Rocki St. Claire, Hit Reply

When I saw Hit Reply on the shelves I knew I immediately wanted to read this book because I had read other books by Roxanne St. Claire.

However, when I opened the book and began to read it, I was amazed that the entire story was written in email form. Suddenly I thought how am I going to read this entire book? Well let me tell you, I couldn't put it down. Hit Reply was great! It's a wonderful story about three women of different ages and personalities... a book on relationships, feelings and takes email to a new level. It centers on an ad agency, featuring three ladies, the ex-employee now consultant... hot and sexy married Stevie. Amber, her at one time admin, now traffic manager... carefree woman who is getting ready to contact an old high school boyfriend. And finally, Julie, Amber's admin in her 40's who finds a lost romance online (major league ballplayer), and goes back and forth as to whether or not she should meet up with the guy.

This book is sexy, hot and very emotional. A romance to enjoy while eating chocolate or ice cream, and you'd better have those tissues handy! It's another great story by Roxanne.

Hit Reply

Rocki St. Claire

Downtown, Dec 2004, $13.00, 320 pp.

ISBN: 0743486242

Twenty-eight-year-old Bostonian Amber Fleece is doing well at work, but her personal life is lower than the Big Dig. Desperate and bored with the Ivy League crowd she has been seeing for eons, Amber decides to go back to her happiest moment with males: her prom night. She registers with classrunion.com seeking Gray McDermott, though she learns he is blue collar.

Stephanie "Stevie Wonder Woman" Hilliard used to be Amber's boss, but became an Orlando mother of two. She loves her darlings, but is bored, especially since her husband Brent is never home always traveling with his young, beautiful assistant. When she receives an interesting email from Tony Markoff, a blast from her past, Stevie begins an on-line affair, but wonders if that is cheating and if so is that equal to her husband's seeming fling.

Amber's administrative assistant Julie Desmond is recently divorced while also suffering from empty nest syndrome as her son has left for college. She becomes independent as she grows on the job and meets a former boyfriend via the Internet.

HIT REPLY is a powerful character study that looks at three women in varying phases in their lives yet with similar problems and the influence of the Internet on their relationships. The audience gets a firsthand look at the prime trio through predominately their email exchanges. Fans will enjoy this instant communication winner that provides focus on what the Net is doing to people as well as asking psychological questions as to whether it fosters closeness and communication or isolationism and hiding. Rocki St. Claire has provided a fabulous look at the impact of the communication revolution on her three likable protagonists.

Harriet Klausner