Book Buffet

Friday February 2, 2007

Chick lit galore

Reviews by MAHA BALAKRISHNAN

Hex and the Single Girl Author: Valerie Finkel Publisher: Little Black Dress

THIS book is so audaciously hilarious that it will have you either gasping in disbelief or giggling maniacally from cover to cover. A word of caution though – the naughty humour and double entendres may not be everyone's cup of chai latte.

Emma Hutch is a witch with the magical ability to implant images in people's minds. She uses her power for good (and profit) as a matchmaker, implanting risque images of her clients in the minds of the men of their choice. A little unethical, but Emma's salve to her conscience is that her clients are motivated by true love.

However, when Emma is approached by Daphne Wittfield, a socialite with less-than-amorous motives, to snag rich, urbane and gorgeous William Dearborn, conscience takes a backseat to her overdue mortgage payments. Then Emma meets William and it's instant chemistry. In the comedy of errors that follows, Emma tries to do her job while avoiding William, who's determined to win her.

Their road to romance is littered with memorable characters and seemingly-random subplots that tie up at the end, but make the book a little chaotic and thins the overall plot. Finkel's wicked wit however, carries the book and makes it an ideal light-hearted read.

Sex, Lies and Online Dating Author: Rachel Gibson Publisher: Little Black Dress

FROM a veteran author of contemporary romantic fiction comes a story about a serial killer who is believed to pick her victims through online dating. The prime suspect is Lucy Rothschild, a mystery novelist who begins online dating to research her next book on – yes, you guessed it – a serial killer who picks her victims through online dating.

Quinn McIntyre, undercover cop extraordinaire, masquerades online to catch Lucy's interest. However, desire strikes on their first date, and Quinn has a difficult time maintaining his professionalism. What ensue are deception, discovery and rejection, followed by the triumph of love, in the midst of a hunt for the serial killer. Both the story and the protagonists are formulaic, although Gibson's dry humour makes this a pleasant enough read.

Spirit Willing, Flesh Weak Author: Julie Cohen Publisher: Little Black Dress

STAGE psychic Rosie Fox is a charlatan who relies on her highly-developed powers of observation and suggestion to convince her audience that she can contact the dead. One evening, however, Rosie has a real premonition, which instantly catapults her into the spotlight. This attracts the attention of journalist Harry Blake, whose mission it is to expose charlatans and debunk the seemingly paranormal.

Harry sets his sights on exposing Rosie, who takes up the challenge of outwitting him. However, their mutual attraction gets in the way of their goals. This book is cleverly told in the first person, which allows the reader to comprehend Rosie's psyche and the forces that drive her to essentially con people night after night.

Rosie and Harry are polar opposites; the former bases her life on lies and the latter is driven by the truth. It seems impossible that they would have a future together, but with sensitivity, skill and wit, Cohen carves out a heart-warming conclusion that will bring a tear to your eye.

Blue Christmas Author: Mary Kay Andrews Publisher: Little Black Dress

ONE expects some basic ingredients in chick lit – a woman, a man, a bit of romance, a splash of sizzle and some drama to complicate the road to "happily ever after". Blue Christmas has the first two, and nothing else. In this sequel to the romance between Eloise Foley and her beau Daniel, the sizzle has clearly fizzled. Blue Christmas is what comes after "happily ever after". And the consequence is as anti-climatic as Boxing Day.

Eloise is obsessed with winning a Christmas decorations contest, and the first part of the book is about her decorating or redecorating or musing about decorating for Christmas. The rest of the book deals with the mystery of why Daniel hates Christmas and Eloise's attempts to cure him of the "malady".

Interspersing these mind-numbing topics are miscellany, such as a recipe for punch and how to dye tulle blue. I cringed my way to the inevitably saccharine It's a Wonderful Life ending. It was enough to turn me into a Grinch.

Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas – tangled twinkle lights and all – but when one pays good money for what purports to be contemporary romantic fiction, one expects more than a treatise on whether fresh fruit trumps glass ornaments in the Christmas decorations stake. So, unless Christmas decorations give you thrills or you're all agog for some good ol' Southern homemaking tips, give this book a wide berth. If I could pass on some advice to Ms Andrews, it would be: leave the chick lit sequels to Helen Fielding.