THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED

Author: Jo Barrett ISBN: 9780061241109 2/2008 FICTION Publisher: AVON A

He lied, he cheated. He destroyed her life. How difficult could killing him be? Madeline Piatro devoted four years of her life to her boyfriend Carlton—and, in return, got romance, flowers, and the best sex she'd ever had. But then he dumped her—by e-mail, no less! He used her, he broke her heart...and he even cost her the marketing job she dearly loved. Now Maddy's on a mission. She wants revenge and she wants her career back. But Maddy's about to discover that getting even, no matter how justifiable, isn't as easy as it might at first appear—even with a batch of arsenic brownies, the help of a professional (if bumbling) hit man, and the advice and best wishes of her very best friends.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED by Jo Barrett is too good! The quintessential revenge-on-the-ex tale, it made me laugh, it made me cry, and it entertained me from beginning to end.

After giving the best parts of herself to a man who doesn't appreciate her, then unceremoniously-very unceremoniously-dumps her, Madeline Piatro decides to get even. Go for a little retribution, something that will make her feel better about her relationship with Carlton, the ratty ex. She decides he must die. By her hand or someone else's, it really doesn't matter. The fact is Carlton has got to pay-with his miserable life.

Madeline's first attempt at bumping off Carlton is with a killer recipe. No, really. A killer recipe-for brownies. She may have succeeded straight away had she not taste tested the brownies, then spent a horrible night vomiting. She doesn't die, but a raccoon unfortunate enough to find her garbage (and the brownies!) does. Facing the fact that she probably can't kill Carlton with her cooking, Madeline moves forward with her plan to end her ex's life.

The fact that Madeline experiences with unabashed candor the emotions almost every woman experiences at one time or another, makes her an eminently likeable character. She is honest, real and down to earth. Readers can understand Madeline, and they hate Carlton from the first. In the end, Madeline gets what she wants, in more ways than one. The reader does, too.

THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED is a fast, fun read that is sure to please.

Kay James