THE IMMACULATE COMPLEXION

Author: Edie Bloom ISBN: 0843958561 5/2007 CHICK LIT Publisher: DORCHESTER

POWDER PUFF GIRLS In a world of Park Avenue princesses and Botox babes, Marnie Mann stands out like last year's lip color. If one more person at her new job for LeVigne Cosmetics suggests a laser treatment for her age spots (hello—they're freckles!) or an injection for her furrowed brow (does no one in this office think?), she's going to scream. But even her organic-loving self can't resist the seductive pull of working in the big-name beauty biz. That pull drags her into a high-concept product launch gone spectacularly awry, tainted samples, and a murder by makeup in which every manicured finger points straight to her. It's going to take a lot more than wrinkle cream to smooth out this mess.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

THE IMMACULATE COMPLEXION is a hilarious look at society's obsession with appearances and the lengths some of us will go to in order to maintain them.

Written with a tongue firmly planted in cheek, this book is a Cinderella story of sorts. When Marnie Mann accepts a temp position with a cosmetics firm, she is 'everywoman.' An organic product enthusiast, she wears comfortable shoes, barely wears make-up and believes food is actually for consumption rather than simply to drool over. But surrounded by 'the beautiful people' she slowly, albeit willingly, begins to feel the tug of perfection, the allure of flawless skin, stylish hair and reed-thin bodies.

Will Marnie be won over, become one of the immaculately groomed? Or will she find her own way amidst the crowd of Jimmy Choo, Prada-wearing enthusiasts? That's a choice she must make, and quickly, once she's framed for a murder she didn't commit.

I enjoyed this book, despite some rather stomach-curdling references to the ingredients in cosmetics. The thought of whale vomit as beauty enhancer was a bit more than I needed to contemplate, but aside from things of that nature I found this book to be highly entertaining.

Kay James