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Speechless (Red Dress Ink (Numbered Paperback)) [Paperback]

Yvonne Collins (Author)
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)


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Book Description

Red Dress Ink (Numbered Paperback) February 1, 2004

What happens when a political wordsmith finds herself at a loss for words?

Libby McIssac is known for two things: catching bridal bouquets (her record's an even dozen) and having a way with words. Since the former isn't really something that looks good on a resume, it's a good thing she's been able to parlay the latter into a new career as a political speechwriter. But just as she's being careful to dot her i's, cross her t's and make her boss look like she knows something about . . . well, anything, Libby's world is turned upside down.

Libby just wants to write the speeches that'll make the whole world sing, or at least ones that will get her boss to remember her name correctly and stop using Libby as her coatrack at flashy events. But in Clarice Cleary's office there's only one belle of the ball, and it's the one reading the speeches -- not writing them. Enter a handsome British consultant -- a bit on the cagey side, perhaps -- who upsets the delicate chain of command around the office and somehow always gets what he wants, including Libby?

When a media leak of a big-time scandal sends everyone into a tailspin, Libby fears she may get caught in the cross fire. Cue the fake alliances, the secrets, the sex, the subterfuge, the hidden friendships: it's all there.

Welcome to the world of politics, where perception is everything, nothing is as it seems and the last thing you want is to be left speechless.



Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Libby McIsaac has just caught her 13th bridal bouquet, and, at 33, she's lost faith in the idea that the guy who catches the garter might be her soul-mate--until Tim Kennedy catches the garter and her eye. She's a bit dismayed when she learns he already has a girlfriend, but she's more focused on her new job as a speechwriter for Clarice Cleary, Canada's minister of culture. Under Margo, the minister's vindictive tyrant of an assistant, the job is little more than a glorified secretary position, and the minister seems more concerned with her makeup than in the quality of her speeches. But Libby perseveres and finally convinces Clarice to allow her to write speeches, even though she's still expected to lug Clarice's purse around. And Libby soon has two men--the newly single Tim and a sexy British consultant named Richard--vying for her affections. Collins and Rideout's debut novel takes a while to get going, but once it does, it's an engaging and funny romp. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Red Dress Ink; 1 edition (February 1, 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0373250495
  • ISBN-13: 978-0373250493
  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,549,711 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

10 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:
 (5)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Fun effort (3 1/2 stars)..., February 7, 2004
This review is from: Speechless (Red Dress Ink (Numbered Paperback)) (Paperback)
Speechless is a fun, quick novel centered on office politics. Libby McIssac, a six-foot tall giantess and aspiring author, realizes that her new government position as the Minister of Culture's speechwriter consists more of gopher work than of actually writing speeches. To make matters worse, she's caught her thirteenth wedding bouquet and her love life is in a state of paralysis. Will she be able to handle Margo, her archrival and nemesis at the office? Will she choose the adorable Tim over her arrogant, albeit gorgeous, British colleague? And will she ever write a book?

This isn't the best Red Dress Ink offering, but it does offer a good dose of wit and insight on office politics. I was able to relate to some of the situations. I, too, have encountered my fair share of Margos throughout my career. Collins and Rideout's takes on Canadian politics are very informative. I also like the setting (Toronto) and quirky characters. Libby, though irritating at times, has a sarcastic tone that made me laugh in various occasions. All in all, this is a nice, quick read.

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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable Toronto-set Chick Lit novel, February 22, 2004
By 
"bognarregis" (Thornhill, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Speechless (Red Dress Ink (Numbered Paperback)) (Paperback)
I enjoyed reading Speechless and found it a good Chick Lit novel. The thing I liked best was that it was set in Toronto, which is a great city for Chick Lit stories, I think. I was always waiting for Toronto to be selected as a story location, and that was one reason why I enjoyed last year's Chick Lit novel 'A Year of Samantha' by B.D. Gardner - as far as I can tell, that was the first Toronto-set Chick Lit novel, and 'A Year of Samantha' was very good (you can read my review of that book if you like).

Speechless has a lot going for it and I enjoyed most the bits where Libby comes to see that the corporate world higher-ups will always blame the lesserites when they can to look good themselves (there is an old adage about how a certain sunbstance always flows downhill). The mentioning of Canoe (great restaurant!) was also a neat touch for those of us who know Toronto and its 'in' places. There was a bit too much froth for me (going to all those weddings and always catching the bouquet I thought bordered on unrealistic). I like realistic chick lit, and Speechless had some great realistic bits, but not as much as I would have liked, hence 3 out of 5 stars. A good first effort.

I compared this to ultra-realistic 'A Year of Samantha' mainly due to the fact that both of the novels where set in Toronto. Other good chick lit books that I found ultra-realistic include 'The Devil Wears Prada' (probably the best Chick Lit book, in my opinion) and 'Maneater' (good in realism, but not as enjoyable a story as 'The Devil Wears Prada').

In short, Speechless is an enjoyable read, escecially for the Toronto-set. A good book.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Just o.k., July 10, 2006
This review is from: Speechless (Red Dress Ink (Numbered Paperback)) (Paperback)
I wasn't crazy about this book and had to skip through some of the boring parts (i.e. the emails to her friend).
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