Nightshade by Andrea Cremer - Review

Ah, werewolves. The stronger, smellier counterpart to those annoyingly sparkly vampires. I'm definitely more of a werewolf lover myself, so whenever I come across a new YA werewolf paranormal, I'm all over it! I found Andrea Cremer's Nightshade at my local library and was drawn in by that stunning cover. I mean just look at it! Love! Once I got over my slightly shallow obsession with the front cover, I was intrigued by the story itself. 

Calla is a bad ass werewolf leader. She's all set to become the alpha of her own pack, and is preparing herself for her arranged marriage to (thankfully) the school hottie, Ren, when along comes new boy Shay to throw a proverbial spanner in the works!

While I'm not usually a fan of the whole love triangle thing, I do feel like it worked well in this book. I could totally relate to the way that Calla felt torn between the physical attraction she felt for Ren and the emotional one she felt for Shay, and I liked that she tried to put off her feelings for the latter as long as she could. It made for a much more realistic triangle than we see in a lot of YA novels, and I respect that.

Speaking of Ren and Shay, I am totally Team Ren! What a babe. And he really began to change over the course of the novel, and by the end he wasn't such a domineering a-hole anymore! I do like Shay and Calla together, but I feel like there was a whole lotta insta-love going on between those two. Ugh. If their relationship develops a bit slower and faces a few more challenges over the next few books in the series I will probably come to accept it, but until then I'm aaaall about the alpha male!

One of the best things about Nightshade is the werewolf mythology and legends that are revealed throughout the book, and the fact that there were quite a few females in powerful roles in both Calla's time, and historically throughout the pack's past. Also, there have been plenty of werewolf-based books flooding the YA market over the past few years, but very few have featured an alpha female in the lead role. In fact, I can't even think of one at the moment! So having Calla be such a tough, bad ass chick was great.

All in all, this was a fantastic, fast paced beginning to what looks set to be a really intriguing and different YA series. The story itself was super interesting, what with all of the werewolf secrets and lies that were discovered towards the end. It also left me on such a cliffhanger that I went online and ordered the other books in the series as soon as I could. I definitely recommend this one!

Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn - Review

So I hadn't read any romance in a while... and what better way to foray back into the genre than with the delightful Julia Quinn, right?! 

In Ten Things I Love About You, we find our heroine Annabel in a bit of a conundrum. In typical Austen-inspired style, Annabel is the daughter of a poor yet loving family, who finds she needs to marry an old rich man to keep the family out of the poorhouse. And what an old rich man she must marry... The Earl of Newbury (Annabel's prospective husband) is, to put it kindly, a disgustingly lecherous old creep! I don't know how Annabel could even entertain the idea of marrying him, especially when faced with the oh so seductive rogue that is Sebastian Grey (what a great romance novel name by the way!). The Earl of Newbury was a horribly good character, and his attempts at "wooing" Annabel were laughable to say the least. He was almost as good as Pride and Prejudice's Mr. Collins, though without all that weird hand-sniffing. 

Newbury, is that you?!

Though this is a very entertaining, often humorous book, there honestly wasn't much of a plot. It was more based on the fast-paced romance that developed between Annabel and Sebastian, with the odd attempted seduction/assault by Newbury thrown in to spice things up. Luckily for me, I liked all of the characters, especially Sebastian and his sister-in-law Olivia, so this wasn't really an issue for me. I think that it would have been a different story if Annabel and Sebastian's relationship hadn't been so lovely though! 

Ten Things I Love About You is the type of book that is perfect for the time-poor (or in my case, lazy) reader. It's a quick, light and fluffy read, and a fun one at that! What it lacks in plot it more than makes up for in charm, and I spent the entire novel veering between laughter at Sebastian's many quips and disbelief at Annabel's occasional stupidity. I mean, I may be looking at this from a modern perspective, but even I could tell that her family wouldn't have wanted her to marry that disgusting Earl, especially after Sebastian came along. Come on girl, he was just an Earl for goodness sake, you can do better than that. And he was fat! And sleazy! And sweaty. Ugh.

Apart from my let's say slight annoyance at some of Annabel's antics, I thoroughly enjoyed Ten Things I Love About You, just as I knew I would. I'm a big fan of Ms. Quinn, and like all of her other novels, this sweet little romance did not disappoint! 

PS - did anyone else expect a bit of romance between Lousia Vickers and Sebastian's cousin Edward?! I sure did! 

A new look at an old favourite...

I recently came across this little article on the Random House website, and I immediately wanted to share the exciting news with you all! 

We all know and love Jane Austen, right? Pride and Prejudice is the number one pick more often than not when women discuss their favourite books, and it's the one Austen novel that nearly everyone has read. Being as resoundingly popular as it is, there have since been hundreds, if not thousands of sequels, fan fics, retellings, and even movie and TV versions of this classic. But not in a long time have I heard of one that has really gotten me excited. Then I read about Longbourn.

Billed as "a retelling of Pride and Prejudice from the servant's point of view", it seems quite Downton Abbey-esque. Being such a huge Downton fan myself, hearing about this book has made me wonder why I never thought of what the servants view of the drama in Pride and Prejudice would be.

What would they have thought of the totally babin' Bingley coming to Longbourn? And can you imagine the gossip below-stairs when Lydia ran away with you-know-who?! 

As well as this, according to the official announcement "Longbourn will highlight the constant chaos swirling downstairs, the preparation for lavish balls, and the housekeeper’s real thoughts about the family patriarch. But it will also reveal the tragic consequences of the Napoleonic Wars and focus on a romance between a newly arrived footman and a housemaid, the novel’s main characters.”

I'm so excited for all of this and more when Jo Baker's Longbourn hits shelves this August!

Prized by Caragh O'Brien - Review

This review is going to be kind of hard to write... not because I didn't like this book (that totally wasn't the case!) but because it's going to be super hard to write a review that isn't full of spoilers! This is a seriously interesting series, and I'm just bursting to talk about all of the secrets that were revealed towards the end of the novel! But I don't want to be a series-ruiner, so I'll try and keep this review as spoiler-free as possible.  There will be some spoilers for book one, so if you haven't read Birthmarked yet you should probably skip this review!

Caragh O'Brien's Prized is the second book in her popular Birthmarked series. I'd read the first novel Birthmarked a while back and quite liked it, but with my TBR pile insanely huge, I didn't get around to reading Prized until now. Though I had mixed feelings about Birthmarked, Prized was definitely a pleasant surprise for me. I really loved it!

Prized picks up a couple of weeks after the end of the first novel, and straight away we're pulled right into Gaia's messed up dystopian world. Lost and alone with her baby sister, Gaia is soon rescued by the surprisingly sexy Peter and brought to the previously unknown village of Sylum. Though at first it seems like she might have finally found herself in a safe haven, Gaia (and the reader) soon discover that Sylum is a society with some major secrets, and the intrigue begins...

Gosh, what I really loved about this book was the pacing! The reader is kept just as much in the dark as main character Gaia is, and we're drip-fed the secrets of Sylum as slowly as she is. Though this may frustrate some readers, for me it really added interest to the novel, as my mind was always working, trying to figure out exactly what was up with Sylum and it's weirdo leader, just as Gaia was. There was a distinct feeling of unease present throughout the entire book which kept me turning the pages, eager to see what would happen next. 

The big secret of Sylum itself (which I won't mention here) was actually one of the most unusual plots I've come across in YA books these days. Without saying too much, I was so glad that it wasn't another society of vampires or some other supernatural secret that Gaia uncovered. Seriously, I'm just so sick of paranormal creatures in YA lit at the moment! And did I mention the fact that Sylum is run by a pack of power-hungry bad bitches?! I do love a bit of misandry in my YA novels, muahaha.

I also really liked the introduction of not just a love triangle, but a love square. Damn Gaia, you go girl, attracting all the hotties in that weird backwards town! I am so Team Will, though I'm not sure if anyone else is with me on that! I was happy to see Leon in this book as well, though he's pretty much as big of a douchebag as he was for the majority of the first book, though he does have his moment (the firefly field, anyone?!). 

Overall, Prized is a big improvement on the first novel in the series, and it left off on such a hopeful, bittersweet note that I know I will be reading the third book in the series, Promised, a lot sooner than I did this one.

Stork by Wendy Delsol - Review

I didn't know what to expect from Stork. I mean, the title made me think that Katla, the ice-blonde main character, turned into a weird looking, long-limbed bird who dropped babies down chimneys or something! But I was drawn in by that gorgeously frosty cover, and decided to read the book.

And oh I am so glad that I did!

Stork is the story of Katla, a fashion loving teen who has recently moved from the bustling city of LA to the tiny town of Norse Falls, Minnesota, a place as cold as it is Scandinavian. Finding herself without friends (or a decent shopping mall!) one night she is ushered into the Icelandic Stork Society, and the folktale flavoured story really begins. Throw in your normal high school drama and a mysterious hottie, and you've got all the ingredients necessary for a seriously great YA paranormal romance!

Wendy Delsol's Stork was a random find at my local library, and one that I wasn't sure that I wanted to read. Living by the principles of the ridiculous and relevant saying "YOLOFISH" (Google it!) I went home with the book and picked it up a few days later. By the end of the night, I had finished the book, and was looking up the sequel on Goodreads and The Book Depository! Really, it's that good!

I've found myself drawn back into the world of YA novels recently. I stopped reading them for quite a while as I began to have a problem with the repetitive story lines and Mary Sue lead characters that feature in many YA books today, but I have been pleasantly surprised by the YA fiction I have discovered lately. Stork was yet another of these pleasant surprises: a strikingly original premise combined with a fashion loving town misfit - what a perfect book for me! While Katla's story does require a slight suspension of belief, that is what you've got to expect from any paranormal fiction. And when the idea is as interesting as that of the Icelandic Stork Society is, it's sure to be well worth the read.

The whole idea and development of the Icelandic Stork Society was my favourite thing about this book. Without giving too much of the plot away, Katla's hidden talent is unique and made for an interesting and different story, though I would have liked to have seen the author focus on that a bit more than the romance aspect of the story, but I suppose that will come in the next two books in the series.

Speaking of romance... what a sweet, swift romance it was! I have a total soft spot for love stories where the characters go from hating one another to being completely in love, and when the guy is as much of a babe as Jack, that's even better! I also really appreciated the fact that Jack has a supernatural secret of his own; I think that that will make for a very interesting story line in the next two books, and it's great to see both lead characters having supernatural abilities, as usually it's one or the other.

I thought that Jack and Katla's romance was adorable, though it did irk me a little that she became so dependent on Jack so quickly. Having said that, she did show some mettle towards the end of the novel. Hopefully we'll see Katla becoming stronger and stronger over the course of the next two books! I also felt that the story was slightly rushed towards the end; another couple of chapters to spread the action and the big reveal of Jack's secret could have helped.

Apart from those few small gripes I had with the book, I found Stork to be a truly unique, beautifully written debut novel, and I can't wait to get into the other two books in the series, Frost and Flock. I freakin' love it when a series I've just discovered is already complete!

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion - Review

Zombies AND romance?! I knew that I would love this book from the start...

I discovered Warm Bodies in a sort of unusual way. I was watching MTV with my sister one day when an amazing trailer for a new movie came on, and it really ticked all the boxes... Zombies - check. Comedy - check. A new dystopian world - check. Braaaains - check. Nicholas Hoult - double check! So I Googled the release date and discovered that not only is Warm Bodies a soon-to-be-released movie featuring that babin' guy from Skins, it's a book too! So I ordered it on my iPhone right away, and here I am now, reviewing it.

R is a zombie for the new generation of zombie lovers. He has no memories, can barely speak, and he eats human brains for dinner, but he has dreams. He doesn't enjoy killing people; he enjoys riding escalators and listening to old records. After biting into his latest victim, Perry, R is flooded with Perry's memories and is driven by a previously unknown need to save Julie, Perry's beautiful blonde girlfriend. Taking her back to his zombie lair, a quirky and unexpected romance slowly begins to develop... 

Warm Bodies is a very modern dystopian romance. It's hard to say whether this is a YA book or one written for adults, though I know it will definitely be enjoyed by both groups. Isaac Marion is a skilled author, one who is clearly a very talented writer with a brilliant way with words. R is 100% the best (internally) spoken zombie I've ever come across! The whole world of Warm Bodies, both zombie and human alike, was also so well developed and uniquely imagined by Marion, and this made the book all the more realistic and enjoyable for me.

R is definitely one of my favourite male characters in YA! Though not your stereotypical good-looking male lead, his intelligence and inquisitiveness ensure he stands out from the plethora of characters I've read about, and it was nice to read Warm Bodies through his point of view, though I would have liked to get into Julie's head at times and see why on earth she was falling for a zombie, eloquent as he was!

And did I mention that there are zombies in this book? (ha.) Loads of them! Without giving too much away, I love that there were two different types of zombies. The age old fight between young and old takes on a whole new twist in Warm Bodies, and the budding war between the Boneys and the other zombies, and the possibility of a cure for their zombification adds an interesting dynamic to what could have been a straight paranormal romance. 

I'm so glad I decided to begin the year reading such a touchingly peculiar book, and I am eagerly awaiting to see what Marion has coming next.

Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen - Review

Open up the pages of Anna Godbersen's Beautiful Days and all of a sudden, you'll find yourself pulled into  the roaring '20s, living life vicariously through three bright young things: Cordelia, Letty, and Astrid... Gorgeous, rich, and soon-to-be-famous, these are three girls you're going to love reading about!

Following on from the first book in the Bright Young Things series, Beautiful Days picks up a month after the dramatic ending of the last book, and the reader is again absorbed from the get-go, drawn immediately into a world of speakeasies, dancing and drinking til dawn, and suave gangsters,a setting that just screams late 1920s. Seriously, what I wouldn't give to be able to live in that time! 

Through Godbersen's book, I was able to do just that. 

We begin Beautiful Days still reeling from the loss of a major player at the end of the last book. Cordelia is angry about the betrayal she suffered in Bright Young Things and is desperate for revenge, Letty has all but given up on her dream of becoming a singer, and Astrid is still reveling in her romance with one of the city's best known gangsters. 

Even though I adored The Luxe, and fell totally in love with Bright Young Things, I left reading the rest of the series until now (crazy, right?!). It had been well over a year since I read the first book of the series, but when I began reading this one it was as though no time had passed at all. I was still just as in love with the setting and the characters (all except that prissy princess Cordelia, damn her!) and I finished the book in less than a day. 

It was such fun seeing each of the female characters grow and mature in the second book, and work towards their individual goals while still maintaining a close friendship. In a lot of young adult books I've read, the leads either don't have much ambition themselves, or they end up leaving their friends behind in the process of getting their dream job (or man). The friendship between Cordelia, Letty, and Astrid is my favourite thing about these books, and I would love to see more scenes with all three together in the next book!

One thing that I'm liking about the series so far is that there has been an intense feeling that something major is going to happen from the very start. I don't really know how to explain it other that saying that while the books are slower paced at the beginning, you immediately know everything is building towards something big, and without wanting to give anything away, Godbersen definitely hasn't disappointed me at the end of either book, and I can't wait to see what she has in store for me next.

Bursting with drama, romance, gangland warfare, late night soirees, and whole lotta money, Beautiful Days, and the Bright Young Things series as a whole, is the perfect introduction to historical fiction for any teenage girl. Beautiful Days is an absorbing follow up to the first novel, and finished on a cliff-hanger that has me desperate to read The Lucky Ones, ASAP!

Mr Chen's Emporium by Deborah O'Brien - Review

 

Mr Chen's Emporium is an enchanting tale of forbidden love and following one's heart...

In 1872, seventeen-year-old Amy Duncan arrives in the Gold Rush town of Millbrooke, having spent the coach journey daydreaming about glittering pavilions and gilded steeples. What she finds is a dusty main street lined with ramshackle buildings.

That is until she walks through the doors of Mr Chen's Emporium, a veritable Aladdin's cave, and her life changes forever. Though banned from the store by her dour clergyman father, Amy is entranced by its handsome owner, Charles Chen...

In present-day Millbrooke, recently widowed artist Angie Wallace has rented the Old Manse where Amy once lived. When her landlord produces an antique trunk containing Amy's intriguingly diverse keepsakes - both Oriental and European - Angie resolves to learn more about this mysterious girl from the past.

And it's not long before the lives of two very different women, born a century apart, become connected in the most poignant and timeless ways.

 

(From Goodreads)

 

 

I'll be honest with you here. Even though I live in Australia (and love it here!) I am not usually one to indulge in historical fiction set in my homeland. Something about the whole convict-filled, uncivilized bushland that was Australia pre-20th century (in my mind anyway) just doesn't do it for me. I prefer my hist-fic Regency or earlier, thank you very much! So when I heard about Mr Chen's Emporium by Deborah O'Brien, I was initially hesitant to read it. But I was intrigued by the idea of an Oriental oasis hidden away in an outback gold rush town, and I do love a good time slip novel, so I decided to read and review it. And I am so glad that I did!
 

Set in Millbrooke, a hidden country gem of a town, Mr Chen's Emporium explores the loves and losses of two heroines, 19th century Amy Duncan and modern day artist Angie Wallace. Both characters were extremely likable and very well rounded, and I was absorbed in both of their storylines, which is quite unusual for me with a time slip novel, as I usually find myself preferring one plotline over the other. That wasn't the case here. I loved that both women were strong, independent and self-assured, though I did find that I related better to Amy, but that's probably because she was young and just starting out in life like I am myself.
 

The slow unravelling of Amy's life was a highlight of the book for me, and I often found myself racing through the pages to see what would become of her. She was such a vibrant character and I could really feel her emotional struggle against her strict father and, without wanting to give too much away, I was so excited when she began to rebel! I also really enjoyed seeing Angie begin to embrace life again and overcome the great loss she suffered at the beginning of the novel; Millbrooke, in its own way, healed both ladies.
 

Mr Chen's Emporium is an emotional and empowering novel, buoyed by its two fantastic female leads, and Millbrooke, which was almost a character itself. I was very nearly in tears by the end of the book, and I found myself wishing that I lived in a town as interesting and secret-filled as Millbrooke! The interconnecting stories and subtle plot twists made for an absorbing, yet still comfortable, read, and I am definitely interested in finding out if the author has any other books out. So thank you, Ms O'Brien, for inspiring a new found love of Australian historical fiction within me!

 

Gorgeous story. 4 Roses!

Thank you to Random House for sending me a copy.

 

Dancing Naked in Dixie by Lauren Clark

Travel writer Julia Sullivan lives life in fast-forward. She jet sets to Europe and the Caribbean with barely a moment to blink or sleep. But too many mishaps and missed deadlines have Julia on the verge of being fired. 

With a stern warning, and unemployment looming, she's offered one last chance to rescue her career. Julia embarks on an unlikely journey to the ‘Heart of Dixie’-Eufaula, Alabama-home to magnificent mansions, sweet tea, and the annual Pilgrimage. 

Julia arrives, soon charmed by the lovely city and her handsome host, but her stay is marred by a shocking discovery. Can Julia's story save her career, Eufaula, and the annual Pilgrimage?

 

Take a peek at an excerpt from the novel, below...

“I’m off to Alabama.” 

There’s a rush of noise and a gust of chilled air blows through the restaurant. A crowd of people breeze inside, stomping snow off boots, calling out to friends. Much to my dismay, they settle at the empty table right next to us, the loudest drunk to my immediate right. 

Andrew sets down his Red Stripe and stares at me. “What did you say? Atlanta?” 

“Al-a-ba-ma,” I sound out the word, enunciating each syllable so that he can hear me over the shouting. 

“Alabama?” Andrew is baffled and rightly so. He expects me to announce a place like Amsterdam, Alaska, or Albania. An exotic, exquisite, or unusual locale. Not small-town U.S.A. “Is he crazy?” 

“Yeah. Screw him!” I say. All around me, heads turn. 

The drunk behind us perks up. “Yeah, that’s right. Go for it! But, um, get a room,” the guy warbles, his words slurred. Swaying a bit, he turns his chair to leer at me. 

I flush a deep shade of fuchsia-pink. Andrew shoots the guy a withering look. The man grins and winks. Then, like a good drunk, he goes right back to his friends. 

“Thanks. It’s a long story,” I murmur. Suddenly, I am exhausted. I don’t want to talk about work, my new boss, or my assignment. I don’t want to talk about my possible unemployment. Most of all, I don’t want to talk about the future. Our future. My future. Or anyone else’s future. 

I would like-very much-to go home. 

Ever the gentleman, Andrew complies, hailing me a cab, prepaying the driver, and rattling off my street address. The snow’s tapered off now, the night sky is clear, and stars wink at me overhead. I smile, thinking about Chanel Lipstick and Cashmere Wrap’s predictions. Not even close to the dire storm the ladies expected. 

That’s weather in New York. Unpredictable, at best. As is my life. 

Andrew presses a kiss on my forehead. “Get some rest, Julia. Call me,” he says. After I scoot inside the cab, he closes the door behind me, and waves as the taxi pulls away from the curb. 

In a past life, I was 100% a Southern Belle. I am completely obsessed with all things Deep South, and I wish that I lived in a place where everyone drank sweet tea and said "bless your heart".  I totally yearn for that slower Southern pace of life. I'd love to have grown up in a gorgeous Antebellum mansion, wandering Magnolia-lined, sun-dappled streets everyday. And for the few hours I spent absorbed in Dancing Naked in Dixie, I did just that, even though it was somewhat vicariously...

Dancing Naked in Dixie was a whirlwind of a book, frothy and fun, and completely Southern. From the very first "bless your heart" I knew I was in for a treat, and I was not disappointed! I really adored Julia. Though at first she seemed to me like a typical, flustered, big-city girl, racing through life without stopping to smell the roses (I really need to lay off the cliches!) as the novel went on, I came to relate to her a lot. And I was so jealous of her job as a travel writer! Speaking of characters that I loved, oh my goodness, Shug. What a babe! Smart, handsome, and seriously sweet, he was just my perfect leading man. And I can only imagine his absolutely amazing Southern accent. I need me some Shug in my life!

At first seeming like yet another fluffy chick lit novel, Dancing Naked in Dixie soon reveals a whole heap of unexpected drama and scheming going on beneath the surface. Like a deliciously deceptive cupcake, it may look like nothing but sweet, sweet sugary goodness, but on the inside it's nourishing and wholesome, and surprisingly filling. 

Anyway, enough with my terrible analogies!

A lot was going on in this book, especially toward the end, and I really didn't expect that. For me, this totally brought the novel up a notch. Romantic and warm-hearted, this book is one of those comfort reads that are great fun and oh-so likable, with more than enough plot to keep you turning the pages. It was also packed full of interesting, lovable, and exceedingly charming characters, who you want to read about. I can see myself re-reading this book in the South one day, curled up on a lawn chair, underneath a humongous old tree.

Dancing Naked in Dixie is a lovely girly read, and one that I definitely recommend. I had been so excited to read it, and Ms Clark did not let me down! I read it in next to no time because I was that into it, and I cannot wait to get my hands on her other books some day.

PS: I am so going to live in Eufaula one day!

May the South rise again! 4 Roses!

Lauren Clark writes contemporary novels set in the Deep South; stories sprinkled with sunshine, suspense, and secrets. She is the author of Stay Tuned, Dancing Naked in Dixie, and Center of Gravity (October 2012). 

A former TV news anchor, Lauren adores flavored coffee, local book stores, and anywhere she can stick her toes in the sand. Her big loves are her family, paying it forward, and true-blue friends. Check out her website at www.laurenclarkbooks.com. 

You can also find Lauren on GoodReads, Twitter, and Facebook.

Online Dating Inspired Click: An Online Love Story

Since I am just so busy at the moment, I scheduled in a fantastic guest post for today from Lisa Becker, author of Click: An Online Love Story. Enjoy! 

I first met my husband while wearing my pajamas. Really! No, we weren't at some kinky singles party. I was sitting comfortably in my apartment and he was hanging out in his. But, I will never forget his email introduction via an online dating service, which invited me to check out his profile. It was sweet, endearing and intriguing enough for me to log on to learn more about him. After a week of emails, followed by a week of phone calls, we met for our first date - a traditional dinner and movie outing. Even before I opened the door to greet him, I knew he was "the one." Considering he lived 30 miles away, I'm not certain our paths would have typically crossed. But after 12 years together - including 9 years of marriage (which in Los Angeles is apparently no small feat!) and two beautiful daughters, I have no doubt he is my soul mate. 

After my now-husband and I met online, I was recalling some of the hilarious experiences that I had during the whole online dating experience. How could I forget the guy who started every story (no joke!) with “My buddies and I were out drinking one night.” I decided to capture some of them in writing and, from there and based loosely on my own experiences, my novel Click: An Online Love Story emerged. The entire story is told in emails between our heroine, Renee Greene, her three best friends and the gentlemen suitors she meets online. The format felt like a modern way to tell the story that fit the topic, and allowed readers to develop an intimate relationship with the characters. 

Clearly, I’m a big fan of online dating and find it to be a useful tool for young professionals who are busy working and finding it difficult to make the right connection at the gym, bar, coffee shop or grocery aisle. I say, people today are “married” to their cell phones and laptops, so why not use that technology to really get married, right? 

While Click doesn’t end with a wedding (sorry for the spoiler!), during Renee’s road to happiness, we find many advantages to online dating. My five favorite are: 

· On Your Own Terms – Online dating provides a relaxed, anytime and on your own terms experience. Share as little or as much information as you want. Avoid people you are not interested in. Communicate at your convenience. But, don’t send a message at 2:30 am. Nothing smacks more of desperation than an email from someone trolling the Internet for a date in the wee hours of the morning. 

· Multi-Tasking Enabled – Flirt while filing your taxes. Chat and trim your nails. Meet a mate while making breakfast. It’s a well-known fact that women are great multi-taskers. Take full advantage of that skill. As Shelley, the over-sexed character in Click says to the about-to-try-online-dating Renee, “A whole host of hot and horny single men that I can review, chat with, judge and mock – all while sitting in my office looking very busy. Maybe I should give it a try myself.” 

· Trade the “Meat Market” for the “Meet Market” – Now you can avoid the “meat market” scene of bars and clubs and instead enjoy a “meet market” – an international bazaar (but let’s hope not too bizarre) of prospective mates. The Internet allows you to make an online introduction to thousands if not millions of people around the world. So, if you want to meet someone in Katmandu, well then, can do! 

· Save Time, Money and Energy – Let’s face it. Dating isn’t cheap. It takes time, money and, likely your most valuable and scarce resource, energy. With the “try before you buy” environment of online dating, you don’t have to meet for a drink, grab a coffee or sit through a long dinner only to discover there’s no physical attraction, you have nothing in common, conversation is lacking, etc. 

· Rejection Made Easy – In Click, Renee gets an email from someone halfway across the world looking to meet someone willing to move for him. After sending a polite and diplomatic “thanks but no thanks” email message, she proclaims to her friend, “It’s so much easier to reject someone over that Internet than in real life. Score one for online dating!” While rejection is easier for both parties when done online, it’s important to remember that people still have feelings. 

As I've said many times before, if it happened for me, there's hope for you. So log on and take a chance. 

To purchase Click, please click here. 

To follow updates on Click and share your stories about online dating, visit the Click Facebook fan page.