Synopsis

On the eve of her high school graduation, proper socialite Francesca “Frankie” Fairholm rebelled against her elitist and controlling family to pursue the dark lifestyle of a contract killer for the enigmatic Osiris Corporation. Years later, with her training complete, she believes she’s doomed to the life of a sociopathic lone gun until a botched hit brings two unlikely allies, her cousins Addison and Katharine.

Using Katharine’s etiquette school, Elegance, Inc., as a front, the trio weave through Frankie’s dark underworld, carrying out contracts, drinking too much wine, and trying not to get each other killed.

Trouble follows the team home when the death of the cruel Fairholm matriarch reveals more than they ever wanted to know about their family. As the funeral preparations play out, the trio begin to realize there is much more to their employer than meets the eye and their family connections run deeper than they ever imagined.

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Review

ELEGANTLY WASTED is a lot of things. Funny. Clever. Self-deprecating. It’s as if The Godfather mated with Grosse Pointe Blank and rolled around in a Judy Blume novel. Regardless of any comparisons drawn, ELEGANTLY WASTED is a unique delight in a sea of popular and new adult fiction.

There’s just something about Frankie you can’t stop loving in spite of one little issue. She’s a contract killer. A gun for hire. A murderer.

She’s conflicted about any number of things…just not about killing people. After escaping her wealthy, dysfunctional family to train as a killer, Frankie is happily learning her craft. She’s trained by an odd duo of men (the kind you don’t take home to Mother) who make sure she makes her mark and gets out alive. She’s a natural, making kill after kill. And…then she has one bad night and ends up back in Arizona with the family she’s so grateful to be away from. After various turns of events, she’s no longer a lone gun and must make room in her solitary killing existence for other people. Not JUST people, but family.

The Fairholm’s family secrets unfold in a delicious fashion, especially after the 70% mark. When it all comes to a head, the new story evolves in time for the recently published sequel, UNCONTROLLABLY WASTED. Make no mistake…ELEGANTLY WASTED is story with a satisfying ending. You could stop now, but I can’t imagine you’ll want to.

Mad props to the author, C. Elizabeth Vescio. First, anyone who borrows a book title from INXS is a soul sister of mine. Pop culture references abound, leaving me loving her the same way I love Tara Sivec and Alice Clayton. If Suicide Blonde is the color of your hair or you’re known to shock me, shock me, shock me with an Empire Records line from time to time, you’re in the right place. Vescio’s other life as a graphic artist serves her well. Her Wasted Series webpage is sharp, gorgeous, and sets just the right tone. Check it out.

5 stars

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Find C. Elizabeth Vescio and ELEGANTLY WASTED on the interwebz

Series Website

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Author Goodreads

Elegantly Wasted Goodreads

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Click HERE to enter to win all kinds of fabulousness, including:

• $20 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of ELEGANTLY WASTED (1 winner)
• Original artwork illustrated poster (12×17) of ELEGANTLY WASTED and a signed paperback (1 winner)
• 3 (5×7) character cards and a digital  ebook copy of ELEGANTLY WASTED (5 winners)

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