Lucy and Wilder are like oil and water in the beginning. Once they team up, they are fire. I love the mystery and the action and the misdirection. I want more of there story. I want to know how it all plays out once they settle down. Pepper, Lucy's little neice is a big part of the story and she steals several scenes. The narrators do a good job of displaying the emotions and the attitudes. This is a fun story. The romance portion moves fast. I am not thrilled that Wilder, JT, has a thing with Althea before he and Lucy connect, but i still like the book overall.

Loved this in 2006 and jumped at the chance to listen to the audio. Jt's character voice didn't match how I pictured it, but he did a great job, along with the other narrator. I still love this book. I was a comfort read back in the day that always entertained me no matter my mood.

Dear Everyone,

Don’t Look Down was originally released in 2006 and was the first book in what has become a longstanding writing partnership between Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer. I read the book (in print) back in the day but didn’t listen to it at the time. Now, it’s being re-released and I thought why not see if it holds up? Spoiler: It does.

If I have the right of it, Crusie, generally but not exclusively, writes the FMC’s POV and Mayer, generally but not exclusively, the MMC’s. It’s about even overall but each character may have a series of chapters in a row before the other POV kicks in again so in that way it feels very organic. I think Mayer brings the more action-y type parts of the story and Crusie – well Crusie brings everything fans know and love from her.

Lucy Armstrong has been brought into complete the last 4 days of shooting in Georgia for a movie, Don’t Look Down. There are stunts to be completed, though a close look at the script would indicate the need for the stunts is pretty flimsy. Her ex-husband, Connor Nash, is the stunt coordinator on the film and her sister (of the heart if not by blood), Daisy, is the script coordinator. Lucy is a fixer and she answers the call for help, mainly because Daisy’s 5-year-old daughter, Pepper, cried when she thought Lucy might not come. Lucy is usually based in New York and specialises in commercials featuring animals, most particularly dogs.

Bryce McKay is the star of the film and he turns up to the set on the first day of Lucy’s involvement with a ring-in stunt double, JT Wilder. JT is a Green Beret and teaches at the Army training school. On leave, he’s picking up some extra cash by standing in for Bryce for this last 4 days of shooting. At least, that’s what JT thinks is happening. Pretty soon, he learns that his involvement has been carefully orchestrated by the CIA who suspect the film is somehow involved in laundering money for a terrorist.

Lucy identifies very early that something is wrong. The script doesn’t make sense. It started out as a romcom! But suddenly there are stunts involving a helicopter and an armored car heist. The previous director dropped dead of a heart attack the week before and most of the crew left thereafter. Daisy is clearly not well and is possibly on some kind of drug and Lucy is determined to get to the bottom of all of it, protect her sister and Pepper, and along the way avoid the moves Connor keeps trying to make on her. She and Connor split 12 years earlier when she found out he was a cheating cheater who cheats and she’s not at all interested in going back. Connor has other plans.

Then there’s JT. He’s the real deal. And Lucy is super attracted but (initially at least) determined not to get involved lest he turn out to be another Connor. Of course, best laid plans and all that. JT and Lucy are both attracted to one another’s competence as well their good looks. Both are protectors and very good at what they do and on a movie set where just about everything seems wrong and weird, they are ports of sanity in a wild storm.

There’s a ton of humour in the audiobook and both narrators deliver it with perfect timing. I am 100% sure that Crusie wrote the description contrasting Lucy and Bryce. Lucy’s eye’s said “Brace yourself, I’m coming for you.” Bryce’s eyes said “Back in a minute”.

The entire book takes place in only the 4 days of the shoot Lucy is involved in. There’s a lot of Wonder Woman, a one-eyed alligator called “Moot”, a mentally unstable “ghost”, a mole, many shenanigans involving bed-hopping between the main actress/the director’s assistant/a makeup artist with Connor or Bryce. Even JT’s first encounter between the sheets is not with Lucy. The CIA know more than they’re telling JT and he enlists the help of his good friend, helicopter pilot and raging womaniser, Rene LeFavre to make sure Lucy, Pepper and Daisy are protected. Pepper is far more than a plot moppet – and Renee Raudman’s narration of her is great. All of the female voices are narrated by Raudman as well as the narrative from Lucy’s POV. All of the male voices are by Lawlor as well as JT’s narrative. It works well and there is never any confusion about who is doing the talking. Both narrators are at the top of their game with this book.

Technology has changed since it was written – cell phones were not ubiquitous for example, but within the 2006 setting, the story remains a fun action adventure with a nice dollop of romance sizzle and a pleasing HEA.

Grade: B+

Regards,
Kaetrin

This was certainly an adventure to get through. While I know this book is almost 20 years old, the two authors' styles of writing felt very different, almost like I was listening to two different books. It made it pretty difficult to immerse myself in the story.

Mayer's descriptions of any interaction with a woman were downright awful. I wish I would have counted the number of times he mentions a woman's breasts because it was OFTEN. Maybe he's trying n g to fight off the homoerotic vibes I also got any time he mentioned "manly men"...

Crusie's writing was much better and felt like it showed actual character development and emotional growth.

The plot itself wasn't bad but Pepper's character carried this book. She was the only character I found myself actually carrying about.

The performance by the narrators was great. Good pacing and not overly theatrical. It was a relatively easy listening experience.

This title was absolutely hilarious and reminded me why I need to go back and reread Cruise/Mayer titles. The narration MADE the story. I absolutely cackled the first time I heard Althea's breathy Jennifer Coolidge voice. It made my day. I don't know how the narrators kept it all straight - multiple conversations at once, all the accents, and just the great dialogue. The story was fun and a bit outlandish, but that's what made it great!

God this was awful and I increased the audio to 1.75 just so I could finish it. I usually love Jennifer Cruisie books but this writing duo did not impress me.

I'm assuming that Cruisie wrote the main female protagonist parts, and they were good. I liked the character, Lucy. Smart, capable, strong. But listening to the male parts by Bob Mayer was cringey. Was he a twelve year old boy when he wrote this? It was just guns, boobs, war, arses, Navy Seals, sex, more boobs and comments like, "Women only talk about shoes and child birth".... Christ it was annoying. I really didn't want them to end up together.

The storyline was okay but just too big of a difference in writing styles. There was a lot going on and maybe two separate stories might have been better. The narrators, Patrick Lawlor and Renee Raudman did a great job (except for the absolutely terrible Australian accent. Lord, it was bad).

This sounds like a fun concept for a romantic comedy, but the execution of Don't Look Down by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer feels a bit chaotic, much like the movie set Lucy Armstrong finds herself on.
The premise is certainly promising: a TV commercial director, Lucy, steps into a nightmare film shoot with an unhinged crew, egomaniac stars, her ex-husband as the stunt director, and a perpetually right Green Beret, JT Wilder, thrown into the mix. The potential for comedic mishaps and a sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance is definitely there. JT's initial thoughts of "easy money and easier starlets" being hilariously upended by a "bumbling comedian" and low-flying helicopters offer some genuine laughs.
However, the summary hints at a bit too much going on. A suicidal make-up artist, egomaniac stars, a difficult ex, and then the CIA calling because "somebody is taking 'shooting a movie' much too literally" suggests a tonal whiplash from rom-com to something much more serious. While a touch of suspense can elevate a story, it sounds like the plot might become overly convoluted, pulling focus from what could be a really enjoyable character-driven comedy with a romantic core. The "distracting resemblance to Wonder Woman" also feels a little too on-the-nose for a character who's supposed to be a capable director.
Ultimately, Don't Look Down seems to have all the ingredients for a truly entertaining read, but the sheer volume of dramatic elements and plot points could make for a less cohesive and ultimately less satisfying experience. It's a fun ride, but one that might leave you feeling a little disoriented.

This book was hard to get through. Lucy is a competent, likable character. J.T. is a manly man archetype - it makes it really hard to get invested during his chapters. I spend most of the time with my eyebrow raised with his thoughts on men and women (which there is more than what I was expecting from a book not about someone’s take on genders). All the men in this book only thought about sex and money - seems like a pretty shallow, boring take on men ironically written by a man.

The idea is a fun, fast-paced romp of a plot that just didn’t execute.

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen and review.
🎧3⭐⭐⭐🎧
The narration was the best part of the book for me.
I enjoyed the story and the mystery overall; it was entertaining, and I like the way the characters all rallied around each other to make the set and the people safe.

Lucy and her sister had an interesting dynamic. I wasn’t a big fan of the sister, but I also see why the authors made her the way she was. Thank goodness for Lucy.

3.75

I was given an “advanced” copy of this audiobook to listen to and review, though it could almost be historic fiction. It turns out that the book is copyrighted 2006.

I am not at all familiar with the author Bob Mayer, but I listened to a Jennifer Crusie book or two a few years ago when I was in between series and needed something different. Initially, the soul reason for downloading one of her books was the basset hound on the cover (and implying one in the story as well). They were obviously older books, but interesting. A little danger. A little romance. A little humor. The collection of her books I had access to at the time seemed to be small and I haven’t listened any others since. Given that the only Jennifer Crusie books that I’ve seen were at least least a couple of deades old, I thought it was interesting that she and her co-author we’re going to be releasing a new book soon. Such a fool!

This story is interesting yet cheesy and more or less timeless… until there was mention of a PDA (personal digital assistant, not the other kind), which I haven’t heard referenced since my Palm Treo about 20 years ago. There were some other dated references, as well as a lack of several modern conveniences.

The audiobook version has both a male and female narrator and they are pretty consistent. I don’t know if there was crossover, but the male narrator’s females weren’t super high-pitched and the men from the female narrator seemed realistic and not too unlike the male’s.

This is an international espionage story wrapped up in a low budget, very independent action movie/romcom that has been hijacked by an Irishman and Russian oligarch or some such thing and the crew is fleeing after the first director dies. Lucy Armstrong is the heroin and she’s likable. She’s strong, but highly fallible and generous. Captain Wilder is the male lead, though I still consider Lucy to be the primary protagonist, even though we also hear the story from his point of view. A lot of books have these unrealistic overly cute kids, but they can be fun and Pepper—I love the name—is one of those. She’s entertaining and there’s a whole storyline about Wonder Woman and you can feel her joy and her pain.

Given that there is everything from a five-year-old girl to an Australian man and a variety of others, the narration is good. It’s not the best I’ve ever heard, but certainly an enjoyable listen without anything that grated on my nerves, let alone made me want to abandon the audiobook. If you have been a reader of the Evanovich, or Griffin (they are the exent of my experience for comparison), or any of those types of kick-ass females, you may especially appreciate this.

I think this is another standalone book, though I guess I could look it up. Maybe next year I can get my hands on an advance copy of whatever was written in 2007.

Thank you to Bob Mayer, Jennifer Crusie, NetGalley, and Brilliance Publishing for providing me with a free advanced copy of this audiobook for my unbiased review.

#DontLookDown #NetGalley #bookreview #ADHDreader #mystery #JenniferCruisie #BobMayer #murder #mystery #moviemaking #espionage #NorthCarolina #BrilliancePublishing #BrillianceAudio #WonderWoman

05/31/2025 - Audio reread with dual narration by Patrick Lawlor and Renee Raudman. First off, I've got to say I'm a huge fan of Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer. They are my favorite writing duo, and their different styles only add to the story as does the dual narration. I loved everything about this book, and it was just a joy to reexperience it with the wonderful narration by Patrick Lawlor and Renee Raudman. They brought life to this story and made the experience something not often found in an audio book. I'm a reader who wants to be swept away to another place, experience some romance, a little humor and a mystery/suspense to keep me engaged. "Don't Look Down" is all that and so much more. The comments in my original review stand and I highly recommend this audio book.

If you are looking for a Harliquin Romance - read something else. What you get here is a fast paced, action adventure with so many plot twists and turns you don't know till the very end what is happening. What makes this book so good is that the characters actually speak with different voices due to the writing partnership of Jennifer Cruise and Bob Mayer. Bob Mayer adds so much to this romantic suspense by the fact that he talks guy. Macho guy. It is so fun to hear what an actually guy thinks and feels.

This book had me on the first page: "The low country,... a euphemism for soggy with a chance of alligator." Lucy Armstrong is brought in to finish a 4 day movie shoot by her ex-husband Connor Nash. In flies (literally) Special Forces Green Beret J.T. Wilder and the fun begins.

I love Jennifer Cruise. She is my go to when I want to escape and find my happy place. Humor, suspense, romance, and sex are all woven together to make a really special blend that is unique to her. Add Bob Mayer and you get action, adventure and so much more.

I actually picked a cast in my mind for this one:

Lucy - Catherin Zeta Jones
J.T. - John Cena
Daisy - Gwyneth Paltrow
Conner - Gerald Butler
Crawford - (plays Lance Sweets on Bones)

My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary audio Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

I’m a huge fan of Jennifer Crusie books. I got busy when she joined forces with Bob Mayer, so this is my first book by both authors. I’ve been missing out. This book was funny, had some great mystery and some romance mixed in. The characters were funny and quirky. The plot was also quirky and unique. That was the best part. That’s Jennifer Crusie at her best! Lucy has ended up on a movie said trying to salvage the whole thing. She meets JT Wilder. He’s a consultant on the set. She’s definitely attracted to him!
I adored Lucy’s niece! There’s also an alligator! lol Her sister, Daisy, is acting weird. The movie doesn’t make sense. So much great conflict here! This was a great listen!

I thought the narrators did a great job bringing the story to life! I received this audiobook from Brilliance and Netgalley. All opinions are my own!

This was a relatively enjoyable easy listen. The mfc was directing a movie however things just didn’t go to plan at all. It was one thing after another for her as she began to run in to problems before long the movie that was an action packed movie turned sour leaving not only her, her daughter and others in danger.

This book was relatively light hearted with humour between Lucy and JT and of course Lucy’s daughter made it little bit more enjoyable as the characters were likeable. The plot and storyline had potential but was just a little something missing within the detail but it didn’t take away from the entertainment.

With thanks to NetGalley & Brilliance Publishing for this ELC in return for this review. Wishing best wishes for publication 🙏🏽📚

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Recruited to salvage a chaotic movie shoot, director Lucy faces egomaniacal stars, a sister on the edge of a nervous breakdown, and a philandering ex who says he wants her back. Then there’s JT, the infuriatingly competent Green Beret advisor who’s also distractingly attractive. But when the CIA gets involved, they realize that the movie’s problems are more than just Hollywood drama.

This is a fast-paced and funny romantic suspense. Lucy’s little niece adds heart and fun to the story. The suspense plot is fairly complex yet easy to follow and kept me on the edge of my seat. The audiobook duet narration is entertaining.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I really didn’t like the male narrator, so this was hard to listen to. I also didn’t really care much about the characters, and I think part of my problem is the third person narration. This one wasn’t for me.

This might be my first rom-com romance on audio! I liked it and found myself immersed in the characters' world immediately. The banter and movie set setting entertained me, and it was fun to listen to. Thanks to NetGalley for the Advanced Copy!

I loved this book. It was written so well. I listened to it in one sitting. The ending with Taylor was awesome. I wish there was more.

Lucy is hired to finish directing a movie after the original director died. She works on the movie set with her sister, niece, and ex-husband. Her niece, Pepper, stole the show! She was so adorable! She would bring Lucy apples and water for snacks and had the entire cast wrapped around her finger. JT, the Green Beret hired to be a stunt consultant, was described as "her egg." He even bought her a Wonder Woman doll.

This was a fast paced story. At first, it was very confusing to listen the audiobook because so many characters were introduced and their backgrounds were not described. The duet narration also added to the confusion in the beginning.

Overall, I loved this book! The plot was a bit wacky and unrealistic, but it was fun to listen to story unfold. There were affairs, backstabbing, Russian mobsters, stolen art, etc. What else could you ask for?!

As someone who loves a witty, romantic thriller, I found this one lacking. The overall idea for the book is intriguing, but the character development left me confused and a little annoyed. The FMC was the saving grace of the novel. She was strong-willed, and the narrator fit the character well. The MMC, on the other hand, was such a downfall. The narrator's voice was borderline cartoonish, and I hated listening to him objectify women. I want my MMC to be head over boots for the FMC, but this one was so easily distracted by every female character in the book.