You would think that someone in journalism would be able to sniff out a media blitz from thousands of miles away, but not me. I am here to tell you that I was duped. 

After I read about Holly Peterson's "The Manny" on USA Today and saw an interview with her by Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America, I practically couldn't contain myself before I had a chance to swipe it off the shelf at Target. (I have a soft spot for good chick lit - especially those stories set in the Big Apple).

So I got all settled in to read about the juicy behind the scenes of the Park Avenue elite and to feast my eyes on a racy affair between a Fifth Avenue Fox and a manny. After all, these are the wonderous things I was promised.

Peterson got something like a $1 million advance for her first two books. And "The Manny" was optioned for a movie before it was even released. She must be good, right?

WRONG. She must have the right connections, is more like it.

Judy Blume wrote racier stuff than this (which makes me think that Diane Sawyer - who gushed over her writings - either has not read the book or has not read any fiction in a long, LONG, time). And as for getting a glimpse into the life of the ultra rich - well even that was dissapointingly cliche.

The main character, Jamie Whitfield, who hails from "normalizing Minneapolis," tries to resist falling into the trappings of the ultra-rich even though her husband pulls down a cool $1.5 million and they have "staff." She has a career (part-time mind you so she can be there to pick the kids up with the nanny and the manny two days a week) and she doesn't have designers lining up to give her clothes to wear to important functions. Those two factors make her an outcast among those who need only fill their days with shopping and staying taut).

Still, Jamie is able to offer a young 20-something with no credentials an eye-catching salary to entice him to come over and play with her son on a regular basis (because her husband is too busy and she can't rough-house with him like he needs).

Suddenly, with the manny around the house, Jamie is self-conscious about her lifestyle - mostly because the manny (who is from the alternative universe of Colorado) thinks she is just as caught up in her image as everyone around her. Jamie can't help but strive for acceptance from the attractive young man. Ugh.

I assume that Peterson, who herself is the daughter of a billionaire, called in every favor she had to get this book on everyone's radar. I'm sure the blitz did exactly what it was supposed to do - sell books to suckers like me. Too bad for Peterson, though, as I won't be coming back for her sequel or lining up to see the movie.