Review: Light and breezy reading, insubstantial but fun
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 19, 2012
I read this short story to take a break from the mystery and suspense fiction I usually read. Also, I've been wanting to expand my reading to include more humor and contemporary romance. This is indeed a quick and fairly entertaining read, although I'd hesitate to call it a "romantic comedy." The tone is light and breezy, but there isn't a lot of humor, despite a premise that provides ample opportunity for laughs.Instead, it's a pat, fairly ordinary fantasy fulfillment story about a girl who meets a guy, beds same (rather easily, I might add, not that I have a problem with that), becomes upset with him over a fairly trifling misunderstanding, and is eventually serenaded into acquiescence by the scruffy, guitar-playing object of her affections. If I have one quibble, it's that the characters of Bree and Billy are a bit on the thin side.Karen Jerabek has a fine, naturalistic writing style that's well-suited to this kind of fiction (I think they call it chick lit, but not being a chick I wouldn't know), and now I see she's applied her talents to a new novel, "Helping Karma." That seems like a good thing, as the longer length should allow for more character development than was possible in this shorter piece. If it's as good as "Tuned in to Love," it should be quite a hit with its intended audience. Jerabek looks like one to watch.