SHE'S ALL THAT

Kristin Billerbeck

Integrity

ISBN: 1-59145-328-3

October 2005

Inspirational Fiction

Lilly Jacobs is a struggling fashion designer. After obtaining her MBA from Stanford, she found she hated the world of finance and decided her first love was creating fashion designs. So she became employed at Sara Lang, and has spent the last three years working towards becoming one of Sara’s head designers. Lilly becomes upset when that promotion is given to another designer. Sara did offer Lilly a job as CFO at the design firm, and Sara gives Lilly the weekend to think over her job offer.

Lilly’s day turns even worse when she finds out her boyfriend, Robert, has dumped her for Katrina, his new girlfriend. Lilly finds she needs to call a “spa weekend” with her friends, Morgan, a jewelry heiress, and Poppy, a chiropractor. When crises arise, the three girls head to Spa Del Mar in central California.

By the end of the weekend, Morgan and Poppy have convinced Lilly she is better off without her ex-boyfriend, Robert. They also have persuaded her to leave Sara Lang behind and start designing on her own. Lilly breaks the news to Nana, her grandmother, who has taken care of her since she was born. Nana is not happy with Lilly’s plans, since she sold her home to finance Lilly’s education.

Despite Nana’s misgivings, Lilly starts to put together her design business in her apartment. Soon it all conveniently falls together. Her former co-worker and roommate, Kim, offers to computerized her designs and print the patterns. Her neighbor, Nate, offers to invest in computers for Lilly’s business. Lilly then receives a call from Sara Lang, who gives her a $20,000 business loan. Morgan lends support by telling Lilly she is engaged and needs her to design her wedding gown.

Lilly is more upset with Morgan’s news and soon finds out her personal life affects her creativity and her business, just when deadlines for her work are approaching.

This novel is a very light, and somewhat entertaining read. Character development of Lilly is not lacking, however, you may find her personality irritating. She is overly concerned about her “big hair” and can’t seem to let go of the fact that she has a useless MBA, wants to be a famous designer, yet covets the lifestyles of her more successful friends. Another disconcerting facet is that Lilly makes several references to that fact the she would not date anyone who was not a Christian. Ms. Billerbeck’s storyline holds no surprises; this is a very predictable read. Perhaps other readers will enjoy this novel more than I did, do give it a try, especially if you are looking for an inspirational story to fill a quiet afternoon.

 

Reviewed by Charlene McConnell

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