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Cuttersville #1
A Date With the Other Side A Date With the Other Side
National bestseller from the wildly popular author of Heiress for Hire. Haunted house tour guide Shelby Tucker gets hot and bothered when she stumbles upon sexy, naked Boston McNamara. She knows he's no ghost, though he does makes her weak in the knees.
296 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2005
32 people are currently reading
1574 people want to read
About the author
Erin McCarthy
215 books4,818 followersUSA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has since written over a hundred novels and novellas in teen fiction, new adult, and adult romance. Erin has a special weakness for high-heeled boots, beaches and martinis. She lives in Ohio with her family, two grumpy cats and a socially awkward dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
October 27, 2015
DNF @ 50%
I can't pinpoint why I don't like this book even though it should be my cup of tea. I'm definitely tempted to put " I refuse to write a proper review on the grounds that I'm bored." on this one.
Then I realized, hey I can definitely do that. Because who's gonna arrest me if I write that? The Review Police?
I can't pinpoint why I don't like this book even though it should be my cup of tea. I'm definitely tempted to put " I refuse to write a proper review on the grounds that I'm bored." on this one.
Then I realized, hey I can definitely do that. Because who's gonna arrest me if I write that? The Review Police?
July 12, 2009
I thought this was the cutest love story/trashy romance that I have ever read! I am actually considering buying it! Maybe I liked it so much because I started reading it with such low expectations. I didn't think it would be funny and sexy at the same time. Realistically, I was expecting cheesy humor with a few dirty sex scenes thrown in for good measure. It wasn't. It was...well, cute. I actually liked both of the main characters. Really. I know, I'm as shocked as you are.
By the way, I have to throw in my opinion of the cover. THANK YOU! It's nice to be able to leave the library with my head held high. Ok, high-ish (it's no War and Peace, after all). Sometimes it's nice to take a little chick porn home to snuggle up with, and it's always embarrassing for me to hand the librarian a book with the half-naked couple on the cover. You know the one I'm talking about. The Fabio cover. I always feel dirty handing them to the little old lady behind the counter. So, thank you, Erin McCarthy. I didn't feel like a perv when I checked this one out.
By the way, I have to throw in my opinion of the cover. THANK YOU! It's nice to be able to leave the library with my head held high. Ok, high-ish (it's no War and Peace, after all). Sometimes it's nice to take a little chick porn home to snuggle up with, and it's always embarrassing for me to hand the librarian a book with the half-naked couple on the cover. You know the one I'm talking about. The Fabio cover. I always feel dirty handing them to the little old lady behind the counter. So, thank you, Erin McCarthy. I didn't feel like a perv when I checked this one out.
June 22, 2012
A Date with the Other Side: A fun read that will leave you happy and sated
So, yesterday I had the pleasure of reading my first Erin McCarthy novel. It was Hot Finish, one of her racing novels and boy did I love it. So, I decided to read another novel by her. This book was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed reading about the endearing heroine Shelby and the cute hero Boston. However, more than I liked the romance , I loved the meddling grandmother. Its a really cute and quick novel- perfect for a beach read or car ride!
So, yesterday I had the pleasure of reading my first Erin McCarthy novel. It was Hot Finish, one of her racing novels and boy did I love it. So, I decided to read another novel by her. This book was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed reading about the endearing heroine Shelby and the cute hero Boston. However, more than I liked the romance , I loved the meddling grandmother. Its a really cute and quick novel- perfect for a beach read or car ride!
May 29, 2012
Shelby Tucker has always just gone with the flow, she married young and divorced her high school sweetheart, not because they fought or disliked one another, he just wasn't it. Shelby has never expected more than what life has to offer and one of those is giving ghost tours to tourists.
Boston Macnamara doesn't know why his boss sent him to Cuttersville, but he is not happy about it. Point in fact waking up nude to have a pixie of a woman checking out his goods and talking in crypted speak that he can't wrap his head around. What he does know though is he would like to get closer to Shelby but with no commitment. Shelby wants a fling, but she maybe a little to hometown girl to allow it to happen.
The story is hilarious in the beginning, has a great opening chapter. It is fun and quirky but towards the end loses a little of it's charm. Overall a good story
Boston Macnamara doesn't know why his boss sent him to Cuttersville, but he is not happy about it. Point in fact waking up nude to have a pixie of a woman checking out his goods and talking in crypted speak that he can't wrap his head around. What he does know though is he would like to get closer to Shelby but with no commitment. Shelby wants a fling, but she maybe a little to hometown girl to allow it to happen.
The story is hilarious in the beginning, has a great opening chapter. It is fun and quirky but towards the end loses a little of it's charm. Overall a good story
September 23, 2008
It is more "straight" romance than paranormal romance. The ghosts involved in the story are more for background or supporting "characters".
A Date With The Other Side is about Shelby Tucker, a guide for tourists for the most "haunted" houses in Cutterville. She may not believe in ghosts herself, but it is a way to pay the bills. She has never seen or experienced a haunting herself. However, she is pretty startled to find a naked man in a bedroom of one of the haunted houses that is on her tour.
Boston Macnamara is renting the "White House" from Shelby's grandmother. He isn't happy to find the house he is renting on the Haunted House Ghost tour. Not only does he not believe in ghosts, but he isn't happy about being in Cutterville period. He has been "banished" with no explanation by his boss to this town where his boss owns a plastic factory. Because of that, the town isn't sure what to make of him. And he doesn't know what to think of Shelby and her ghost tours, but he does know what he would like to do with her body.
Things start heating up quick when the two find themselves attracted to each other. Especially when some supernatural and mortal assistance keep "helping" them.
Overall, I am unsatisfied with this book. It started off great. Had a nice hook and I was excited with the plans of the various mortals and the supernatural shenniagans in the beginning. It had quite a few humorous moments (the eyelet crochet blanket is worthy of a few laughs). But halfway through the book it starts to fizzle out. I realized that the lead characters were idiots, especially the heroine. Harsh? Yep. I got to really hating the heroine about the time the hero admits his love to her and vice versa.
Boston wasn't so much a problem. Standard in romance: lonley, workaholic male who desperately wants love, but refuses to admit it to himself much less others. A good guy deep down, but starts off a bit cold and ruthless appearing to the rest of the cast. Is a bit of an idiot on not accepting what he wants. He kept denying not only his need for love, but other things in his life that he needed. I could understand that and handle it with the way he was raised. No problems there.
I had problems with the fact that it was going very obvious that each character wanted the other to sacrifice everything for the others wants. It was obvious from the start that the "other side" meant not as in ghost terms, but in one is a city boy and the other is a country gal. There was no talking of possiblities or trying to see how things would go. It was an immediate demand on both sides that the other had to either go to Chicago or stay in the town. No talking. No middle ground really. Doesn't lead me to believe things will get better after the HEA on disagreements if they can't learn how to compromise or even TALK about it.
I could even handle that factor, but the harping Shelby does on wanting to stay in her town to raise kids just bothered me. She wants kids. However, she can't afford to barely feed herself despite her ghost tour gig. The reason the author gives her for not being able to get a better paying job just made me want to beat my head on the wall. To be blunt, Shelby has no ambition as she just prefers to coast through life undecided until Boston enters her life and she encounters passion which then scares her on the realization of what she might have to give up to get it. So instead of confronting the problems, she decides to go with what is the easiest and comfortablest for her despite her knowledge that it won't make her happy and the fact it isn't fair to her ex.
And that scene of the "confession of love" is where I lost all hope for a HEA despite the ending the author gave the book. It just didn't work. I despises the lead female by then. The ex and the hero were too good for her.
I did like the supporting characters including the ex-husband (who just seemed a tad too understanding at times on certain matters). Amanda was awesome as was the grandmother. Brady wasn't bad at all either. The next book in the series is about Amanda and then we have the short story in The Enchanted Season anthology. I am hesitant on reading them now after this book. Gah. I actually regret reading this one. It just seemed forced by the end on the romance. Hell, the obstacles seemed forced by the time she got to them. Either forced or the heroine is just too dumb to live as my mom would say.
I am glad I borrowed this from the library as I would've been mad as hell to even pay money for this used much less new.
A Date With The Other Side is about Shelby Tucker, a guide for tourists for the most "haunted" houses in Cutterville. She may not believe in ghosts herself, but it is a way to pay the bills. She has never seen or experienced a haunting herself. However, she is pretty startled to find a naked man in a bedroom of one of the haunted houses that is on her tour.
Boston Macnamara is renting the "White House" from Shelby's grandmother. He isn't happy to find the house he is renting on the Haunted House Ghost tour. Not only does he not believe in ghosts, but he isn't happy about being in Cutterville period. He has been "banished" with no explanation by his boss to this town where his boss owns a plastic factory. Because of that, the town isn't sure what to make of him. And he doesn't know what to think of Shelby and her ghost tours, but he does know what he would like to do with her body.
Things start heating up quick when the two find themselves attracted to each other. Especially when some supernatural and mortal assistance keep "helping" them.
Overall, I am unsatisfied with this book. It started off great. Had a nice hook and I was excited with the plans of the various mortals and the supernatural shenniagans in the beginning. It had quite a few humorous moments (the eyelet crochet blanket is worthy of a few laughs). But halfway through the book it starts to fizzle out. I realized that the lead characters were idiots, especially the heroine. Harsh? Yep. I got to really hating the heroine about the time the hero admits his love to her and vice versa.
Boston wasn't so much a problem. Standard in romance: lonley, workaholic male who desperately wants love, but refuses to admit it to himself much less others. A good guy deep down, but starts off a bit cold and ruthless appearing to the rest of the cast. Is a bit of an idiot on not accepting what he wants. He kept denying not only his need for love, but other things in his life that he needed. I could understand that and handle it with the way he was raised. No problems there.
I had problems with the fact that it was going very obvious that each character wanted the other to sacrifice everything for the others wants. It was obvious from the start that the "other side" meant not as in ghost terms, but in one is a city boy and the other is a country gal. There was no talking of possiblities or trying to see how things would go. It was an immediate demand on both sides that the other had to either go to Chicago or stay in the town. No talking. No middle ground really. Doesn't lead me to believe things will get better after the HEA on disagreements if they can't learn how to compromise or even TALK about it.
I could even handle that factor, but the harping Shelby does on wanting to stay in her town to raise kids just bothered me. She wants kids. However, she can't afford to barely feed herself despite her ghost tour gig. The reason the author gives her for not being able to get a better paying job just made me want to beat my head on the wall. To be blunt, Shelby has no ambition as she just prefers to coast through life undecided until Boston enters her life and she encounters passion which then scares her on the realization of what she might have to give up to get it. So instead of confronting the problems, she decides to go with what is the easiest and comfortablest for her despite her knowledge that it won't make her happy and the fact it isn't fair to her ex.
And that scene of the "confession of love" is where I lost all hope for a HEA despite the ending the author gave the book. It just didn't work. I despises the lead female by then. The ex and the hero were too good for her.
I did like the supporting characters including the ex-husband (who just seemed a tad too understanding at times on certain matters). Amanda was awesome as was the grandmother. Brady wasn't bad at all either. The next book in the series is about Amanda and then we have the short story in The Enchanted Season anthology. I am hesitant on reading them now after this book. Gah. I actually regret reading this one. It just seemed forced by the end on the romance. Hell, the obstacles seemed forced by the time she got to them. Either forced or the heroine is just too dumb to live as my mom would say.
I am glad I borrowed this from the library as I would've been mad as hell to even pay money for this used much less new.
April 20, 2009
A Date with the Other Side
Passionate, Flirtation, and plain old lust who doesn’t like a good romance novel. I recently found myself devouring one this weekend. Date with other side is sexy, sassy, and filled with humor. It’s filled with sensuality, lots of laughs, and a touch of paranormal. The author, Erin McCarthy delivers a novel with enough romance to have you begging for more. This delightfully story of a down-home country girl and the big-city boy she snags will have you laughing even as you fan yourself to cool off from the heat. McCarthy, combines good storytelling with humor, natural characters, and a fantastic ghost story to create a romance that will not you sock off.
Shelby Tucker is a backwoods beauty who hasn’t had a date in three years. She spends her days conducting tours of the haunted locales in her hick town, one of which is her grandmother’s rental cottage. Then she stumbles on a gorgeous naked man lying on the bed of her granny’s rental cottage, and her whole life takes a spin. The man, Boston Macnamara, is everything she is not – he’s city all the way, a professional man with money, sophistication and a corporate title. But when Boston lays eyes on curvy, natural Shelby, and when a few cantankerous ghosts decide to step in and play matchmaker, it isn’t long before country mouse and city mouse are playing house together.
McCarthy makes you question whether Shelby and Boston will be able to make the changes needed to adapt to the other's lifestyle, or whether Shelby will simply accept her ex-husband's offer of reconciliation. Shelby is simply adorable, and Boston, who at first comes off as a bit of a stuffed shirt, is the perfect match for her. The secondary characters as well as the resident ghosts, quirky as they are, are a pleasure to spend time with, whether it is on a ghost tour, at the local diner, or at a parade.
McCarthy adds a paranormal twist to this story that adds to the suspense without dragging the storyline down. I love a pesky ghost who won’t take no for an answer. Putting ghost in this story was a special addition. Every time Shelby and Boston try to get sexual the ghost start to get rowdy. For example, when Shelby and Boston were in his bedroom the ghost locked them in there and locked all the windows. No escaping. It’s hard to stay cool in a house with no air condition.
If you are in the mood for a steamy, passionate, love story with a touch of the paranormal to boot, Erin McCarthy is just what the doctor ordered. A Date with the Other Side is humorous with a great story. If you want a story filled with intelligent characters, a sexy hunk and a couple ghosts for good measure, then pick up a copy of A Date with the Other Side. You’ll love it. I’m a big fan of happily ever after and if you are too then I highly recommend it.
Passionate, Flirtation, and plain old lust who doesn’t like a good romance novel. I recently found myself devouring one this weekend. Date with other side is sexy, sassy, and filled with humor. It’s filled with sensuality, lots of laughs, and a touch of paranormal. The author, Erin McCarthy delivers a novel with enough romance to have you begging for more. This delightfully story of a down-home country girl and the big-city boy she snags will have you laughing even as you fan yourself to cool off from the heat. McCarthy, combines good storytelling with humor, natural characters, and a fantastic ghost story to create a romance that will not you sock off.
Shelby Tucker is a backwoods beauty who hasn’t had a date in three years. She spends her days conducting tours of the haunted locales in her hick town, one of which is her grandmother’s rental cottage. Then she stumbles on a gorgeous naked man lying on the bed of her granny’s rental cottage, and her whole life takes a spin. The man, Boston Macnamara, is everything she is not – he’s city all the way, a professional man with money, sophistication and a corporate title. But when Boston lays eyes on curvy, natural Shelby, and when a few cantankerous ghosts decide to step in and play matchmaker, it isn’t long before country mouse and city mouse are playing house together.
McCarthy makes you question whether Shelby and Boston will be able to make the changes needed to adapt to the other's lifestyle, or whether Shelby will simply accept her ex-husband's offer of reconciliation. Shelby is simply adorable, and Boston, who at first comes off as a bit of a stuffed shirt, is the perfect match for her. The secondary characters as well as the resident ghosts, quirky as they are, are a pleasure to spend time with, whether it is on a ghost tour, at the local diner, or at a parade.
McCarthy adds a paranormal twist to this story that adds to the suspense without dragging the storyline down. I love a pesky ghost who won’t take no for an answer. Putting ghost in this story was a special addition. Every time Shelby and Boston try to get sexual the ghost start to get rowdy. For example, when Shelby and Boston were in his bedroom the ghost locked them in there and locked all the windows. No escaping. It’s hard to stay cool in a house with no air condition.
If you are in the mood for a steamy, passionate, love story with a touch of the paranormal to boot, Erin McCarthy is just what the doctor ordered. A Date with the Other Side is humorous with a great story. If you want a story filled with intelligent characters, a sexy hunk and a couple ghosts for good measure, then pick up a copy of A Date with the Other Side. You’ll love it. I’m a big fan of happily ever after and if you are too then I highly recommend it.
May 9, 2021
This was great. Fun, short, and there were ghosts. So spooky.
Boston and Shelby were hot a heavy. Admittedly, most of the fire in their romance was chemistry over actual interest. It was kind of confusing how they got to the love part. But they did and it was cute.
I gotta say it’s not really my vibe when the woman is all “I’m not skinny and blonde.” Like so what. Your insecurity is showing. It’s especially bothersome when she’s portrayed as someone who should come across as so comfortable with herself. And then she’s suddenly thinking about how she dresses poorly. Like why.
I loved Boston’s character development though. And the supporting characters were cute and added a lot of flavor to the book. Even the ghosts.
Boston and Shelby were hot a heavy. Admittedly, most of the fire in their romance was chemistry over actual interest. It was kind of confusing how they got to the love part. But they did and it was cute.
I gotta say it’s not really my vibe when the woman is all “I’m not skinny and blonde.” Like so what. Your insecurity is showing. It’s especially bothersome when she’s portrayed as someone who should come across as so comfortable with herself. And then she’s suddenly thinking about how she dresses poorly. Like why.
I loved Boston’s character development though. And the supporting characters were cute and added a lot of flavor to the book. Even the ghosts.
October 1, 2012
First in the Cuttersville humorous urban fantasy series taking place in this small town in Ohio.
My Take
This was cute. A nice bit of comic relief from some of the heavy reading I've been doing.
I do enjoy Boston's reaction to a farming community with its heart attack special at the Busy Bee Diner and the lack of Starbucks. He's not used to considering other people's feelings nor with that downhome friendliness of a small town. He loves the old, creaky, fussy house he's staying in too. Nothing could be further from his own experiences. I like that he's open to new experiences even if he does think he hates being here.
Shelby irritates me, she's a tease. She gets Boston all het' up and then makes him stop. Over and over again. Then she wonders why he's grumpy. Duh…
Amanda's experience with small town life is pretty funny as well. It's interesting what different perspectives can sound like. She certainly appreciates the code of honor the men in this town have.
The Story
Gran is frustrated with Shelby's life as she simply slides through. When Boston Macnamara shows up in Cuttersville to look over his boss' factory, she rents him one of her haunted ones at a high rate and schemes to send Shelby on by.
Shelby is so forthright and Boston wants nothing to do with her. Well, that's what his brain is saying. His body has other ideas. And so do the ghosts. They seem to have decided that Shelby and Boston belong together too.
The Characters
Shelby Tucker is divorced and living in her grandmother's house from which she conducts Haunted Cuttersville Tours, ghost tours. Danny Tucker is her ex-husband and he still loves her, wants her back. Shelby, however, expects more from a marriage. Mrs. Jessie Stritmeyer is gran and she owns a number of houses around town which she rents out. Brady Stritmeyer is her cousin who thinks Shelby's cool; Joelle is his girlfriend.
Boston Macnamara works for Samson Plastics and has been sent to Cuttersville by his boss Brett Delmar in hopes that he can circumvent his daughter's interest in Boston. It's exile and Boston hates it. Mary is the housekeeper who comes with the house. Amanda Delmar is Brett's daughter and she's bored. It's one reason she's followed Boston to Cuttersville. I suspect we'll find her married to Danny in the next in the series, Heiress for Hire.
Bob and Phil are the plant managers for Samson Plastics and are panicking over why Boston is here. Half the adults in town work for the factory and with the economy…
Harriet Danforth is a gossiping busybody with a daughter Boston intends to avoid.
The ghosts include Nanny Baskins is a loving spirit, the Old Colonel likes to sunbathe naked, Red-Eyed Rachel bludgeoned her fiancé to death when she caught him with the parlormaid, and the Blond Man.
Adrienne Ashley is a reporter for Channel Five Action News.
The Cover
The cover is brilliant pink-on-pink vertical stripes with a puffy golden heart supporting a trio of skyscrapers on one side and a heart-belching cabin on the other.
I suspect the title refers to the the ghostly machinations involved in getting Boston and Shelby involved. It's A Date with the Other Side all right. Of course, it could also refer to the TV reporters…hmmm...
My Take
This was cute. A nice bit of comic relief from some of the heavy reading I've been doing.
I do enjoy Boston's reaction to a farming community with its heart attack special at the Busy Bee Diner and the lack of Starbucks. He's not used to considering other people's feelings nor with that downhome friendliness of a small town. He loves the old, creaky, fussy house he's staying in too. Nothing could be further from his own experiences. I like that he's open to new experiences even if he does think he hates being here.
Shelby irritates me, she's a tease. She gets Boston all het' up and then makes him stop. Over and over again. Then she wonders why he's grumpy. Duh…
Amanda's experience with small town life is pretty funny as well. It's interesting what different perspectives can sound like. She certainly appreciates the code of honor the men in this town have.
The Story
Gran is frustrated with Shelby's life as she simply slides through. When Boston Macnamara shows up in Cuttersville to look over his boss' factory, she rents him one of her haunted ones at a high rate and schemes to send Shelby on by.
Shelby is so forthright and Boston wants nothing to do with her. Well, that's what his brain is saying. His body has other ideas. And so do the ghosts. They seem to have decided that Shelby and Boston belong together too.
The Characters
Shelby Tucker is divorced and living in her grandmother's house from which she conducts Haunted Cuttersville Tours, ghost tours. Danny Tucker is her ex-husband and he still loves her, wants her back. Shelby, however, expects more from a marriage. Mrs. Jessie Stritmeyer is gran and she owns a number of houses around town which she rents out. Brady Stritmeyer is her cousin who thinks Shelby's cool; Joelle is his girlfriend.
Boston Macnamara works for Samson Plastics and has been sent to Cuttersville by his boss Brett Delmar in hopes that he can circumvent his daughter's interest in Boston. It's exile and Boston hates it. Mary is the housekeeper who comes with the house. Amanda Delmar is Brett's daughter and she's bored. It's one reason she's followed Boston to Cuttersville. I suspect we'll find her married to Danny in the next in the series, Heiress for Hire.
Bob and Phil are the plant managers for Samson Plastics and are panicking over why Boston is here. Half the adults in town work for the factory and with the economy…
Harriet Danforth is a gossiping busybody with a daughter Boston intends to avoid.
The ghosts include Nanny Baskins is a loving spirit, the Old Colonel likes to sunbathe naked, Red-Eyed Rachel bludgeoned her fiancé to death when she caught him with the parlormaid, and the Blond Man.
Adrienne Ashley is a reporter for Channel Five Action News.
The Cover
The cover is brilliant pink-on-pink vertical stripes with a puffy golden heart supporting a trio of skyscrapers on one side and a heart-belching cabin on the other.
I suspect the title refers to the the ghostly machinations involved in getting Boston and Shelby involved. It's A Date with the Other Side all right. Of course, it could also refer to the TV reporters…hmmm...
November 20, 2015
This review was originally posted on One Curvy Blogger
A Date With the Other Side was one of those impulse buys for me. Erin McCarthy is one of my auto-buy authors that I don’t hesitate to pick up when I see a book of hers that I have yet to read. I saw A Date With the Other Side in the Friends of the Library store when I was returning my latest library books and knew I had to buy it!The man gave a whole new meaning to the words rise and shine.
Nothing is better than a book that begins with a naked stranger, and A Date With the Other Side begins does just that. Shelby Tucker is giving her teenage cousin a private ghost tour when she stumbles upon a sleeping, naked stranger sleeping in her grandmother’s White House.
Shelby is a recently divorced, matter-of-fact native that chooses old tees and comfy shorts over fashion and has never left Cuttersville. She has a weirdly flirtatious relationship with her ex-husband that had me baffled and she is content in her life as a ghost tour host.
I really enjoyed Shelby’s character. She was a refreshing change from the normal contemporary heroine, though nothing about her shouted “special” to me. I do approve of her love of comfort and I liked her well enough, but I didn’t love her. (I guess that pretty much sums up my feelings for the book actually).
Boston McNamara has been sent to the Cuttersville’s Samsons Plastics plant and he has no idea why – except that his boss must be punishing him for some reason. He can’t wait to get out of the Podunk, wacky small-town but while he’s there he can’t see why he can’t enjoy the scenery (and by scenery, I totally mean Shelby). He is drawn to Shelby in a way that leaves him puzzled, since the frumpishly dressed blonde is far from his normal taste in bed partners.
“Hi, Shelby. How are you?”
She smiled, and Boston almost stopped and got back in his car. Her smile was inviting, and it turned him on so bad he was scared.
“I’m fine. Hot.” She pulled her shirt out and fanned air up her cleavage. “How ‘bout yourself?”
“I’m good.” Never bigger. Better, never better.
A Date With the Other Side lacked that “sparkle” that makes a story awesome, but I did enjoy watching the two stubborn characters get into some seriously hilarious, paranormal situations – mostly in thanks to Shelby’s matchmaking Gran. They introduced me to some secondary characters that I really want to see more from and some ghosts that I hope appear in the rest of the series! It wasn’t the most exciting book I’ve ever read, but it was a fun book that I don’t regret picking up. I will be looking out for more books in McCarthy’s Cuttersville series and I hope the series just gets better the more I read!
December 30, 2008
I am embarrassed to add this to my goodreads and claim that I read it. Predictable, very graphic and not so good. Unless you love graphic romance novels do not read it.
July 14, 2009
I wasn't expecting much, but this book turned out to be really cute and was an easy read.
November 30, 2009
This book wasn't as good as Heiress for Hire.
April 23, 2013
This was great fun. This book was super hot and lol funny at the same time.
October 16, 2022
I LOVE Cuttersville!!! 😍
I very much enjoyed the paranormal aspect of this book. Nanny Baskins was my favorite ghost. I'm glad she got what she wanted in the end, heh.
I liked FMc Shelby overall but I wish there hadn't been so much focus put on her appearance. She liked herself the way she was and then all of the sudden, MMc Boston comes around and everything is wrong with her? He doesn't like that she doesn't wear her long hair down. He doesn't like her "grubby" clothes. Hell, this doesn't have to do with the way she looks but when he first arrives in town, he doesn't even like the way she speaks! Bro, if you had done even a smidgen of research on the town *you'd be staying in for 3 months* you'd know that it's a little bit bumpkin! I'm a city person myself and even I was like, "Dang! CITY people!!"
So yeah, Boston kind of sucked for me as a character. I *did* like how he accepted the supernatural things happening in the White House, though.
Going back to Shelby -- I wish it hadn't taken her so long to waffle over Danny. I understand *why* (it's because he was her first ever relationship and they were married basically immediately out of high school), but she could've been out and about, dating other people and really understanding what she did and didn't want out of a relationship, before meeting Boston. She was very naive in that way.
I very much enjoyed the paranormal aspect of this book. Nanny Baskins was my favorite ghost. I'm glad she got what she wanted in the end, heh.
I liked FMc Shelby overall but I wish there hadn't been so much focus put on her appearance. She liked herself the way she was and then all of the sudden, MMc Boston comes around and everything is wrong with her? He doesn't like that she doesn't wear her long hair down. He doesn't like her "grubby" clothes. Hell, this doesn't have to do with the way she looks but when he first arrives in town, he doesn't even like the way she speaks! Bro, if you had done even a smidgen of research on the town *you'd be staying in for 3 months* you'd know that it's a little bit bumpkin! I'm a city person myself and even I was like, "Dang! CITY people!!"
So yeah, Boston kind of sucked for me as a character. I *did* like how he accepted the supernatural things happening in the White House, though.
Going back to Shelby -- I wish it hadn't taken her so long to waffle over Danny. I understand *why* (it's because he was her first ever relationship and they were married basically immediately out of high school), but she could've been out and about, dating other people and really understanding what she did and didn't want out of a relationship, before meeting Boston. She was very naive in that way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2023
Meh.
This is my first Erin McCarthy book and I do like her writing … but the story was just really slow for me and I found myself not really wanting to sit down and read it.
I couldn’t connect to Shelby (I just kept picturing her in junky, sweaty, worn-out, filthy dirty clothes with an unwashed mop of hair thrown up on her head in a messy bun) and all Boston did was think/talk/want sex.
The ghost tour was a fun idea … but it didn’t really go anywhere. I think I would’ve liked it more if Shelby could actually SEE the ghosts … since she couldn’t (and didn’t even believe in ghosts) it just came across that she was swindling people.
Speaking of ghosts … I never did understand why the ghosts made themselves known when Shelby and Boston were in the house together. I mean … at first I thought the ghosts were locking them in rooms together so they’d be together, but then the ghosts were throwing things and trying to hurt them. Soooo … they DIDN’T want them to be together? Didn’t really understand.
One more thing I didn’t understand … the eyelet comforter. I can’t picture why you would want a comforter with holes THAT big. You know what I’m saying? I mean … what’s the point? 🤷🏻♀️🤔
I’ll read the next one in the series to see if it gets any better. Fingers crossed. 🤞🏼
This is my first Erin McCarthy book and I do like her writing … but the story was just really slow for me and I found myself not really wanting to sit down and read it.
I couldn’t connect to Shelby (I just kept picturing her in junky, sweaty, worn-out, filthy dirty clothes with an unwashed mop of hair thrown up on her head in a messy bun) and all Boston did was think/talk/want sex.
The ghost tour was a fun idea … but it didn’t really go anywhere. I think I would’ve liked it more if Shelby could actually SEE the ghosts … since she couldn’t (and didn’t even believe in ghosts) it just came across that she was swindling people.
Speaking of ghosts … I never did understand why the ghosts made themselves known when Shelby and Boston were in the house together. I mean … at first I thought the ghosts were locking them in rooms together so they’d be together, but then the ghosts were throwing things and trying to hurt them. Soooo … they DIDN’T want them to be together? Didn’t really understand.
One more thing I didn’t understand … the eyelet comforter. I can’t picture why you would want a comforter with holes THAT big. You know what I’m saying? I mean … what’s the point? 🤷🏻♀️🤔
I’ll read the next one in the series to see if it gets any better. Fingers crossed. 🤞🏼
June 23, 2018
This book is a bit strange but still entertaining. The ghost tour thing was an interesting aspect that added to the book. I just wish the characters were less one dimensional. Nobody but Boston changes in anyway throughout the book.
- gran wants her to start her own family
- Danny is a stable but not romantic
- Shelby wants a baby and passion
There is 0 character development from beginning to end and even though the characters are cute they are not captivating
- gran wants her to start her own family
- Danny is a stable but not romantic
- Shelby wants a baby and passion
There is 0 character development from beginning to end and even though the characters are cute they are not captivating
January 31, 2018
This was a cute read with some steamy love scenes. I did find the hero a bit stuffy at first, and was slightly irritated with some of the heroine's "hang-ups", but McCarthy wraps up the story with a big "feel-good bow" at the end. I'll definitely check out book 2 in this series... Danny's story. (He deserves to find someone now!)
3 1/2 stars
3 1/2 stars
July 10, 2023
I finished this in a few hours. I loved the ghost/romance concept. Obsessed with Boston. I will say I almost took away one of the stars in my rating because 1. Two sequels and neither are a continuation of Boston and Shelby.. when will that trend end 😩 and 2. I would of loved some character development at the very end! But other than that, great book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2018
3.5. Enjoyed this book, especially watching Boston McNamara change and seeing the interaction with some of the minor characters; Shelby's cousin and grandmother are great. If you want a cute read I recommend this.
May 28, 2018
Boston rents a house haunted by ghosts which keep locking Shelby and himself in rooms. He thinks he's been banished to 'podunk' town by his boss and ends up finding a quirky, unpretensions woman to fall in love with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2025
Quick Easy Read
I really needed this book when I came across it. It's a quick Easy Read that gives you all the feels while staying light enough to be a great escape from reality. I was able to complete in just two evenings of reading it and plan to read the next in the series.
I really needed this book when I came across it. It's a quick Easy Read that gives you all the feels while staying light enough to be a great escape from reality. I was able to complete in just two evenings of reading it and plan to read the next in the series.
July 13, 2021
Great humor but the book focuses way too much on the sexual relationship between the two main characters for my taste.
August 24, 2022
Shelby annoyed me mostly because she didn’t seem to want to grow as a person or really have any dreams. I liked the hero more which usually doesn’t happen for me.
September 27, 2022
I liked it, but not as much as her vampire series. Still a funn read though.
August 4, 2023
Basically cute, and there is an audience who will like it; but not for me.
April 24, 2024
Really enjoyed this book. It's sassy, a little sexy, and fun. A total "beach read" that is hard to put down
May 1, 2024
It was a cute story. Really enjoyable read.
April 25, 2021
Very cute and easy to read. I enjoyed the characters, especially the grandmother. I liked that some supernatural was thrown in to the mix in a humorous way. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a cute, lighthearted romance that will make you occasionally giggle.
March 5, 2014
Boston McNamara ist ein Großstadtmensch. Er ist 32 Jahre alt, lebt in Chicago und ist ein absoluter Workaholic. Er hofft über kurz oder lang Vice President zu werden und als sein Boss ihn zu einer Zweistelle seiner Firma in das kleine Städtchen Cutterville schickt, hat er keine Ahnung was er dort soll. Eine verschlafene Kleinstadt - ausgerechnet er!
In Cutterville mietet er ein Haus von einer netten älteren Dame und ist bass erstaunt und sauer, als er am nächsten Morgen aufwacht und eine junge Frau mit zwei Teenagern in seinem Schlafzimmer stehen - er schläft nackt!
Shelby Tucker ist in Cutterville aufgewachsen und eigentlich nie woanders gewesen. Ein echtes Landmädchen. Nach der Scheidung von ihrer Highschool Liebe Danny ist sie bei ihrer Großmutter eingezogen und lebt seither dort ein eher planloses Leben. Ihren Unterhalt verdient sie sich durch Geisterführungen denn Cutterville ist bekannt als die am meisten durch Geister heimgesuchte Stadt. Als sie eines Morgens nichts ahnend eine private Tour für ihren Cousin und dessen Freundin durch eines der Häuser macht, findet sie dort einen attraktiven und nackten fremden Mann vor.
Und damit prallen zwei Welten aufeinander: weltgewandter Großstadtmann trifft naives Mädchen vom Land. Gegensätzlicher könnten sie nicht sein und von Anfang an überzeugen sie sich selbst ständig davon, dass sie nicht zueinander passen. Doch die Geister von Cutterville und Shelbys Granny sind da anderer Ansicht..
Hätte ich nicht durch Zufall vor einigen Jahren "Heiress for Hire" von Erin McCarthy gekauft, wäre dieses Buch vermutlich nie von mir entdeckt und gelesen worden. Als ich aber neulich meinen ungelesenen Bücher durchging und eben das besagte Buch fand, musste ich feststellen, dass es Band 2 der Cutterville Reihe ist und nach diesem Buch hier spielt. Also hab ich mich aufgemacht und Buch 1 besorgt.
Bereut habe ich es nicht aber ich hätte auch nichts verpasst wenn ich es nicht gelesen hätte. Ein unterhaltsames und nettes Büchlein nach dem üblichen Schema: Mann trifft Frau, Frau trifft Mann, beide aus unterschiedlichen Welten und überzeugt davon, nicht zueinander zu passen und verlieben sich dann doch Hals über Kopf. Was aber wirklich liebenswert war, waren die vielen Geister mit ihren eigenen kleinen Geschichten, die es sich anscheinend in den Kopf gesetzt hatten, Shelby und Boston zu verkuppeln. Das war wirklich ganz süss beschrieben aber man hätte da auch noch mehr daraus machen können. Ich habe mich immer gefragt, was die Geister so mit Boston haben und fast schon erwartet, dass es hier eine Hintergrundgeschichte gibt, was aber leider nicht der Fall war.
Trotzdem kam die Unterhaltung nicht zu kurz, auch wenn Shelby mir teilweise echt auf die Nerven ging mit ihrer felsenfesten Überzeugung, Boston nicht zu nah an sich rankommen zu lassen und lieber wieder aus Bequemlichkeit zu ihrem Ex-Mann zu gehen - obwohl die Laken brannten wenn sie und Boston sich darin wälzten während der Sex in ihrer Ehe bestenfalls mittelmäßig war.
Liebenswert waren auch die Nebendarsteller und mit der verwöhnten Tochter von Bostons Chef und Shelbys Ex-Mann haben sich bereits die Protagonisten aus dem nächsten Buch vorgestellt. Ich bin gespannt wie diese beiden zusammenkommen. Amanda kam anfangs als oberflächlich und dümmlich rüber, genau wie der muskelbepackte Danny Tucker, haben sich aber am Ende doch bewährt und ich bin gespannt auf das Buch.
Weitere Bände scheint es nicht zu geben, zumindest konnte ich nichts darüber finden.
Fazit: Kann man lesen, muss man aber nicht. Kurzweilige Unterhaltung für zwischendurch. Hätte ich nicht bereits Band 2 gehabt, hätte ich dieses Buch wahrscheinlich nie gelesen.
In Cutterville mietet er ein Haus von einer netten älteren Dame und ist bass erstaunt und sauer, als er am nächsten Morgen aufwacht und eine junge Frau mit zwei Teenagern in seinem Schlafzimmer stehen - er schläft nackt!
Shelby Tucker ist in Cutterville aufgewachsen und eigentlich nie woanders gewesen. Ein echtes Landmädchen. Nach der Scheidung von ihrer Highschool Liebe Danny ist sie bei ihrer Großmutter eingezogen und lebt seither dort ein eher planloses Leben. Ihren Unterhalt verdient sie sich durch Geisterführungen denn Cutterville ist bekannt als die am meisten durch Geister heimgesuchte Stadt. Als sie eines Morgens nichts ahnend eine private Tour für ihren Cousin und dessen Freundin durch eines der Häuser macht, findet sie dort einen attraktiven und nackten fremden Mann vor.
Und damit prallen zwei Welten aufeinander: weltgewandter Großstadtmann trifft naives Mädchen vom Land. Gegensätzlicher könnten sie nicht sein und von Anfang an überzeugen sie sich selbst ständig davon, dass sie nicht zueinander passen. Doch die Geister von Cutterville und Shelbys Granny sind da anderer Ansicht..
Hätte ich nicht durch Zufall vor einigen Jahren "Heiress for Hire" von Erin McCarthy gekauft, wäre dieses Buch vermutlich nie von mir entdeckt und gelesen worden. Als ich aber neulich meinen ungelesenen Bücher durchging und eben das besagte Buch fand, musste ich feststellen, dass es Band 2 der Cutterville Reihe ist und nach diesem Buch hier spielt. Also hab ich mich aufgemacht und Buch 1 besorgt.
Bereut habe ich es nicht aber ich hätte auch nichts verpasst wenn ich es nicht gelesen hätte. Ein unterhaltsames und nettes Büchlein nach dem üblichen Schema: Mann trifft Frau, Frau trifft Mann, beide aus unterschiedlichen Welten und überzeugt davon, nicht zueinander zu passen und verlieben sich dann doch Hals über Kopf. Was aber wirklich liebenswert war, waren die vielen Geister mit ihren eigenen kleinen Geschichten, die es sich anscheinend in den Kopf gesetzt hatten, Shelby und Boston zu verkuppeln. Das war wirklich ganz süss beschrieben aber man hätte da auch noch mehr daraus machen können. Ich habe mich immer gefragt, was die Geister so mit Boston haben und fast schon erwartet, dass es hier eine Hintergrundgeschichte gibt, was aber leider nicht der Fall war.
Trotzdem kam die Unterhaltung nicht zu kurz, auch wenn Shelby mir teilweise echt auf die Nerven ging mit ihrer felsenfesten Überzeugung, Boston nicht zu nah an sich rankommen zu lassen und lieber wieder aus Bequemlichkeit zu ihrem Ex-Mann zu gehen - obwohl die Laken brannten wenn sie und Boston sich darin wälzten während der Sex in ihrer Ehe bestenfalls mittelmäßig war.
Liebenswert waren auch die Nebendarsteller und mit der verwöhnten Tochter von Bostons Chef und Shelbys Ex-Mann haben sich bereits die Protagonisten aus dem nächsten Buch vorgestellt. Ich bin gespannt wie diese beiden zusammenkommen. Amanda kam anfangs als oberflächlich und dümmlich rüber, genau wie der muskelbepackte Danny Tucker, haben sich aber am Ende doch bewährt und ich bin gespannt auf das Buch.
Weitere Bände scheint es nicht zu geben, zumindest konnte ich nichts darüber finden.
Fazit: Kann man lesen, muss man aber nicht. Kurzweilige Unterhaltung für zwischendurch. Hätte ich nicht bereits Band 2 gehabt, hätte ich dieses Buch wahrscheinlich nie gelesen.
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