'Tom Dick and Debbie Harry', Jessica Adams

PLOT: Richard and Sarah have a whirlwind romance in Sarah's hometown London, which results in her moving to Australia to marry him. On the day of their wedding Sarah realises that she may be making the biggest mistake of her life. Richard's first wife Bronte is the only person not at the wedding, although she feels drawn to visit Richard.

In the meantime, Richard's best friend Tom is living with his girlfriend, who is old enough to be his mother. But is he really happy? His girlfriend disapproves of everything about his life, including his friendship with Richard and Sarah. Soon Tom finds himself attracted to the very person he shouldn't be.

By the end of the summer much passion has been shared - but between whom?

REVIEW: I picked this book up on the shelf at my volunteer work, thinking it looked okay. I found myself without a book to read one day, so started on this one. I was quickly drawn in from the start, and by about halfway through I couldn't put the book down. There are quite a few plots and subplots interwoven, which made for a more entertaining read than some more simple books. I recommend this for those in their mid-twenties upward.

Creepy astrology eyes staring into my soul!

AUTHOR: Strangely enough, Jessica Adams is actually an astrologer for Cosmopolitan magazine - and has published three books on astrology. (If I had known this before I read 'Tom Dick and Debbie Harry' I may have been put off reading it!) Click below to see her website - although be warned, it is mainly weird astrology stuff...

http://www.jessicaadams.com/

'The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl,' Belle De Jour

QUOTES:  "C is for Cash Only. I don't take cards. Where would I put the swipe machine?"

"I don't understand why my colleagues would have an affair with some girl in the office, and risk a marriage, when they could have someone like you."

PLOT: This book started off as a blog, following the day to day life of high class call girl 'Belle De Jour,' living in London (Nobody actually knows her real name or identity.) Belle could not find a job out of Uni, and after a threesome with a rich couple rewarded her financially, she took to the trade like a duck to water, earning more money than anyone she knew. All the while, Belle remained friends with three of her ex boyfriends, only one of who knows what she does for a living.

REVIEW: Having seen the series first, I was actually surprised at how much more graphic the book was. Belle's account of her life of prostitution is frank and somewhat compelling. It was a bit gross and offputting at first, but then it became more of a laugh - like the purposeful looks the characters in 'Bold and the Beautiful' are constantly casting one another. The book is not for the pious or faint hearted! As it is not a novel, per se, make sure you read it for what it is - don't expect it to follow the formula of a novel.

TV SERIES: Belle's blog was adapted into a book, then into a BBC TV series called 'The Secret Diary of a Call Girl,' starring Billie Piper as Belle. I actually watched the TV show first, and then found the book in a second hand shop at Barwon Heads, and thought 'Why not?' I loved the series - Billie Piper is great as Belle, and she is even given the 'real' name of 'Hannah' on the show. The show develops more of a plot and storyline than the book, and currently three seasons have been filmed.

LINK:

CLICK to view trailer.

'Always the Bride,' Jessica Fox

Today's book is one I picked up at the airport on the way home from Samoa. I didn't know it at the time, but this is the last book in a series of five. I don't think you have to read them in order though, they just follow the different prophecies five girls are given on a hens night. Pretty cool!

PLOT: It is Zoe's hens night when she receives a prophecy from a fortune teller - that she will be married twice! She refuses to tell any of her friends her prophecy, convinced that her and Steve are meant to be together. No fortune teller is going to ruin what they have! Naturally that is easier said than done, especially when Zoe and Steve begin working together, and each of their ex-flames shows up at their workplace!

REVIEW: I had only been looking for something to read on the plane, so was thrilled with this book! I will definitely be looking for the other four in the series. The storyline was amusing, and not entirely obvious like some chick lit. I love finding a new author I enjoy, especially when they have written a series.

AUTHOR: Jessica Fox wrote 'The Hen Night Prophecies' series, which this is the fifth book. The previous ones are 'The One That Got Away,' 'Eastern Promise,' 'Hard to Get,' and 'Unlucky in Love.'

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'Pictures of Lily,' Paige Toon

PLOT: Lily was only 16 years old when she fell for a much older man. She kept her feelings hidden, certain that they would never be reciprocated. Then, the object of her affections moved away, and she never really got over him. Ten years later, on the brink of getting engaged, Lily has a chance encounter with her teenage 'love.' She dances dangerously with fire, ending in her having to choose between two men who love her.

REVIEW: Oh. My. Gosh. What can I say about the creepy age gap between Lily and her older man? She wasn't even sixteen when she met him, yet was describing the feelings of an adult. What made it worse was when he admitted feelings for her to a friend. Did I really believe that Lily had haboured feelings for her first crush for the following ten years? Quite frankly, no. That said, it was a light holiday read, which I can suggest to those not looking for anything heavy.

AUTHOR: Currently Paige Toon has written four books, and there is another one on the way any day now. The only other Toon book I have read is 'Johnny Be Good.' I enjoyed that more that Lily, although the ending was rather random and unsatisfying.

Paige Toon's webpage.