50 Ways to Lure Your Lover

This is a Harlequin Love & Laughter title, so you expect a lot of humor and charming characters, and this book definitely lives up to the series.Plot Summary: When freelance writer Mabel Ivey is offered a full-time job at "Real Men" magazine -- the magazine dedicated to helping women find real-life heroes -- she jumps at the chance. She's not sure whether to be complimented or insulted, however, that the first story is to be a makeover -- her makeover! Then Mabel learns that the photographer chronicling her every new hairstyle and sexy new dress is none other than gorgeous Trace Cameron. Turning him on is the ultimate challenge, but once Trace is interested, she realizes she has a new problem on her hands. Is Trace after the new and improved Mabel? Or the real woman beneath the fancy clothes?"50 Ways" is a hilarious journey through one woman's makeover from "Plain Jane" to "Biker Chick" to "Starlet." Her companion on the journey is handsome and sophisticated Trace, who finds the real Mabel charming just as she is.This book is full of funny situations, and the characters are appealing and adorable. Because the book is told almost wholly from Mabel's perspective, we don't get as much into understanding Trace as I would have liked. But everything else about this book is so charming that it's easy to disregard that weakness.In addition, I think there's a positive message here: that no matter what you do to your outside, the most important thing is liking who -you- are.A fun, enjoyable read!

I admit I bought the book for the title--and the cover didn't hurt, either--but the story between the pages had me laughing and gave me two very enjoyable nights of reading. The story of a Plain Jane's makeover and the recording of such by man-of-the-world photographer could have been contrived, but wasn't. I could actually believe the situations and the dialogue. If you're looking for a couple evenings worth of light entertainment, you would do well to try this book. I know I will be looking for more from Julie.