Latte Lessons

Claire's comfortable, moderately caffeinated routine gets a double-espresso jolt when she's given the assignment of promoting an up-and-coming pop band. Suddenly everything is a tad more complicated, and a lot more fun.

Linda Lenhoff's debut novel, "Life C la Mode, was hailed as "delightful" ("County Times) and "zesty" (Wendy Markham). Now, she serves up an equally satisfying slice of life as a single girl in "Latte Lessons, the sometimes bitter and sometimes sweet chronicles of thirty-year old Claire Duncan. She loves her job as a copywriter at a small Venice Beach advertising and promotion agency--"even though it's not making her much money. She loves her hemp drawstring capris--"even though they're not getting her any dates. And she loves her mother--"who in turn despairs of ever having grandchildren. But Claire's comfortable, moderately caffeinated routine gets a double-espresso jolt when she's given the assignment of promoting and up-and-coming pop band. Heartthrob needs a change of image. And lead guitarist Brendan Baker has Claire rethinking her don't-date-the-clients-no-matter-how-hot-they-are rule. His earnest brown-eyed gaze makes her feel like an underwear-throwing groupie. Which is quite below her, if you ask her co-worker Dennis--"whose own revived love life leaves something to be desired, if you ask Claire. Suddenly--"and quite accidentally--"Claire has become someone to whom cute twenty-something boys (as well as guy pals and ex-boyfriends) are attracted, and everything has become just a tad more complicated than before. Not to mention a hell of a lot more fun...