Reviewer: Samantha
I received a review copy
Summary:
Could love be a nip/tuck away?
Having endured her mother’s fourthwedding, hypnotized by makeover shows and tempted by a Zvengali-esque image consultant named Kennedy J, über bridesmaid Dot Lindell launches into an odyssey of self improvement, plastic surgery and therapy.
Then new and improved Dot encounters former high school hottie John Miller. She begins a risky deception, convincing both John – and herself! – that she’s a totally different person. Maybe she can pull it off: after all, she’s unrecognizable.
But John introduces Dot to his best friend and that bully from her nightmares Jack Weston. Jack has changed since high school, too. He’s grown more dangerous.
Beauty and the Bridesmaid is a darkly comic tale of transformation and choices, frenemies and friendships, the heroic saga of a nice woman who only wants to look in the mirror and feel beautiful, but may find the price higher than she bargained.
Review:
When I first agreed to review the book, I looked at the cover and title and thought it would be chick lit. After reading the synopsis and my eyes catching on the “darkly comic tale” part, I was even more curious about what I would be reading. I am really glad the author added the word “darkly” because I probably would have been completely thrown off guard if not. This book touches on a lot of extremely sensitive subjects, like body-image issues, rape and suicide. Dot’s journey was very interesting yet at times hard to read about, but I commend Lisa Souza for writing a thought-provoking and very honest novel.
3.5 stars
Author Bio:
Lisa Souza was raised on the mean streets of Spokane, Washington, one of five siblings wrestling for attention and hot meals.
She has a degree in English because both her husband and parents insisted she buck up and finish something. Without outside pressure, she fizzled out on an interior design program, bailed on computer science after two years, but rallied to complete her certification in hypnosis in 2012.
Lisa lives in the Snohomish Valley with her first husband Mark, (author of Robyn’s Egg), two stoic children, and Tater the rescue dog, whose ancestry is very much in question.
Website: http://www.lisasouza.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.souza.3348
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LisaSouza_WA
Goodreads: (still waiting for Author Profile Approval response)
Amazon “Buy” link: http://amzn.to/1uV2ZIH
GIVEAWAY!
Anyone who leaves a comment on the tour page will be entered to win a copy of Beauty and the Bridesmaid. Print copies will be available for US winners and eBook for international. Please leave your email in your comment!
