Manhunting

I was enjoying this book and it's smart, successful heroine already when I came across this line:

Donald screamed, and she shoved his hand away so he wouldn't get blood on her potatoes.

And it moved from a solid four-star book to a solid five-star favorite. I loved how completely independent the heroine was, while still being aware of her own weaknesses. I loved how she wanted romance AND career success without sacrificing either, but insisted on finding her own definition of that success. I loved how the hero (Jake, definitely not Donald) respected and admired her well before he even liked her. Great book.

Kate Svenson is your typical uptight career woman on the fast track but she has one problem. She's lonely. So Kate and her best friend devise a plan. Armed with a detailed list of qualifications for the perfect husband, she sets off for a Kentucky golf resort that is prime hunting ground for eligible bachelors.

Jake Templeton is part owner of the resort and the most laid back hero I've ever come across. A former tax lawyer who has left the rat race behind, Jake is now the resort's handyman. He and Kate meet and immediately decided the other is not what they are looking for. Jake thinks Kate is too driven and too much like his ex-wife. Kate thinks Jake lacks ambition and does not meet any of the requirements on her list.

Of course, Kate's show more plans to find Mr. Perfect go wrong time after time with one dating disaster after another with scenes that were absolutely hilarious. Her dates end up either falling in the pool, hit over the head or in the emergency room. And none of it was her fault :) I'm not a real fan of slapstick humor in romance because I think it's too visual and most authors lack the writing talent to pull it off. But this book is the exception. Crusie succeeds superbly and I found myself literally laughing out loud (and scaring the crap out of my cat, thank goodness Bob wasn't home). The only other author who can make me laugh like that is Evanovich with her Stephanie Plum books.

This was a completely character driven book with a charming and engaging H/H. My favorite scenes were those that take place out on the lake. Kate invites herself along with Jake when he goes fishing in a leaky old boat. Jake fishes without bait because he is too lazy to actually want to catch anything and uses that time to nap. The sassy dialogue during these scenes practically sparkles off the page. All that banter made delightful sexual tension culminating in some yummy sex scenes. It was a wonderful moment when these two seeming opposites realize they are perfect for each other.

Manhunting is a deliciously delightful book. Although Crusie's inexperience shows with a bit of head hopping, I enjoyed it from the first page to the last. It's very short so I think I finished it in a couple hours. When I found myself re-reading favorite passages, I realized I had a keeper on my hands. It ranks right up there with Anyone But You and Welcome To Temptation. (Grade: A-) show less

I love Jennifer Crusie, so any book by her is automatically on my read list. This was not my favorite of hers just because "Bet Me" will always hold that place in my heart.

This story was about Kate and Jake. Kate is a type A hard-working career woman who has had 3 engagements in the past 3 years. None of them were successful and so she decides to go on vacation to Kentucky and put in place her "plan" to find a man.

Jake used to live life in the fast lane, but he got burned. Now, he lives the easy life on the resort he co-owns with his brother and is not in the mood for another woman like his ex-wife.

Two such different people don't seem meant to be, but they find friendship on the lake and that is the premise of this story.
I enjoyed the show more humor and the romance. My only complaint is I wish it was longer. show less

Kate, like so many Crusie heroines to follow her, is on a mission to fix her life. She's successful, but unsatisfied, so between Kate and her best friend Jessie, they come up with a plan to rejuvenate her love life. Kate makes a list of criteria for eligible men, and Jessie urges her to go on vacation at a resort catering to singles--the perfect place to meet men fitting Kate's list.

So she goes, and determinedly starts dating one man after another who seems just fine on paper. And every single date ends in disaster. I'm not going to list the disasters and spoil them for you, but take my word for it--they're hilarious. Kate finds herself spending more and more time relaxing with resort handyman Jake, and proving that when it comes to show more love, the best laid plans of women... well, in this case, they lead to unexpected results.

Even though this is early Crusie, it's still got that special something. The snappy dialogue is immediately recognizable, as is the seriousness underlying laugh-aloud humor. In this case, a lot of the seriousness comes from communication issues, and a sub-plot between Jake's brother and his girlfriend does double duty both showing Kate that maybe she doesn't really want what she thought she want, and demonstrating the follies of miscommunication.

There's also the serious issue of ambition and goals and one's definition of a full life, and that's echoed in the sub-plot about new friend Penny, who's at the resort for one last fling before getting married.

I've got to say something about the humor, because far too many authors just don't understand the concept. They'll take the idea of the dating disasters and throw them into a story thinking that the more outrageous they are, the funnier. But in Manhunting, and indeed in any Crusie novel, it's not just a silly situation--the silly situation means something. The disasters aren't just random disasters--they connect to the characters in specific ways. It's like watching RHPS and the difference between throwing slices of toast at and thowing spitballs; between shouting "so does Janet!" and shouting "you're an asshole!" Sorry for the digression--there was a discussion elsewhere, and this seemed to illustrate my point, which was that Jennifer Crusie does humor right.

Anyway, Manhunting is just a joy to read. It's fast-paced and short enough that it can be read in one or two sittings, which you'll want to do anyway--it's hard to put down. The perfect read for a gloomy not-yet-spring day. show less

One of the things that really turns me off in a romance is characters who act out in unrealistic and outrageous ways. In this novel, the female lead expresses her disinterest in a couple of suitors by actually assaulting them, and it's played for laughs. I didn't find that funny. I've enjoyed the other books I've read by this author, but this one was a miss.

Crusie is one of my favourite romance writers. Though not her best, this is a light and fun read. Crusie knows how to write the most witty banter and even makes arguments entertaining. And although the idea of a woman ‘on the hunt’ for a man may seem dated, she solves this by making Kate Svenson strong and independent. Crusie has written much better books than this, but it doesn’t feel like this deserves to be completely overlooked.

This book was hilarious. You pretty much guess how it’s ending from page 5 or 6… but getting there is truly funny!
The bantering is great, witty, and irresistible.
This book is a quick, happy, and easy read. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a literary romantic gateway.
There’s one xrated scene towards the end, if you’re not into that skip a few pages, the story is great anyway.