I won a copy of this and look forward to reading it! ( )

I loved the sequel to Scot On The Rocks. In this book Brooke, the main character is more mature and real. Totally enjoyable and laugh out loud funny. ( )

Jack with a Twist
Written by: Brenda Janowitz
Published by: Red Dress
Reviewed by: Stephanie Rollins for ReviewYourBook.com 1/1/2009
ISBN: 978-0-373-89555-7
“Hysterical” 5 stars
Brooke is a litigating attorney. She is marrying another litigating attorney. All is going as she planned her life would. Then, she has to spar in court against her fiancé. Will her relationship hold up?
There is no way to describe how hysterical this book is. This is the epitome of chick lit. I could not wait until the end. Then, I regretted that there would be no more wacky Brooke, crazy Solomons, dimwit Jack, and doting Millers.
This story is written in a style that is similar to Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus’, authors of The Nanny Diaries. This should end up as a movie; it is that good.
Grab a copy for yourself and your friends. This is one that you will want to read with someone, so you can laugh together. ( )

Attorney Brooke Miller has her hands filled planning her wedding – she’s busy trying to find the perfect dress, the perfect menu, and the perfect hall, as well as accommodating the wishes of two sets of parents. But when she lands her first big case, she can’t turn it down, even when she finds out the opposing attorney is her fiancé Jack. She thinks dealing with Jack will be a piece of cake, but he starts playing dirty and she starts fuming. Add in Jack’s sexy assistant Miranda Foxley and Brooke begins to wonder if there will be a wedding at all.

“Jack with a Twist” (the sequel to Scotch on the Rocks) is a very funny novel about a couple stressing out not only about their wedding but their respective careers. The book is written in the first person from Brooke’s point of view so she is often the more sympathetic character. Her search for the perfect wedding dress is very realistic, as are the conflicts with her future in-laws (who are very unsympathetic to what is acceptable for food at a Jewish wedding), trying to find the perfect location for the wedding, the right flowers, and all the other various components of a wedding (author Brenda Janowitz no doubt used some of her own wedding experiences – she got married while writing the book). Brooke’s worries about Jack’s relationship with the not so subtly named Miranda Foxley are also very realistic – especially for a stressed out soon-to-be bride. Jack is a bit on the clueless side – he never seems to have actual discussions with anyone about any topic.

There is a nice sense of humor throughout the entire book. Some of it is very realistic – Jack’s behavior while registering at Tiffany’s is typically male – and at other times the humor is a bit too over-the-top - Brooke is a bit too casual in her search for a wedding dress. The Brooke vs. Jack in the courtroom plot is funny but again over the top at times. Too often Brooke and Jack just seem to let things happen without questioning them or discussing things with each other. If this was non-fiction rather than fiction, I wouldn’t give their marriage a chance of lasting. Finally, while the ending of the novel is very cute, it too is over the top.

“Jack with a Twist” is a very funny, sometimes over the top romance. ( )

In honor of the book's subject, I thought I'd do this review in lawyerly fashion.

Point: Funny! Some parts -- especially the imaginary emails and newspaper clippings interspersed through the book -- are even laugh out loud funny, which I think is a rarity.
Counterpoint: I found Brooke, the main character and narrator, to be annoyingly naive and late to pick up on things that were obvious to me pretty early on. The big reveal on her best friend's boyfriend? Not that surprising.

Point: True to life! Anyone who has planned a wedding will see characters they recognize in this one. Pushy in-laws are a theme.
Counterpoint: Way too true to life! I am fairly recently married and I found parts of this book to be stressful to read. And I love my in-laws!

Point: A quick read for the beach.
Counterpoint: This isn't really a meaty book. It's kind of predictable.

Conclusion: Fun to read, especially for those of you who just love chick lit or wedding-related books.

http://archthinking.blogspot.com/2008... ( )