays animals in her books with warmth, humor, and individuality that's equal to her enjoyable human characters.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Tell Me Lies-good but frustrating Review: I read this book after "Crazy for You," and I found that I didn't like it nearly as much. While "Tell Me Lies" has a lot of Crusie's trademark quick wit, super-sharp dialogue, and appealing characters, it seemed often frustrating and jumbled. I think Crusie maybe tackles too many serious themes, and though with each she is beautifully perceptive & articulate, I found myself getting irritated by the constant distraction away from Maddie's central problem. For instance, Crusie's narrative would touch on something that really built tension and curiosity, and then suddenly there would be long passages dedicated to Maddie's daughter Em and all her precociousness, Em and her friend Mel in their treehouse, etc. I couldn't help but feel that Em's place in the story detracted from the fluidity of the plot. Another example - while Crusie successfully captured how stifling the gossipy small town of Frog Pointe could be, at the same time, it got to the point where I just wanted to tear my hair out in frustration that everyone was seriously THAT obsessed with "what will people say" that they seemed to base every single action on what the neighbors would think - including Maddie at many critical points in the novel. Very irritating, at least to me. The upside of the book was the beauty of the writing itself, the sweetness of C.L., and most importantly, the development of Maddie's self-identity. Enjoyable read, but "Crazy for You" and "Welcome to Temptation" are more polished and more fun.
Rating: ![1 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-1-0.gif) Summary: Boring And A Waste of Two Hours Review: I have read some of her other books which I have enjoyed. But this one was so boring it was putting me to sleep. If I had read this one first I wouldn't have read any of her other books. What is so funny about a woman who rationalizes that it is ok to commit adultery becuase her husband did it first. I guess the people that thought it was funny were sniffing laughing gas because there wasn't anything funny about this book.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Not bad...not wonderful, mind you, but not bad... Review: This was an okay read. I have read quite a few of Ms. Crusie's books, and found this to be better than many other author's, but not up to Ms. Cruisies usual standard. The characters, other than Maddy, were not very well developed. Definitely worth reading, but not as good as most of her other books.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Tell Me Lies Review: I Loved This book. This is the first book I have read by Jennifer Cruise. Now I willl read all I can get my hands on. This book will make you laugh and cry. You will love C.L. from start to finish.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Suspense, humor, and passion Review: This book has it all: it makes you laugh, cry, bite your nails because your nervous, everything! I absolutley loved this book! Madie Faraday's life is tough...she suspects her husband is cheating on her, the guy she lost her vriginity to 20 years ago is back, her gossipy little town wont leave her alone, and shes trying to ide it all from her mother and daughter! This book never stops giving you something new to hink about. Just when you think itmight slow down, something or someone new pops up! I highly recommend this book if u like a good romance novel or scandal...or if your just looking for a good laugh!
Rating: ![2 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-2-0.gif) Summary: annoying lead woman character Review: I have enjoyed her books before and even laughed out loud, but this book left me frustrated and bored. I continued to read it in hopes that it would get better. The main character, Maddie, was not intelligent and she was so intent on protecting her reputation, she committed crimes! She did not seem to have much of a backbone and she was a very poor role model for any young woman. She made possibly the worst decisions possible every page!
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