I haven't read much chick lit, let alone chick lit featuring protagonists who speak to their guardian angels, so I'm fairly certain Jane Lebak has created her own genre. And you know what? It's awesome.

Oh this cover is TOO CUTE!

Honest and for True (HAFT for short) is the first in the adventures of Lee and her guardian angel Bucky. Although Lee loves working as an auto mechanic, she has a teency problem with lying about it to the guys she dates, crafting a new story for each person she runs into. Bucky can't stand the lies and he tries to get her to come clean before it's too late.

You know it's always gonna be too late. So while as a reader, we know this little problem is going to blow up in her face, it still hurts like hell once it does. By the time the conflict comes to a head, I'm totally invested in Lee's life and her amazing relationship with the unseen angel. Lee and Bucky are both hilarious, making sarcastic jokes at the drop of a hat, and Lee's voice is really engaging and fun to read. The relationships between Lee and her roommate, mother, niece, boyfriends, and especially Bucky, come across genuine and heartfelt. I like for a book to draw me in deep, and HAFT nailed it.

There's funny parts, sad parts, tense parts, and heartwarming parts. Plus, it has the most amazing toilet-repair scene you've ever read. Essentially, if a book can get me to cry and/or genuinely FEEL for the main character, it's a 5-star. Here you go Bucky, take your stars and share 'em with Lee.

I have enjoyed all the books I have read by Jane Lebak. I like that they she does not use foul language and keeps you interested.

Some books have characters that draw you in immediately. That's the case with Lee from "Honest and for True." She's a 29-year-old mechanic who continuously lies about her job. Only her immediate family, her roommate, and her guardian angel know what she does for a living. The weird thing is, she loves her job, but she can't seem to quit lying about it.

About the guardian angel: her relationship with her guardian angel is terrific. Bucky is a wonderful character in his own right. Lee can see and hear him though no one else can. He helps her get out of scrapes, gives advice, and is hopelessly addicted to Fleetwood Mac.

You have to love Lee and root for her to find what makes her happy--and to find love.

We all tell little white lie to feel better or protect someone. Lee does this about her job and it leads to serious results ... she made me laugh and cry and I love her guardian angel Bucky . Had to stay up till after midnight because I had to see what would happen at Avery. Hope this helps you decide you like to read it too.

Someone (I don’t remember who) once said that good humor needs the contrast of disaster to be really good. Jane Lebak handles this imaginative, ‘can’t-put-it-down’ tale with that ideal mix.

Lebak’s heroine, a New York resident, Lee is nearing thirty years old, the age her mother says will doom her to never marrying. Lee’s mother regularly sends Lee’s resume to employers, obtains a job for her daughter, and sends a resignation to Lee’s employer, Max. Lee loves her job as an auto mechanic and is exceptionally good at it.

But whenever she meets an eligible guy, she lies to them about her occupation. Lee’s guardian angel, Bucky, whom she can see and has conversed with since early childhood, pushes Lee to tell the truth.

Naturally, her lies eventually ruin romance with the one guy she’d like to date regularly.

Meanwhile, Lee is mentoring her niece, Avery, who is harassed by a cliché at the private high school she attends. Avery provides the possible disaster on a night where Lee thinks she’s doing a good deed.

The way Lee finally impresses the guy she likes best will have women who believe we can do anything chuckling and cheering.

This is the first book I’ve read by Jane Lebak, but it won’t be the last. What drew me to the book was the cover (Yes, I do judge books by their covers.) and the element of humor. I was in the mood for something funny, and this book delivered.

I really liked Lee’s carefree and spunky personality. Over the course of the book, I really felt like I knew her because the book is so well written. It’s not just Lee that the reader gets to know. We have pretty good insight to Beth, Avery, and Hal as well. There were parts of the book that had me chuckling and parts that had me in tears.

I’ve never read a book with a character like Bucky. Reading about angels really made me stop and think about guardian angels. The only problem I would have with being able to speak with our guardian angels is that we probably wouldn’t have a close relationship with God. Bucky was a cool part of Lee’s life, and it seemed like it could be real, too. It wasn’t written like a far-out fantasy novel. Reading about Bucky was biblical without being religious, dogmatic, or pushy. Instead, it was thought-provoking, inventive and fresh.

There is some conflict between Lee and other characters. With the variety of conflicts, we see other sides of Lee, and I wanted to know what happened next with each of the relationships. The book was pretty fast paced, and I didn’t want to put it down. Yes, I lost sleep reading this book.

Anyone who likes angels, non-traditional female characters, and humor mixed with serious issues will enjoy this book. It’s not a comedy, but the characters are funny at times. There is one four lettered f-word (Hint: The word is not “free.”) that might offend some readers, but it’s only once, and it’s toward the end. Other than that, this book is appropriate for conservative readers.

Thanks to Jane Lebak, Goodreads First Reads, and Philangelus Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Pros: Funny, thought-provoking, and fun

Cons: One four lettered word

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

This writer has a quirky, refreshing, hilarious writing style and I was immediately drawn in. Lee is a person who is comfortable in her skin, she just can't tell anyone about it, thinking they won't understand her. And then she meets a guy she wishes she didn't lie to. Oh, and she has a guardian angel.

A female auto mechanic who talks to angels. I enjoyed the ups and downs that Juliet experienced and will read the whole series.

A thoroughly enjoyable, and amusing tale of a woman working in a traditionally male dominated world. I would recommend it to anyone.

I had this book on pre-order the moment I realised it was coming out. I love the way Jane describes her characters (angels and humans) in other books and this one is no exception.

I cared about the characters right away and laughed out loud frequently. The main character is very relatable!

Some sleep was lost last night finishing the book because the story drew me in so thoroughly.

I recommend this book for its engaging style, it's real life situations, its sense of humour, and it's angels.

I enjoyed this book. I thought the main character was convincing and quirky, the love story similarly interesting. I'd recommend it as an unusual book in the genre