LA Candy - Lauren Conrad (2009)

This novel by reality TV starlet Lauren Conrad chronicles the lives of Jane Roberts and her best friend Scarlett Harp as they move to LA and become the stars of a reality TV show. The book, which is based loosely on Conrad's own life, is a little slow in the beginning but picks up a little once Jane and Scarlett are discovered at a club by a TV producer. From that point on the two, though a little hesitant at first, decide to audition for the show and their lives change drastically. While Jane takes to the cameras being around easily, Scarlett is not so excited and wonders what she got herself into. Throw into the mix two other cast members, Gaby, a total ditz, and Madison, a total bitch with a nice girl facade, and things get even more complicated. When Jane starts dating Jesse, who happens to be the best friend of her friend-slash-major crush, Braden, things spiral out of control quickly and the jealousy of someone Jane thought she could trust ruins her life in an instant. With lots of run-of-the-mill Hollywood cliches (blondes, drugs, cosmetic surgery etc), LA Candy almost fails to deliver an original storyline. In addition, in pretty much every single chapter Jane and her friends are drinking (usually vodka soda for Jane) making it seem to the unknowing person who has never been to LA, that you can't have any fun in Tinseltown without being drunk. It is a quick and light read that would be great for the beach or a day when you don't need any actual depth in what you're reading. But the ending is a cliff-hanger and leaves you wanting to know what happens to Jane next. (AS)

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Ladies Who Lunch - Linda Francis Lee (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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Lake Como - Anita Hughes (2013)

Hallie Elliot leads a charmed existence in San Francisco. Her grandmother, Constance, is on every board in the city and her boyfriend is perfect in so many ways. She loves her job as an interior designer and enjoys attending the lavish weddings of friends, hoping one day soon it will be her walking down the aisle. At one of these weddings, Hallie finds her boyfriend in a compromising position with her vixen of a boss, Kendra. Though they both feign innocence, Hallie decides to take time away and visit her half-sister, Portia, at the family villa in Lake Como. While she intended to only go to Italy for a month, it turns out to be much more than that as she uncovers family secrets so big that she couldn't possibly return to San Francisco with the same beliefs she left with. With absolutely stunning and vivid descriptions of everything from the food to the scenery and designer clothes, this is a novel you'll easily get lost in. The only issue comes with the dialogue which at times was a bit choppy. There were points where Hallie talked to her grandmother or someone else and it was as if the other person never heard her. She'd ask questions or make statements and the reply would be inconsistent with what she said. While this issue did take away from the story a bit, if you can overlook it, then you won't be disappointed by anything else - especially the descriptions. There's no doubt that Hughes is a master at making every aspect of the story come alive, she just needs to make the dialogue click. (AS)

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Lakeshore Christmas - Susan Wiggs (2009)

In the latest novel in the Lakeshore Chronicles series, Maureen Davenport is a quiet librarian in the small town of Avalon. This year she is directing the annual Christmas pageant. Maureen's co-director is Eddie Haven, the famous former child star turned bad boy. Maureen and Eddie appear to be complete opposites, however, they both have had their hearts broken by others in the past. As the two spend more time together, they find themselves falling in love. The storyline is completely predictable but the characters are so heartwarming and sincere that you can't help smiling throughout the book. (AO)

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L'Amour Actually - Melanie Jones (2013)

In this fictionalised account, London city girl Melanie Jones one day decides to do what many people dream of doing but never actually take the plunge: she gives up her life in the UK to travel to the south of France and start anew. Mel is trying to find a place in a new community; trying to fit in somewhere where she doesn't know the language, doesn't have a job, and doesn't have any friends or family around her to make her feel at home. When things don't go as she originally expected, Melanie soon realises life in south west France might be a bit too different from her comfortable life in London. It's easy to like the heroine of the novel, Melanie. It's admirable how she dares to change her life drastically by giving up her job and following her heart to the south of France to start afresh. Part of the book is based on Melanie Jones' own experiences as an expat in France, and it includes quite a few embarrassing, but extremely funny situations. This plotline resulted in numerous great scenes, which made me want to continue on reading and discover what situation Melanie would find herself in next. L'Amour Actually is a funny, thoroughly enjoyable escape read which will make you laugh out loud, and I personally can't wait to read more of her stories. (JoH)

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Landline - Rainbow Rowell (2014)

Georgie McCool - and yes, that's her real name - knows that her marriage is on the rocks and the only way to save it is to go with her husband to her mother-in-law's for Christmas. The thing though is Georgie's dream job has just been given the green light and in order to be ready for her and Seth's very own TV show, she must stay back and write the scripts. But she doesn't tell Neal this until two days before they are due to fly out. So Neal and her family head off to Omaha for the Christmas break while Georgie is stuck at the studio writing. Not wanting to be alone for Christmas, Georgie heads to her mum's and stepfather Kendrick's house and crashes there for a few days. Needing to ring Neal, Georgie finds her iPhone is as dead as a doornail so she hunts for the family's old landline phone. What she will discover though is that this phone is a portal into the past - that she can speak to Neal in the months before they got married. With this device in her hand, can Georgie fix the problems in her marriage so that all will be well in the future or will having access to the past make her have second thoughts about whether she should have married Neal at all? This is another fab read from Rainbow Rowell and it definitely got me thinking about what ifs and what would you do if you had a one-way magical landline to the past - would you want to fix something or change a regret? (PP)

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Last Chance Saloon - Marian Keyes (1999)

Three Irish friends, Tara, Katherine and Fintan who now live in London, are out celebrating Tara's 30th birthday. Tara feels she's in the Last Chance Saloon because even though she is living with boyfriend Thomas, he is reluctant to commit. Having been burnt by another man she thought was her future, Tara is willing to put up with Thomas' cheapskate ways and criticisms about her weight - at least it's better than not having a relationship at all. Meanwhile, Katherine doesn't want a man to mess up her neatly ordered life and tries to ignore her attraction to colleague Joe. When Fintan is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, he makes the girls promise to do something for him - that'll change their lives forever.

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Last Night at Chateau Marmont - Lauren Weisberger (2010)

Brooke Alter has been working two jobs to support herself and her husband, Julian, while he pursues a music career. It's been years and her friends and family have repeatedly told her to give up on him, but Brooke doesn't because she knows that Julian has what it takes to be a hit musician. And she's right. Julian gets a record deal with Sony and within days their lives change. Julian is whisked off to Los Angeles for meetings and Brooke gets to tag along and stay at the famed Chateau Marmont. They're soon having dinner with celebrities, attending glamorous parties and having a blast when Julian goes on tour with Maroon 5. Life has changed for the once-upon-a-time happy couple though. Their marriage is strained through Julian's constant absence and the perils of fame are getting to Brooke. Torn between her real life, which includes her responsibilities as a nutritionist, and her husband's budding music career proves difficult. But it's what she's been working for her since the beginning and it only seems right to support him now that he's attained his dream. This novel has just enough real life drama mixed with celebrity to make it interesting and fun. It takes you through the trials and tribulations of fame, while also adding in behind-the-scenes information. It's a perfect novel for the modern girl who is interested in fame and fortune but also wants to stay grounded. (AS)

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Last Resort - Rebecca L. Boschee (2011)

Lila Hayes is heartbroken as she has just found out her boyfriend Brody has stolen $3000 from her. She was planning on using that money to finish college. Dejected and hurt, she decides to transfer to a Florida resort called Encantadora to work in their day care section. She plans on licking her wounds and start saving her money so she could start college again after the resort season ends. What she hadn't planned on was Jackson Kobel, the gorgeous water ski instructor who has plenty of secrets. Amid all the staff dramatics, Lila finds a new place she can call home - and an enemy as well. Can Lila regain her trust in people, let alone Jackson, and will she figure out that sometimes things happen for a reason? (CG)

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Late Night Shopping - Carmen Reid (2008)

In this sequel to The Personal Shopper, mother of two Annie Valentine is still working as a personal shopper and image consultant at London's upmarket The Store. She also is building a thriving eBay company. But with a big tax bill looming, she still has higher ambitions - and when she discovers some fantastic shoes made by Timi Woo from Hong Kong, she decides to import them. Only problem is she hasn't told boyfriend Ed, a music teacher at her kids' school, about her plans - or that she's planning to refinance their house. Even a relaxing family getaway to Italy sees her occupied buying up handbags at factory stores. The story ends in a way that makes another follow-up book very likely.

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Late Night Talking - Leslie Schnur (2007)

Jeannie Sterling is a late-night New York radio show host, whose show Sterling Behavior targets everyday rude behaviour. She is trying to make the world a better place, one annoying person at a time. Everything from iPods at full volume, litterers, cutting in line or poor gym etiquette gets her talking turkey. In fact, she even calls a guy in a Hummer a 'turkey' when he splashes water on her while she's waiting for a cab. After she disses him on air, the Hummer driver, mogul Nicholas Moss, takes over her radio station. Pushed to increase ratings, Jeannie starts acting in ways that take her ranting much too far. With a best friend keeping a secret, a boyfriend keeping library books and a misbehaving dog keeping her panties, Jeannie looks like losing everything that's important to her.

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Laura's Handmade Life - Amanda Addison (2011)

If not for her architect husband Adi, Laura Lovegrove would never have agreed to move out of London. The idea of settling down in Norfolk did not seem promising, especially since it meant starting all over again. As Laura busies herself with her part-time teaching job at Town and Country College, juggling her roles of a working mum and a freelance textile designer, she slowly finds herself adapting to the village life, but her accident-prone nature soon gets in the way - and Laura ends up burning down the entire house. With her entire collection of vintage clothing destroyed, Laura takes up sewing classes. She falls in love with the art of stitching, inspiring her to take on a series of projects - which in turn pushes her closer to fulfilling her dreams, but at the same time, distancing her from the ones she loves. Sadly, the fun sewing ideas (found at the back of the book) could not compensate for the dull and hard-to-follow storyline. (XT)

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Lean Mean Thirteen - Janet Evanovich (2007)

This is one of those Stephanie Plum tales where you have to sit back and wonder what on earth is going on in Stephanie's mind and how it is she attracts all the guys and danger that she does. In Lean Mean Thirteen, Stephanie becomes entangled in her ex- husband Dickie Orr's business and when he disappears leaving only a stain of blood - the fingers are all pointing at Stephanie as the lead suspect in his "murder". What's worse is that Dickie had been sleeping with Joyce - Stephanie's arch-enemy. With the bad guys on her tail as they believe she has what Dickie stole, Stephanie is camping out at Ranger's and sporting some fabulous Rangeman attire. As Stephanie is spending most of her time with Ranger, will her relationship with Joe take a backseat and what will her family think when it's Ranger who turns up for dinner and not Joe? It seems that Stephanie isn't the only one with a new man on board - Grandma Mazur meets someone who is just as cheeky as her - will they hit it off or will he be another date and dump for her? Find out in Lean Mean Thirteen as Stephanie plunges herself once again into trouble, blows up more cars and stumbles across dead bodies - not to mention the ol' sexual triangle heating up between Ranger, Joe and Stephanie. (PP)

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Learning Curves: A Novel of Sex, Suits and Business Affairs
- Gemma Townley (2006)

Recently separated from her eco-warrior boyfriend, environmental activist Jennifer Bell gets caught up in a feud between her divorced parents who are rival business consultants. Her mother Harriet, convinced her ex-husband George's firm is involved in shonky construction deals in post-tsunami Indonesia, talks Jennifer into infiltrating his firm by doing her MBA at Bell Consulting. Thinking she'll hate the corporate world, Jennifer is surprised to discover she has an aptitude for the business course and also falls for guest lecturer, Daniel Peterson. She begins to realise there's two sides to every story - in this case which side should she believe?

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Learn Love in a Week - Andrew Clover (2013)

Polly has been married for 10 years when she meets Her Road Not Taken. James is now a rich businessman and is looking for a garden designer, like Polly, for his new country pile. Polly is sorely tempted to take off with James, especially since she is fed up of having to be the breadwinner while her creative husband, Arthur, watches the kids and works on his children's book. Arthur, feeling the pressure to earn some money and not wanting to lose Polly, is roped into writing a newspaper column about love by Polly's best friend, Em. This brings Arthur back into the orb of his own fantasy woman, Daybreak executive producer Greta. And Em is putting pressure on her boyfriend to finally commit. Andrew Clover is a comedian who wrote a Dads Rules column in a British newspaper. His adult debut shows plenty of humour as it explores how love fares in a long-term relationship. The only thing - perhaps expectedly - all the characters' voices seem male.

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Left Neglected - Lisa Genova (2011)

Sarah has it all - a good job, a great house and three beautiful children. A moment of lapsed concentration while driving the car changes her life forever. She has to adjust to a new way of life after her accident leaves her with a brain condition called 'left neglect', where her brain does not process anything on her left side. Sarah re-evalutes her life and renews her relationship with her mother, which had been under strain for years following the death of her brother. Sarah realises, as she tries to rebuild her life, that her relationships with her husband and children also were suffering from neglect before her accident. I enjoyed this book, although I found it slightly repetitive in the middle. Lisa Genova, a neuroscientist, writes in a similar style to Jodi Picoult and will definitely be an author I will be watching out for in the future. (BS)

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Leftovers - Stella Newman (2013)

According to a magazine feature, at 36, single and plodding along in her career, Susie Rosen is a Leftover. But when she's given the project of launching a new brand of pizzas in a nationwide supermarket chain, it seems that her promotion is just around the corner. But to get there she has to make a success of it, which means meeting impossible deadlines, managing inflated egos and trying to ensure damage limitation. Then there's the matter of her love life. Despite her boyfriend cheating on her, Susie has never quite gotten over him and these days she is consigned to the role of wing-woman for her stunning friend Rebecca, meaning that she ends up chatting awkwardly to the hot guy's friend whilst Rebecca gets chatted up by the hot guy. The one thing that keeps her going throughout is food and her grandmother's philosophy that there is a pasta shape and sauce for every situation. And as soon as she gets this promotion she plans on quitting her job and turning her love for food into a career. There's just that small matter of the promotion. This is the first Stella Newman book I've read and I found her writing witty and engaging. Susie is a great, contemporary heroine and the situations that Newman puts her in both in her work and her personal life are hugely entertaining. I was a bit disappointed by the romance in the novel, and in particular the way her relationship with her old high school boyfriend just sort of fizzles out, but much of the novel is about the pitfalls and realities of being single in your mid-30s and the focus is more on Susie's career. This is a funny and honest story and I'll certainly be following the author's work from now on. (JC)

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Leopard Rock - Tarras Wilding (2009)

New Zealand magazine staffer Oriana "Roo" Beckett gets the chance of a lifetime when she wins a month-long trip to make a wildlife documentary in South Africa. She will be mentored by world-famous film-maker Wynand Kruger at Leopard Rock. Only problem is first she has to help her demanding boss Felice shoot a safari fashion spread on location. Despite dealing with storms, snakes and the Zulu dialect, Roo soon falls in love with much more than the mesmerising African landscape. The author obviously has a real affinity with Africa - this romance is one for nature lovers.

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Lessons in Heartbreak - Cathy Kelly (2008)

Three generations of an Irish family are affected by infidelity in different ways. Izzie Silver, who works for a modelling agency in New York, meets wealthy businessman Joe at a charity lunch. He tells her his marriage is over but he's still living in his family home for his children's sake. Back in her Irish hometown Tamarin, Izzie's aunt Anneliese discovers that her husband is moving in with her best friend. But before she is able to break the news to the family matriarch Lily, the elderly woman has a stroke and slips into a coma. It is Lily's slowly revealed story, about life as a nurse in London during World War II and a secret love affair, that makes up the most interesting chapters.

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Lessons in Laughing Out Loud - Rowan Coleman (2011)

Willow gets to see what her life could have been through her twin Holly's life. Unlike Holly who has the perfect figure, family and life, Willow lives alone and is scared on the inside of being loved. Ever dependable Willow has to coping with a movie star in crisis, when her ex-step daughter Chloe turns up on her doorstop as a full-grown teenager with her own problems. Along with Chloe comes reminders of Willow's past, and suddenly Willow realises she has to confront her own past and her own secrets so that she can move forward and for once start to laugh out loud. Willow as a chick lit character is great; she's down to earth and instantly likeable. There's also a few good men that seem to be taken with Willow, and it keeps you guessing as to who she is going to end up with. Willow's secrets are a little predictable, but they're really well done and make you warm to Willow even more. (AB)

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Less Than Perfect - Ber Carroll (2011)

Irish Catholic Caitlin O'Reilly was raised in a family where rules and knowing right from wrong meant everything. Her father raised her to believe that if she lived her life within the rules she world be safe and could achieve perfection. At 18 she meets her first love, Protestant, Josh McKinstry. A tragic event shatters her image of the perfect life she thought she had, and destroys forever her family and hometown. It also ruins her faith in her father. She flees Ireland to start a fresh life in Australia, where she tries to get away from all of the painful memories of her past and her fractured family. However, her past continues to haunt her in every aspect of her life - from her job, friends and love life. When she meets police officer Matthew, who always lives his life within the rules, her defences start to crumble and she is forced to confront the issues that she has long kept hidden. Will she lose someone close to her again or will she learn that being less than perfect is OK? This is one of those great books where I grew to care about the characters. I was touched by Caitlin's story and wanted to follow her on her journey. (LF)

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Let's Call The Whole Thing Off - Jill Steeples (2014)

When Anna finds her flatmate Sophie's diary, she can't resist taking a peek. But the last thing she expects to find is proof that her fiance Ed has been cheating on her. With the wedding only days away, she takes off to the coast to decide what she is going to do and only her good friend Ben - who is also Ed's best man - knows where she is. In Hollisea, Anna meets Dave but she pretends to be someone completely different - a jewellery designer named Persephone. Will Anna decide to forgive and go through with her big day? Although Anna does a bit too much self-reflection, it is still a delightful, feel-good story.

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Let's Meet on Platform 8 - Carole Matthews (1997)

When Teri trips over on a train platform, Jamie comes to her rescue. They both travel on the same Milton Keynes-London commuter train. The vagrancies of the English weather often brings the rail system to a grinding halt which gives the pair - Teri works for a TV station and Jamie is in insurance - the opportunity to bond over meals and drinks. Jamie seems the perfect gent - except he is married. Jamie is torn - he doesn't want to betray his wife Pamela but he can't escape his growing attraction to Teri. This debut novel from Matthews is a tale of an affair with a difference and shows the promise she has lived up to ever since.

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Letters to a Love Rat - Niamh Greene (2009)

This is about three women who have all had their hearts stomped on by the same man, Charlie. Magazine writer Molly should be a radiant newly wed. But the honeymoon is certainly over when she finds Charlie's note saying he's left her - and reminding her to sort out the recycling. And now she's supposed to be writing a gushing feature on why she got married. Julie is writing a blog about the affair she's having with her newly married boss but she never expected him to leave his wife for her. And Eve still hasn't got over her break-up with Charlie a few years ago so her therapist is making her write him letters that she'll never send. A highlight was the amusing and varied ways the minor characters were linked to one another throughout the story.

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Let Them Eat Cake - Sandra Byrd (2007)

Francophile college graduate Lexi Stuart has just lost another office job and is back home living with her parents. So when she lands a job at a French cafe, run by flirty Frenchman Luc, she hopes to transform her low-paying counter job into the assistant manager's position. She begins enthusiastically learning all facets of the business, but things don't get off to a great start when she leaves a fridge open and messes up a big order placed by good-looking lawyer Dan. From the Christian lit stable, there's also a sub-plot about Lexi trying to find a home church.

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Liar Bird - Lisa Walker (2011)

Cassandra Daley is a glamorous Sydney PR guru. She has the fancy apartment, car and hairdresser boyfriend, but none of this can save her when bulldog journalist Simon McKechnie is on her tail. After sprawling her deception in a prestigious marketing campaign across the major papers, her stellar career unravels and she flees to the wildlife haven of Beechville in outback Queensland. She accepts a job in the wildlife office and takes her Sydney attitude and Ferrari car with her. She can do the job, no problem, but nothing can protect her from the frogs and snakes in her toilet or the strange noises heard outside her door in the isolated country. Her biggest challenge is Ranger Mac, cool and aloof and refusing to help her. What is his problem? When relations between them start to thaw, Cassandra's past comes back to haunt her when McKechnie tracks her down, stirring up trouble again. Can Cassandra keep her life on the straight and narrow and out of the papers for once? Can she figure out the town's secret and keep quiet or will the temptation to resort to her deceptive tactics for her own benefit prevail? Cassandra grows to love the small town and its people and no longer pines for the bright lights of Sydney. But is she prepared to live amongst the feral pigs, flying foxes and lyrebirds of the outback even if it is with sexy Mac? A quirky tale with delicious Australian flavour and a sting in the tail. (LF)

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Liar's Guide to True Love - Wendy Chen (2011)

Cassandra Hanley is the ultimate wedding planner, who is able to make any bride's dream come true. No matter how demanding or way out these dreams are Cassandra does her utmost to ensure the brides' wishes are met on their special day. Why then does she have so much difficulty with her own love life? When Cassandra meets Nick, she discovers he isn't into all the 'wedding palaver' and so she takes on her friend Mia's persona as an up-and-coming advertising executive. This in itself causes a few problems when Nick realises he works just near Cassandra's supposed office. Meeting for a morning coffee has never been so complicated but Cassandra manages it, providing a few laughs for the reader in the process. Enter Cassandra's ex, Kevin, who she has never quite cast out of her life and things start to get really complicated. There's also Cassandra's mother who wants her to settle down, a group of friends who are at different stages of the dating game and her sister Emma, who is supposedly settled but wants more from life than a picket fence in suburbia complete with children. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have already recommended it to a friend who is about to get married as I know it will give her a giggle. (LM)

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Licensed For Trouble - Susan May Warren (2010)

Wanting a nice light-hearted, wholesome mystery series that's like Nancy Drew for adults? PJ Sugar's nickname has always been NBT - Nothing But Trouble. Being adopted, she has always known that she is unlike the rest of the Sugar family and seemingly destined for trouble. Trouble like the private-eye-in-training being outwitted by a bail jumper and being photographed with handcuffs on. PJ Sugar has just been announced as the sole heiress to the Kellogg estate. The Kellogg and Sugar families have shared a dark secret for many years but now that Allegra Kellogg has passed away, it's about to come to light. The mansion needs major work though and PJ is kept busy working on a case to uncover her new handyman Max's roots (he has amnesia). She also is dealing with a bit of a love triangle with two guys - Detective Boone Buckam and PI Jeremy Kane - interested in her. This third book in the PJ Sugar series is a fun mystery novel filled with investigating antics, family issues and relationship dilemmas as PJ tries desperately to stay out of mischief. (PP)

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Life After Yes - Aidan Donnelley Rowley (2010)

This debut novel starts off with a dream. A dream in which Quinn O'Malley is a bride with too many grooms. One of the grooms is Quinn's boyfriend who has just recently proposed to her in Paris. Quinn now finds herself not only questioning her relationship with her fiance but also reconsidering her law career. On top of all that, Quinn is still mourning the loss of her father who tragically died on 9/11. Written in an honest and witty way, the reader is swept into Quinn's world, feeling her pain, frustration and moral dilemmas. (MY)

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Life As I Know It - Melanie Rose (2010)

aka Love Struck/Could It Be Magic?/Being Lauren (first published 2007)

Jessica Taylor has just met her dream man. It's too bad that just as she's getting a chance to know him, she is struck by lightning. Waking up in a hospital room, Jessica vaguely remembers what happened to her but can't understand why there is a strange man saying he is her husband standing near her bed. Soon, Jessica learns that she has woken up as Lauren Richardson, a married mother of four, who was also struck by lightning. In Jessica's real life, her only responsibility is her dog Frankie, which makes things difficult as people swarm around, asking her questions that she can't answer. Assuming at first that the doctors have simply mistaken her for someone else, Jessica later realises something strange is going on when the children are so relieved to see her alive. Deciding to go along with it, since she doesn't want to be admitted to the ward for crazy people, Jessica acts as if she is Lauren even though she knows nothing at all about her. The really odd thing is that whenever she goes to sleep as Lauren, she wakes up as Jessica and goes about her normal life as it was before the fateful lightning strike. As she realises that Lauren has died from her injuries and her own soul has somehow been split into two bodies, Jessica takes on Lauren's life with a newfound strength and passion. But past indiscretions that Lauren had made come back to haunt the family and threaten to tear them all apart. Written so smoothly as Jessica transitions from herself to Lauren and back again, this book is an absolute delight with a lot of heart and soul - and ultimately leads to a tragic ending that no one could have expected. (AS)

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Life Begins - Amanda Brookfield (2008)

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

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Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo - Heather Wardell (2009)

Ever since the accident, Candice and her husband, Ian, have both been living under extreme states of emotional stresses, carrying the burden of guilt and also the pain of losing the ones they love so dearly. Two years of marriage suddenly becomes a fragile state - where they can no longer find themselves talking about the simplest things, or even looking each other in the eyes. When Ian leaves for a one-month stay in Bangladesh for volunteer work, Candice tries to get her life back in order but yet another unexpected surprise awaits her. A fantastic story of love and second chances; one that got me hooked right from the beginning to the very end! (XT)

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Life on the Refrigerator Door - Alice Kuipers (2007)

Claire is a 15-year-old student and her mother is a single mum who works as an obstetrician. They rarely find themselves in the same room at the same time, so they leave each other notes on the refrigerator door. What they don't realise at first is they are literally running out of time. When the mother is diagnosed with breast cancer, the notes become more poignant, especially when they realise they are wasting time arguing about Claire's boyfriend and who hasn't cleaned the rabbit's cage. It is such a short book (took me less than half an hour to read), that you feel as if you never really had the chance to get to know the characters properly. But maybe that was entirely the message the author wanted to convey.

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Lifesaving for Beginners - Ciara Geraghty (2012)

When an accident turns Kat Kavanagh's world upside down, her life seems to spiral out of control as she tries to keep the two skeletons in her closet buried. When nine-year-old Milo's mum goes to Dublin and doesn't return, he tries to cling on to his sister Faith who seems to be slipping away. He struggles to understand what is going on in the adult world around him. A twist of fate brings Kat and Milo together and shows that secrets can't always be forgotten. The book alternates between the perspectives of Kat and Milo. The results are charming. Kat is a complex character, whose honesty makes you warm to her instantly. Milo's chapters transport you into the eyes of a child. Compelling and heartwarming: this a must-read. (AB)

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Life Skills - Katie Fforde (1999)

Julia Fairfax needs a change. She breaks up with her snooty fiance and answers an advertisement for a cook position on a rickety hotel boat. She immediately bonds with her new employer, Suzy, a flaky 24-year-old who is trying to become independent from her wealthy and controlling father. After the only other crewman quits, Suzy hires Fergus Grindley, a childhood rival of Julia's. When Julia's ex-fiance and his annoying mother book a trip on the boat, drama takes over the boat and Julia is forced to rethink her relationship with Fergus. The storyline is unique and the characters well developed, however, the author gives so many details about canals and boating that I felt myself skimming through many pages. If you have a special interest in canal boating, this is the perfect book for you. (AO)

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Life Swap - Jane Green (2005)

Vicky Townsley, features director of Poise magazine, is single, 35, lives in London and has fallen for a womanising TV star. She wants to try out a different life so in a competition she picks out Amber Winslow to swap lives with her. Amber is a married mother of two who lives in Connecticut and leads a competitive social life in the Women's League. Each will live in the other's shoes (including wearing their clothes) for a month. Is the grass really greener on the other side?

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Life's Too Short to Frost a Cupcake - Rosie Wilde (2008)

Alice met boyfriend Stephen at a group for anxiety sufferers and since then they have settled into a very routine home life with a tightly controlled budget. When Alice's boss at Carmichael Music is replaced by some Americans, she is offered the chance to leave London to work out of their New York office. Only problem is her first job is convincing country musician Wyatt Brown, a reformed alcoholic, to record a new album - and that means she's headed not for the bright lights of the Big Apple but a rural town in Ohio instead. Well that is if she can force herself to face her fear of flying first. As Alice starts settling into life in Barnsley - caring for a sick cow, speaking as an English child expert to the local mothers group, dating local businessman Gerry, even entering a cupcake competition against Heidi, the glamorous rival for Wyatt's affection - she wonders whether she really wants to return home - and to Stephen. With lots of quirky characters, this is one sweet book that may prove quite addictive. And it wins extra ratings points for being that bit different.

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Like Sweet Potato Pie - Jennifer Rogers Spinola (2012)

In this second book in the Southern Fried Sushi series, Shiloh was living the fast life until one day she was fired after being accused of plagiarism. Now she's stocking shelves at the local Barnes and Noble. When her mother passes away, Shiloh inherits her house in Staunton, Virginia. Seeing this as an opportunity to escape, Shiloh high-tails it to Staunton with plans to re-vamp the house and sell it and then restart her former life in Japan. However, with Shiloh being away for the past seven years, she is about to get a culture shock as she goes from city life to redneckville. Can Shiloh keep to her original plan to renovate and sell the house and leave - or will she find herself attached to a local in the form of Adam? Meanwhile her half sister Ashley is contesting that half the profits should be hers and she's willing to play dirty to get her hands on the money. (PP)

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Lingerie for Felons - Ros Baxter (2013)

Lola has a universal truth: you're always wearing your worst underwear when you land in trouble. Whilst working to improve the world we all inhabit, Lola (Lolly) gets arrested (wearing inappropriate underwear of course). She meets Australian Wayne but claims he doesn't "understand" her and share her mission in life so breaks up with him. She passionately pursues her environmental interests but despite their separation, circumstances cause their paths to merge. Believing he isn't the right one for her, Lola continues to make mistakes, float through life, get arrested and finds herself in embarrassing situations, and all the while, being forced to grow up. Just when her life gets on track, Wayne enters her world again. Can Lola make it work this time or will she stuff it up for good? A fun, conversational read that all comes together a little too neatly. (LF)

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Lipstick Jungle - Candace Bushnell (2005)

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

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Lisa Maria's Guide for the Perplexed - Susan Hubbard (2004)

After being burnt by yet another work love affair, 29-year-old Lisa Marie Marino leaves her New York advertising job and moves back into her parents' home. Wanting to work only for women, she becomes a household assistant, aka maid. Sometimes blurring the line between who's the boss, Lisa Maria's slack approach to cleaning soon improves as she helps her clients to have better-run homes and lives. But then she takes on her first male client, author Robert McAllister, and falls for him. But being his cleaner means he can't keep any secrets, including the presence of another woman in his home. Meanwhile, Lisa Maria becomes a newspaper advice columnist, consulting musty old etiquette books to give her own brand of witty, down-to-earth advice.

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Little Beach Street Bakery - Jenny Colgan (2014)

When Polly's business with partner Chris goes under along with their relationship, she is forced to move to a more affordable location. She finds the remote island of Polbearne, and rents a dilapidated old flat above a closed-down bakery. After some mishaps with the locals, she immerses herself in her hobby of baking bread to distract herself from the failures in her life, and soon the locals are warming to both her and her delicious creations. I love Jenny Colgan's writing - she has a knack of creating characters that really jump off the page, and the ability to have numerous irreplaceable secondary characters that are just as lovable as the main protagonist. Polly was great, and I enjoyed going on a journey with her to find herself again. Huckle, Tarnie and Mrs Manse were engaging characters with surprising stories that kept the plot fresh, interesting and at times heartbreaking. But the real winner of this story, for me, was Neil the puffin. What a lovable little guy, and a great addition to the story. Colgan has also included some delicious recipes at the back for readers to try out, and quell the hunger for bread you will inevitably get when reading this book. (LO)

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Little Black Dress - Susan McBride (2011)

Antonia is living her dream - she has a thriving events business and a guy she is ready to settle down with. One night Greg is taking her to dinner and she thinks he's finally ready to propose - instead he's only asking her to move in with him. Upset by this turn of events, she then finds out her mother, Evie, has suffered a stroke and she needs to return to Blue Hills, Missouri, where she hasn't been since her father passed away two years earlier. As she waits to see if her mother will recover, Toni is drawn into her mother's past, including a magical black dress which can tell you the future - both good and bad. Evie was trying on the dress that had changed her life so many years ago when she sees herself dying before she has a chance to tell Toni the truth of the past and about her Aunt Anna whom she never has met. Will time give them the chance to have the mother-daughter relationship they were supposed to have or will all the secrets die with Evie? Alternating between past and present, this is a spellbinding and emotional tale which makes you wonder if you could know the future would you take the chance? Or just wait and see what life has in store for you. (CG)

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Little Black Everything - Alex Coleman (2009)

Holly Christmas is a no-nonsense 28-year-old teacher with a name that's entirely unsuited to her personality. She's also an obsessive wearer of black and has a track record of disastrous relationships. When her latest boyfriend dumps her for being too sarky, spiky and smart-arsey, she feels a terrible sense of deja vu. She's heard his complaints several times from other men. And while she tries to pretend she doesn't care, she can't ignore the shambles her love life is in. When a new teacher named James Bond joins Holly's school, Holly is faced with her antithesis. James is upbeat, affable and likeable. A conversation about their shared syndrome of attention-grabbing names is the beginning of an unlikely friendship, and as she gets to know James better, Holly can't help but be fascinated by his incessant cheeriness. But when fascination mutates into attraction, things start to get very messy. The male author presented a hugely convincing female narrative voice in The Bright Side, so I had high hopes for Little Black Everything. It didn't disappoint. I was pulled straight into the book by its easy-reading style and quick-fire dialogue. There's plenty of subtle, sophisticated humour too which is expertly embedded in each chapter. Holly's prickly nature doesn't make her an easy character to empathise with, but I found myself rooting for her nonetheless - something that I felt was a good achievement on the part of the author. If you're looking for an entertaining read with a quirky main character, this is one to keep an eye out for. (SBB)

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Little Earthquakes - Jennifer Weiner (2004)

One of my favourite all-time books, this is the story of three women who meet up at a prenatal yoga class. There's Becky, a plump chef who's at war with her mother-in-law; Kelly, an overachieving event planner who has to return to work after her husband loses his job; and Ayinde, who's married to basketball star Richard. Ayinde goes into labour after the class, so Kelly and Becky take her to hospital. Richard arrives just in time for the birth of Julian - smelling like perfume (. . . the things that make you go hmmm!)

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Little Stalker - Jennifer Belle (2007)

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

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Little Women and Me - Lauren Baratz-Logsted (2011)

Imagine one moment you are reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and the next you find yourself actually in the story. That's what happened to Emily March one day in 2011. Transported back to the year 1860, Emily must learn to live like the March clan. Will the March sisters realise something is up as a 21st century teen tries to fit into their world? And is Emily destined to remain the "Middle March" and not get back to her family back home? This is a fun novel that will take you right into the heart of Little Women. Although it's aimed at younger readers, it's a book that will be enjoyed by any lovers of this classic tale. (PP)

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Living Dangerously - Katie Fforde (1995)

Polly is a resolutely single thirty-something, who lives alone with her cat for company. She spends her days working in a cafe and spare time fighting for the local campaign to save the high street. Her dream is to become a professional potter, however she cannot afford to give up her job at the cafe, so her current work is saleable but safe. Our heroine's path is crossed by a brooding widower and a sexy but dangerous man who works for the local radio station. Polly is convinced that she has no time for men complicating her life; however her mother and friends have other ideas ... This is a light read, providing romantic escapism. Polly is catapulted into a different social circle, which at times, results in rather amusing consequences. David, the widower, has the feel of Darcy, being somewhat aloof and hostile, whilst Polly could be likened to Bridget Jones with some of the situations she finds herself in. Personally, this is not one of my favourite books by this author but good to curl up with and while away an afternoon. (EH)

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Living La Vida Loca - Belinda Jones (2010)

Best friends Carmen and Beth are at a crossroads in their lives. The gorgeous Beth has been trying to get the lead in dance shows but always gets passed over and can only manage to get dodgy jobs in places she'd rather not be. The under-confident Carmen has a comfortable career as a costume designer but has just broken up with her abusive boyfriend Lee (again!) and really needs to break free of this unhealthy pattern. So, when the opportunity arises to try out for a reality TV show in which the leading lady (or ladies in this case) will dance their way through the troublesome tango in Argentina, the frisky flamenco in Spain and the scorching hot salsa in Cuba, the girls decide to try out. Making a few adjustments in order to land the role, the two girls find themselves whisked off on the adventure of a lifetime. Dancing their way through love, heartbreak and loads of gorgeous men, both Beth and Carmen find themselves being changed in ways they never expected. With an oppressive producer, a shy, lovelorn sound guy and a deceitful camera guy, the girls will return to London as changed women. Beth might finally lose some of her cynical attitude towards love and Carmen just may find that the true cure for heartbreak is closer than she ever thought. An essential read for those days when you need some inspiration or just want to enjoy a heart-warming story. (AS)

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Living Next Door to Alice - Marisa Mackle (2008)

Beautician Tanya is sure that boyfriend Eddie is about to propose - he's invited her out for a posh dinner with the view to asking her something important. So with her mum already ringing around venues and her missionary cousin booking his flight home to conduct the ceremony, it comes as a shock when Eddie actually just asks Tanya to move in with him . . . into his parents' house while they move to Spain. Meanwhile Irish model Alice finds that life and love in LA isn't all it's cracked up to be and heads home to her parents' house - next door to Eddie's. Now Alice wants to rekindle things with the guy next door and plays all sorts of dirty tricks to break up his relationship. A breezy light read - just a shame it all got wrapped up so quickly at the end.

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Living with It - Lizzie Enfield (2014)

Isobel and Ben have known each other since their uni days. Isobel met her husband, Eric, through Ben and the three have stayed close. But when Isobel, Eric and their family join Ben, his partner Maggie and baby daughter Iris, on a group holiday with several other old friends, the consequences for all of them are completely unexpected. Isobel's daughter, Gabriella, is discovered to have measles and later Ben's daughter Iris suffers deafness. Isobel knows that if she'd had Gabriella vaccinated this wouldn't have happened but she can't change things now, as much as she wants to. Eric, who she looks to for support, offers her nothing but further recriminations. Ben decides he can't let Isobel get away with it and pursues legal action. With a focus on the MMR debate and the issues and consequences surrounding it, this really is a gripping and original story. Splitting the narrative between Isobel and Ben allows for both sides of the argument to emerge and to thoroughly divide and test loyalties. The author has done a wonderful job showing the moral complexities and uncertainties of the issue, although at times Isobel does come across as too detached. Ben and Isobel's background adds further complexities to the story, however this felt a bit expendable, especially as there is no real development or resolution. Occasionally, I would have liked to have seen Eric's perspective as well, but I understood the reasons the author chose not to. Similarly, I wanted a bit more from the denouement and resolution, but having said that the ending is thrilling and unexpected and overall this is a really unique and engaging book. (JC)

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Lizzy Harrison Loses Control - Pippa Wright (2011)

Lizzy always likes to be in control but her best friend, Lulu, challenges her to shake things up. The next thing, Lizzy is ensconced in a fake relationship with her boss' star client, comedian Randy (and he's definitely Randy by name, Randy by nature!). The aim is to show he's back on track after numerous stints in and out of rehab, before a showcase American tour. Lizzy tells the readers quite firmly at the start that she's hardly the dippy romantic heroine. She's focused and funny, career-minded but caring but like it or not, she's still flawed when it comes to her choice of men. This is a light-hearted, enjoyable read that plays by the rules of the chick lit formula - perhaps just a little bit too much.

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Lois Lane Tells All - Karen Hawkins (2010)

Meet Susan who has a healthy obsession with Lois Lane and Superman. She has taken care of her father since she was little and has called the town of Glory home all her life. Susan works as editor of the Glory Newspaper, where she meets Mark (Clark Kent perhaps?). Mark's job is to make the paper profitable so he presents a plan for how to improve the paper. Susan then counters with her own plan that he agrees to. Now let the mayhem begin! Susan creates controversy with her story about the Baptist Bake-Off and then mysterious events start occurring. Susan's brakes are cut on her jeep and someone drills a hole in her boat. This sees the Murder Mystery club- a group from the assisted living home - put on their CSI caps to figure out who did it. Will they be successful? Will Mark and Susan get together? This is the second book in the Talk of the Town series set in the North Carolina town (Mark is Roxie's sister). (JG)

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Lola Carlyle Reveals All - Rachel Gibson (2002)

After private photos of ex-lingerie model Lola Caryle flood the internet, Lola hides out with her dog Baby on a quiet yacht in Nassau Harbor. Max Zambora, an undercover secret agent for the government, narrowly escapes death after his mission to take down a drug cartel goes awry. Max commandeers Lola's yacht and Lola's efforts to stop Max result in them being stranded on the yacht during a storm. As they spent their days and nights arguing, the attraction between them is inevitable. When they are finally rescued, Max's commitment to his job threatens to jeopardise any future he has with Lola. This is a far-fetched storyline that borders on ridiculous.

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Lola's Secret - Monica McInerney (2011)

This novel picks up four years down the track from The Alphabet Sisters. Feisty matriarch Lola is now 84 and scheming to spend Christmas without her family at their motel in Clare Valley. Lola still dresses just as flamboyantly as ever and keeps busy, helping out at the local charity shop and learning how to surf the net. In fact Lola uses her newfound internet skills to unleash a plan to invite some mystery guests to the motel for the festive season - and the troubled lives of these different people are woven into the main plot. Meanwhile, her granddaughters Carrie and Bett are both busy with their families - and bickering as usual. And her great-granddaughter Ellen is having trouble coming to terms with her father's new girlfriend. As Christmas approaches, it seems nothing is going to plan - but what does fate have in store for Lola? Fans of The Alphabet Sisters will love this update but you don't need to have read the earlier novel to get caught up in the family dramas. Wouldn't life be great if everyone had a Lola in their lives?

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London Is The Best City In America - Laura Dave (2006)

Three years ago, on the night before Independence Day, Emmy Everett made a decision to leave her fiance Matt and New York City. Now living on Rhode Island, she works as an assistant manager at a bait and tackle shop and is shooting a documentary about fishermen's wives awaiting the return of their husbands. With the July 4th weekend around the corner, she braces herself to return home for her brother's wedding. When Josh suddenly confesses to her that he has doubts about getting married to his long-time girlfriend Meryl because he might be in love with another woman, Emmy goes with her brother to see the mystery woman Elizabeth to help him make the right choice. It's an engaging read, with a very strong and realistic plot. Reese Witherspoon's production company has optioned the film rights, with Witherspoon slated to play Emmy. (XT)

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Lone Wolf - Jodi Picoult (2012)

A separated family is brought back together by a terrible accident. Edward has been living away in Thailand, after having an argument with his father Luke, an animal conservationist. Luke has become famous after living with a pack of wolves. One day Edward receives a frantic phone call that his family has been involved in a car accident. His father, Luke, lies in a coma in hospital, while his 17-year-old sister Cara has not been so severely injured. Cara holds a grudge against her brother for leaving the family. Lone Wolf tells the story of two siblings' fight to keep their father alive. Cara is praying for a miracle and that her father will recover from the accident. On the other hand Edward's wish is to turn off the life support machine and donate his organs. As the engrossing story unfolds, the reader is eager to learn what actually happened between Edward and Luke and if Cara is telling the whole truth about the accident. Although this book is a must-read for Picoult fans, I would not recommend that someone new to her work should start with this book. Picoult writes in a certain way, showing in-depth research and knowledge. The details about living with a pack of wolves could put a reader off reading more of her work. (SG)

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Long Time Coming - Vanessa Miller (2010)

Are you wanting a book that will tug at your heartstrings? These two women are from two different worlds - one is a respected school principal, married but yearning for a child; the other is a 23-year-old single mother of three children under the age of seven. The young mother, Kenisha, has just been diagnosed with cervical cancer and is told that she has six months to live. One day Kenisha's sister Aisha forgets to pick up Kenisha's son Jamal, and she gets to meet principal Deidre Clark. As the story progresses, the pair develop a friendship, with Deidre soon becoming Kenisha's rock. So when Kenisha's time is up, it's up to Deidre to make the decision of a lifetime - whether to adopt Kenisha's children or put them into foster care. This is like the Christian version of similar themed books such as The Accidental Mother. (PP)

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Looking for Andrew McCarthy - Jenny Colgan (2001)

Ellie is throwing herself an 80s-themed party for her 30th birthday and she wants to know why her life hasn't turned out to be like a John Hughes movie. She has just caught Billy, her saxophone-playing boyfriend, cheating on her (but he isn't as charismatic as Rob Lowe), she lives in a dingy flat with an appalling flatmate she calls Big Bastard (it looks nothing like Demi Moore's loft in St Elmo's Fire) and to top it all off she hates her job. Deciding that she really needs some answers from her Brat Pack crush Andrew McCarthy (remember Pretty in Pink, Mannequin and Weekend at Bernie's), Ellie pleads with her friends to join her on a quest across the Atlantic to find the low-key actor. A madcap adventure ensues, which begins with her telling her boss Mr Rooney (Ferris Bueller's Day Off, anyone, anyone?) to stick it, and sees her ringing all the A. McCarthys in the LA phone book. A must-read for Gen Xs who will love all the cultural references, from the Footloose-like highway near-miss to the Lost Boys-inspired policemen.

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Looking for Fireworks - Holly Cavendish (2012)

Laney Barwell has been looking for her Mr Right in London after breaking up with her long-time boyfriend because he was too predictable. Though she hasn't found him in London, Laney is sure that he can't possibly be in her father's small village of the Cotswolds. But when her father becomes ill and needs someone to run his B&B, Laney has no choice but to move back home for a while. Not expecting to find any decent men in such a small village, Laney is pleasantly surprised to meet not one but two handsome men who set her heart aflutter. Of course, the more likely candidate, Martin, doesn't exactly cause fireworks when he's near her, but then again the fireworks Toby causes are not always pleasant and usually come complete with an attitude. Despite being a city girl, Laney attempts to make it in the country, but will she survive and find the love she's always wanted? Or should she return to London and to her ex - predictability and all? This was a great novel that kept me wanting to turn the page and find out what happened next. While some of it was very predictable, I still found it endearing and rooted for Laney. (AS)

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Looking for La La - Ellie Campbell (2013)

When a postcard arrives for Cathy's husband, Declan, with love from La La, she wonders if he's having an affair. But rather than being annoyed, Cathy's excited. Now the stay-at-home mum has got a mystery to investigate - who exactly is La La and what is her relationship to her husband? Cathy has numerous suspects in mind, including his sickeningly helpful assistant Jessica-Ellen. But why is a red car following her everywhere and why is her best friend's sexy new squeeze, Rupert, turning up all the time? This is a really fun read, with a fab self-absorbed heroine, lots of witty lines and a mystery to keep you guessing.

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Looking for Leon - Shirley Benton (2011)

Andie, an Irish journalist and former model, has just returned to her home in Dublin, from a two-week Las Vegas holiday. On her last night in Vegas, Andie met a charming man called Leon who she thinks is her soul mate. There's just one problem: during a brief bathroom break (blame the heavenly cocktails), a fire drill separated them and she doesn't have his contact information or full name. When her boss hears the lengths Andie has gone to try to find Leon, she has Andie write a new column about it. The column skyrockets Andie into fame, and she is shipped off to Vegas with her own film crew to document her search for Leon. What was supposed to be a four-series show just for Dublin has turned into a national story and media frenzy. Where is Leon? If he is found, will he really be who Andie thinks he is? This story is easily one of the best I have ever read. Instead of rushing to find out the ending, I was excited to read through each chapter. Debut author Shirley Benton has an amazing talent. Andie's story was captivating, romantic, scary, mysterious, hilarious and sad. I cannot express in words how great this book is, it is 300+ pages of pure brilliance. (AV)

Note: Shirley Benton is a contributor to Chicklit Club but she does not personally know her reviewer.

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Looking for Mr Goodbunny - Kathleen O'Reilly (2006)

Elle Sheffield may have survived redundancy, recreating herself as a life coach but her life's still far from perfect. She's in financial strife, her father's ending a 20-year jail term - and her trusty vibrator has died. But an embarrassing reunion with an old school friend outside a sex shop may just be the jumpstart her business needs.

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Losing It - Lindsay Faith Rech (2003)

Everyone thinks Diana Christopher is losing it. Especially considering she's just driven her car into the front window of a cafe. Since the death of her father in a car crash two decades before, Diana has literally become a HUGE disappointment to her mother. She is overweight, works night shift in a cafe and has never had a boyfriend. But a friendship with her elderly neighbour helps her start to shed weight and find a reason to live.

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Losing It - Helen Lederer (2015)

With her middle-age spread having taken up permanent residency, magazine columnist Millie is offered a lot of money to become the guinea pig for a herbal diet pill campaign. She just has to shed three stone in three months. With her home on the line and a loan shark after her, she desperately needs the money. Millie uses the first payment to visit her daughter Mary, who is undertaking scientific research in Papua New Guinea. Hopefully she can combine some bonding time with a touch of dysentery to help her weight loss mission get off to a flying start. As Millie falls further behind on her goal, she tries a range of different methods - from colonics to a virtual gastric band program. For readers who enjoy cheering on the underdog, with plenty of the farcical humour you'd expect from a comedienne. Some might find the main character too caustic and cynical, however.

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Losing Kate - Kylie Kaden (2014)

Francesca is single, living alone in a small worker's cottage ready for renovating and spending her days working at the local hospital as a social worker. With her neighbour Meg, they watch the auctioning of vacant land behind her home when Francesca catches a glimpse of her past. Jack. It's been 13 years since their separation and Jack has a new life. A son and a partner who has no shame in hiding her disdain towards Francesca. With Jack's attempt to keep their childhood friendship hidden from his partner, it becomes all too apparent that the past can never be completely hidden from anyone. Memories and questions begin to resurface of the last time Jack and Francesca were together. The day they lost Kate. An inseparable trio with secrets. What happened to Kate? The guilt has become a burden for both Jack and Francesca with questions unanswered. In order to move forward, they need to seek the truth so they can begin to live their own lives without the haunting of the past. Losing Kate is a combination of romance, suspense and intrigue. Wonderfully written, the author has encapsulated a relationship strained with a hidden love and the fear of moving forward because of a guilt-ridden past. The reader is taken on a rollercoaster ride of questions where answers are needed. Moving at a medium pace, the reader becomes heavily involved in the storyline with the unravelling of what truly happened to Kate. At the same time, the reader is hoping Jack and Francesca are able to recognise what is truly meant to be for them. Kylie Kaden has announced her arrival as a writer with a storyline which is believable and most of all memorable. (MP)

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Losing the Plot in LA - Sonia Farnsworth (2015)

Sylvie is ready to take the next step with boyfriend Simon. She has always moved a lot and now thinks she's found the perfect apartment for them and her rapidly growing dog, Trouble. But Simon is out of town in London as usual. It seems he has been gone more than he's been with her. With New Year's Eve looming, he has already told her he wouldn't be around to celebrate with her. She had decided to stay in that night, except her friend Lou had other plans for her. They end up going to a friend's house party, where Sylvie decides drinking is the best course of action with her boyfriend MIA. They say how you spend New Year's Eve is how you will spend the rest of the year. Well, Sylvie spends it sharing a kiss with her friend Dylan. But as she pulls away from Dylan, that's when she sees Simon - his arm wrapped around another woman's waist. This is a great tale of the ups and downs of Sylvie's world. Will she forgive Simon and move forward with their life together or will she move on without him? (CG)

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Lost and Found - Carolyn Parkhurst (2006)

Seven teams have come together to play a new reality TV game, Lost and Found, which is strikingly similar to The Amazing Race, where they have to fly to different cities in search of clues and find the objects so as to stay in the game. The contestants include Laura and Cassie, who are trying to improve their estranged mother-daughter relationship after Cassie's pregnancy. Carl and Jeff are divorced brothers, one serious and the other more of a goofball, and each has joined the game for different reasons. Justin and Abby, a married couple, are both trying to convince themselves of their newly found sexual identity. And for Juliet and Dallas, both child stars, they are getting in the game for more media exposure. It's a refreshing read, very different from what I usually read, as it explores how these different characters interact and deal with their own personal problems. (XT)

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Lost & Found - Jane Sigaloff (2003)

High-flying lawyer Sam Washington is on a flight back to London when she realises she's left her diary in a New York hotel room. As she fends off the unwanted advances of her firm's senior partner, she worries that not only could someone read her inner thoughts but there's a secret in there about her best friend EJ that the tabloids would love. When TV producer Ben Fisher turns up on her doorstep with her diary, she's suspicious that he's read it - after all he seems to know a lot about her. Does he want to get close to her because he's become smitten or does he want to reveal her embarrassing secrets?

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Lost and Found - Lucy Cavendish (2009)

The sequel to Samantha Smythe's Modern Family Journal, this book fleshes out the characters in the mother-of-three's life even more and proves to be a much stronger book. After Bennie nearly drowns while on holiday, Samantha decides that she wants to try for another baby - armed with a How to Get a Girl kit. But husband John is away building theatre sets and the schoolgate gossips believe she is having an affair with Ferrari-driving ex-footballer Gary. Meanwhile her Australian nanny Wendy seems to be shirking her responsibilities and her childhood friend Naomi turns up unexpectedly with her 10-year-old daughter Lexie in tow.

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Lost In Manhattan - Moreen Littrell (2011)

After losing her job, having her car totalled by a drunk driver, and facing the end of her relationship, all in the same day, Eve decides there is no better time to move to New York City and focus on her acting career. Unfortunately the path to her new life is filled with a number of uncertain twists and turns, questionable places to stay, a couple of elderly male admirers, and the very Greek family of her ex-boyfriend. We follow Eve on a rollercoaster ride all over Manhattan as she finds a place to live, lands a decent job, and meets some fairly interesting characters along the way. Once I got over my initial anxiety of all of the miss-steps Eve has just getting from Los Angeles to New York City, I relaxed into the story and found it both charming and funny. Eve is completely fearless and treats her move as an adventure, which I found endearing. Although the end of the book felt a bit rushed, it did leave the door open for the possibility of more Eve in Manhattan. (LEK)

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Lost for Words - Lorelei Mathias (2007)

Daisy Allen is a sweet-natured assistant at a publishing house who is hoping to find a literary gem in the slush pile. She is also hoping her boyfriend, the smarmy Miles, will finally commit. After becoming friends with Elliot, who comes in to do work experience, she stumbles upon a partly finished manuscript from a mystery author, William. Will this book be her big break and why is the author being so secretive? Only other thing to say is I'm a bit lost for words as to why the plot was so damn predictable.

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Love Always - Harriet Evans (2011)

Natasha returns to Summercove, the family home in Cornwall, for the funeral of her grandmother Frances. When she finds a diary kept by her aunt Cecily, who died in tragic circumstances when she was only 15, it spurs Natasha to uncover the rest of the story about Cecily's last summer. It was 1963, a time when the Profumo affair dominated the headlines, and the Beatles dominated the turntables. Frances was a well-known artist, her Indian husband Arvind an academic writer. Natasha's mother, Miranda, and her twin brother, Archie, had just finished school. Their cousin Louisa was also staying, and had invited along her boyfriend Frank and his brother Guy. As the story of what happened is slowly revealed to her, Natasha may well find the inspiration she needs to revive her struggling jewellery business - and move on from her broken marriage. The story from 1963 may be the most powerful element of this cleverly plotted book but as a total package it was completely unputdownable.

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Love and Chaos - Gemma Burgess (2014)

This is the second book in the Brooklyn Girls series. It features Angie, a fashion-loving 22-year-old living in New York. She's jobless, lonely, and a bit reckless. When she discovers that her parents are getting a divorce, she tries to drown her sorrow in vodka and prescription drugs. The next morning, she wakes up alone and naked in a hotel room, with $3000 waiting on the side table for her. In a lifelong pattern of running away from bad situations, she flees to Turks and Caicos with her sleazy friend, Stef. The trip is disastrous, and Angie is pressured into taking money for sex. She swims to shore in nothing but her bikini and a small shred of dignity. Upon returning to New York, she decides to do three things: swear off men (they only ever want her for one thing, anyway), be nicer to her friends, and get a job in high fashion. Angie stumbles from one mess to another, beating herself up for always making the wrong choice, for always running away when things get tough. Will Angie get her dream job, or is she destined to work at The Gap forever? Will she ever let her guard down long enough to let anyone in? This is a fun, entertaining read that will always keep you guessing what's next. But as far as this series goes, I enjoyed Brooklyn Girls a lot more. Angie's voice sometimes felt forced, as if the author were trying very hard to write like a 22-year-old might think. Angie also calls her friends "ladybitch" as a term of endearment. Now, I am not averse to swearing, but this just doesn't sit well with me. The frequent use of exclamation points and run on sentences were also very distracting. (CK)

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Love & Freedom - Sue Moorcroft (2011)

Honor's life in America has fallen apart. Taking her redundancy money, she heads over the pond to England to find the mother who abandoned her as a baby. She soon meets the Mayfair family, and she seems drawn to the mysterious Martyn. His seemingly carefree playboy lifestyle keeps Honor at bay, and she is only starting to get close to him when her past gets in the way. The identity of her mother is revealed with agonising results and Honor has a big decision to make - will she go back to her old life in America? Written from both Honor and Martyn's perspective, this gives you a great insight into the characters, with a good supporting cast of the Mayfair sisters and the workers of The Teapot. The secrets of the characters are drip fed through the book, to keep you turning the pages, and there are few twists to catch you out when you think you've guessed the plot. Set in a seaside suburb of Brighton, this makes a great summer beach read. (AB)

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Love and Liability - Katie Oliver (2014)

Holly James is a fierce, independent girl who wants to stand on her own feet without any support from her super-rich father but unfortunately she can't pay the rent without his money. Full of bright ideas and confidence, Holly is determined to earn respect and a decent salary at the teen magazine where she works. But Holly's boss, Sasha, hates her and will go to any length to sabotage her career. While trying to make ends meet and saving herself from getting fired, Holly decides to write about Zoe, a homeless teen in London. Zoe is the daughter of a well-known chef and is running away for a reason. This is such a quick and fantastic read that I couldn't stop myself from turning pages. Katie's writing is fresh, witty and so charming. The way she has brought together the large range of characters is amazing. Despite this big cast, everyone has their own identity and stands out of the crowd. The only reason why I am not giving it higher marks is because at some points there was this weird chemistry between Holly and her step-brother. (SS)

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Love and Miss Communication - Elyssa Friedland (2015)

Evie Rosen lives for her Blackberry - she is on it more often than not and her friends always make fun of her for having the phone superglued to her hand. Case in point she shows up for a wedding and because her Blackberry doesn't fit in her clutch, she stashes it in her underwear. As she is called up to make a toast, of course the phone comes tumbling out for everyone to see. Evie, an attorney for a prominent law firm, is hoping to make partner in the next month and has been working so hard to prove herself to her colleagues. But at a meeting with the partners, they tell her an investigation into why their internet was so slow found that the server had crashed multiple times due to employees' personal use. As their highest offender, she will be let go. Evie is stunned, she cannot believe she used the internet that much! After handing back her beloved Blackberry, she decides to turn off the information highway. Can she make it the whole year without using any type of social media or Google? And how will she be able to find dates to go on with out her ok cupid app? It's going to be a long year ... This book had a great premise but fell short for me. It had its good parts but otherwise dragged, with not a lot happening with the characters. (CG)

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Love and Other Addictions - Katerina Papanikolaou (2014)

Greek Andriana has returned to Greece after 10 years in England. Her life is like Sex in the City and she's obsessed with finding her "Mr Big". Along with a cast of fun and lively friends, Andriana finds love instead with the confusing "Mr Tall". But can their love survive miscommunications and misunderstandings? Are they meant to be together at all? This book, originally published in Greece under the title Where Are You Going, Honey?, is a fun read, with a great twist and life lesson at the end. (AT)

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Love ... and Sleepless Nights - Nick Spalding (2012)

The last thing Laura and Jamie Newman have planned for is a baby but after one lax moment with contraception, Laura and Jamie's lives are about to change. Told through Laura's diary and Jamie's blog entries, the story follows the couple from the initial surprise, through the disastrous announcement to Jamie's family, the world of midwives and antenatal classes to the final moments of agony and ecstasy in labour and beyond through their baby's first year. I absolutely loved the dual narration in this sequel to Love...From Both Sides and felt that both Laura and Jamie were very genuine characters with believable voices. As for the writing style, I cannot praise enough the humour of this novel, not only does it make you (somewhat embarrassingly!) laugh out loud, but the laughs keep going over several pages in wonderfully delivered anecdotes rather than fleeting one-liners. It is a hugely warm, uplifting and funny novel. Pure joy. (JC)

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Love Anthony - Lisa Genova (2012)

I loved this gentle, insightful story sprinkled with a little magic. It's a book written in two voices, those of Anita who is grieving for her lost but treasured autistic son, and of Beth whose husband has left her and their three girls for a friend at the bar where they both work. Anita and Beth have much in common, they are both incomer residents of Nantucket Island, they are near neighbours and both live without husbands, as David and Anita separated in the wake of their son's death. Reading a draft of a previously envisaged story she once wrote, Beth feels inspiration and begins to write a book. She is overwhelmed with creativity and purpose. Meanwhile Anita is rereading her journals, remembering her beautiful son and trying to find the answer to her heartbreaking questions. Why? What is the point? Her faith is severely shaken and when she receives a letter to tell her that her husband has found love again, her sorrow escalates. This is a beautifully written and moving story about friendship and support, love and loss and of grief and the power of healing. (JH)

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Love at First Flight - Tess Woods (2015)

Mel, a GP, lives with her anaesthetist husband, Adam, and their two children in an exclusive Perth suburb. When she boards a flight to Melbourne for a girls' weekend, the last thing she expects is to feel an overwhelming attraction to another passenger as soon as she locks eyes with him. Not only is physiotherapist Matt nine years her junior, he is also engaged and lives on the other side of the country. But as the pair connect on far more than just a physical level, they have to decide are they willing to put everything on the line for one another. Full of raw emotion and confronting issues, this well-crafted debut told from both perspectives will intrigue readers, right up to its unpredictable ending.

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Love: A User's Guide - Clare Naylor (1997)

Vogue fashion assistant Amy often gets caught up in daydreams about the romantic heroes of literature. Then she meets film star Orlando Rock, who has played lots of these heroes on stage and screen. While she swoons, he decides she's just the non-celebrity kind of girl he's after. But Amy soon begins to get seduced by fame. Will stepping into the limelight, and into the pages of Hello, lose Amy her dream man?

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Love Bug - Zoe Barnes (2002)

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

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Love by Numbers - Sara Donovan (2014)

HR executive April has a massive crush on sales colleague Ryan, a guy who has vowed to steer clear of office romances. When he hooks up with her flirty housemate Holly, April realises she needs to stop fantasising about Ryan and instead transfer her affection to her best male friend Nathan. But Nathan also has the hots for Holly. As part of her psychology studies, April figures out she has an obsessive condition known as limerence and develops seven steps to find passion with her friend instead. Full of unrequited feelings and awkward friends-with-benefits moments, this well-written debut novel with the intriguing premise shows that the path to true love is truly complicated.

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Love By the Book - Melissa Pimentel (2015)

aka Age, Sex, Location

Lauren, an American who works as a science museum event coordinator in London, isn't looking for a serious relationship. But after another man flees while she's cooking him breakfast, she decides to turn her dating life into an experiment. She follows the advice of different books each month - from The Rules to Belle De Jour's Guide to Men - testing out their often absurd methods for finding a man. As Lauren alternates between practising abstinence to chatting up anyone within view, she reflects on the lessons she learns. This is a well-written and funny debut with an autobiographical touch. Lauren has a snarky sense of humour and is willing to give anything a go. Many readers will thoroughly enjoy living vicariously through her. Unfortunately her story just didn't strike a chord with me.

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Love ... From Both Sides - Nick Spalding (2011)

To say Jamie Newman and Laura McIntyre are unlucky in love is an understatement. Both of them have a terrible dating track record, so when the two come together, how can their dating experience be any different? It's written in alternate chapters between Jamie's blog and Laura's diary, a format that works well. Billed as a laugh-out-loud comedy, I think this book will either have you laughing or cringing, and I know it divides people like the Fifty Shades lovers and haters. Personally, it wasn't my humour (it was just a little too crass). Which was a shame, as I spent the book smiling but no full-on laughs. For me the magic of the book starts when Laura and Jamie begin to date, and you get explanations of their crazy behaviour in their respective chapters. I would definitely read the other books in the series though, as seeing the two in a proper relationship (with a baby thrown in) has great potential. I think this is a real give-it-a-go book - you might just think it's an easy, witty read, like me, or you may (according to other reviewers) find it the funniest book you've ever read. (AB)

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Love in a Nutshell - Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly (2012)

Love in A Nutshell takes us into the world of Kate Appleton who has lost everything - job, husband, home, even her pet dog Stella. With nowhere else to go, Kate heads to the family's summer Lake House in Keene's Harbor, Michigan - also known as "The Nutshell". Here Kate dreams of turning her old family home into a bed and breakfast. But of course with the dreams comes the desperate need for money which lands her at the local microbrewery where she is hired as a undercover PI. Someone is targeting the brewery and owner Matt wants the case solved before they sabotage his business so bad that it will be the end of it. He also hopes to open a new restaurant in the summer and has his eye on Kate's family home. When sparks fly and the truth comes out about Matt's intentions, will Kate - who is wary of guys to begin with - lump him in the same boat as her ex-husband or will he prove to be a different kettle of fish? Find out in this light-hearted humorous mystery/ chick-lit/ romance novel by an amazing duo. (PP)

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Love in Mid Air - Kim Wright (2010)

Elyse realises that her marriage has failed - it's just she needs to let her perfectly nice husband Phil know. She meets Gerry on a flight and after he leaves her with a passionate kiss and his business card, they embark on an intense affair. But as Elyse's friends tell her: "In novels women run off with their lovers. In real life women stay." As Elyse contemplates ending her marriage - she only earns a bit of money from her pottery; she's got their daughter Tory to consider - the couple end up in counselling. This is one sharp debut about a wife in a stale marriage trying to let some fresh air into her life.

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Love in the Making - Roisin Meaney (2010)

aka Semi-Sweet

Hannah is just heading off for a celebratory dinner when boyfriend Patrick announces he's leaving her for another woman. Luckily she's kept busy opening her new shop, Cupcakes on the Corner, and getting up early to bake and ice her stock. Meanwhile a friend of her mother's, Alice, is growing increasingly concerned that her husband Tom's drinking is getting out of hand. Read it for the delightful way the characters' lives intertwine - from the way Hannah inadvertently introduces her boyfriend to his new love; to her best friend Adam's pursuit of a shy musician; and the way a taxi driver comes in and out of all their lives.

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Love In Translation - Wendy Nelson Tokunaga (2009)

Meet Celeste Duncan, she has no family, a dead-end career and a boyfriend who won't do anything due to a perfection complex. Out of the blue, Celeste receives a phone call telling her that an aunt has passed away, which Celeste thinks is odd since she has been in foster care since the age of 10 when the system couldn't find any living relatives. Over the next few days, she receives a box of heirlooms that might just lead her to the question she's been asking all her life - who is my father? On an impulse, Celeste catches a plane to Japan where she meets a mixture of characters including the Kubotas, her homestay family; Mariko, her crazy Japanese language instructor; and Sakuri Santora, the host of a TV show and the ex-girlfriend of Takuya (the guy Celeste accidentally asked to marry). (PP)

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Love Irresistibly - Julie James (2013)

Brooke Parker is general counsel for a restaurant company. Cade Morgan is a US Assistant Attorney in Chicago. Cade is determined to take down a corrupt state senator and needs Brooke's help to bug the senator's restaurant table so the FBI can eavesdrop. There is an instant attraction between Brooke and Cade, however, they both have horrible track records with past relationships so they are determined to keep things casual in order to concentrate on their careers. A sudden move for Brooke forces the two to confront their true feelings for each other. Fans of Julie James will be happy to see their favourite characters from previous novels appear. This is the fourth novel in the author's series on the Chicago FBI and US Attorney's office. (AO)

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Love is a Thief - Claire Garber (2013)

When Kate splits from boyfriend Gabriel, she resigns herself to the fact that she might be the girl who doesn't get the happy ever after and may be alone for the rest of her days. So she asks herself some important questions: What didn't I do because I fell in love? What would I be happy to do for the rest of my life if love never showed up again? And in a fit of madness, or brilliance, she prints the idea in the magazine she is working for and is inundated with responses. So she endeavours to help these women, and her nearest and dearest, take back their Love-Stolen Dreams. What an amazing premise! The idea that when we are in relationships we sacrifice important parts of ourselves and our dreams and become lesser versions of ourselves. This is the most original concept I have read in a book in a long time and never has a book been so powerfully thought-provoking; you really can't help but reconsider your own life. The writing style is very natural, with a wonderful blend of poignancy, inspiration and wit, although not hugely romantic. There is a great blend of characters, although I had some issues with Kate's parents. While I liked the general development of the plot there were a few moments of weakness for me. However, none of this takes away from the power and inspiration of the novel. I am sure it will encourage many readers to go after their own love-stolen dreams and never has a book seemed more likely to actually empower its readers. (JC)

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Love is on the Air - Jane Moore (2010)

Hairdresser Cam is feeling dissatisfied with her boyfriend of six years, Dean. Everything's gotten all too predictable, especially Dean's impression of a couch potato during the football season. Cam heads off to Tenerife for a girly break with her friends Ella, who keeps getting phone calls from her married boyfriend, and Saira, who as the mother of a young child just wants to catch up on some sleep. When Cam meets fellow Brit and single dad Tom, she feels an instant spark. Back home her holiday fling is exposed when Tom puts out a message to her over the radio - overheard by Dean. Cam's turmoil over whether to end it with Dean is deftly handled by the author - her dilemma is heightened by what is happening in the relationships of those around her.

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Love Is The Easy Bit - Mary Grehan (2013)

Sylvia Larkin feels disconnected from her husband JP, her daughter Kate, the world in general and herself. JP and Kate's loving relationship has always made Sylvia feel like an outsider and a failure. Her despair is compounded when a former lover comes back into her life, forcing her to confront the dream she never followed of nurturing a career as an artist, and the promising future she feels she never fulfilled. As the relationships in her life disintegrate further and Sylvia's teetering faith in herself falters more and more, an almost tragic event forces her to face the truth about who she was and who she is now. She realises she must embark on a journey to fix the family she's given up on - a journey in which the destination will remain unknown until she gets there. Love Is The Easy Bit explores the nature of motherhood in great detail and with compassion, and the author's writing style is lyrical, evocative and haunting. However, the in-depth exploration of the main character's psyche came, for me, at the expense of the plot's pacing. Nonetheless, the writing style pulled it back for me overall, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for this talented author's next book. (SBB)

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Love is the Reason - Mary Malone (2010)

Losing a lifetime of memories is most people's worst nightmare - but for Lucy and Danny Ardle, that nightmare becomes a reality when a fire obliterates their beautiful home and leaves Danny in a critical condition in hospital. The nightmare intensifies when the police deem the fire to be an arson case - and they believe they have reason to suspect Danny of starting the fire as an insurance scam. But neither the police nor Danny know that Lucy forgot to renew the house insurance premium and their home is uninsured. Trapped in a devastating situation that is becoming ever more unbearable, Lucy turns to her neighbour Carol Black for support, only to find that the wealthy Blacks are mired in problems of their own. Carol's husband, Eric, has done one dodgy property deal too many and is finally about to suffer the consequences - as Carol learns that Lucy won't be the only one to lose her house. Can Carol's family find a way to save themselves? And will the person behind the fire come to light, or will an innocent party have to shoulder the blame? A pervading sense of underlying menace is embedded through this book, causing the reader to question each and every character and their intentions. As the fast-paced narrative moves towards its well-crafted conclusion, you'll find the pages turning by themselves. This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a plot-driven story with an inherent mystery to solve. (SBB)

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Love Letters - Katie Fforde (2009)

Laura is at a crossroads in her life. Her beloved bookshop, which is the only employment she has known, is closing and she needs to find a new purpose in her life. When she is asked by the larger-than-life literary agent, Eleanora, to run a literature festival in Ireland, Laura is rather reluctant at first. Her mind changes quickly, though, when she finds out her favourite author, Dermot Flynn, may be taking part - if Laura can persuade him that is. Dermot is known to be a recluse, never coming out of his little Irish town or wanting anything to do with the press. However, when Laura convinces him to attend, she wonders if he agreed because he really wants to be a part of the festival or because he wants to see more of her. But as the festival gets underway, Laura finds herself backing off from Dermot, even though she wants nothing more than to be in his embrace. As she learns, love is not always easy and what is real is worth fighting for. This is an engrossing read by an author who knows just what it takes to create a wonderful novel filled with characters who feel like friends. It's fun to watch Laura blossom - in her confidence and her love life - from an innocent girl to a woman of the world. (AS)

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Love Lies - Adele Parks (2009)

Fern is turning 30 and feels her life is going nowhere - stuck in a dead-end relationship and a tiny apartment, she dreams of getting so much more from life. Once upon a time her relationship with Adam was amazing but Fern wants the fairytale, the ring, and all that comes with it. Then along comes Scottie Taylor, England's sexiest pop star, who whisks her into a life with glitz, glamour and envy and includes a big ring to go with it! Will Fern fall in love with her new-found charmed life or will she discover that her happily ever after was more close to home than she originally thought? Although at times a bit slow to get to the point, this is a witty and clever chick lit novel with a twist that you'll never expect. (GF)

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Love, Lies and Lemon Cake - Sue Watson (2014)

Dreaming of Hollywood stars seems to be the only thing keeping Faye Dobson going. Coming to terms with the fact her marriage is no longer what it used to be, Faye is an empty nester and wants something more out of life other than going to work as a hairdresser and coming home to a man who only seems interested in plumbing fixtures. Attempting to make small changes in her life, Faye decides to try something a little different for lunch... what she didn't expect was Australian backpacker Dan to be the one serving her. Faye needs to make choices. Does she stay with her husband or does she take on the life she has dreamt of for years and finding herself again? More importantly, are the feelings she has for young Dan real? Laugh-out-loud funny, this book is exceptionally good. You will be introduced to the world of 'vajazzles' and friendships we all wish we had! There is one particular chapter which will likely see tears of laughter streaming down your face. Love, Lies and Lemon Cake is truly a delightful read and will take you to places you never thought possible. It provides scenic descriptions with a real insight for those who are looking for change in their lives. Insightful, inspirational and very funny! (MP)

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Love, Lies and Louboutins - Katie Oliver (2015)

This second book in the Marrying Mr Darcy series goes off on an unexpected tangent - more crime farce than chick lit. Gemma loses her cool when she spots her new husband, rock star Dominic, escorting his hot duet partner, Anglo-Indian pop sensation Christa, on to his private jet. So when her former flame and international arms dealer Jack reappears, she is tempted to settle the score. Soon though everyone is caught up in the case of Jack's missing niece, Jools, and the story evolves into one about extortion and kidnapping, Turkish gangs and old enemies. For me, it made for an unhappy union, testing the realms of credibility, lacking the required emotional intensity and losing the romance along the way. Perhaps this storyline needed to be saved for a Murdering Mr Darcy series.

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Love, Life and Linguine - Melissa Jacobs (2006)

Mimi Louis is a restaurant consultant who has opened several restaurants in Philadelphia and recently turned her nobody chef boyfriend into a celebrity chef. However, when she finds out that her beloved boyfriend, Nick, is not the man she thought he was, she returns home to Jersey to stay with her mum and throw herself into rescuing her late father's cafe. Two men emerge as love interests, as her diva (err libido) talks to her about which man is worth "boinking". Mimi's diva is not the only thing speaking to her throughout the story, as she has constant conversations with Olga, her suitcase, and Sally, her father's Mustang that she now drives. While Mimi seems to have a lot of chatter going on in her head, the book lacks some excitement and strong connection with the characters. There is also a lack of food chatter overall, making the title a bit misleading. It should be called, Love, Life and Listening to Your Diva. (CC)

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Love Like the Movies - Victoria Van Tiem (2014)

Kensington has just got engaged to advertising sales manager Bradley but as usual her family is too busy to pay attention. Indeed when her sister-in-law Ren announces she's expecting a baby, the engagement party becomes a combined celebration. Meanwhile, Kensington's ex-boyfriend Shane comes back into her life and to win an advertising account, she has to re-enact some of the most memorable scenes from rom-coms, including Pretty Woman, Sleepless in Seattle and Dirty Dancing. With lots of funny moments and a clever premise, this is a promising debut which will particularly appeal to people who love romantic movies. And I would so be a regular at Shane's rom-com restaurant!

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Love Me For Me - Jenny Hale (2014)

Libby Potter's life has turned belly-up. She has lost her perfect job in New York and her fiance Wade has finished with her and asked her to move out of their home. The very last thing she wants to do is return to her hometown with her tail between her legs. She and her mother Celia had always had ambition for a better life for her and she had been determined to move up in life, graduating from a prestigious university with a degree in accountancy. What's more she has never felt in her own skin in the small seaside town of White Stone, she wanted bigger, better in all ways. But when she returns to her cottage to arrange renovations ready to sell it, she meets up with her childhood sweetheart Pete Bennett and his father Pop. As she applies for interviews and re-models her cottage, she gradually integrates in her new community and by the time she has secured a job and moved into her new apartment back in New York she feels the tug of nostalgia and love for her roots. With Wade looking for a reunion, Libby has some major decisions to make. This is a heart-warming, well-written novel that examines what is really important in life. The characterisation is beautifully drawn with strong leading characters. I really enjoyed reading it. (JH)

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Love Me or Leave Me - Claudia Carroll (2014)

Chloe is no stranger to heartache, but when the opportunity arises for her to manage the Hope Street Hotel, a niche hotel where couples come to sort out their divorce in a weekend, she cannot turn it down despite the fact that it may dredge up her past again. The couples who arrive to stay for the opening weekend are a diverse and surprising bunch, and Chloe finds she may have somewhat of a challenge to keep them all in check and keep her job safe. Written in her usual light-hearted style, this book was another example of why Claudia is so good at this genre of writing. We are thrown into Chloe's life when she is at her lowest ebb, and we follow her story as she prepares for her new job as general manager of the newly opened divorce hotel. The story is also told from the point of view of three of the couples who are checking in for the opening weekend. All of the characters are well developed and as you go on the journey with them towards their divorces you continue to learn more and more about them. I found my opinions of them changed throughout the course of the novel, particularly Jo who came across as standoffish at first but as we learn more about her, my sympathy for her grew. Overall I enjoyed this book, I was intrigued by the premise of the divorce hotel and I felt it was well thought-out, with well-written characters and a good pace. (LO)

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Love Nest - Julia Llewellyn (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)

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Love on the Lido Deck - Barbara Oliverio (2013)

Keira Graham used to work as a system analyst but then decided to follow her heart and her passion, resulting in her own event planning business. She is offered the chance to take on her biggest job yet, namely organising a cooking workshop program on a big Caribbean cruise. Keira can not only take her best friend and well-known chef Alexandria D'Agostino with her, she's also invited to bring along her own family and the D'Agostinos to enjoy the cruise. As soon as the group sets foot on the cruise ship, the adventures begin; from Keira trying to find peace with her mother's new boyfriend, to her continuously bumping into the slightly annoying but handsome cruise director Brennan McCallister. Love on the Lido Deck is just as fun and entertaining as Barbara Oliverio's debut novel. I loved the setting of the book; I hadn't read any novels set on a cruise ship before and it was the perfect location for this particular cast of characters and their adventures. In the first book we were introduced to Alexandria D'Agostino, while in this one the focus lies on her best friend Keira. It was great to get to know some new characters, but it was also wonderful to read more about the D'Agostino family. While this novel can definitely be read as a stand-alone, I do think it adds something if you already know some of the characters and their background stories. I love it when many different storylines are explored and brought together in a novel, and this was definitely the case for this book. Lots of topics are touched upon in a light-hearted way, such as family, friendship and of course a touch of romance as well. A nice little extra is the collection of delicious recipes at the back of the book. Overall, Barbara Oliverio has again delivered a fun, easy-going and thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy and I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. (JoH)

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Love on the Back Burner - Barbara Oliverio (2013)

Alexandria D'Agostino, who works at the marketing department of Media Resolutions, comes from a tight-knit Italian-American family and it is clear in almost everything she does that she embraces her roots. Especially her cooking skills are brilliant, but so far this hasn't particularly helped her in finding a man. Yet, Alexandria believes, partly based on the advice of her colleagues, that the way to a man's heart has to be through his stomach... Right? So, she embarks on a culinary dating journey encountering various men with various backgrounds, while at the same time trying to ignore the new temporary IT guy, Cameron, who seems to pop up everywhere she goes. Grabbing a chance to escape from it all, Alexandria goes back home to her family for a couple of days, but this trip only forces her to start thinking about her life and what she really wants. The cover of Love on the Back Burner describes perfectly what you can expect from his novel: a tasty romantic comedy. Food plays an important role in the book (there is even a collection of delicious recipes at the back) and it has all the ingredients for a romantic comedy. Barbara Oliverio has created an entertaining mix of characters, with a fun heroine in the form of Alexandria. I really enjoyed following her on her journey to find the perfect man and to discover what she really wants to do in life. The author has her own distinctive voice; her easy-going and humorous sense of writing, with both Italian and American influences, results in a quick-paced read that kept me entertained for several hours. Love on the Back Burner is a light, entertaining debut novel, perfect for lovers of romantic comedies. (JoH)

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Love Or Something Like It - Deirdre Shaw (2009)

"When I get to my thirties, I'll know what I'm doing." Lacey Brennan has been questioning her impulsive decision to give up her job and life in New York to move to Hollywood with her talented comedian boyfriend, Toby. But this uncertainty recedes when Toby proposes on her 30th birthday - suddenly everything seems to fall in place. However, her happiness is short-lived when Toby can't get a job and their marriage starts to crack. Lacey also struggles with the negative atmosphere in her new TV job and her own family dramas, including her brother suddenly taking off. Lacey starts to wonder if being 30 will really make her mature enough to make the right decisions in life. This is an edgy, bittersweet story about growing up and learning that sometimes letting go is perhaps the best way. (XT)

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Love Potions - Christina Jones (2006)

Things start going amiss in Bagley-cum-Russet when beauty therapist Sukie Ambrose finds a naked man in her bed and discovers her aromatherapy oils are jetting off on someone else's honeymoon. So she ignores the warnings of a village old-timer and uses the plants in her cottage garden to supply her massage oils. Suddenly her clients start falling in love with the most unlikely characters. But should Sukie use the potions in her own love spell or should she leave her flatmate's boyfriend well alone?

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Love Rehab - Jo Piazza (2013)

After breaking up with her boyfriend over his cheating ways, Sophie leaves the bright lights of Manhattan behind for her hometown of New Jersey. While there cleaning out her grandmother's house, her best friend Anna arrives in a stolen police car and ends up being sentenced to AA for drunken driving. The intensive therapy hits home with Sophie, as she realises that many women could use a place like AA to talk about their love lives and help them move on. It's obvious that Sophie needs this, as she can't seem to move on from her ex, Eric. With a cast of endearing characters and a unique storyline, this is a great summer read and a definite read for those who feel like they could use a little rehab themselves! (AS)

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Love Remains - Kaye Dacus (2010)

Are you in the mood for a little romance, arguments and matchmaking? When a group of old high school friends get talking one day after church, they decide it's high time that their grandchildren should get married, so this group of 80-year-old women strike up a bet - to see who can get their grandchildren married off first. It seems that Kiki and Melinda may be in the lead as Melinda's grandson Bobby and Kiki's grandaughter Zarah are reunited for a possible second chance at love. But it appears criminal investigator Bobby may have a motive to spend time with Zarah. Will Zarah be able to move beyond past hurts and does Bobby have a contender in the race for Zarah's affections in his new friend Patrick? Who will win Zarah's heart and will Kiki and Melinda win the bet? This is the first book in The Matchmakers series. (PP)

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Lovers and Liars - Nina Bell (2010)

When Sophie walks in on her property developer father Bill with his accountant Anthea, she suspects they are having an affair. But should she tell her rather fragile mother Paige, who never seems capable of dealing with anything? Paige, Sophie and youngest daughter Jess all attribute Bill's temper to the stress of running a business that is always on the brink of bankruptcy. Jess has always stayed somewhat removed from her dysfunctional family and is now dating charismatic business journalist Jake. She wouldn't make the same mistake as her mother though, would she? This is a very powerful, sensitively written story centred around an emotionally abusive bully. It highlights the insidious damage that words can inflict on a person's self-esteem - and how an abusive home environment can affect the next generation.

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Love Struck - Chantel Simmons (2010)

This takes a classic chick lit story and twists it into its own unpredictable saga of love, betrayal, forgiveness, self-discovery, respect and growth. I was hooked after page one. Poppy Ross seems to have it all; the perfect marriage, the perfect job; the perfect life. She and her husband, Parker, are both very successful in business. They live in a fabulous home and share a relaxing lifestyle without being weighed down by kids or pets. Their only real sin may be that they both work too much. Overall, they are in love and couldn't be happier ... until one day at the nail salon, Poppy overhears a few women next to her gossiping about their friend, Sienna, who's been having an affair with a married man. Poppy learns the cheater's name is none other than Parker Ross! Poppy is sure her life is over but before she has a chance to confront Parker, he is involved in a major accident, getting struck by lightning while walking arm-in-arm with his mistress. Poppy immediately runs to be by Parker's side at the hospital and soon realises that he has no recollection of the past few months, including his sordid affair. Terrified of confronting Parker about the affair now, not wanting to plant the idea of straying into his mind, Poppy decides instead to undergo a major makeover, transforming herself into the other woman, in theory giving Parker what she thinks he wants without ever having to leave home. As you might imagine, Poppy's plan is wrought with strange slip-ups, silly screw-ups and side-splitting surprises. Ultimately, Poppy finds that maybe perfect wasn't really so perfect after all. Love Struck has a little something for everyone, taking readers on a roller-coaster of emotions right up until the end. For all that was funny and light about this book, it also had a more serious, thought-provoking level to it, broaching on the topics of intimate relationships, how we project ourselves to others and how so much can change in a flash - quite literally. (CH)

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Love the One You're With - Emily Giffin (2008)

Ellen is still in her first year of marriage to lawyer Andy when she bumps into her ex-boyfriend Leo on a busy New York street. It's the first time she's seen him since he left her heartbroken without explanation. And despite her best intentions that it's safer to keep Leo out of her life, he sets her up with a photographer's assignment of a lifetime - shooting a magazine cover of superstar Drake Watters in LA. As Ellen becomes increasingly preoccupied with the one that got away, she wonders whether she is meant to settle for a privileged yet suburban life in Atlanta with Andy, her best friend's brother.

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Love Under Different Skies - Nick Spalding (2013)

Jamie Newman is facing the prospect of having his hours cut at work, it's a fact he has to grin and bear but unfortunately he doesn't and ends up out of a job. This is hardly the news he wants to share with his wife, Laura, with things being strained in their relationship, so when Laura gets a job offer in Australia, the couple, along with three-year-old daughter, Poppy, decide to start a new life Down Under. The plan is for Laura to keep things ticking over financially until Jamie gets a job. Unfortunately, Jamie struggles to find one and, with mounting tension, their dream life soon gets a sharp dose of reality. When the pair find themselves receiving attention from elsewhere, they have to decide where their priorities lie. From mating koala bears to swimsuit wardrobe malfunctions, Nick Spalding once again delivers a raucous story full of laughs and cringe-inducing fun. Although this wasn't my favourite book in the series, his books always guarantee to bring a smile. I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next. (JC)

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Love Unscripted - Tina Reber (2010)

Remember back to the days of plastering your walls with teen heart-throbs - how you would react if one walked into your life? For pub owner Taryn Mitchell, she never was the sort of girl to fall head over heels for Hollywood stars - and reality has provided enough heartache in her life anyway. When it is revealed that the filming of the Seaside 2 movie is to take place in the small town of Seaport, Rhode Island - all hell breaks loose as women flock to get a look at leading man Ryan Christansen (think Robert Pattinson in Twilight). After being chased by stalker fans and paparazzi, Ryan finds a safe haven in Taryn's pub. Soon these two find themselves being drawn closer together, however Taryn can't let herself get hurt again and has sworn off dating. Can Ryan prove to Taryn that he is not the player the gossip rags make him out to be or for Taryn, will this end up being "the one" who got away? This is a real can't-put-down novel about celebrity, love - and poker. (PP)

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Love Walked In - Marisa de los Santos (2005)

From the moment I started reading this book, I was hooked. Thinking this was going to be your typical fun, light chick lit read where a "30-something girl meets the man of her dreams," I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was so much more than I expected. Cornelia Brown is a romantic. Her idea of the perfect man is Cary Grant. When he walks into her cafe in the form of Martin Grace, she feels her life is about to change. What she doesn't realise is just how much your life can change once you open your heart to love. But Cornelia's romance with Martin doesn't last. However, her relationship with his estranged daughter, Clare, goes above and beyond her expectations. Through life's ups and downs, beautifully written in alternating chapters, Cornelia and Clare discover they have a special bond and try to figure out how their love can exist in today's highly categorised world. I finished the book wanting more; to know what happens with these wonderful characters after our brief glance into their lives. A must-read for anyone who likes a well-written story and characters you can't stop thinking about long after you've finished the book. (LEK)

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Love Water Memory - Jennie Shortridge (2013)

We find her standing in the San Francisco Bay, legs ice cold, and expensive outfit soaking wet as a local swimmer tries to guide her to shore. Where is she, why is she up to her thighs in freezing water, and why can't she remember her name? Lucie Walker has suffered major memory loss from an unknown trauma that may or may not be permanent. She knows nothing about her current life, and doesn't even recognise the attractive man who is calling himself her fiance. Grady Goodall has just picked up his fiance Lucie from a psychiatric ward over a thousand miles away. Their wedding is just shy of six weeks away and they haven't even sent out invites yet. He's never seen her look so dishevelled and out of control. She has all of these questions about herself, about him, and about what made her leave their home that day - how much should he say? Should he take advantage of a fresh start and leave out some of the horrible details of their last day together? Helen Ten Hands has just seen her estranged niece on national television. "Missing" the broadcaster announced. The police are ignoring her helpful tips about Lucie's past. Of course the girl snapped! Who wouldn't with all she's been through? This is an interesting story told from three different points of view. I didn't expect a few of the plot twists that were thrown in, which is always a pleasant surprise. I felt the story was a little slow towards the end and found myself itching to skip a few pages ahead and skip some of the irrelevant backstory. Though the buildup is slow, the ending is worth it. (AV)

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Loving David - Gina Hummer (2011)

Ever heard the phrase 'Don't judge a book by its cover'? Well, that's the case with Loving David. The cover does nothing for the incredibly moving and poignant story held within its pages. It tells the story of Charlotte, a 43-year-old widow, who finds an unexpected visitor in the form of a major movie star in the backseat of her car one day. Not knowing what to do when the actor, named David King, says he needs somewhere to hide, Charlotte instinctively says he can stay with her at a retreat she's attending in the California woods. However, seeing as the retreat consists of a bunch of women who are there to discuss divorce and the loss of their husbands, David isn't exactly a welcome addition. Luckily for him, he's the sexiest man any of the women have seen in years and he's so charming that no one can say no to him. When he and Charlotte start to form a bond, however, some of the women get worried that David, 30, is taking advantage of the closed-off Charlotte and sees her only as an older woman to have a fling with before he returns to his life of premieres and jet-setting around the globe like the A-list actor he is. But what develops is a real, pure love that neither of them can fight. Even with the dilemma of David's ex, the beautiful - and young - actress Olivia, threatening to tear them apart, it seems like they were meant for this moment. But can Charlotte finally have her fairytale ending? Can it all be as perfect as it seems? This story is guaranteed to have you lusting after that movie star you see on the front of every tabloid and questioning every story you read on gossip sites. It will also have you crying by the end so make sure you have your tissues handy. To recap : You do not want to miss this gem of a novel. Don't let the cover or the fact that it's not published by a large publisher scare you off because this just could be the best novel you've read in a long, long time. (AS)

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Low Expectations - Elizabeth Aaron (2014)

Georgie is heading into the final year of her university fashion degree and vows that this year will be different, both in work and in love. Admittedly things don't get off to the best of starts. Negotiating family, friends, flatmates, fashion and flings, this is the crazy, quirky world of a twenty-something fashion design student. The thing that immediately strikes you on reading this book is the author's inimitable style. Flowery and sophisticated, she uses language wonderfully (tendresse and cognoscenti, enough said) to create a very strong and authentic voice. For some, this may tend towards the verbose, but there's nothing showy about it, it is the reflection of the sassy, smart heroine. In terms of plot, the novel is somewhat sparse and there's a lot that goes on off-stage as it were. The driving force behind this novel is instead very much the character and voice of Georgie and as such some of the storylines don't really emerge as you might expect. There's also a certain profligacy to the story, in terms of drugs and sex that may not appeal to all readers. But I loved the fact that in her acknowledgements, Elizabeth Aaron concedes that that's the only page her grandparents are allowed to read, which pretty much says it all in terms of the content. Strongly humorous, unashamedly raunchy and refreshingly grandiose, this is a bold and emphatic debut. (JC)

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Lucky Chica - Berta Platas (2009)

For anyone who has ever wondered what it would be like to win that big lottery prize, here's your chance to live vicariously through the story of Rosie Caballero. Cuban-American Rosie is having an awful time. She barely has enough money to buy dog food for her poodle, Tootsie, and within the next few days her utilities will be shut off. Sick and tired of being poor, Rosie uses part of a $5 bill that was blown under her foot to buy a lottery ticket for the biggest jackpot in Georgia's history - $600 million. The following day, late for work as always, Rosie takes an extra few minutes to return to the store to check the winning numbers. To her shock, Rosie has all six numbers. She's just become one of the richest people on the planet! Rosie shares her good fortune with her charming cousin Cheeto and her grandmother, deciding to split the prize with them. After taxes they will all receive a little over $100 million. The first thing they do is go shopping. Rosie gets a makeover, transforming from her drab self into a glamorous woman she doesn't recognise. While her grandmother is off on a series of cruises with her card-playing friends, and Cheeto is buying a huge house dubbed the Lotto Palace by the tabloids, Rosie is lonely and slightly sad that she has no one to share her life with. That all changes when she starts making donations to celebrity foundations and attending parties that are filled with the hottest stars. She even gets to meet her favourite movie star and the most handsome guy on earth, Brad Merritt. Rosie and Brad soon begin a whirlwind romance and everything seems so different from her old life of poverty and dateless nights. But when a predatory lawyer changes everything for the Caballeros, Rosie has to come to terms with the fact that her new life just may be over. Purely escapist and filled with every woman's fantasies, you won't want to put this book down until you reach the very last page - not even to duck out and buy your own lottery ticket. (AS)

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Lucky Girl - Fiona Gibson (2006)

Music teacher and flute player Stella Moon's childhood was overshadowed by her famous and absent father and marred by the death of the mother she adored. She chooses to live a safe and non-chaotic grown-up life, trying to remove herself as much as possible from her upbringing and where possible, from her father, who continues to be a has-been TV star who makes infrequent comebacks. Stella's static existence is shattered by the introduction of two noisy, nosy, young neighbours who feel free to drop in at anytime, eat her food, mess her tidy house and generally bother her. Her attachment to the girls takes her by surprise. These girls make her less stuffy, more fun and less dull. It's a coming-of-age story where Stella accepts perhaps she is the lucky girl that everyone has called her since childhood. However, the journey is so uneventful, you lose interest along the way. (LF)

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Lucky Stiff - Deborah Coonts (2011)

Lucky O'Toole is the director of customer relations for The Babylon, a premier hotel in Las Vegas. The story begins with a truckload of bees overturning in front of her hotel and a well-known Las Vegas personality being found dead in a shark tank. When one of Lucky's friends becomes the prime suspect in the murder, Lucky attempts to solve the mystery and find the true killer. Secondary characters such as Lucky's mom, who is madam of a brothel, and Lucky's lounge singer boyfriend Teddie, a former female impersonator, add drama and zaniness to this story. Part comedy and part mystery, this novel, the second in a series, will appeal to people who love the drama and glamour of Las Vegas. (AO)

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Lucy Blue, Where Are You? - Louise Harwood (2005)

Lucy Blue is not the sort of girl to pick up a handsome stranger at a snow-bound airport and she's certainly not the sort to leap into bed with him at a motorway motel . . . but this is a special day and in any case they'll never meet again. But after Lucy and Jude part after the long road trip from Scotland to London, she sees signs at her local tube station, asking Lucy Blue, where are you? There was something charming about Lucy Blue and her story.

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Lucy Springer Gets Even - Lisa Heidke (2009)

When Lucy Springer's husband Max tells her he's had enough, she thinks he's talking about his Thai takeaway. But then he walks out, with his surfboard under his arm, and the next thing she hears from him is a postcard from Bali. And it soon becomes apparent that he has not taken off alone. Nor could Max have picked a worse time to walk out, with their house resembling a dustbowl during major renovations and Lucy, a former soap actress, trying to get a role - any role - with the help of her overly pushy agent Gloria. Lucy decides to take matters into her own hands, and follows Max to Bali with their two children. Join Lucy on her two-month journey from disbelief and despair - to so much more.

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Lucy in the Sky - Paige Toon (2007)

Lucy is heading back to Sydney for the wedding of her best friend Molly and Sam, a guy Lucy has always had a crush on. As Lucy gets on a flight from Heathrow, she's gets a text message, supposedly from another woman claiming she's slept with Lucy's boyfriend James. After an excruciatingly long flight, James' excuses just don't add up - after all he's a lawyer who has a habit of stretching the truth. Enjoying herself back in her hometown, Lucy finds herself drawn to Sam's younger brother, Nathan, a laidback surfer. A first-class read with lots of humour.

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Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married - Marian Keyes (1997)

Lucy and some of her friends visit a fortune teller and the tarot cards tell her that she is getting married. Without an eligible man in sight, Lucy writes it off until other predictions made about her friends start coming true.

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Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him - Danielle Ganek (2007)

Mia McMurray is one of the gallery girls in the New York City art scene. From her post behind her desk at the Simon Pryce Gallery, she watches as the world goes by and as everyone realises their dreams but her, or so it seems. Mia is an aspiring painter and by taking this job she expected for her life to change. And it does, just not the way she expected. She is in the gallery for one of the new showings when the artist of the hour is suddenly killed by a taxi right outside the gallery. Soon the artist's works are an absolute necessity for any serious collector. And in the competitive art world, there are no rules. In a novel which sparkles with wit, humour, love and lust, Danielle Ganek masterfully explores the inner workings of the art world and what some people will do to be included in it. (SN)

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Lush - Vanessa Johnson (2010)

As the cliche goes, Lydia Kyriacos has it all - the gorgeous, stylish flat situated in Notting Hill Gate (like the movie), a long-term banker boyfriend called Marcus, a great job as an account director at an advertising firm and awesome friends who really know how to party. But her perfect life is about to start crumbling. On the night of their fifth anniversary, Lydia arrives home to find a note from Marcus saying he's leaving her. Also her company is making people redundant due to the recession and if Lydia doesn't pull up her socks then she's top on their list. If that wasn't stressful enough, she has bouquets of flowers coming out of ears, her friend is in love with a Swedish children's entertainer whose band is the equivalent to The Wiggles and her competition is trying to stop her from succeeding on the account that could save her career and boost her rep. To top it off Lydia realises that "yes, I'm an alcoholic". Can she stop drinking and turn her life around for the better or is it too late? This shows readers that no matter how hard or terrible life can become, there is always an open window of opportunity where you can see the light and come out of the experience for the better. An excellent read of love, holiday flings and those surprises round every corner. (PP)

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Luxury - Jessica Ruston (2009)

Twenty years ago, Logan Barnes betrayed his best friend, Nicolo Flores. Nicolo remained in London while Logan headed off to New York, won the girl, became a successful businessman and made a lot of money. Fast forward to the present when Logan returns to London with his perfect trophy wife, family and a successful hotel empire under his belt. Unfortunately for him, Nicolo still hasn't forgiven him and will do anything to make him suffer. However with gambling, addictions and scandal all knocking on the Barnes family door, will they end up destroying themselves before Nicolo can cause the damage himself? This has all the ingredients if you love glamorous blockbuster novels. (PP)

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