From New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes the sixth novel in the warm and witty Not Quite series.No one drives in New York City. Everyone knows that, including California transplant Rachel Price. But that doesn’t stop her from driving into the city. From Connecticut. Every single morning. Rain or shine…or snow.When she runs the charismatic and … snow.
When she runs the charismatic and good-looking Jason Fairchild off the road, their immediate spark is met with bad timing. There is also one tiny little detail: Jason is her boss. And a woman as intelligent and dedicated to her career as Rachel knows not to date her boss.
As CEO of a private jet company, Jason Fairchild is more used to flying than driving. But if he hadn’t chosen to drive home one night, he wouldn’t have met the slowest—and most irresistible—driver in the entire metro area. Jason has never had time for love. Or dating. Or really anything that doesn’t involve work. But when he finds out that Rachel is the newest superstar in his marketing department, he can’t help wondering if fate has other plans…
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Rachel Price has to deal with some winter weather for the first time. Jason Fairchild can’t believe how his day has turned out. Someone else to watch out for is a young man named Owen. He’s bright, he has an attitude that will have you chuckling, and he’s exactly what Rachel needs in her life. And if you need a little pick me up than he’s just what you need as well. Trouble is it was hard for me to decide if Jason was a good influence on him or not. But put those two together and laughter may ensue.
I was entertained by this story from beginning to end. It was heartwarming to see what lengths a friend would go to and some might say honorable. Jason is a man who likes a woman who doth protest too much. What was interesting was watching him trying to break into the fortress she has put around her heart. I’m afraid though that Owen did tend to steal his scenes but I didn’t mind. He had me wishing that he were actually in my life. He may be a fictional character but he was like a ray of sunshine and it was nice getting to know him. If you see the author’s name and think that you’ve never read her work before, this would be the perfect book to get to know her with.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
This book was so freaking good it bordered on illegal! Jason is the oldest Fairchild and took over the reins of the business when his parents died in a plane crash and also made sure his brothers were raised, well adjusted adults, had their part in the business, and also had their happy endings. Even when his well meaning sister-in-laws kept trying to fix him up on blind dates he was adamant about not wanting to go there and would find his own dates even if he was not really interested in finding one. That is until he tried to pass a car on his way home from work one snowy evening and ended up in the ditch. The woman driving the other car was such a surprise and *BAM* it was practically love…or lust…at first sight. Rachel is a transplant from California and this is her first snowstorm and not used to driving in the weather and when she gives Jason a ride to her house and Owen, her son by proxy, takes one look at Jason and goes to the kitchen and returns with a butcher knife before sitting down to finish his homework and stand guard until his ride picks him up. This is the start of this cute-meet and absolutely charming and chemistry filled story. Jason and Rachel didn’t know they worked together or actually Jason was the CEO of the company Rachel worked for so he was her boss. Oh, that can’t be good…This never got in Jason’s way and nothing was going to let it get in his way. In typical Bybee fashion, this was well written with spectacular characters who were believable and the dialogue was stimulating and flowed to the point the pages turned so fast at one point I knew I needed to put it down but couldn’t. This entire series was so good and each book could be read as a standalone but each has their own special something and when you put them together this is a wonderful family.
I highly recommended this book!
What a wonderful read! This book had romance, friendship, family, emotion, and tons of heart… and is one of my favorite reads this year!
There were so many things to love in this book. Jason was everything you want in a man – he’s wealthy and good looking, but also down to earth, thoughtful, and just a nice guy. Rachel is so giving and compassionate, but she’s also smart, driven, and committed to doing what’s right and keeping her promises. Jason and Rachel fit together perfectly…except for that one little issue of him being her boss! Jason knows he has found someone special in Rachel and isn’t about to let the fact that she works for him stand in the way of trying to win her heart. Rachel knows that a workplace romance can jeopardize her career, but trying to resist Jason proves to be impossible – and once she decides to give a relationship a chance, I love that she was all-in and committed to making it work.
In addition to Jason and Rachel’s relationship, I really loved Owen in this book. He’s a typical 15 year old boy and the author did a fabulous job keeping his character real. Watching Rachel and Owen together made me smile – they both were still grieving and I loved how they supported one another. And it was wonderful to see the trust and bond form between Jason and Owen. The bit of drama that unfolds with Owen added an additional dynamic to the story that I think worked well with the romance.
The supporting characters in the book were important parts of Jason and Rachel’s story. From the tight family bond that Jason shares with his brothers and their wives, to the tension between Rachel and Owen with Owen’s father’s family, all of these sub-plots that surrounded the romance were well done and important to both Jason and Rachel individually and as a couple.
This is the first book by Catherine Bybee that I have read and it will definitely not be my last. She has a wonderful writing style that is easy to read but full of emotion. This one definitely belongs on any romance lovers shelf!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book I received from NetGalley.
After Rachel’s best friend dies and leaves her to raise her son, she makes the move from sunny California to the Big Apple just in time for winter. Determined to make the hour long drive into Manhattan each day for her new job, she’s sure she’ll get the hang of driving on the ice and snow. That is until she has a near accident and the other car careens into a ditch. With an offer to help the driver, Jason, she feels an instant attraction, not realizing she’s crushing on her new boss.
Jason has been carrying the weight of his family’s business for years since his parents’ deaths. While his brothers have found their forever loves he’s stayed away from even wishing for such a thing. It doesn’t take but a few moments in the company of Rachel to know that he might have found it without even trying.
This is a relatively low angst read with some drama from the boss/employee angle and then even more due to Rachel’s responsibilities to her friend’s son, Owen. The relationship between this couple is sweet and flows naturally even if a bit quickly, which was fine by me. I like my hero and heroine to feel something immediately, even if they’re not sure what it is.
This was a very enjoyable read, fast paced, well written and included couples from what I assume were the previous books in the series. I will definitely be checking out those stories in the future.
This is an honest review of an advanced copy provided by NetGalley and Montlake.
Dual POV
Safe – no ow/om drama; H was not a manho
No apparent triggers
First, I loved this whole series and am sorry to see it end. After waiting so long for this final book, I do think the best was saved for last. I was so happy to see Jason get the love of his life in Rachel.
Not Quite Crazy begins with the story of Rachel and her friends son, Owen. Her friend died and to hopefully combat a custody battle with Owen’s paternal grandparents, they move from California to Connecticut. Rachel lands a great job, and as a Californian, doesn’t want to give up her car and commutes into New York City every day. Snow happens, and she avoids a crash, but another car doesn’t. She stops to help, and away the story goes! Rachel meet Jason!
I love the dialogue and the way Ms. Bybee turns a phrase. Some of my favorites in the book are:
Nothing screams romance like snow chains.
Loneliness has a cousin named self-pity. And she was a bitch.
She who dances with doors should probably stay away from heights.
This is a one butt kitchen.
I could go on and on with these gems! The story takes a dark turn, but even then hope, romance, and doing the right thing are brought out.
Fifteen year old Owen is a kick in the pants. It’s nice to see ‘real’ interaction between a child and the adults in his life. He tells it like it is about his father and grandparents.
It was fun to get caught up with some of the characters from the previous ‘Crazy’ book series. The HEA is fabulous. You need to read this book!
An awesome read that I could not put down. I love the Fairchild family. Rachel Price did the ultimate for her dying best friend, to raise her son. Rachel Price has moved across country with Owen to be closer to his grandparents. Rachel has started a new job and has no time for romance. Jason Fairchild the CEO of the family business, has had no time or desire to date until he meets Rachel on a snowy night. Sparks fly but Rachel has one rule, no dating the boss, but rules can be broken, YES!
Loved this story, it will bring plenty of laughter and tears throughout. This story stresses the love of family and friends. Great chemistry between Rachel and Jason, makes my heart swell. I have thoroughly loved this series, it’s sad to say goodbye to the Fairchilds. I highly recommend this book along with the rest of the books in the series.
This is a truly awesome book! It’s packed full of emotion, humor, and love. Love of family, love of friends, and love of a good man. It’s exceptionally written and these characters will steal your heart right from the very first page.
After the death of her best friend, Rachel Price finds herself in a new city, at a new job, and trying her best to raise a 15 year old boy. All this leaves little time for a personal life! Jason Fairchild is the busy CEO of his family’s business. He has no time for fun or dating much less love. Yet when Rachel literally runs into Jason he knows the spark the flares between them is something worth going for. When it turns out Rachel is a new employee at his company things get a bit more challenging. One hard rule Rachel has is no dating the boss! Jason isn’t willing to take no for an answer and goes to work convincing her to give them a chance.
You don’t want to miss this one! I highly recommend it.
I received an advance copy of this book from net galley in exchange for an honest review.
This is not the first book that I have read by this author, and I have to say I enjoyed this one as much as her other series.
I really like the way the author took the story from good times, to conflict and then to resolution. I did not expect the story to take some of the turns that it did. I enjoyed reading about Rachel and Jason and I hope to read more of this series in the future.
This one struck a cord in my heart and I felt like I was truly right there with them. I love Rachel and Jason. Oh my gosh Owen, I just want to give that kid a hug. As I read this, memories of my own would wash over me, leaving me a sniffling mess. Once again Catherine has penned a romance full of love, acceptance, loyalty and so much more. If you truly want a good, curl on the couch read, then this is it. Kudos Bybee, this may be my favorite, so far.
There’s a sanity to the madness that is Catherine Bybee. At the heart of it all is the characters she creates. They dare us to be human. Encourage us to be empathetic and shine a light on what life has to offer whether ideal or heartbreaking. As an author she pulls back the curtain and guides readers with a profound sense of wisdom and wit. Not Quite Crazy is a nod to one life lesson we all take for granted. To get the most out of life, it has to be savored. Appreciate the little things and don’t let the fast lane throw us off course. Jason and Rachel are the image of love could be. If given the chance to grow. Fresh and funny are a fabulous way to describe Rachel and Jason in Not Quite Crazy.
This series features the Fairchild brothers and each book can be read as stand-alones but I’m sure after reading one of these books you will want to go back and read the rest of the series. This is Jason Rothchild and Rachel Price’s story and it was a story I was excited to read.
Rachel has recently moved to New York City from California and the last thing she needs is snow on her long drive home from work, this nights journey home turns into a fateful night when a Audi try’s to overtake her and ends up in a ditch, Rachel offers to take the driver home so he can get a tow truck out to his car and get himself picked up, the attraction is instant but what neither of them know is Jason is Rachel’s new boss. Jason is the oldest Fairchild and it was his job to take control of the family business, he has always been the serious brother and has never had much time for relationships until he met Rachel…..
This book was just perfect I loved the witty banter between all the characters, I loved the loyalty both Rachel and Jason have for their family and friends. This was a great fast paced read and I loved every page, this book has left me wanting more so I guess it’s time for a re read of the entire series.
5 Star Review Not Quite Crazy (Not Quite Series #6) by Catherine Bybee
This is book 6 in what has come to be one of my favourite series. I’m sad to see the series end but Not Quite Crazy is a fitting and wonderfully written book to end on. Congratulations Ms. Bybee you have another winner on your hands.
I have been looking forward to Jason Fairchild’s story almost from the first moment he was mentioned in the series. There is just something about him that really draws me in. I knew going in that he would need a woman who was able to stand up to him and yet be vulnerable and Rachel Price is certainly that woman.
Having changed her life by becoming the guardian to her dead best friend’s 15 year old son Owen, she moves across the country so that he can be closer to his paternal grandparents, living in Connecticut and commuting daily to her new job in New York.
Whist driving home in a snow storm she accidentally runs Jason off the road and this is the start of a magical journey. Shocked to realise that Jason is her boss, Rachel is determined not to get involved. However Jason has other plans, he has given his whole life to the company he runs and it is now time for him to live and he is intrigued and attracted to Rachel.
I loved everything about Jason and Rachel both separately and together. I particularly enjoyed the relationship they each developed with Owen.
This book was extremely well written and the characters were easy to relate to and what I have come to expect from a Catherine Bybee novel.
Although part of a series, you will have no trouble following it and it can be read as a stand alone. This book made me laugh and cry; Catherine Bybee’s characters are at times complex and yet so simple, the love and friendships shared are inspirational. One of the things I most enjoy about this series is that there is usually the opportunity to catch up with characters from the previous books; this group of family and friends is one I would happily be a part of.
Catherine Bybee saved the best for last! The final installment in the Not Quite series features the oldest Fairchild son, Jason. Jason was surprised by a snowstorm when he was at work & drove home on slippery roads. When he went to pass a slow moving car, he lost traction & ended up in the ditch. When the other driver stopped to help him, he fell for her bright blue eyes, her light brown hair, her lips. He was mesmerized like “a teenage kid with an instant crush”. After calling for help, Jason went with the other driver to her house to wait for help.
Rachel had moved herself & her best friend’s son, Owen, across country from California to New York. Before her friend died, Rachel promised to take care of Owen. She agreed to the move hoping his grandparents would leave him be. Now she’s dealing with the move, a new job, a smart kid, & his grandparents that thought he should be with them. She’s anxious about taking the train into work so she’s been driving everyday. She’s never driven in snow though. After her near miss, she couldn’t leave the other driver in the ditch without helping. She went to help him out of the car & the attraction & chemistry were instantaneous.
I enjoyed this book so much! The bond between Owen & Rachel was immediately apparent. They relied on each other for everything. Ms. Bybee’s descriptive style of writing enables the reader to feel everything the characters went through from the attraction between Rachel & Jason, Owen & Rachel’s grief, Owen’s despair & dislike of his grandparents & even his grandparents apparent snobbishness. The interactions between Owen & Jason detailed Owen’s wishes for a guy in his life & his feelings for Rachel to have a complete life. The interactions between Owen & Rachel were emotional, sweet, witty & loving. Rachel didn’t want to take Em’s place but you could tell what Owen felt for her. The interactions with Owen, his father (TJ), & his grandparents add even more depth & emotion to the story. This was a wonderful book to read & I would recommend it to everyone. There are even moments that the author made me cry!