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Author: Laramie Dunaway

ISBN: 9780979372025 

Publisher: Iota Publishing

Borrowed Lives, by Laramie Dunaway is a sinfully clever tale. Issued for a reprint in October of 2008, the first edition was published in 1992. I find the author’s story almost as intriguing as the book. Laramie Dunaway, a pseudonym for Raymond Obstfeld, has written over forty other books and screenplays. He teaches creative writing at Orange Coast College and is a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest magazine. He is a New York Times and Los Angeles Times bestseller for a previous publication. He was also nominated for an Edgar Award. He created the pen name, Laramie Dunaway, for this series out of fear he would not be taken seriously as a man writing as a woman. He quote, “came clean”, with this edition. He resides in Tustin, California with his family.

Luna Devon finds herself at a stalemate. She was writing her thesis, applying for teaching positions, and in the process of a divorce. She’s timid, predictable, and boring. Her best friend, Wren Caldwell, however, is not. She’s quirky, gorgeous, and outrageously brilliant. When a bizarre shooting takes Wren’s life, Luna makes the decision to reinvent herself… as Wren! Taking the position as a journalist for a trendy California magazine and beginning a romance with a man who just wants her to be herself, Luna aka Wren is in deeper than she imagined. Her ex, Byron shows up ready to go along with the scam. She falls in with a group of ecological terrorists. Her father has taken a preteen Indian medicine woman for his new wife. Luna swiftly discovers her life is the stuff movies are made of.

As with most reprints, the book is a bit outdated with current styles and events. It also had several grammatical errors, but I had the galley copy and expect these will be corrected before publication. 

 Laramie Dunaway skillfully creates a masterpiece of intelligence, humor, and intrigue with Borrowed Lives. The characters were relatable and believable. There were aspects of the book that the reader will know is coming, such as the shooting in the beginning of the book. However, the author puts such a spin on it that you can’t help but feel shocked anyhow. Even the twists had twists. The writing style of this miraculous story is so unique that it’s impossible to put down and draws you in at the first chapter. Borrowed Lives is a sassy, brazen, and witty story, sure to entertain any audience.