Review: The Manolo Matrix by Julie Kenner

Title: The Manolo Matrix
Author: Julie Kenner
Genre: Romantic suspense/chick lit
Grade: B-
Reason for Reading: I really liked the first book in this series so I figured I should keep reading the trilogy.

Synopsis: Aspiring actress Jennifer Crane knows all about games — the games girls play to get a guy; the games actresses play to land a part; and the good old game of credit-card roulette. (How else is a girl supposed to afford her shoes?) But she never expected to be playing a game with life-or-death consequences. Unable to successfully score an acting gig, she has, instead, been cast in the role of reluctant bodyguard to a real-life assassin’s target — a dashing FBI agent of all people! — and must embark with him upon a scavenger hunt across Manhattan in search of the ultimate prize: survival. Before this, Jenn’s definition of fighting dirty has been elbowing her way to the front of the line at a Manolo sample sale. Now, if she wants to stay alive, she’s going to have to learn a few new uses for her stilettos. . . and they ain’t pretty.

My Thoughts: This book didn’t quite work for me as well as the previous book. This is because from the summary I quoted above I was expecting Jenn to be more of a kick-ass chick than she actually was.

I actually liked Jenn just fine once I warmed up to her. She was kind of a ditz, but I thought that her reactions were very real and very human. Devlin was a pretty good hero, too. He’s a bit of your stereotypical tortured hero, but I also found him compelling enough. Unfortunately, I didn’t really buy the romance between the two, and it felt just a tad forced.

I also didn’t think the plot worked quite as well in this second book. While it was still a fun, zippy read, I was annoyed that Jenn, despite being cast in the role of protector, didn’t do all that much protecting. She was also the one who spent a good majority of the book in danger, and she actually ruminates at one point about how she’s glad that Devlin will be able to protect *her*. Naturally, this cheesed off the Inner Feminist something fierce.

Also, I really do want more of an explanation as to who’s behind the game, because it seems to me like there’d have to be a lot of people complicit in some pretty shady stuff in order to have several of these games going on at once. Also, at one point Jenn withdraws $20,000 from the bank, which, even in New York, really ought to make someone suspicious.

Despite my nitpicks, I had fun with this book and will definitely be reading when I get the chance.