Changing the Riles
St. Martin's, Oct 2003, 6.50, 352 pp.
ISBN: 0312986238
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In San Diego La Beau Monde magazine editor, Marcel Templeton rushes to meet her best friend Tracy for lunch. She uses the shoulder to get around someone waiting for a light to change. He turns right legally and crashes into her car. No one is hurt and the damage minor. Ian Michaels asks Macel out, but she refuses.
Unable to resist, Ian follows Marcel to the Versailles Restaurant. She joins Tracy while he sits hidden by a plant at the next table with his seven-year-old niece Dani who he is raising. Ian overhears Tracy and Marcel drawing up a list of rules a man must possess to date the latter. Rule 1 and 11/2 involve his “equipment”. Rule 2 is he must not be a player. Rule 3 is he must have a job, a car, and money. Finally he must not be mean or live with his mom.
Using the rules, Ian eventually persuades Marcel to take a chance on him. Eventually, they make love, but she learns that he is the CEO of a multimedia company trying to buy her independent publication. Marcel thinks Ian used sex to seal the deal, but he knows that was coincidence and he loves her.
This chick lit tale is a bit inane but fun especially when the two ladies draw up a requirement list. Ian's niece adds some somber notes as she struggles with her feeling of being unwanted in spite of his efforts to prove otherwise, but that subplot seems off-kilter for this tale. The romance is appealing, as fans will like the antics of the lead duo particularly Marcel.
Harriet Klausner
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner