Review: Best Series in a LONG Time!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 21, 2012
I accidentally stumbled upon this series and couldn't be happier. The author pens Brandy & co. so well it makes you feel like you not only know them but you want to join them! It's been a while since book characters stayed with me after the end of a book or series, but I'm so happy to say that's how I feel about the Brandy Alexander Series. I can't wait for the next installment.Brandy is brought fully to life under the careful pen of Shelly Fredman. She gives us backstory without bogging down Brandy's character. Ditto for the rest of her crew. Brandy has plenty of flaws and sometimes you'll feel like throttling her, but it just makes her come across more 'real'.Although the book has the necessary romantic ups & downs, the plot NEVER suffers for it. In fact, Fredman's spins the best 'who done it' & keeps it interesting right up until the end. As for the romantic triangle of the past 3 books, it gets a bit of resolution in this book. I hope it remains true for future books, because after a while the 'who to choose' angle gets both dull & annoying causing the reader to not give a hoot anymore(a'la Stephanie Plum). It is understandable how each of Brandy's suitors, the detective Bobby and the mysterious Nick leave her flip-flopping between them, I feel the same way at times between these two. But I think it's smart of Fredman to resolve the issue rather than using the tired and overdone Stephanie Plum template.All the denizens of this South Philly crew have their good days and bad; good qualities and bad; but no matter what they are always there for each other and that's what makes me love this series. I've almost come to think of them as friends...and that's the best compliment I can give any author. Shelly Fredman's created a world I'm happy to get lost in for a few hours.