Star Struck by Jane Lovering

Skye Threppel was in a horrific car accident that took the lives of her fiancé and best friend, and left Skye without all her memory. Skye has more than physical scars to remind her of the accident – she has the internal ones that haunt her as well. The memories that have been lost, the confidence that was stolen, and a new life that she is trying to adjust to. Felix, her best friend’s brother who is also still trying to deal with the accident and death of his sister, suggest the two of them head to Nevada where a TV convention is being held. Skye has the chance to meet her favorite actor, and possibly the trip could help the both of them move on. But once there, Skye meets sci-fi writer Jack Whitaker, and a possible romance blooms. But will Skye be able to overcome Jack’s past? And when Skye is suddenly filled in on her own past and the way she was before the accident, everything changes.

As I was reading Star Struck by Jane Lovering, I didn’t quite know what to think. I really liked Skye as a main character, I thought she was nice girl that went through something terrible and I thought she was brave and relatable on some level. Felix I wasn’t quite sure what to make of.  A raging sexpot ready to jump in bed with either man or woman, and sometimes I wasn’t sure how good of a friend he was to Skye. The romance between Skye and Jack was pretty hot, but when the big plot twist came, I again just didn’t know what to think. When Felix confronts Skye about her past, it’s actually very dark and downright depressing. I was a little put off with Felix and the whole revelation, not sure which direction I was about to be taken in. But in the end, Lovering did a great job at pulling me back in, keeping the suspense up, and giving a proper resolution to all the characters. This book was a bit of a roller-coaster to me, but overall the story stuck with me and I would recommend.

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Build a Man by Talli Roland

Talli Roland is rapidly running up my ladder of favorite authors. I couldn’t wait to read the latest from her, Build a Man, and am grateful she keeps sending copies my way! This story follows Serenity Holland, an American living across the Pond and working as receptionist at her boyfriend’s cosmetic surgery clinic. She really has dreams of being a tabloid reporter, and she is trying desperately to get noticed from a magazine. It is at the clinic that she meets Jeremy Ritchie, a man determined to have a complete transformation. Jeremy wants plastic surgery from head to toe to make over who he has become, and Serenity’s boyfriend Peter is just the man for the job. Serenity catches of the eye of a tabloid with her story about Jeremy––a man so obsessed with plastic surgery––and finally lands a chance to become a real writer! But will going undercover work in Serenity’s favor, or will she watch everything fall apart?

I am happy to put Build a Man on my Favorites List and give it a whopping five stars! Roland has everything right in this story––a sweet but confused heroine, a gripping plot, and lots of laugh along the way. I was invested from the beginning, and had to see how Serenity and Jeremy’s story played out. The only gripe I was about to have was that it ended too quickly––I felt that Serenity and Jeremy were only just beginning when the story came to an end, but then I saw there is a sequel––hurray! If you haven’t read anything yet from Roland, get her on your list!

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Diary of a Mummy Misfit by Amanda Egan

Libby Marchant and husband Ned are bound and determined to give their only child, son Max, a prestigious education. They work diligently to be able to get him accepted by Manor House Prep School––whether they truly can afford it or not. Once accepted, Libby realizes that maybe prep school isn’t the best place for her. The other moms are first class snobs, she immediately feels out of place, and the competition between the other mothers is chart-topping. Libby befriends Fenella Hunter-Barnes, a rich mother but who is down to earth at the same time. Libby and Fenella easily become fast friends, and team up against the other parents while trying to survive prep school together.

I had a lot of fun reading Diary of a Mummy Misfit by Amanda Egan. I will say that the British slang sometimes left me baffled. I even tried googling a few of the sentences so I could get the full humor, but eventually had to quit because it happened so often. Other than that, I loved Libby’s character––always slightly off-balanced but a loving wife and mother who is just trying to do the best for her son. The friendship she has with Fenella is hysterical. Egan’s writing it quick and witty, filled with humorous tales and quirky scenarios.  A really fun chick lit read that I would recommend!

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Single in the City by Michele Gorman

I was really looking forward to reading Single in the City by Michele Gorman, but actually found myself a bit disappointed. The main character is Hannah Cumming, a 26 year old American who decides she needs an adventure, to really live life, and one drunken night buys a plane ticket to London. Heading across the Pond without a job lined up or a place to live, Hannah experiences multiple difficulties while trying to adjust. Along the way, she sleeps with her married boss, finds a roommate solution with some half-naked Aussies, almost destroys her up and coming career as a party planner, and finally falls in love. The situations Hannah finds herself in are quite funny, and the one liners did make me smile throughout. Sounds like a fun and engaging chick lit novel.

So why was I disappointed? For starters, I like fast-paced books. I like the plot moving along and characters going from point A to point L in just a few pages. But with Single in the City, I think the plot was just a tad too fast. Multiple times I had to flip back pages to understand why the characters were doing and saying what they were doing and saying. The skipping around gave me a headache. Another aspect I didn’t like was when Hannah finally finds love, she almost seems to lose her own identity, and is willing to drop her new life she has created for this guy. The sense of individuality and confidence that I saw the heroine creating throughout the story suddenly vanishes. I did appreciate the humor and the descriptions of seeing London through an American’s eyes, but this is definitely not a favorite of mine. I would still recommend Single in the City for the humor and hopefully some can take an independent can-do attitude away from the Hannah’s story.

Rating: 3.5

 

**Note: This book has also been rewritten for the US launch. Please read Michele’s thought below.**

I’m very lucky to have had a year of reviews from so many readers, which allowed me to see what they liked and didn’t like about the book. For example several readers would have liked to see less drinking … since that wasn’t an important feature of the story I toned it down (though we do like a tipple over here!). Hannah is also a bit more of a rounded character now, and I’ve deepened the scene settings to give a stronger sense of place – it’s a bit more descriptive. The other change I made has to do with my evolution as a writer. I like an episodic style but that can sometimes go a bit fast. The book I wrote after Single in the City was less episodic, so I applied the adapted style to the rewrite too. I also took out the footnotes that explained American/British differences (they were aimed at British readers to explain some of our more peculiar habits).

 

Finally, I ‘translated’ it into American. This may sound easy but having written in English now for nearly 10 years, it was as slow process. Spelling was fairly straightforward thanks to spell check but the different words for things sometimes tripped me up. Luckily kind American friends helped me when I got stuck! English and American are definitely different dialects, something I only realised (the hard way!) when I moved to London.

Sophie’s Turn by Nicky Wells

Sophie Penhalligan isn’t a slapper. Or at least she wasn’t before. Before Dan came back in her life. Dan, the hunky rock star of the band Tusk, the man that made her teenage self go weak in the knees. Who knew he would still have the same power over her as a grown adult? A woman engaged to be married to another man? Sophie can’t believe she lets herself carry on an affair with Dan. But maybe if she were happier with Tim. If Tim wasn’t always so uptight. If Tim let Sophie have her wild side back. But can Sophie really blame everything on Tim? Is she a slapper, an adulteress- or just a woman confused and looking for love?

I adored Sophie’s Turn by Nicky Wells. While Sophie could have came off a lot worse- an uncaring bitch that cheats on her fiancée- she didn’t. Wells spins her story with a delicate hand that will have readers cheering Sophie on throughout the entire book. I felt Sophie’s confusion, her hesitance to spark up anything with Dan, her dismay at her betrayal to Tim. This was such a real book, with a real woman in a very confusing situation. On one hand, she has a rock star willing to sweep her off her feet, make all her dreams come true. On the other hand, she has Tim- the stable guy who will make her happy enough throughout life. How can she choose? I was pleasantly surprised when she did make her decision at the end- but no spoilers here! I will say that I thought it suited Sophie perfectly, and made for a great –and again, real- story. Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book. A definite must read for chick lit fans!

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It’s A Man’s World by Polly Courtney

Sometimes, I come across a book that I’m just not sure what I’ll say in my review. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate. Some scenes pulled me in, others pushed me away. Sometimes I was laughing out loud, other times I was baffled. And that is precisely what It’s a Man’s World by Polly Courtney did to me. The story revolves around workaholic Alexa Harris as she steps into Banter- the gentleman’s magazine that showcases naked girls. Alexa’s job is to drive up the sales and implement new and fresh ideas so Banter doesn’t go under. She knows she is in for a challenge, switching from working with all women to all men- men who stare at naked women all day and think very little of their new female colleague. Alexa has to juggle her career, love life, and protests that come along with her position and lads’ magazines in general.

So, why am I so confused as to my thoughts on the book? For starters, Alexa is often talked about being a strong female, a trait someone would surely need to work with a bunch of frat-boy men in the Banter setting. Alexa goes from me being strong and putting the guys in their place, to allowing sexual harassment to occur to her and others without saying a word about it. That was a little strange, I felt like I never knew which side of Alexa I was going to get. Then there was her boyfriend, who to me seemed like a decent guy. Until the end of the book where Alexa suddenly realizes how controlling he was- but readers never really see that part of him. I thought that he was a great and decent guy all along, and was actually waiting for them to get back together. Those are just a few of the head scratching moments I had.

On the other hand, there were times were I was really drawn into the story, and wanted to find out what happened next. I enjoyed Alexa’s two best friends and their dramas they were going through. The lone other female that worked at Banter, Selena, was interesting to read about as well. I was never quite sure what she was up to, and it was nice seeing how her story played out at the end. So there were parts that I enjoyed reading as well. Overall, I think most chick lit readers would be able to appreciate the story and the characters that Courtney has come up with. I just felt like I was too back and forth on the book to be able to really get lost in the story.

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Watching Willow Watts by Talli Roland

Willow Watts was just starting to make something of herself when everything changed. She was living in London, working to become a well-known florist, happy with her boyfriend and her life, when her mother passed away. Willow felt she didn’t have any other choice but to move home to the village she grew up in to watch after her father and his failing antique shop. She lost her wonderful boyfriend, her budding career, and a little piece of herself after moving back home. Her once thriving life had become mundane, even with her best friend Paula to keep her company. But Willow’s life gets turned upside down after a video of her dressed as Marilyn Monroe hits YouTube. She becomes an instant sensation, and even has a hot shot agent from the big city knocking on her door. Will Willow be able to handle the pressure that comes with fame?

I had a lot of fun and many laughs while reading Watching Willow Watts by Talli Roland. With so much of our society now focused on celebrities- and people becoming famous for no real reason- I thought this book really showcased how that can happen, and what a person feels like when the fame and attention is unwanted. Willow is such a shy girl, who really just wants to help her father, his business, and make an honorable dollar. But the lure of money and being able to pay off the business debts is one that she simply can’t ignore. I think that is something many would be able to relate to. I did enjoy that while most of the book is from Willow’s perspective, readers will also get to dive into Willow’s agents mind as well- the slimy Jay. Watching Willow Watts is made up of a bevy of fun and interesting characters, which made this book interesting to read throughout. Light-hearted, humorous, and a sweet happy ending made me a happy reader!

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Love and Freedom by Sue Moorcroft

Honor Sontag has always done the right thing. Plays by the rules, is fair, does what is expected of her. But when she is pushed too far, she flees her home in Connecticut and heads to England in search of her birth mother, and some much needed clarity. While there, she befriends her landlord’s family, especially the only male among the bunch, Martyn Mayfair. While sparks fly between Honor and Martyn, both hold back for different reasons. Martyn has been hurt in the past before, and Honor, well she is still legally married. Their romance is thrown other hurdles- Martyn’s stalker that happens to be Honor’s new boss, Martyn’s career as a hottie underwear model, and Honor’s secrets that she is keeping hidden from Martyn. Can Honor finally find her love and freedom in England? Or will always doing the right thing keep her from Martyn and a chance at true happiness?

Love and Freedom is a really sweet romance from Sue Moorcroft. I had a lot of fun reading the British terms and getting to know both Honor and Martyn. Honor is the perfect heroine- a good person with a big heart but riddled with flaws and confusion, not sure which way to turn. I thought the beginning was just a touch too slow, and I was a little hesitant about where the story would lead me. But after just a few chapters I was hooked, and there are some stunning bombshells that are dropped along the way that made my mouth drop open. This was a great romance with a lot of drama built in, and I think chick lit readers will appreciate the plot and the characters that are along for the ride.

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Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow by Claudia Carroll

Annie and Dan have been the perfect couple for so long. But what happens when the honeymoon is over, the romance starts to wear off, and your husband seems to be married to his job more than you? That’s the way Annie is feeling, and is increasingly unhappy as the lonely days go by. Dan seems to put everyone and everything in front of his wife, so when Annie gets a huge opportunity, she wants, no needs, to take it. Annie is offered a spot on a Broadway show, a huge break for her, but it would mean leaving Dan behind for a whole year in their Irish village of Stickens, and living alone in the Big Apple. When the final straw pushes Annie over the edge, she flees Stickens and lands in New York, ready for a break from her marriage. But will a year apart be good for Annie and Dan? Or will it only lead to the demise of their union?

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow by Claudia Carroll is an enjoyable chick lit read. I really felt Annie’s pain in how often she was put on the back burner by her husband, and was rooting for her to get to New York and be her own person. I liked reading about someone struggling to find their independence, because I can relate to that pretty easily. Annie meets a great cast of characters when she gets to New York, and there is quite the subplot going with a cast mate who has a drug problem. I really didn’t know how this story was going to end. I couldn’t decide if I thought Annie and Dan would get back together, or if Annie would find a new man in New York. That made me more on edge to finish the book quickly and see how everything played out. Overall, I really liked this story, a bit slow at times, but a fun chick lit read that I think will inspire readers to never rely too heavily on a man. I would recommend!

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The Perfect Hero by Victoria Connelly

Kay Ashton, a die-hard romantic waiting for her Mr. Darcy to come along, receives an inheritance after her friend Peggy passes away. Kay decides to buy a property on Lyme Regis and turn it into a cozy Bed and Breakfast. The first guests? Why only the cast members of `Persuasion’ and Kay gets to rub elbows with some famous actors- including the gorgeous Oli Wade Owen. Kay is sure she has met her Mr. Right- after all, Oli is playing the lead in the movie. But Adam, the writer and producer, has fallen for Kay. But Kay thinks Adam has taken a liking to Gemma, the shy lead actress. Kay makes it her mission to bring together Adam and Gemma, while Adam tries to confess his true feelings, while Kay tries to make herself irresistible to Oli.

The Perfect Hero by Victoria Connelly is a sweet romance story filled with wrong turns and too many assumptions. I did like this story, but it was a bit too slow for me to really get into. Kay was a nice heroine, a lonesome girl who is just looking for her happy ending, but she spent most of her time daydreaming and in her own little bubble than with reality. I didn’t get the attraction to Oli Wade Owen, it was very clear that he was a player and had some secrets going on. On that note, I liked the surprise at the end regarding his character. Adam was a doll and Gemma was very sweet, though painfully shy. I didn’t really understand why she was acting when she clearly didn’t enjoy it and didn’t like the attention. That was confusing. This was still a cute romance, and there are some great scenic descriptions in there, but it missed the mark for me by just a bit. I think fans of light romances will enjoy it though.

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