S. A. Marano's novel "Mafia Chick" is tough-talking and catches the atmosphere of the mafiosa and how a seemingly innocent girl can get caught up with what's in the 'hood. The beginning could use a sauna sit to lose the fat as in all the adjectives. Things felt forced at first but once Marano-san hit her stride I became more engrossed in Donna and her cronies with their central casting names, e.g., Gino, Frankie and mention of the Cosa Nostra -- all familiar ground. The Studio 54 with big names dropped from Andy Warhol to Elton John caught the spirit of those times. And there's some hard earned truths and apt descriptions as in people being "like a wave you can surf or a wave that can pull you under." As she learns to polish her prose going forward this is a writer who will rock your socks. Worth a look! ericmadeen dot com Yokohama