“Izzy As Is” by Tracie Banister
Blurb: The party is over for bikini model Izzy Alvarez. For six years she’s made a good living by flaunting her God-given assets on runways and in front of cameras, but now as she approaches the big 3-0, the bodacious Latina is shocked to learn she’s aged out of the profession that’s kept her in mojitos, mani/pedis, and designer thongs. What’s a girl with a taste for the finer things in life and no marketable skills to do?
Getting a regular job is too boring to even consider, so Izzy decides to follow in the footsteps of her newly-engaged frenemy and become a trophy wife. Although she’s desperate and too broke to get a chipped nail fixed, Izzy still has standards for her future husband, which means no uggos, no vertically-challenged guys, and no geezers who need to pop a blue pill to perform in the bedroom. Enlisting the aid of her computer whiz nephew and her closest pals, Izzy goes on the prowl for a rich, marriage-minded man, encountering likely candidates in a lot of unlikely places.
The high life she’s dreamed of may be within reach when Izzy meets a charming, successful man who’s not only hotter than a steamy summer night in Miami, but ready to settle down. Now all Izzy has to do is make sure her loud, crazy Cuban family doesn’t scare off el hombre perfecto—oh, yeah, and squelch those pesky, romantic feelings she keeps having for the sweet, cash-strapped guy she’s known forever.
Will Izzy’s hunger for money win out, or will her fiery heart demand to be heard?
My Review: Having “Izzy As Is” be the first book I read for review this year, it’s safe to say that the year started in a high-note. This book was one I’ve been waiting for, ever since I heard the title and saw the cover!
Having read “In Need of Therapy,” Izzy was one of the characters I loved, so I was delighted that the author decided to write a book all about her (some might say it even fit her personality), and Izzy shined. It’s easy to admit, only because I love the author’s books, but I think I love this one the most.
From the beginning when her nephew orchestrated a dating map, to her dating adventures, right up to the end, this was a fun and enjoyable read. Sometimes I would be shaking my head and wondering how Izzy would get out of one fiasco, only to see her jump into another. Other times, I would laugh until I had tears running down my face, and then smile because it was hard not to like her. Yes, at first, she came across as self-centered, but deep down, Izzy does have a good heart.
I won’t give any spoilers, so why not pre-order your copy now on Amazon, (January 24th is the release day!).
If you’re looking for a quick and entertaining read that you can share with your girlfriends, then I would definitely recommend this book!
I give “Izzy As Is” 5 stars!
