For the Love of Katie

Newlywed Katie Maxwell is ready to settle down and leave her amateur detective days behind. But when the veil of secrecy surrounding her husband’s latest project takes them to Europe, her penchant for sleuthing lands her in some serious hot foreign water.

Katie will need to think quickly to talk her way out of handcuffs and a Parisian jail cell. Too bad she doesn't speak French.

For the Love of Katie is the second madcap adventure in The Katie Chronicles. This book can be read as a standalone, but why would you want to skip the first?

*May Contain Spoilers*

Erica Lucke Dean combines romance with clumsy humor in her book, For the Love of Katie, the second in the Katie series. Though I didn't read the first book, which I think would have helped me connect with the main character, I did enjoy how funny this book was. 

Katie Maxwell is a very clumsy woman to the point where it's almost as if she's been cursed with extreme stair-tripping, incriminating-photography, can't-do-anything-right bad luck. Though it's funny for the reader as Katie repeatedly gets herself into hot water that she must expansively explain once she's gotten caught. This aspect of Katie is one that brings readers into her chaotic life. As a main character, she's kind of a mess, but in a humorous, light-hearted way. It makes it easy for readers to like her, as we've all done things that we're embarrassed about. With this major character trait, Katie becomes more down to earth. However, as I do admit I didn't read the first book, I thought that Katie was little... over-presumptuous, secretive, and untrusting when it came to her husband. 

Katie is a woman who likes to have all the info. And sometimes, to get it, she'll resort to lying and trickery. Even her husband calls her Nancy Drew. While, I can see these tactics useful in a few of the situations, I think if Katie was more open in the lines of communication, she'd get the answers she wanted faster and without as much drama. But, then again, where would the fun be in that? 

The book opens in Paris with Katie in a police station, arrested for trying to sneak on set of the film adaptation of her husband's book. When the police officer asks her to start at the beginning, Katie complies, happily, thus setting up the frame with which Dean shares the story. The book then flashes back to before the couple was engaged and shares the entire narrative of how Katie came to be in Paris and why she was pretending to be a movie extra when she was arrested. The book contains a lot of situational comedy and, as previously mentioned, hot water fiascoes. And although I didn't feel a deep connection with Katie (I was a bit annoyed at times), I did enjoy the book overall. It's a nice, easy read with funny characters, good plot action to propel the story forward, and a rewarding ending. 

Rating: 3/5 Cups

A Fool Among Fools

It's 1986. Ronald Reagan is in the White House, Molly Ringwald is on the cover of Time and 29-year-old Michael Gregoretti is a struggling, underpaid copywriter at a big New York ad agency. He'd rather be writing plays; instead, he's writing awful commercials for a moisturizer formulated to conquer that dire, life-threatening condition: handruff.

Michael reluctantly accepts an assignment on a brand-new (and very secret) product – an aerosol butter – hoping it will lead to the kind of work that will land him a better job at another agency. But there's a catch: Working on this new account will also mean working for the rigid, compulsive and quite possibly insane Gwen Hammond, who thinks that Michael, with his off-the-wall ideas and unconventional campaigns, is just too much of a rebel to work with such a conservative client.

To further complicate life, Michael meets and falls for Craig Connolly, an absolute dreamboat from the South with a voice like FM radio and a face to match. Craig claims he'd like to be in a relationship and Michael wants to believe it. The problem is, Craig is already married – to his job.

Michael survives it all with the help of his two best friends: Irene Lucca, a witty book editor with a flair for vintage clothing and an eye for the art director Michael works with, and Anthony DeLorenzo, Michael's wise (and wisecracking) roommate and staunchest supporter.

*May Contain Spoilers*

John Terracuso gives readers an inside look at the advertising struggle in his novel, A Fool Among Fools. Michael lives in New York City and just wants one thing: to catch a break. Whether it be with work, with love, or with his writing. 

Michael Gregoretti is the main character of this humorous novel. He's complex and displays both admirable qualities and obvious flaws. The novel captures one year of his life, outlining his hatred for the copywriting job he has at an advertising agency and his hope for romantic comedy love. Michael is creative and funny with wit and the ability to complain about everything. He's very open with his feelings and opinions, knowing that the toes he steps on are the ones that will come back to haunt him. Readers will enjoy the bluntness of his character, connecting with his desire to fall in love and fulfill his career goals. Though the bond will be worn down by Michael's consistently pessimistic attitude as it becomes weary after only a short time. 

The story is the depiction of Michael's 29th year, his birthday introduces the novel and turning thirty ends it. During this year, he takes part in a selfish relationship and attempts to fatten his writing portfolio with commercial work. Readers will certainly enjoy the writing style of Terracuso but may have trouble forming a concrete bond with the main character. 

Rating: 3/5 Cups

Dark Chatter

Quicklime Petterson is still kicking around campus two years after commencement. But as the post-college daze is petering out, an offer comes in: pen a porn script for the policeman who just busted him, get his charges dropped. With no time to workshop, the erstwhile English major pounds out an introspective, Oedipal flesh-flick entitled "Conceptual Tart." The project attracts a tween star in search of an edgy role, and media frenzy ensues. As the would-be one-off deal threatens to become a vocation, Quicklime attempts to find the honest career he meant to start after college, amidst growing renown as a pornographer.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Andrew Branch creates a pornographic satire with his novel, Dark Chatter. The main character, half sperm donation heir and half hired hand, is Peter who re-names himself Quicklime creating an air of mystery around his personality. 

Peter is a drug using, undecided college grad with a calculated quick wit. His lack of seriousness and his aim to use shoddy pick-up lines lands him in trouble with only one way out: to be the hired writer of a porno. The porno, which is shared with the reader, is a disturbingly unbelievable snippet of script that somehow takes off when it is purposely leaked. Peter has so many various, seemingly unconnected traits, that readers will be able to connect with him on at least one level. A college graduate without a job in their chosen field. An unaccepted family member who can't live up to their forced potential. 

The plot of the novel is a confusing heap of random situations which takes Peter from a messy roommate to his father's mansion to Dubai where he falls in love and back again. The writing style of Dark Chatter is almost too satirical to me, but I understand where certain lovers of the genre would greatly enjoy this comic attempt. 

Rating: 2/5 Cups

The Cuckoos of Batch Magna

When Sir Humphrey Miles Pinkerton Strange, huntin' shootin' and fishin' Squire of Batch Magna, goes to his reward (doubtless to find God as true-blue British as his more recent but equally worthy ancestors), his rambling but rotting estate passes to distant relative Humph, a hapless dollar doodler in New York.With $$ in his eyes, Humph decides to make a killing by transforming the sleepy backwater of Batch Magna into a theme park image of rural England - a vacation paradise for free-spending US millionaires.


But while the village's threadbare businessmen see the plan as a windfall, the tenants of the estate's dilapidated houseboats are above any consideration of filthy lucre and stand their ground for tradition's sake . and because they consider eviction notices not to be cricket.Each disgruntled faction sees the other as the unwelcome cuckoo chick in the family nest!

So, lead by randy pulp-crime writer Phineas Cook and Lt-Commander James Cunningham DSO, DSC and Bar, RN (ret) - a man with a glass eye to suit every occasion (and all painted with naval battle scenes where the Union Jack flies triumphant) - the motley crew takes on Wall Street .

*May Contain Spoilers*

The Cuckoos of Batch Magna by Peter Maughan is a humorous novel based in England, or Wales (depending on your nationality), and shares the story of the erratic troop that call the grounds home when it is threatened by an outsider. 

Batch Magna itself is the main character of the novel - with each actual character a piece of it's personality. The stubborn Commander. The foolish Phineas. The adventurous (and I use this term loosely) Lucy. The wanderer Daniel. The know it all Jasmine. The mothering Annie. All of these traits add up to one hilarious main character as they take on the next heir of the estate, Humph. Readers will thoroughly enjoy reading about the group's plan to kill Humph and let the estate pass to another relative of the late Sir Strange. Though it will be hard for readers to connect with all of the characters as a whole - they will definitely find at least one quality that will bring them into the story, evoking true feelings for the fate of the crazy troop.

The plot is a wonderful tale of finding happiness, pride, and courage within. As Humph comes to know the villagers of Batch Magna, he finds that he actually likes them (even with the death threats). Through the progression of the book, Humph discovers that to be himself he must go against the wishes of others and stand up for what he thinks is right. 

Rating: 3/5 Cups

The Cuckoos of Batch Magna (The Batch Magna Novels)

Royal Flush

Royal Flush asks the question, can a man who throws his dates in a dungeon succeed romantically? A recipient of the H. R. (Bill) Percy Prize, Royal Flush is a novel about a man known only as the King, and as his Kingdom careens toward catastrophe, he cruises seedy taverns looking for likely maidens. He is particularly bad at this. His incompetence and his weakness for beautiful women drag him deeper and deeper into trouble. He is portrayed as a cross dresser by the Kingdom Crier, the Kingdom's most popular tabloid. Shortly after, he must defend his castle against a siege with only his royal fiddler--while attempting to steal his royal fiddler's girlfriend.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Scott Bartlett dishes up a hand of hilariousness in his novel, Royal Flush. Which, surprisingly, doesn't have a poker game. 

I was consistently ambushed by the characters, plot, and the overall comedic tone of this novel. And I loved it. 

The King, also known as Mud the Marauder in later chapters, needs a wife. But he doesn't want one. A few prospects he even tosses in the dungeon, with his mother. A fate that no citizen deserves. The King's a little shy on morality, but has an overabundance of executions. He even manages to fall in love. A few times. Though the women always seem to leave him for someone else. 

Readers will have an easy time connection with the King based on the hilarity of the novel. How can readers not like someone who has absolutely no ambitions and likes to steal from people to the point in which people want him to steal their belongings? It's chaotic, crazy, and lovely. To say the least. 

Bartlett crafts the plot in a wide arc of unfortunately funny situations. Often jumping back and forth between the past and present, really giving the reader an entire painting of the King's life. Which another character is writing as the reader is reading. The story line revolves around love and how the King just can't find it. And the problems that occur when he does. 

Royal Flush is a refreshing and extraordinary novel involving all the duties a King doesn't do. Recommended for anyone who loves to laugh. 

Rating: 3/5 Cups

Royal Flush

Quarantined

When Paige Hart meets her legal adversary, Ross Bennett, she can only compare him to a snake.

Well, an "extremely handsome snake."

Karen Shaw

Then there's an explosion and Paige awakens in a hospital room. With Ross. Staring at her exposed bottom. The letters on the window to the hall way reading "Quarantine."

The two patients become terrified immediately, and soon discover they may have contracted a disease. The main symptom being lust.

With a required fourteen day quarantine, Paige and Ross must remain in the hospital room with only each other as company until the Center for Disease Control determines if they have contracted the disease. Until then, they must live with the symptoms, which exponentially increase every day they're together.

* *

Trish Jensen's novel, Stuck With You, was beyond funny. The witticism between Paige and Ross is unbelievable! Verbal warfare at its finest. I was incredibly impressed with the writing style, the plot, and character development throughout the entire novel. 

Paige is a sweetheart who can't seem to not hold Bennett's career choice against him. Even she can't understand why she's so mean to him. Across the hospital room, Ross is an understanding, genuinely good guy, who refuses to prove Paige wrong, but rather lets her discover it for herself. 

Oh, and the sub-plots throughout the novel, really kick it up a notch. The main side story is between Nick and Rachel, who dated back in college and are reunited at the hospital. Their part of the plot is one of heartfelt nature that will make any reader's eyes watery. 

In it's entirety, Stuck With You is a novel for everyone. It holds passion, romance, comedy, and surprise. Even a thrill every now and then. It's a book that will truly stick with you. 

                 Stuck With You 

                     on Amazon

     

           

                  rating: 5/5 cups

Duke For Hire

It begins with a woman looking for a husband.

Not love.

It also begins with the same woman mistaking a duke for a common business solicitor.

When he's hired by her to find her a husband, preferably, a duke, and preferably, on her list of acceptable dukes. He agrees. Because really, with those eyes, how could he say no to her?

Except he, being a duke, isn't on the list. And he just also happens to be the one who has fallen in love with her.

Poor Elinor, being set up to fall in love with James Tremont when all she wanted was an acceptable marriage.

**

It's obvious to see that what Elinor really wants is just that, love. Only she believes (after her first husband was overly cruel) that it won't ever exist for her. After being hurt, we're all cautious to jump back in the world of relationships, and that is exactly where the reader connects with Elinor. Making this love story, Mad About the Duke by Elizabeth Boyle, laugh out loud funny and hopelessly endearing.

Mad About the Duke on Amazon

rating: 4/5 cups