MELANIE LA'BROOY

The Babymoon (2008)

Isabelle (from the novel Love Struck) is not the kind of girl who's always known she's wanted a baby. But now settled with Jack in Melbourne, the pair throw caution to the wind when Isabelle dons a Carlton footy jumper and little else. Panicked about being pregnant - I mean she doesn't even know the names of The Wiggles - she finds reading up about the next nine months is only making her morning sickness worse. With Jack busy as usual at the hospital, she turns to her fellow art gallerina Doug to accompany her to birth classes. Throw in an artist showing interest in her placenta, an ex-boyfriend back on the scene with his own pregnant girlfriend and her friend Cate showing her true anti-baby colours - and is it any wonder Isabelle's feeling out of her depth. But why is she pushing Jack away as the time for her to push out the baby nears? The funniest pregnancy novel out there - with lots of glorious Australian references. Just loved the idea of uber-trendy Doug turning up at birth classes after taking fashion inspiration not from cool dad David Beckham, but rather from dorky TV blokes like Martin from Hey Dad! and Kel from Kath & Kim.

Serendipity (2007)

When Australian magazine sub-editor Hero Hathway meets Oscar Martin bar-tending on her last night in New York, she is masquerading as trapeze artist Lola. Sparks fly but the next day when Hero panics and runs away, it's the end of the affair. Two years later, they bump into each other in Sydney and he is determined to show her that they are in love with one another - except Hero is about to get engaged to another man.

The Wish List (2005)

Also known as Romantic Fiction

Scatty Lucy is a hopeless romantic who drives her friends Meg and Chloe crazy as she tries time and again to keep her relationship with Tom just platonic. This time their on-off relationship may be definitely off as she's met the man of her dreams in Latin lover Byron. But she's still got to deal with hunting for a flat with decent curtains, avoiding a lovelorn stalker and watching a bitchy neighbour sink her claws into Tom. When Byron and Tom are challenged to a duel to win her heart, who will emerge as victor?

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KATE LACE

The Movie Girl (2007)

Gemma can't watch a historical TV drama without cringing at costumes that don't accurately fit the period. Knowing everything anyone ever needs to know about military uniforms scores her as dream job as assistant wardrobe manager on a movie starring the gorgeous Jono Knighton and his wife Rowan. Just getting up close and personal to do a costume fitting with the hunky actor has her all aswoon. But then Jono takes a real shine to Gemma and admits his marriage is anything but picture-perfect. But romance with the leading man will surely lead Gemma into trouble.

The Chalet Girl (2007)

Millie Braythorpe is working the ski season as a chalet girl by day and a singer at night. Estranged from her family, she falls for one of the guests, Luke, but their path to love doesn't run smoothly after she believes he has betrayed her.

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ANISHA LAKHANI

Schooled (2008)

Ivy League graduate Anna Taggert isn't interested in joining the rest of her classmates in high-earning careers in law and investment banking. Instead she has a passion for teaching. She scores a position as seventh grade English teacher at an elite private school in Manhattan but her creative lesson plans don't seem to win favour with the principal or the parents. With her pay check barely covering the rent on her fifth-floor walk-up apartment, Anna soon uncovers the secret of one of her designer-clad colleagues, Randi - she works as a tutor, earning about $250 an hour to do the student's homework. Anna's moral objections soon fade as she enters the tutoring pool and finds her shopping sprees are improving her standing at the school. An eye-opening read for those wanting another insider expose of Manhattan's elite.

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JEN LANCASTER

My Fair Lazy (2010)

In Jen Lancaster's fourth memoir, she attempts to gain some culture and expand her horizons beyond reality television. The memoir begins with novelist Candace Bushnell interviewing Jen. Bushnell mentions that she is into Baudelaire. Jen panics because she has no idea who or what Baudelaire even is. This is that catalyst for Jen deciding to throw herself into new cultural experiences. The reader watches Jen as she takes on plays, opera, poetry and a commitment to eating new cuisine. The result is a hysterical laugh-out-loud book that readers will love. There are humorous anecdotes about reality TV shows throughout the book. If you love Ed Hardy, hate Lacoste and find reality TV to be the downfall of society, then this is probably not the book for you. For everyone else, you will love it. (AO)

Pretty in Plaid (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)

Such a Pretty Fat (2008)

Atkins, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers. Jen Lancaster has tried them all and isn't afraid to tell you what she thinks of them. Not wanting to, "you know, die," Jen Lancaster accepts the challenge of chronicling her attempts at getting healthier in her third memoir, subtitled One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, or Why Pie Is Not the Answer. Her escapades on various weight loss programs and with multiple exercise regimens, including a trainer named ... wait for it ... Barbie, will have you laughing out loud. For everyone who has ever eaten pre-packaged diet food and wondered "is that all there is?" or religiously worked your butt off at the gym on a daily basis only to lose a measly pound that week, this book is for you. Jen captures dieting as only she can, with her usual wit, directness and sarcasm. You will lose weight just laughing. (LEK)

Bright Lights, Big Ass (2007)

Jen Lancaster is back and as sassy as ever in her laugh-out-loud follow-up to Bitter is the New Black. In Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why it Often Sucks in the City, or Who are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me?, Jen lets us in on a little secret . . . big city life is not exactly as glamorous as Carrie Bradshaw would have us believe. Instead of spacious, trendy apartments, sexy, single neighbours, and nightly club hopping, city dwelling is more apt to consist of small apartments with paper-thin walls, caveman-hairy Neanderthals living downstairs, and Friday nights filled with Scrabble at home with your husband. So not cool. Still temping her way around Chicago while her first book awaits publication, Jen continues to delight us with real-life tales of the city as she attempts to navigate public transportation, make friends with her annoying neighbours, and take regular trips to her beloved Target (now with Starbucks and wine!). And when the craziness of city living gets a little out of control, she has her voice of reason, Fletch, to reel her back in. (LEK)

Bitter is the New Black (2006)

Former sorority girl Jen gets laid off as a company VP during the dotcom bust and has to move out of her flash apartment. This is a bitter pill for Jen to swallow, as she is designer labels all the way. In fact the subtitle says it all: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smart-Ass, or Why You Should Never Carry a Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office. This memoir adapted from Jen's blog charts her search for a new job and a cheaper apartment. Should she marry depressed boyfriend Fletch to score all the gifts; will she ever escape the temp job market? Jen is so self-absorbed, obnoxious and snotty (you're glad to hear she has a weight problem), that you'd probably hate to have her as a friend but her over-the-top personality makes this story an engrossing read.

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KATE LANGDON

Famous (2008)

This follows the life of SPG (Single and Professional Girl) Samantha who has everything going for her. She's about to make partner in a leading advertising agency in Auckland, she's free as a bird when it comes to relationships , she has lots of money and loves shopping at Karen Walker and Trelise Cooper, and has two awesome best friends Lizzie and Mands. Until one day she gets a phone call from her ex-boyfriend Jerry whom she hasn't spoken to in three years, telling her he has had a sex change. She ends up going out partying and having a one-night stand with the captain of New Zealand's rugby team. After the married sportsman is snapped coming out of Sam's house, she starts to live in paparazzi hell and is labelled in the media as "The Other Woman". Desperate to get away from it all, Sam is shipped off by her friends to the small rural town of Floodgate, where after meeting some wonderful locals her life turns around unexpectedly. Can Sam give up her city girl dreams and her label of SPG for the small-town farm life or will she come crawling back to the big city? (PP)

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ALLIE LARKIN

Stay - Allie Larkin (2010)

Van Leone stood by as maid of honour as her best friend, Janie, married Peter, the man Van has been in love with since college. After a long night drowning her sorrows in vodka, Van accidentally purchases a puppy on the internet. Van is shocked when a huge German Shepherd arrives at the airport from Slovakia. But she quickly becomes devoted to her new dog, Joe, and her life takes a turn for the better when she meets adorable Alex, Joe's vet. Just as things with Joe and Alex are starting to work out, Peter and Janie return from their honeymoon and past emotions are stirred up. This is a wonderfully written debut novel with characters that you will fall in love with. (AO)

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AIRLIE LAWSON

Don't Tell Eve (2009)

Eve has reluctantly arrived in town (presumedly Sydney), intending to turn Papyrus Press' finances around quickly with the help of her devious sidekick Hilary - and then get her pass off the island. For someone in charge of a publishing company, Eve doesn't actually like reading books - and relies on Hilary to brief her while her downtrodden husband Todd runs her errands. For staff member Jess, the arrival of the evil Eve (a devil in sequins and shoulderpads) comes at a time when her main client, celebrity chef Alex, is holed up in a Himalayan mountain retreat, saying he'll never do another book. But Jess, also an artist who creates under the pseudonym JJ, seems to have a creative way of dealing with Eve. After colleagues are given their marching orders, a replica doll of Eve wearing one of her outlandish outfits arrives on their doorstep. But who can Eve trust - her ex Jack, her designer friend Zoe who can't seem to keep a secret, her womanising colleague Phil or inquiring journalist Oliver who is writing a feature on Eve? With a web of intrigue intended to keep you guessing, the problem with this book is it gets all too confusing - nor does it deliver that redeeming twist you were holding on for.

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KATE LAWSON

Also writes under the names Gemma Fox and Sue Welfare.

Mother of the Bride (2010)

When Max asks Molly Foster's daughter, Jess, to marry him, nobody is more surprised than Molly - except perhaps Jess herself! After all, they've only been going out a wet weekend ... but if Jess is happy, Molly is happy. Jess's happiness is short-lived though when she finds everyone else is taking control of the wedding. Before Jess knows it, the radio station Molly works for has planned a series of wedding shows with Jess and Max in the starring roles, her overbearing and snobby mother-in-law Marnie has pushed a wedding planner on the happy couple to create the society bash of the year, and even Max seems to be putting up resistance to all of Jess' ideas. To make matters worse, Molly starts to have serious reservations about whether Max truly loves Jess, or if his motivation to get married stems from something else. When Jess meets Oliver and Molly notices the chemistry between them, Molly is forced to ask herself if she can allow her precious daughter to marry Max. Can Jess regain control of her wedding from a mother who isn't convinced the wedding should happen at all, and a mother-in-law who is determined to run the entire show? This is a fun read, but Jess's inability to take control of her own wedding annoyed me at times! However, anyone who's had any involvement in planning a wedding should enjoy and relate to the story. (SBB)

Keeping Mum (2009)

Cass, who runs an antique shop, is about to head off to Cyprus with her choir when her friend Fiona asks her to spy on her boyfriend Andy. Very reluctant to get involved, Cass wonders if Fiona is right to be suspicious when she spots him at the markets with a younger girl. Meanwhile Cass is fending off the unwanted attentions of an architect with a man bag, and dealing with the early arrival of her houseguests, her overbearing mother and her toyboy boyfriend. Not that things are going to be any more peaceful in Cyprus . . .

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LINDA FRANCIS LEE

The Ex-Debutante - Linda Francis Lee (2008)

aka Tantrums and Tiaras

Lawyer Carlisle Wainwright Cushing has returned to her Texan hometown to deal with her socialite mother's latest divorce. Leaving behind her secret fiancé in Boston - he also doesn't know she's from an old-moneyed family - Carlisle is pressed into organising her family's 100th debutante ball. But with all the usual families snubbing the event, Carlisle (who still hasn't lived down the embarrassment of falling flat on her face during her own debut) has to recruit and train a band of unlikely candidates. And face her former crush, Jack Blair, across the negotiating table. Watch out for some mentions of the Willow Creek notables, from Lee's earlier novel The Devil in the Junior League.

Ladies Who Lunch (2006)

Also known as The Devil in the Junior League

There's a rebel in the ranks of the twinsets and pearls of the Willow Creek Junior League. This elite Texas organisation only accepts new recruits who are nominated by six members who have been known them for five years. When Junior League stalwart Fredericka Hildebrand Ware's husband goes on the run, with all her money and a mistress, she turns to the socially inferior lawyer next door for help. But he'll only help if she gets his trashy wife Nikki into the Junior League.

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SOPHIE LEE

Sophie Lee is an Australian actress, who has starred in several successful movies, including The Castle and Muriel's Wedding.

Alice in La La Land (2007)

Australian actress Alice Evans flees to Hollywood to escape a broken relationship and a big debt. But it doesn't prove to be her city of dreams - she lives in a cat-infested apartment and spends her days navigating the city in a Daewoo rental, lurching from one audition to another. After a promising start to her first audition, Alice finds she can't win a role and as her past in Australia is slowly revealed, it becomes apparent why she needs to make it so badly. Then she meets an Irishman called Nick, who opens her eyes to new possibilities.

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EMMA LEE-POTTER

Moving On (2000)

When they were young girls, Laura and Kate's mother walked out - and hasn't been seen since. Now in their 20s, Laura is a withdrawn bulimic who works for a self-important accountant; while Kate is trying to make it as a journalist without falling back on her newspaper mogul father's connections. Kate heads to Lancashire to work for a small paper and is thrown straight into the deep end when a local girl goes missing. In a pacy read, the story continues as both girls find themselves with the wrong men, face unexpected life turns and try to keep the family business afloat.

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LESLiE LEHR

Wife Goes On (2008)

It's time for Diane to move on - she's packing up her family home after breaking up with her gambling husband, Steve. Her home is bought by icy divorce lawyer Annette, who was married to a gay artist. Homecoming queen Bonnie went the white picket fence route when she married her high school sweetheart and football star Buck. Now in her early 20s and with two young kids, he's become an unbearable bully. The women are all brought together at a furniture shop where Lana works. She is a former actress who disappeared from the spotlight when she left her leading man Lucas after his on-set affair. The four women are all members of the divorce club - ready to face life happier ever after.

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MARGARET LEROY

The Perfect Mother (2010)

It would be enough of a nightmare to have a sick child with no conclusive diagnosis about why she can't eat, go to school or walk without pain. Imagine then being told that you are a difficult mother and that your daughter's illness is probably your fault. Based partly on a similar incident faced by the author, this novel sees Catriona - who has strived to create the perfect home life for her husband Richard, teenage stepdaughter Sinead and eight-year-old daughter Daisy - under suspicion for causing Daisy's inexplicable illness. And because her own traumatic upbringing makes her a more likely candidate for Munchausen's by proxy, Catriona starts weaving a web of deception that has even her husband - and the reader - doubting her. This is a compelling tale which illustrates just how easily facts can be twisted as evidence against you.

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STEPHANIE LESSING

She's Got Issues (2005)

Despite stepping off on the wrong floor and walking into the wrong interview, Chloe Rose lands a job on Issues magazine. Although she is only an assistant to the assistant in the promotions department, clueless Chloe dreams of one day rising to be shoe editor (not that the magazine has such a position). Even though she falls foul of the editors, who write a bitchy column about an overly ambitious, manipulative assistant, life is still good because she's got access to the shoe closet. Then she meets Stan, who might just be able to help her put her right foot forward.

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GIGI LEVANGIE GRAZER

Queen Takes King (2009)

When rich and ambitious heir Jackson Power gets caught on camera with his latest mistress, Lara - the day after his 25th wedding anniversary - wife Cynthia decides to end the marriage. With her daughter Vivienne on her side, and plans to drag out the divorce for a year or two, Cynthia is no easy woman to deal with. This marks the start of the divorce games, as both parties try to strategise and outmanoeuvre each other, like in a game of chess. Jackson even takes an active role in engaging bartender Adrian to seduce his wife, so that he has a chance of retaining more of the estate. A fast-paced and hilarious read about a divided power couple trying to retain the upper hand. (XT)

The Starter Wife (2005)

Gracie Pollock is dumped by her movie studio executive husband just before their 10th wedding anniversary ('I've been Cruised,' she says) and finds herself living the Hollywood nightmare of being a starter wife. As a social pariah, she and her three-year-old daughter, Jaden, move into a friend's beachside Malibu home where she befriends a different set of characters, including the hunky but homeless Sam who saves her from drowning and her ex-husband's boss.

Maneater (2003)

Do you remember the early 90s movie Clueless that made every young girl want to move to Beverly Hills to act and dress like Cher and the gang? Well, meet Clarissa and the Star Chamber clan, in Maneater. These women are not in high school, although with the way that they act, you would never guess they were in their 30s, but they do have their own Beverly Hills ditzy girl lingo, like opting to say the phrase, "heart attack" when an attractive woman walks in who supposedly gives other women heart palpitations in a fit of jealousy. This group of wannabe superstars constantly argue with one another and talk about each other behind their backs. Clarissa, who seems to be the leader of the pack, is a woman who thinks she has it all, but in reality is nothing but an immature, annoying and ignorant woman who knocks off a couple of years whenever she tells anyone her age to make herself feel better and looks to her bartender for career advice. She flares up over the smallest of things, runs away from all of her troubles and makes a mess out of every situation she is involved in. For a main character, she is a bit hard to relate to and even harder to like. Overall, this story has a lot of random twists and turns which makes this story interesting but causes you to question what exactly is happening and why. (CC)

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JARDINE LIBAIRE

Here Kitty Kitty (2004)

As Lee puts it, her life is a pint of raspberries - alluring and glamorous on the top but when spilled into the strainer, they bare blackened, decaying undersides. To many, she has the perfect job of managing a classy restaurant, a sugar daddy Yves who supports her financially, and lives the carefree life of partying and clubbing. In actual fact, her life has been a series of struggles and grief. Her mother's death has always been the bane of her existence, and she has stopped trying to realise her artist dreams. When she meets Kelly, who's trying to reconstruct his life after the death of his good friend, Lee starts to realise that escapism is not the solution to all her problems, and begins to piece together the broken parts in her life. A bittersweet story of a young woman's life in New York, the glitzy and the dark sides of it all; it's like taking an emotional rollercoaster. (XT)

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OLIVIA LICHTENSTEIN

Mrs Zhivago of Queen's Park (2007)

aka Chloe Zhivago's Recipe for Marriage and Mischief

Psychotherapist Chloe Zhivago is shaken by her reaction when a patient reminds her that she is never going to sleep with any other man apart from Greg, her husband of 17 years. She soon meets Ivan, a seductive Russian, at a friend's party and the lust and longing begins. But will she dare to have a fling? The secret behind her father's affair and her husband's quirky method of keeping Alzheimer's at bay add some intriguing ingredients but could have done without the recipes at the start of each chapter.

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NANCY LIEBERMAN

Admissions (2004)

The Tuesday after Labor Day marks the start of Manhattan's private school admissions when wealthy families try to call in every favour to get their child into their school of choice. For Helen Drager, mother of Zoe, it shouldn't be such an ordeal getting her into high school because she's president of The School's parents' association and her best friend Sara is its admissions officer. But with competition fierce and with little help from an increasingly absent headmistress, Helen turns to her television producer husband to sweet-talk some of the prospective school heads - offering one a shot at her own cooking show and becoming a sporting buddy with another. Will it be enough?

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MAUREEN LIPINSKI

Not Ready for Mom Jeans (2010)

In this sequel to A Bump in the Road, Chicago event planner Clare is returning to work after the birth of daughter Sara. Even though she loves her job, she is worried about spending time away from her baby. Plus how on earth is she going to function without a proper night's sleep or without being able to fit back into her pre-pregnancy wardrobe? As Clare blogs her experiences and pulls together events, including a golfing day for an ex-boyfriend, she begins to wonder if she should instead be a stay-at-home mum. Written as diary entries, Lipinski's wry humour shines through again and many will relate well to Clare's dilemma. But the story jumps around a little too much to feel like a well-rounded novel - perhaps this chaotic style was intentional to represent Clare's new hectic life.

A Bump in the Road (2009)

After a weekend in Vegas with her new husband Jake, event planner and blogger Clare realises that mixing antibiotics with birth control pills is not a sensible option. Having a baby right now was the last thing on her mind - and giving up alcohol for nine months is going to be murder. In between organising a big black-tie gala, staying neutral in her best friends' feud, dealing with a disapproving in-law and writing for her popular blog, Clare slowly adjusts to the fact that a new life is just around the corner. It took less than 10 pages for me to know that I was going to love this book - Clare is a loveable, quick-witted character who is just cut out for a sequel.

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LAUREN LIPTON

Mating Rituals of the North American WASP (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)

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CAREN LISSNER

Starting from Square Two (2004)

Gert Healy's husband Marc - her college sweetheart - died in a car accident a few days before September 11. Now, a year and a half later, her friends, cynical single girls Hallie and Erika, are trying to convince her that it's time to get back out on the competitive New York City dating scene. On her first foray out with the girls, she meets a nice guy called Todd. Surely it's not possible to find your perfect match again - especially so quickly?

Carrie Pilby (2003)

As the book blurb says: 'Carrie Pilby needs to find 10 things she loves. And do five things she fears . . . But first she has to leave her apartment.' Carrie doesn't fit in - she skipped three grades through school so had finished Harvard by age 19 - and prefers lying in bed in her apartment. It doesn't help that Carrie looks down on everyone with a lower IQ (which includes almost everyone in New York). The only person she sees regularly is her therapist, who comes up with a plan to get her interacting socially, including joining an organisation and going on a date. But Carrie goes about her mission in her own quirky way, picking a church to join so she can expose it as a cult, and turning to the personal ads for a date, picking Matt who is wanting to cheat on his fiancée.

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COURTNEY LITZ

Live From New York, It's Lena Sharpe (2004)

Lena, a television producer in Manhattan, dreams about being famous. But the closest she gets to fame is working on Face-to-Face, a show about celebrities. Every guy she meets could be a potential co-star in her personal drama so she rewrites her life story to fit in with them. When she is assigned to a segment about handsome writer Colin Bates, she is drawn into his world so much that she dumps her own circle, including her best friend and ladies man Jake.

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JULIA LLEWELLYN

Love Nest (2010)

Grace is heartbroken at the thought of having to sell her childhood home Chadlicote Manor but after nursing her dearly departed mother for the last few years and having the house fall into disrepair, how can she possibly afford to keep it? Karen's husband falls in love with the manor house and starts making plans to move to the country but is Karen's heart really in it? Gemma and Alex are hoping to start a family and move out of their swanky pad into a more family-orientated home but will their dream of having a baby ever come true? Meanwhile, rock star Nick is on the search for a bachelor pad and sets his sights firmly on both his real estate agent Lucinda and the gorgeous apartment she shows him but what exactly are they both hiding? Although this book has a number of main characters, the story flows effortlessly between them and makes it the perfect book for snuggling up on the sofa with. (KC)

The Model Wife (2008)

Twenty-two-year-old model Poppy Price falls pregnant after an affair with a much older and married TV news anchorman, Luke Norton. He never intended to have a future with Poppy but he soon has no choice but to appear on her doorstep, promising to marry her. Luke's scorned ex-wife Hannah, who gave up her reporting career to bring up their children, works out her hurt and anger by writing a newspaper column in which she details how she has bounced back after "the Cad" left her for "the Bimbo". Meanwhile life for Poppy has become quite dull and routine, even though she adores her toddler Clara. Luke is hardly around and everyone is telling her to get a nanny and go back to work. So when an offer to write a magazine column about being a social butterfly comes up, Poppy accepts, even though she's barely been out of the house for ages. As Poppy starts to party, Luke faces some professional difficulties, not least a tardy and diva-ish interviewee and a colleague who wants him for herself.

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KIMBERLY LLEWELLYN

The Quest for the Holy Veil (2007)

Aspiring actress Lucy Ladelle has thrown in her job at her mother's bridal shop and is instead off on her first assignment as a date bait - to entice a client to remain with a matchmaking service. Her date begins badly when she is nearly run over outside the restaurant - but is saved by a dreamy man in adventure wear. From here the date goes from bad to worse when a TV camera crew exposes Lucy and her agency's questionable practices. Lucy then discovers her dreamy rescuer, Lance, is also the producer of the TV show - although he'd much rather be making wildlife documentaries. This loses points for its love interest, who during his adventures stretching from the African savannahs to the Australian outback, picked up some appalling cliched Aussie lingo like "sheilas" and "shrimps on the barbie". Just wishing a big croc had finished him off first!

Tulle Little, Tulle Late (2006)

Nina is caught out at the bridal shower of her competitive cousin Celie, trying on her Vera Wang wedding gown. It's the exact same dress Nina never got to wear for her aborted walk down the aisle with globe-trotting journalist Jeremiah. Thinking it's about time she gets serious about her life and her public relations career, Nina puts herself up for a promotion against the young and hungry Chad. Her test is to tame the difficult movie star, Jackleen Liquori. Just as she meets the cool motorbike-riding Dante, who helps charm the aging diva, Jeremiah crashes back into Nina's life, telling her he's in danger. Perhaps all a bit predictable on the romance front but you'll enjoy the author's signature sharp wit.

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JOSIE LLOYD

Many of her books are co-written with her husband Emlyn Rees.

The Three Day Rule (2005)

The Thorne family head to a small island off the Cornish coast for a three-day Christmas break. As Elliot's mistress Kellie stays behind on a different island, he's getting ready to tell his wife Isabelle that he's leaving her after New Year. But Isabelle has a secret of her own and their daughter Taylor just can't seem to stay out of trouble. Then there's his sister, Stephanie, who's having a hard time dealing with the fallout of a family tragedy. Kellie jumps on a boat with the charming Ben to take a look at the island - just as snow begins to fall. It seems fate will ensure that this family will be forced to stay together longer than the three-day rule. But will it tear them apart forever?

The Boy Next Door (2001)

This story is written from the alternating perspectives of both main characters, Fred and his girl next door Mickey. It details their lives from the early 1980s to 15 years later, when they are leading separate lives, having lost contact after the death of Fred's father. Other than the people she sees through her flower shop, Mickey's social life revolves around her nine-year-old son, Joe. Single-handedly bringing up Joe, since Dan left her for his music, Mickey has given up any hope of finding love again. Fred is just weeks away from marrying his gorgeous girlfriend Rebecca when he runs into Mickey and starts rethinking his plans.(XT)

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CARA LOCKWOOD

I Do (But I Don't) - (2003)

Lauren Crandell's qualities as a neat freak and organisational guru makes her the perfect wedding planner (even though she has uncontrollable curly hair and is divorced). When two weddings go haywire on the same day - a parachuting groom gets stuck in a tree and a bride faints after spotting a stalker ex-girlfriend dressed as a bridesmaid - hunky firefighter Nick Corona comes to the rescue. With sparks flying between them, Lauren is put on to a new client who knows Nick - the beautiful but Psycho Bride Darla. Although the cases of mistaken identity were as obvious as a bride wearing a big meringue dress, it's an entertaining read with a delightful heroine. The story was turned into a 2004 TV movie starring Denise Richards as Lauren and Dean Cain as Nick. The sequel about Lauren's sister, Lily, is called I Did (But I Wouldn't Now).

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LESLEY LOKKO

Rich Girl Poor Girl (2009)

This follows a group of savvy, interesting and relatable girls who form an unexpected friendship early in life. Nic is a lonely heiress who has the world and daddy's credit cards at her fingertips but all she really wants is the love of her father. Tory, the fashionable florist, is living in the shadow of her murdered older sister and just can't seem to cut a break in life. Caryn is a quiet achiever who comes from nothing and works to get herself to the top, while the gorgeous, long-legged Estelle uses her looks and body to get what she wants. But Estelle has a vicious secret and will stop at nothing to tear all three girls apart but can she break the bond of true friendship? While this book is not the usual light and easy read of the chick lit genre it still has all the concepts we know and love such as romance, wealth, power, revenge and most importantly fashion! It's a clever and interesting novel which leaves you wanting more and is great for when you feel like a bit of a change in your reading preferences. (GF)

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SHIREEN LOLESI

Wives and Girlfriends (2009)

Angel may look like she's got the dream life, married to rugby league star Drew but behind closed doors their marriage is in trouble. Drew has become moody and withdrawn, secretly indulging in the sex, drugs and alcohol lifestyle that accompanies these feted football players. But Angel is also hiding a secret - an affair with one of Drew's Gladiators teammates which may have lead to the conception of her son Charlie. Written amid real-life football scandals, Shireen Lolesi has said she wrote the book as self-therapy after her marriage breakdown to an NRL rugby league player. While the writing won't score extra points, this story tackles how easily the fame, money and groupies can convert the scrum into scum. It will appeal to those after a sizzling insider's view into the life of a WAG.

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KATE LONG

A Mother's Guide To Cheating (2010)

Carol believed Ian was a decent, honest boy who everyone loved, and would never do a single thing to hurt her daughter, Jaz. So when she receives a call from Jaz, telling her about Ian's infidelity, Carol immediately goes on the defensive. Many years ago, when her husband Phil cheated on her, she decided to just put up with it. Now she tries to persuade Jaz to take the same approach - to forgive Ian and move on with life. Together with Ian's father David, she tries to reconcile the pair, which results in Jaz storming off with Carol's precious grandson, Matty. This is a sweet and interesting tale told from a mother's perspective, detailing her own struggles with marriage and her strained relationship with her daughter. (XT)

Queen Mum (2006)

Ally always plays life safe unlike her beautiful, self-assured neighbour Juno, who signs up for Queen Mum, a reality TV show where two mums swap homes. It's only when the program airs that it becomes apparent that things in Juno's household are not as Ally believes, and that she and Juno are more alike than she ever imagined.

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LINDA LORD

The Pitch (2009)

Ever wondered how a game of soccer can help give you the sense you need for a business pitch? Solo mother Liz runs an event management business and is slowly running it into the ground - she is barely making ends meet. Her son Justin is on the soccer team and of course, that costs money. So what happens when you mix an event business with soccer - an awesome survival guide for the business world. With tips from the coach, Liz starts to turn her business around, but in doing this her relationship with her son starts to turn sour. Can Liz save both their bond and her business or will she have to choose between the two? An awesome book that talks about relationships and family as well as business, event management and soccer. A fantastic read for all those soccer mums out there who are also businesswomen. (PP)

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MALENA LOTT

Dating Da Vinci (2008)

Since the passing of her husband two years ago, Ramona Elise, 36, hasn't been able to move on with life. The only things that provide her with the minimum joy she needs to get through this horrible mess are her two sons and passion for the English language. When she meets Leonardo da Vinci, a hot 25-year-old Italian immigrant who is a student in her ESL class, Ramona sees him as a remedy for her grief, and goes out of her way to help him - even to the extent of providing him a place to stay, in her own backyard. Ramona finds herself edging closer to Da Vinci, crossing the boundaries of age and love. It wasn't the mindblowing romantic tale I was expecting, or the haunting story of grief and misery, but a really fresh take on widowhood and family. The parts I enjoyed most were the musings of the main character, Ramona, on how grief changes her life, and how it isn't what people imagined it would be. (XT)

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SHARI LOW

My Best Friend's Life (2008)

Roxy is glam, adventurous and works as a receptionist in a swanky London brothel. Librarian Ginny is drab, sensible and is still living in her teenage bedroom with a Westlife doona. But despite being so different they've been best friends for years. When Roxy complains that she's had enough of city living and men, Ginny sees a way out of her rut, including 12 years with boyfriend Darren. She suggests that they swap lives for a month. Roxy will come back to their sleepy hometown Farnham Hills to work in the library and stay with her mum; Ginny will try on Roxy's glamorous job and lifestyle, living with her handsome flatmate and wearing her designer stiletto boots. Get ready for a romp with lots of sex.

Double Trouble (2003)

IT sales manager Clark Dunhill thinks of himself as the Shagmeister. Good looking, well-groomed, with designer clothes - what woman could resist him? When he has a bet with his mates that he can walk into the pub with two girls on his arms - one with brains, the other with beauty - he has no idea of the double trouble he's about to get himself into. Cassandra Haven, the brains, is the financial director of Systems Solutions, the company where Clark works. She has focused on her career, spending most hours tied to her desk, and has now decided it's time to have a baby - she just needs a sperm donor without any attachments. When she spots Clark at a business conference she decides he's the perfect man for the job. Polly Kent, the beauty, also works for the company as a marketing assistant but she's really waiting for a husband and family. From a rich hotel family, she meets Clark at the pub where her best friend, the acidic Fiz, works and they start dating. Clark seems like the perfect partner, so when her pregnancy test is positive, she's sure he'll be thrilled.

Why Not? (2002)

When political researcher Jess is propositioned by her Conservative MP boss Basil Asquith, she's got no better offers on the table and so launches into a secret affair with him. But he continues to drag his feet about leaving his wife. So along comes boyfriend no. 2, journalist Mike Chapman, who caused a media scandal when he outed the MP's extra-curricular activities. But when Mike leaves her pregnant and alone, Jess - together with her loyal band of girlfriends - sets about wreaking revenge on the pair of them.

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JACQUELINE E. LUCKETT

Searching for Tina Turner (2010)

Lena Spencer appears to have the perfect life. Her gorgeous husband, Randall, is rich, successful and makes sure she wants for nothing, including a beautiful home and luxury cars. She dotes on her two beautiful children, Kendrick and Camille, even though they are almost grown and out on their own. Even Lena would admit that she has led a charmed life. However, she still feels something is missing. Her own life has been put on the back burner to care for her family, to the point that she no longer knows who she is. When she tries to tell her husband she would like to get back into photography, he essentially tells her she's lucky to have the life that she does and to stop behaving like a child. Drawing on inspiration from her idol, Tina Turner, Lena decides it's time to figure out who she really is after more than two decades of being known simply as Randall's wife. Although I found the author's writing style a little hard to follow, this story will inspire all who read it to follow their passion. (LEK)

Second Opinion

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WHITNEY LYLES

Always the Bridesmaid (2004)

Cate Padgett has been in many weddings - as a bridesmaid. To be exact, she has been a bridesmaid in four weddings over just a few months. Her closet is bursting with expensive polyester bridesmaid dresses with matching dyed shoes and she has had just about enough of photographers telling her to tilt her head this way and that. To top it off, Cate finds herself dealing with a drunk ex of the bride-to-be who is determined to crash the wedding and confess his love, soap opera style! Through all the "I dos" Cate has to work through her own questionable relationship with her distant boyfriend Paul, manage to make it to all her required home visits of the kindergarten class she teaches, and wonder why she has a strange feeling in her stomach every time she sees her old friend, Ethan. For anyone who has ever stood on the sidelines and wondered, 'what about me?' this book will have you supporting Cate the whole way and wanting more when it ends . . . Luckily, there is a sequel! (JE)

Here Comes the Bride (2006)

Cate Padgett is back and she is no longer a bridesmaid - she is the bride! Having fallen in love with Ethan, an old friend and caterer of the many weddings she was a bridesmaid in, it is Cate's turn to put on the white dress and walk down the aisle. But it won't be so easy. Not only does Ethan's ex-girlfriend show up, Cate's mum has her own ideas for planning the wedding and Cate is finding it hard to voice her own opinion. To add more chaos to the mix, Ethan's cousin has so many demands you would think she is the bride. All Cate wants to do is marry her one true love, but first she has to find her missing engagement ring, get through the pre-cana weekend, and find the patience to deal with the remodelling of her home. This is a sequel that does not disappoint and shows the strength of a relationship when your true love is also your best friend. (JE)

First Comes Love (2007)

First comes love, then comes marriage ... then comes a baby in a baby carriage? As Cate Padgett is no longer a perennial bridesmaid but a happily married wife to Ethan, she is no longer feeling the pressure of getting married but is instead feeling the pressure to have a baby. Just settling into married life with Ethan, Cate is surrounded by friends who have had babies or who are about to, and all the kid talk has her wondering, does she want to be a mother? With their catering business taking off and Denise (yes the crazy cousin from Here Comes the Bride) getting married, Cate wonders when all the madness will end. But Cate and Ethan will soon be faced with their own little surprise and new challenges. The last book in the Cate Padgett series allows the reader to see Ethan and Cate's relationship come full circle and ends with a new addition to their family. Like the previous two novels in the series, the relate-able characters and circumstances have the reader emotionally involved the whole read and this wonderfully wraps up a beautiful love story. (JE)

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