Review: Notes From The Underbelly

Ever find yourself dragged into pregnancy kicking and screaming? That’s how Lara Stone, main heroine of this book, finds herself. She had been putting off getting pregnant for some time – because after all, she had finally worked her way down to a size 4. As an admissions counselor at Bel Air Prep, Lara doesn’t have time to have a kid. However, her husband Andrew gives her an ultimatum one night: either agree to have a child, or reassess your marriage priorities. (In other words, “get pregnant or get out”).

(more…)

Review: Sex, Murder And A Double Latte

It took me a while to get into the new mystery chick lit sub-genre, but now that I am in it, I’m hooked – completely, for which I have Red Dress Ink to thank so far! Sex, Murder and a Double Latte by Kyra Davis is the third such release from Red Dress Ink – and I hope there are many more to come.

Our main heroine Sophie Katz is a mystery-writer with quite an imagination. She has just about completed her latest novel when she hears the bad news: famous movie producer Michael Tolsky has committed suicide. Sophie thinks it is odd that his “suicide” was done just as a scene in his movie was done. Also, Tolsky was supposed to be making one of Sophie’s books into a movie. Needless to say, she is a bit upset. Things don’t get much better when other people begin dropping like flies around her – and their deaths begin resembling scenes from one of her bestselling novels. (more…)

Review: Three Bedrooms In Chelsea

Can three very different young women live together and not end up driving each other insane? That’s a question you will have answered in this hilarious, absorbing novel. There is: Danielle, a spoiled Texan who has just moved to the big Apple looking for adventure and independence from her overbearing family; Greta, a very tall, loud German woman who has just caught her boyfriend cheating on her with a woman half her size; and Edie, a struggling actress whose boyfriend has just deserted her for Uzbekistan.

This book was very hard for me to put down. I had to keep reading to see what would happen to the three women. Would Danielle ever get on her feet and stop being so self-absorbed? Will Greta open up to her roommates and start being honest? Will Edie wise up to the fact that her boyfriend may not be coming back and get on with her life? The characters were truly what made this book such a delightful read – they were quirky and delightful.

I highly recommend this book. Although the story is told from three viewpoints, Liz Ireland handles it like a pro and makes a clear distinction between the characters. This novel’s only downfall is a tiny bit of predictability, but I have to say this is one of the only books that has ever made me burst out laughing on the very last page.

5 Stars
reviewed by Rian Montgomery

Review: Enchanted, Inc.

Although not a Harry Potter fan in the least, so far I have absolutely loved the novels to come out of the chick lit paranormal/fantasy sub-genre. Enchanted, Inc by Shanna Swendson was so good, in fact, that it made me wish the genre was bigger.

Meet Katie Chandler. From a small town in Texas and now residing in the large and overwhelming New York City, Katie is just trying to fit in and find her niche. Unfortunately her meager salary as an Assistant to the Marketing Director is barely covering rent, let alone any extras, and her boss is just plain terrible to work for. Katie also begins noticing more abnormal things on the streets and subways she takes to and from work. For instance, what is up with the girl with fairy wings? And why does nobody else seem to notice the gargoyle that sits on top of the church? And who is the horrifically ugly man who has begun to follow her around and offer her a new job?

After a particularly horrible day at her current job, Katie decides to bite the bullet and go for an interview at the company, MSI Inc, that the strange man keeps emailing her about. (more…)

Review: The Perfect Manhattan

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to bartend in New York City or the Hamptons? I know I have! The Perfect Manhattan will take you behind the bartending scenes and show you both the good and bad.

Meet Cassie, a fresh graduate from Columbia University who wants to be a writer but knows she needs to support herself in the meantime. No corporate slave-driven job for her! Instead she decides to become a bartender, telling herself it will only be temporary. After long hours of schmoozing customers and her boss, she ends up with a great opportunity to work in a bar in the Hamptons for the summer.

So after snagging a decidedly questionable summer share (a house occupied by a bunch of drunken frat-boy types), Cassie and her good friend Annie (a cocktail waitress) begin work at what turns out to be the hottest bar/club in the Hamptons. (more…)

Review: Chalking It Up

Working Girl Chick Lit is fast becoming one of my favorite sub-genres of chick lit. These novels usually feature women struggling to find their right career path, and in the process, go over a lot of bumps or end up having to claw their way up the ladder of success. This book is a wonderful example of such a novel.

Heather Hall, the main character, is what you would call a “corporate rebel”. She has been working for a large corporation called Commerce World, and along with her friend Regan, is testing just how far she could go without getting “laid off” or fired. Since the company had been doing layoffs for some time, she fears her turn is coming up soon. Sneaking away on two hour lunches, watching movies during company time, and coming in late every day, Heather knows her number will be up soon. And sure enough, it is one day.

Knowing she’s burned some bridges, Heather tries to find another job she is happy in and can make a decent salary at. It’s not easy – the economy is terrible and she has a family at home that she must juggle along with her job. After flitting to a couple of other companies and not finding a job that is a good fit, Heather finally realizes where her true talents lie, and sets out to find true job satisfaction. (more…)

Review: The Twins Of Tribeca

There is nothing like a breathtakingly good book that simply will not let you put it down, regardless of what time you have to get up the next morning. Even better is when it is a debut novel. I found The Twins of Tribeca by Rachel Pine to be such a novel. It was so good, so gossipy, so dishy, and so well-written that I simply had no choice but to finish the book in one read.

Bored with her job at CNN, Karen Jacobs (our main heroine) jumps at the chance to work in the publicity department for Glorious Productions. Despite having heard terrible rumors about the working conditions there, she manages to get hired on as a junior publicist – assistant to the infamous Allegra Orecchi. (more…)

Review: Off The Record

What would you do if you found out a childhood schoolmate had named a famous love song after you?

When Jane Marlowe, a highly organized lawyer about to be made partner at her firm, finds out from her brother that the kid that grew up across the street from them has written a song about her, she is confused. After all, she had never gone out with Teddy, the now-famous rock star in question. She doesn’t want to believe it. After all, she likes to keep her life organized and complication-free. She doesn’t have time for this.

But unfortunately her brother is determined to push her into the spotlight and shed light on the fact that yes, she is the “Janey” in the song. Jane meanwhile decides one night on a whim to live it up. After all, how often is a famous love song written for you? Her life quickly turns into talk shows and interviews. But are things what they really seem? And what about Drew, the guy at her office that seems sort-of interested in her? (more…)

Review: Charmed & Dangerous

Charmed & Dangerous
by Candace Havens
Berkley Publishing
December 2007
5/5 Stars

What do you get when you mix a witch, a warlock, a Sheik, a bunch of bad guys, tons of spells, and plenty of laughs? Charmed and Dangerous by Candace Havens. After reading this novel I found it hard to believe that this was the author’s debut fiction novel, because it was so well-written.

(more…)

« Previous Page — Next Page »