The Actress by Elizabeth Sims

This was a good thriller full of twists and turns.

Rita Farmer is an aspiring actress and single mother. She’s broke and when an attorney offers her a job coaching a client to appear more sympathetic in front of the jury she takes it. But soon her and her son’s life depend on her finding out the truth.

Good plotting, believable characters. The author switched POVs a few times, and it worked in the beginning when it was two, but was a little distracting (and in the case of one totally pointless) later in the book.

I did enjoy the book and read it quickly. It’s supposed to be the start of new series and the ending did leave some doors open so I’ll be anxious to see what happens to Rita next.

Another thought I had about the title – who’s the actress Rita or Eileen (the client)?

Enlightenment for Idiots by Anne Cushman

At 29 Amanda does not have her life together. She has a bad relationship with a photojournalist who is gone more than he’s home, she’s broke and is aspiring to be a yogi. To pay the bills she writes “how to” guides for idiots. When her boss pitches her “Enlightenment for Idiots” and with it the chance to travel to India. So she goes and discovers herself, along with an intriguing cast of characters including the various gurus she encounters. Sort-of like a fictional Eat, Pray, Love type story, heavy on the pray part.

I’d classify it as chick-lit for smart people. The story was good and I liked Amanda, but it was a little long on her time in India.