Venus Envy [Mass Market Paperback]

Shannon Mckelden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2, 2008

Venus:  “After a few centuries of turning pumpkins into coaches and frogs into princes, I thought I was getting the hang of being a fairy godmother.  Maybe soon Zeus would let me back onto Mount Olympus . . . then I met Rachel Greer.  A goody-two-shoes do-gooder who ignored my advice—terrific advice, if I do say so myself—about men.  And kept nagging me for spending too much time in the bathroom when everyone knows a goddess always needs to look her best.
 
Rachel:  “I had a decent job, friends, a loving family.  My volunteer work, as a mentor for young women and a dog-walker at the local shelter, kept me hopping.  Then this amazingly beautiful woman, who literally turns heads—men walk into walls when she passes by—announces she’s my fairy godmother, here to help me fall in love!  Next thing I know, she’s moved into my apartment and kicked me out of my own bedroom.  Of course I thought she was nuts . . . until the magic started to happen.”

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

McKelden dispatches the goddess of love to meddle in the affairs of lovelorn 21st-century mortals in her charming if formulaic debut. As punishment for being unfaithful to her husband, Greek goddess Venus has been demoted to the role of "fairy godmother" by her irate father, Zeus. The latest recipient of Venus's "Extreme Love Life Makeover" is Rachel Greer, whose "Loser List" of cheating, lying ex-boyfriends has caused her to swear off dating. Venus resorts to brute force, blackmail and tips from Cosmo to tempt Rachel into falling for "gorgeous, hunky" firefighter Luke Stanton. Told from the alternating viewpoints of Venus and Rachel, the story puts a fresh spin on the classic fairy godmother story, and Venus—catty and generous with her barbed wit—is cut from different cloth than the standard well-behaved fairy. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the book's mere mortals, who fit nicely into chick lit archetypes (stubborn, wounded Rachel; sassy best friend Hannah; and unflaggingly and inexplicably devoted Luke). Though this detracts from the creative premise, McKelden's sharp sense of humor pulls plenty of weight. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Booklist

McKelden's inventive romantic comedy boasts an unusual matchmaker: Venus, the goddess of love herself. Banished from Mount Olympus by her father, Zeus, Venus is stuck on Earth and forced to help human beings find true love. Enter Rachel Greer, who might be Venus' biggest challenge yet. Unlike most young women, Rachel isn't looking for love; she is shunning it. A series of bad choices have made her doubt her ability to find a decent man, so when handsome, kindhearted Luke Stanton walks into her life, Rachel is determined not to fall for him. Venus is equally determined to make a love match between the two. Venus shows up at the bank where Rachel works and helps Luke get a date with a very reluctant Rachel. Venus then convinces Rachel to talk to Luke's ex-girlfriends to determine what type of man he is, but a misstep by the goddess might cost Rachel her happiness. Witty, funny, and truly original, McKelden's romance is a standout. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books (January 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765354977
• ISBN-13: 978-0765354976
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,133,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Shannon McKelden has wanted to be a writer since she got that first great grade on a short story written in elementary school.

She joined RWA and started writing her first romance novel in 1990, but real life got in the way, and that first book didn't get finished until 1999. It's still on the shelf collecting dust and will remain there for eternity.

After writing a second romance novel in 1999, Shannon found her voice in the chick lit genre. With her first chick lit manuscript, Shannon secured an agent to help advance her career, and learned a lot of patience as she continued to hone her craft for two more years...finally selling her fifth manuscript, a paranormal humorous women's fiction book called VENUS ENVY.

Shannon lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest where she freelances and works on her next book.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sparkling, riveting debut, January 2, 2007

By 

Movie Maven "julierb" (Duvall, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Venus Envy (Paperback)

I was lucky enough to read "Venus Envy" a couple of months back. Shannon McKelden is a tremendous author, with the ability to write characters the reader cares about and roots for. Venus makes you wish for your own fairy godmother (well, within reason,) and you'll cheer Rachel on to a once-in-a-lifetime true love. Did I mention that Luke the hero will melt any mortal woman's heart -- and at least one immortal woman's?

You'll enjoy "Venus Envy". It's funny, charming and has snark to spare. Shannon McKelden's future books will be on your "must buy" list as well!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "VENUS ENVY "envy!, March 12, 2007

By 

D. Sarkar "DSM" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Venus Envy (Paperback)

I have a major case of VENUS ENVY envy! I started the book around 2 this afternoon and by 4:30, I was done :) I literally did not put it down for 2 and a half hours. I loved so much about it: the fact that it was set in Seattle, the juxaposition between vivacious Venus and reclusive Rachel, how hunky Luke was, all the fashion, how troubled Rachel was and not quite ready to forgive herself....and on and on.

This is a great, quick read and the secret of why Rachel doesn't trust herself is a good one and will have women everywhere saying, "God, poor thing."

Overall, the whole reading experience leaves me wanting more! I want more Hannah, more Venus and defintiely more fairy-godmothering. And I want Venus to have a love story of her own! Is Ms. McKelden, per chance, planning a sequel :)

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific chick lit romantic fantasy, January 4, 2007

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Venus Envy (Paperback)

In the Puget Sound area, though surrounded by family members with their loving partner like her parents, her brother and now her younger sister, Rachel Greer believes she must have inherited a recessive trait that only brings losers into her life as her former boyfriends are a pathetic lot. With love everywhere she goes near her family, Rachel feeling like a Trogg hides as much as possible, doing good deeds for people whether at work as a customer service employee at a bank or volunteering at the dog shelter or soup kitchen. Because of her track record with males, Rachel buries her attraction towards firefighter Luke Stanton, who monthly opens up new accounts.

Ann irate Zeus has demoted his offspring Venus to the fairy-godmother community service on earth for cheating on her spouse. She detests this punishment that she feels is too harsh, but also knows she better complete the sentencing or find a home on Mount Hood instead of returning to Mount Olympus. Venus sees an easy pickup wit Rachel "Loser List" Greer matched up with Luke the hunk though she would not mind a side snack of him. Venus applies her sure shot "Extreme Love Life Makeover" on a reluctant Rachel while telling the mortal's best friend Hannah to butt out. When that somewhat fails Venus physically and verbally bullies and blackmails Rachel to force her to fall for Luke.

Rachel and Venus alternate first person accounts leading to the audience obtaining a chick lit romantic fantasy. Whereas Rachel is out of chick lit stereo-casting, Venus is a refreshing takes no prisoner acerbic fairy godmother (think of the Carol Kane character, the Ghost of Christmas Present, in Scrooged). Readers will appreciate VENUS ENVY as she does what she does best, cause havoc with the heart.

Harriet Klausner