INTERVIEWS

NEW RELEASES

Who's That Girl? - Alexandra Potter (2009)

Imagine if you could meet your younger self - what advice would you give her? That's exactly what happens to 31-year-old Charlotte Merryweather. Charlotte has come a long way over the past 10 years - she runs her own PR company, wears great clothes; is about to enter the property market with boyfriend Miles; and religiously follows all sorts of dietary advice. When Charlotte spots her 21-year-old self driving her VW Beetle around town, she follows herself and meets up with Lottie - a girl still dreaming of being a writer, who lives in a slobby apartment, parties hard - and worse smokes, suntans and wears PVC trousers. As Charlotte tries to stop her younger self from making all sorts of mistakes, such as having a one-night stand with rock singer Billy Romani, it seems Lottie has some advice that the 30-something should heed.

7/10

CREW VIEWS

Q. Which chick lit book would you most like to see made into a movie?

Angela: I'd say Twenties Girl, by Sophie Kinsella! It was so wonderfully written and I can imagine Lara and Sadie in real human form, with their flapper dresses and funky 20s hats and brooches. I think it would be hilarious and heartwarming and a massive hit with moviegoers!

Annmarie: Just the Sexiest Man Alive, by Julie James, has the makings of a great romantic comedy movie. The heroine in the book, Taylor Donovan, is a lawyer who has moved to Los Angeles to cover a trial. Her boss asks her to coach Hollywood heart-throb, Jason Andrews, for his role in an upcoming legal thriller. Jason is an egomaniac and Taylor is unimpressed with his Hollywood status. Taylor's apathy only makes Jason want Taylor more. The dialogue in the novel is witty and fast moving and the two main characters have great chemistry that would play out great on a screen. There is a very happy ending that would leave an audience feeling satisfied. I would love to see Matthew McConaughey as Jason Andrews and Kate Hudson as Taylor Donovan. The pair were terrific in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and I'd love to see them together again. McConaughey playing the role of a sexy movie star is realistic and I'm sure the screenwriter could throw in a few scenes where he takes off his shirt leaving everyone happy.

Karen: After giving this question a lot of thought (there are way too many good chick lit books out there which would make equally good movies) I've decided to go for one of my more recent reads, Paige Toon's Chasing Daisy. I fell in love with the characters, plot and setting right from the get-go and although I'm not entirely sure how successful a big-screen adaptation would be, what with it being set around the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit, I personally think it would make a fantastic movie and one that I would definitely watch. As for who I'd like to see in the main roles - well this is even harder than picking the movie as I'm not a casting director and have no idea whether the actors I would like to see would actually be suitable but I'm thinking someone along the lines of Ryan Reynolds or Paul Walker for the male leads and maybe Kate Bosworth or someone similar for the role of Daisy. Having said that though I would like the movie version to stay pretty true to the book itself so in that respect maybe it would be better to have a couple of unknown actors in their somewhere!

Leah: Of the chick lit books I've recently read, I think Mercury in Retrograde by Paula Froelich would be an excellent choice to bring to the big screen. The book has all of the chick lit elements that translate well for a chick flick - fun, interesting characters with glamorous jobs living in amazing apartments in the hip part of New York City that real people couldn't possible afford. They have great clothes, shoes and bags but have to tolerate unbearable bosses and adversity to get those things. And of course, they are all looking for love in the big city. It's a winning combination. The book has three main characters: Penelope Mercury, who is a reporter looking forward to a big promotion so she can stop stalking people for stories, Lena Lippencrass, a socialite who is also an editor at a hot fashion magazine, and Dana Gluck, a workaholic lawyer putting in loads of overtime trying to make partner, much to the detriment of her marriage. As for actresses I think would be good in the main character roles, Ginnifer Goodwin from He's Just Not That Into You would be great as Penelope, I can see Amy Adams in the role of socialite Lena, and Katherine Heigl can definitely play lawyerly Dana. Let's hope someone else sees the potential in Mercury in Retrograde.

Paula: The book that I would make into a film would have to be Rosie Dunne/Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern, as like all her other books the setting is that true love (soul mates) still exist, though in this case it may take 50 years for both to realise that they are meant to be together. This book is a mix between PS I Love You (with the letter writing between each other) by Cecelia Ahern and The Notebook (true love can always prevail even if you haven't seen each other for years) by Nicholas Sparks. This would be the perfect chick flick as it has a happy beginning, the continual letter writing, a sad middle and then eventually a happy ending when they both finally realise that through all the obstacles in their lives - marriages, divorces, deaths, children - that they were always destined to be together for eternity. The main cast would be done in three parts: 7-15 year old Rosie Dunne (Dakota Fanning), 15-30 Rosie Dunne (Amanda Seyfried) and 30+ Rosie Dunne (Drew Barrymore) and for the male counterpart: 7-15 year old Alex Stewart (Jackson Rathbone), 15-30 Alex Stewart (Channing Tatum) and for the 30+ Alex Stewart a toss between Gerald Butler or Hugh Jackman - depending whose schedule's available.

Steph: Emily Giffin's Something Borrowed and Something Blue books have been on the movie development list for a few years and I'd really love to see this amazing story of the breakdown of a best friendship up on the big screen. I like the idea of Emily Blunt as the bitchy Darcy; and maybe Reese Witherspoon or Abbie Cornish as Rachel. For Darcy's fiance Dex, I'd push for local boy Sam Worthington, who needs a role outside action flicks. Josh Duhamel looks like a Marcus and Neil Patrick Harris would be "awesome" as geeky school friend Ethan.

Xiu Ting: Definitely one of Cecelia Ahern's books. Most probably Where Rainbows End. Who doesn't love a romance movie? Especially with such a great storyline. I'm hoping Jennifer Garner would play Rosie, and Michael Vartan as Alex (they have so much chemistry on Alias, who better to play the roles of this movie).

NEW RELEASES

The Wedding Party - Sophie King (2009)

Becky has a hectic life as a mother of two who works on a women's magazine. With her nanny threatening to quit, her husband always away on work trips, the last thing she needs right now is her father Geoff deciding to get remarried. Becky's mother Helen has been divorced from Geoff for years, and despite keeping busy through her gardening business, his decision to remarry still tugs at her heartstrings. Two other people caught up in the wedding preparations include Becky's wedding planner friend, Janie, whose dyslexia makes it difficult for her to get the details right, and vicar Mel, who has to deal with her own family crises. And it seems they all have to contend with a very demanding first-time bride, Monique. Told from the viewpoints of the multiple characters, this is an entertaining read that alternates well between its dramatic and light-hearted moments.

7/10

BOOK NEWS

The synopsis for Emily Giffin's next book, Heart of the Matter, has been released. It says: "As the wife of a leading paediatric plastic surgeon, Tessa Russo can't help but contemplate how fragile life can be. How one moment you can be going about an ordinary day, and the next, everything you once took for granted can be snatched from you. Tessa knows how lucky she is, still madly in love with her husband after seven years, with two beautiful children. Yet beneath the perfect facade, the cracks are beginning to show. Valerie Anderson takes nothing for granted. But with one phone call, her world is turned upside down forever. As a single mother, she was always protective of her son Charlie, and will live to regret how one seemingly insignificant decision leads to a terrible accident - one that will leave Charlie forever scarred. It is only when Nick Russo, Charlie's surgeon, enters their lives that Valerie finally dares to hope again. As the lives of two very different women dramatically intersect, they are forced to question everything they hold dear, and face a future that neither one had ever envisaged." Head to her publisher's website to get a look at the first chapter.

NEW RELEASES

How to Lose a Husband and Gain a Life - Bernadette Strachan (2009)

Ruby Gallagher seemed to have the perfect life, treated like a princess, until the dawn raid that saw husband Manny arrested on numerous fraud and money laundering charges. But even with his assets seized, Ruby was willing to stand by her man - until she discovers his mistress is expecting his baby. Moving into an apartment with one of his former staff members Maria, Ruby begins to realise it wasn't so much fun living in her gilded cage. Willingly taking on work as a housecleaner, she soon creates a new life, helped by Maria, her clients and her substitute parents, gay couple Tom and Kendall - and even faces up to some issues from the past. With a very endearing heroine, this is a totally enjoyable way to Lose a Day and Gain a New Favourite.

8/10

MAKING HER DEBUT

The Summer Kitchen, by Australian-raised, Yale-educated Karen Weinreb, is based on the author's own experiences when her husband was jailed for wire fraud in the US. In the novel, Nora Banks' privileged existence ends when her husband Evan is arrested for a white-collar crime. As the Bedford, New York, community closes ranks against Nora and her three sons, her South American nanny Beatriz steps in while Nora goes back to work. Baking has always been her biggest passion, so she launches a business of her own, the Summer Kitchen.

BLOG TO BOOK

As Michelle Churchill approached 50, suddenly she had men on her mind. But how does a middle-aged single woman living in New York City make male contact? Michelle turned to her computer, signing up for online dating services. She details her experiences of dating through menopause in her memoir I Thought I Grew Up. Churchill, who wrote about her experiences on a blog and the BoomerGirl website, is now working on her first novel.

NEW RELEASES

The Makedown - Gitty Daneshvari (2009)

Anna Norton grew up as an unattractive, fat and nerdy girl from Ohio. Even attending an Ivy League college didn't help her gain friends or self-confidence. She moves to New York, where her new boss, Janice, a caterer, gives her a makeover, helping her lose weight and improve her appearance. Then Anna falls for Ben, a gorgeous lawyer, and amazingly he becomes her boyfriend. But he's extremely flirtatious and still out of her league, so to keep other women away, she begins to diminish his good looks through the reverse makeover - the Makedown. An intriguing concept told with edgy humour but the character is as unappealing on the inside.

6/10

SNEAK PEEK

Finding Monsieur Right - Muriel Zagha

Fun-loving Daisy has just landed the perfect job: spending a year in Paris writing about fashion. Swapping homes with French student Isabelle seems like the perfect arrangement. Sensible Isabelle may be finding London bewildering but all her assumptions about crazy English guys are overturned when she meets gardener Tom. Meanwhile, Daisy discovers that in the City of Love, there may be more than one Monsieur Right.

BOOK NEWS

Irish author Colette Caddle's 10th novel The Secrets We Keep, out this month, is about Erin who runs a rural guesthouse and finds herself embroiled in her guests' lives. The Gatehouse has attracted a strange group of guests who don't seem to want to leave, including shy artist Hazel and her silent daughter, Gracie; brash American Sandra; and easy-going PJ. Then her best friend's half-brother, Hollywood actor Sebastian Gray arrives, seeking refuge as he recovers from a breakdown. And despite her romance with farmer Ronan, Erin finds herself drawn to him.

SCREEN SCENE

Progress is being made on the movie adaptation of Allison Winn Scotch's 2008 novel Time of My Life. The story focuses on a 30-something married mother, Jillian, who wakes one day to find herself seven years in the past and back with her advertising executive ex-boyfriend Jackson. Will she embrace this chance to do her life over - and will she want to return to her previous life? One of the writers behind The Ugly Truth, Nicole Eastman, is working on the screenplay for the Weinstein Co and Superb Entertainment.

NEW RELEASES

Champagne & Butterflies - S.J. Foster (2009)

Kyla and Kimari Fontaine are gorgeous, privileged sisters who are finishing their final year at Penn State University. Kimari, an aspiring author and the wilder of the two, falls for Penn State football player Sean. After graduating, her dream comes true and she publishes her first novel, thrusting her into high-profile parties in New York City. However, she soon discovers that her partying ways and a questionable picture of her with an infamous playboy rapper might jeopardise her relationship. Kyla, the more reserved sister, is torn between two men. Vince is a stable medical student who adores Kyla. Troy is the two-timing ex-boyfriend who she cannot resist. After much heartache, Kyla realises who she belongs with, only to learn that it might be too late to salvage the relationship. This is a fun quick read that follow the lives of two sisters as they make the transition from the college years to adulthood. (AO)

7/10

BOOK NEWS

Janine A. Morris, author of Diva Diaries and Playthang, has a new book out in October - Drama 99 FM - about three women centred around a top New York radio station. Ever since she started working for a top music executive, the once-shy Naomi has gone from drab to fab. And now that she's had a taste of the good life, she'll stop at nothing to get more. Assistant road manager Sereeta not afraid to break the rules until her boss crosses the line with her. As music director of New York's top radio station, Madison has the power to make or break careers. But a dangerous affair with one of hip-hop's biggest names finds her risking her personal and professional life. Morris lives in New York and is the music co-ordinator for a hip-hip radio station.

NEW RELEASES

Dune Road - Jane Green (2009)

aka Girl Friday

Kit has just divorced banker Adam and is trying to figure out who she is at 40. She moves into a new house in Highfield, Connecticut, with her two children Tori and Buckley. One day her erratic neighbour Edie shows up to welcome them to the neighbourhood and gives her an offer of a lifetime - working for bestselling author Robert McClore. Robert has been hiding out on his huge estate since the death of his wife decades ago. It has always been a mystery what happened the night his wife fell off a yacht. Then a long-lost sister arrives from England which turns Kit's whole life upside down. Meanwhile her best friend Charlie discovers she's been hit by the financial meltdown, and her other friend, yoga teacher Tracy, is hiding a secret. (CG)

7/10

MAKING HER DEBUT

Jillian Hewitt's first novel, Knickles & Dimes, is the story of 20-something Keira Knickle, who is looking for change and gets sidetracked along the way. Its synopsis says: "Young, pretty, a good job at a local newspaper, a decent apartment in the city ... what more could a girl ask? According to Keira Knickle, a lot! She's looking for a change. And that change comes when she meets a man who seems more wonderful than ever possible. He can offer her everything she's ever wanted out of life, but just when things start to get really great, Keira's family and friends caution her about getting in too deep. Before she even knows what's going on, it seems Keira has gone over the edge."

ONE FROM THE BOYS

In B as in Beauty, by New York writer Alberto Ferreras, Cuban-American beauty Maria Zavala, known as B, hates her size and the fact that others judge her because of it. She even overhears her ad agency boss develop a scheme to keep her from being promoted. But then B's new tax accountant turns out to be a modern-day fairy godmother. Natasha sets B up on dates with rich, successful men who love voluptuous women and she finally begins to see herself differently. Now with a new attitude, B can't help but want to teach her boss - and everyone who has tried to keep her down - a lesson.

NEW RELEASES

Don't Let It Be True - Jo Barrett (2009)

Texan oil heiress and philanthropist Kathleen King has two secrets - one she's broke and the other she hasn't even revealed to her long-term boyfriend, Dylan Grant. Then Dylan discovers he is also penniless when his father dies, having gambled away their last oil property in a poker game. Meanwhile his brother Wyatt has a Vegas mobster chasing him to pay up his debts. So Kat and Dylan scheme to win back the oil money through dirty tactics and enterprise.

5/10

DREAM THEMES

For many heroines, getting jilted at the altar or being a runaway bride is the start of a new life. Check out some of the titles in our latest Dream Theme.

NEW RELEASES

Best Friends Forever - Jennifer Weiner (2009)

Addie Downs and Valerie Adler were best friends but one day in high school changed their relationship forever and they stopped talking. Addie went on to become a greeting card illustrator while Valerie has become a local celebrity doing the weather for a Chicago news network. On the night of their 15th high school reunion, Valerie shows up at Addie's door, wearing a bloodstained coat and asking for help. A bitter Addie at first wants nothing to do with Valerie but finds she can't say no. She ends up being a suspect as police investigate a possible crime scene. As someone who has stayed largely hidden to society for years, this may be the chance for Addie to find her best friend again and possibly the love of her life as well. A great book defining friendships and what you would do for friends. With lots of twists and turns, I recommend reading this with your best friend. (CG)

7/10

AUSTRALIAN MADE

Riding High, by Emma Boling, takes you into the high stakes world of international horse racing. Australian scientist Dr Clea Reynolds is more comfortable in a lab coat than a glamorous frock. But all that changes when she meets Darcy, the playboy son of a racing magnate. As Clea is drawn into the heady lifestyle of gala balls, French champagne and designer outfits, she is soon investigating a rare virus which has attacked champion racehorses at the stud of a Dubai horse racing dynasty. Assisted by the family's son, the charismatic Prince Bahir, Clea begins to uncover an international plot. This is the first novel from Boling, who has raced and breed racing horses for years.

NEW RELEASES

Practice Makes Perfect - Julie James (2009)

J.D. Jameson is a conservative Harvard-educated law associate who grew up in a privileged wealthy family. Payton Kendall is a liberal feminist raised by a hippy single mum. J.D. and Payton have been in constant competition since they started working at their law firm eight years ago. As two smart hard-working attorneys, they were under the impression that they would both be made partner. But due to a change in their firm's policy, only one of them will get the promotion. The competition increases when Payton and J.D. are asked to join forces on a major case. As they spend more time together, they realise that they have a strong mutual attraction to each other. The dialogue between the characters is witty and sharp and the author does a great job allowing the reader to feel the sexual tension between the main characters. You will not be able to put this book down. (AO)

9/10

ULTIMATE 100 UPDATE

The Chicklit Club will unveil its Ultimate 100 Chicklit Collection in December. This month we are previewing some of the titles nominated by our site readers.

Anna Maxted's debut novel Getting Over It (2000) sees editorial assistant Helen's life turned on its head when her father dies of a heart attack. Her mother goes to pieces, her boyfriend Jasper confesses his infidelity, she sleeps with her self-centred landlord Marcus, and gets to know her neurotic cat Fatboy's vet, Tom. Beth, of Canada, writes that this book was both touching and humorous. "Anna Maxted is one of my favourite authors but this one has remained my most-loved."

Allison Pearson has written a classic story about a woman who tries to juggle too much in an age where women are wondering about the myth of 'having it all'. I Don't Know How She Does It (2002) is about hedge-fund manager Kate Reddy, a frazzled mother of two who's feels endless guilt about not being a good-enough mother. Emme, of California, says: "I know so many of my friends identified with Kate. It's a really fantastic book - well worth taking time out of your busy schedule to read it."

Katrina says the list wouldn't be complete without Jennifer Crusie. Her 2000 novel Welcome to Temptation is about wedding videographer Sophie Dempsey and her sister Amy, who head to Temptation, Ohio, to film an audition tape to help their brother's ex, Clea, revive her flagging film career. But soon the town is abuzz with rumours that they are shooting a porn video. The second book in the Dempsey series, Faking It, came two years later.

NEW RELEASES

Pretty in Plaid - Jen Lancaster (2009)

In Pretty in Plaid: A Life, a Witch, and a Wardrobe, or, the Wonder Years Before the Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smart-Ass Phase, Jen Lancaster whisks us back (in a time-travelling DeLorean, perhaps?) to the defining moments in her life that made her the snarky, ambitious fashionista we have all grown to love. Whether she is scamming her way to a badge-filled Girl Scout sash, purchasing her very first designer handbag (Liz Claiborne, thank you very much), or modelling her first interview suit for Fletch ("Does Captain Stuebing know you're not on the Lido deck right now?"), we are again treated to the self-deprecating humour that is Jen's trademark. With fashion references that anyone who lived through the 80s will cringe at (can you say big hair, Gloria Vanderbilt and jelly shoes?) you will no doubtedly relate to all that Jen went through to become, well, Jen. (LEK)

6/10

INSPIRATIONAL LIT

Iowa-based author Kimberly Stuart's novel Stretch Marks sees her main character face up to her estranged relationship with her mother after becoming pregnant. Mia Rathbun is a granola-eating, yoga-practising social worker from Chicago. Her boyfriend, Lars, is a free-spirited, freeloading freelance writer who leaves when Mia becomes pregnant. Mia just begins to deal with the looming prospect of single parenthood when her mother Babs, a cruise ship hostess, shows up to "help". At least she can also rely on her best friend Frankie, and Adam, from the corner grocery store. Stuart's other books include Act Two: A Novel in Perfect Pitch and Balancing Act. Stretch Marks is out in September.

BOOK NEWS

Roisin Meaney's latest novel (her fifth adult title) is set around an amateur theatre company. The synopsis for Half Seven on a Thursday says: "When Edward Bull agreed to direct the amateur production of Death by Dying, he thought it would take his mind off his wife's recent affair. He was soon to discover, however, that all the real drama was taking place off-stage ... Maria, trapped in a loveless marriage to an older man, makes an appalling discovery. If pushed, she knows she will do whatever it takes to protect her vulnerable son, Pat. But will she find the strength to do the one thing that would save them both? Her sister Ellen, scarred after a tragic motorbike accident, seeks comfort where she can find it. Will she finally come to terms with what happened . . . and, perhaps, open her heart to love again? Handsome, charming Robert glides through life. When Caroline threatens to take his sons away from him, however, he realises that everything he ever wanted was right under his nose. But is it too late? And then there's colourful Theo, gentle Harry and independent Judith, each with their own stories ... As the weeks pass, the cast members of Death by Dying are brought together and their lives intertwine. And, as opening night draws near, they learn that in life there's no such thing as a dress rehearsal." Meaney is embracing her love of baking for her next novel, about a woman whose long-term relationship comes to an end just as she's about to open a cookie shop.

NEW RELEASES

What My Best Friend Did - Lucy Dawson (2009)

Photographer Alice meets kids TV presenter Gretchen on a photo shoot in Los Angeles. Now Alice has a new fun-loving, bubbly friend to hang out with - and she even comes with the added attraction of a cute brother, travel writer Bailey. But Gretchen has a secret which will drag Alice and her boyfriend Tom down. This is one book where it works not to know much about the plot before you begin. It is a real page-turner right from its explosive, dark start. But be warned: if you enjoy stories with a nice epilogue that wraps up all the characters' lives, Dawson seems to be developing a reputation as master of the hanging ending.

7/10

BOOK NEWS

A fight over an inheritance is the focus of Therea Rebeck's next release, Twelve Rooms with a View. Tina discovers at her mother's funeral that she has been left an opulent apartment overlooking Central Park by her mother's rich partner. Used to living from one pay cheque to the next, Tina thinks she's finally got it made. But she hadn't counted on her half brothers wanting her out - by any means necessary. It's due on bookshelves in October.

Dear Chicklit Club

Q. I loved Kristin Gore's political books, Sammy's Hill and Sammy's House. I noticed you have another of her titles on your Release Dates list. Can you tell me more?

A. Sweet Jiminy centres around a long-ago murder in a sleepy Southern town. College student Jiminy heads to her grandmother Willa's house for summer break. There she befriends Bo, the African-American nephew of her grandma's housekeeper, Lyn. Jiminy discovers that she is the namesake of Lyn's daughter, who was murdered at age 16, along with Lyn's husband, but the sheriff never bothered to find out who did the deed. So Jiminy and Bo try to solve the case. The book was expected to be released this year but we're still waiting for a firm publication date.

INTERVIEWS

NEW RELEASES

Mating Rituals of the North American WASP - Lauren Lipton (2009)

Peggy Adams is surprised to have woken up in a room she doesn't recognise, wearing the clothes she wore the night before. She is even more surprised to see a handsome stranger laying beside her. Immediately, Peggy panics and leaves the room without waking the sleeping stranger, hoping to leave this one night in Vegas behind her. Unfortunately, Peggy receives quite the wake-up call when a man named Luke rings her New York store saying he is her husband. Peggy agrees to Luke's proposal to meet him in Connecticut so that they can get their "quickie" marriage annulled. However, once Abigail Sedgwick hears that the only heir to the Sedgwick name is getting his marriage annulled, she just has to do something about it. So Peggy and Luke are offered a deal they can't refuse: Stay married for one year and get the old, but very valuable Sedgwick house to do with whatever they please. Both Peggy and Luke are in need of the money - Peggy needs to cover the outrageous rent on her store that she owns with her best friend Bex, and Luke has to pay for nursing care for his great-aunt Abigail. So staying married is the only financially savvy option. Soon, Peggy is spending her weekends playing the wife of Luke in Connecticut while living in New York during the week with her boyfriend of seven years, Brock. How long Peggy can keep her stories straight is anyone's guess. Eloquently written with engaging and witty characters, this book will captivate readers as they follow Peggy - a charming heroine despite her faults - on her journey first to marriage and then to true love. (AS)

8/10

BOOK NEWS

Nancy Spiller's Entertaining Disasters is about an unnamed food writer (FW) who writes about her fabulous LA dinner parties, complete with thinly veiled Hollywood identities. But she's been inventing the events she writes about because social paralysis sets in at the very thought of a real guest in her hillside home. But then a glossy food magazine editor arrives in town, wanting an invitation to one of her bashes. As FW struggles to host her first real dinner party in a decade, she also has to come to terms with some family baggage. Recipes included.

TAKE TWO

Welsh author Nia Pritchard's upcoming release More Than Just a Wedding reintroduces us to Shirley, a Liverpool hairdresser. In the 2007 book More Than Just a Hairdresser, Shirley and her camp sidekick, Oli, run a mobile hairdressing service. The under-dryer gossip is harmless enough, until the pair are encouraged to use the tools of their trade to covertly trail a client's philandering husband. In More than Just a Wedding, due out in November, will Shirley be able to keep her undercover sleuthing a secret now with David by her side? And with Oli's adoption of a demanding dog, a hen weekend in Iceland and her boss importing scores of Thai and Russian girls - not to mention a wedding to organise - Shirley's more than busy.

NEW RELEASES

Too Good To Be True - Kristan Higgins (2009)

In sixth grade, she was already dating a cute guy named Tyler, whose family owned a horse ranch. At 15, her boyfriend Jack was the son of a restaurant owner. In college, she was with romantic Frenchman Jean Phillipe. But there was one thing these guys have in common - they don't even exist! Faking a boyfriend is nothing new to Grace Emerson - she sees it as an essential survival skill. When her ex-fiance Andrew starts dating her younger, prettier sister Natalie, in order to convince her family that she's moved on and totally over him, she does what she does best - make up a boyfriend. Everyone seems to believe her - except for her new neighbour, Callahan O'Shea, who's fresh from prison. Who is he to question the existence of her boyfriend? The more Grace tries to stay away from him, the more she can't control herself from getting closer. (XT)

7/10

BOOK NEWS

Chicago-based author Megan Louis has just released her second book The Idea of Love. Its synopsis says: "When Marnie graduated from Northwestern University with a comp lit degree in her back pocket, she anticipated it would only be a matter of days before she would be tucked into a corner office with a perky secretary perched outside to answer her phones and fetch her coffee; a matter of months before she had a two-carat Tiffany engagement ring on her finger; and a year or two before she was pushing a stroller through her Gold Coast neighbourhood and pressing the penthouse button on her private elevator. What she hadn't expected was to be wasting away her stellar education in a call centre, to be searching for a husband through online dating sites, or to be totally disillusioned with life by the ripe age of 24. Will Marnie finally succeed in securing her ideal life, or will life's obstacles and setbacks cause her to readjust her expectations (and her idea of love)?" Louis' debut, All My Worst Qualities, was about a woman masquerading as a practising Jew for the sake of her relationship.

CHICKLIT MEMOIR

Lily Burana is a former punk-rocker turned stripper who married an US Army officer. Her memoir, I Love a Man in Uniform, details her marriage to Mike, a military intelligence officer, being left alone while he headed to Iraq, life on the West Point base and dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. Burana's previous memoir Strip City tells of her relationship with a Wyoming cowboy and her farewell tour as a stripper.

NEW RELEASES

Three Men and a Maybe - Debbie Carbin (2009)

Beth spends her days waiting for the reappearance of the unrequited love of her life, Richard - even rehearsing how she will look when he walks back into her life. Richard, the boss at her training company, is currently in Portugal, in the arms of his girlfriend. With her friend Vini pushing her to find a new man, Beth goes along to speed dating where she meets nice guy Brad. Meanwhile Beth is forming an email attachment to millionaire Rupert, the Horizon Holidays chief she is wooing for a training contract. And then there's Sean, her shifty colleague who's had his eye on her since she turned blonde and the company announced it needed some new contracts - fast. Suddenly Beth is juggling more men than she can handle. This is another hilarious novel from one of the most promising new authors. Stick with it as it becomes more of a page-turner the further you get into it. Even working out the twist before it is revealed - there are lots of clues - doesn't ruin the story. Watch out for the connections to Carbin's debut novel Thanks for Nothing, Nick Maxwell. Its heroine Rachel worked for Horizon Holidays and was the mobile phone woman Rupert's friend, Hector, is talking about.

7/10

TAKE TWO

Dreaming about what it would be like to win the lottery? In Win Some Love Some - the final book in Anne Marie Forrest's Love trilogy - Rosie and Dana head to Australia to tell their friend Caroline that they have won 11 million euros in the Irish National Lottery. Agreeing to keep their win a secret, Caroline plans to use the bulk of their fortune to make an even bigger fortune. Rosie wants to help Sean, a homeless teenage friend, and her boyfriend Finn whose band badly needs funding. And Dana wants to help her boyfriend Doug further his education and find a direction in life. But all this will have to be done without those they help knowing where the money has come from. To catch up on the friends' earlier adventures, check out The Love Detective and Love Potions.

AUSTRALIAN MADE

Lana Penrose has written two memoirs detailing her culture shock after moving to Greece and then finding herself suddenly single in her "dirty thirties".

To Hellas and Back - Lana Penrose (2007)

Imagine being offered the chance to move to sunny Greece with the love of your life, where you'd move into a great apartment and not need to work. Sounds like heaven? Well for Australian Lana Penrose, it was more a hell on earth. When her Greek-Australian boyfriend Dion gets the chance to run a radio station in Athens, she gives up her job as an MTV producer and leaves Sydney for a more ancient civilisation. But as Dion gets more and more caught up at work - even when the bureaucrats take the station off air - Lana is stuck at home without a working visa or an ability to speak Greek. Her days are spent trying to learn the language, ironing everything in sight, desperately seeking friends, plucking the hairs from her legs - and slowly getting sucked into a spiral of depression. Then Lana finally meets kindred spirits in her new gay pal, young New Zealander Tim, and American rocker Johnnie. But will her relationship with Dion survive the culture shock? This memoir about one woman's modern-day Greek tragedy takes a no-holds-barred approach in its display of raw emotion and self-deprecating wit.

7/10

Kickstart my Heart - Lana Penrose (2009)

This picks up where To Hellas and Back finishes, with Lana heading to London after her four years in Greece leaves her with a broken marriage and her self-confidence at an all-time low. Through a friend she joins the entourage of a nice-guy Australian pop star (despite him not being mentioned by name, it's not hard to work out it's Darren Hayes). As a woman at the tail-end of her 30s who has to dive back into the dating pool, Lana finds herself embracing her inner rock chick/ cougar during her dalliances with a range of unsuitable men. She also takes to stalking an author, passing her number on to Russell Brand and getting up close (well, close enough to touch his arm, anyway) with Guns N Roses' Slash. Will she ever rediscover that crazy little thing called love?

6/10

BOOK NEWS

It's time for more publicity-hungry WAGs in Playing the Field, by Irish author Emma Heatherington (Crazy for You). Tomboy Cara lands a job as assistant to Sophia, the live-in girlfriend of premiership footballer Dylan Summers. Sophia is a self-obsessed, wannabe celebrity who will stop at nothing to grace the pages of glossy magazines but her relationship with Dylan is on shaky ground since he shuns public attention. With her job description extending to shadowing Sophia's celebrity lifestyle, Cara experiences the perks, parties, glitz and glamour ... and falling in love with the wrong man all over again. Heatherington also writes romantic suspense novels under the name Emma Louise Jordan.

NEW RELEASES

The Disengagement Ring - Clodagh Murphy (2009)

Kate O'Neill has just got engaged to workshop facilitator Brian but her close-knit family are less than impressed that she's settling down with an unsociable, skinflint "tree-hugger". So led by her actress mother Grace, the O'Neills plot to send Kate to Tuscany for the summer, convincing family friend Will to hire her as his rock band's chef. And since Kate has had a crush on Will for years, they are hoping he can lure her away from Brian. From a stag party that lasts for three days and sees the groom lose his hair, to a publicity-mad girlfriend being locked up with a lesbian for a reality TV show, this has many laugh-out-loud moments. If you enjoyed reading about Marian Keyes' Walsh family, then here's another madcap but endearing Irish family for you to fall in love with.

8/10

INDUSTRY NEWS

Several chick lit titles proved to be American reader favourites in the National Public Radio's public vote of the 100 Best Beach Books Ever. Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary came in at No. 5. Other titles included Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, by Rebecca Wells (No. 6); Good in Bed, by Jennifer Weiner (No. 63); and How Stella Got Her Groove Back, by Terry McMillan (No. 97). Janet Evanovich, Stephenie Meyer, Judy Blume and of course Jane Austen also made the cut. J.K Rowling's Harry Potter series was at No. 1. Check out the full list.

BOOK NEWS

What would you do if an ATM suddenly spewed out thousands of dollars? Would you take the money and run? That's the moral dilemma posed in Yona Zeldis McDonough's Breaking the Bank. Mia Saul is down on her luck. Juggling a series of temporary jobs, wrangling with her ex-husband over child support, and trying to keep pace with her daughter Eden's increasingly erratic behaviour have left Mia worn out. So when an ATM starts handing Mia thousands of dollars - and not deducting the money from her account, because it sure isn't in there - she isn't about to give it back. Her newfound cash stash opens up a world of opportunity, and a whole lot of trouble. Worried friends and family start questioning her judgment about everything, and the cops really, really want to know where all that cash is coming from. And then there's Patrick, a man Mia most definitely would never have met if things hadn't spun out of control. McDonough has also written several other books, including non-fiction titles about Marilyn Monroe and Barbie. Breaking the Bank is out in September.

BOOK NEWS

Pauline Lawless' Because We're Worth It is about four women who join a weight loss group. With Kate's husband landing a contract in London and her youngest son off to boarding school, she decides to boost her self-esteem and lose weight by joining Slimforever. Jenny longs for a baby but time is running out. Maybe if she joins Slimforever it'll help her conceive. Lauren, an ex-model who's become an interior designer, decides to join her friends as she could do with losing a few pounds too. Meanwhile voluptuous Diana craves excitement and she'll stop at nothing to get what she wants - even if it's another woman's husband.

NEW RELEASES

The Cinderella Effect - Miriam Morrison (2009)

Wannabe artist Lila has just broken up with her latest fiance - there's been a few - when her family's dilapidated mansion is picked as the location for her famous godfather's next play. Hired as Julian's assistant, Lila is thrilled to hear that Hollywood heart-throb Mitch Clayton is set to star. But as rehearsals for A Midsummer Night's Dream get underway, Lila learns that Mitch is quite shallow and can't even remember her name, while his persecuted stepbrother Johnny is a far more attractive package. But anyway she's sworn off men for now as part of her life-changing Four-Point Plan. Meanwhile Johnny needs to overcome his stage fright and stop being his family's doormat. Told in alternate chapters from Lila and Johnny's viewpoints, save this for those days when you want a light read with a fairytale ending.

6/10

SNEAK PEEK

The Lost Guide to Life and Love - Sharon Griffiths

One night in a nightclub, a top model leaps from a window and escapes, barefoot, into the night. Food writer Tilly Flint, on a rare date with her journalist boyfriend Jake, is sole witness to her flight. Jake is there investigating corruption in the football premiership, in particular footballers' links to a wealthy, well-connected businessman. The following week, Jake splits after an argument, leaving Tilly alone in the wild Pennines landscape where they were both on assignment. A chance encounter with well-known footballer Clayton Silver on the moor draws Tilly into his inner sanctum and gives her a taste of their wealthy lifestyle. But she is also preoccupied by a strangely familiar figure in the local pub, and the discovery that she has family in the area. As Tilly starts to dig deeper, she discovers her great-grandmother's past and the eerie parallels with her own life. Do the answers to Tilly's future lie in her past?

MAKING HER DEBUT

The Dating Sabbatical, by Gemma Burgess, focuses on a 20-something woman taking a break from the dating game in recession-hit London. After one painful break-up too many, what could be more appealing than to give up on men altogether? The Dating Sabbatical starts as a drunken joke but soon becomes a satisfying way of life: it's protection from future heartbreak and men actually seem more interested - especially Jake, the cousin of a friend. Just because there's no sex in this city, or any money for that matter, doesn't mean life can't be just about perfect. But then a weekend party in the country involving the irresistible Jake could be the make or break of the resolution. The Dating Sabbatical is out in December. Burgess, an advertising copywriter, is working on her second novel, Everything I Know I Learned From Jilly Cooper.

BOOK NEWS

In The Wish List, by Martina Reilly, Allie's marriage to Tony takes an ominous turn when they are forced to move from their house because of Tony's debts. One of their sons, Mark, becomes convinced that their new next-door neighbour, a grumpy old man called Jeremy, is none other than Santa Claus. So he starts writing him letters, asking for his family to be put back together.

AROUND THE WORLD (Russia)

For Sex and the City Russian style, try Olya Schechter's debut, self-published novel Love Me, NY, which focuses on three Russian socialities living in Manhattan. They may lead glamorous lifestyles, wear designer clothes and date wealthy boyfriends but in reality there are many secrets behind these glamour girls' pretty facades. Schechter was born in Moscow into a diplomatic family and first arrived in New York at age 16. But before you begin trading in your Cosmopolitans for vodkas, it's currently only available in Russian.

NEW RELEASES

Short Girls - Bich Minh Nguyen (2009)

Van and Linny Luong, the children of Vietnamese immigrants, are both at a point in their lives where they are experiencing some sort of turmoil. Their mother died suddenly of a stroke nine years ago and the only other family the sisters have left is their inventor father, Dinh, who has finally decided to take his oath of American citizenship after 28 years. Van and Linny return home to share in this special moment with a celebration done the old way - with a reunion of the other Vietnamese families who used to gather in the late 70s and 80s. Linny's affair with a married man has ended in humiliating fashion, while Van's husband, Miles, has left her. Van remembers the day Miles used her father's invention, the Luong Arm, to grab a vase from the top of the refrigerator and watched it crash to the floor because all his inventions, designed to improve the lives of short people, were never reliable. He had given her the Luong Arm, saying, "Short girls need to take care of themselves". Throughout the book you experience the relationships of Van, Linny and Dinh, among other excellently crafted characters - and how their lives are all so different yet so similar. Nguyen paints an excellent portrait of the immigrant community and the lives of the Luong family as a whole. (AS)

7/10

AUSTRALIAN MADE

Jessica Adams' new release Vintage Alice (aka Should I Stay or Should I Go?) sees Alice make the decision to emigrate from England to Australia in a last-ditch attempt to save her relationship with Nash, who has scored a teaching job in Sydney. But when Alice finds out that Nash has been unfaithful, she decides to head Down Under alone. Packing what she can into four suitcases, she heads to Bondi to stay with her cousin. This new start may be the perfect opportunity to further her dream of beginning her own clothing label, Vintage Alice. She also makes some new friends and of course there's a hunky man on the horizon.

BOOK NEWS

In Pieces of Happily Ever After, by Irene Zutell (They're Not Your Friends), New Yorker Alice struggles to feel at home in the bizarre world of the San Fernando Valley - all while holding a job and caring for her young daughter and senile mother. When her attorney husband Alex lands a trophy client, box office queen Rose Maris, things begin to look up. But then Alex and Rose's affair hits the tabloids. As Alice navigates her newly single life through suburban LA - a place rife with paparazzi, porn stars, psycho soccer mums and nutty neighbours - can she win Alex back? And what about George, her college sweetheart, who says he's still in love with her.

Check out the book trailer:

NEW RELEASES

Post Grad - Emily Cassel (2009)

Ryden Malby has just graduated college and has her life planned out - from the perfect job that she is certainly going to get to the perfect apartment that she will be moving into. But things don't go as planned for Ryden and she doesn't understand why. After getting beaten by her nemesis, Jessica, for the perfect job, Ryden goes on a string of interviews and is turned down for each one. On top of being obviously unemployable, Ryden has been forced to move back home and deal with her crazy family: her wacky, try-anything father who is always thinking up plans to start a new at-home business that never really takes him in the direction he wants; her very strange but comical little brother Hunter, who enjoys licking the heads of kids at school; her grandmother Maureen, who is obsessed with her own death; and her very patient, even-tempered mother who rounds out the nutty clan. With her hands full at home, Ryden hates the fact that her life has not turned out as planned. The only person she can turn to is childhood friend Adam, who always makes everything better. When Ryden's luck suddenly changes one morning after spending the night waiting to bail her father from jail, she realises that everything she thought she wanted may not be what she needs. Post Grad tells a great story of life after college and has many laugh-out-loud moments. This is a movie tie-in novel for the film starring Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls) as Ryden. (AS)

7/10

TAKE TWO

Former advertising executive Lucy Edge detailed her quest for life's deeper meaning in the yoga schools and ashrams of India in her 2006 release Yoga School Dropout. Now she's back, writing about her quest for yogic serenity in the windy reaches of Norfolk. The Handbag and Wellies Yoga Club, out in August, sees Lucy and the love of her life trade in the city rat race for a rural farmhouse and try for a baby. But country life isn't quite what Lucy imagined - and finds it can be quite lonely. Then she stumbles across a local yoga club, where she finds the friendship and wisdom to steer her through life's dramas.

NEW RELEASES

Valentine - Rebecca Farnworth (2009)

Valentine Fleming dreams of making it big as an actress but after years of rejections and bit parts, her hopes and self-esteem are beginning to fade. With a stroke of luck, she lands a part in a play alongside sexy leading man Jack Hart and although things don't get off to a great start between them, there's certainly an instant attraction and it's not long before the two of them are an item. However, with Valentine's ex-boyfriend still in the picture, along with a couple of stalker ex-girlfriends of Jack's who just can't seem to let go, it's a rocky road to love. Just as things start to look up in both her professional and personal life, Valentine learns a shocking secret that threatens to turn her world upside down. With a strong lead character, a supporting cast made up of quirky yet lovable characters and a fantastic plot this is a must-read. (KC)

8/10

BOOK NEWS

Claire Allan's third novel, Jumping in Puddles, is about four lone parents from a small Donegal village. You can read the first chapter at her blog.

Sharon Owens' next release, The Seven Secrets of Happiness, is about Ruby O'Neill who has to start all over again when her husband dies on Christmas Eve.

NEW RELEASES

The Seven Year Itch - Kate Morris (2009)

Ellie has been married to Jack for seven years but she's starting to resent him. Jack is quite self-centred and now that his long-running soapie character on Country Matters has been killed off, he's desperate for a new role - even auditioning for voice-overs for dog food. Ellie throws herself into opening a cafe with friend Tilda, while au pair Petra helps look after the kids, Jed and Maud. Can Ellie and Jack make it past a familiar bump in the road to long-term marital bliss? Well, it certainly doesn't help when the irresistible Mark moves in across the road. Keep reading for the ending that veers off unexpectedly.

6/10

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Knit the Season is the third book in Kate Jacobs' series about the Friday Night Knitting Club. The story begins a year after the end of Knit Two, with Dakota's trip to spend the Christmas holidays with her gran in Scotland, accompanied by her father, her grandparents and her mother's best friend, Catherine. Together, they share a trove of happy memories about past Christmases with Dakota's late mum, Georgia Walker.

One Week in December, by Holly Chamberlin (Tuscan Holiday, Babyland), sees Becca Rowan return to her family's Maine farmhouse the week before Christmas. She is there to reclaim the daughter she gave up when she was a teenager. Rain, now 16, has been raised by Becca's older brother and his wife, and has no idea she is adopted. And even though Becca had agreed not to reveal the truth until Rain turned 21, she was still not expecting such a strong reaction from her family.

ONE FROM THE BOYS

Juliet, Naked - the latest from best-selling author Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, Fever Pitch, About a Boy) - is about a reclusive 80s musician who is about to re-release his most famous album. Its synopsis says: "In a dreary seaside town in England, Annie loves Duncan - or thinks she does, because she always has. Duncan loves Annie, but then, all of a sudden, he doesn't anymore. So Annie stops loving Duncan, and starts getting her own life. She sparks an e-mail correspondence with Tucker Crowe, a reclusive Dylanesque singer-songwriter who stopped making music 22 years ago, and who is also Duncan's greatest obsession. A surprising connection is forged between two lonely people who are looking for more out of what they've got. . . . What happens when a washed-up musician looks for another chance? And miles away, a restless, childless woman looks for a change? " Juliet, Naked is out in September.

NEW RELEASES

Can I Tell You a Secret? - Evelyn Cosgrave (2009)

Three sisters turn up, one by one, on their grandmother Angela's doorstep, each running away from a problem and with something to hide. Susan has ended her engagement after having a fling at a wedding and has her eye on her Gran's hot gardener. Except she discovers he's her cousin Gavin. Felicity, who had been set to make her fortune from a website, has had a public meltdown at work. And no one is surprised that flighty Marianne is in some sort of trouble again. But the biggest surprise of all comes from Gran. It's also no secret that this book just doesn't gel.

5/10

AUSTRALIAN MADE

Janet Gover follows up The Farmer Needs a Wife with another love story set in the Australian outback. The Bachelor and Spinster Ball, out in November, focuses on three friends who grew up in Farwell Creek - "sexy Nick, feisty Bec and dreamy Hailey". Nick and Bec were the town's sweethearts, until she made a break for the big-city lights. Now she's back - but does Nick still have any romantic feelings for her? Meanwhile Hailey is too devastated over her parents' recent deaths to worry about her friends' concerns. It will take a bushfire, a black-tie ball and a road-trip to help all three friends work out who and what they want - and what they need.

BOOK NEWS

Lucy Dillon moves from the ballroom to dog kennels with her 2009 release Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts. It's about Rachel who inherits her aunt's house, Border Collie and overcrowded kennels for stray dogs. But since her life has collapsed, Rachel's not sure she can deal with any more lost souls. Zoe's ex-husband has given their children a puppy but she's the one stuck training Toffee the impossible Labrador. She's nearly at the end of her tether - until Toffee leads her to a handsome doctor. Natalie and Johnny's marriage hasn't been easy since they started trying for a baby. But is a Basset hound like Bertie really the child substitute they're looking for? As the new owners' paths cross on the local dog-walking circuits, they learn some important lessons about loyalty, companionship and unconditional love.

NEW RELEASES

By Invitation Only - Jodi Della Femina and Sheri McInnis (2009)

This wonderfully written novel presents life in the Hamptons as it is seen from the inside. Jodi Della Femina knows this area well - and it shows - her father, Jerry, owns a famous East Hampton restaurant. Toni Fratelli is a highly strung caterer who can never sit still and has a mile-long to-do list. After attempting to open her own restaurant in New York City, she inevitably returns home to the Hamptons when things don't work out. She begins working at her father's Italian restaurant again and tries to create some buzz for the new catering business she is starting. An extremely talented chef, Toni is nothing but a thorn in the side of the local catering company La Dolce Vita Foods. In the meantime, Toni's best friend, Layla, is getting married to the son of a wealthy, old-money family. Didi, the mother of the groom, is hardly happy that her son is marrying a local girl. Despite Layla's effortless beauty, Didi would rather her son be with someone who runs in the same social circles as her family. Toni has such a busy summer ahead of her - between catering Layla's wedding, making an appearance on local channel PlumTV to showcase her cooking skills, working at the restaurant and trying to get her catering gig off the ground - she never expects to meet someone special. But that happens when she crosses paths with Chris, a man like no one she's ever met before. He's not like the New York City types she's dated in the past and she likes that about him. But Chris is harbouring some secrets that he's not sure Toni will like. Before the summer is out, Toni has to learn to move on and forget her past and ultimately forgiving becomes her biggest challenge of all. It is a lovely summertime beach read that you won't want to put down. (AS)

7/10

CELEBRITY READ

The Mistress is the first in a trilogy about strong women from British actress Martine McCutcheon (Love Actually, EastEnders). Its synopsis says: "You never know where life will take you. Beautiful, bubbly, auburn-haired Mandy is turning 30, and pretty well has everything sorted, but so far true love has eluded her. Then, on the night of her birthday party at a glamorous London restaurant, Cupid strikes when Mandy and the gorgeous Jake lock eyes and she falls for him in an instant. But when Mandy discovers that Jake is married and has two children, she swears she can't break her golden rule - never encourage a man to play away. Jake, though, is a man who always gets what he wants and soon Mandy is seduced in more ways than one." The Mistress is out in November, with The Actress set to be her next title.

NEW RELEASES

According to Jane - Marilyn Brant (2009)

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a romantic heart must be in want of her happily-ever-after. Ellie Barnett is no exception. What is exceptional about Ellie's story, however, is that Miss Jane Austen herself has been giving Ellie romantic advice since she first read Pride and Prejudice at the age of 15. With Miss Austen's guidance, Ellie has learned to classify her romantic interests according to 18th century England. There are the Mr Bingleys (like Jason and Tim) the Colonel Fitzwilliams (Dominic), and of course the dangerous Mr Wickhams (such as Brent and Sam). Like most women, though, she is forever in search of her ever-elusive Mr Darcy. It's not until she is in her 30s and stops to take stock of her dating history that Ellie realises not all men fit neatly into one particular category. And that just maybe she has misclassified one of her former loves. In a story more than coincidentally parallel to Pride and Prejudice, Marilyn Brant weaves an inventive tale of one woman's search for her heart's desire. I can't help but think how lucky we would all be to have Jane Austen guiding our own romantic adventures. (LEK)

6/10

SNEAK PEEK

The Secret of Joy - Melissa Senate

New York paralegal Rebecca found out at her father's death bed that she has a half-sister called Joy. And he had one last wish: for Rebecca to deliver the letters he never sent to Joy. But when Rebecca arrives in Wiscasset, Maine, Joy is less than thrilled to meet her. Joy already has her own life, her own family, and her own business running a bus tour for singles. Rebecca joins the tour in the hopes of forming a relationship with the only family she has left. But as she spends more time with Joy and the women who dub themselves the Divorced Ladies Club of Wiscasset, Rebecca realises sometimes, you just have to go along for the ride.

BOOK NEWS

Irish author Amanda Hearty, author of Are You Ready?, has another release due out next month called Positively Yours. Beth has fallen for her boss, Tom. But when Beth discovers that she is pregnant, Tom makes it clear that a baby was never part of his plan. Grace's life changed when she fell in love with Ethan in the US. But when Ethan's firm offers a transfer to Ireland, Grace is unsure about moving back home. And Erin's yearning for a child soon puts a strain on her relationship with husband John.

INTERVIEWS

NEW RELEASES

Before We Say Goodbye - Louise Candlish (2009)

Olivia never enjoyed a close relationship with her free-spirited mother. Not only did Maggie walk out on her family several times, Olivia also blames her for the demise of her relationship with her first love, Richie. Years later, one of Maggie's last acts before her death is to pass on Richie's address. Unable to resist seeing him again, Olivia heads to the seaside village of Millington, leaving her husband to cope for the weekend. But she soon settles into life with Richie and his young daughter Wren and finds herself unable to return to her previous existence. Will she do the unforgiveable and leave her two sons the way her mother left Olivia and her brother Dean? A moving - and sometimes disturbing - story of a mother's dilemma about whether she should put her own second chance at happiness ahead of her family.

7/10

HEN LIT

What if you got what could be your last chance at love and success at the same time - and getting one meant giving up the other? That's the question posed by Jane Adams in her self-published novel Sugar Time. Charlotte "Sugar" Kane hasn't created a hit TV series in years but now she's older, wiser, and ready to prove she can still deliver - unless her young, scheming assistant steals her new show out from under her. Then Sugar faces a crisis that threatens her career, her health, and the unconditional love she's finally found. The story has also been optioned for a movie. Adams has written several non-fiction titles in her field of social psychology.

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