A Hollywood Affair - by Lucy Broadbent

PLOT: Life really isn't like the movies for Pearl Sash - despite the fact that she certainly seems to live the lifestyle. Rockstar father, movie star ex husband (who is also father to her five-year-old) and screenwriter husband to boot! You'd be forgiven for thinking that Pearl has it all! But when her ex husband Brett arrives on the scene, trouble immediately ensues. Pearl never really loved another man the way she loved Brett - not even her husband Adam. And now Brett wants her back, and is prepared to do anything it takes to get her!!!


REVIEW: This was my second 'Little Black Dress' Book, and I can see that they have very strict criteria for the stories/books they publish -which is awesome, because I love them! The novel wasn't predictable like I thought it was going to be - and if memory serves me correctly, neither was the first LBD book I read. 
I found that the relationship between Pearl and her father was depicted beautifully and realistically. That with her husband Adam was a little shallow, but that could be for the authors own reasons. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a new type of chick-lit to read, and hasn't yet tried the LBD books - as they follow a loose 'formula,' without being 'Mills & Boon' predictable, if you like one, chances are you will like most of them!


AUTHOR:Lucy Broadbent is a British journalist living in West Hollywood, California. She has worked as a columnist for the Independent, Marie Claire, She and Hello magazine, writing about her life in LA. She also regularly contributes to other publications, such as the Times, Glamour, Eve and others. She has two novels published by Little Black Dress Books - obviously 'A Hollywood Affair,' and also 'What's Love Got to do With It?'

LITTLE BLACK DRESS BOOKS: contemporary romantic fiction that you can't live without! 


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'LA Candy,' Lauren Conrad

I picked this book up in the Barwon Heads bookstore for $4, thinking why not - since I am a 'closet' fan of all things 'The Hills.' It was actually a lot better than I thought it would be! NOTE: If you are a fan of 'The Hills' then the storyline will sound very familiar! (Lauren Conrad said about the book, "I wanted this book to be like my life, being signed on to The Hills" - which it pretty much is!)


PLOT: Jane is a 19year old, who moves to Los Angeles with her best friend Scarlett, and works for an event management team. The girls are scouted at a nightclub, and asked to be stars in a new reality show, 'LA Candy.' Thinking it will be a bit of fun, they sign on - not realising that life as they know it is about to be turned upside down! Apart from camera's following them around, once the show airs there are photographers popping up everywhere. Scarlett and Jane's friendship begins to show cracks, especially when Jane wants to be friends with the other two stars of the show and Scarlett doesn't.
With jealously among the girls, and paparazzi becoming more frequent, it's only a matter of time before one of the girls gets caught in a compromising position.


REVIEW: Although I felt like I was watching an episode of 'The Hills,' I thought Lauren Conrad really did give a great glimpse into what her life must have been like when she was taking part in reality shows. There are two more books in the series, which 'LA Candy' left me wanting to read!


It was an honest and entertaining read, written by someone who has experienced this crazy world first hand. 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lauren Conrad first came onto the scene as a teenager in reality show 'Laguna Beach,' and went on to star in 'The Hills.' In 2008 she began her career as a fashion designer, and has already launched a second line. She currently lives in Los Angeles.
Below: interview with author about the book series.

'Ready or Not?' Chris Manby

Some quality quotes:

'To his own credit, Ed had always managed to put his own jock strap in the machine.'


'There is only so much you can say about the fuzzy black and white picture of TV interference that is a prenatal scan.'


' Another snore like a hippopotamus farting through mud erupted from the spare bedroom.'


PLOT: Heidi Savage is only a few months shy of walking down the aisle, and she is questioning if that is what she really wants - especially after her fiance's rugby mates shave his head and eyebrows off. When her ex-boyfriend shows up out-of-the-blue, old feelings are stirred up, leaving Heidi questioning whether she should really be with her beer-swilling, lads lad of a fiance.

In the meantime there is Heidi's best friend Kara, single mother of a sixth month old baby. Kara has only just started back on the dating scene, and is constantly calling upon Heidi and Ed for babysitting duty. Her emotions in turmoil, Heidi wonders if she would ever want a child with Ed, or if she should perhaps be with her ex Steven, who has a child to an ex-wife.


REVIEW: Guest blogger Meg put me onto this book - which she picked up for 50c at a library book sale! 50c insanely well spent I say! I loved this novel because it literally made me laugh out loud in so many parts. Usually I just have a quiet chuckle to myself - but not with this corker! I kind of thought the story would go in a different direction than it did - but I guess that's a good thing that it didn't, because it wasn't stereotypical.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Chris Manby grew up in Gloucester, England. Her writing career started when she was just fourteen, having a story published in 'Just Seventeen.' In 1995 Manby went to see a psychic, who informed her that she would write seven novels! Manby has already had at least thirteen published!

CLICK for author's official webpage

Manby has written under the pen name 'Olivia Darling,' and has also changed her name to 'Chrissy Manby,' as so many people thought her books were written by a man.

'And What Do You Do?" Sarah Long

First... a couple of my favourite quotes from the book...

"You said a rude word mum,' remarked her other son helpfully, 'Arsehole, that's where your poo comes out. I don't know any other mummies who say arsehole.'

"Oh good, you got some more carrots. Are they organic?' Laura couldn't understand why Asa was so interested in the provenance of her food, since everything she ate was discreetly regurgitated in the bathroom shortly afterwards.'

"Rice or pasta?' she bellowed back to her boys. 'Pierre-Louis will take rice and I will take pasta.' It served her right for asking.

PLOT: From the outside it seems like Laura has it all... a gorgeous French husband, two darling boys, and a wonderful lady-of-leisure lifestyle in Paris. She fills in her day eating croissants, going to museums, and chauferring her children tooand from school. And yet as perfect as her life appears, something just seems to be missing. How can she possibly stretch out breakfast all morning? Laura's live in au pair is driving her insane! And Laura's husband is hardly even in their beautiful home. He is so often working on weekends and staying back late at work. So when Laura finds out that her husband is having an affair with his stunning assistant Flavia, she decides to get her own back in the most interesting way.

REVIEW: So often other people ask us irritating questions such as 'and what do you do?'  Laura justifies the question that many housewives have come to dread in this light, yet addictive novel.

The setting of this story was flawless and brilliant! I actually felt like I was in France - not just because of the way the Parisian ambiance was set up, but because of the cultural differences highlighted between English and French - in an amusing and lighthearted way. I found Laura's husband Jean-Laurent a tad annoying - and not just because he had an affair. He just didn't want to take responsibility for any of his actions!

I loved the characters, especially the aggravating au pair Ava. I thought Laura was portrayed as a character of multi-faceted depth - making her seem like more of a real person than other more 2-dimensional chick lit heroines. Laura's decision at the end of the novel was a twist that I didn't see coming - modern woman kudos to her!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sarah Long live for ten years in Paris with her husband and three children, before they all moved back to London. 'And What Do You Do' was her first novel.

OTHER BOOKS BY SARAH LONG: