Rating: 
Summary: Typical 20-Something Chick Lit
Review: 25-year-old Sarah moves to L.A. to set up housekeeping for her fiancee's arrival only to be dumped. This is a common wake-up call for many females, and L.A. Woman is about Sarah's awakening and growth. The book's title is taken from a Doors tune of the same name, and the chapters are similarly named. An interesting choice, considering the Doors is 70s music and the clubbers in the book are all into techno. This incongruity is just one of several in the book. The book took a while to get started; at first, Sarah was doormat to everyone. But things take a turn for the better around page 70 when Sarah finally stands up for herself against her outrageous boss. The doormat character was obviously an unnatural stretch for author Cathy Yardley, and the story flowed much better after Sarah started to show a little backbone. There's no shortage of cliché here, though. None of the characters are terribly original, but Yardley manages to develop them enough to elicit buy-in from the reader. There's nothing literary here, either. The good news is you can finish the book in one stay-indoors day. If you're in the mood for a very light read, L.A. Woman is as good a bet as any. The story is mildly entertaining, and will no doubt win many cheers from young women who've gone through Sarah's situation.
Rating: 
Summary: Not my thing
Review: A chore to read. The characters were boring, and I didn't get the feel of the exciting L.A. life like the title and blurb suggested. I think I'll re-read my old Judy Blume books, they were even more exciting than this.
Rating: 
Summary: You Never Know What You Can Do Until You Are Forced To Try
Review: Cathy Yardley's debut book is not going to set the literary world on fire but it may keep you snuggled in bed for the day or night. This is a quick read which everyone needs once in a while. The story begins with Sarah Walker a twenty-five year old who thinks she has it all figured out. (Didn't we all at 25!?!?!) She is engaged to her college beau, Benjamin, and has agreed to move to L.A. to set up house for them, while Benjamin ties up loose ends in Northern California. Unbeknown to Sarah, they have picked an apartment in West Hollywood. Since Benjamin has not arrived due to having trouble with his work transfer, Sarah is the one to learn firsthand that West Hollywood is a colorful place to live. After a row with her finance, Sarah goes in search of dinner to console herself that Benjamin isn't moving for at least three months. As luck would have it, this is where she meets Taylor and endears herself to him. Taylor takes Sarah under his wing and helps her find a roommate, Martika. Sarah and Martika forge a friendship that originally grates on each other but ends up fulfilling a void that each woman has. Sarah learns from Martika to be more self reliant and confident. Sarah finally tells off a horrendous boss after her character grows into her new skin. Martika on the other hand stops thinking about how she can help people, how she can take care of the situation and learns to let go of the past to live in the present. The story flows as these two women learn from each other. I like the fact that for the most part, these two characters are bound together in sisterhood. It's nice to read about characters who are not constantly competing with each other and can openly disagree but not be vindictive. By calling this a "coming of age" story I feel that I'm shortchanging the intent of Ms. Yardley...I think this is more of a "coming of consciousness" which means much more. Be prepared for the story making a full circle and seeing if Sarah makes the same mistake twice.
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Summary: Small town girl finds single life in the big city
Review: Courtesy of Love Romances Sarah Walker has just moved to LA for her fiancé, Benjamin. She has no job, no money, but she moved into an apartment with the expectation he would be living with her and covering the expenses while she took her time finding a job she really liked. When Benjamin bails out on her at the last minute, she is stuck, having no idea what to do next. Sarah decides to take on a roommate, Martika, to help foot the bills while she searches for her dream job... and a new life as a single woman in the city. What she finds is a string of go-nowhere jobs where she is overworked, underpaid, and extremely miserable. Her social life is nil and she finds out how totally unprepared for city life she was. No problem! Martika steps in, making Sarah her pet project. She'll create a new image and a new lifestyle for small-town Sarah, pulling out all the stops. Sarah is uncomfortable at first, but finds herself adapting and actually enjoying her new life, even putting Martika to shame. Single life in the city turns down home girl into a party princess. This is a cute funny read, giving a wild taste of what being a single woman in a big city can really be like. Written in wit and style of Sex and the City or Seinfeld, it is a hilarious look at life in the real world, where men and women alike are far from perfect. Sarah starts out as a shy wallflower type, with her life plan set in stone, and turns into a smart sassy, wise-cracking woman who isn't afraid to speak her mind loud and clear, and throws out that former life plan and decides to just "wing it." Sarah's friends are wacky and loveable. There is brassy Martika who revels in her singledom, and Tika's best friend Taylor. Then there are Kit, who is just plain normal; and Judith, an uptight straitlaced wife to her lawyer husband who finds her life lacking when she strikes up an online romance that helps her realize what she needs. The reader can't help but hope to see a couple of these characters (especially Judith or Martika for this reviewer) pop back up in a story all their own later on. If wild exploits and off the wall humor in every day life is what one is looking for, Ms. Yardley's story is the one of choice. Full of laugh out loud moments and often sarcastic views of life, this book won't disappoint.
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Summary: Terrible Characters
Review: I can't believe this book was published! The characters were terrible. The book was so boring that I forced myself to finish it, and when I was done I threw it across the room! Sarah changed her colors so many times during the book, it was hard to imagine what she looked like. Martika was utterly disgusting, although the way it was written, you'd think she was "supposed" to be a sex goddess of some sort!? And those "boots" she always wore that the author kept referring to? I can't imagine they EVER were in style. Not cool characters AT ALL. If you must buy this book, buy it used. Otherwise, you're wasting your money on this one!
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Summary: My first Red Dress Ink book!
Review: I decided to buy this book during my Christmas break and I did so without knowing much about it. It was on the "Best Sellers" rack at my local Barnes and Noble and I decided to give it a chance.
It was nice to go through the changes with Sarah as she adjusts to the hectic and fast lifestyle in LA. I could easily compare Sarah to some friends of mine who would jump through hoops to keep their man happy only to end up getting hurt over and over again.
I enjoyed seeing things through Sarah's point of view and I did enjoy how she and her roommate (who couldn't get any more opposite from Sarah) managed to work things out in the end. Although, I think I would have prefered to see Judith and her online lover get together. Maybe he could have swept her off her feet and taken her away as he had planned. I didn't like that she ended up alone in the end.
The only real criticism I have of the book is the fact that it seemed to be written almost so anyone could understand it. The content makes the book directed to young women and I think that it maybe could have challenged it's readers a little more with its content. The book is so easy to read that anyone can sit there and take a couple hours out of their day and finish it in one sitting.
I can agree that the plot is pretty predictable but the ending is good regardless. Although the question of where Sarah and Kit's "relationship" will go went unanswered. I guess it's up to the reader to make their own conclusion.
I don't think that the book is worthy of reading a second time around, but I think I'll keep it around for a while so when my 16 year old sister visits she can read it and tell me what she thinks.
Rating: 
Summary: this book totally worked for me
Review: I don't know what it is, but this book struck a chord. It's like I can relate to all three of those girls, even though they are all so different. I lived in L.A. and the author totally gets the scene right...and makes it seem even more fun than it was! I'd read more by this author.
Rating:
Summary: Very Funny
Review: I liked the pace of this book. The Los Angeles setting, the characters, the descriptions of LA club life, and the transformation of "Eleanor" are all entertaining and make for a perfect beach read. However, the whole "Odd Couple" scenario has been done and re-done. I really had hoped this novel would avoid this. Still, L.A. Woman is fun and a nice addition to the Red Dress Ink series. If you're a fan of the series, you'll find that this book will not disappoint.
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Summary: Fast and fun
Review: I liked the pace of this book. The Los Angeles setting, the characters, the descriptions of LA club life, and the transformation of "Eleanor" are all entertaining and make for a perfect beach read. However, the whole "Odd Couple" scenario has been done and re-done. I really had hoped this novel would avoid this. Still, L.A. Woman is fun and a nice addition to the Red Dress Ink series. If you're a fan of the series, you'll find that this book will not disappoint.
Rating:
Summary: A Fun Read!
Review: I literally cheered for Sarah when she finally tells Benjamin off! Loved her new buddy in town, Taylor - an absolutely sweet and hilarious guy. Sarah's new roomie Martika is great. Totally the opposite of Sarah, of course. But so lively & fun - although the gal does live on the wild side. I flew through this book & found it entertaining and witty. This book was 5 stars all the way through until the very end of the book where I felt it ended a little too fast. Without given the story away, I also felt like, by then, Sarah knew better than to have "chosen" that last big problem. But otherwise, the characters were great, the story was great & I really enjoyed this book.
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