Book Review: Stone, At Your Service by Rie Warren

Best known for her edgy yaoi romances, author Rie Warren tries her hand in romantic comedy and passes it with flying colors.

And with the bulk of the story happening in a romance writer’s convention, “Stone: At Your Service” also became part satire, part comedy, part drama, making it a delightful read, no matter how you slice it.

Told from the point of view of Josh Stone, the sweetness usually associated in a romantic comedy had been replaced with the harder edge of male humor. And because Josh is clueless at times (think of Ben Stiller’s Zoolander ), he gets into situations that can only be described as a comedy of errors.

But, Josh is not the only colorful character in the story. His best friend Nicky Love, Josh’s love interest, Leelee Songchild and the Hens, the group of romance writers that Nicky belongs to, can give peacocks a run for their money. From serious to hilarious then serious again, the scenes at the Romance Writers Convention reminds me of “ Prêt-à-Porter (aka Ready to Wear)”, Robert Altman’s satire about the fashion scene in Paris.

At 290 pages, you can actually finish Stone: At Your Service in one sitting. And I would have, but I could not. Josh had me laughing so much that I actually had to stop reading!

A great read! If you are a fashionista, think of Zoolander meets Prêt-à-Porter meets The Devil Wears Prada. It’s that good!

But fair warning; don’t start the book when you are getting ready for bed because it will keep you awake! You will want to finish it or at least get as far as you can before sleep finally takes you.

“Stone: At Your Service” is Rated M for Mature due to sexual content, language and adult situations.