Daddy's Girls - Tasmina Perry (2006)

Lord Oswald Balcon may have it all but he is a nasty and bullying character. So when he turns up dead everyone is a suspect. Even his daughters. Venetia is an interior designer who is in a loveless marriage and desperately wants to have something else besides her career to fulfill her. Camilla is a rising political star who is destined for great things but has a long list of unworthy lovers. Then there is Cate who is launching a magazine and is looking for love. Serena is a famous actor and party girl who is constantly in the paparazzi's sights. When the sisters meet up after the death of their father, someone shows up and starts claiming that one of them killed their father and he knows who. A great book with a mysterious twist - you'll find it hard to put down. (CG)

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Daisy Dooley Does Divorce - Anna Pasternak (2007)

'There's only one thing worse than being thirty-nine and single. Being thirty-nine and divorced.' And so begins the story of Daisy Dooley, who has just got divorced after a brief marriage to Jamie. Guided by friends Lucy, who's married with two children, and Jess, a single GP who has lots of one-night stands, Daisy embarks on dating again. She goes on a blind date with an older man, has a fling with a twenty-something guy, considers a relationship with her best male friend and even gets involved with her very rich former boyfriend and possible soulmate, who unfortunately is about to marry an heiress. Written by the author of the widely panned Princess in Love (about Princess Diana and her cad James Hewitt), I must admit I was very apprehensive about this book and after reading it I still can't say if I liked it or hated it. Inspired by Pasternak's own life, Daisy Dooley Does Divorce is based on her weekly column in the Daily Mail. It introduces a number of terms such as the sexual sorbet (first person you sleep with after a break-up; it removes the taste of a bad relationship) and PDD (post divorce date). A pilot TV show, produced by Ashton Kutcher's company Katalyst in the US, is in production for ABC.

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Daisy's Back in Town - Rachel Gibson (2004)

Daisy Monroe left her small Texas town 15 years ago while she was still a teenager. Now, after the death of her husband Steven, Daisy returns to Texas with her son. She is determined to mend her friendship with Jack Parrish, the man she has never been able to forget. Jack still feels angry and hurt that Daisy and Steven rushed off to the altar years ago. Jack is determined to keep his distance from Daisy, however, the sparks between them keep pushing them together. This is a fun steamy novel that you can finish in a night. (AO)

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Damsel Under Stress - Shanna Swendson (2007)

I started this third book in the Enchanted series immediately after finishing the second, which was helpful since it picked up right where the other left off. Like the first two novels, Damsel under Stress is a quick, fast-paced read in which the lead heroine, Katie Chandler, is helping save the world from diabolical magic. It seems like every time she goes on a date with her crush, co-worker and magician Owen Palmer, Katie finds herself in a distressing situation in need of a helping hand of a strong man and some strong magic. The only problem is that Katie's not sure who's at the source of all this dark magic. Is it Ari, who's escaped from MSI's hold? Is it Ethelinda, a new magical woman who's introduced herself as Katie's fairy godmother? Could it be Phelan Idris, a known enemy to her, Owen and the rest of MSI? It appears that Idris has found a woman to financially back up his evil magic and plans to take over the world - maybe she's behind all the "accidents" and chaos that keeps happening around Katie. Whoever it is, Katie and Owen are determined to get to the bottom of this and she once again sacrifices her non-magical immunity to figure it out. I was hooked very early with all the excitement, magical creatures and diabolical chaos and found myself reading it at every opportunity. If you like Harry Potter, chick lit or just fantasies and fairy tales, I definitely recommend giving Shanna Swendson's series and Damsel Under Stress a try! (CH)

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Dance Lessons - Aine Greaney (2011)

Ellen's Irish husband, Fintan, has been killed in a boating accident and she is trying to move on, working as a teacher at a local prep school in Boston. One day, Ellen runs into Sheila, an old friend of Fintan's who mentions Fintan's mother Jo. However this is news to Ellen as she was under the impression that her husband was an orphan. On a spur of the moment, Ellen decides to go to Ireland and meet her mother-in-law. But she soon discovers that she really knew nothing about her husband's past. In order for Ellen to overcome her grief for Fintan, she must face a journey of his past. Amid this story about Ellen's steps towards transforming her life, there's lots of Irish humour and romance. (PP)

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Dancing Backwards in High Heels - Christine Darcas (2008)

Madeleine Hutchinson is a wife to Geordie and mother to Josh and Robbie and has just successfully moved her family across the world from America to Australia. Madeleine, who's put her career on hold to raise the children, is in a strange country where every time she leaves the house she gets lost, doesn't know where the local hospital is, can't work out the Australian vernacular and has only a handful of people she can call friends. There's a gnawing gap between her and her husband, her son's hyperactive and the other only speaks to her in teenage grunts. She's lost, tired of the humdrum of housework and can't remember who she is or the woman she was. This is until she stumbles across a dance studio which conjures up childhood memories of a passion she's long forgotten. The music and moves make her feel alive again and the attention of her much younger dance partner makes her feel sexy and flattered. Until she starts to lose control and it no longer seems like the innocent fun she thought. Madeleine has some serious decisions to make about whether she saves her marriage and family or gives in to temptation. (LF)

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Dancing Her Dreams Away - Alretha Thomas (2011)

Sheila is a struggling actress waiting for her big break. She needs to make some quick money in order to keep her apartment while she's waiting for her break so she takes a job as a dancer-for-hire at the Flamingo nightclub. It's not her ideal job but it leaves her days open for auditions. When her agent calls about a leading role in a movie, she thinks her luck is starting to turn until she finds out it involves taking her clothes off for the camera. She soon realises this might be what it takes to establish herself in Hollywood. Sheila becomes not only the star of the movie but also the object of the producer's affection. This book gives an inside look at what people are willing to do in order to be famous. Thomas has written an intense story that really sucks the reader in. (AR)

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Dancing Naked in Dixie - Lauren Clark (2012)

Julia Sullivan is a travel writer from New York City. Her usual assignments take her to beautiful locations across the world. She has a boyfriend, however, she is never at home enough for the relationship to progress to the next level. Julia's next assignment to Bali comes to a drastic halt when she is dragged into her new editor's office and reprimanded on the decline of her work. If she wants to save her job, her next assignment will not be Bali, but rather Eufaula, Alabama. Julia arrives in Alabama and is immediately a fish out of water. Her New York fast-paced ways are at odds with the slow Southern lifestyle. Julia tries to fit in, however, it seems that the more she tries, the more chaos she creates. Shug Jordan is Julia's handsome contact in Eufaula. As Julia researches Eufaula, she uncovers a secret that could destroy the small town that she has started to love. The reader is introduced to a wonderful collection of characters that inhabit Eufaula. The author does such an excellent job describing the town and atmosphere that it makes the reader want to grab some sweet tea and head south. (AO)

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Dancing Shoes and Honky-Tonk Blues - LuAnn McLane (2007)

Abby is a waitress in her mother's restaurant in a small town in Kentucky. When her younger brother nominates her as a contestant for the reality show Dancing with the Rednecks, Abby doesn't want to compete but the prize money is just too good to pass up. As Abby rehearses with dance partner Rio Martin, a sexy Mexican ballroom dancing champion, sparks fly between the two on and off the dance floor. This is a fun-filled story that would appeal to fans of Dancing with the Stars. (AO)

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Dancing with Mules - Morag Prunty (2001)

Also known as Wild Cats & Colleens

Irish-American billionaire Xavier Big has advertised for an Irish wife, and is on his way to Ireland to choose from the finalists. PR queen Lorna, whose firm looks shaky after her accountant failed to pay her clients' taxes, is hoping this will save her day. Journalist Sandy isn't looking for a husband - she just wants to do a documentary on Mr Big's search. Gloria's hairdressing salon would be quite profitable if her ex-husband Frank stopped dipping his hand in the till - she's determined never to live in poverty again.

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Dating Big Bird - Laura Zigman (1999)

Ellen, 35, is infatuated with her young niece Nicole (aka the Pickle) and all of a sudden her biological clock starts ticking. Trouble is her boyfriend Malcolm is still reeling from the death of his young son. And can't even face having sex. Ellen meets up with Amy, a former high school classmate, and discovers that she too is desperate to have a baby. So they give themselves a deadline to work out if they are willing to go ahead with their baby plans on their own.

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Dating Da Vinci - Malena Lott (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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Dating the Alphabet - Samantha Napier (2015)

Ramona, with the help of her best friend Emma, is dating her way through the alphabet. But will she find a guy worth seeing again before she gets to Z? The concept sounded promising enough, and with Ramona as the manager of a restaurant with character wait staff, like Tarzan, Fat Elvis and Little Red Riding Hood, the supporting cast is quirky enough to pique your interest. However, despite the writer injecting plenty of humour, the dates all became fairly forgettable and it soon got tired that most of Ramona's predicaments essentially came down to her being drunk. After one workplace incident, which if you turned it around and put a man in Ramona's shoes would have been totally unacceptable, any remaining sympathy for her evaporated. Her redemption was too little, too late. One for the ladettes, perhaps.

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Daughters - Elizabeth Buchan (2012)

Lara's former husband, Bill, announces he is getting remarried - months before his daughter Eve's much-anticipated nuptials. And his bride-to-be Sarah wants Eve's reception to be held at her newly inherited country pile. Therapist Lara, who has brought up Eve and her sister Jasmine, isn't so willing to give up her influence over the girls. But when she realises going ahead with the wedding may not be the best thing for Eve, she hesitates about interfering. Meanwhile her own daughter Maudie surprises the family by making a decision about her future that will take her far away from them. This is a beautiful story about how a mother never really loosens the apron strings as her nest empties.

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Daughters of Fortune - Tara Hyland (2010)

The Melville sisters have one thing in common: they're heiresses to the exclusive Melville fashion dynasty. However, that's about all they do have in common - Elizabeth, Caitlin and Amber couldn't have been more different if they tried. Elizabeth and Amber were born with a silver spoon in their mouths and have never wanted for anything, but for middle child Caitlin, the illegitimate daughter from William's extra-marital affair with a young Irish woman, things couldn't have been more different. Thrown in at the deep end, Caitlin struggles to fit in and after being betrayed in the worst possible way during her first year at boarding school, she withdraws further and further into herself. Not wanting anything from the father she barely knows, Caitlin vows to leave the family estate and make it on her own, and although she's successful it's not long before events conspire against her and she's forced to go home where she's faced with even more heartache. Yet one event manages to bring the sisters and family back together for one last fight, however, this time it's not a fight between each other but against someone they thought they could trust. This is a thoroughly enjoyable blockbuster of a read - and an impressive debut. (KC)

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Daydream Girl - Bella Pollen (2005)

aka B Movies, Blue Love (1999)

"Sometimes life can be like a bad movie. You sit through it, hoping it will get better, suspecting that it won't and wondering at what point you can reasonably walk out..." Kit Audrey Butler is nothing like the Hepburn girls that she's named after. The manager of the Orange, a rundown cinema, Kit, 35, is also a writer but has had her third screenplay recently rejected. Her life is rather messed up - with her gorgeous actor boyfriend Luke drifting further away from her, an estranged relationship with her father and making the mistake of sleeping with her friend Johnny. I found this a disappointing read, because it lacked realistic characters and the ending was poor. (XT)

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Dead Lift - Rachel Brady (2010)

When private investigator and single mum Emily Locke takes on socialite Claire Gatson's case, she doesn't realise that it will mean going undercover in the world of upper-class society. Now Emily must blend in with the other socialites, especially head of the health club Diane King. Emily is about to get the makeover of a lifetime as her job is to tail Diane into high-class gym Tone Shape and into the realm of cosmetic surgery in order to solve the murder of plastic surgeon Wendall Platt. This light-hearted mystery set amid the spa life is the second book in the Emily Locke Mystery series. (PP)

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Dead Rich - Louise Fennell (2012)

The Spenders are Britain's most famous family. All eyes are on them for their lux lifestyle and gorgeous faces that plaster every tabloid in the nation. So it's not surprising that when 14-year-old Dusty finds her mother, Georgia, dead of an apparent drug overdose, the family is thrust even more into the spotlight. Struggling with the loss of his beloved sister and trying to overcome his drinking problem, Jake Spender is falling apart. His wife, Zelda, is trying to hold it all together (albeit with pills and vodka) while at the same time figuring out what she wants from her marriage. Her parents are not making it easy for her since her mother, a renowned celebrity, is always trying to one-up her beautiful daughter. Georgia's death only puts the cracks in their foundation on full display. Can they get through her funeral and the messy aftermath without falling apart? With witty references such as naming the Spender home God's because it was a former church and shocking acts of sabotage and deceit, this is a novel that will make you question why in the world anyone ever wants to be famous in the first place. There are a lot of characters to keep track of but once you figure out who's who, the story flows freely and develops into something you would never expect. Can the Spenders survive what is only the beginning of their downfall? This is a fun and extremely scandalous read that you don't want to miss! (AS)

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Dead Romantic - Ruth Saberton (2014)

This is a charming and entertaining story about a woman named Cleo Carpenter who discovers after a head injury that there is much more to life than her work as an Egyptologist. The arrival of the ghost of deceased rock star Alex Thorne forces Cleo not only to reevaluate her priorities in life, but also to question her sanity. Alex is determined to enlist Cleo's help in helping his brother, Rafe, climb out of his pit of self-destruction since Alex's death. Never mind that Alex believes Cleo and Rafe are destined for one another and hopes that bringing these two together will benefit more than just Rafe. Cleo, Alex and Rafe are wonderful characters that I quickly liked - I am sure they would be a lot of fun to hang out with. So many times I wished Alex wasn't a ghost because it was so tragic that someone so vibrant with love, life and energy was dead. Cleo was great as a sceptic of the paranormal and I really enjoyed seeing the numerous ghosts reaching out to her trying to communicate. I found the background story of Cleo's work and her research into the death of a boy Pharaoh very interesting and the workplace sabotage and rivalry was intriguing. The story moves at an excellent pace and I was on pins and needles with anticipation of what would happen next. Though this book has a Christmas setting, I highly recommend reading it anytime of the year. I am now a fan of Ruth Saberton's work and look forward to reading more from her. (SH)

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Dear John - Nicholas Sparks (2006)

Torn apart by fate. Bound together by hope. John Tyree is stuck in a crossroads in his life, with a father who has Asperger's and no direction, he decides to enlist into the army. On a break from his tour in Germany, John meets a student called Savannah and quickly falls head over heels in love with her. What neither of them counted on was the disastrous events of 9/11 and how that would change their lives. John has to make the decision to settle down with Savannah or re-enlist in the army. Young love is never easy, but can it ever survive the distance? Nicholas Sparks is famed for his beautifully romantic novels and this one is no exception. Falling in love with these characters is easy and you can't help but shed a tear whilst reading this. A movie adaptation stars Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried. (LL)

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Dear Mr Knightley - Katherine Reay (2013)

In a way this book doesn't read like your average novel but in fact more like your own diary as you flip back years later. The narrator, Samantha Moore, has been given an opportunity of a lifetime - a grant has been set up by Mr Knightley, as he wishes to be known, for her to study a Masters in journalism. The grant only comes with one stipulation - that she must write letters to the grant giver but the conversation will be one-sided as he will not respond back. So begins the correspondence from Sam to Mr Knightley in which she reveals her deep darkest secrets, her past and childhood, and her current feelings about school, friends, boys and of course her strong love of the classics which she uses as an escape mechanism. As the story progresses we see Sam introduced to a variety of characters, some will be fleeting moments and others will end up having a long-lasting effect on her and cause her to open up and share about herself. Dear Mr Knightley is one of those books which you can sit back and enjoy and imagine that it is your thoughts you are reading. By the end I definitely felt a strong connection with Sam. And right up until the last chapter you will be wondering, who is Mr Knightley? (PP)

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Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead - Saralee Rosenberg (2008)

This is a hysterically funny novel about two suburban families living in Long Island, New York. Beth Diamond is the beautiful bitchy stay-at-home mum who is hated by all other housewives. Mindy Sherman is the overweight overwhelmed mom who is the target of Beth's cruelty. As Beth and Mindy find their lives turned upside down, they end up turning to each other for support and have more in common than they ever thought possible. Anyone who has a neighbor that drives them completely crazy can appreciate and laugh through this novel. (AO)

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Dear Thing - Julie Cohen (2013)

Claire is shattered when her latest IVF treatment fails and tells husband Ben that she has given up hope of ever having a child. But then Ben's friend, Romily, a single mother, offers to be their surrogate. At first Claire is worried that anyone could selflessly give up a baby she has carried but Romily reassures them that she doesn't want another child. And she would love to repay them for all the support they have given her and daughter Posie over the years. But there is one thing that Romily hasn't told them - she's been in love with Ben for years. This is a beautifully told and compelling story which leaves readers wondering how the issue will be resolved. Cohen has given great depth to the characters and her handling of such an emotional subject takes her writing to a whole new level.

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Decent Exposure - Phillipa Ashley (2006)

Emma Tremayne has moved to the Lake District after losing her boyfriend and her high-flying PR job in London. Trying to convince the men of the local mountain rescue team to pose for a naked fundraising calendar, Emma butts heads with handsome entrepreneur Will Tennant. Bit too cheesy for my tastes but this book won the Romantic Novelists' Association Joan Hessayon award for new writers.

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Dedication - Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus (2007)

Kate Hollis gets a phone call from her best friend Laura that her ex-boyfriend, pop star Jake Sharpe, has come back to their Vermont hometown with a fiancée in tow. Kate immediately hops on a plane, just a few days before Christmas, with the intention of confronting him. Since Jake just up and left her 13 years ago, his recording career has laid bare some of their most private relationship moments, including his breakout hit Losing, about their first sexual encounter. With flashbacks to high school, the story takes Kate from her days of pining for a distant Jake to him standing her up at prom. Now she's back in his life, will she exact revenge and find closure?

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Deep Blue Sea - Tasmina Perry (2013)

Two sisters, one death and a whole lot of mystery! What more could you want from a Tasmina Perry novel? Diana is left distraught when her husband, Julian, suddenly dies. Deciding the police inquest is wrong, she reluctantly gets back in touch with her sister who she hasn't spoken to for years. Rachel is shocked to hear about her brother-in-law's death and begins to unravel a whole lot of mystery around what happened. Drawing from her journalism background, Rachel enlists the help of her friend and they travel the globe in an attempt to find out what really happened to Julian. Along the way the two sisters try to resolve the situation that caused them to break apart all those years ago. There are also hunky divers and evil sister-in-laws. A perfect beach read with just enough mystery to keep you hooked to every single word. (LL)

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Deja View - Lisa Armstrong (2004)

Magazine staffer Sydney's former flame, Dylan, moves in across the road from her and her lawyer husband Charlie. Just married to American Eloise, he has moved back to England to revive his family's failing publishing company. Not only does Charlie not know about their university days relationship, Sydney's been keeping an even bigger secret.

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Delivered with Love - Sherry Kyle (2011)

When Claire's mother Emily dies after a battle with cancer, 20-year-old Claire doesn't know what to do with herself. Sitting in her inherited VW Bug, she finds an old love letter written 35 years earlier when her mother was 17. After losing her waitressing job, Claire decides to go on a road trip to find the letter writer but what she doesn't expect is that God will be looking out for her and that a truckload of miracles will occur - from crashing her VW then ending up staying the night at the tow-truck owner's house to finding a small rental which is the same address as the one on the letter to her mother. Soon Claire will discover that the world is actually smaller than you think as people from her past start appearing. Will Claire finally get what she has been seeking for the past 20 years - her father? Delivered with Love is a satisfying journey of self-discovery. (PP)

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Deranged Marriage - Faith Bleasdale (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.

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Desert Gift - Sally John (2011)

What would you do if one morning you woke up and the one thing that you had based your whole life around had disappeared without you realising? For the past 24 years, Jill Galloway has been married to Dr Jack Galloway and has spent this time writing marriage guides and giving relationship advice to radio listeners. However, behind closed doors it's a different story as Jack has just announced that he wants a divorce. The timing is anything but perfect, as Jill is about to set out on a five-week book tour. This inspirational lit novel shows that sometimes all you need to re-ignite the passion in a long-term marriage is a wake-up call as no marriage exists without numerous roadblocks along the way. (PP)

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Desire - Louise Bagshawe (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.

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Destiny - Louise Bagshawe (2011)

Kate Fox is on a mission in life, to just get by until she marries her rich husband. It is after all her "destiny". When she succeeds in nabbing media mogul Marcus Broder she thinks she has surpassed even her own ambitions. With more money then she could ever spend, and a life filled with nothing more than society functions, what else is there to want? Yet it isn't long before Kate realises that maybe she's given up too much and that her destiny isn't all it's cracked up to be. After Kate realises her mistakes will she be able to escape the shackles of her husband or the gold-digger label? This is the kind of book you can read effortlessly as it's really well written and difficult to put down. Although the story is a little predictable at times, and Kate can be a little too perfect, all in all it's enjoyable and worth a read. (AB)

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Destiny - Louise Bagshawe (2011)

Kate Fox is on a mission in life, to just get by until she marries her rich husband. It is after all her "destiny". When she succeeds in nabbing media mogul Marcus Broder she thinks she has surpassed even her own ambitions. With more money then she could ever spend, and a life filled with nothing more than society functions, what else is there to want? Yet it isn't long before Kate realises that maybe she's given up too much and that her destiny isn't all it's cracked up to be. After Kate realises her mistakes will she be able to escape the shackles of her husband or the gold-digger label? This is the kind of book you can read effortlessly as it's really well written and difficult to put down. Although the story is a little predictable at times, and Kate can be a little too perfect, all in all it's enjoyable and worth a read. (AB)

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Devoted - Hilary Duff (2011)

This sequel to Elixir continues a short time after the end of part I, in which Clea Raymond finally discovered the connection between the strange man, named Sage, and herself: they are soulmates. However, Sage has been kidnapped, and Clea has no idea where he is or whether he is still alive. She is trying to figure out how to save Sage but without her best friend Ben, whom she has difficulty trusting after everything that has happened. No longer able to sit still and do nothing, Clea eventually decides to make a deal with Sage's enemies, called Cursed Vengeance, in the hope of being able to see him again ... either in this life or the next. Hilary Duff has definitely grown as an author and this becomes apparent in her writing. Devoted is easy and quick to read, like Elixir, but it has a more intricate plotline with unexpected twists and turns to keep the reader curious. New characters have been added to the story, which causes the plot to thicken and become less predictable. I found myself wanting to know more, and especially the ending will leave many readers wondering about the third and last part of this series. Celebrities who decide to become authors usually stick with what they know, which ends in glamorous novels set in Hollywood. Duff seems to have really stepped away from this cliche and has written a paranormal young adult series, which many (especially teenagers) readers will enjoy and be captivated by. (JoH)

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Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend - Jenny Colgan (2008)

Life changes drastically for rich party girl Sophie when her father dies and according to the terms of his will, her stepmother casts her out to survive on her own for six months. Sophie moves into a rundown house on Old Kent Road, sharing with four guys - artists Cal and Eck, soldier James and student Wolverine. Because she can't pay the full deposit or utilities bills, she becomes their cleaner "Cinders" and starts working as a photographer's assistant. A funny, sparkling tale of one girl's journey from riches to rags.

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Diary of a Mad Bride - Laura Wolf (2001)

When Amy Thomas was bridesmaid for a friend, she was driven nuts by her demands and vowed she'd never become a crazy, self-centred bride. So now that she is engaged herself (after Stephen proposed in a movie popcorn queue), why are her friends and work assistant cringing every time she comes near? For Amy is quickly discovering that while marriages are made in heaven, weddings are made in hell. While Stephen only has to pick out the wedding band, Amy has a list of 70 items to tick off. Will this couple ever make it to happily ever after?

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Diary of a Mad Fat Girl - Stephanie McAfee (2012)

Best friends Graciela (Ace), Lilly and Chloe are three sassy, strong, southern women who would do anything for each other, and do, in this rollercoaster ride of a girlfriends' tale. After Lilly ditches Ace for their spring break trip to Florida, Ace decides to investigate why her friend is being so tight-lipped about cancelling their trip. In the process of getting to the truth, she opens up a whole can of worms about the hateful principal of the school where they teach, the colourful characters in her hometown of Bugtussle, Tennessee, and Chloe's scumbag-of-a-husband, Richard. Ace and Lilly's stalking of Richard for proof of his philandering ways can only be described as Lucy and Ethel go undercover ... to a strip club. Diary of a Mad Fat Girl takes off from the first page and never lets up until the very end. This was originally self-published in late 2010. (LEK)

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Diary of a Mad Mother-to-Be - Laura Wolf (2003)

After being married to Stephen for two years, Amy Thomas Stewart decides that she wants to have a baby. With the pregnancy guide BABY HOW BABY NOW and an inaudible gynaecologist she dubs the Crotch Whisperer, Amy has to keep it together as she learns how to be a mother-to-be. She also has to keep her pregnancy a secret from her PR company while she promotes a soap actress who has written an anti-kid book.

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Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl - Tracy Quan (2001)

High-class call girl Nancy Chan has been a prostitute since her teens. Now in her 30s, she has a regular rota of clients but her fiancé, Matt, has no idea about what she does for a living. As she gets involved with sex community meetings, a blacklisted john and someone a bit close to home, can she keep up her secret life? This novel developed from Quan's Salon.com columns (she is a former call girl) and is one of our Top 10 Most Disappointing Books.

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Diary of an Unsmug Married - Polly James (2014)

Molly is a senior caseworker for Labour MP Andrew Sinclair. Which means it is her role to deal with the constituents who contact his office looking for advice and support - the downtrodden, the insufferable and the downright certifiably insane. The story kicks off around the time that Tory leader David Cameron assumed power in 2010. Molly's been married to Max for years but why is he suddenly now working out and working late? Does it have anything to do with their next-door-neighbour, Ellen, flaunting herself at every opportunity? Then an old school mate, Johnny Hunter - now an oil company director working out of Russia - gets in touch with Molly via Facebook. She can't remember him but apparently he can't forget their schoolyard close encounters. Will she be tempted by this international man of mystery? Based on the Mid Wife Crisis blog and paying homage to the Bridget Jones concept of the smug married, the book might prove a bit too political for some (there's lots of explanatory footnotes for those not au fait with the British party system). For me, the crazy constituents and the blundering MP were the highlights. Nevertheless, there's plenty of humour and marital misunderstandings to keep the general reader happy too.

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Dietland - Sarai Walker (2010)

Plum Kettle works as an agony aunt, answering fan mail for a teen magazine editor. She can do the work from home ,Ai or her favourite cafe ,Ai which is fortunate as Plum doesn,Aot look like the usual calorie-starved fashionistas who populate the world of glossy magazines. Plum is just waiting for the day of her weight-loss surgery, when she can shed her fat persona and her real life can truly begin. But realising she,Aos being followed by a mysterious woman in combat boots, Plum instead finds herself drawn into a whirlwind of intrigue, as a dangerous feminist group terrorises those who mistreats women. Part insight into a woman dealing with society,Aos unkindness towards obese people and part disturbing feminist manifesto, this is one to pick up if you,Aore after something darker than your usual fare. Made for book club debate. (PP)

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Dining with Joy - Rachel Hauck (2010)

For the past seven years, Joy has been the host of TV cooking show Dining with Joy. However there is just one problem - Joy can't cook. So as part of her contract, she has a no cook-off policy to protect her secret. But when Joy is set up against her TV nemesis Wenda Divine, Luke, a chef from New York, saves the day. Luke and Joy have some sizzling chemistry and he is offered the chance to co-host with her. Can Joy keep up the charade or will Luke find out she's been lying - even to him? This delicious tale of dysfunctional families, tests of faith and romantic sparks includes yummy recipes and cooking tips. (PP)

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Dinner at Rose's - Danielle Hawkins (2012)

After catching her boyfriend and best friend together, Jo heads back to her home town in country New Zealand to take up a temporary job at a physiotherapy clinic. With a hopeless receptionist who spends her day filing her nails, a client who won't take no for an answer and a flatmate who monitors electricity use, the only bright light for Jo is being close to her beloved honorary aunt Rose. Jo is the sort of girl who helps out wherever she can - shearing sheep, milking cows, you name it - so when a serious illness strikes the feisty Rose, Jo moves in to take care of her. Meanwhile she finds she has feelings for Rose's nephew, Matt, but he is dating Farmer Barbie. This is a beautifully written, delightful story - it's heart-warming, amusing and sad - and will teach you to cherish those close to you. And the book packaging with its rose imprint is simply gorgeous.

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Dirty Tricks - Jo Carnegie (2011)

This book has a great mix of characters - there's Harriet who comes from a wealthy background but that doesn't stop this kind, warm-hearted woman from volunteering at a London community centre in a rough part of town. Saffron moves to the countryside to write a book but has difficulty adjusting to a long-distance relationship with her boyfriend Tom, especially with his model twin brother Rex around to keep her company. I don't tend to read books set in the countryside but I'm really pleased I tried this one - a continuation of Jo Carnegie's Churchminster series. I found it to be a very funny but heartfelt book. It was action packed most of the way but a bit slow towards the end. (KD)

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Dispatches from Paradise - Shelly Gitlow (2014)

This tells the woven tale of three women who are in different places in their lives but must come together to figure everything out. Liz has given up on her cheating husband of 20 years and her boring job. On her birthday, she throws everything she knows out the window and trades it in for a kayak. Her seemingly neglectful, overly sexualized mother Claudette is going through the motions of grief as her longtime partner has died in a moment of passion. Liz's daughter, Darcy, has decided to move home in the midst of college and become a model after a night of regrets in a club with people she thought were her friends. As Liz embarks on her newfound freedom, she must embrace her mother and her daughter moving in with her. The novel tells the story from the three points of view as secrets, betrayals, and relationships are brought to light. Can these three women in completely different places in their lives come together to sort it all out? Can they forgive and understand one another as they do? Dispatches from Paradise is an interesting spin on telling the same story from three different points of view. It is often surprising, fun and interesting. (JP)

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Diva - Carrie Duffy (2012)

What happens when you realise that the life you are born with is not what you want? When Dionne Summers realises that she is meant to be a supermodel, she swaps the poor roads of Detroit for beautiful Paris. Alyson Wakefield is tired of being sole carer of her alcoholic mother so when she is given a chance to leave England and go wherever she wants, she heads to Paris, a city she has always loved. When these two girls move in with aspiring fashion designer CeCe who was born to a life of luxury but chose to live on her own terms, their life becomes one big party. After spending their days in boring and temporary jobs, these three girls drink together and discuss dates while waiting for their chances to break into the world of power, money, fashion and glamour. Dionne gets her first big assignment modelling for a retail brand catalogue while Alyson gets an entry-level job in a champagne company after sleeping with a business tycoon. The game gets dirty when Alyson unknowingly crushes Dionne's dream and CeCe has to choose between Dionne and Alyson. Once best mates become worst enemies. This book is a brilliant attempt to show that what goes behind all the glamour. Once the cameras are off and the show is over, the ugly side of this life begins to show. Diva is the perfect blend of dreams, success, failure, love, hate, jealousy, fame and the consequences which follow. (SS)

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Divas - Rebecca Chance (2009)

Stunning looks, a gorgeous fiance and a limitless trust fund - London's IT girl Lola Fitzgerald is a spoilt and pampered princess whose father gives in to her every whim. Evie Lopez is just as stunning but she's had to work her way up to become financially stable. But these two women are in for a rude awakening when Lola's father - and Evie's lover - falls into a coma, giving his new wife Carin control over the finances. First thing on her list is to get rid of Lola by cutting off her financial support and leaving her penniless. Next on her hit list is her husband's mistress Evie, who she plans to evict. Although Lola and Evie cannot stand one another, they must combine forces to overthrow their number one enemy - The Ice Queen. This is a classic tale about going from riches to rags overnight, with a Cinderella/Snow White-inspired villainess thrown in. (PP)

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Divas Don't Knit - Gil McNeil (2007)

After her husband dies, Jo Mackenzie moves to a sleepy seaside town to run her grandmother's knitting shop. She struggles to adjust to her new life with her two boys, but is helped along by her Gran, her famous glamorous TV presenter best friend and her new-found Italian friend Connie. By setting up the 'stitch and bitch' knitting group and establishing an A-list actress as a customer of the shop, she makes knitting cool again and gets her life back on track. With a hint of romance, likeable characters and a lot of knitting, not only is the story a fairly good yarn, it will have you looking out your gran's old knitting needles before the end. (AB)

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Divas Las Vegas - Belinda Jones (2001)

Twenty-seven-year-old best friends Jamie and Izzy have always dreamed of having a glamorous double wedding in Las Vegas. They're now ready to put their days of dodgy boyfriends behind them and replace them with dodgy husbands - they just need to find them, and where better to do so than Sin City itself? But when they abandon Devon, UK for Vegas, they discover that dodgy husbands are thinner on the ground than they'd imagined. To make matters worse, the problems they thought they'd left behind - like Izzy's fiance and the alarming reappearance of Jamie's first love - just won't go away. Will Jamie and Izzy be able to fulfil their dream? Belinda Jones expertly creates a sense of place and makes you feel as if you're there in Sin City with the main characters. Although the landscape of Las Vegas is constantly changing, this book's descriptions of the city captures its timeless spirit and glitz. It's a fun, light read - perfect for holidays. (SBB)

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Divine - Michelle Holman (2008)

"What do you do when your husband leaves you, not for another woman but because he wants to be a she?" Tara Whitehead has been married to husband Richard for 16 years and everything is perfect as Tara has been transformed from a Westie to a Remuera trophy wife. Until one day Richard drops a bombshell and tells her he is leaving her, to become a woman. Forced out of her home, in order for her husband to pay for his surgery, Tara and their 15-year-old daughter Jennifer move to the small town of Divine, which is as far as her designer stilettos will take her. Tara is dogged by financial worries until her new friend Sian finds her a telephone job with the pseudonym Mistress Fury. This is another hilarious and delightful read from Michelle Holman - just divine, in fact. (PP)

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Divorced, Desperate and Delicious - Christie Craig (2007)

Lacy Maguire has sworn off men for good. After a broken engagement and a failed marriage, Lacy vows to NOT follow in her mother's footsteps (who has been busy after six divorces!). Instead of focusing on men, she keeps herself busy as a photographer. But while in the middle of a Christmas photo shoot in February, her dog (donning antlers) discovers a wounded detective near the lake who in turn invades her home and takes refuge while healing his wounds and tries to crack a case on a long-time dirty cop. If that isn't enough, Chase Kelly isn't just a detective, he's a smoking HOT detective, who definitely makes Lacy question her chastity vows time and time again. This has all the ingredients of a great chick lit novel, especially the constant voicemails and appearances from Lacy's quirky mother. (MD)

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Divorcing Dwayne - J.L. Miles (2008)

Would anyone think Francine Harper deserves to be locked up for shooting at her husband Dwayne and his stripper ex when she caught them in her marital bed? Especially since she missed - three times. Well, apparently the politically ambitious district attorney Warren Wilson does. When Francine is bailed on home detention, she discovers that their joint bank account is $30,000 richer and is worried that Dwayne has got mixed up in a shady mob deal. And she certainly isn't about to let the ankle monitor stop her from finding out the truth. But when Dwayne goes missing, presumed dead, Francine - the town's newly crowned celebrity - becomes the No. 1 suspect. You don't need to live on the right side of the Mason-Dixie line to enjoy the side-splitting humour. Full of crazy characters such as Nanny Lou who believes her husband isn't dead but just run off with the floozy from across the street.

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Does My Bum Look Big In This? - Arabella Weir (1997)

This is the diary of Jacqueline M. Pane, who thinks her life would be perfect if only she had a smaller bottom. She's a neurotic single 30-something conference organiser living in London who over-analyses everything that happens to her. But after a while her insecurities become wearying and unfortunately she comes across as Bridget Jones' poorer cousin.

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Dollhouse - K. KARDASHIAN (2011)

Kamille, Kassidy and Kyle Ramero are three beautiful sisters modelled - of course - on the real Kardashian sisters. They are smart, funny, sweet and caring but also bitter, vain and flawed. For the most part, they are your average family living in Hollywood, struggling to make ends meet after their father dies and their mother remarries. Things change, however, when Kamille lands a modelling job and becomes an overnight sensation. She soon starts attending star-studded parties and dating a hot baseball player named Chase. Though her family dislikes him for many reasons, Kamille decides to marry him. However, things are not what they seem. When Kamille's older sister, Kassidy, falls pregnant and her younger sister, Kyle, starts getting into hardcore drugs to hide the pain of her father's death, will Kamille come down off of her pedestal to help her family or will she abandon them for the glitz and glamour of Hollywood? Though the book is cliched in many ways, it does have some heart and a few good moments. That being said, the bad moments are more frequent than the good and the plug of Kim Kardashian's Midori endorsement is just plain lame (the characters are drinking Midori sours in one chapter and the word Midori is mentioned quite a few times). In addition, it is interesting that in light of Kim's recent divorce and wedding backlash, there is a sham wedding in the book. It actually says "sham wedding" in the text, and portrays Kamille (who is obviously mirrored after Kim) as the victim of a no-good, cheating fiancee who just happens to be an athlete. Coincidence? Probably not. After all is said and done, this book is a lot like the reality show in which these sisters became famous. It has all the trademarks. It's shallow, superficial, scandalous and shameless. If you love reality TV and all the drama that comes along with it, then this book is for you. But, if you're looking for characters and a story with some depth, then you might want to pass. (AS)

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Do Not Disturb - Tilly Bagshawe (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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Don't Hex with Texas - Shanna Swendson (2008)

In the latest book in the Enchanted series, magical immune Katie Chandler has left her job at Magic, Spells and Illusions in New York City and is back in her Texan hometown. Her plan to relieve her boyfriend and powerful wizard, Owen Palmer, from the distraction and danger that her presence has become in the civil war in the magical community amidst good and evil seems to have come to a head. No sooner does Katie get back into the family business in Texas than she begins to see all the strange, magical and evil activity she had just left behind. All things strange and evil in magic usually lead to evil mastermind, Phelan Idris, and Katie quickly calls her old boss, Merlin, for back up in the form of an old friend and protector, Sam, the gargoyle. You can bet where Phelan Idris can be found, Owen Palmer is never far behind and so it is no surprise when he shows up at Katie's work shortly after Sam's arrival. Soon enough a magical battle ensues revealing family secrets, true love and passion and a whole other part of the magical community that Katie never dreamed she'd find in her family's backyard. Will Katie and Owen survive the drama that ensues? Find out in this exciting and provocative fourth novel full of magic, romance and southern belles. (CH)

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Don't Know What You've Got Till It's Gone - Gemma Crisp (2014)

In this sequel to Be Careful What You Wish For, Nina is back in the editor's chair after her alcohol-fuelled fall from grace. This time it's for celebrity magazine Juice, which involves wooing the stars' managers with lots of cash to secure the best photographs and stories. After the magazine becomes the focus of a behind-the-scenes reality TV show, Nina is about to taste what it's like having a recognisable face. But it is in her personal life that Nina is facing the most trouble. One by one her friends are heading off to Nappy Valley and Nina finds herself bored stiff hanging out with their clucky club. I found it even harder to like Nina this time round. She basically responds to her friends' baby news by throwing the sort of tantrums most associated with fractious toddlers who've skipped their afternoon nap. And it was also a bit disconcerting to think someone could scale the heights of Australia's media while being so thick that she couldn't figure out who was behind the smear campaign or what was ailing one of her friends. But the story itself has plenty to offer readers who love feeling like a magazine insider and the never-ending baby talk between the women is amped up to maximum comedic effect.

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

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

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Don't Mention the Rock Star - Bree Darcy (2015)

You never forget your first love. But it's especially hard to do so when he is a famous rock star and you work for a celebrity magazine. Kellie has since moved on from her teenage boyfriend, and is now married with two children. However, she has kept her former relationship with AJ Dangerfield, or Andy as she calls him, a secret from her husband and her boss. When Kellie and Andy meet again, there is no denying that the chemistry is still there. Keeping their past under wraps is hard enough; but now they must also figure out whether or not they have a future together. Kellie and Andy are both very loveable characters, and their connection is so evident that it is hard not to root for them as a couple, in spite of the circumstances. The author has structured the novel in such a way that the readers get to see their relationship develop from its early stages to present day, and there are plenty of twists to keep things interesting. This is a great debut for Bree Darcy and I look forward to the next one. (LB)

Note: Bree Darcy is the pen-name of the Chicklit Club editor.

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Don't Quote Me - Charlie Kramer (2011)

Claire Montgomery has what she considers to be the perfect life. She travels the world as one of the top fashion photographers and she has a rotation of men that she spends her nights with - no strings attached. Her friends want her to settle down but Charlie can't imagine life being any more perfect. All that changes when she finds herself on the other end of the camera lens. One of the men in her life posts some racy photos of Claire online that are soon plastered all over the front page of the tabloids. She doesn't get any sympathy from her friends who have always disapproved of all her lovers. Claire finds herself alone and questioning the choices she has made in life that got her where she is today. Just as she has sworn off men so she can find out who she really is, she may have met the one man who could make her change her view of commitment. The lack of dialogue between Claire and any of the other characters made it difficult to be invested in her story. (AR)

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Don't Tell Eve - Airlie Lawson (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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Don't Tell the Boss - Anna Bell (2014)

After planning her own wedding to a strict budget due to her gambling debt, Penny got the wedding planning bug! Her blog, Princess-on-a-Shoestring, is getting so popular that she's now got brides-to-be asking her to be their budget wedding planner. While taking on the task of organising a fabulous wedding for highly strung Henri on a minimal budget, she's also trying to impress new boss Giles in order to get a promotion. But Giles takes a dim view of his employees moonlighting in other jobs, so she has to ensure that her newfound popularity as a wedding guru stays a secret. I loved Penny in the first instalment of this series, and she was equally as fun and witty in this book. She's a very likeable protagonist, and gets into some hilarious situations! I loved all the money-saving tips and tricks that she wrote about on her blog, there are some brilliant ideas there. Unfortunately I felt the plot was a little predictable, I didn't find the big twist towards the end to be very surprising, however overall I enjoyed this and look forward to the next book. (LO)

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Don't Tell the Brides-To-Be - Anna Bell (2015)

Penny Robinson has finally found the courage to take the big leap and start her own wedding planning business called Princess on a Shoestring. After the success of her blog with the same name, Penny soon finds herself with enough brides-to-be who want her help to organise their own budget weddings. Of course this includes the occasional bridezilla and emergency moments, but Penny is so passionate about her job she is ready to deal with it all. Until a rival wedding planner named Georgina Peasbody decides there is only room for one of them and she's not going down without a dirty fight. Penny has to give it her all to keep her business going. But when another unexpected bump in the road makes things even more complicated, Penny starts to doubt whether she is really meant to be a wedding planner. There are certain book series which I can't get enough of and if it was up to me, there would be at least 36 parts of the series to keep us involved in the characters' lives. This certainly is the case for me with Anna Bell's series. Don't Tell the Brides-To-Be is a fantastic third instalment. Penny is a simply wonderful heroine; she's spontaneous, naive, funny, and incredibly passionate and I think many readers will be able to relate to her one way or another. Sometimes, a sequel or a third part of a series can feel a bit forced, but that is not the case with this book. The story flowed naturally and I honestly couldn't wait to read more about Penny's adventures. (JoH)

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Don't You Forget About Me - Alexandra Potter (2012)

When Tess is dumped by her boyfriend Seb, she decides it's all her fault. Drunk and alone at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, she burns all her mementoes of their relationship and wishes that she'd never met him. When Tess bumps into Seb on New Year's Eve and he blanks her she soon realises that sometimes wishes can come true. He really doesn't remember who she is which means she can have another crack at their relationship. As she gets to put right her relationship wrongs, will she actually get it right this time? This was a clever concept for a story that any women who has been through a bad break-up could empathise with. It was a warm and funny read with loveable characters. It may be a little predictable in places, but it didn't spoil the overall enjoyment. This is the first Alexandra Potter book I've read and it won't be the last. (AB)

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Don't You Forget About Me - Suzanne Jenkins (2011)

After Pam's husband Jack dies of a heart attack on the train, three women - Pam, her sister Marie and Sandra - are drawn together in a way they never thought would be possible. Both Sandra and Marie had been having a relationship with Jack and now Sandra is expecting his child. When Pam is hospitalised suddenly, yet another shock awaits the three women as Pam is diagnosed with a deadly medical condition which the other two soon find out they share. How many others out there are also affected? Pam also has to deal with both Jack's and her mother's and her brother-in-law Bill's problems. This is a beautifully told story which had me gripped from the beginning. Although this book is the sequel to Pam of Babylon, it is written in such a way that if you haven't read the prequel you will easily pick up, follow and enjoy Don't You Forget About Me. (LM)

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Do Opposites Attract? - Kathryn Freeman (2014)

Brianna Worthington comes from money but she's determined not to be another spoilt, rich girl. She wants to do something worthwhile, not depend on her family's name and fortune. So when she meets the lady who runs Medic SOS, a charity delivering immediate medical help in areas hit by natural disasters, she agrees to immediately fly out to an earthquake-hit zone in South America. Mitch McBride, lead doctor for Medic SOS, has been told of Brianna's arrival and expects a pampered princess, something he doesn't have time for. So before he's given her a chance he's already written her off. But despite the absence of hot showers or four-poster beds, Brianna's determined to get stuck in, even if she's not exactly cut out for it and Mitch has to begrudgingly accept that perhaps there's more to this society girl than meets the eye. This was a really nice treat of a novel, entertaining and easy to read. I enjoyed the various settings in the book, including the Medic SOS camp, although that's only a relatively short part of the story, as well as the London high society. The relationship between Brianna and Mitch is compelling and I was intrigued by the lead man who is uncompromisingly stubborn and difficult. Freeman certainly offers a different type of romance here. The narrative does jump occasionally and at times I would have liked to have seen what happened in the intervening periods, but generally it's a charming, effortless read. (JC)

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Dot.Homme - Jane Moore (2004)

aka Love at First Site

For Jess Monroe's 34th birthday, her frenemy Kara buys her an ad on an internet dating site. And so begins Jess' descent into the murky work of online dating where the men in real life often don't live up to their cyberspace hype. Jess is also dissatisfied with her job on a daytime TV talk show but at least it enables her to highlight the good work being done by a hospice for dying children - run by the delightful Ben. But all her dating and work woes fade into the background when a real crisis hits home.

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Doubting Abbey - Samantha Tonge (2013)

Gemma Goodwin is an ordinary girl with a love of fake tan and false eyelashes. Without them however she looks remarkably like her roommate Abbey. Abbey's aristocratic family need her to be an integral part of their bid to win reality show Million Dollar Mansion, so the prize money can help restore their estate. But she and her boyfriend are going to Africa to do some charity work, so Gemma agrees to fill in for her, without anyone else knowing about it. Even with the etiquette classes and make-under, can Gemma really pull off being a lady and fool a whole nation into thinking she is Abbey Croxley? I really liked the characters in this book, they were well written and developed. Gemma particularly was relatable and loveable, and she grew immeasurably as the story progressed. The competition itself was excellent, very entertaining. Charlie Chingo was a believable host, and there was plenty of scandal and unexpected twists. I was hooked from the start by this impressive debut novel. (LO)

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Down and Out in Bugtussle - Stephanie McAfee (2013)

In the third instalment of the adventures of Ace Jones, our favourite Southern belle has moved back into her Gramma Jones' house in Bugtussle, Mississippi and is substitute teaching while she figures out a way to reclaim her old job teaching art at the high school. Her best friends, Lilly and Chloe, are happy to have her home but think she needs to start dating. All Ace wants to do, however, is hibernate with her BFLF (best four-legged friend), Buster Loo. As a diversion, she goes through her grandmother's gardening books and stumbles upon a series of notes to her grandmother from someone Ace has never heard of. So begins the mystery of her grandmother's secret life that Ace feels compelled to get to the bottom of. This is another great chapter in the life of Ace Jones. She is such a likable and relatable character, it's hard not to enjoy any of these books. (LEK)

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Down to Earth - Melanie Rose (2010)

When Michaela decides to do a charity parachute jump, she's scared out of her mind. The only thing that keeps her from backing out is Matt, the handsome man who supervises the jump. She feels an immediate connection with him and even though she's in a committed relationship she is secretly happy when Matt slips her his number. During the jump there is a strange gust of wind that throws Michaela off course. When she lands she finds that it's night time, the airfield is deserted, and there seems to be no one around for miles. What happened to the sunny day and all her friends from work? Michaela just figures she was thrown farther off course than she expected and starts looking for help. After walking for what seems like miles, she finds a small pub and while using the pay phone inside, she notices a flyer for herself on the wall. It says she has been missing for six and a half years! But wasn't it just hours ago that she jumped out of the plane? Not knowing who else to call, she reaches into her jumpsuit and pulls out the phone number for Matt. He picks her up but is unable to believe it is her since six years have passed - six really difficult years for him as he was a suspect in her murder. This starts a series of events - the main one being Michaela trying to find out exactly what happened to her. Her home life is not the same, her friends no longer exist and her mother has gone crazy - literally - while searching for her missing daughter. With the help of Matt and some other friends who believe that she is not lying about what happened, will Michaela finally figure out what happened and where her missing six years went? The story intertwines fantasy elements with real life problems that we all face. It's a highly addicting and compelling story which you won't want to put down until the end. (AS)

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Do You Remember the First Time - Jenny Colgan (2004)

Also known as The Boy I Loved Before

As her best friend Tashy cuts into her wedding cake, 32-year-old Flora realises she's disillusioned with her life. So she wishes that she could go back to age 16 and do it all again. The next day, she wakes up in her childhood bedroom as a teenager. Can Flora get things right this time round, including preventing her parents' divorce, standing up to a bully and getting together with her high school crush? And will she want to resume her normal life?

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Do You Take This Man? - Sophie King (2014)

Katie is young and in love and about to marry her boyfriend Alec. They haven't been together for long but marrying Alec feels like the right thing to do to Katie... Or doesn't it? As Katie is sitting in the wedding car on the way to the church, she suddenly finds her hand on the door handle and she has to make a crucial decision that will alter the course of her entire life: should she stay and marry Alec, or should she run away from it all and start over? The reader gets the chance to see what will happen to Katie in both of these scenarios in the form of two separate realities, both starring Katie and the decisions she makes that affect her life in all kinds of different ways; ways that show that some things happen because of one simple choice and some things are simply meant to be. This novel immediately reminded me of Ali Harris' Written in the Stars. While the basic plotline of both novels is similar, Sophie King decided to take things a bit further by describing about twenty years of Katie's life; quite a long period in which the reader gets to see what happens to Katie after she made that one important decision: to get married to Alec or not. I was really intrigued by the concept and by Katie's two different realities. Katie is a relatable heroine, especially since I think every single one of us occassionally wonders 'what if...' and in this novel the reader actually gets the chance to experience this 'what if'. I really liked how the author made certain elements come back in both realities, but also adding big differences, showing that some things are meant to be but some things happen because of small decisions that might seem irrelevant. King provides the reader with a captivating storyline with a convincing cast of both main and secondary characters at its core. While I personally do not think this is one of her best works, it's definitely something new, enjoyable and worth a read. It is a well-written, entertaining and thought-provoking read that will make you think twice about the 'what-if's' in your life. (JoH)

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Do You Want to Know a Secret? - Claudia Carroll (2008)

Successful PR agent Vicky is single - but doesn't want to be. Her friend Barbara wants to be a lauded actress - but is struggling to win a part in a commercial. And mother of four Laura is counting down the days till she can get back to her natural habitat, the courtroom. When Vicky is given an old book which promotes the Law of Attraction - you can get anything you want if you just ask the universe for it - the three women form a group to help each other get their greatest desires. For Vicky that means going out on the prowl with femme fatale Barbara. And soon she's attracting all sorts of men, including Eager Eddie, who can't take no for an answer; and Ex-Files Peter, who talks so much about his ex that Vicky could write her biography. But why isn't the law of attraction working on her latest client? Carroll sure knows the secret of easy-reading chick lit.

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Double Trouble - Shari Low (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.

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Dream a Little Dream - Sue Moorcroft (2012)

After committing a serious gaff with her ex-boyfriend that has dramatic consequences, Liza Reece swears to lead a celibate and alcohol-free life. Even irresistible Dominic who comes to her for treatment of his narcolepsy cannot distract her. Dominic has his own issues dealing with his recently diagnosed sleep condition that has caused him to lose his job and his girlfriend. The two are drawn together in battle over the lease to the treatment centre where Liza works as a reflexologist. Dominic needs a new interest and a business to run in light of his recent unemployment. He wants to turn the centre into an adventure wonderland. Liza wants to expand the centre to cater for all people's treatment and beauty needs. When the goal posts unexpectedly change, they are forced to team up and fight for the centre together. Can they work together and resist the physical attraction they both feel towards each other? Can they both let go of their pasts to make a future together? This is a great book with likeable characters and interesting plot that delves into the sleep condition narcolepsy and the world of reflexology. (LF)

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Dream a Little Dream - Giovanna Fletcher (2015)

When singleton Sarah starts having dreams about an acquaintance from her past, Brett Last, she gets a little respite from her own abysmal love life. Brett is very much the man of her dreams, and there's no way he could be that perfect in real life, not that she is likely to run into him in reality. Until she does! But can Real Brett live up to Dream Brett? Giovanna Fletcher really knows how to do chick lit and this latest book is no exception. A great premise is backed up with a great bunch of characters. And the dreams which kick off a number of the chapters have that perfectly authentic blend of bizarreness and normalcy - there's even a sweet cameo from the author's husband - and lend the book its USP. Real Brett's arrival on the scene was a bit too belated for my liking and Sarah's responses to him were a bit unfathomable as she's rather cool and distant. Yet it's charming and endearing throughout, and comforts you like a great big warm hug. (JC)

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Dream Lover - Suzanne Jenkins (2012)

The third book in the Pam of Babylon series picks up where the previous one left off but can be read independently. After Jack Smith dies suddenly of a heart attack on the train, a whole secret life comprising of multiple lovers - both male and female - is revealed to Pam, Jack's previously unsuspecting wife. Many of these people visit Pam at her home in Babylon to seek comfort from her and to share their stories of Jack and what he has meant to them. Pam deals with all these visitors compassionately and with a quiet strength. With her own health in jeopardy, Pam seeks to protect her children from as much as possible whilst assisting as many of Jack's lovers as she can. (LM)

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Driftwood Cottage - Sherryl Woods (2011)

Heather and her son little Mick leave Baltimore to move back to Chesapeake Shore with the support of Connor O'Brien's family. She has left Connor - the father of her son - because as a divorce lawyer he believes that marriage only ends in heartache. Heather opens a quilting shop and hopes to start over. Connor visits Chesapeake Shore to see his son and hopes that he can convince Heather to continue to live as they have without tying the knot. When Heather has a car accident, it causes Connor to rethink his views on marriage and they move into Driftwood Cottage. Will Connor change his mind and marry Heather? I enjoyed this heartfelt story about the continuing saga of the O'Brien family (this is book five of the Chesapeake Shores series) and am becoming a fan of Sherryl Woods. (JG)

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Drinking Closer to Home - Jessica Anya Blau (2011)

This is a hilarious and raw look at a heavily flawed family of former hippies from Santa Barbara, California. Coming home in a crisis caused by their mother's heart attack, Portia, Anna and Emery are faced with flashbacks from their rocky upbringing. Portia - who at eight years old had her pot-loving rebellious mother pass her the responsibility of raising her younger brother Emery - is now dealing with her broken marriage, and a daughter who rejects her. Anna, a sex-addicted florist, is an unfaithful wife who doesn't seem to care if her extra-marital affairs will have consequences - yet. Emery is taking the Martha Stewart approach to domesticity, while he and his boyfriend Alejandro try to convince one of the sisters to donate eggs. A laugh-out-loud, mouth-dropping, and tear-brimming read. Blau has a quirky writing style that keeps the reader on their toes. A great novel, I can't wait to get my hands on her first book. (AV)

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Driving Home for Christmas - Emma Hannigan (2012)

The Craig family have always enjoyed family Christmases at Huntersbrook House in Co. Wicklow. The three adult children, Pippa, Joey and Lainey, look forward to spending every Christmas there with their parents. However, their idyllic family time is threatened this year by relationship problems and financial woes. Unbeknown to them their parents are also facing financial difficulties which could result in them losing their beloved family home. Driving Home for Christmas shows how difficulties can be overcome by the family working together as a team. This was a great feel-good book which I just couldn't put down! Emma Hannigan's books just get better and better. (BS)

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Driving Lessons - Zoe Fishman (2014)

Sarah, a New York City to small town Virginia transplant, used to be a top executive at a famous cosmetics firm and now spends her days puttering around her dream kitchen. She is used to having her friends and family close by, but now is having a hard time fitting in with the people in her new town. She followed her husband Josh when he accepted a residency at a college in town, with hopes of "getting away" from the hustle and bustle of the city. Josh had hopes of not only enjoying the slow pace of the small town life, but of starting a family too. Which is something Sarah is unsure she will ever be ready for. The only problem with leaving the "hustle and bustle" of the city for Sarah is the lack of public transportation. Sarah is too terrified to drive. Having avoided sitting in the driver's seat for over two decades, she enlists herself in some driving lessons to refresh her skills. As her lessons progress, she finds that not only is she starting to get the hang of driving around her new town, but she's starting to enjoy and maybe even "find" herself again. Everything is looking up for Sarah when turmoil suddenly strikes her friend back in the city. On her trip to visit, Sarah learns a few new things about the people in her old life she thought she knew well. What does this all mean for Sarah? Well you will have to read to find out! Is it possible for a book to seem both fast paced, and too long? I lost interest in the book a few times which made me take a few weeks to get through it. It was interesting enough, but not something I couldn't put down, nor was it something that left me hanging off the edge of my chair. But it was a nice palate cleanser before my next read. (AV)

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Drop Dead Divas - Virginia Brown (2010)

This sequel takes place a few months after the first book Dixie Divas finished, with Bitty being released and all charges dropped over the murder of her ex-husband. This time stock car driver Race Champion dies and the accused is Naomi - Bitty's ex-husband's mistress and now Race's fiancee. Bitty is the queen of a group of 12 women called the Dixie Divas, who gather in their Mississippi hometown mainly to gossip amid lots of chocolate and alcohol - and the murder investigation is their No. 1 topic. When the lead suspect is found murdered in Bitty's cabin - it is up to the good ol' Southerner Dixie Divas to solve the mystery. This is a book that you will be chuckling your way through as it brings out the Southerner Diva humour. (PP)

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Drop Dead Gorgeous - Katie Agnew (2003)

Laura is a journalist on a glossy magazine when she gets the job offer of a lifetime - to host a cool TV program. She soon finds herself on the right side of the A-list rope at events, and becomes close to actress Lucy Lloyd and rock star Ricky Jones. She falls into their hedonistic world of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll. With a body doctor on board to get her into appropriate shape for TV, her Scottish family isn't impressed with the new TV star. Meanwhile Laura buys a rundown London house and a friend of the family, Adam, steps in as builder. This is an eye-opening read about a woman being sucked into the dark side of stardom.

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Dry as Rain - Gina Holmes (2011)

What if you had betrayed the one you loved? Eric falls into a web of temptation and what starts off as an innocent lunch with co-workers grows into an affair with Danielle who is in her early 20s. His wife Kyra discovers their relationship through an email and makes plans to divorce him. But a few months later Kyra develops amnesia after being in an accident. At first she fears Eric is dead but as soon as she finds out he's alive, she is overjoyed. Kyra believes she and Eric are still the perfect couple. Should Eric come clean about what happened or should he play along with the amnesia and start anew? Has God given Eric a second chance at love, showing him that the statement "you don't realise what you had until it's gone" rings true? Find out in this awesome journey of a relationship with all its ups and downs. (PP)

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Dune Road - Jane Green (2009)

aka Girl Friday

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

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