Bachelor Degree
by Judith Marks-White
Published by Ballantine Books
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Reviewed by Debra Kiefat
New York City is a mecca for extraordinary restaurants offering sumptuous meals, brilliant artists showcasing their dazzling pieces of fine art and hot available bachelors who can flip the heart of a woman, regardless her age.
Judith Marks-White, in her second novel, takes you on a lavish tour through New York’s haute’ couture houses in Bachelor Degree. It is in this setting that Samantha Krasner, an art gallery director and her twice-widowed mother, Madeleine Krasner-Wolfe, are looking for their Bachelor Degrees, i.e.: a man who is available, has a solid career and would be considered marriage material.
Blake Hamilton, a new rising star of the art world, arrives from England to showcase his work for a November show at Cole Galleries. Samantha is smitten with Blake’s sex appeal and humor and Madeleine begins a campaign to ensure Blake becomes a son-in-law, while the owner of Cole Gallery, Alexandra Cole, wants him as a boy-toy. As the whirlwind of ambition, money and prestige swirls around Blake’s amazing show, the truth about his past begins to unravel, making Samantha step back with suspicion.
Ms. Marks-White is a very good writer, however several things stood out to me. The book’s page states that Madeleine is twice divorced, however the story clearly depicts her as a widow and how both her of husbands died. Also, she writes in detail about lust but I did not get that emotional feeling of ‘love’ from these characters.
So my question is, since Samantha married a good man at the end of the story, why wasn’t that relationship fleshed out. The ending could have been better. As it was it left me unimpressed.
Armchair Interviews says: A nice light read that could have been a better read with some editing for facts and clarity.