‘GUILTY WOMEN’ BY MELANIE BLAKE

After rereading RUTHLESS WOMEN during my winter vacation to get myself in the mood for the upcoming sequel GUILTY WOMEN due out in late April by Harper Collins, I couldn’t wait to feast my eyes once again on the ladies of Falcon Bay whom I had come to cherish so. I had such a good time with them that I was more than ready to embark on another wild ride of the rich and the wicked, courtesy of storytelling genius Melanie Blake. Then it happened again, the thing I dreaded more than finding out that the latest book is not up to par: a new COVID variant hit us again in my neck of the woods—meaning I was back working full-time at the hospital and having even less time focusing on books, including this sequel, which by the way was granted by the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review. What a guy to do? Well, I’ll do the same thing I did with RUTHLESS WOMEN last year during the pandemic. I’ll give the new book my two cents worth without adding too much detail.

So here it goes. I simply loved, loved, loved, loved it. GUILTY WOMEN starts out six months after the world-wide broadcast of the ill-fated shark attack on one important character, and goes on from there. There are many, many surprises in store, like another wild death, the arrival of old lovers, new lovers, the return of some villains, and another whopper of a finale. Suffice to say, GUILTY WOMEN is definitely a grabber. I cannot wait for next year’s follow-up. 

Now please bear with me. Until I am back part time at work, I will only give short reviews on upcoming stuff on my blog. I hate that it had to come to this but it is either that or putting a halt to everything until I have more free time on my hands. Let’s just hope that we all be rid of that COVID-19 virus very soon so we all can get back to our regular scheduled program. 

 Until next post—Martin

RUTHLESS WOMEN BY MELANIE BLAKE, REVISITED

  

There are two main reasons why I wanted to reread RUTHLESS WOMEN. The first is I wanted to reacquaint myself with the characters and situations to get ready for the upcoming sequel called GUILTY WOMEN due out this spring. The second and most important one is that I also wanted to give the novel the spotlight it truly deserves since I feel I didn’t totally do justice to it when I reviewed it before on this blog last year. COVID-19 is mostly to blame. That, and my stubbornness to continue to write reviews despite a very hectic schedule. Yes, not only did I find myself swamped at the hospital where I work but I barely could manage anything else, including putting my own two cents worth about Melanie’s work. So I did what I do best under pressure: I click on the automatic pilot and hope for the best. Turns out I did write what I consider a good review. Now, however, I want to write a fantastic one because I believe that’s what the novel truly deserves. So, on I go.

 

If you ever wanted to know how show business works in the soap opera world then look no further than RUTHLESS WOMEN by the multitasker Melanie Blake. I say multitasker because the woman can do it all: she can manage a highly successful agency, write best-sellers—when not ghostwriting them—and be social media savvy. In RUTHLESS WOMEN all three take center stage. A long-running syndicated soap is in danger of cancellation. It needs to reinvent itself before the plug is pulled. In comes a newly appointed male chauvinistic executive producer who wants to shake things up, like broadcasting a live episode that will reveal the demise of a much loved character. Not only that, but a live search will also be underway to determine which actress among six ‘mature’ women will play the new villainess onscreen. Not an easy task, especially when most of them have problems of their own off-screen. Did I also mention that there is a newcomer behind the scenes who has a big score to settle with a major player? I won’t say who but it’s a doozy, trust me. Add a girl—or should I say woman—power approach, a front row seat of what really goes on behind or in front of the camera and you got yourself one heck of an escapist read to delve into.

 

Moreover, in between colorful characters, a fire-cracking plot and a solid narration lies a roman-à clef with a heart. The reader can clearly feels the bond between the women as they manage the best they can to stay afloat in this male-dominated culture. Because yes, it is still a boys club despite all of the denunciations made since the Weinstein exposé. Melanie Blake clearly demonstrates that. She also demonstrates a pure knack for keeping the page turning, despite the fact that I already knew the story’s outcome. Sure, having my mind at ease during this winter’s vacation certainly helped but still, what a fun wicked ride RUTHLESS WOMEN turned out to be. To tell you the truth, I wanted more of the same and will have, not only when GUILTY WOMEN arrives in late April but when the third book in the series, VENGEFUL WOMEN comes out next year. Now that’s what I call satisfying one’s craving, wouldn’t you say so?

 

 

Until next post—Martin 

Melanie Blake

 

‘RUTHLESS WOMEN’ BY MELANIE BLAKE

 

Feminist-prone RUTHLESS WOMEN (2021, Head of Zeus) by British author Melanie Blake offers a yummy premise: to save a long-running world-wide syndicated soap opera from being cancelled the Beautiful People behind Falcon Bay resolve into broadcasting a live episode which will celebrate its 40^th anniversary by introducing a female antagonist à la Alexis from TVs Dynasty. But there’s more. Prior to the live broadcast, a reality TV special will air, featuring actresses vying for the pivotal role before the winner gets chosen by the TV audience.  You’re taking notes, Andy Cohen?

 

Suffice to say, this is a fun book, and a hot one at that. There’s a bunch of great characters in it, all more wicked than the other. ‘Cause besides those reality TV contenders, the novel also highlights a slew of other wonderful strong-willed women: a leading lady, a producer, a writer-director, a super-agent, a casting director—all over 50 and still trying to break down the boys’ club doors. You’ll definitely want to get to know them and see some justice done. As expected, the novel has a Jackie Collins vibe to it but RUTHLESS WOMEN is more than just a Collins knockout. Aside from the sex, the behind-the-scene shenanigans and the fast-moving narrative, the novel winds up owning its own style. If I had to be a little bit fussy I would say that some situations have got to be taken with a grain of salt at times (the hotel room cocaine bust, for instance) but otherwise this is one great addictive trashy read.

 

This is Melanie Blake’s sophomore novel after 2019 THE THUNDER GIRLS. If you enjoyed that one I think you’ll dig even more RUTHLESS WOMEN. I certainly did. I look forward to reading the sequel. Last that I heard Ms. Blake is hard at work on it. This time the novel will focus on the men side as they take their own revenge on the women that have ‘wronged’ them. One word: yummy. In the meantime do pick up RUTHLESS WOMEN, will ya?

 

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this captivating ARC.

 

 

Until next post—Martin 

‘THE THUNDER GIRLS’ BY MELANIE BLAKE

Ever since that damn COVID-19 entered my life I hardly had time concentrating on anything else, like this blog of mine, for example, which I have been running for quite some time. I even contemplated giving it up since my free time these days has been mostly spent recuperating in bed instead of enjoying a good book or watching a good flick. But now that I have finally regained some sense of normality by working part time at the hospital again I can happily say that I do intend on continuing with The Sleaze Factor after all. Talking to you guys via my little reviews is too important to me, and quite honestly, I just can’t see myself abandoning this precious ship of mine. So without further ado let’s get right down to business.

Last week I caught the much-appreciated The Go-Go’s documentary. Seeing this girl group again and witnessing their rise and fall through interviews and archives made me realize how important their music was, and still is, in an industry controlled mostly by men. THE THUNDER GIRLS (2019, Pan) by Melanie Blake reminds me of The Go-Go’s, four talented women who make it big and lose it all when one of them decides to go solo during the heights of their success in the late ‘80s. It’s easy to imagine the hurt, the jealousy, the betrayal that the rest of the women felt and still do in 2019 when they are asked to regroup for a once in a lifetime performance at the Wembley Stadium. They may be now older but, boy, far are they from being wiser—that is until they are forced to put the past behind when trouble comes a-knocking.

I really enjoyed THE THUNDER GIRLS. It is well-paced and has a fair amount of characterization in between the bitchery. And trust me, there is a lot of bitchery, enough to fill—pun intended—an entire stadium. Secrets, lies, revenge, obsession, there are no dull moments in this first time effort. First time by the Melanie Blake name, that is. The author has previously ghost-written two celeb fiction titles which shall remain nameless to protect the guilty ones. This may probably be the reason why THE THUNDER GIRLS barely feels like a first novel. Blake always keeps a tight rein on her clear-lined plot, and once the reader hits the mid-section mark, the roller-coaster ride gets even trickier. I can’t say I was always surprised by the many revelations but I sure was intrigued by their swift and girl-powered denouements. Yes, THE THUNDER GIRLS is certainly worth the stops. It’s definitely up there with the strongest of the glam-fiction novels. If you love this endangered sub-genre as much as I do (which hopefully the success of this book will revive), then dig in, my friends, just dig in.

You can get a copy of THE THUNDER GIRLS wherever books are sold.

Until next post—Martin