Scandalous by Tilly Bagshawe

Sasha Miller had the unfortunate luck of meeting Theo Dexter. Sasha, a shy, naïve young woman, Sasha was studying at Cambridge University to become a scientist. Theo, an egotistical, seductive womanizer, convinces Sasha to embark upon an affair with him, filling her mind with stories that his wife, Theresa, is to blame for the demise of his marriage. Falling completely under Theo’s spell, Sasha trusts Theo with everything- until he betrays her in such a way that Sasha must leave Cambridge, must transform herself into a new woman. Intent on getting her revenge, Sasha becomes obsessed on how to make Theo pay for ruining her life.

Scandalous by Tilly Bagshawe is truly that- Scandalous. Once I started reading this novel, there was no putting it down. There are about four main characters, and each of there stories are delicately interlaced with one another. The plot methodically moves along, and readers watch as Sasha gets humiliated while Theo becomes a super star in Hollywood. Not only does this story touch on love, betrayal, vengeance, and scandal, but there is also the celebrity world mixed in, with the glamorous lives only the rich and shameless can live. Bagshawe’s writing reminds me of another great writer- Jackie Collins- but the stories are more personal, more realistic. Scandalous definitely belongs on my Favorites list!

Rating: 4.5/5

Fabulously Fashionable by Holly McQueen

I once again stumbled upon a book whose main character mirrored closely to Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic. Isabel Bookbinder has decided that she wants to be a fashion designer. The only trouble is, she has absolutely no talent for designing and creating clothes. Not letting that little fact keep her from her goals, Isabel gives her all to the fashion world. After lying her way into a job interview, Isabel manages to dupe her future boss into hiring her as a PA.

Fabulously Fashionable by Holly McQueen was a funny story, but at times a bit too farfetched for me. Fans of the Shopaholic series will appreciate the humorous situations the heroine constantly finds herself in, but it just wasn’t enough to pull me along. I thought the story between Isabel and her possibly cheating boyfriend and then the following relationship with an odd character that I couldn’t quite figure out until the end interested me more than Isabel trying to be a fashion designer. I thought this was a mediocre novel at best.

Rating: 3/5

Forget Me Knot by Sue Margolis

Abby Crompton, owner of a trendy London florist boutique, is struggling in her relationship. While everything may seem picture perfect to outsiders, Abby fears there is something array with her fiancée Toby. Other than their complete opposition in the social aspect- Toby comes from a highly wealthy family, Abby not so much- but now their lack of any activity in the bedroom is making Abby unsure of her future wedding plans. When she is running late to meet the dreaded soon to be mother-in-law, Abby confronts her fears of an elevator and promptly gets stuck in one. While waiting to be rescued, Abby confides all her doubts about her impending marriage and fiancée to the handsome stranger that is trapped along with her, filmmaker Dan.

Abby’s embarrassment is elevated when she later meets Dan in a business setting- he is going to be directing a film where scenes take place in Abby’s boutique. While continually assuring her that he doesn’t think anything less of her and the inebriated personal babble she bestowed on him, Abby finds herself thinking of Dan in a more romantic setting. When her relationship with Toby comes to a direct halt, Abby wonders if anything more could happen with Dan. Before she can even begin to rebound,, she finds some unsettling news that Dan has been hiding from her, and gives up hope on that budding relationship. But following all great chick lit patterns, Abby is able to find love in the end even after all the false starts.

Forgot Me Knot is a romantic delight from British author Sue Margolis. A lightweight comedy that chick lit readers will enjoy. This was one of the better books from Margolis in my opinion, the characters were a riot, especially the heroine’s mom who finds a way to stand up for what she believes in during a cruise vacation gone bad. The storyline moves along quickly, and remains charming throughout.

Rating: 3.5/5

Wedding Season by Katie Fforde

Sarah is a jaded wedding planner, helping couples create their special day while not believing in love after her college heartbreak. Bron, a hairdresser, is struggling while living with her over-demanding boyfriend and working at a salon where she clashes on every subject with her overbearing boss. And Elsa, a dressmaker, is painfully shy and would prefer to live life in the shadows. Together, these three women form a tight friendship, each trying to help one another with their issues while working on two weddings-scheduled for the same day.

Sarah is trying to pull off a wedding for her pregnant and over-exuberant younger sister and one of the biggest celebrities, all while fighting feelings for a photographer that is already engaged. Bron is desperate to get out of her relationship and away from her salon job, but never expected to find betrayal on both ends. And Elsa is unsure how to handle advances for the charming Laurence, not used to someone being interested in her romantically. The woman work together charmingly, even when multiple plot twists threaten.

Wedding Season by Katie Fforde is a fun read for chick lit fans, filled with weddings, parties, love, and friendships. Even though Sarah is the main character, Elsa and Bron each get enough time in the spotlight so a deep connection is made with them and their personal stories. An entertaining and light read throughout, sometimes a bit too fluffy for my taste, but still a fun book.

Rating: 4/5

Still Thinking of You by Adele Parks

Rich and Tash have the love that everyone craves. A completely honest relationship, these lovers have it all: trust, commitment, sensitivity, and passion in the bedroom. When Rich’s friends tag along for the private wedding at a French ski resort, one unwelcome guest tags along: one of Rich’s ex-lovers, Jane. While Tash is under the belief that Rich has been honest with her about anything and everything, including his past conquests, this is one old flame that Rich hasn’t told a soul about. Jane is the little sister of his pal Ted, and used to be a fat ugly mess during their college years. But now, Jane has transformed herself into a beauty, and has her sights set on Rich.

Still Thinking of You by Adele Parks is a luscious read filled with colorful characters, devious plot twists, and a tearful ending. I liked that each supporting character (Rich’s gang of friends) got to tell their own story from there inside point of views. Each friend is struggling with their own issues: bankruptcy, infidelity, trying to start a family, and that brings even more to the love story between Rich and Tash. The novel started off a little too slow, I think there was a lot of information that wasn’t necessarily needed, but if you keep pushing through, you will find an incredible story. Still Thinking of You gives readers romance, deception, and a bit of relationship advice as well. A fantastic read for chick lit fans.

The Nanny by Melissa Nathan

Jo Green knows she needs something more. 23 years old and still living with her parents, turning down three marriage proposals from her perfectly okay boyfriend, and living day to day with mundane tasks.  When Jo finds an ad in the paper for a live-in nanny position in the big city of London, she eagerly accepts an interview with the Fitzgerald’s. After securing a position and waving good-bye to her old life, Jo begins to settle into her new adventure, not expecting what will come next.

The Fitzgerald’s lead a posh life, with Vanessa the hard working corporate mother and Dick the playful dad running a record store, his hobby. They have a Brady Bunch between them, with three children from their marriage added with two from Dick’s previous marriage- which includes 25 year old Josh. After Jo commissions Josh out of work, the eldest son moves into the family home- and is practically sharing a bedroom with Jo. Jo tries to ignore the feelings of attraction for Josh, especially when boyfriend Shaun makes the trip to visit her, but the feelings are dismissed when Jo finds out he is helping his father hide an affair from Vanessa. The dysfunctional family lifestyle ensues, and soon enough Jo finds herself enjoying her day to hectic day responsibilities within the tizzy Fitzgerald home.

The Nanny, written by the late Melissa Nathan, is a fun tale of a girl trying to find her way. The story of Jo Green trying to make something of herself is entertaining to read, and the Fitzgerald family adds much needed humor in all the right places. The air of mystery surrounding the affair keeps readers interested throughout the way, and the romance between Jo and Josh is undecided until the very end. A light but endearing read.

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Lara is having a problem: she is being haunted by her 105 year old great-aunt’s ghost. Sadie, who was a daring flapper back in her time of the Roaring 20’s, keeps appearing alongside Lara, but as a younger version of her deceased self. She has some unfinished business and needs Lara to help her find her necklace before she can pass on. At first Lara is frustrated and fed up with trying to help Sadie, who is making her wear ridiculous flapper clothes and makeup and go on dates with boring men just so Sadie can feel “alive” again through the only person that can see her. But as time goes on, Lara realizes how much she and Sadie have in common, and strangely, how Sadie can help with her floundering love life and equally dismal career as a headhunter.

Twenties Girl from Sophie Kinsella was a favorite of mine- which shocked me. Though I am a huge fan of Kinsella I was thinking this novel sounded too out there for me. A ghost haunting her great-niece? But I was proved wrong, and could not put it down! The novel was engaging, humorous, inspirational, and even had a few fun twists thrown in as well. I honestly think Kinsella is one of the few authors that could have pulled this plot off, and she did it with a comedic twist and a bit of mystery throw in. A must read!

Welcome to the Real World by Carole Matthews

Fern Kendal certainly doesn’t have it easy. Living in a completely unglamorous flat above and Indian restaurant, Fern must take on multiple jobs just to afford her rent. She desperately hopes to make it as a singer, but performing at a small pub with an unappreciative audience is not helping her case. Her best friend and accompanist Carl convinces Fern that they should try out for Fame Game, a reality TV competition for singers. To Fern’s surprise, she makes the callbacks- but has to go ahead without Carl.

Meanwhile, Fern is struggling to make ends meet while trying to help support her brother and his extremely asthmatic son who needs constant care and dealing with her new housemate- her father. Fern’s parents are on the verge of divorce and her father is quickly becoming more than a nuisance for Fern. She takes on the job of assistant to Evan David, popular opera singer- even though she knows nothing about opera and keeps having to run out on her professional duties to deal with her personal life events. To make matters more confusing, Evan David takes an unexplainable liking to Fern, all while Carl is desperately hoping that Fern will one day love him as much as he loves her.

Welcome to the Real World by Carole Matthews brings likable characters and a scenario that is very real. It was fun to read about the struggles that the heroine is dealing with, and was refreshing to see a character that isn’t just hoping to fall in love- she is pursing big dreams and fantasies. With a supporting cast of hilarious characters (Fern’s father pretending to have Tourette’s to try to win back his wife) readers will enjoy the humor and snappy dialogue that Matthew’s brings to all her novels.

Society Girls by Sarah Mason

Clemmie Colshannon is running out of luck. After finding out her boyfriend is a complete slum (him being the main reason of losing her job as a London art appraiser) and having a disastrous trip around the world, Clemmie finds herself living back at home.  Her family is eclectic at best, with a drama queen actress as a mother with a passion for wild animals, (including a recuperating seagull), a brother with a secret crush that he is changing all his ways for, and a reporter for a sister that gets Clemmie wrapped up in what turns out to be a dangerous story.

Holly Colshannon, whom readers first met in Playing James, has found a juicy story involving another writer at the newspaper, Emma the society writer. Emma has mysteriously disappeared, and the girls learn she was secretly planning to get married to a man her father did not approve of. While trying to help Emma get her fiancé back, the sisters inadvertently put Emma (and their whole family) in danger.

Society Girls by Sarah Mason delivers a humorous story, with the supporting cast really giving the story line something extra. It was a little slow in the beginning, but the humor kept me going until the real drama started happening. Chick lit readers will also enjoy the love story that is fairly obvious to all but the heroine, and overall Society Girls makes for an entertaining read.

The Chocolate Lovers’ Club by Carole Matthews

Lucy Lombard and her three friends are addicted. To chocolate. The foursome often meet up at their safe place, Chocolate Heaven, to divulge in chocolate and digest each other’s problems. Lucy has found her boyfriend cheating on her yet again, and has to decide if she can give him a second chance- for the fifth time. Nadia, who gave up her career to be a stay at home mom, is struggling with her husband’s own addiction- the much more dangerous addiction to gambling. She is watching their money dwindle down to nothing, and has to make the decision to stay with her husband or take their son and leave. Chantal is struggling through her marriage; even though the money that came with her husband is fabulous and keeps her bejeweled can’t make up for the complete lack of any sex life. She often enters into extramarital affairs, until one man steals $30,000 worth of her jewelry and an escort she was hiring turns out to be otherwise involved- with another friend. And do-gooder Autumn is having her peaceful life broken up by her drug abusing brother moving in with her.

The Chocolate Lovers’ Club by Carole Matthews focuses on these four friends and the challenges they are facing in their lives. The usual Matthews humor is there, but I could also find a serious tone underneath all the chocolate talk. The plot centers around the friends and their addiction to chocolate, but if you look deeper, each friend is struggling through other addictions- Lucy’s addiction to a cheating boyfriend, Nadia’s husband’s gambling addiction, Chantal’s addiction to sex, and Autumn’s brother with a drug addiction. The Chocolate Lovers’ Club is a favorite of mine simply because of a well designed plot, enough humor to keep me laughing, yet enough real life drama’s to let me really take something away from the women’s stories.

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