July 7th, 2008
Need some Sizzling Beach Fodder? Tan Lines by JJ Salome
Are you looking for a sizzling summer read that will put you in the lives of the rich, famous, and dirty? Look no farther than Tan Lines by JJ Salome. This was one novel I simply couldn’t put down and as I neared the final chapters, I was hoping for just a few more Metro stops to delay me needing to get off the train!
Now, this is not your typical chick-lit and if you are looking for a novel that brings to mind the female bonding of girlfriends (like Sex and the City), this is not it. Instead, we have a gritty novel that has you both cheering and jeering - the three main characters. We meet three college friends that are approaching their 30’s. When it comes to analyzing their friendship, one of the gals comments that isn’t that they love each other, it’s that they are each the kind of women that other women hate - so they are left with each other. They have agreed to share a house in the Hamptons for the summer - to recharge, bond, and try to fix the messes that are their lives.
First of all, there is Billie Shelton. She’s an indie rock star whose life is only about the indulgence of her two habits: drugs and men. Thing is, where it worked for her in earlier years, it’s not exactly working now. Her career is in the gutter, her relationships are falling apart, and she is self-destructing. Can going pop salvage her career? Can a conservative man be the ticket to finding herself? We have the beautiful Kellyanne Downey that most women hate without speaking to first. She’s achingly beautiful but has become nothing but a rich man’s mistress. Can she get her acting career off the ground by participating in a reality program? Will she ever step out of the mold as “whore” and become a person who is loved simply for herself, and not her skills in the bedroom? And then we have Liza Pike. Liza is a successful writer and political commentator known for being THE feminist. Thing is, she did something very non-feminist by marrying a strong fireman in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy. Her marriage is falling apart at the seams and in the wake of fear of this failure, her aging, and her taking a break from her career, she has begun to harvest her eggs. She can be a good mommy - later. Her outspokenness has garnered Liza a stalker. Can Liza escape from her dead end marriage and find a man she loves?
The sex is hot, the relationships complex, and the twists and turns more twisted than you can imagine. Life is not a fairy tale, and if you only read books with fairy tale endings, then this is not the book for you. But if you want a book that will make you want to turn the next page instead of applying more sunscreen, then add Tan Lines to your list of “must read” summer books. I like seeing the gritty side of life on occasion, so for me, it was a great addition to my purse - and I would recommend my friends take it with them to the pool.
Tan Lines by JJ Salome is from St. Martin’s Press on July 8th in your favorite bookstore (and you can find out more by visiting the official webpage)
By the way, take a moment to comment here and share what YOU think makes a great “beach read” and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a free copy of Tan Lines. We have one copy to give away, so, don’t hesitate to dish.
July 8th, 2008 at 1:44 am
I’m just leaving for vacation and I wish I had this book to bring with me because it’s exactly the kind of read I enjoy on a beach or in a shade somewhere. After some thinking, I decided not to take a book with me for a change, so I will have all the time to explore the lovely town in the south of France.
July 8th, 2008 at 2:52 am
I think books that are fun, and light are great for beach reads. Nothing too serious. But this book would def be a great summer read!
July 13th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Great beach reads are ones that keep your attention but you don’t need to re-read parts to see what you missed like you do when the descriptions are 3 pages long or when there are complicated details. They are fun, fresh, usually about women, friends, relationships. . .and are ones you can pass on to another and know that they will enjoy it too. One I recently read was Bitsy’s Bait and BBQ by Pamela Morsi (not a new release but great beach/pool read)
July 14th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Sounds like a great book for a long weekend!
July 24th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Woo-hoo. This is a book my two sisters and I will pass around! Can’t wait to read it.
July 25th, 2008 at 11:50 am
A great beach read is a piece of mindless fiction that will take your mind off of your troubles and make you forget the stack of bills on the kitchen table. It’ll make you want to buy a new bikini and strut your stuff on the boardwalk, feeling sexy. (And if you’re over fifty, it might also be in large print so you won’t need to worry about getting your bifocals all scratched up by the sand. lol)