February 25, 2008
Townley (Little White Lies
) misses the mark with this chronicle of the tangled web spun by Jessica Wild and her cohorts after Jessica unexpectedly inherits a fortune. After befriending Grace Hampton, a kindly woman at a nursing home, single workaholic Jessica fibs to her hopeful friend, saying she's dating—and eventually married to—advertising giant Anthony Milton. Upon Grace's death, Jessica discovers that she, or rather, Mrs. Milton, is the heir to Grace's vast fortune. A clause in the will states that she has 50 days to claim her newfound riches. Rather than admit her lie, Jessica decides to try and get Anthony to marry her. So begins a whisper-thin plot that involves a high-paid escort who teaches Jessica tricks (like pushing her cleavage out) and a matchmaker who advises Jessica to “play hardball.” After a couple of dates, Anthony caves, and the second half of the book is eaten up by wedding planning and Jessica's pining for Anthony's friend. A salvo of screwball surprises explode in the third act, but these only help sink the book.
May 1, 2008
Townleys new novel is a takeoff on Oscar Wildes famous play The Importance of Being Earnest. Her heroine, Jessica Wild, has eschewed love for most of her life, but her grandmothers friend, Grace, feels differently. As Grace continues to press Jessica about her love life, Jessica finds herself inventing a relationship just to please Grace, whom shes grown very fond of. She tells Grace shes dating her boss, the dashing Anthony Milton, and takes the charade so far that she tells Grace she and Anthony are married. When Grace dies, she leaves Jessica her fortune, but she bequeaths it to Mrs. Jessica Milton. Jessica has only 50 days to get her playboy boss to fall for herand marry her. Her friends give her a makeover and help her find her inner flirt. Jessica is shocked when her new look and attitude draw Anthonys attention, but even as her boss starts to fall for her, Jessica cant help being drawn to another colleague, the more serious Max. Chick lit with a clever twist, Townleys latest is a wild, fun ride.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)