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February 28, 2009 7:33 PM

Marian Keyes news

There are some Marian treats coming up.

She will be reading from This Charming Man in Borders, Oxford Street, London on Thursday March 5th with a singer called VV Brown. VV has recorded a cover of This Charming Man by The Smiths which I believe she will be singing (VV that is, not Marian).

Also Marian will be appearing on The Paul O'Grady Show on Tuesday March 3rd (Channel 4, 5pm). Set your recording device now. More information can be found in her newsletter.

Related posts: Marian Keyes news and more | Book Review: This Charming Man

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 28, 2009 in Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK NEWS: Celebrity Bride

Journalist Alison Kervin, author of The WAG's Diary and A WAG Abroad, has another novel to hit the shelves this year.

Her next offering, Celebrity Bride, is due to be released in June. Here's some info:

It's the celebrity wedding of the season...The news that Hollywood bad boy Rufus George is finally settling down has caused a media storm. Especially since his bride is a civilian - a nobody. Kelly Monsoon is a pretty, curvy theater administrator. She never expected to meet a mega-star like Rufus let alone have him fall in love with her. And when Rufus asks Kelly to come and live with him, in his magnificent mansion, she feels like it's a fairytale come true.

Only this Prince Charming comes with a 12-person entourage, a bevy of beautiful ex-girlfriends and the world's press camped on his doorstep. But when Rufus proposes Kelly accepts and the media interest in this new couple hits the roof. However, the small, intimate wedding Kelly always dreamed of is taking on Hollywood epic proportions...Rufus's manager is trying to book Buckingham Palace for the wedding reception and all Kelly's mum wants to know is where to buy a nice hat. It's a clash of cultures: British versus American, celebrity versus civilian - with poor Kelly stuck in the middle, not knowing where she belongs. Will this celebrity bride ever make it up the aisle?

To find out more about Alison and her books, check out her website.

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 28, 2009 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 27, 2009 3:16 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: 13 Going On 30

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you woke up to find you were a teenager again? I expect we all have. (For some of us, yes, it's an excruciating nightmare, but I suspect revisiting school and ohmigod-I-used-to-wear-THAT hysteria would be a laugh for others, yes?) However, I expect the majority would cower in fear if we were to find we'd miraculously gone forward in time...to find ourselves a good few years older.

Which is what happens to thirteen-year-old Jenna in this 2004 romantic comedy. Ohhh Lordy...

Dorky Jenna (Jennifer Garner) is 13, and after being constantly teased by girls at school, wishes she was older. After playing a party game and getting locked in a closet by her cruel peers, Jenna awakens to discover that she's not herself anymore. Gone are her childlike looks, and even her home...in fact, she's woken up in a very nice Manhattan apartment that just so happens to be her own.

Yep, Jenna has left the eighties behind and is now a successful, highly attractive 30-year-old who works on a glossy magazine. What's more, she seems to have a very handsome hockey-player boyfriend who she finds in her shower.

Not knowing what's happened, Jenna realises that she has to live her life as an adult - though still being a gum-chewing, music loving 13-year-old inside. Things become difficult at work, especially when her school 'friend' is out to bag a promotion that Jenna's also in line for. Jenna's teenage admirer, Matt (Mark Ruffalo), is also back in her life - but sadly, he's engaged.

Jenna has no idea what happened in the previous years, and how she ended up as she did. And so Jenna has to love her life as a thirty-something, trying to piece together what happened in her life since that day in the 1980s, as well as deal with her love life, career and other adult things that she had not even considered before.

For those who loved Big and Freaky Friday, this is a fantastic movie that's both hilarious and refreshing at the same time. Jennifer Garner plays adult Jenna brilliantly, Definitely worth a watch (but thank goodness it's only fiction...)

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 27, 2009 in Friday Flick, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

February 26, 2009 9:15 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Playing the Game by Belle de Jour

Having read and very much enjoyed The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl (and of course, adored the TV adaptation!) I was delighted when Playing the Game hit the shelves. Admittedly, I hadn't read Belle's second book (Further Adventures of a London Call Girl), but couldn't wait and so decided to read anyway.

Those familiar with Belle and her sexy day-to-day adventures would probably know that the books stemmed from her highly popular blog about working as a call girl in the city. Belle's witty writing attracted readers across the globe. Cue the published diaries – and a successful TV series based on Belle and her life.

However, Playing the Game is not a collection of Belle's diaries, but a novel. In which Belle and her friends lead lives that, well, just might have been.

The book, in the same daily-diary format as the previous offerings, details the life of Belle de Jour and her choice to give up the call girl business and settle for a 'normal' nine till five job. Of course, giving up the money and a designer shoe collection is hard going, but initially mixing her two jobs becomes difficult when she's spotted heading out to meet a client by boss (and admirer) Giles.

Trying to keep her 'other' life a secret from colleagues is not easy, and so Belle decides to give up escorting for good, especially seeing as The Boy has decided that he's moving in. And wants a kitten. But is she really ready?

I'm trying not to give too much away here, but I can say that this book is very addictive. Granted, it's not true, and acts, as Belle puts it, 'as a parallel universe for Belle and her mates', in which she takes a look at her life and finally realises a lot about herself, but not failing to share anecdotes about her past in the call girl business that made the first blog, and books, so successful.

For those who have yet to read Belle's previous books, Playing the Game isn't exactly a follow-up so reading them all is not necessary, as Belle explains each of the characters.

Despite Playing the Game being a work of fiction, Belle's wit is still there in all its glory, and her hilarious diary entries (sometimes personal; sometimes short and funny) kept me reading until I'd finished the book completely. It's a definite – DEFINITE! - must-read.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Girl With a One Track Mind by Abby Lee, or Holly's Inbox by Holly Denham.

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 26, 2009 in Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK NEWS: It's The Little Things

The beautiful blue of this book cover caught my eye. By Erica James, It's The Little Things is about a couple and their friend who survive the Boxing Day tsunami. It is now three years after that terrible day and their lives have changed dramatically.

Dan and Sally are now parents. Dan is enjoying being a stay-at-home father taking care of their young son, and Sally is the bread winner and loves her job as a partner in a Manchester law firm. The arrangement has so far worked well, but when Dan starts to question whether Sally has got her priorities right, the cracks in their marriage begin to appear. Dan and Sally have everything Chloe wishes for in life - a happy marriage and a beautiful child. Dumped by her long term boyfriend just weeks after the tsunami, she's been on a mission ever since to find the perfect father for the child she craves. When she meets Seth Hawthorne, she thinks she may have hit the jackpot. But is Seth the man she thinks he is?

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 26, 2009 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 25, 2009 6:31 PM

BOOK NEWS: Molly's Millions

Ever wondered what you'd do if you won 4.2 million pounds in the National Lottery? It's certainly something that we've all thought about. And in Victoria Connelly's new book, Molly Bailey is about to scoop the jackpot...and then try to get rid of it.

Molly's Millions has already been released in hardback. I can't wait to read it, but for now, here's the info...

Hard-up florist Molly Bailey has just won £4.2 million pounds in the National Lottery. And she needs to get rid of it - fast!

Tom Mackenzie is on the verge of losing his job. He needs one hell of a story if he hopes to secure his future in journalism.

With Ebenezer Scrooge for a brother, and a strong belief that sharing her good fortune is the only way forward, Molly unwittingly becomes the most sought-after person in the country as, in true Robin Hood style, she distributes her wealth to the masses.

With only her terrier pup, Fizz, for company, Molly embarks on the journey of her life, crossing the country in her trusty – or should that be ‘rusty’? – yellow Beetle. But with Tom Mackenzie hot on her heels and the nation on the look-out for her, Molly must outwit them all if she’s to achieve her grand finale.

Will she succeed before her family and the media catch up with her? And with Tom leading the pack, would that really be such a bad thing?

To find out more about the author, and to read an excerpt of Molly's Millions, head on over to Victoria's site.

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 25, 2009 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK NEWS: Perfect Fifths

For the closet (or not so secretive!) teen-lit fans, here's some news on bestselling YA author Megan McCafferty.

Perfect Fifths, Megan's final novel in her Jessica Darling series, will hit US shelves on April 14th.

Here's the blurb:

Old flames are reignited in this eagerly awaited fifth and final book in the Jessica Darling series. Captivated readers have followed her through every step and misstep, from a tormented, tart-tongued teenager, to a college grad stumbling toward adulthood. Now a young professional in her mid-twenties, Jess is off to a Caribbean wedding...

To continue reading (with spoiler alert! Am refusing to take responsibility for ruining the plot for anyone here...) head on over to Megan's site.

We'll keep you updated!

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 25, 2009 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 24, 2009 10:17 AM

Agatha Christie's House

As a big fan of Agatha Christie I was incredibly excited to read on the BBC this morning that her summer house is now being opened up to the public by The National Trust. Previously only the gardens of Greenway House near Dartmouth in Devon were publicly accessible.

Now, the public will have access to the drawing room in which Christie spent summer evenings reading her novels to family and friends, who had to guess "whodunit", and the author's bedroom, with its view down the River Dart, as well as the dining room and the "fax room", which will display her enormous output of novels.

Guess where my summer holiday is going to be this year?

Related posts: Helen's Heroines: Jane Marple | Agatha Christie's Marple

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 24, 2009 in Book related | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 23, 2009 1:29 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Crossed Wires by Rosy Thornton

Crossed Wires by Rosy Thornton has been marketed as an old fashioned fairy tale. These four words instantly grabbed me. We follow the lives of two characters. Peter, a widower, Cambridge professor and father of twin girls, and Mina, insurance call centre worker and young single parent to a daughter in Sheffield. When Peter prangs his car, he rings his insurance firm and immediately feels a connection with the woman who takes his details and deals with his claim. She, too, feels a connection.

The second time he prangs his car he asks for Mina by name. Her curiosity aroused, she digs into his records and rings him later at home. He returns the call a while later and soon they are each looking forward to their Sunday evening chats. Then, when something happens in Mina's life, Peter is the person she calls.

This book is one of those slow starters that gradually reels you in until you become hooked. I couldn't wait to catch up with them each evening to see how they had got on. I really enjoyed it. It's a book you can genuinely call lovely.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try More Than Love Letters by Rosy Thornton

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 23, 2009 in Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Hysterical Blondeness by Suzanne Macpherson

Anyone who's blonde would have had to put up with the stereotypes. You know, that gentlemen prefer blondes, blondes have more fun, that brunettes are potentially boring, and yada yada yada. So when I picked up

Hysterical Blondeness, a title in the Little Black Dress series, I was amused at the way that Suzanne Macpherson takes the whole blonde/brunette issue and turns it into a brilliant plot.

Brown-haired department-store worker Patti wishes she was better looking. Checking out the guys at work along with her best friend Pinky usually result in making fun of the way that bl onde girls are fawned over. Patti loves her life, friend an job, despite feeling a bit low when it comes to the looks department. However, Patti and Pinky remain resolute that they'll never resort to...well, blondeness.

Until one day, when Patti wakes up to find that she's platinum blonde...

After testing out a new weight-loss drug, Patti is shocked to find that her usually boring, brunette locks are now very, very light. She's blonde. EVERYWHERE. And her new colour, she thinks, is actually rather nice. Housemate Paul also thinks so, too. It's a side-effect of the diet drug, but Patti doesn't worry too much. In fact, it could actually give her an advantage...

With Patti's new bout of blondeness (and loss of weight), she becomes more confident, and sets out to snare the unobtainable and very wealthy department store owner Brett Nordquist, who's always had a thing for blondes. Within time she's promoted, and set to marry Brett...although how long will it all last? And is being blonde and beautiful really necessary for a perfect life?

Despite the amusing plot, this book turned out to be not as funny as I had hoped. The characters became annoying, and the book became riddled with stereotypes and cliches that just didn't go away. Whereas Patti seemed down to earth and pleasant in the beginning, I was shocked to see that after she'd gained her new looks, her main goal was to marry Brett Nordquist, thus seeming totally out of character and turning the story into a rather silly attempt at romantic comedy, which didn't work so well for me.

However, it's worth a read, whatever your hair colour.

Rating: 3/5

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 23, 2009 in Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 22, 2009 10:43 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Jill Marshall

Jill Marshall's new book, As It Is On Telly, has recently been released. I've yet to read it, and am really looking forward to it! So here's an interview with the fabulous Jill...

When was your book released?
It's out now! Pub date was 1st Feb, so it's been in the shops for a little over a week.

Describe your book in 15 words or fewer.
Bunty needs a new husband as the current one's playing away - but where to go?

Where do you write your books?
It varies: sometimes in my office looking towards Auckland's Sky Tower, sometimes at the wonderful Michael King Writers Centre, and occasionally in a cafe with a large latte to hand. One of my favourite coffee-and-writing spots actually features in Telly...

Click over the cut to read more from Jill...

What is your favourite chick-lit book?
Probably 'Is Anybody Out There' by Ms Keyes, although I really loved the quirkiness of Animal Husbandry which became the film Someone Like You.

Which other writers inspire you?
I actually tend to prefer male authors, and anyone who's funny. So male and funny works well - Nick Hornby, David Nicholls, Steve Martin's novels, Bill Bryson...female and funny works for me too - Marian Keyes, obviously, Kathy Lette, early Helen Fielding!

Are you working on anything else at the moment?
I'm currently editing the first of my new children's series, DOGHEAD, and then I'm about to get my teeth into my third chick-lit novel.

Do you have any advice for our readers who want to become published authors?
Work at your craft, get expert advice, and don't give up the day job for a while.

Thanks, Jill!

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 22, 2009 in Interviews | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: The Importance of Being Emma by Juliet Archer

I seem to be reviewing a lot of books with ‘being Em...’ in the title.  If there is a book out there called ‘Being Eminem’, feel free to send it to me.  Anyway...

The Importance of Being Emma is the first in Juliet Archer’s “Choc Lit” series, which will bring Austen characters and plotlines and plant them firmly in the 21st century.  Can you guess which one this is based on?

This book casts spoilt rich girl Emma Woodhouse as the eponymous anti-hero, the daughter of a food magnate returned from various adventures (some of which she enjoyed at Harvard Business School) to revitalise her father’s flagging industry with her radical marketing ideas.

The trouble is, her father has also brought in the cut-throat skills of one Mark Knightley, on whom Emma had a teenage crush, and who her father tasks with mentoring his daughter.  Of course, his daughter thinks she can do just fine on her own, thank you, and wishes Mark would treat her less like a clumsy kid sister and more like a... like a... well, she’ll get back to you on that.

The story is told from both Mark and Emma’s point of view, which does a great job of building the tension, but also had me shouting, “come on would you?!” every few pages.  Both characters are painted brilliantly as both proud to the point of arrogance about their own shrewdness, yet blind to what’s in front of them.

And, as soon as they almost get it together, one of them does something to rub the other up the wrong way (and not in the right way, either).  It’s very irritating, but it keeps you turning the pages.

Tangled into the weave of this would-be love affair are some red herrings in the form of Flynn Churchill, who catches Emma’s eye, and Emma’s ditzy PA, victim of Emma’s attempted makeovers and mismatched matchmaking.  Plus some brilliant one-liners from Emma’s increasingly hypochondriac old maid-like father.

This is a good read and a clever reworking of the original (only with more sex), despite the somewhat broad brushstrokes applied to the secondary characters, and the slightly clichéd view of modern gentry sensibilities (it seemed a bit far-fetched that Emma, with all her experience and her Harvard education, would be so flummoxed by her PA’s Estuary vernacular). 

But, as I said, both Mark and Emma are characterised really well, and the plot is cleverly and effectively structured to keep you hooked till the end.

Perfect for a holiday read!

Posted by Robyn Wilder on February 22, 2009 in Books, Brand new authors, British Authors, Classic Novels, Modern Fiction, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (4)

BOOK REVIEW: Being Emily by Anne Donovan

Being Emily is the second novel from Anne Donovan, whose debut – Buddha Da – was listed for both the Orange and the Whitbread First Novel awards. I haven’t read Buddha Da yet but have just ordered a copy on the strength of Being Emily, which is a beautifully written coming-of-age story.

It’s told in the first person, and in a broad Glaswegian brogue (which aids rather than hinders the story) by Fiona – a young girl growing up in the tenements of Glasgow. 

We first meet Fiona when she’s a child – dreamy, obsessed with Emily Brontë (the Emily in question), an aspiring poet, but happy amid the noisy clatter of her Catholic family – mother, father, brother and twin sisters.

The second time we meet her it is four years later.  Fiona’s mother has died in childbirth and the family has become fragmented – each one lost to his or her private grief and coping strategies – her brother has left home for gay London; her father half-vanishes into alcohol, and her almost psychotically irritating sisters immerse themselves in their dance routines. 

After being a lively if preoccupied child, Fiona now seems to be a vague, still-waters sort of teen; doing well at school, dating Jas, an intellectual Sikh, and trying to figure out what to do with her life.  She’s like a sponge, sharply observing those around her but almost drifting through her own life, still underlining her experiences with comparisons and escapes into the world of Emily Brontë.

But Fiona’s life deviates sharply from any Brontëesque comparisons when she callously drops Jas for his slightly fey musician brother, Amrik, whose attention she can never fully capture no matter how she tries.  As a series of tragedies befall her, Fiona takes up multimedia art and creates dramatic, almost violent installations as she tries to express the turbulence inside her, before starting the long journey back to a sense of equilibrium.

Being Emily is a gorgeous, languorous and lyrical novel which treads the fine line between a realistic “real” life and a confused, fantastic “inner” life well.  And I love how it shows how a childhood obsession can echo and vibrate down one life into adulthood.

Beautiful.

Posted by Robyn Wilder on February 22, 2009 in Books, British Authors, Classic Novels, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 20, 2009 3:30 PM

BOOK NEWS: Michelle Harrison scoops Children's Book Prize

Michelle Harrison has been named winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, for her debut novel The Thirteen Treasures.

29-year-old Michelle started to write the book, about a teenage girl called Tanya who can see fairies, at university in 2002. She picked up the award on Wednesday at Waterstones in Piccadilly.

To view the 2009 shortlist, check out the Waterstones website .

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 20, 2009 in Book News, Debut Novels | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lipstick Jungle Rumours

Whilst the programme didn't grab me from the beginning, it has grown on me, and subsequently is now one of my favourite shows. I hear that in America however it hasn't managed to get a big audience and there were rumours of the show being cancelled. Now these rumours are changing to it possibly returning for a third season. I still have the second season finale to watch so I would love it if these rumours were true.

Related posts: Book Review: Lipstick Jungle | Lipstick Jungle Coming to Living

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 20, 2009 in Television | Permalink | Comments (2)

February 18, 2009 8:34 PM

BOOK NEWS: Girl From Mars

Julie Cohen writes brilliant books for Little Black Dress so I am excited to see she has a new one out in May called Girl From Mars. The blurb is below, but if you want an excerpt then pop on over to her website.

“I, Philomena Desdemona Brown, do solemnly swear to forsake all romantic relationships. There. Do I really have to repeat it in Klingon?”

It’s not like the vow, made by Fil and her two nerdy best male friends so they’d always stick together, was a big deal at the time. Frankly, Fil wouldn’t know romance if it hit her in the face anyway. Her one true love is her job as the artist for the famous comic Girl from Mars. Just like the comic’s alien heroine, Fil’s never had or needed a love interest—just her best friends.

Until one of her friends breaks the vow and falls in love, bringing her smack back down to earth. Could it be that romance is in the stars for Fil after all?

Related posts: Book Review: Honey Trap | Book Review: One Night Stand

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 18, 2009 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (2)

Pride & Predator

Earlier this month we had Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and now we have Pride and Predator coming soon to a cinema near you - thanks to Sir Elton John.

Yup, Sir Elton, with his production company Rocket Films, has announced plans for an alien to crash into the cast of Pride & Prejudice and then proceed to "stalk and slash". How lovely. [via Empire]

Related Posts: Pride & Prejudice (the real thing) | Lost In Austen - the movie | Friday Flick: Pride & Prejudice

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 18, 2009 in Movie News | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: The Accidental Time Traveller by Sharon Griffiths

Imagine what life would be like if you could go back in time, say...fifty or so years? What would you wear? What would you do? And how would you deal with a society that's so very different from our own? In The Accidental Time Traveller, one woman is about to find out just how much things have changed when she's sent back in time...well, rather accidentally.

Rosie Harford is a journalist for The News. When a new reality TV show about life in the 1950s is about to hit the screens, she's sent out to interview the oldest residents of The Meadows; a run-down council estate that's been standing for over half a century. After rowing over commitment the night before with Will, her live-in boyfriend (and deputy editor of The News), Rosie sets off for her interview about what life was like 'back in the day', with a huge hangover and fear of where her relationship with Will is heading.

However, things are about to change in a very big way. Soon after Rosie gets to The Meadows, she realises that she's not in her town anymore. At least, it's not the town as she knows it. In fact, everything looks just a bit outdated...

Immediately Rosie thinks she's been unwillingly signed up to The 1950s House. As she finds herself in the home of Mr and Mrs Brown and their slightly hostile daughter Peggy, she wonders why everyone is so in character. Questions about the reality show and where the Diary Room is are providing no answers but confused looks.

Rosie's phone is completely dead and her clothing has soon been replaced with itchy underwear and unflattering garments from the fifties. She has to face life without little conveniences such as straighteners and numerous beauty products, and go to work at The News where the men are openly sexist and everyone smokes indoors. And if that's not bad enough, nobody seems to serve Vodka.

Things are confusing enough for Rosie, but become even more so when she spots Will in the newsroom. Unfortunately, he has no idea who she is. And to make matters worse, Rosie discovers he's married with three children. But is it really Will? Her Will?

When the News finally trusts Rosie enough to go out and find some decent stories, she's quickly on the case, finding out things about her town that she can remember reading about back in the newsroom she's used to. Pretty soon she's certain that this is no reality show - after all, everyone seems to real, there don't seem to be any cameras - and after all, a TV company can't recreate an entire town, right? So Rosie has to continue life with the Browns, trying to work out just how she got sent back in time, wondering why her present-day boyfriend is married to the 1950s version of her best friend, and solving some family problems along the way...

The Accidental Time Traveller is an addictive read. Sharon Griffiths has a wonderful, witty writing style that kept me hooked, with a plot that's unique and well-written. Going back in time may seem like an appealing idea, but there's more to it than a change of wardrobe...

Rating: 5/5

If you like this, try: Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella.

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 18, 2009 in Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: The Cinderella Effect by Miriam Morrison

Lila Barton’s life is a mess. An artist who has never sold a single picture she has no money, ‘an overdraft the size of the national debt’ and no “proper job”. To cap it all she has just broken up with the latest in a long line of fiancés. Lila’s lot isn’t made any easier by the fact she still lives with her despairing family in Barton Willow, a dilapidated mansion house where the kitchen is the only room where you are not in danger of freezing to death or being hit by falling masonry. It is time to sort her life out once and for all.

To get her life back on track, Lila comes up with a plan. Give up any hope of becoming an artist, get a proper job and ‘definitely not get engaged for at least another year’. The plan looks destined to failure from the very start when the proper job results in her being held up at gunpoint and Barton Willow is used as the set of a production of A Midsummer Night’s dream starring Hollywood heartthrob, Mitch Clayton. When Mitch and his stepbrother, Johnny, fly in for the play Lila struggles to keep her promise to stick to the plan. Can she resist Mitch’s advances? And when she finds herself increasingly drawn to Johnny can she find the resolve to remain just good friends?

This is a light, fun read which will have you turning the pages to find out what happens. It is perfect for lazing on the beach or a lazy Sunday afternoon. There are a few downsides to the book. Apart from Lila herself most of the other characters are a little two dimensional. The Barton’s are all too nice and the Clayton clan, with one exception, all seem a little too horrible to ring true. The ending is also a little too convenient. It is too much of a fairytale to be entirely convincing. That said the book is called The Cinderella Effect so perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised at that!

By Wendy Knowles

Rating 4/5

Posted by Aigua Media on February 18, 2009 in Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 17, 2009 8:02 PM

TV News: No.1 Ladies Detective Agency

I loved the movie of the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency even though I can't get on with the books (I have tried!). So I was excited to see it will return as a six part series to be shown at the end of this year.

Grammy Award winning singer Jill Scott reprises her role as Mma Ramotswe, Botswana's only female detective.

The first-ever drama series filmed and set in Botswana, the six-part 60-minute series chronicles the poignant and amusing adventures of Precious Ramotswe, the wise proprietor of the only female-owned detective agency in Botswana, who takes on a wide range of cases from the strange and unusual to the dark and mysterious. [via BBC Press Office]

Related posts: The Good Husband of Zebra Drive | Blue Shoes and Happiness | Corduroy Mansions

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 17, 2009 in Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 16, 2009 8:01 PM

BOOK NEWS: The Little Stranger

Remember we told you a while ago about a new Sarah Waters novel called The Little Stranger? Well, now I have the blurb,

In a dusty post-war summer in rural Warwickshire, a doctor is called to a patient at Hundreds Hall. Home to the Ayres family for over two centuries, the Georgian house, once grand and handsome, is now in decline, its masonry crumbling, its gardens choked with weeds, the clock in its stable yard permanently fixed at twenty to nine. But are the Ayreses haunted by something more sinister than a dying way of life? Little does Dr Faraday know how closely, and how terrifyingly, their story is about to become entwined with his. Prepare yourself. From this wonderful writer who continues to astonish us, now comes a chilling ghost story.

If you go to Virago's website, you can take part in their competition to win a hardback proof of the first chapter.

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 16, 2009 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 15, 2009 5:20 PM

The New Romantics

What do Kate Harrison, Lucy Diamond, Matt Dunn, Sarah Duncan, Veronica Henry, Jojo Moyes and Milly Johnson have in common? Well, they have just set up a site called The New Romantics, a group dedicated to promoting commercial novels that deal with relationships and love...

If you head on over to their site you'll find events, reading group campaigns and on line promotions. Right now they have a fabulous competition where you can win one book a month for a year.

There is also a debate coming up in Richmond-upon-Thames entitled What's Love Got To Do With it, along with more information about the authors, links to their blogs and extracts from their books.

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 15, 2009 in Book Websites, Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 14, 2009 1:11 PM

MOVIE NEWS: Lost in Austen - the movie!

Yes, Lost in Austen is being remade as a feature film!  If you didn't catch this ITV1 miniseries, it was a charming culture-clash romp where a contemporary Austen fan (played by Jemima Rooper) discovers that the bathroom in her flat is a gateway into the world of Pride and Prejudice.  A sort of Narnia story for grown-up ladies.  And perhaps a few gentlemen.

Now Hollywood - presumably having run out of originals to remake - are adapting this twist-on-the-original for the silver screen. 

But unlike many big screen "reimaginings", Lost in Austen is unlikely to be tarred with the "wacky" brush. Original writer Guy Andrews is penning the screenplay, and Sam Mendes, who won an Oscar for directing American Beauty (and who is married to corset-aficionado Kate Winslet) is set to produce.

Of course, none of this guarantees that it won't be Americanised or sensationalised, but we here at Trashionista are awaiting more news with bated breath.

Related posts: THURSDAY FLICK: Lost in Austen | FRIDAY FLICK: Lost in Austen (again)

Posted by Robyn Wilder on February 14, 2009 in Book related, Classic Novels, Film, Movie News, You heard it here first! | Permalink | Comments (2)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Lorelei Mathias

It's Valentines Day! Whether you like it or hate it, it's here. So I talked to Lorelei Mathias, author of fab books Step on It, Cupid! and Lost for Words, all about romance, writing - and of course, her favourite Valentine reads.

 

What gave you the inspiration for your books? 
 

Most of my ideas come to me at weird times when I least expect it – so I’m never without a little notebook of some sort. My inspiration is always a mixture of what happens in my life, talking to friends about their experiences, and what goes on in my imagination/daydreams.  

 

When I’m not writing novels, I work in an ad agency. So I got a lot of my inspiration for Amelie from being around other creatives and just observing things. With my first book I was struck by the similarity between advertising and so many new forms of dating. I mean, online dating and speed-dating, they’re all essentially about trying to sell yourself in the best way, trying to dig out your USP and make people love you in 3 minutes. Much like what brands do in their ads.  

 

Similarly, with Lost for Words I got a lot of inspiration from when I worked in a big publishing house a few years ago. Again I was able to base the fictional Mercury Publishing House on all the observations I’d jotted down, and some of the people I met! 

 

Click over the cut to read more from Lorelei...

Step on it, Cupid focused on the aspect of speed dating. So, 'fess up...have you ever tried it? And what was it like?

Yes, twice. Two of the two longest nights of my life! I’m sure it’s been a really good catalyst for many couples, but it definitely wasn’t for me!

 

When I first heard about speed-dating as a phenomenon, I was fascinated by it – it seemed such a curious idea to have people organise your love life in such a regimental way, complete with name-badges, a school bell and a rehearsed 90 second pitch about yourself. The more I heard about it, the more I decided I had to write a book about it.  

 

So like Amelie I had to undertake some hilarious (but very repetitive) research… I went to two different events in London with friends, and the experience was very similar to how I’ve recounted it through Amelie’s eyes. I remember being so tickled by the email I got when I first registered: “Registration starts at 18:30. Dating starts promptly at 19.00.” It just seemed such a deeply unromantic notion that you can force a connection to start at an exact moment - one that is anathema to everything I believe in (being the hopeless romantic that I am). As Amelie puts it – ‘The institutional way the whole event seems to be organised – it makes you feel as though you couldn’t organise your love life by yourself, so you had to resort to getting figures of authority to do it.’  

Of course, Amelie’s interpretation is pretty scathing and unkind in places - I’m sure some people enjoy it much more than she does and are less critical about the men that sit across the table from them every three minutes, but that’s all part of her character’s journey. 

 

Do you like Valentines Day? Are you the kind of girl who likes to be pampered? 
 

Not to sound like a total cynic, I’m really not a fan of Valentines day. I’m not bitter (I’m fortunate enough to be happy in love), but I just struggle to see the reason for it! Its pointlessness seems to me to be three-pronged. It’s redundant for those in happy relationships; it’s an awkward hurdle to those in unhappy relationships; and it’s a cruel, mocking depressant to anyone single!  

If you’re really in love, you shouldn’t need an enforced commercial ‘special day’ to tell you so. The other day, my boy and I ended up having the loveliest spontaneous evening, you know when everything just randomly works out really well, better than when you plan it and it’s a bit of a let-down. So we decided to declare that our surrogate Valentines Day.  

 

 

But having also been single when it’s Valentines Day, I know it’s a nightmare on the streets – you can’t walk anywhere for all the smug couples’ linked arms barricading you from walking through them. If you’ve recently broken up with someone, it’s the last thing you need to rub salt in the wounds.  

Having said that, yep I do like a bit of pampering – but I just prefer spontaneity and surprises - any time of the year! 

 

Do you think that you can find love, or that it comes naturally? 

 

I love this question… It’s been at the back of my mind for most of my love life, and certainly most of my writing. It’s the main theme of ‘Step on it, Cupid’, and I guess if you follow the logic of that novel then the answer is the latter. But then there is also the minor character in the book, Sally, who did find love with Derek via “Fast Love”. And, if the testimonials on the speed-dating websites are anything to go by, then yes you can definitely find love in 3 minutes… 

 

On the whole I think the answer is both. I know people who have gone out and found love – whether it’s on mysinglefriend.com or by answering an ad in Time Out. But I also know many more stories of where people have got together in the most mind-blowingly romantic ways. Chance meetings where fate has stepped in, in a way so bizarre that if you read about it in a romance novel, you wouldn’t even believe it. I could go into more detail but I’ll save my friend’s the embarrassment I think!  

 

With the exception of one dodgy blind date, I’ve always waited for love to happen naturally. I think it’s so much more satisfying that way, if that makes sense?! There’s a bit in ‘Cupid’ where Amelie’s having a rant, she puts it like this: 

 

These days the quest for true love is turning into a frantic mish-mash of scorecards and pens, kisses over ketchup, marriages over mayonnaise... Has Cupid got bored of us all and gone off to play on an X-Box somewhere? 

 

I’m always asking people how they met. It’s one of the first questions I ask a couple – possibly it’s an occupational hazard, after making up romantic stories all day, I love hearing about the ‘real-life’ ways people can be brought together. Even if a couple have met online or through other modern ways, it could still be fate that led to them going online. And you never know, they might have met anyway by other means. I guess it depends if you believe people are meant to be together or not – whether there is a ‘one’ or not. I like to believe that there is. And speaking from experience, it’s good to hold out hope. You’ll find them when the timing’s right.  

 

Got any dating tips for the single ladies among us at Valentines? 

 

The best Valentines Day I ever had was last year – a whole bunch of friends who had all broken up with people all gathered round and had a love-in. By that I mean we all gave each other ‘Secret Cupid’ cards, wrote silly poems to each other and had to guess the author of each of them. It was the best night we’d had in ages, and it also became a germ of inspiration for the novel I’m writing now.  

 

So my advice to any single girl is, unless you’re feeling tough enough to brave the meat-markets and go on the pull on a night when it’s pretty obvious you’re single, you’ll have a much better night if you hide indoors (away from all the smug marrieds) with some glasses of wine, a nice rom com and your best friends. Unless of course all your friends are smug marrieds, in which case...um, maybe curl up with a nice book?!  
 

And here at Trashionista we're all about chick-lit, so what are your top five romantic reads? 

 

Possession by AS Byatt

Come Together,  Josie Lloyd & Emlyn Reese

The French Lieutenant’s Woman, John Fowles

An Equal Music, Vikram Seth

And it’s not a novel, but in terms of just being able to dip into romance in one of its purest forms, Shakespeare’s Sonnets or anything from Byron.

Thanks, Lorelei!

 

You can read more about Lorelei and her books at www.loreleimathias.com.

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 14, 2009 in Interviews | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 13, 2009 10:47 PM

Friday Flick: My Super Ex-Girlfriend

Seeing as it's Valentines Day tomorrow, it's usually time for those lovey-dovey romantic movies to do the rounds. So instead, I'm going to give you something different. (Okay, so it's kind of about love. But anyway).

Being a fan of the superhero genre (speaking of which, did you read the news about Batwoman?), My Super Ex Girlfriend really appealed to me. And I wasn't disappointed, either.

By day, Jenny Johnson (Uma Thurman) is a quiet, artsy brunette. By night, however, Jenny is someone completely different - she's G-Girl, the blonde, powerful and feisty superheroine who saves the city on a daily basis with her amazing powers (and super-tight costume). When she meets the handsome Matt Saunders (Luke Wilson), it doesn't take her long to start falling for him, even if she is a bit needy when it comes to relationships.

Of course, Jenny soon tells him the truth about her alter-ego and abilities, making him swear not to tell anyone. Ever.

Unfortunately for Jenny, Matt doesn't feel the same about where the relationship is heading. In fact, he's fallen for pretty colleague Hannah. So the only thing to do is let G-Girl down gently. Sadly, that's not so easy...

Jenny's fiery and needy personality soon brings her to boiling point when she finally gets dumped. But dumping a superhero isn't always a wise idea. After all, with superhuman powers, what else is a spurned lover with amazing strength, an awful temper and the ability to fly going to do?

Make her ex-boyfriend's life a living hell, of course.

The potential bunny-boiler G-Girl is putting her powers to good use by refusing to leave Matt alone, even though he's in love with Hannah. And bringing Hannah into the equation would certainly be a bad idea, right?

Fearing that his ex is going to actually kill him, Matt sets out to avoid her. Or at least, get Jenny out of his life for good. Meanwhile, Professor Bedlam (Eddie Izzard) is out to get hold of G-Girl in order to gain her powers for himself.

If you like superhero films, this is a cute, funny addition to those already out there, giving the genre a bit of romantic fun. Admittedly, it can get a bit silly at times, but the plot and G-Girl'shilarious antics kept me hooked. It's the perfect film for a night in, maybe even for the guys out there, too!

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 13, 2009 in Friday Flick | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 12, 2009 12:31 PM

COMPETITION: Win tickets to the Shopaholic movie premiere!

HUGE NEWS! Thanks to the lovely folks at Touchstone Pictures, Catwalk Queen has managed to get hold of two tickets to the London premiere of Confessions Of A Shopaholic, the new film starring Isla Fisher. And we're giving them away to one of you!

The new movie, based on the fantastic series by Sophie Kinsella, follows the New York adventures of shopping addict Becky Bloomwood. Becky's spending habits are becoming out of control - despite her job being a columnist for a financial magazine, specialising in dishing out helpful advice on how to manage money.

The premiere takes place in London on Monday 16th February. We've got two tickets to hand over to a lucky winner, so you and a friend could be walking down the red carpet and watching the movie before anyone else.

Click over the cut for details of how to win...

To win this amazing prize just answer the following question:

Where does the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic take place?

• London
• New York City
• Paris

Send your answers to fashion@shinymedia.com with the subject 'Shopaholic Competition' by Sunday night. Please make sure you include a phone number or you won't be able to win. The winner will be notified by phone on Monday morning, so make sure you're free in the evening!

Terms & Conditions

- Travel & accommodation is not included.
- Winners must be able to attend the premiere on the evening of 16th Feb 2009 and may need to be available to collect their tickets on the same day.
- Winners must be 18 yrs and over or accompanied by an adult.
- No alternative prize will be offered if the winner is unavailable to attend.
- Winners will be notified by phone on Monday 16th Feb.
- Dress code for the premiere is glam!

Good luck!

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 12, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (2)

February 11, 2009 10:32 PM

Penguin leather-bound classics

Here at Trashionista we love us some paraphernalia from Penguin Books - so much so that I've privately started calling it "Penguinalia".

Now Penguin Books have collaborated with leather goods designers Bill Amberg to produce six modern paperback classics bound in soft calves' leather.

The titles are

• The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
• A Room with a View by E.M.Forster
• The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald
• The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
• Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
• Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote

Leather is usually used to bind hardback books, but these soft bindings have been specially designed to "become more beautiful" each time they are handled!  Each book comes with a leather bookmark, and you can buy them for £30.00 apiece.

Related Penguinalia: Penguin deck chairs | Penguin book bags | Lovely Penguin pencils

Posted by Robyn Wilder on February 11, 2009 in Book related, Classic Novels, Modern Fiction, Trashionista Recommends | Permalink | Comments (0)

Julia Gregson Wins Romantic Novel of the Year Award 2009

East of the Sun by Julia Gregson has won this year's Romantic Novel of the Year Award. Her novel, described as a novel to cherish is about friendship, love and adventure in 1920s India. You can read more on the RNA website.

India Grey won the romance prize for Mistress:Hired for the Billionaire's Pleasure. The judges were impressed by the sheer verve and style of her novel.

Congratulations, Julia and India!

 

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 11, 2009 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK NEWS: Isabel Bookbinder sequel

For those who loved Holly McQueen's The Glamorous (Double) Life of Isabel Bookbinder, here's some good news – Isabel's back!

Yep, the funny, ditzy daydreamer (who yes, I'll agree, is a lot like Shopaholic's Becky Bloomwood) is returning for a sequel, The Fabulously Fashionable Life of Isabel Bookbinder, due to be released this April.

Last time Isabel, determined to become a famous novelist, spent so much time daydreaming about becoming a rich author that she forgot to do what novelists do. You know, writing an actual book.

However, this time around Isabel has traded in her writing dreams for new aspirations in the fashion world. For more info, read on after the cut...

When aspiring designer Isabel Bookbinder bags a job with Nancy 'Fashion Aristocracy' Tavistock, she's sure her career is finally on track. Dazzlingly glamorous, this is a career that she can feel truly passionate about - after all, she knows her Geiger from her Louboutin, her Primark from her Prada, and she's always poring over fashion magazines. Well, ok, the fashion pages of heat. So, learning from the very best, the future's looking bright for Isabel Bookbinder: Top International Fashion Designer. Within days she's putting the final touches to her debut collection, has dreamt up a perfume line, Isabelissimo, and is very nearly a friend of John Galliano. And on top of that she might even have fallen in love. Yet nothing ever runs smoothly for Isabel, and fabulously fashionably as her life is, it soon seems to be spiraling a little out of her control.

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 11, 2009 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 10, 2009 9:07 PM

Cheryl Cole to be next celebrity author

Thanks to a link on Freya North's blog I see Cheryl Cole has just signed a multi million pound deal for four or five romantic novels. A source says, at the moment Cheryl can do no wrong. Whatever she touches turns to gold.

Apparently she hadn't previously thought of writing, but she's come around to the idea(!) and has been told to emulate the style of Marian Keyes. Hmm. Well. I'd like to see anyone emulate Marian Keyes, never mind Cheryl Cole. [via Bookseller.com]

Related posts: Fourth Jordan Biography | Coleen's Style Tips - a bestseller?

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 10, 2009 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK NEWS: Secrets

Good grief. 2009 is turning out to be a great year for new releases from the big chick lit names. We have told you about Marian Keyes and Lisa Jewell and now I have just seen that Freya North, probably my favourite chick lit writer ever, has a new one called Secrets. It is available in airports now and on general release from May 5th.

I thought I'd pop over to Freya's website to find out more only to see she has a fab new website and blog. Go check it out.

Click over the cut for the blurb on Secrets.

They drive each other crazy.
And they both have something to hide.
But we all have our secrets.
It’s just some are bigger than others…

Joe has a beautiful house, a great job, no commitments - and he likes it like that. All he needs is a quiet house-sitter for his rambling old place by the sea. When Tess turns up on his doorstep, he’s not sure she’s right for the job. Where has she come from in such a hurry? Her past is a blank and she’s a bit of an enigma. But there’s something about her - even though sparks fly every time they meet.
And it looks like she’s here to stay…

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 10, 2009 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (2)

February 9, 2009 9:02 PM

MOVIE NEWS: SATC Confirmed

Will they? Won't they? We've been covering the behind the scenes rumours of whether there will be a Sex and The City:The Sequel for quite a few months. Well, now we can all breathe a sigh of relief as all four actresses have signed on the dotted line. Yup, they are commited for a 2010 release although a script hasn't yet been written. Better get their skates on.

[via Empire]

Related posts: The DVD | Book of the Movie | Reading Sex and The City

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 9, 2009 in Movie News | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 8, 2009 9:59 PM

Writing a book? Here's how NOT to do it...

So, for all the aspiring authors out there...what writing guides do you swear by?

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 8, 2009 in Book News, Inspirational | Permalink | Comments (3)

February 6, 2009 7:19 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The Importance of Being Married by Gemma Townley

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 6, 2009 in Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Black Boxes Competition

The fantastically talented writer, Caroline Smailes, is launching a competition to celebrate the paperback version of Black Boxes. To enter you have to "spot" a copy of the book at any retailer and take a photograph. As Caroline says on her blog, The most creative photograph wins. Simple.

The competition is sponsored by Think Parents and there is some cool stuff to be won, like a WALL.E backpack! To enter check out her blog for more details.

Caroline has an extremely original voice with Black Boxes described as heartbreaking but impressive. The details are over the cut.

Meet Ana Lewis. She is 37 years old and lives with her two children, Pip and Davie. She has just taken an overdose of pills.

By the end of this book Ana will be dead.

Black Boxes follows the final hours of Ana’s life, recording her thoughts and memories. As the drugs start to kick in, we discover the awful sequence of events which have brought her to this moment.

We also get to read pages from the diary of Pip, her teenage daughter, which reveals another side to the story and, just perhaps, a small glimmer of hope.

The second novel from the acclaimed author of In Search of Adam is a heartbreaking but impressive work, from one of the most original voices in modern fiction.

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 6, 2009 in Book News, Competition, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 5, 2009 3:38 PM

BOOK NEWS: Tell Me Something

The paperback version of Adele Parks' latest, Tell Me Something, has just been released. I'm not normally a big fan of her book covers as they feature women's legs but I am loving this cover (and I love the advert for it even more).

Elizabeth has wanted two things her entire life to keep her happy and fulfilled - an Italian husband and lots of rosy-cheeked bambini. The first is ticked off now she's bagged dark and sexy Roberto, the second is proving harder to achieve. But when Roberto loses his job and decides to leave London for Italy and the family business, Elizabeth hopes the change in lifestyle might help her relax and boost her chances of conceiving. Except, no matter how much ice cream she eats in the sun-drenched piazza, it's impossible to relax when her wily mother-in-law (the original black widow) seems hellbent on destroying her marriage. The language barrier is tricky, as is Roberto's beautiful, significant ex who practically lives next door. Is Elizabeth's desire for a baby enough to hold her marriage together or is it ripping it apart? And why is she suddenly craving the company of a gorgeous, blond American stranger? Her filthy, flirty thoughts about him are totally inappropriate. Yet undeniably temperatures are rising ... and it's nothing to do with the Mediterranean sun.

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 5, 2009 in Book News, Book covers | Permalink | Comments (2)

February 4, 2009 8:01 PM

BOOK NEWS: How To Be Single

Liz Tuccillo, who co-wrote He's Just Not That Into You, has produced a solo effort, How To Be Single.

Following a disastrous night out that began with steaks and martinis and ended in a trip to A&E, Julie Jenson decides that she and her four single friends are doing something wrong. Between them, there's more dysfunction and disappointment than she can handle. So Julie quits her job and sets off to discover how women around the world deal with the dreaded phenomenon of the Single Life. From proud Parisiennes to intense Italians, from ice-cool Icelanders to brazen Brazilians, Julie attempts to learn the secrets of these women's success. Will she come back with the answers? Or will her journey of self-discovery take her in another direction entirely?

The book cover on the left in the US version with the one on the right being the UK. I know which one I prefer (clue it's not the cartoon one with a woman cut in half).

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 4, 2009 in Book News, Book covers | Permalink | Comments (2)

February 3, 2009 2:43 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Sandy Lo

When did you start writing Lost in You?

I started writing Lost In You out of boredom in 2004, but was working on other projects at the time so I pushed it to the side until I could focus on it fully.

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 3, 2009 in Debut Novels, Interviews | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: The Princess Diaries Ten Out of Ten

It has been a little while since we've heard from Princess Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo. In the ninth book we were left wondering as Michael had gone to Japan to work on a robotic arm, Mia and JP were getting together and Genovia was about to become a democracy - thanks to Mia. Oh, and Lilly wasn't speaking to her.

Ten Out of Ten (or Forever Princess in the US) is the final installment of Mia's life. She is just about to turn eighteen, leave school and start college. But which college should she go to? Michael is back from Japan who she absolutely has no feelings for whatsoever. Why is she and Lilly still not speaking? And why doesn't anyone want to publish her book, Ransom My Heart?

I love how Meg quickly gets us up to speed with what has been happening in Mia's life through modern means of communication such as their Blackberry's. It is like Mia has never been away and although she is a lot more grown up, she is still lacking in confidence and a little naive, which is why we like her so much.

It is always worrying for the reader (and the author too, I expect!) when you bring a series of books to an end. You can get it right, which I think JK Rowling did with Harry Potter (well I thought so anyway) or you could end up disappointing fans, which I believe Stephenie Meyer did for many with the final Twilight book.

Since meeting Meg Cabot last year (yes I did!) I found her gorgeous and lovely and developed a mini crush on her. I therefore believe she can do no wrong. However even if I didn't believe that I would still say that Ten Out of Ten (Forever Princess) is a fabulous book. I don't think I exhaled at all whilst reading it. She has definitely left the best one until last.

Now I can breathe normally again.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try any Meg Cabot book. There are so many to choose from!

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 3, 2009 in New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (13)

February 2, 2009 5:25 PM

The Sak 'Book in a Bag' Giveaway

Fancy winning a gorgeous bag and some great New Year reads? (Okay, so it's February but there's still time!). Up until18th February, publishers Harper Collins have teamed up with The Sak to give away a fab Silverlake Convertible satchel and three books - The Amazing Adventures of Diet Girl, Shop Smart and The Secret Currency of Love.

If you want to be in with a chance of snapping up a Sak and some brilliant books, head over to the site to enter this month's competition.

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 2, 2009 in Competition | Permalink | Comments (0)

YAY OR NAY: Pride and Prejudice and... Zombies?

Did you ever read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice? 

Did you delight in the tale of plucky, picky heroine Elizabeth Bennett and her on/off passions for the brooding Mr Darcy - but felt that something was missing from the story?

Was it zombies?

If so, then make sure you pick up a copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, "reimagined" by Los Angeles-based writer Seth Grahame-Smith to inject "all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie action" into the cherished classic.

Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy will continue their courtly mannered sparring, but Elizabeth will also be waging war against the legions of undead rising from their graves as a mysterious plague turns the residents of Meryton into flesh-eating monsters.

Yes, I am serious. No, it isn't the 1st of April.

Grahame-Smith's previous novels include How to Survive a Horror Movie and The Big Book of Porn, so it's safe to assume that his tongue was lodged firmly in his cheek when he wrote this:

'Complete with 20 illustrations in the style of C. E. Brock (the original illustrator of Pride and Prejudice), this insanely funny expanded edition will introduce Jane Austen's classic novel to new legions of fans.'

Of course, references to Jane Austen spinning in her grave would be entirely appropriate here, but thankfully I have too much taste to make them. 

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies will be available from Quirk Books from the 15th of April 2009.

Posted by Robyn Wilder on February 2, 2009 in American Authors, Book News, Classic Novels, New Releases, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (9)

February 1, 2009 10:58 AM

Bridget Jones can improve your love life

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 1, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1)