Rating: 
Summary: Kate, Don't quit your day job!
Review: This book is downright boring. The writing has no pop. The dialogue is flat. The lead character of Bailey Weggins is totally forgettable. And the mystery is, well, not very mysterious. I have to believe that Kelly Ripa is a friend of Kate White's and that's why she recommended the book. I won't be taking Kelly's suggestions anymore. If you want to read a wonderful female lead, with great writing, read the Janet Evanovich series with Stephanie Plum. Janet can write!! As for Kate, don't quit your day job.
Rating:
Summary: I Should Have Known Better...
Review: What was I thinking, buying a book on the advice of Hayley Chandler? This book could not be more boring...and do not get me started on the horrific writing style- so amateur hour. Nothing rings true about these characters-for crying out loud, I have a Labrador named Bailey!!
I am so sorry I spent money on this disaster- I could not even bring myself to finish it. It is sitting in the corner of my den where I tossed it four days ago.
Do not believe the hype- this book is banal. Period.
Rating:
Summary: DO NOT BOTHER
Review: I love a trashy read, but this IS NOT one. Are people so obsessed with Kelly Ripa they cannot judge a STUPID book when they read one?? The main character, Bailey Weggins, is a vacant, shallow character along with everyone else in the book. Three hundred and fifty pages led to a ridiculous and disappointing ending. Do not waste your time or money on this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Kelly Ripa strikes gold.
Review: I picked this book because it was the first selection in Kelly Ripa's book club. I was EXTREEMLY happy with the book and could not put it down. It is a quick read, and leaves you hanging until the end!
Rating: 
Summary: This Book Was Silly
Review: Ok...I picked up this book because of Kelly Ripa's recommendation and I don't think I'll ever read another of her book selections again. This book was easy to read, but it was quite boring and therefore, pretty far from entertaining. First of all, it seems like half the book is spent describing what the main character, Bailey, is eating, where in New York City she is going, and how she is getting there. WHO CARES??! Then, I found one motive for the murder/murders to be sooo completely absurd that it was laughable..."there's a big plot to kill all the editors of women's magazines." Oohhh, what an idea. I'm sorry, but once again I have to say, "WHO CARES??!" I am honestly and completely surprised by reviewers who are giving this book great reviews. It makes me wonder what their intellingence levels are. Do they like to watch Ricki Lake and wrestling?? Well, needless to say, I would never read another book by Kate White again and I'm sad that I actually spent money on this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Murder and Misdirection in Manhattan.....
Review: "Cat Jones was the kind of woman who not only got everything in the world that she wanted - in her case a fabulous job as editor in chief of one of the biggest women's magazines, a gorgeous town house in Manhattan, and a hot looking husband with a big career of his own..." And as thirty-something, newly divorced, true-crime reporter, Bailey Weggins, makes clear...When your boss and friend, Cat Jones, says "Jump," you ask, "How high,"...even if it's early Sunday morning, and it has nothing to do with business. When a frantic phone call sends Bailey uptown to the Jones' brownstone, she finds one very dead live-in nanny, and one very scared and upset editor. The police suspect poisoning, and the culprit turns out to be a half eaten box of Godiva chocolates. It soon becomes clear that the intended victim may not have been the nanny at all. Using her crime-writing investigative skills, Bailey jumps into this mess with both feet, and unofficially starts asking hard questions, and in the process, ruffling more than a few feathers. And with no lack of suspects or motives, it becomes crystal clear that if she's not careful, she might be next..... Take Sex In The City, add a little Murder She Wrote, and you've got Kate White's debut mystery, If Looks Could Kill. Her well paced plot twists, turns, and keeps the reader guessing to the end. The writing is breezy and entertaining, the characters fun, though a bit light and underdeveloped, and as Cosmopolitan's editor and chief, Ms White's indepth knowledge of New York City, and expertise in the fashion world and magazine business, adds real credibility to the story. This is the perfect whodunit for lazy days at the beach or a long plane ride, and with the promise of a new series, Bailey Weggins is a character you'll certainly want to get to know.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the best, but not the worst
Review: I was moderately disappointed in this book.I found it to be a fairly standard modern murder mystery, a la Mary Higgins Clark. While the writing was solid, it was one-dimensional and the story and characters were generally bland. From the hype, protagonist Bailey is characterized as "smart, sexy and gutsy," and I really didn't notice her being anything other than plain and normal; if she was meant to be a Stephanie Plum rip off, the author should go read more Janet Evanovich. Mystery-wise, the killer was always on my short list of suspects, so I had no "so THAT's who did it!" epiphany like I did from Neil Gaiman's American Gods (which is an excellent book even though the mystery is only a very small sub-plot). What annoyed me the most about the book, though, was the over-use of slang phrases. It seemed like the author was including slang specifically to appeal to a "younger" audience, yet it ended up just breaking my concentration. Over all, this isn't a bad book. Just nothing spectacular, and something I'd recommend only if you're really bored and in the mood for a plain mystery.
Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected
Review: Maybe there's something wrong with me b/c everyone else seemed to love this book but I found it pretty eh. I got through it in 3 days which is average for me but kept reading b/c i kept expecting it to get better. The first person past tense makes it feel like Bailey is retelling her story to you...but in a boring way. I didn't feel the suspense of being there with her, solving the mystery. Also, I couldn't identify with Bailey's character. She lets her boss, her lover and many others walk all over her. And she doesn't develop into her own person through the story...she's still pretty much a doormat at the end.
So overall, I got through the book but there was no WOW at the end of it. So it was just eh.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous!
Review: I really didn't expect to enjoy this book, but was quite pleasantly surprised...I loved it! The plot was tight, the characters totally believable and the murderer.....a complete surprise! I love the characters of Bailey Weggins and Cat Jones (confessed 'shoe slut') and look forward to their next adventure. I had to laugh out loud at the mentions of the old "Cosmo", oops, I mean "Gloss" editor who was forced to retire....gee, I wonder who *that* could be referring to?! It was pure-dee delicious reading about the inner workings of a fashion magazine....a nice little plus to the story.
Rating:
Summary: Kate White's novel is superb
Review: What a fantastic book. I bought this book based on a recommendation from this web site and boy am I glad I did. Not only was the story compelling but the writing was outstanding. Edge of your seat stuff with a humorous twang. Don't wonder, just buy it!
|
