The Recessionistas by Alexandra Lebenthal (ARC)
Published by Grand Central Publishing
ISBN 978-0-446-56367-3
At the request of The Hachette Book Group, a TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (back of book): It’s the day after Labor Day, 2008, and the elite universe of New York’s Upper East Side is bout to unravel along with the economy. Socialite Grigsby Somerset is barely aware of her changing world and has no idea her investment banker husband, Blake, is about to enter into a devil’s bargain with hedge fund owner John Cutter. As autumn unfolds, Grigsby’s fairytale life starts to unwind. Street-smart Renee Parker has been hired as John’s executive assistant and is convinced that something is amiss with her new boss. Renee enlists her friend that something is amiss with her new boss. Renee enlists her friends Sasha Silver, CEO of Silver Partners, to help her decipher what is happening. They soon discover that John is nearly ruined, except for the assets he is hiding in the Cayman Islands from his wife, Mimi, and has concocted with Blake a scheme to redeem himself, This tale of expulsion from a modern-day Garden of Eden captures what happens when economic decline spells ruin for Manhattan’s pampered elite.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: When I accepted this book, I thought it would be a classic chick lit read. However, it falls under more categories including: socialites, rich people, recessions, etc., and more, including attempted murder. The cast of characters varied widely from socialites to CEOs on Wall Street. Some likeable, some that left me shaking my head. The plot flowed but there was a lot of reference to the recent financial problems with hedge funds, which at times, I felt slowed down the story line. It was neither a fast paced nor profound read, which leaves it right in the middle as far as rating.

Bingo said… 18  I try and cut costs by not bringing in food or going out as much anymore. I am doing more of my own cooking and it helps cut costs. Thanks for a chance at this one!

kalea_kane said… 3  One way that I try to cut costs is by making roasts in my crock pot. The crock pot is actually cheaper than the oven, but I also make a point of making at least two more meals from that roast. Many times I can get three meals. Thank you for the chance. This is a book that is right up my alley!

thatlittlehouse said… 17  I cut costs right now by cooking from my pantry and refrigerator, without buying any new groceries other than milk and bread

An email has been sent to the winners and they have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address or another winner will be chosen.

Bingo said… 18  I try and cut costs by not bringing in food or going out as much anymore. I am doing more of my own cooking and it helps cut costs. Thanks for a chance at this one!

kalea_kane said… 3  One way that I try to cut costs is by making roasts in my crock pot. The crock pot is actually cheaper than the oven, but I also make a point of making at least two more meals from that roast. Many times I can get three meals. Thank you for the chance. This is a book that is right up my alley!

thatlittlehouse said… 17  I cut costs right now by cooking from my pantry and refrigerator, without buying any new groceries other than milk and bread

An email has been sent to the winners and they have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address or another winner will be chosen.



   A concrete floor three hundred feet up in the Aurora Tower condo development in SoHo has collapsed, hurling three workers to their deaths. The developer, Roth Properties (owned by the famously abrasive Simon Roth), faces a vast tangle of legal problems, including allegations of mob connections. Roth’s longtime lawyers, the elite midtown law firm of Blake and Wolcott, is assigned the task of cleaning up the mess. Much of the work lands on the plate of smart, cynical, and sea­soned associate Duncan Riley; as a result, he falls into the pow­erful orbit of Leah Roth, the beautiful daughter of Simon Roth and the designated inheritor of his real estate empire.
   Meanwhile, Riley pursues a seemingly small pro bono case in which he attempts to forestall the eviction of Rafael Nazario and his grandmother from public housing in the wake of a pot bust. One night Rafael is picked up and charged with the mur­der of the private security cop who caught him, a murder that took place in another controversial “mixed income” housing development being built by . . . Roth Properties. Duncan Riley is now walking the knife edge of legal ethics and personal morality.
   Blind Man’s Alley is a suspenseful and kaleidoscopic journey through a world where the only rule is self- preservation. The New York Times Book Review said of A Cure for Night that “[Peacock] heads toward Scott Turow country . . . he’s got a good chance to make partner.” This taut, topical, and socially alert thriller delivers on that promise.

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me, in exchange for my
honest review. No items that I receive are ever sold…they are kept by
me, or given to family and/or friends.
I am not responsiblefor lost or damaged books (books are shipped
from agents).
I reserve the right to disqualify/delete any entries if
rules of giveaway are not followed.



   A concrete floor three hundred feet up in the Aurora Tower condo development in SoHo has collapsed, hurling three workers to their deaths. The developer, Roth Properties (owned by the famously abrasive Simon Roth), faces a vast tangle of legal problems, including allegations of mob connections. Roth’s longtime lawyers, the elite midtown law firm of Blake and Wolcott, is assigned the task of cleaning up the mess. Much of the work lands on the plate of smart, cynical, and sea­soned associate Duncan Riley; as a result, he falls into the pow­erful orbit of Leah Roth, the beautiful daughter of Simon Roth and the designated inheritor of his real estate empire.
   Meanwhile, Riley pursues a seemingly small pro bono case in which he attempts to forestall the eviction of Rafael Nazario and his grandmother from public housing in the wake of a pot bust. One night Rafael is picked up and charged with the mur­der of the private security cop who caught him, a murder that took place in another controversial “mixed income” housing development being built by . . . Roth Properties. Duncan Riley is now walking the knife edge of legal ethics and personal morality.
   Blind Man’s Alley is a suspenseful and kaleidoscopic journey through a world where the only rule is self- preservation. The New York Times Book Review said of A Cure for Night that “[Peacock] heads toward Scott Turow country . . . he’s got a good chance to make partner.” This taut, topical, and socially alert thriller delivers on that promise.

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me, in exchange for my
honest review. No items that I receive are ever sold…they are kept by
me, or given to family and/or friends.
I am not responsiblefor lost or damaged books (books are shipped
from agents).
I reserve the right to disqualify/delete any entries if
rules of giveaway are not followed.