BACHELOR DEGREE

Author: Susan Enoch ISBN: 9780345492395 8/2008 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: BALLANTINE

Strolling the city sidewalks of Manhattan’s posh Upper East Side are a bevy of well-dressed, attractive, and notably eligible single men, but can Samantha Krasner snag one before the competition does? Finding Mr. Right would certainly help keep her mother at bay. After all, the only thing separating their two apartments is Central Park. Not big enough. A successful gallery diva who must answer to a boss from hell, thirty-eight-year-old Samantha nonetheless finally feels as if she’s leading her own life. But the ever-hovering, smothering Madeleine Krasner-Wolfe, a twice-divorced and filthy rich force of nature, always seems to have advice for her daughter about everything from fashion and beauty regimens to men. When Samantha signs up the new rising star of the art world, Blake Hamilton, Madeleine immediately sees him as a prospective son-in-law. Hoping to help her daughter land a husband before it’s too late, Madeleine launches a flirt campaign that both infuriates and enthralls Samantha– compelling her to finally take action. From the toniest penthouses of Park Avenue to the trendiest SoHo lofts, Samantha is on a mission–if only her mother would get out of the way.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

BACHELOR DEGREE by Judith Marks-White is warm and witty, an insightful look at the ties that bind. Entertaining, and written with tongue-in-cheek style that kept me smiling throughout, this is one story that won't be easily forgotten! After all, to a degree it could actually be every woman's story.

On the surface, Samantha seems to have it all. A good job (even though her boss leaves something to be desired), a smart, fast-paced life in the City and a close relationship with her mother. But the closeness that ties Sam and Madeline comes with a knot that threatens to strangle Sam once her mother realizes there's a new man—with marriage potential—in her daughter's life. What follows is a candid, often funny story that shows that even the most well-intentioned endeavors can have unexpected consequences.

I enjoyed every page of BACHELOR DEGREE. The characters are quirky but realistic, the dialogue is fast, furious and intelligent and the plot moves along so well it carried me right along. One of the little touches (and there were many) that made this book special are the quotes (hilarious, most of them!) that begin each chapter. This is merely one example of the author's attention to detail, one of the many things that makes this story shine. Overall, I felt like I was being swept into the whirlpool of Samantha's trendy existence—and I enjoyed every luscious spin! Well done!

Kay James