The first review for DIRTY GIRLS ON TOP is in...

...from Publisher's Weekly. More like a summary than a review, and a summary that gives away lots of plot, uses the word "Latina" way too many times, and makes a very flaccid attempt at Spanish in the opening line with "caliente chicas," not realizing, one presumes, that in Spanish the adjective comes AFTER the noun and, when then noun is plural, must also be plural ("chicas calientes," if they MUST employ the overused and insulting HOT cliche I have railed against for five long years, DEAR GOD HELP ME NOT THROW SOMETHING.) Oh well. At least it did not say the book sucked. That's always a plus.

Dirty Girls on Top
Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez. St. Martin’s, $24.95 (320p) ISBN 978-0-312-34967-7

Valdes-Rodriguez introduced these caliente chicas in 2003’s successful The Dirty Girls Social Club. Now, five years later, the sucias reunite at a New Mexico resort, and the passionate and provocative getaway signals more changes for the crew. Usnavys—a United Way executive, self-proclaimed plus-sized “manizer” and sex blogger—is married to sedate Juan, who cares for their daughter while Usnavys begins an affair. Lauren is a journalist and bulimic whose fiancé, a former drug dealer-turned music industry professional, has a little something secretly going on the side. Rebecca, a magazine publisher, has dreams of a baby with her husband, but they can’t conceive. Sara, a Latina Martha Stewart, is frightened and exhilarated by the reappearance of her abusive husband. Cuicatl, a wild Latina rock star, must face her feelings for her older manager, and a fickle public. And Elizabeth is slowly realizing her lesbian partner doesn’t want to parent their recently adopted son. Friendships are strengthened and threatened, and facets of each woman’s life crumbles while others blossom. The prose is fast and casual, and the plot moves at a fast clip. (July)

I have to tell you, I am getting mighty weary of the battle that never changes. It's almost enough to make a girl change her pen-name and move on. Maybe she already has and can't tell...