The Sinful Life of Lucy Burns by Elizabeth Leiknes

Pages (Hardcover): 167 pages

Publisher: Bancroft Press

Released: June 15, 2009

Quick Thoughts: This is a small book. Probably won't take me anymore than an hour to read. The premise is what interested me in wanting to read this book, something about people selling their souls sounds like a fun reading time to me. But it's a small book.

Review: When Lucy was a child, her sister was in a terrible accident and fell into a coma. The situation looks dire, so Lucy rushes home and writes a letter 'To whom it may concern,' pleading for them to save the life of her sister. Sure enough, the letter is answered and Lucy's sister gets better. Things are great, until Lucy realizes what exactly happened and once she does her life will never be the same.

Years later, Lucy, now a facilitator to Hell, sends bad people away to her basement. The job provides her with beauty, money, almost anything she could ever want or ask for, except a real life with friends and family. Something Lucy craves and wants. It isn't until a meeting with her singing idol that Lucy finally takes the initiative and tries to get out of her contract. The loophole she finds may be a blessing and would enable her to have the life she always dreamed of, but if she fails, well let's just say that she'll be taking a trip downstairs and not coming back.

The Sinful Life of Lucy Burns is funny, charming, and a surprisingly sweet story. The way she got herself entangled into this situation isn't a bad one. She did, what I would assume, many children would do if their friend or family member was in critical condition with no hope of surviving.

Also, the fact that Lucy doesn't age, is beautiful, and can have anything she wants, yet is still depressed about her life is, well depressing. Material wealth may make one happy for a moment, but at the expense of losing loved ones it seems like such a bum deal. This was one of the many reasons why it was so easy to root for Lucy.

This being a supernatural chic-lit means that there is some romance in the novel, but I liked that it wasn't so overly played and the main thing about the novel. It's nice Lucy found someone though.

Final Thoughts: I was nervous when I realized how short The Sinful Life of Lucy Burns is, but my worry left the minute I started to read it. It's charming, funny, and you can't help but smile while reading this. Lucy is a wonderful character and you can't help but root for her to get out of this contract and live a normal life. I do wish this novel was bigger though and we saw more of Lucy's life growing up and her job, but what can you do.

This is a lovely book that is a must read!

Grade: 9.5 out of 10

Enjoy the smaller things in life, then check out the smaller version of this review at 5 Line Reviews