NEWS BLUES

Author: Marianne Mancusi ISBN: 9780505527493 3/2008 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: DORCHESTER

Tune In All 27 year-old Maddy Madison wants is a cute guy, a designer handbag and to work at Newsline. What she has is a dead-end job at News 9 San Diego, a psycho boss and a counterfeit Kate Spade. One with a badly glued-on label. Oh, and no guy. Turn on Just when Maddy's sure her days of producing sensationalistic puff pieces will never end ("Perilous Pets!" "Deadly Dishwashers!" " Clay that Kills!") she's offered a promotion. She's now an investigative producer—and that's not all; she's also partnered with the station's newest photographer: sexy, motorcycle-riding bad boy and form moviemaker Jamie Hayes. But every silver cloud has a stormy lining. Her new job is with News 9 narcissistic anchor, Terrance Toller; Jamie's getting married (not to her); and reporting the truth is about as easy as watching your divorced parents get remarried (not to each other) Take Off So, how does Maddy get to produce real news, bag her boss and win her man? Stay turned. It's the story of a lifetime.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

NEWS BLUES by Marianne Mancusi is a fast-paced, hilariously funny look into life behind the scenes at a local news station, narrated by the heroine, Maddy Madison.

A producer for News 9 San Diego, Maddy's goal in life is to one day work for Newsline doing real, investigative work, not the dribble she is forced to churn out with stories like "Makeup that Kills." But it's a long way to national fame and during the wild ride, Maddy has to deal with her parents splitting up, taking in and looking after her teenaged sister Lulu, and working with the new hunk of a photographer, Jamie Hayes, the love of her life who happens to be engaged! Talk about a full day's work!

I really enjoyed this story. The author gives a great look into what goes on (or can go on) behind the scenes at a news station. And the cast of supporting characters adds to the wackiness of the story as Maddy has to deal with many obstacles, day in and day out, to get where she is going. Add to that the hurdles she must jump in order to make or break her relationship with the already spoken for Jamie, and you have one fun, laugh out loud story on your hands.

If you're a fan of romantic comedies, then you will definitely not want to miss out on Marianne Mancusi's latest novel, NEWS BLUES, as it will provide more than enough fodder to keep you in giggles from beginning to end!

Maame Kanbi