LOUISE BAGSHAWE

Desire (2010)

Lisa Costello wakes up the morning after her wedding at an exclusive Thai resort to find her new husband Josh, an influential movie producer, stabbed to death and the knife in her hand. They had argued the night before, she had had a lot to drink - had she killed him? Lisa - who is not some dim trophy wife - goes on the run, needing to get out of the death penalty country before the police catch up with her. What follows is an action-packed race through Hong Kong and Europe, with USA Weekly journalist Sam Murray - who was once trained by the FBI - also on her trail. As the pair try to work out who was behind the hit, the assassin is closing in again. The running from an assassin while the sexual tension builds plot was just too similar to her previous novel Passion and the love scenes - which I guess are necessary for a book in this genre - were plain distracting. But negatives aside, just try to put down this addictive mix of danger and desire.

Passion (2009)

Years after her parents make her annul her marriage to poor student Will, Melissa has retreated into life as an academic. Both her parents are now dead - her father recently died in an accident in Italy - while Will is now a banking billionaire and ready to marry a gorgeous doctor. But when four people are murdered, Will, a former MI6 spy, puts together the pieces and links all the deaths to Melissa's father, an Oxford professor. Believing her to be the next hit, he whisks her away just in the nick of time and they go on the run. For those who like their chick lit served with assassins, deadly chases and international conspiracy plots - and just a touch of passion.

Glitz (2008)

The Chambers cousins - socialite Juno, academic Athena, wannabe actress Venus and trendy Diana - have spent the past few years being trust fund princesses courtesy of their reclusive Uncle Clem. But now he has announced that he's picked a young bride, Bai-Ling, and within the year their annual half-a-million-pound allowance will end. The four women hope to stop the wedding by humiliating Bai-Ling in London society and in order to show they are not threatened by the loss of the trust fund they each take on careers. There's a few plot holes amid the glitz but grab it if you're looking to read about designer clothes, powerful men, glamorous careers, lavish property and what it's like to be rolling in money.

Glamour (2007)

Texan glamour girl Sally Lassiter, smart English girl Jane Morgan and Jordanian beauty Helen Yanna meet at a rich Beverly Hills high school. The three girls form a pact to stick together. Financial catastrophe forces Jane and Sally to drop out of school while Helen is forced into an arranged marriage and sent to Egypt. Over the next few years, the girls individually obtain incredible business success. The three women find each other years later in LA and join forces to open a luxurious store, Glamour. Love, success and power complicate the lives of these women as they struggle to keep their friendship. (AO)

The Go-to Girl (2004)

aka Monday's Child

Anna Brown is a self-described ugly girl living in London. She shares an apartment with two annoying models and works as an underpaid script reader. Anna's big break comes when Mark Swan, a sexy and powerful movie director, takes her under his wing. Anna is immediately attracted to Mark, however, her lack of self-esteem convinces her that he could never fall for a girl like her. So Anna starts dating Charles, a wealthy but unattractive man, who she feels no spark for. And when Charles proposes, Anna is torn whether to let Mark Swan know her true feelings or marry a man she feels nothing for. This novel has entertaining well-developed characters and the heroine reminds me of Bridget Jones. (AO)

The Devil You Know (2003)

Rose Fiorello grew up in New York and has a vendetta against Rothstein Realty, the company that years earlier forced her father out of business. Rose's situation is complicated when she starts to fall for the man who is the heir to the Rothstein fortune. Poppy Allen is a spoiled LA girl. She rebels against her parents and goes into the music business. She works from the bottom up and becomes a successful music manager. Her rock'n'roll lifestyle is threatened when she falls in love with a southern, conservative Senator. Daisy Markham was unhappy until she found herself through writing. She soon becomes an international best-selling author. She falls in love with her best friend, however, she doesn't tell him until he is happily married. This novel follows the life of these three women who, after discovering they are connected, unite for revenge against the person responsible for splitting them apart. (AO)

For All the Wrong Reasons (2000)

aka A Kept Woman

Diana Foxton is British, beautiful and married to publishing powerhouse Ernie Foxton. When the Foxtons move to New York City, Diana's days as a trophy wife are filled with shopping and hosting glamorous parties. But her life comes to a sudden halt when she catches her husband in bed with another woman. She is suddenly poor, on the brink of divorce, and shunned by New York society. Diana finds herself joining forces with Michael Cicero, a womanising blue-collar publisher, who has also been the victim of Ernie Foxton's unscrupulous behaviour. The two start a company and fight to make it a success. Along the way, Mike and Diana heat up the book with plenty of steamy sex scenes. (AO)

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TILLY BAGSHAWE

Scandalous (2010)

Sasha Miller is an academically gifted girl with a passion for science. But after being betrayed by her Cambridge professor Theo Dexter, she leaves in disgrace to study business at Harvard. As Theo's star continues to rise - taking science to the masses through his TV series - Sasha becomes a high-flying businesswoman. But her greed for money is solely motivated by her desire to ruin Theo. You know all along that the villain is going to get his just deserts, that his downtrodden wife Theresa is going to triumph and that Sasha is going to get her man, but just sit back and enjoy the ride. (PS Dear cover designer, pretty sure there was never a yacht in sight.)

Do Not Disturb (2008)

When Honor Palmer takes over the running of her family's grand old Palmers Hotel in East Hampton, she is determined to restore it to its former glory. But first she has to go head to head with ambitious ladies man Lucas Ruiz, who's opening up tycoon Anton Tisch's latest luxury hotel on her doorstep. Check in for a five-star romp as this bonkbuster has it all - villains and divas, sex and dirty tricks, scandals and revenge.

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ROZ BAILEY

Mommies Behaving Badly (2007)

Romance author Ruby Dixon can't imagine her family living anywhere else but New York. Even with her husband Jack away constantly for work, the parking hassles, the expensive property . . . But then her car is stolen and Jack, who has always lived within ten blocks of where he grew up in Queens, is keen to accept a transfer to Portland, Oregon. Soon Ruby's in the north-west house-hunting. Their three children settle in well to the new neighbourhood, while Ruby is run off her feet with media interviews and killer deadlines as her latest book takes off. But Jack is working away just as much as before - and this time his absence is about to take a big toll. Just beware those looking for a read about desperate housewives: the title is misleading.

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SAM BAKER

The Stepmothers' Support Group (2009)

Magazine journalist Eve fell in love with widower Ian after writing an article about his wife's battle with cancer. Now as their relationship gets more serious, she must try to fit in with family life that revolves around his three children in a house that still bears the marks (and gumboots) of his late wife. Her best friend Clare, a schoolteacher and single mum to teenager Louisa, suggests that Eve talk it over with her younger sister Lily, who is also dating someone with a child. Soon their informal Stepmothers' Support Group grows to include Melanie, an American fashion web entrepreneur who is preparing to meet her boyfriend's daughter for the first time, and Mandy, who is blending together a large family. As Eve struggles to get along with Ian's teenage daughter Hannah, Clare faces up to the unwelcome return of Louisa's father. Exposing lots of relationship pitfalls, this book (written by a real life stepmother) gives an honest, open take from the not-so-wicked stepmother's point of view - and is a refreshingly different slant on the usual mum lit.

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STACEY BALLIS

Room for Improvement (2006)

Interior decorator Lily Allen gets a job on Swap/Meet, a TV DIY show that does up two singles' homes then lets them meet at a party of friends. What Lily didn't count on when she took the dream job was fussy contestants, a ditzy host, warring fashion consultants, and a competitive fellow designer. Nor that her schedule would leave her without time to see her friends, more or less date.

Sleeping Over (2005)

Spending the night together does not always mean romance is on the cards for these five friends. Fresh from a stint in the Peace Corps, Jess is staying with a family friend, Harrison, a sexy doctor, until she can find a place of her own. Chef Robin has a crush on restaurant owner Michael, while Lilith is carrying a torch for an actor. Anne meets her dream guy, while her sister Beth reconnects with a former classmate.

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MELISSA BANK

The Wonder Spot (2005)

This book is a series of interconnected stories that follow middle child Sophie Applebaum from her school days when she used to wag Jewish school, through college to her first job and her terrible typing skills, to her disappointing dating life.

The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing (1999)

This book is a series of stories mostly taken from different times in narrator Jane Rosenal's life. It opens with her brother, Henry, bringing home an older girlfriend, who Jane watches for clues on how to fall in love. It follows Jane through several failed love affairs, including with a much older man Archie Knox; career crises in publishing and advertising; and the death of a loved one. The book has been critically acclaimed but it makes my Top 10 list of Most Disappointing books.

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LAUREN BARATZ-LOGSTED

A Little Change of Face (2005)

Scarlett Stein is sick of people thinking she's too pretty to work as a librarian. Stuck in her condo with chicken pox, she thinks long and hard about her friend Pam's comment that men like her only because of how she looks, not for who she is. So Scarlett goes from swan to ugly duckling by cutting her hair, gaining weight and wearing dowdy clothes and glasses. To complete her transformation to Lettie Shaw she moves to a different house and job. Will she meet someone who loves her just the way she is - whether she's a frump or a knockout?

Crossing the Line (2004)

In the sequel to The Thin Pink Line, just as Jane reaches the end of her fake pregnancy, she finds a baby abandoned outside a church on Christmas Eve. She throws a New Year's Eve party for her family and friends to reveal all about her pregnancy and the new baby, who she christens Emma. As Jane makes plans to become Emma's foster parent, she befriends a black woman to help her learn about the baby's heritage. But then her book, the Cloth Baby, comes out and looks like spelling the end to her foster chances. The story then heads towards a too-predictable conclusion.

The Thin Pink Line (2003)

Jane Taylor, a 29-year-old assistant editor at a publishing firm, thinks she is pregnant. But when she gets her period, she is disappointed, especially when she realises how much attention pregnant women get. So expecting to fall pregnant any day to boyfriend Trevor, she fakes a pregnancy test by drawing on a pink line. Soon she's invented a tilted uterus, appointed a tarot-card-reading midwife and even tried to buy ultrasound pictures off expectant mothers. Then a publisher hears of her story, and convinces her to continue the charade so she can write about her experiences of what to expect when you're not really expecting.

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ZOE BARNES

Return to Sender (2009)

The death of her adoptive mother and the double christening of her sisters' children gets Holly Bennett wondering about motherhood for herself. She's been with steady boyfriend Murdo for a few years but isn't sure he's the one. The advertising exec is also taking a break from her real life, living in her family home and working with her best friend at the post office. Holly hires a private investigator, ex-cop Phil, to look for her biological mother. All she knows is she was left on the steps of a hospital 30 years ago. A blanket, a confirmation necklace and an envelope are clues enough to take the pair to the Isle of Man - and perhaps into their own romance. Every so often I read a book where I think the last few pages must have fallen out. This ending certainly leaves you hanging - and if you're hoping to find out all about Holly's origins you will be disappointed. (And since Holly shares the surname of the main character in Barnes' previous novel Special Delivery, I even began wondering if there was a link I missed that would explain all.)

Special Delivery (2007)

Ally Bennett is happily married to social worker Luke, with two young children. But for years she's been living in the shadow of her older sister, Miranda, a former model who is now a successful interior designer and married to wealthy property developer Gavin. But what Ally didn't realise is Miranda is missing something from her perfect life - and all the IVF attempts in the world have failed to give her a much-wanted baby. When Miranda turns to Ally to be a surrogate and carry her husband's baby, Ally isn't sure how to respond. Could she ever hand over a baby to someone else, especially Miranda? With an increasingly absent husband and an overly attentive brother-in-law, the implications of Ally's decision will be felt for much longer than nine months.

Wedding Belles (2006)

Green Goddess shop assistant Belle Craine is planning her wedding to local journalist Kieran when Australian model Mona - her father's unknown daughter - turns up on the doorstep. In disgrace, her father and mother have to move out of the vicarage and into a new parish in a very undesirable area. Then Kieran starts spending too much time with Mona and Belle starts thinking the worst.

Love Bug (2002)

Laurel Page has swapped cyberspace for managing an old-fashioned dating agency. And she's got an uphill battle ahead of her; because the agency owner refuses to change anything, Laurel can't introduce computers or even an orange filing cabinet. With a bad relationship behind her (boyfriend Jason slept with best friend Steph), Lauren has sworn off dating herself. But she soon finds herself attracted to client Gabriel. But then Steph turns up on the agency's books and gets set up with Gabriel.

Hitched (1998)

Gemma and Rory want a small wedding but when his mother hears of their engagement she begins hijacking the preparations. The couple decide that the only way to control their big day is to pay for it themselves. So Gemma swaps to a higher paying job and Rory puts in more hours as PA to the very attractive Lisa. But as the wedding approaches, they find themselves drifting apart.

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EMILY BARR

The Perfect Lie (2010)

Lucy Riddick has been running away all her life. Even now that she's finally happy and in a committed relationship with a great man, Lucy knows it can't last. When she rescues her best friend's daughter from near death one fateful day and her face is splashed across the television, she knows that it's time to run again. But where will she go? Where will she be safe? The first place that comes to mind is Venice. Her mum always had a photo of it on her bedroom wall and it seems like the perfect place to lose yourself. But what Lucy finds is that what she's been fearing most is already lying in wait for her in Venice. Is it time to run again or is it time for Lucy to face her fears once and for all? This is a haunting story that flips back and forth between Lucy's current life and her childhood. The situations she experienced in her childhood were horrific and it's hard to read the pieces where Lucy loses her innocence as a child, but it's also written so well that you can't help but turn to the next page. The subjects are serious and a bit heavy, but it's a great story of facing your fears even if it's the last thing you want to do. (AS)

The Life You Want (2009)

Years after she first appeared in Barr's debut novel Backpack, mother of two Tansy is desperately restless. When she married Max, she thought they would still travel the world. But now he's happily settled down, and Tansy is drinking to excess and flirting with her son's teacher. So it is timely when Tansy's old backpacker friend, Elly, gets in touch, asking for her to help out for a month with orphans at her Indian ashram. Tansy soon finds herself rising at 5am and doing yoga, while wondering why she feels like such an inadequate mother in London but is able to bond with the young survivors of the tsunami. Meanwhile childless Alexia starts a blog where she expresses her desire to adopt a child. Although it's a story with a dark edge, somehow it ends up falling flatter than a poppadum.

The Sisterhood (2008)

Twenty-year-old Helen has always felt like something was missing in her life. She lives a pampered life in a French chateau but has a distant relationship with her parents. So when she discovers that her mother had abandoned another baby years before, she starts looking for her sister. She finds Elizabeth in England through the internet and so leaves France for the first time in her life to meet her. But she doesn't tell Liz who she is - instead she ingratiates herself into Liz's life with the plan to take her back home to reunite her with her long-lost mother. Liz, whose boyfriend has just left her for someone else, eventually begins to have her suspicions about the clinging French woman. A real page-turner - there will be at least one or two twists that you won't have seen coming.

Plan B (2005)

Emma reluctantly sells up her Brighton home after her partner Matt persuades her to buy a farmhouse in the south of France. She arrives to discover it's raining day and night, the roof is leaking and the heat's been shut off. As Matt continues to commute to London, she looks after their daughter Alice and oversees building work on the house. After all, it's all going to be worth it - Matt has promised to move permanently to France and marry her soon. But he is leading a double life and has another family back in England.

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JO BARRETT

Don't Let It Be True (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.

This is How It Happened (2008)

When Madeline's boyfriend of four years, Carlton, dumps her, she gets mad, then decides to get even. Not only has he stolen away her dreams of a wedding but he has also shut her out of the company she helped create. Madeline toys with the idea of killing him via arsenic brownies and carbon monoxide poisoning. But in the end she hires a hit man to carry out her plan of attack. The story alternates between this campaign and flashbacks to their relationship, which is slowly revealed to be not as perfect as she thought. This tale of heartbreak and sweet revenge surpassed expectations.

The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom (2007)

When Claire St John realises the women's bathroom is the place where she always gets the best advice, she decides to write a guide about them - like why women go in pairs and what really goes on behind closed doors. The newly divorced Claire has quit her New York law firm and moved back to Austin to dabble in writing. This seems to be the perfect project, as she begins dating the seemingly perfect guy, Jake. But then an ill-timed confession in a bathroom threatens to bring her good fortune to an end.

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LYNNE BARRETT-LEE

Barefoot in the Dark (2006)

Recently divorced Hope Shepherd becomes a modern day Cinderella when she loses her trainer running for the morning train. Luckily for her, Prince Charming is radio DJ Jack Valentine and he appeals for the owner of the trainer live on air. When she is reunited with her shoe, Hope convinces Jack into doing a fun run for the charity she works for. They try to fight their attraction as both are struggling with their new divorcee status and not wanting to get hurt again. It is written from both Hope and Jack's perspectives, giving you a good insight into both characters. The book itself in places is a bit like walking barefoot in the dark, it knows where it is going yet it just takes a long time to get there. (AB)

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TRACEY BATEMAN

You Had Me at Good-bye (2008)

Book two in the Drama Queens series focuses on Dancy Ames, who lives with Laini and Tabby and works as a book editor at Lane Publishing. Her brother's best friend Jack Quinn not only took her dream job at the firm, but ends up having to fire her because of a change of company direction. Meanwhile, Dancy helps out her friend Nick at his coffee shop and works on her own novel, called Fifth Avenue Princess, whose main character is torn between two men - one sounding remarkably like Jack. Dancy also is dealing with a teenage half-brother who has just arrived on the scene and jealousy that her engaged brother is getting the family condo. Not sure if I read a different book to what the blurb and advance reviews promised - what happened to the storyline about Dancy being dared to send Jack a book, under an assumed name, about a romance between a mean editor and a coffee barista?

Catch a Rising Star (2007)

Former daytime soapie star Tabby Brockman is sacked from her job in a bookstore after an incident with a rabbit costume. But it seems God does have a plan for her - she's getting the chance to return to her TV role on Legacy of Life: her character Felicia Fontaine isn't in fact dead but is emerging from a coma. But back on the set she finds her nemesis Rachel Savage is also joining the cast, the TV writer who killed her off still hates her and she's got to find a way to bond with her character's children. On the personal front, her mum has set her up with an unwanted boyfriend, who just won't leave her alone, and she's got a big crush on stage dad David - but Rachel already has her claws in him. It's book one in the Drama Queen series - more books centred on Tabby's flatmates Dancy (You Had Me at Good-bye) and Laini (That's Not Exactly Amore) follow.

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HYATT BASS

The Embers (2009)

Emily Ascher seems to have everything falling into place. As a successful public defender, she has not only found fulfilment in her job but also a man she truly loves. Yet the past continues to catch up with her as she struggles to deal with the emotional hurt and pain that follows her parents' divorce and the death of her brother, Thomas. Her mother Laura has since remarried but still grapples with mixed feelings about her ex-husband Joe. Once idolised by his daughter, Joe is no longer the famous playwright he used to be. Now he writes for a lifestyle magazine and spends his time listening to old tapes alone. When Emily decides to conduct her wedding ceremony on the site of their old home, the remaining members of the Ascher family are forced to revisit the tragic event that took place 15 years ago, hoping to find closure. This story of a broken family is an impressive read full of emotion. (XT)

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JANE BEATON

Rules (2009)

In this sequel to Class, Maggie has returned for another year of teaching at Downey House, a girls' boarding school. She is now engaged to Stan but she is less-than- enthusiastic about planning their wedding or returning to Scotland to find another teaching post. Plus she still can't stop thinking about David, a teacher from the boys' school, who is also engaged. Meanwhile a new girl arrives in the form of American army daughter Zelda. She gives a makeover to scholarship student Simone while Fliss takes the dieting a step too far trying to catch the eye of her crush, Will. And for headmistress Veronica, she is faced with a difficult decision about publicly acknowledging her adopted-out son.

Class (2008)

This is a story about life at a Cornwall boarding school for girls - but, unlike most boarding school books, told more from the viewpoint of a new teacher. Maggie Adair has left behind her long-term boyfriend Stan in Scotland to become English teacher at Downey House. Can their long-distance relationship survive and why is she so attracted to David, her opposite number at the boys' school? There's also principal Veronica Deveral, whose secret past is about to confront her, and French teacher Claire, who's having an affair. For those wanting the students' perspective, there's Fliss who can't wait to get thrown out of the school; scholarship winner Simone who's trying her hardest to fit in; and Alice, the beautiful troublemaker. I enjoyed the fact that all the threads weren't neatly sown up at the end - leaving us wanting to return to Downey House for the sequel.

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MARIA BEAUMONT

Motherland (2007)

Also known as 37

Desperate housewife Fran Clark is approaching crisis point. Once a talented voiceover artist, she hasn't had the confidence to go back to work after having her now school-age children, Thomas and Molly. On the night of her 37th birthday party, things come crashing down around her, and she soon hits rock bottom after she hits the wine bottle too often (Watch what happens with the chapter numbers.) It's hard looking after the kids, keeping up with the other bitchy school mums and dealing with the fact that her husband Richard doesn't want her any more. But with the help of her two best friends, Fran drags herself back up from the mother of all breakdowns.

Marsha Mellow and Me (2004)

Secretary Amy is used to keeping secrets from her opinionated mother. Like the fact that her best friend Ant is gay. Or that she's been smoking for years. Or that she has written a sexplicit chick lit novel under the assumed name of Marsha Mellow. The book has been flying off the shelves since the Daily Mail decried it for leading teens astray. The only people who know about Amy's novelist life are her sister Lisa and agent Mary. With the tabloids on her tail, an ex back on the scene, a private detective to deal with and the publisher wanting his next bestseller, Amy realises she's not going to be able to keep Marsha a secret for much longer - and can she?

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REXANNE BECNEL

The Payback Club (2006)

Joan and Liz are both still hurting after being betrayed by their cheating husbands. As they slowly become friends through their gym sessions, the two women decide to get revenge by seducing each other's ex and destroying their lives - and so begins the Payback Club. However, things become complicated when Joan discovers that Liz's ex-husband is making plans to leave his present pregnant wife, and her own ex-husband goes missing without a trace and Joan becomes the prime suspect behind his sudden disappearance. This will appeal to those who relish the whole concept of wives taking revenge like in The First Wives Club. What I loved most was how they came up with their little plans to make over themselves so as to attract the other's ex and how in the end both women finally came to terms with their failed marriage and made up for the loss by being stronger and adopting a more positive outlook towards life. (XT)

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DAN BEGLEY

Ms. Taken Identity (2009)

Mitch Samuel's life is falling apart: he forgot his girlfriend at the airport so she dumped him; his writing career is in a shambles after being rejected - again - and one particular student in his class is driving him insane with her callous behaviour. Feeling down and out, Mitch stumbles upon a newly released book by the Queen of all chick lit authors, Katherine Longwell. He decides on a whim to pick up the book and laugh at how stupid it is, compared to his scholarly manuscript. However, while scanning the book at a local Starbucks, Mitch encounters Katherine in person and she takes to Mitch immediately. When he sees an opportunity he goes for it so he tells Katherine that he has a cousin who is writing a chick lit novel that she would love to have critiqued by such a famous author. Katherine agrees to look at his "cousin's" manuscript. Now, Mitch has a new dilemma: He has no cousin/writer and he doesn't have a manuscript! Not knowing what to do, Mitch talks it over with his friend Bradley who suggests Mitch joins his sister Marie's dance class to get "into the minds of women". Mitch joins the class as Jason the pharmaceutical rep, expecting lots of spandex and flamboyant men, but what he finds is a genuinely nice group of people. But to complicate matters, Mitch begins to fall for Marie but can't tell her who he really is or why he really joined the dance class. As he learns more about the people in his class, his version of the chick lit book starts to take shape and he realises that the genre is not as dumb as he thought. This twist on chick lit is an absolutely hilarious, witty and charming story coming from a man's perspective. (AS)

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NINA BELL

Sisters in Law (2009)

When Kate Fox invites a new friend, Sasha, into her family's life, she never imagined the newly separated mother of two would wreak so much havoc. But is Sasha after her partner Jonny, who seems reluctant to marry Kate even after 15 years? Or does she have her eye on her brothers, successful head of the family Si who is married to high-flying divorce lawyer Olivia, or her impulsive youngest brother Jack, whose meek wife Heather has stood by him as a loyal army wife. A totally absorbing read about three very different women related by marriage who are trying to keep their relationships afloat. With one very nasty villain, this is among this year's best reads.

The Inheritance (2008)

The day after Bramble has an argument about her horse-riding future with her father Edward, he dies of a heart attack. Bramble had been running the Lorenden horse-training property with her father - and was expected to inherit it. But her father's will instead shares the assets among his three daughters, including self-centred soapie actress Helena and Felicity, a globetrotting journalist who had never healed a rift with her father. With Helena insistent on selling up to developers, Bramble wants time to turn their fortunes around, with the help of mysterious nagsman Jez, who turned up on the doorstep straight after her father's death. Even if you don't enjoy all the equestrian details, stick with it as it's a gripping story about family secrets - all set amid an ominous atmosphere.

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JENNIFER BELLE

Little Stalker (2007)

One-time wonder author Rebekah Kettle is neurotically obsessed. Not with her latest squeeze Isaac Myman who is a paparazzo or the quirky and annoying gossip columnist Ivy Vohles who wants to be her best bud. She is obsessed with cult filmmaker Arthur Weeman, whom funnily enough her boyfriend resembles. For more than two decades, Rebekah has religiously watched the release of Arthur's films each fall and tracked ever so carefully his movements around New York. While working part-time in her father's medical clinic, Rebekah comes across an elderly patient named Mrs Williams who lives in an Upper East Side apartment across from Arthur's and this offers her a voyeuristic glimpse into her idol's life. Rebekah creates a 13-year-old alter-ego Thalia who writes letters to Arthur detailing her days, thoughts and ideas. As Rebekah starts to discover a new side to her life, she decides to use the letter writing as a basis for her new book. This book has a mixture of sad and funny parts from her annoying and semi-stalking gossip columnist Ivy to her 35-year-old boyfriend wetting the bed. This book will keep you guessing the outcome and hooked to the very last page - and even then you will be surprised. (PP)

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C.A. BELMOND

A Rather Charming Invitation (2010)

In the third novel in the Rather series, Penny and Jeremy are planning their wedding but are making really slow progress with the final plans. When Penny's young French cousin, Honorine, shows up on their London doorstep out of the blue, she informs them that her parents have invited them to their home in France for a small reception in celebration of their wedding. While in France, Penny's generous relations offer Penny and Jeremy the use of a beautiful wedding tapestry for the couple to be married in front of. The tapestry has perplexing but lovely images that Penny finds intriguing, since her background is in historical research. In the weeks leading up to the wedding, Penny and Jeremy have to make the difficult decision of where to have their wedding. Penny's relatives want the wedding to be in France, while Jeremy's family want it in England. When they finally have a breakthrough, they head to their villa in France to sell the idea to the family and in doing so need to bring the tapestry to the villa to showcase the full effect of their ideas. However, something goes awry and the tapestry goes missing. This leads Penny, Jeremy and Honorine on a chase to track down the tapestry and find out its true origins. What they find just may get them into hot water with a certain famous billionaire and they'll have to tread very carefully in order to get the tapestry back in one piece. Can Penny and Jeremy recover the beloved family heirloom in time? Or is its absence a bad omen, warning them to call off the wedding? Written in such an fascinating way, with characters that will both charm and entertain, it is a book that you don't want to miss. (AS)

A Rather Curious Engagement (2008)

This is the second book in the Rather series, which follows Penny Nichols and her boyfriend, Jeremy, on another tantalising adventure. Penny seems to have it all after inheriting her aunt Penelope's London flat, classic car and other treasures. Jeremy has also gotten quite a nice amount in his inheritance and together they decide to make one large purchase. After some deliberation, they decide that this item is going to be an antique yacht. Trouble follows suit as Penny and Jeremy discover a feud that goes back centuries and involves the theft of a very unique and utterly priceless item. People seem to think that their new yacht holds the hidden treasure that everyone is talking about. From gigolos to salesmen, no one seems to be immune to following or harassing Penny and Jeremy - some even going to the extreme of stealing the yacht. Getting themselves embroiled in yet another mystery that needs solving, Penny and Jeremy embark on a series of thrilling adventures that will lead them to a discovery so huge that it was thought to have been one big myth. Clearly written with a mix of everything that one could want in a good novel, this is a book that you'll enjoy right until the end. (AS)

A Rather Lovely Inheritance (2007)

The first in the Rather series, this is a wonderful book chronicling the story of Penny Nichols (yes, that's her real name!). Penny is a charming, sassy and smart character that you'll root for even when you know she's going to get herself in trouble. Penny, a historical filmmaker, is whisked away to London after her great-aunt Penelope's death. To her surprise, Penny is left quite a bit of her great-aunt's items. All is not perfect in Penny's world however, as she soon realises that her wacky cousin, Rollo, may not be the nice guy he seems to be. Rollo is after her inheritance but Penny doesn't know why - he has been left his own share of things, seemingly more valuable than anything Penny was left. Eventually, with the help of her other cousin Jeremy (who may or may not be an actual blood relation and who Penny may or may not be falling for), Penny finds that there is something else more valuable hidden somewhere within her inheritance that Rollo desperately wants and he will go to any lengths to obtain it. With breathtaking settings in France's Cote d'Azur, Italy and London, Penny and Jeremy's quest to find the mysterious item is suspenseful and filled with excitement, leading them to one of the biggest historical discoveries of current time. Creatively written, it contains a nice mix of romance, mystery and humour. (AS)

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AIMEE BENDER

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake (2010)

Nothing could prepare Rose Edelstein for what was to come when she first discovered her hidden talent during her ninth birthday - tasting emotions in food. It all started when she took a bite of the lemon birthday cake her mother prepared; it wasn't the zesty, acidic taste she expected, but the sinking and hollow feeling of bitterness - like sadness. Slowly, she learns of the betrayals in her parents' marriage, and her brother's secret. How she learns to cope with her magical "gift" flavours this very sad, bittersweet story. This novel is truly remarkable in its simplicity (with no fancy words), the uniqueness of the storyline and how the author cleverly builds up the emotions at different points. (XT)

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LUCY BERESFORD

Something I'm Not (2008)

Amber is married to psychiatrist Matt and works as a headhunter for a London firm. And with her friends being her family, she's never really wanted children. But as more of her circle enter into parenthood, including her best friend Dylan who wants to adopt a baby with his boyfriend, she begins to wonder if she's made the right choice. And she's wondering if her missing maternal instinct is a result of her own stand-offish mother.

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ALICIA BESSETTE

Simply From Scratch (2010)

Zell is still recovering from the sudden death of her husband Nick, a photographer who died during a post-Katrina relief mission. Through a disastrous cooking experiment, she meets her next-door-neighbour, nine-year-old Ingrid, who believes celebrity chef Polly Pinch is her mother. With an eye on the $20,000 prize money (the amount Nick wanted to raise for the New Orleans victims), the two join forces to try to win her baking competition. This mixes the ingredients of a woman looking for a reason to live again with a girl desperate for female company. Stir in some quirky small townsfolk, a much-loved dog and some flashbacks to when Nick was alive and you get a debut novel that's full of warmth and soul.

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SARAH BILSTON

Sleepless Nights (2008)

The story of Quinn, a British lawyer living in New York, continues after baby Samuel arrives. Wondering how she's ever going to slip back into the fast-paced world of being a lawyer, Q instead decides to slip out of the city and stay at a friend's holiday home in Connecticut. She hopes this will give her and husband Tom the space to consider their future options. If only Samuel would stop crying! Also arriving on the scene is Q's younger sister Jeanie, who has just finished her social work degree and now needs to join the real world. Even though this is a sequel to Bed Rest, you don't need to read that title first. In fact, this one, with its alternating viewpoints from the two sisters, is actually better.

Bed Rest (2006)

Quinn 'Q' Boothroyd, a British lawyer living in New York, is used to life in the fast lane. After all how else would she have achieved so much off her 'Modern Woman's List of Things to do Before Hitting Thirty.' So when she is diagnosed with low amniotic fluid levels in her sixth month of pregnancy, how will she survive the strict bed rest? She has to lie on her left side and not get up, even for food. When husband Tom forgets to leave her a meal, she just has to starve. Maybe helping a neighbour fight a landlord who's trying to evict his tenants will keep her occupied - trouble is her husband's firm represents the landlord.

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DIANNE BLACKLOCK

Three's a Crowd (2009)

Annie was like the Carrie of the group - the crux that brought Catherine, Lexie and Rachel together. But with her sudden passing, she not only leaves behind a shellshocked husband Tom and two teenage daughters - her circle of friends are also finding it difficult to regroup. Lawyer Catherine has worked hard her whole life and pushes her friends to strive to be their best too. But things aren't so perfect - she doesn't have a good relationship with her teenage daughter Alice and is talking about leaving her solid but boring husband Martin. Lexie, who is married to hard-working cafe owner Scott, loves being at home with the kids and doesn't know how to tell Catherine that she doesn't actually want a job. Rachel has never settled down - into a career or a relationship. Catherine thinks she needs a man in her life but Rachel can't come clean about the one man she's got her eye on. This is a captivating story about the repercussions of a central character dropping out of your life.

Almost Perfect (2004)

Georgie runs The Reading Rooms bookshop with her sister-in-law Louise. One day a guy walks into the bookshop and Georgie, a loveable bohemian type, tells herself that this is the man she's going to spend the rest of her life with. Can she trust her inner voice, especially as Liam has such a busy schedule as a taxation lawyer? For Mac and Anna, their perfect marriage is struggling under the strain of infertility. As another cycle of IVF fails, Mac reveals that he wants Anna to take a break from the program. With Mac staying out late at the office and Anna turning to the bottle to drown her sorrows, is it too late to save their marriage? Great characters and loved the way their worlds collided.

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IMMODESTY BLAIZE

Tease (2009)

This debut novel from a well-known British burlesque dancer follows in the traditions of a Jackie Collins bonkbuster. It is about - you guessed it - a burlesque dancer named Tiger Starr who is at the top of her game. She has adoring fans around the world, beautiful outfits, money to burn and countless sexual encounters. However in her shadowy, cut-throat world, she has created a number of enemies. Someone is stalking Tiger and leaving threatening letters about exposing her past life before she became a star. As her whole facade starts crumbling, Tiger is offered her dream of starring in a Vegas show. Can she put aside her fears to present the show she has waited for her whole life or will she lose everything she has worked for? A sexy and intriguing novel, you won't find out who is out to get Tiger until the last chapter. (PP)

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SASHA BLAKE

Sasha Blake is the pen-name of author Anna Maxted

Betrayal (2009)

Sex and scandal are the two crucial ingredients in a glamorous bonkbuster. And Betrayal is exactly that - it centres around the Kent family, telling their story from 1996-2005. Emily, the youngest daughter, manages at 16 to get herself pregnant to an English earl's son Tim. Claudia is the oldest daughter who the Kents adopted when she was five. All she has ever wanted is to be loved for who she is and not for what her last name entails. When she finally meets Martin, the man of her dreams, she is ecstatic but is Martin all he seems or is he hiding a dark secret? Nathan Kent is the black sheep of the family. He was adopted out by the Kents when he was a child and now has returned from the shadows with one goal in mind - to take revenge on the Kents, especially Claudia and their parents. Head of the family Jack Kent had ground his business to near-bankruptcy but is on his way back up. Unfortunately he has a little scandal of his own happening - a sordid affair with a hotel maid. For matriarch Innocence Ashford, she is anything but innocent. She has always felt looked upon as just being Jack's wife but now she is ready to claim what is hers. Can she find a way to overthrow Jack without ruining the Kent name? (PP)

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FAITH BLEASDALE

The Love Resort (2005)

Romance author and owner of the Love Resort Anne-Marie Langdale is struggling with writer's block. So she runs a competition to get three good-looking couples to the Caribbean island to help inspire her creative juices. Who are the lucky couples? Thea and Tim - she's a wannabe actress, he's a struggling actor - are actually best friends in a platonic relationship; Jimmy is intending to propose to Emily but she's not so keen on him; and Carla is trying to get Lee to commit. With newlywed celebrities Todd and Katie added to the mix, Anne-Marie finds that the path to true love and romantic novels just doesn't run smoothly.

Agent Provocateur (2004)

Magazine journalist Betty has to shadow Grace for a week, watching the honey-trapper test men to see if they are faithful. But Betty is finding the assignment tough - she takes an immediate dislike to Grace and her job. Then the women are manipulated into a bet that Grace can seduce Betty's husband, Johnny. But will anyone emerge as the winner? This is a good concept but it is poorly written, especially when jumping between viewpoints.

Deranged Marriage (2003)

Imagine signing a pact at 20, saying you'll marry your friend 10 years later if you are both still single. That's just what Holly and her best friend, George, did in a drunken haze. But now as Holly turns 30, George, a lawyer, is back to take her to court to enforce the marriage pact - ignoring the fact that she already has a gorgeous boyfriend.

Rubber Gloves or Jimmy Choos? (2000)

University graduate Ruth is facing a tough year after her boyfriend dumped her on graduation day and then left for Australia. Now she doesn't know what to do with herself - she's never wanted a career, she's only ever wanted a husband. Moving in with some uni friends, Ruth starts to forge herself a new life.

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DEBORAH BLUMENTHAL

Fat Chance - Deborah Blumenthal (2004)

Maggie O'Leary has made a name for herself by embracing her plus-sized shape, writing a anti-diet column that shows Americans that being fat is not all bad. But when she gets a call from hot-shot Hollywood actor Mike Taylor to act as his consultant for his next role as a diet doctor, Maggie secretly starts trimming herself down.

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SHERRILL BODINE

A pseudonym used by Lynn Leslie

A Black Tie Affair (2010)

The Smith girls - Venus, Diane and Athena - were the best of friends with the Clayworth boys - Drew and Connor. Their fathers worked together and Athena thought she and Drew were each other's true love. Fast-forward to the present day. Athena has landed her dream job as a fashion curator and is busily organising a vintage couture exhibition in Chicago. The only pieces missing are those held in a family vault at the Clayworths' house. When Athena is called to come and authenticate the dresses, she jumps at the chance. But the dresses are full of toxins - talk about killer threads - and Athena is overcome by fumes. She wakes in hospital and is reunited with Drew, who she hasn't seen for 15 years. Meanwhile someone has taken advantage of the confusion to steal the priceless gowns. (PP)

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SHANE BOLKS

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (2005)

When Rory Egglehoff's high school crush, Hunter Chase, turns up as a client at her firm, the Star Wars fan puts the Ultimate Jedi Plan into action to get him to notice her and take her to their school reunion. Trouble is she also has a boyfriend, Tedious Tom, who she just can't seem to break up with.

Did you know? Rory's best friend, Allison Holloway, is the heroine of another Shane Bolks' novel Reality TV Bites.

Reality TV Bites (2006)

Allison Holloway is one of the few people who will openly admit to being a reality TV junkie. So she's very excited when her interior design firm is signed up for TV show Kamikaze Makeover, where they compete against a Japanese team to decorate a room, using one unorthodox item. Once the show premieres though, Allison's world comes crashing back to reality, as the episodes are edited to make her and her team look anything but professional - even when she makes a room work using vibrator art. And more trouble is afoot when she gets involved with show producer and Italian prince Nicola Parma.

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TATIANA BONCOMPAGNI

Hedge Fund Wives (2009)

When John and Marcy Emerson move from Chicago to New York for John's job, she is hoping this will be a fresh start for them. Surprisingly despite the bad economic times for other hedge funds and financial conglomerates, her husband has done wonders with his financial portfolio. Although Marcy agreed to quit her job and dedicate her life to being a hedge fund wife, she never thought that would entail endless parties and shopping, one-upmanship and never seeing her husband. She becomes great friends with Gigi Cohen who shows her the ropes of fitting in with the other wives. But things start to unravel for Marcy as she begins to realise things are not what they appear to be. This is an entertaining, easy read that will appeal to those seeking an insider's view into that Upper East Side wealthy set. (CG)

Gilding Lily (2008)

Lily Bartholomew is at her wits end. Her out-of-work husband Robert refuses to make moves to get a job and his manipulative mother Josephine is the mother-in-law from hell. Josephine has made it very clear that Lily is not the woman for her son. After Josephine gives Robert a Porsche, Lily decides that it is time for her to start working again so she gets in contact with an editor and starts writing about the New York socialites that include her mother-in-law in their social-climbing circle. When she starts to unveil some not-so-flattering secrets that the socialites take part in, she starts to wonder if she has gone too far. A great tale of the glitz and glam of New York high society and the lengths some will go to to continue that lifestyle. (CG)

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ALISON BOND

The Truth About Ruby Valentine (2006)

On the day that Hollywood star Ruby Valentine dies, Kelly Coltrane's father reveals that she is Ruby's daughter. So Kelly heads to Hollywood to attend the funeral and uncover the truth about her mother's mysterious suicide. As Kelly finds that it is never too late for a comeback, Ruby's path to fame is revealed in a series of flashbacks. I guessed the ending far too early but still an enjoying read.

How to be Famous (2005)

Author Alison Bond's work in the movie industry no doubt inspired this book about the cut-throat world of film and fame. Lynsey Dixon works at a top talent agency in London. After she prevents the sacking of British actress Melanie Chapman from a movie set, she is transferred to LA to help Melanie settle into a new TV show. On a bus trip across America, Lynsey meets Serena Simon, a beautiful 14-year-old runaway who has dreams of becoming a starlet.

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STEPHANIE BOND

Body Movers (2006)

When Carlotta Wren's parents disappeared when she was 19, after being accused of company fraud, she took over caring for her younger brother Wesley. She had to forgo college to work in women's wear at Neiman Marcus and watch out for Wesley, who is forever in trouble over gambling debts. When he gets a job as a mover of dead bodies, Carlotta drives him to one call-out, where she discovers one of her clients, Angela, is the body and the husband - Carolotta's ex-fiance - may be chief suspect. The sequel is Two Bodies for the Price of One.

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REBECCA L. BOSCHEE

Mulligan Girl (2010)

Ren Edwards has the perfect job - she gets to buy anything she wants as long as she rates their customer service. In fact, her life is almost perfect except for the fact that she is still single. For her job, where she often pretends to be a wealthy married woman, she orders a golfing certificate and heads off to evaluate the resort. She immediately falls for golf course manager Adan but there is one small problem - he thinks she is happily married. Ren tries to find a way to tell him the truth without him hating her for waiting so long to tell him. This is a great read and I can't wait for more from this debut author. (CG)

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KARYN BOSNAK

Karyn Bosnak also wrote Save Karyn: One Shopaholic's Journey to Debt and Back, after she set up a website asking others to donate money to get her out of debt.

20 Times A Lady - Karyn Bosnak (2006)

"The average person has 10.5 sexual partners in their lifetime." For Delilah Darling, she has well exceeded the numbers - almost two times as high as the national average. She decides to set things right, by imposing a limit - to sleep with only 20 males, meaning she has only got one more chance left - for her future husband. But after losing her job at Elisabeth Sterling Design and making the big mistake of sleeping with her loathsome boss Roger, Delilah has used up all her chances. Determined to get a last shot at happiness, she comes up with a plan to track down all 20 guys she has slept with, with the help of her actor neighbour Colin. A hilarious and fun read about second chances in love. Columbia has acquired the movie rights for this novel, with Mark Mylod (Entourage) directing the movie, and Anna Faris playing the role of Delilah. It has been renamed What's Your Number? (XT)

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EMMA BOWD

The Shoe Princess's Guide to the Galaxy (2009)

Self-confessed shoe lover Jane Meadows has traded in her client relations job at an insurance company for full-time motherhood. With husband Tim mostly working away in Bangladore, she is craving some support and adult company. So Jane joins a new mothers' group with daughter Millie and keeps track of shoe and celebrity gossip through blogs. She also begins to step towards her dream business by learning the finer points of shoe craftsmanship from Italian shoe designer Marco, who is dating her best friend Fi. This book is really lightweight chick lit. But at least the coverline 'Life, love and shoes. But mostly shoes' warns you upfront. Those Shoe Princesses among you will probably love all the shoe references.

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MARILYN BRANT

Friday Mornings at Nine (2010)

Long-time friends Bridget, Jennifer and Tamara meet at the Indigo Moon Cafe every Friday morning to catch up over mocha lattes and grilled chocolate chip muffins. One September morning, Jennifer reveals she has been in contact with her college boyfriend, David. Although their communication has been innocent enough, she admits to a growing flirtation and has recently started to wonder how life might have been different had she married him instead of her husband, Michael. Sparked by the discussion that follows, Bridget and Tamara also begin to examine their relationships and wonder if they, too, may have married the wrong man. Fuelled by what-ifs, each woman embarks on her own journey in an effort to figure out whether the life she has is really the life meant for her. When their situations come to a head all at once during the annual Halloween costume party, each woman must stop musing about her life and take action to change it. Brant's sophomore effort is a brilliant character study of three very different women each asking the question we all wonder about sooner or later: did we make the right choices during our journey and if not, what steps do we need to take in order to live our best life? (LEK)

According to Jane (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)

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ANN BRASHARES

Author of the bestselling Traveling Pants series.

The Last Summer (of You and Me) (2007)

Sisters Riley and Alice have grown up spending their summers on Fire Island. Now in their 20s, tomboy Riley still works there as a lifeguard and Alice is having one last summer before heading off to law school. Their neighbour Paul has returned to the island for the first time in a few years. He's Riley's best friend but a real intimacy is growing between himself and Alice. Then something happens to Riley that could end their romance and carefree summers forever. Like life on the island, it's all paced a bit too slow for me.

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LUCY BROADBENT

A Hollywood Affair (2009)

Pearl's screenwriter husband, Adam, is desperate for them to have a baby to seal their relationship but despite extensive efforts, it's just not happening. Pearl already has a five-year-old son, Thackeray, with movie star Brett Ellis but he doesn't play a role in their lives. Pearl, the daughter of rock star Gavin Sash, has been brought up around celebrity and works for uber-agent Stephen. One day Brett walks into Stephen's office and tells Pearl that he's a changed man and he wants to see his son. Does he have any chance of winning over his leading lady again? This has an interesting cast of secondary characters, including the always-prepared Adam, the free-spirited Gavin and the abrasive stepsister Lydia.

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SABRINA BROADBENT

You Don't Have To Be Good (2009)

In her late 40s, Cambridge council employee Bea Kemp is married to an aspiring writer, Frank, and has always been a good aunt to her nephew Adrian and niece Laura. What appears to be a satisfied life begins to shatter as a series of events lead to Bea's disappearance. Despite the seemingly complicated storyline, and the little emphasis on Bea's own view about things around her, the story is crafted in a beautiful way, adding with it a splash of irony that brings out the tragedy in Bea's life. (XT)

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LAURA BRODIE

The Widow's Season (2009)

The story begins with Sarah McConnell seeing her supposedly "dead" husband in the grocery store, looking pretty much alive. But when she starts chasing him, he suddenly disappears into thin air, leaving her wondering if she's crazy. It's been three months since David's funeral, even though his body was never recovered from the storm which took place during his kayak trip. Throughout the first portion of the novel, you see a very sad woman (Sarah), constantly shifting from states of grief to her consistent questioning of David's status (of being alive), but as you delve deeper into the story, surprising turn of events subsequently change your perspective - such as her involvement with David's brother, Nate. (XT)

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JESSICA BRODY

The Good Girl's Guide to Bad Men (2009)

aka Love Under Cover

In this sequel to The Fidelity Files, we are reunited with Jennifer Hunter aka Ashlyn, who is now running her own fidelity inspection agency. She may have retired as a field agent herself, but she oversees a team who go out undercover to see whether someone's partner is willing to cheat. Jennifer's handsome boyfriend, Jamie, has just asked her to marry him, on the condition that she promises not to go back to being Ashlyn. All is going well until one of her employee's assignments turns sour and Jennifer steps in to save the day. After completing the assignment, Jennifer feels a spark and she is left with the decision of turning her back on everything she has worked for or losing her husband-to-be for good. This is an edgy chick lit novel for those wanting that little more oomph. It's filled with courtroom divorce proceedings, adultery, fidelity and not to forget a wedding which isn't complete until you have encountered a bridezilla and a know-it-all, pushy wedding planner. (PP)

The Fidelity Files (2008)

Who you gonna call if you suspect your partner is cheating? Still affected by her parents' divorce, Jennifer Hunter leads a double life. Her family and friends think she's an investment banker but she actually works as a "fidelity inspector" under the codename Ashlyn. That is she is hired by suspicious women to test if their partners will cheat or not. But it looks like her secret life will be exposed when a friend hires her to test her fiance and an angry husband is out for revenge. But perhaps with the arrival of potential boyfriend Jamie on the scene, Jen is ready to give up the business. With some unpredictable twists and intriguing cases, you'll be hooked. And the good news is the epilogue paves the way for a sequel.

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AMANDA BROOKFIELD

Life Begins (2008)

If life begins at 40, then 39-year-old Charlotte is so ready to start again. She has recently divorced her husband who has moved in with his new girlfriend. She is unsuccessfully trying to sell her house to move closer to her son Sam's school and she may well be out of a job when the bookshop she works in changes hands. Plus Amanda's attracting attention from all the wrong men, including her real estate agent and her close friend's husband. Although it jumps around a bit confusingly between characters' viewpoints, many will not need to walk in Charlotte's shoes to totally empathise with her.

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AMANDA BROWN

School of Fortune (with Janice Weber) (2007)

Socialite Pippa Walker was supposed to get married in the biggest wedding in Texas' history. Her mother, Thayne, worked endlessly to ensure that everything was perfect right down to the exact size of all of Pippa's bridesmaids. But when Pippa suddenly finds out something isn't right with her handsome husband-to-be Lance, she calls off her wedding at the altar, causing a frenzy. Pippa also fears that she has inadvertently caused the sudden death of her beloved grandfather from shock. Suddenly disowned by her parents, not to mention sought by the paparazzi, Pippa finds the only person who will talk to her is the family lawyer, who informs her that she has been left a good chunk of her grandfather's money - about a billion dollars - but she can only claim this money if she gets a diploma. Since her grandfather wasn't specific about what kind of diploma, Pippa starts out on a hilarious journey of misadventures, using various aliases along the way to keep her identity hidden, that include driving school, where she accidentally drives Lance's blue Maserati into a hotel pool; matchmaking school, where she has an insane teacher just trying to make a quick buck; and even a clown academy where Pippa is chased by a large elephant and loved by a possessive dancing bear. But still Pippa is without a diploma. She finally calls her old friend Ginny who tells Pippa to enrol at the Mountbatten Savoy School of Household Management in Aspen, where Ginny has a vacation home. Pippa accepts this as a last resort and becomes the servant of a socialite in Las Vegas. With the help of a valet and a crazy chef, Pippa finally finds her own version of happiness. (AS)

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HESTER BROWNE

The Little Lady Agency and the Prince (2008)

Prince Nicky is the ultimate playboy, troubling to his family and irresistible to the ladies. Which is why his grandfather is desperate for him to be reformed. Soon Melissa aka Honey, London's premier freelance girlfriend, is on the scene attempting to change the ways of the Prince for the sake of his grandfather and his family inheritance. However, she finds herself having to rectify more situations than should be necessary and losing touch with her own fiance, American Jonathan Riley. The real question isn't can she tame the Prince and turn him into the perfect gentleman but can she tame the Prince in time for her own fairytale wedding? This is the third instalment of the Little Lady Agency series. (SN)

The Finishing Touches (2009)

Elizabeth (Betsy) is the little orphan Annie grown up, left in a marmalade carton on the steps of Lady Frances and Lord Pelham Phillimore's finishing school for girls in London. Fast forward 27 years, Betsy is working at a shoe shop when Frances passes away. Lord Phillimore invites her to come to the school and see if she can do something to save its fading fortunes. Horrified at the state of the school which is on the brink of bankruptcy, Betsy takes it upon herself to teach the remaining students the skills that may actually be helpful in life - from the essentials one must have in their handbag to how to look ab-fab for minimal costs. A perfect read for those wanting to see an old English finishing school being given a 21st century makeover. It's out with the table setting, white gloves and flower arrangements and in with eating sushi, managing budgets and mortgages and DIY manicures. (PP)

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JANELLE BROWN

All We Ever Wanted Was Everything (2008)

Janice Miller is dizzy with excitement when she learns of the meteoric rise of her husband's company IPO shares. As she recalls the early years of marriage, of living in tiny apartments and coping with the stresses of miscarriages, Janice is comforted by how everything is going to be fine from this moment onwards - they have finally secured an even better life for daughters, Lizzie and Margaret. But all her hopes are shattered when she receives a divorce letter from Paul. And if knowing that he's having an affair with her tennis partner Beverly isn't enough, Janice finds out he doesn't plan on giving her a share of the $300 million. Lizzie, her younger daughter, is swarmed by boys after her recent weight loss and recent fling with the star of Fillmore High's swimming team. But the line between right and wrong becomes faint, as she revels in her newfound popularity. Margaret, after receiving Lizzie's call about their father's decision to divorce, finally returns home from Los Angeles. Having accumulated debts through her feminist magazine Snatch, she tries to hold up a brave front, hiding the problems from her family. Always regarded as the smart one in the family, Margaret fears they will be disappointed if her messed-up life is exposed. Set in Silicon Valley, this is a painfully realistic portrayal of how an affluent family deals with an unexpected divorce. (XT)

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GEMMA BURGESS

The Dating Detox (2009)

Sass, a nearly 30-something Londoner, likes to drink, party, flirt . . . But when she is dumped for the sixth time - after catching her boyfriend shagging a Pink Lady lookalike at a theme party - she decides to embark on a dating sabbatical. No dates, no flirting, no men. Meant to last three months, she instead finds her life going so well without the distraction of dating - her advertising career has never looked so good - that she decides to extend it. The only problem is she's since met Jake, who could very well tempt her to break her self-imposed man ban. This has been justifiably compared to a post-credit crunch Bridget Jones. With its amusing break-up stories, a collection of mad-cap friends who deal with work and relationship woes, and a romantically challenged heroine many will relate to, this one's worth well missing a date to stay home to read it.

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EMMA BURSTALL

Never Close Your Eyes (2009)

The story opens with an incident back in Newcastle in 1978, when a fight between two sisters changes their lives forever. Then the story moves forward to the present day in London, with three women attending a creative writing group. Mother of two Evie, who works from home as a wedding gown designer, is still hoping to get back with her husband Neil and spends a lot of time and money talking to a clairvoyant. Becca's high-flying financial career often takes her away from her family. Meanwhile journalist Nic's drinking problem is starting to get out of hand but husband Alan is too busy working in his study to pay much attention. This is a vivid, often dark, tale about tangled relationships. From a vulnerable daughter and an unwelcome blast from the past to a comforting neighbour and an eccentric older woman, eventually all the story threads are woven together.

Gym and Slimline (2008)

Four women become friends through sharing the same London gym. There's Percy who is gambling with her family's future through her addiction to online poker and her attraction to her personal trainer. Patrice would love another child but her controlling lawyer husband Jonty simply isn't interested in sex. Interior decorator Carmen also wants a baby but her often-absent boyfriend Simon doesn't want to wreck their easy lifestyle. And Suzanne already has four children who are looked after by her younger house-husband Justin while she forges a successful corporate career. As the women stretch and flex their bodies, several relationships will be tested to breaking point.

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CANDACE BUSHNELL

The Carrie Diaries (2010)

This prequel to Sex and the City follows Carrie Bradshaw during her senior year of high school in Castlebury, Connecticut. Castlebury is a small town and Carrie has known her group of friends her whole life. Carrie and her best friend, Lali, decide that they need to get boyfriends during senior year, but the only new boy is Sebastian Kydd, who lived in Castlebury years ago and whom Carrie fell in love with when she was 12. Now that he's back and every girl wants him, Carrie is sure she doesn't stand a chance. When Sebastian decides that he does in fact want Carrie, things change. For one thing, she's considered a boyfriend stealer because the most popular girl in school, Donna Ladonna, was dating Sebastian first. Even worse is the fact that Carrie is harassed by Donna and her clique while Sebastian revels in the girls fighting over him. Meanwhile, Carrie has issues at home - specifically with her younger sister, Dorritt, who has taken to colouring her hair blue and stealing things to get attention. Plus she has to deal with her dad telling her to go to Brown when all she wants to do is become a writer. While her father dismisses her writing as a hobby, Carrie meets a handsome tour guide at Brown who offers to help her with her writing. He also offers her the opportunity to spend the summer in NYC. Before she can take him up on the offer, she needs to perfect her writing and what better way than to write for her high school paper, The Nutmeg. Although, she decides to use a pen name, Carrie's articles are a hit and have the whole school talking. This book gives a real glimpse of Carrie as a teenager. She's vulnerable and a little rebellious but there are pieces of her youth that have had a telltale effect on her life as an adult. Even though there is no Mr Big in this novel, Carrie does find a relationship that is similar with Sebastian. It's fun, entertaining and you won't want to put it down until you find out who Carrie meets in New York. A definite must-read whether you're a Sex in the City fan or not. (AS)

One Fifth Avenue (2008)

It seems even when you have millions, it's still hard to love thy neighbours. After society matriarch Louise Houghton dies, a new couple move into her three-floor apartment at the prestigious Manhattan address One Fifth Avenue. Paul and Annalisa Rice have made their fortune through his mathematical genius. He's now a ruthless hedge fund manager while she's reluctantly given up her glittering law career to cruise the social circuit. Their neighbours include gossip columnist Enid and her nephew Philip, a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer. Philip's former lover, Hollywood actress Schiffer Diamond, has just returned to town for a TV series but his new research assistant Lola is a girl on the make and has him firmly in her sights. Then there's media executive Mindy, whose position as head of the building's board allows her to poke her nose into everyone's affairs. She lives with her as-yet unsuccessful author husband James and their computer-savvy teenager Sam. Throw in a stolen treasure mystery, some bitchy bloggers and plenty of neighbourly feuds - and you have a tale that showcases all seven deadly sins.

Lipstick Jungle (2005)

It's a jungle out there but for three New York businesswomen - magazine editor-in-chief Nico O'Neilly, movie executive Wendy Healy and fashion designer Victory Ford - they have risen to the top of their fields. Nico has a stellar career but the passion has gone out of her marriage. Will her attraction to a younger man (underwear model Kirby) derail her ambition to become the first female CEO of Splatch-Verner? Wendy, the president of Parador Pictures and mother of three, heads to Romania to sort out set problems on a potential Oscar-winning movie, as her marriage to Shane dissolves. And Victory's Fashion Week collection doesn't go down too well so she is forced into looking at partnership deals to keep her company afloat. As she starts dating cosmetic entrepreneur Lyne Bennett, she also learns lessons about what she wants from love.

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JULIE BUXBAUM

After You (2009)

Ellie is shocked to hear her best friend, Lucy, has been knifed to death walking her eight-year-old daughter Sophie to school. So Ellie leaves behind her life - and husband Phillip - in the US and goes to London to help care for her goddaughter, who has stopped talking through the trauma. As the pair share the comforts of reading The Secret Garden together, Ellie finds she needs to heal from a past tragedy as well. This is an engrossing story that taps into grief so beautifully.

The Opposite of Love (2008)

Manhattan lawyer Emily Haxby is confused about her life. Just as her boyfriend Andrew is on the verge of proposing, she breaks up with him with that famous line: 'It's not you. It's me.' Working on a multi-million-dollar lawsuit that she morally disagrees with and trying to avoid a lecherous boss, Emily also wonders if her professional life needs a shake-up. But it's not long before she is wondering if she's made the mistake of her life. With her mother dead and her father emotionally distant, her closest ties are with her fast fading Grandpa Jack and Ruth, a former judge who lives in the same retirement home. This book has received high praise from many readers and is finely written with believable characters and emotional depth. However I'd lost interest by the second half. But maybe it's a case of 'It's not The Opposite of Love. It's me.' So the best advice would be to try it out for yourself - you may just love it.

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