Review: a clever, fun-loving with moments of steam story that many will eat up with a spoon.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 9, 2013
Lauren Layne introduced us to Stiletto magazine in the first installment of this Sex, Love and Stiletto series, and it was a quick, fun and light read even as the story felt “familiar”. In this, the second of the series, the focus moves to Grace, a columnist with the magazine who specializes in ‘tough love’ for the heartbroken women who were victims of an adulterous man.  Perhaps she was too focused on her career, or like many advice givers, bad at looking at her own situation but Grace is in for a major life change.Her long-term boyfriend was cheating on her, for a long term.  Her starry-eyed optimistic romantic side, despite her journalistic focus was her most reliable trait.  Believing that she needed an upgrade, she starts to divest herself of the “old Grace” in favor of the new and upgraded Grace v 2.0.Stiletto has a male-centric counterpart, Oxford, and the editors thought that it would be a clever draw for new readers to start a joint venture article.  2 journalists, 5 dates, a couple of hours of edits – what could be hard about that?Let’s start with Jake: golden boy at Oxford with his oft-touted reputation with the women.  He is attractive, charming and wants to get off the ‘relationship’ wheel and move into the travel section.  But, taking this job will just prove to his editor that he CAN be trusted to not mess up the magazine’s reputation with his love em and leave em style.Grace and Jack begin their collaboration, and just as we would expect: snark, snappy comeback, visible attraction and just a touch of dimwitted behavior gets in the way.  I found this story to have more wit and originality, with both Grace and Jack being cleverly portrayed with snips of ‘self-affirming’ pep talks, their determination to NOT fall for one another and the ultimate steamy ‘slips’ that both try to deny mean anything, until the truth slaps them in the face.  Less than a “Battle of the Sexes” than two people trying to win in tiny skirmishes, there are several quips that add humor and lightness to the story, breaking up the angst.  With a return of the characters from the first story, and a few new characters to boot, this is warming up to be a clever, fun-loving with moments of steam story that many will eat up with a spoon.I received an eArc copy from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.