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 Pennywise Nov 09, 2009
PENNYWISE BY JILL BROCK
Odessa Wilkes had it all: a project head job at an advertisement agency, a two-year relationship with a loving man, and a successful life living in New York City. In less than a New York minute, her world flips upside down. She loses her job thanks to an embezzling boss. Carrying her desk belongings in a box walking on the street, her boyfriend suddenly dumps her. He didn't even offer to carry the heavy box like the gentlemen Odessa knew him to be. On the same day, she was trapped in a subway fire. Odessa developed anxiety attacks from all the stress. Right now the only thing that relaxes her is baking desserts for the family restaurant, Blue Moon.
Just when things seem calm, Odessa's best friend, Maggie Swift, storms into Blue Moon unexpectantly with her ADD son in tow. The homemaker needs help finding her missing husband, Roger. Could Roger be having an affair? Or has something gone terribly wrong with his insurance career? Instead of alerting authorities, the two best friends set out to become Private Investigators.
Their friendship and personal lives change during the search for Roger. Odessa discovers a new life and love interest when she least expects it. Maggie gains a new career and independence.
This book is filled with comedic adventures of the amateur detectives. Author Jill Brock's debut novel is a fast, great weekend read. The plot is engaging and descriptive. The characters are memorable and hilarious. Jill Brock describes the setting and characters in such vivid detail; it was like watching it on the big screen. There are moments you will literally laugh out loud, and other moments you feel the emotions of the character as if you're really there. If you're looking for light, fun reading and a story to escape in, I recommend picking up and reading Pennywise, the first novel of a mystery series. I look forward to reading more adventures about Odessa Wilkes and Maggie Swift.
November 1, 2009
L Marie
 A dynamic duo Jan 20, 2009
Okay, this book was just fun. I love buddy books and Maggie and Odessa are an odd couple that fits. These two women are as different as night and day (literally). Maggie, a domestic darling and Odessa...well Odessa is going through a life change. She's lost her job, her boyfriend, reduced to making desserts at her family's restaurant and she thinks a little bit of her mind. The best thing about it is, Maggie is by her side. Trouble is Maggie has a problem of her own. Her husbands gone missing and she thinks he is having an affair. So Maggie wants to play detective to find him. Odessa wants her to lay down and hand her a Margarita. Despite, Odessa's resistance, the two women play detective.
Now that you've got the mystery, now the fun, this book made me laugh out loud. In the process of finding Maggie's husband, throw in a hyperactive eight year old, an inept kidnapper, a sullen teenager and an overbearing sister, you've got the crazy world the women inhabit. Maggie has a way of talking people into anything, including Odessa. Odessa doesn't think her life couldn't get any more complicated, but it's trying hard to prove her wrong, she might be falling in love.
A hilarious read! Jul 14, 2008
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (7/08)
Odessa Wilkes has recently lost her job as the project head of a high-powered ad agency in New York City, and has been dumped by her boyfriend of two years. As a result she is now working with her sister, Candace, in their family's restaurant, the Blue Moon, as the dessert chef and bookkeeper. As she is going over receipts in the restaurant one day, in storms her best friend Maggie Swift. Maggie and Odessa are complete opposites. Odessa is "a tall, lanky African-American, the color of creamed coffee" who loves shopping for designer clothes and eating at trendy restaurants. Maggie, on the other hand, is "a pretty redheaded, alabaster skinned, five foot four diminutive housewife of Scottish-Polish descent" who shops at Wal-Mart, is on the PTA, and eats out at Burger King.
The reason for Maggie's visit to the restaurant is that her husband Roger is missing, and Maggie believes he is having an affair. She wants to enlist Odessa's help in an attempt to figure out what is going on. Aided by the guidance of "Private Investigating for Dummies", the duo embarks on a humorous journey to find Maggie's missing husband.
"Pennywise" is a fun adventure and is the perfect book to bring to the beach or to read by the pool. The plot is light and engaging and the book is a very fast read. It is one of those books that are extremely difficult to put down. The novel is so hilarious that you will be laughing out loud! Jill Brock is also very skilled at writing descriptive passages as you can see from the examples provided above. I can picture every character and setting so vividly in my mind, it's almost as if I am watching the story unfold on TV.
Brock's style of writing reminds me so much of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels, so if you enjoy Evanovich's writing I highly recommend giving Brock a try! She is a very talented writer and you will not be disappointed. I eagerly anticipate more from Jill Brock and she is definitely going to be an author to watch for in the future.
In The Mix Aug 27, 2007
This book is going to knock Stephanie Plum off the charts!! It is
fantastic. I can't wait for the sequels. Ms. Brock, other than a few
typos this book rocks, please have the sequel 3/4 finished. This book
should be on the bestseller list everywhere.
Comedy, Romance, Mystery , It's All There! Jul 25, 2007
Jill Brock has a talent for creating multidimensional charcacters which seem to come to life. She peaks your curiosity with bright and creative personalities that leap from the page and into your heart. Odessa Wilkes and Maggie Swift are two vibrant, strong and Positive examples of womanhood-- Warts and all --each in their own way. I laughed, I cried, I gushed and I celebrated with the characters of Odessa, Maggie and the cast of characters and situations affecting them. It's difficult to put the book down once you start reading. It's a story I want to read over and over again. I'm looking forward to future adventures of Oddessa, Maggie and their friends and family.
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