Around the World in Eighty Dates by Christa Ann Banister

1. Full title: Around the World in 80 Dates: Confessions of a Christian Serial Dater

2. Author: Christa Ann Banister

3. Publisher: NavPress

4. Copyright: 2007

5. About the Book: Syndey Alexander is a travel writer. She's a very well-dressed travel writer-hasn't yet met a shoe or clearance sale she could pass up. She's funny. She's got a great relationship with her sis. She 's got a hilarious next door neighbor, Rain , who happens to be a hippie. And she's got a wonderful relationship with God. So what's missing?

A decent date. A date she doesn't have to pay because he's "between jobs." A date where she's not fabulously fashionable read to go only to learn "the band just got a last-minute gig and he has to cancel. A date she wants to kiss good night, not run screaming from. Is that really to much to ask? (NavPress, 2007)

6. Did you like the book? Yes, I enjoyed reading this book. No need to buy a travelogue when planning a visit to Minneapolis or London. Syndey hits all the hotspots. She repeatedly mentions shopping at the Mall of America making me all jealous there's not one in every state! I just have to get there this summer. I can always window wish I could afford to shop! Speaking of Syndey...

I really liked Syndey. Sydney has a vibrant, intelligent, funny voice that I really enjoyed reading. I almost felt like Syndey had pulled up a chair next to me at a coffee shop and began to tell her story. I loved it. But then, Syndey’s first-person POV was interrupted with chapters of her friend's third-person POVs mixed in with a little omniscient POV. This often became confusing for me at times. Her friend’s stories were interesting enough and sometimes intersected with Syndey’s story, but I just wanted to hear from Sydney. With chick-lit, just give me that good ole first-person account. I’ll read about her friends in their own books and I hope there will be more books!

Christa Ann Banister is a talented new voice in chick-lit and I look forward to reading more from her.

7. Do I recommend the book? Absolutely! Not everyone shares my personal POV hang-ups.

8. Any questions for the author? Yes, when is your next book coming out? I hope more sooner than later.

9. Where will the book reside now? On my keeper shelf. Please, you know me.

(Remember this format from the now defunct Christian TBR challenge? Well, I think I'll use it from time to time. Switch things up a bit. I've seen some really good variations of this format around the blogosphere. Some bloggers ask themselves some good questions.)