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Crystal Clear
When her perfectly-ordered life comes crashing down around her, Crystal, deciding to get her aura cleansed, embarks on a spiritual journey to Sedona, Arizona, where she joins forces with her ex-husband to solve the mystery of a missing heiress. Reprint.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
10 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Jane Heller
36 books121 followersJane Heller, a New York native who recently moved from Santa Barbara, CA to New Preston, CT, is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 13 novels of romantic comedy, including "Name Dropping," "Lucky Stars," and "Best Enemies." Nine of Heller's novels have been optioned for film or television, and all of them have been translated in countries around the world. Her first book of nonfiction, "Confessions of a She-Fan: The Course of True Love with the New York Yankees," is a humorous look at her passion for baseball. Her book about caregiving, "You'd Better Not Die or I'll Kill You: A Caregiver's Survival Guide to Keeping You in Good Health and Good Spirits," combines Heller's personal essays about being the wife of a man with Crohn's disease and the daughter of a mother with dementia, plus interviews with other caregivers who deal with everything from autism to Alzheimer's and advice/tips from experts. "You'd Better Not Die" is upbeat and inspirational - a cheerful companion to the over 60 million caregivers in America. Heller's new novel, "Three Blonde Mice," a spinoff of her bestselling novel "Princess Charming," was published on August 2, 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 3, 2019
No one craves order more than Crystal does. Partner at one of New York's finest accounting firms, doting daughter of her aging father, and loyal girlfriend to her boyfriend, Steve, her life is completely under control. But when Crystal discovers that Steven has been cheating on her with his ex-wife, that her father has spent his gruff silent years yearning for a brother she never knew she had, and that--thanks to downsizing--her job may be in jeopardy, she is brought up really short.
Suddenly, the 43-year-old nose-to-the-grindstone bean counter has to consider that maybe her best friend Rona--a New Age junkie--is right! Maybe her aura does need cleansing. Maybe her charkras do need balancing. Though never one to follow fads or trends, Crystal unexpectedly finds herself on the ultimate long-overdue vacation in mystic, metaphysical Sedona, Arizona. Set down amidst the swirling energy vortexes, among numerologists, astrologers, and experts in Feng Shui, Crystal checks into the post Tranquility resort, signs up for the highly-publicized five-day "Sacred Earth Jeep Tour," and settles back, a total skeptic waiting--and almost willing--to be enlightened.
It was just okay..started out slow, however entertaining..
Suddenly, the 43-year-old nose-to-the-grindstone bean counter has to consider that maybe her best friend Rona--a New Age junkie--is right! Maybe her aura does need cleansing. Maybe her charkras do need balancing. Though never one to follow fads or trends, Crystal unexpectedly finds herself on the ultimate long-overdue vacation in mystic, metaphysical Sedona, Arizona. Set down amidst the swirling energy vortexes, among numerologists, astrologers, and experts in Feng Shui, Crystal checks into the post Tranquility resort, signs up for the highly-publicized five-day "Sacred Earth Jeep Tour," and settles back, a total skeptic waiting--and almost willing--to be enlightened.
It was just okay..started out slow, however entertaining..
May 8, 2019
Kirkus Reviews
More frivolous, flaky fun (Princess Charming, p. 160, etc.) from Heller, who's quickly becoming the master of the slick urban modern woman's getaway romance. Crystal Goldstein is a Manhattan stereotype: a working woman (in this case, a CPA) of a certain age (about 40) who has no time for anything resembling a life. Her first marriage--to the charming but lazy Terry Hollenbeck--lasted only a matter of months. Now, when she learns that the man she's been dating for years, an unbelievably boring and uptight attorney, has been cheating on her with the ex-wife he's married and divorced twice, Crystal takes the news as a wake-up call. With
the help of her New Age-y but loving friend and secretary Rona Wishnick, Crystal (who, in spite of her name, is as pragmatic as you can get) decides to take a vacation at a resort called Tranquility in Sedona, Arizona. Once there, she signs up for the apparently obligatory
(according to Rona) Sacred Earth Jeep Tour, a week long drive through Sedona's spiritual sites that turns out to offer plenty of forced interaction with the driver/tour guide and the other six tour groupies. To Crystal's shock, she immediately recognizes the driver she's been assigned
to--it's Terry, of course, looking better than ever at 43. Worse yet, several calls from Rona reveal that attorney, Steven, is hot on her trail, vowing to give up his ex-ex-wife forever if Crystal will marry him. Crystal's touring companions, meanwhile, aren't much help. Amanda Reid is a socialite with an attitude as big as her bank account, and the rest of the group includes her entourage (cook, p. r. agent, physical therapist, personal assistant) and a reporter doing a story on Amanda's writer husband, who's penned his first book in decades. What ultimately happens in the desert comes as a surprise only to Crystal. A modern spin on a good old-fashioned Cinderella story.
More frivolous, flaky fun (Princess Charming, p. 160, etc.) from Heller, who's quickly becoming the master of the slick urban modern woman's getaway romance. Crystal Goldstein is a Manhattan stereotype: a working woman (in this case, a CPA) of a certain age (about 40) who has no time for anything resembling a life. Her first marriage--to the charming but lazy Terry Hollenbeck--lasted only a matter of months. Now, when she learns that the man she's been dating for years, an unbelievably boring and uptight attorney, has been cheating on her with the ex-wife he's married and divorced twice, Crystal takes the news as a wake-up call. With
the help of her New Age-y but loving friend and secretary Rona Wishnick, Crystal (who, in spite of her name, is as pragmatic as you can get) decides to take a vacation at a resort called Tranquility in Sedona, Arizona. Once there, she signs up for the apparently obligatory
(according to Rona) Sacred Earth Jeep Tour, a week long drive through Sedona's spiritual sites that turns out to offer plenty of forced interaction with the driver/tour guide and the other six tour groupies. To Crystal's shock, she immediately recognizes the driver she's been assigned
to--it's Terry, of course, looking better than ever at 43. Worse yet, several calls from Rona reveal that attorney, Steven, is hot on her trail, vowing to give up his ex-ex-wife forever if Crystal will marry him. Crystal's touring companions, meanwhile, aren't much help. Amanda Reid is a socialite with an attitude as big as her bank account, and the rest of the group includes her entourage (cook, p. r. agent, physical therapist, personal assistant) and a reporter doing a story on Amanda's writer husband, who's penned his first book in decades. What ultimately happens in the desert comes as a surprise only to Crystal. A modern spin on a good old-fashioned Cinderella story.
April 25, 2023
3/5 stars.
This was just an average, middle of the road book to me. It wasn’t particularly mind blowing, and I wasn’t dying to know what happened. It was cute enough, but just there.
I also thought the pacing was off.
This was just an average, middle of the road book to me. It wasn’t particularly mind blowing, and I wasn’t dying to know what happened. It was cute enough, but just there.
I also thought the pacing was off.
January 10, 2022
This book was a super cute and funny light quick read. I really enjoyed it. First one by this author but will definitely be looking for more by her.
July 6, 2025
I couldn’t put the book down. Loved it!
July 26, 2012
This was a fun book. It takes place in Sedona, which is my favorite place in the world (for the red rocks, not the vortices). It has Jewish characters, which is so rare in a non-religious novel. If you're not Jewish, you probably don't notice these things. Let me explain: people in my family are never named Clay or Hunter or even John and our last names are not Finnegan or Smith. They are Goldstein & Schwartz (my 2 grandmothers), just like the protagonist & her grandmother.
Back to the topic: The story is about a search for meaning without being profound or touchy-feely. It's about New Age mumbo-jumbo without either taking itself seriously or discounting the possibilities. More of a silly romp with an obvious conclusion.
Back off-topic: Jane, you blew the ending. Here I sat, thrilled to be reading a book with Jews in it, and the very last chapter took place on Christmas Eve. Why? Many of us who are not particularly religious do not also embrace the wider culture that is The Christmas Season. It's entirely possible to ignore it. Except in books, because it's awfully hard to find one that doesn't mention Christmas at least once in passing. For this reason, you are not on my "read it again" list.
Back to the topic: The story is about a search for meaning without being profound or touchy-feely. It's about New Age mumbo-jumbo without either taking itself seriously or discounting the possibilities. More of a silly romp with an obvious conclusion.
Back off-topic: Jane, you blew the ending. Here I sat, thrilled to be reading a book with Jews in it, and the very last chapter took place on Christmas Eve. Why? Many of us who are not particularly religious do not also embrace the wider culture that is The Christmas Season. It's entirely possible to ignore it. Except in books, because it's awfully hard to find one that doesn't mention Christmas at least once in passing. For this reason, you are not on my "read it again" list.
October 9, 2010
If this book can get published, I can't imagine why publishers aren't knocking down my door. It wasn't uninteresting, but pretty poorly written and the characters/situation unbelievable.
I don't think the author has the talent to write about characters to make them believable. Are there stuck up socialites interested in New Age stuff for their own gain? 10-year-old girls more interested in politics than Lady Gaga? Certainly. But the way she wrote everything came out like a Saturday Night Live sketch, kind of wooden caricatures of people, rather than people. I didn't believe or even care about lots of the people--especially the missing woman. If Jean, or Annie, had been kidnapped--yeah, it may have been different. The story was ok, the book was ok, blah blah blah.
I don't think the author has the talent to write about characters to make them believable. Are there stuck up socialites interested in New Age stuff for their own gain? 10-year-old girls more interested in politics than Lady Gaga? Certainly. But the way she wrote everything came out like a Saturday Night Live sketch, kind of wooden caricatures of people, rather than people. I didn't believe or even care about lots of the people--especially the missing woman. If Jean, or Annie, had been kidnapped--yeah, it may have been different. The story was ok, the book was ok, blah blah blah.
February 11, 2012
The plot turned on the ridiculous premise that the main character just happens to find that the tour guide to her randomly booked tour is her long lost ex-husband from twenty years before. Okay, murder mystery plots rarely hold up to real world scrutiny, but still...The characters were likable; the tone was fun and humorous, but I kept wishing that the author had tried a little harder to make me believe the story.
December 27, 2009
A very light hearted read. It was about a workaholic who never had time for herself. She goes to Arizona to get centered and who does she run into? Her ex-husband who has made something of himself. She gets involved with a supposed kidnapping/murder
It is very predictable, but a nice fun vacation read.
It is very predictable, but a nice fun vacation read.
June 27, 2009
quick read, but I read it at the right time... it starts off with Crystal's secretary telling her she needs an 'aura cleansing', so it immediately drew me in... Crystal goes to Sedona, AZ, which has lately been near the top of my must-visit list. So, I definitely enjoyed this book!
May 25, 2011
I was in the library, needing a book to read, and Aaron pulled this off the shelf randomly. I decided to go for it and actually enjoyed it. One of those books that is a quick, easy read and keeps you engaged. I definitely recommend it as a "filler" book.
June 3, 2012
I'm giving it a two star rating as I felt some of the new age was a bit too heavy and took a bit away from the story. Overall I really liked the characters and the story but got bogged down with all the new age predictability.
October 23, 2007
I don't think I finished this book, or if I did it was so unremarkable that I don't remember it. It just didn't capture my attention in any way.
November 28, 2007
Crystal Goldstein takes a new age-y trip to Sedona and discovers much more than she bargained for. Light, frothy fun and page-turningly readable. Good stuff.
March 13, 2008
Cute book, but nothing special.
Overworked corporate accountant "finds herself" in "New Age" Sedona, Arizona.
Overworked corporate accountant "finds herself" in "New Age" Sedona, Arizona.
August 24, 2008
Definate beach read. It's funny, light hearted and very unrealistic.
If you expect a story, you'll get frustrated.
If you expect a story, you'll get frustrated.
December 21, 2009
Not the best book I've read....but was entertaining.
Read
June 5, 2023Unfortunately, this book did not hold my interest.
July 18, 2010
I bought this book at the library for $1 and it was a great read.
Read
April 18, 2011Chicklit chicklit chicklit...an easy read to pass the time when I don't want to think about anything...
November 28, 2011
You will get hooked. I mean it. The blossoming love of Terry and Crystal will make you crazy. A must read!
September 4, 2013
Great book. As with all Ms Heller's books I couldn't put it down
March 5, 2014
È stato uno dei primi libri che ho letto e anche se ora, rileggendolo, la trama mi potrebbe sembrare molto semplice, l'ho amato e lo amerò per sempre.
November 11, 2014
Non certo un capolavoro, ma una lettura con la quale inframmezzare la lettura di testi più impegnati.
October 12, 2016
A beach read :-)
November 30, 2007
I enjoyed this one too.
Read
August 8, 2011Let's go to Sedona.
September 30, 2012
This book makes you want to travel to Sedona. Liked the way it ended.
October 23, 2015
an interesting time waster Jane's books hold your attention to the last page
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews