Shannon McKelden, Venus Envy

Venus Envy

Shannon McKelden

Forge, Dec 2006, $12.95

ISBN: 0765315858

In the Puget Sound area, though surrounded by family members with their loving partner like her parents, her brother and now her younger sister, Rachel Greer believes she must have inherited a recessive trait that only brings losers into her life as her former boyfriends are a pathetic lot. With love everywhere she goes near her family, Rachel, feeling like a Trogg, hides as much as possible, doing good deeds for people whether at work as a customer service employee at a bank or volunteering at the dog shelter or soup kitchen. Because of her track record with males, Rachel buries her attraction towards firefighter Luke Stanton, who monthly opens up new accounts.

An irate Zeus has demoted his offspring Venus to the fairy-godmother community service on earth for cheating on her spouse. She detests this punishment that she feels it is too harsh, but also knows she better complete the sentencing or find a home on Mount Hood instead of returning to Mount Olympus. Venus sees an easy pickup with Rachel "Loser List" Greer matched up with Luke the hunk though she would not mind a side snack of him. Venus applies her sure shot "Extreme Love Life Makeover" on a reluctant Rachel while telling the mortal's best friend Hannah to butt out. When that somewhat fails Venus physically and verbally bullies and blackmails Rachel to force her to fall for Luke.

Rachel and Venus alternate first person accounts leading to the audience obtaining a chick lit romantic fantasy. Whereas Rachel is out of chick lit stereo-casting, Venus is a refreshing takes no prisoner acerbic fairy godmother (think of the Carol Kane character, the Ghost of Christmas Present, in Scrooged). Readers will appreciate VENUS ENVY as she does what she does best, cause havoc with the heart.

Harriet Klausner