Contemporary
The Immaculate Complexion
By Dottie
May 1, 2007 - 9:59:00 AM

Marnie Marnes is hired by Cross Temps although she failed her skills tests miserably.  She is sent on an assignment to LeVigne Cosmetics.  Marnie quits this job several times, but Cross Temps keeps offering her incentives to stay because they can’t find anyone else to work for LeVigne.  She accepts these incentives because she is unable to find work elsewhere without skills.   

Paul works in the cheese department of a gourmet shop.  His one obsession is cheese.  Although he really cares for Marnie, he seems unable to get over his ex, Kendra, with whom he shares custody of a cat.  This is a real problem for Marnie although she really loves Paul.  How will he feel when he finds out she is lactose intolerant and does not like cheese at all?  

At work Marnie encounters many challenges.  At one point Marnie’s boss places her in charge of an advertisement gimmick, using doves as carrier pigeons.  The doves are supposed to carry LeVigne’s new product. However, when Marnie decides to use actual carrier pigeons powdered white to resemble doves, the outcome is unbelievable.

I enjoyed reading THE IMMACULATE COMPLEXION.  It is a modern, humorous chicklit love story that delves into the inner workings of a cosmetic company in an extreme manner.  The secondary characters are a little peculiar, but seem to fit right in with the cosmetic company.  These quirky characters show the bizarre measures that people will take to maintain/recapture their youth.  The two main characters, Paul and Marnie, have many secrets to disclose and problems to overcome to be together.  It is interesting to see how they handle their situation.  “The Immaculate Complexion” is witty, outrageous and totally enjoyable.