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By: Maria Murnane
ISBN: 9781477849934
Publisher:  Lake Union Publishing 
Publication Date:  08/12/14
Format: Paperback 
My Rating:  4 Stars  
 
A special thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
 
Maria Murnane’s KATWALK, features Katrina, a single insecure, shy gal living a sheltered and boring life as an accountant. When she takes a risk and steps out of her comfort zone, she discovers an entire new world is waiting, which will change the course of her life.
 
A novel of self-discovery, where Katrina (Kat), learns to be true to herself for a life of fulfillment, versus always trying to make others happy.
 
Katrina has a nice job in Silicon Valley, California with controlling parents. They are all about financial security, careers, and the safe life. Katrina wants more in life and desires to explore her options. When her girlfriend Deb, talks her into quitting her job, and moving cross country to New York, for a few months—stepping out of her safe protected environment, she agrees.
 
At the last minute Deb backs out when she receives a promotion at work. Katrina decides to go alone, since the sublet is already paid for. Her parents think she is out of her mind and offering no support, harassing her about finding a job. However, from the time Katrina steps into the cab and arrives at the brownstone, life as she has known in the past, begins to change.
 
She meets two gal neighbors, and reconnects with her old roommate. She finds she loves the energy of the city, the coffee shops, the culture, nightlife, the social interaction, begins yoga, meeting men, and finds the new clothes offer her more confidence. As she begins to develop new friendships, and finds her creativity, she gets back into painting, which she has always loved.
 
For the first time she is excited about the future, whether success or fail, as she is passionate about her ideas. Even if her parents do not support her, she has a business plan, combining the talents of her friends; a yoga, coffee house, art gallery, and jewelry in a quaint location of Brooklyn Heights, NY. She finally takes a stand against her parents, and gives up trying to make others happy, choosing a life of fulfillment and in the process meets a love interest.
 
A light fun and inspiring chick-lit of reinvention; being true to one’s self as one young woman, matures and broadens her world with new and exciting adventures. 
 
Would love to see a different front cover, as the current one is kind of cutesy; whereas the content lends itself to a little more New York sophistication, with possibly a quaint storefront gallery, with outdoor bistro tables, coffee, art, wine, etc… to draw in the reader on an emotional level to coincide with the overall theme. I felt KATWALK was a little more grown up than the cover, depicted and may appeal to wider audience.