Rating: 
Summary: Love it! Love it! Love it!
Review: A close friend gave me the book for Christmas (even got the author to sign it for me!). I absolutely love the book, the storyline, the writing. I am both entertained and inspired. You will love it, too. Lenny's story isn't everybody's story, but there are things in this novel every one of us can relate to. If you want to help out a good cause and meet the author...
CHATTANOOGA, TN - The Chattanooga Chapter of Jack and Jill, Incorporated of America is planning a fundraiser featuring fellow member Suzette Francis' book Rules For a Pretty Woman. Tickets for $25 are being sold and include a copy of the book as well as an invitation to attend a book signing and book club discussion event. The event is scheduled to take place on Jan. 10, 2004 at the Hunter Museum. All proceeds will be distributed to the nonprofit agencies Girls Incorporated and The Children's Advocacy Center.
Rating:
Summary: Love it! Love it! Love it!
Review: A close friend gave me the book for Christmas (even got the author to sign it for me!). I absolutely love the book, the storyline, the writing. I am both entertained and inspired. You will love it, too. Lenny's story isn't everybody's story, but there are things in this novel every one of us can relate to. If you want to help out a good cause and meet the author...
CHATTANOOGA, TN - The Chattanooga Chapter of Jack and Jill, Incorporated of America is planning a fundraiser featuring fellow member Suzette Francis' book Rules For a Pretty Woman. Tickets for $25 are being sold and include a copy of the book as well as an invitation to attend a book signing and book club discussion event. The event is scheduled to take place on Jan. 10, 2004 at the Hunter Museum. All proceeds will be distributed to the nonprofit agencies Girls Incorporated and The Children's Advocacy Center.
Rating:
Summary: She's Come a Long Way Baby
Review: Dr. Lenita Mae Faulkner is a woman that anyone would be proud to have a sister, daughter or lover. Unfortunately, the people in her life don't always realize that. Like Virginia Slims cigarettes, she's come a long way baby. From her meager beginnings in Madoosa County, where the smell of "putrefied cow dung" is part of the town's southern "charm", Lenita has committed to make something of herself. Unfortunately, a family emergency causes her to return to the place of her birth to make some choices regarding her mother. In her childhood home she comes across the diary that she cherished as a child. Coincidentally, reading through her diary she finds the Rules that she had written for her life many moons ago. It's those very same rules that give Lenita the drive she needs to pull out of her slump and grab life by the horns. Returning home from Madoosa armed with her diary and a new attitude she revamps herself as well as her rules to restore her faith in herself. Suzette Harrison has created a character that you have no choice but to love and admire. Lenita Mae is not your stereotypical, bitter, neck rolling, finger popping, revenge-seeking, loud talking angry sister. She is a sister with true character and a lady in every sense of the word. Enter her world and learn that every woman is "pretty" and we all should have "Rules" to live by. Angelique Pickett-Henderson
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad, not great
Review: I applaud Ms. Francis for a good first novel that imparts a strong message of self-esteem and independence to young women. However, I did not really enjoy this book. It was extremely depressing and fed on many stereotypes, particularly the "light skin with straight hair/dark skin with kinky hair" issue and what is considered more beautiful. As a native Atlantan, I can tell you that the problem is nowhere as severe as Ms. Francis suggests. A recurring issue for Lenny was her perception that men found her less attractive due to her hair and coloring. A fair issue, to be sure, but did the author have to beat us over the head with the idea by introducing so many women who supposedly fit that ideal (Karen, Mikayla, Dr. Liu, and the woman Lenny saw Ernest dating)? It was just too much. Equally disturbing (and implausible) was the idea that a successful doctor could be so extremely naive as to live with a man for 9 years and sign over half her income to him without even knowing how much money he made or without actively checking her investments? I can see a little naivete -- even smart women make mistakes -- but Lenny came across as entirely too dumb and weak in her personal life; it just didn't mesh with the confident, intelligent doctor. I understand the author was using irony to drive home the fact that none of us can completely escape the past or our self-perceptions, but she went way too far in this case. The seemingly endless string of bad relationships and cheating men was overblown too - after a while, it was confusing to keep track of everyone (Ralph, then the lawyer, the doctor, the blind dates, etc.). Enough already. Dating might be hard in your 30s (I know) but it's not that bad. Finally, I really hated the character of Karen, Lenny's supposed "best friend." Her negligence really enabled Lenny's live-in-lover to steal Lenny's million dollars and begin cheating on Lenny with Karen's cousin. (How could Karen not know or at least tell Lenny what was going on?) And Karen never really seemed to be sorry about causing Lenny to lose the money, although Karen was supposed to be the financial advisor. (In the real world, she probably could have been sued. I know Lenny eventually got the money back, but that's not the point). She struck me as the kind of best friend who acts friendly and sweet but really instigates a lot of controvesry and whose main role seems to be to make everyone "jealous" of her perfect wedding, husband, baby, etc. Karen added nothing to the story, and I began dislking Lenny for cllinging to her all the time. But all in all, it's a good beach read, with substance (unlike most beach reads). I'll look forward to reading more from Ms. Francis. I thinks she shows a lot of potential, if she can just break away from the heavy-handed, overly depressing storylines.
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Summary: Easily one of the best books I've read all year
Review: I enjoyed this book so much I kept spewing to every other reader I know, "Check this one out!" The book is lightly funny in a few places and lyrically written. It is also quite poignant at the same time. The main character is real as real can get and reminded me of several sisters I know. No plastic perfection here. Hard to believe this is a first-time novelist. I won't repeat the plot as other postings have done a good job of summing it up. I'll just say brava to the author for a job well done. Can't wait for your next book!
Rating:
Summary: Could hardly put it down.
Review: I loved this book! Have been sharing my excitement and delight about its content with many of the women I come in contact with especially young women. I could hardly put the book down but also wanted to stretch it out as I did not want it to end.
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Summary: this book is fabolous
Review: I loved this book. It was touching, funny, and moving. I think all women, black, white whatever should read this book. It was such a great read!!
Rating:
Summary: Issues
Review: Issues. This woman has issues. I kept thinking to myself how can a doctor, an Obstetrician/ Gynecologist have so many hindrances in her life, but it goes to show that how things appear on the outside aren't always the case. Meet Dr. Lenita Mae Faulkner, Lenny. She grew up in rural Madoosa County, no stranger to struggle, hard work and determination. She was one of four children, the only one to do her mama proud. She pulled herself out of her surroundings and went to college, medical school and made a success out of her self. She purposed at a young age that she must make her own rules and follow them. Rules for a Pretty Woman chronicled Lenny's life as she made her way to Atlanta. We find that she is involved in a nine-year relationship with Ralph. As this relationship deteriorates quite suddenly the reader finds that Lenny is again sitting at her journal making a new set of rules for her life, this time concerning matters of the heart. Her family is very needy of her money, her career isn't as fulfilling as she had hoped, her relationships after Ralph aren't progressing and her mother, who doesn't show her affection well, comes to spend her last days with her. Her best friend and her even stand on shaky ground. From all appearances this "have it all together, doctor" has it going on, but she's miserable inside. She has issues. A compelling read in that I desperately wanted Lenny to find herself. Not your typical story where the reader is sure that the main character will find happiness and have a storybook ending. You have to read to find out. It pulled at my heartstrings, I wanted to remind her of her own rules when she started to go astray and even help her write some rules that would help her in new situations. A quick witty read for first time novelist, Suzette Francis, it's a girly girl book, one that I'm sure we can all relate to in some way.
Rating:
Summary: Good to the last word
Review: Kudos to writer Suzette Francis. Rules for a Pretty Woman is the best book I've read in a long time. The heroine, Dr. Lenny Faulkner, could be any woman, yet there is such gentle wisdom in the way she learns from her mistakes and we can all benefit from the rules she makes for herself to live by. I found myself regretting the day I finished it. I wanted it to go on and on. I can't wait for a sequel.
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Summary: GREAT FUN READ!!!!!
Review: Once I started this book I could not put it down. The story is lovely, about a professional woman with a ticking biological clock and her struggle to find meaningful relationships in her life and happiness within herself. Written so beautifully it flows you will enjoy every moment you spend with Rules for a Pretty Woman. I can't wait for Suzette's next novel.
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