Marrying Up

MARRYING UP brings a sparkling star, Jackie Rose, onto the literary scene. Packed with memorable characters and dozens of hilarious moments, MARRYING UP is a Grande cup of reading pleasure which will transport book lovers from New York to sunny Florida and then across the United States to California. You won't put this book down until you've finished the last page.

After absolutely loving Jackie Rose's first novel Slim Chance, I was eagerly anticipating her second novel Marrying Up. The premise sounded intriguing and a bit naughty: a woman who decides to marry a rich man, and write a book telling how to do it. Holly Hastings is the main heroine in this book. She writes obituaries for a living, and one day after writing her own obituary (out of mostly boredom), she realizes that she hasn't really accomplished anything yet in her life. Heading full speed ahead to 30, she realizes that she needs to figure out what to do with her life - and fast. After a few sessions with her therapist, she decides that desperately wants to be a writer. Not only that, but she figures that she needs to marry a very rich man to support her while she pursues her dreams. So off she goes with her best friend George to Northern California, where all the rich men supposedly live. Holly and George move into a crumbling house with the adorable Remy, who Holly immediately is attracted to figures is gay. The two women don't waste any time hitting the bars and meeting some well-to-do men. But does money substitute charm and chemistry? Will Holly and George get in over their heads? Marrying Up was a very satisfying read. Once again, Jackie Rose created a flawed but easy-to-like character who doesn't always make the right choices, and in fact often makes bad ones. But somehow you still like her. The story line was indeed intriguing. I enjoyed the author's writing style this second time around as well - she kept me turning pages effortlessly until the end. The only downfalls to this novel were that it took a while for the story to really get moving. Also, in regards to the original story line of the novel - it seemed to stray off subject a bit. This book really isn't about marrying a millionaire much at all. However, I highly recommend this book for enjoyable reading to any and all chick lit fans.

Dr. Martingale suggests to his high strung client, Buffalo Bugle obit columnist Holly Hastings to write her own obituary, which she does. By doing so Holly realizes she is lonely in spite of fine friends and her life is boring. When she sees the Marilyn Monroe film How to Marry a Millionaire, she decides to make that her quest culminating with How to Book, but mostly so she can begin living her own life rather than precariously that of dead people. With the help of girl pal George, Holly takes a leave of absence and begins searching for a wealthy mate; this means leaving Buffalo, which may have been the millionaire capital of America but that was two centuries ago or so. After several aborted efforts, Holly thinks she has found her affluent hunk in San Francisco so why it is that Remy next door is the one that touches her soul. Holly comes across as shallow as she chooses to seek money over a loving nurturing relationship until Remy makes her reconsider her choices. The amusing story line is somewhat inane, but chick lit fans will appreciate this MARRYING UP to a millionaire romantic romp. Harriet Klausner