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Nora Blackbird is hoping for a miniature respite following Christmas, but instead is summoned to go to work. She needs her job; poverty is a new experience for her and her two sisters, Libby and Emma. Maybe the word poverty is too strong but this new lifestyle has certainly put a snag in life's plans. If you have read the three previous installments, you know that Nora's parents are living the good life but have left Nora with back taxes and two sisters who occasionally need some guidance. Libby, mother of five children, is now involved in a company called Potions and Passions. That is enough said about that. Emma is supposed to be in rehab. She is a horse woman with an addiction to alcohol. Nora is a society columnist for the Philadelphia Intelligencer. It was not so long ago that her name appeared in the paper with a description of what she was wearing. Now, she is doing the writing. The party that Nora attends gives her an opportunity to hobnob with some of the guests. She always finds people she knows from her past. This one is no exception. Brinker Holt's new revolutionary bra is the reason for this posh gathering. Brinker was a teenage bully and he has grown to be a monster of a man. Brinker used to be a comic and now he is a breakthrough star in the fashion world. Whenever he is inflicting pain, he finds satisfaction. One of the recipients of Brinker's cruelty was Hemmings Lamb. Hem was a passive kid but now he has power. The best thing about Hemmings (nicknamed Hemorrhoid) is his nephew, Orlando. This ten-year-old needs some attention and you will enjoy how he attains it. When you read this book, you will probably feel very good about your family. The Blackbird sisters and their friends practice dysfunction on a grand scale. The romantic interest in the story is Nora's man, Michael. Michael, affectionately called The Mafia Prince, causes quite a stir. His family's gambling and racketeering keep putting him in harm's way. It does not appear that Michael is interested in the mob lifestyle, but he is certainly interested in Nora. Nora is in love with him even though he can be a bad boy. A habit of Nora's is to faint when she just cannot deal with what is going on around her. She did pass out when she sees a murdered person and it is someone she knows. Normally, Michael receives the third degree from the law. The reader knows that it probably isn't him though; there are plenty of other suspects to choose. Secrets reveal that the murder may have something to do with the Brinker bra. The premise of the series is fresh and smart. Nora was previously high society and now she is a working girl. The author brings forth some campy characters and with the track record for the Blackbird sisters always picking the wrong men, some of the players are no less than weird. My favorite character is ten-year-old Orlando. Even though he can be incredible bratty at times, Nora feels protective. You will grow to like this young man and I hope we see him again in a future book. The finish is a bit cartoonish though enjoyable. Even though the puzzle is solved for the murder, it is not solved for Nora and Michael. Previous books in this series are HOW TO MURDER A MILLIONAIRE, DEAD GIRLS DON'T WEAR DIAMONDS, and SOME LIKE IT LETHAL.
Reviewed by Rita Ratacheck, March 2005
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