JACK WITH A TWIST

Author: Brenda Janowitz ISBN: 0373895550 6/2008 CHICK LIT Publisher: RED DRESS INK

A little prewedding anxiety is normal for every bride, and Manhattan attorney Brooke Miller isn't worried. She's got the loving support of the world's greatest guy, so planning her nuptials should be a piece of cake. But that was yesterday. Today, Brooke's landed her first big case and has just discovered that the opposing attorney is none other than her fiancé, Jack. But that's okay. These two professionals aren't going to let a little courtroom sparring get their legal briefs in a bunch.... Right? Wrong! Now Jack's pulling every dirty trick in the law books, and Brooke's starting to suspect that maybe he isn't the man she thought he was. Warring with her fiancé at work and at home, Brooke realizes that she'll have to choose between the case of her life, or actually having a life.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Brenda Janowitz sets her chick lit, JACK WITH A TWIST, in Manhattan's courtrooms, law offices and expensive apartments where good Jewish girl lawyer, Brooke Miller, is "living in sin" with her good Jewish boy lawyer fiancé, Jack Solomon. They are in the throes of setting a date and planning their wedding when a little stress comes their way—they are opposing counsel on a high-visibility case that they won't be able to discuss in their off hours. With her best friend Vanessa getting a divorce from hunky surgeon, Marcus, and her client, supermodel-turned-designer Monique, breaking up her business partnership with her husband, Brooke begins to wonder if the fairytale endings can ever happen.

Janowitz creates characters that are as simple, yet complex as a good martini. I knew I was in for a tart little story even from the cover art depicting a gorgeous guy trapped in an overturned champagne glass. It's actually his inability to break free of his family mold that almost does Jack in as he reveals his true colors, and Brooke isn't sure that this guy is worth fighting for with her federal court judge soon-to-be-father-in-law presiding over them.

There's plenty of mama drama as well on the wedding planning side as the plot moves along as quickly as a taxi wending its way through Manhattan traffic. It is easy to read and gives a fun glimpse into the legal rat race. I was surprised to find a business partnership dissolution in federal court; as well as that, this partnership has stockholders. I thought that was for companies that are incorporated with boards of directors. Whatever! It's still fun and funny! Be sure to read it on a full stomach, though, as all the eating and drinking can be very suggestive.

I'd serve up JACK WITH A TWIST to any reader who likes a funny story with well-defined characters. Just make sure not to drink anything stronger than white wine while reading it, so that the dizzying pace doesn't leave you with a hangover stronger than the one Brooke has after her bachelorette party. (Oh, and probably a scary read if you are in the midst of planning a wedding.) JACK WITH A TWIST follows SCOT ON THE ROCKS, and all indications lead me to believe the next volume may be baby-safe and alcohol free.

Susan Barton