1. What are you currently reading? The Palace Papers: Inside the House of Windsor by Tina Brown. The well-connected Brown conducted more than 100 interviews to tell us how the House of Windsor has evolved over the last 25 years. It's an entertaining read.
It amuses me that there are four women on the cover: Camilla, Elizabeth, Kate, Meghan. Good enough. But it's the one not shown that still fascinates the most. Diana's shadow is a long one, and yes, there's plenty of her in this book.
2. What did you just finish reading? Dirty Blonde by Lisa Scottoline. Judge Cate Fante has a blonde mane, wears Manolos, and is no one's idea of a judge. So she attracts a lot of attention on the bench. Which is why her compulsive bar and bed hopping is so risky. Every time she goes out, her conduct unbecoming puts her career in jeopardy.
You'd think that would be a great premise for an adult thriller, especially in the hands of a pro, like Scottoline. Well, this is the most disappointing book I've read this year. There isn't a lot of sex, but what's here is smutty. For a woman who suffers from a compulsion, she's able to curtail her behavior quickly and easily as soon as the plot requires. The origin of her behavior is only hinted at, never explained. And oh! There too many characters and too many subplots plots! I literally stopped caring about any of them.
BTW, things about the main character annoyed me. Example: If you spell your name "Cate," you really shouldn't be snarky about an ex who goes by "Marc" instead of "Mark." Made me wonder if Judge Fante was really intended to be that unlikable, or if Scottoline needed an editor.
3. What will you read next? Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano. I hear it's funny and it's time for a giggle.
