Nadia Knows Best - Jill Mansell (2002)

Due to a snowstorm and a broken down car, Nadia Kinsella unexpectedly finds herself spending the night in a Cotswold pub where she meets the handsome Jay. Nadia can't pretend she doesn't notice the sparks between her and Jay but she reminds herself she is happily in love with her childhood sweetheart, Laurie. Yet, as soon as Nadia is back home safely, Laurie dumps her because he wants to go to America to pursue his modelling career. A year later, Nadia bumps into Jay again, and it is clear the sparks are still there. She can't get him out of her mind, but at the same time something seems to be holding him back. To make matters worse, Laurie unexpectedly returns from America and has decided he wants Nadia back. Jill Mansell has once again written an enjoyable chick lit novel with a lovely heroine at its centre. Not only is Nadia a well-developed and easily likeable character; other characters, such as Nadia's sisters Claire and Tilly and their grandmother Miriam, form an integral part of the plot and have their own story to tell. To some readers this novel might perhaps be a bit predictable but it doesn't spoil the story. A light-hearted and pleasurable read, it's perfect for a rainy Sunday afternoon on the couch! (JoH)

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Nailing Harry - Jane Blanchard (2002)

Harry Hampton is the boss from hell - he bullies his staff and takes credit for other people's ideas. After he sacks a few more people for no good reason, some of the women at his TV production company - department leader Janet, receptionist Sue, secretary Nina and producer Liz - decide to take matters into their own hands. They start compiling a dossier on Harry's misdeeds and plot his downfall. Meanwhile his alcoholic wife, Val, is out to befriend them. This is a hilarious tale about a group of women determined to end their boss' reign of terror.

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Naked in Knightsbridge - Nicky Schmidt (2009)

Life is far from grand for Jools Grand. Her cleaning business is ruined after her major client's house burnt down; she's got a massive overdraft and can't pay the rent on her manky flat; she can't claim the dole because of a previous incident - and worse yet she's barely able to keep herself in HobNobs. Befriending a hobo called Skuttle and moving into his squat beneath a bus garage, Jools comes up with a plan to auction herself on eBay, with the top bidder winning her hand in matrimony. Two serious contenders emerge - the in-the-closet gay politician Rodney who needs a wife to become an MP and the deranged loner Niles who isn't prepared to take no for an answer. As Jools begins planning to marry Rodney, she is distraught to find things aren't working out how she hoped. Far from enjoying a close Carrie Bradshaw-Stanford type relationship, it seems Rodney can't stand the sight of her. And her addiction to baked goods is playing havoc with her chances of squeezing into her wedding gown and getting a decent paparazzi shot. Jools' correspondence at the start of each chapter may remind you of Shopaholic but she's got more to worry about than scoring a Denny & George scarf. As she discovers you can't buy love - not even on eBay - Jools realises she could lose even more than she already has. Even though the plot twists won't surprise, you'll still be wanting to get through the pages quicker than Jools can scoff down a tray of doughnuts. An amusing debut about a girl who may be down on her luck but is not yet out of ideas - it will get the chick lit world talking.

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Name & Address Withheld - Jane Sigaloff (2002)

aka Confessions of an Agony Aunt

Lizzie Ford is a high-profile advice columnist for a magazine and radio show. She meets advertising man Matt Baker at a work function - and they hit it off. But the problem is that Matt is stuck in an unhappy marriage to workaholic Rachel - but doesn't reveal this to his new girlfriend. One day while sick in bed, Rachel writes to Lizzie for advice about whether her husband is having an affair, using the pseudonym Name & Address Withheld. How long will it take Lizzie to work out she is the other woman?

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Name Dropping - Jane Heller (2000)

Preschool teacher Nancy Stern discovers another woman with the same name has moved into her apartment. The other Nancy is a glamorous journalist who writes about celebrities. Nancy would love to live her life and in fact begins to, opening her mail, answering her phone calls and going out with a man who calls for a blind date. But then the other woman is found murdered and Nancy begins to wonder if maybe she was the target. I liked the concept of two very different women sharing the same name but found the mystery was solved too early and there needed to be more of a twist for this book to score higher.

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Names My Sisters Call Me - Megan Crane (2008)

Courtney Cassel is thrilled when her boyfriend Lucas proposes. Courtney views her engagement as the perfect time to reconnect with her estranged sister Raine. Six years before, Raine, the fun-loving middle sister, ruined oldest sister Norah's wedding. Norah has never forgiven Raine for her actions and is furious when Courtney considers contacting her. Courtney decides to accompany her fiance to California on his business trip in order to locate Raine. Courtney soon finds her and realises that her sister is still with Matt, Courtney's first love. Soon Courtney is questioning every decision in her life, including whether she can marry Lucas if she is still in love with Matt. This is a great story about sisters and struggling with life's "what-ifs". (AO)

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Nancy's Theory of Style - Grace Coopersmith (2010)

Socialite Nancy Carrington-Chambers is obsessed with perfection. When she marries husband Todd, and they decide to build their dream house, Nancy details the plans so that they are exactly what she wants. However, when the house comes out totally wrong - like having a wet bar in the bedroom for example, which is just too tacky for Nancy - it causes turmoil in her marriage. Eventually, Nancy feels that she needs some time away from the disastrous house to clear her head so she heads to her apartment in San Francisco to work on starting her event design business called Froth. Todd agrees that some time apart might do them both good and even offers to hire an assistant for Nancy to help her get going. At first Nancy is depressed over the applicants for the assistant position - then Derek Bottomsley walks in. Derek is fabulous and she immediately offers him the job. What more could she ask for than a gorgeous British assistant who is so obviously gay and understands the meaning of good style? Soon the two are working flawlessly together so when Nancy's flighty cousin, Birdie, drops off her little daughter Eugenia to stay with Nancy indefinitely while she travels with her latest toyboy, Nancy is upset to say the least. The last thing Nancy wants is a dirty little child making a mess in her spotless apartment. Unable to get in touch with Birdie and not wanting to abandon the child, Nancy and Derek are forced to work out a schedule that now involves Eugenia. As the weeks pass, the trio are blending together so well that passersby think they are a family and neither Nancy nor Derek corrects the assumption. But what seems too good to be true often is and soon everything in Nancy's life is falling apart. She needs to ask herself if what she has believed in all her life will really make her happy in the long run. Or should she risk it all for what she knows is true and real? This is a fresh and vibrant novel with witty and charismatic characters that readers are sure to fall in love with. Whether you live a fabulous life in a spotless penthouse or a life full of tacky decor and messy chidren, Nancy's heartfelt story will resonate with one and all. (AS)

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Nanny Confidential - Philippa Christian (2014)

Lindsay is an Australian nanny who now lives in Hollywood. Her latest charges are the six daughters of film director Cameron Appleby and his high-maintenance wife Alysha. Actually she's never once seen Cameron in the flesh because he's always away on location. As an "elite VIP nanny", Lindsay needs to be discreet about what goes on behind the gates of a celebrity's home, as she tries to provide a stable, nurturing hand for children whose parents are too often preoccupied with their own stardom. But there are numerous perks to the job - such as a massive salary, travel by private jet, a wardrobe full of designer clothes. As Lindsay herself says: she works like a slave but lives like a queen. When the doors of the Appleby mansion are thrown open to a reality TV crew, Lindsay's job becomes even harder to handle. A lot of the story is told in retrospect by Lindsay explaining what life is like for an elite nanny - I would have preferred to have seen a lot more live action. It's a short read with plenty of outrageous scenarios that will appeal to readers of gossip magazines. It comes across at times more memoir than fiction (the author has worked as a nanny to the rich and famous).

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Nanny Returns - Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus (2009)

Twelve years after Nan left New York and the loathsome X family, she returns to the place that haunts her most. Back in the Upper East Side after travelling the world with her UN staffer husband Ryan (remember HH?), she finds many new dilemmas to deal with. First off, their return to the city seems to prompt HH to want to start a family, something that scares Nan as she feels she isn't ready to be a mother yet. Then while her husband is away on business, a knock on the door in the middle of the night reveals her former charge, Grayer, now an out-of-control adolescent, drunk and looking for Nan. Not wanting to turn him away, Nan lets him in and in doing so brings back a part of her past that she would much sooner forget. Meanwhile, her new consulting business brings her in contact with the trials and perils that come after nannying - private school. What makes this book even better is that it's set with the dissolving economy as the backdrop, showing what happens when the super wealthy families lose the money they so love. Humorous and witty with many of the characters returning from the first novel, this is a completely addictive page-turner. (AS)

Second Opinion

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Nappily Ever After - Trisha R. Thomas (2000)

Fed up with her four-year stagnant relationship with live-in boyfriend Clint, Venus Johnston is now in search of herself. Venus searches for the root of her problem by cutting her hair down to its roots. She hopes that by winning her lifelong fight with her hair, she gains control of her life. Venus' hair transformation sends her on a journey that she would have never imagined. This is the first novel in the Nappily series, and is a funny introspective novel that has been adapted for a film starring Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry. (CM)

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Nearlyweds - Beth Kendrick (2006)

Three newlywed couples each discover that the minister who married them died before signing their marriage certificates and they are not legally married. Erin gave up her prestigious job as a paediatrician in Boston to move with her husband David out to the Berkshires in order to be closer to his mother. Erin's mother-in-law is determined to break up the marriage and Erin quickly realises that because of her husband's spineless personality, her mother-in-law will win the battle. Casey's husband Nick expressed doubts on the day of the wedding and when he realises that their marriage is not legal he is no rush to return to the courthouse and legalise it. Stella married a man twice her age and was quickly branded as a gold-digger. Her husband Mark tells her during their honeymoon that he had a vasectomy years ago and never wants to have more children. Stella loves Mark but she doesn't know if she could ever be happy without children. These three women form a close friendship as they debate whether they really want to remarry their husbands. This is a very funny book that tackles the question of if you had the choice, would you do it all over again. (AO)

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Necessary Lies - Diane Chamberlain (2013)

This novel begins in 2011 in a bedroom where two names have been carved into the wall inside a wardrobe. There are no clues about who these names belong to and why we are in this setting but it all becomes clear over the course of the novel. We are then transported to a 1960s North Carolina tobacco farm where we meet Ivy, Mary Ella, their grandmother and Mary Ella's young son William. They are a poor family and only have a roof over their heads because they all work on the tobacco farm. Meanwhile Jane is a recently married woman who wants to have a career before settling down to have children with her husband. But he is against the idea of her working because he thinks she should be at home doing the housework and being a wife. However, Jane ignores his views and trains to become a social worker. One of Jane's families turns out to be that of Ivy's. She befriends the young teenage girl and tries to help their family through their days of poverty but soon Jane is thrown into a moral dilemma. Should she do what she's told by her boss or should she do what she feels is right? Should she keep a secret or will it come back to haunt her? These characters are incredibly strong and the descriptions of the tobacco farm were extremely tangible. Chamberlain always writes with such passion and it is clear that this book is no different. (LL)

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Needles and Pearls - Gil McNeil (2010)

In this sequel to Divas Don't Knit, It has been a year since the car accident that took the life of Jo's husband Nick, a year since she arrived in the seaside town with her two boys Archie and Jack to take over her grandmother's knitting shop. This appears to be the season of new beginnings, with two weddings, a new relationship and a bundle of joy on the horizon. Jo's friend, Ellen, has just announced her engagement to Dirty Harry and Jo's Gran is getting married again to Reg. Romance is in the air as Jo is about to experience a lovely relationship with the local carpenter Martin, though just as Jo is getting into the groove of dating again, she is in for a big surprise when she finds out she is pregnant to Daniel, a photographer she had a fling with in Venice. Will Jo's baby put a dent in her relationships or will it be a deciding point in which guy she wishes to be with. McNeil's humour shows through her writing with each turn of the page. (PP)

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Neurotically Yours - Bonnie Trachtenberg (2012)

Smart, attractive and single, 37-year-old Dara Harrison was a relationship columnist for LA Entertains until she finds herself unexpectedly unemployed. Using the reputation she has built up through her writing, Dara launches her new business, a dating service called MateSearch. What sets it apart from all the other dating services available is its Rate a Mate Feature. But her business is under threat when a disgruntled customer takes legal action. Dara finds herself forced into joining the ranks of her lonely heart club clientele when she agrees to take the MateSearch Challenge herself during a promotional interview on a national talk show. She realises that to save her business she might have to face a few long-held fears with regards to her own love life. This is an entertaining read which made me laugh. (LM)

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Never Can Say Goodbye - Christina Jones (2011)

Frankie is surprised to discover she's about to inherit a clothing hire shop from her boss Rita, who is off to chase the sun. As she tries to make Francesca's Fabulous Frocks into a success, selling vintage dresses, she has her eye on the new guy on the flower stall, Dexter. His uncle Ray has headed off to the Greek isle of Mykonos with Rita, leaving him behind to make a very big impression on the village's fairer sex. But it seems not only are there ghosts of Dexter's past lurking, there's actually a real ghost lurking in the shop, attached to his late wife's wedding gown. When Maisie, the busybody village medium, weighs in, things start getting even more out of hand. This is a delightful rom-com full of quirky characters - the ghostly elements are handled lightly and the cold wintery setting adds lots of atmosphere. Regular readers of Christina Jones' books will no doubt be delighted to be reunited with many familiar characters from previous novels.

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Never Close Your Eyes - Emma Burstall (2009)

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

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Never Coming Home - Evonne Wareham (2012)

Kaz Elmore is trying to come to terms with the death of her daughter Jamie who was killed in a car crash while on holiday with her father in America. Security consultant Devlin witnessed the terrible accident and when he goes to tell Kaz that he held her daughter in her dying moments he discovers that maybe it wasn't Jamie who died in the crash after all. With the slightest glimmer of hope that Jamie could be alive, Kaz hires Devlin to help her investigate the accident. They soon discover secrets from Devlin's less-than- perfect past and uncover a dangerous web of secrets as they hunt for Jamie. This book is a real page-turner, it's got a great storyline that has you hoping from page one that they are going to find Jamie alive. I think if I was rating this on a thriller alone it would get really high marks, but the romance for me came a little too early on and detracted from the great story. Having said that I'd definitely recommend it as it keeps on your toes until the very last page. (AB)

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Never Google Heartbreak - Emma Garcia (2013)

In two months time, Viv Summers will be marrying her boyfriend of five years, Rob, and she cannot wait to get down the aisle on the third attempt, following two previous postponements by Rob. But true to form, Rob once again backs down and this time Viv decides to take action, moving out of the flat they share in an effort to spur Rob into committing. As Viv waits expectantly for him to come and get her back, she begins to sense that perhaps things aren't going to plan. When he informs her that he's met someone new, Viv's world comes crashing down. However she's determined to win back her man and the future she had dreamt of. She turns to best friend Max to help her through the testing times and slowly he begins to mend her broken heart. Just as Rob seems to be becoming but a distant memory however, he turns up on Viv's doorstep ruining her relationship with Max. From the first page this story draws you in and Emma Garcia emerges as a wonderful new voice of chick lit, with the perfect blend of genuine wit and poignant romance. Although elements of the plot were predictable and I wanted slightly more from the ending, Viv's search for Max in the latter part of the novel and the handling of this relationship was refreshing, as too were the prefatory contents of each chapter taken from the fictitious nevergoogleheartbreak.com of the book's name - the website that Viv sets up to help her through her romantic troubles. All in all it's a wonderful read and certainly an author I will be following in the future. (JC)

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Never Mind the Botox: Alex - Penny Avis and Joanna Berry (2011)

There are four books in the Never Mind the Botox series. Each centres on one of the four professional women working on the sale of a high-profile cosmetic surgery business. Alex is busy planning her wedding to her fiance Elliot and is close to making partner within her law firm. She has what seems the perfect life. However, her life becomes complicated and in jeopardy when the new junior lawyer and actress threaten her life. Alex is forced into making decisions which have a huge impact on her life. The series can be read in any order. The law terminology that is used throughout the novel is explained, so people who are not familiar with it should not be put off. This book is a real page-turner and so entertaining. (SG)

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Never Mind the Botox: Rachel - Penny Avis and Joanna Berry (2012)

This is the second book to be released in the Never Mind the Botox Series, however the books can be read in any order and follow the lives of four professional women all working on the sale of a high-profile cosmetic surgery. This novel centres on Rachel, who is a corporate financer who loves her job and puts 100 per cent into it. She is trying to keep on the straight and narrow within her role and strives for the promotion that is about to be offered. Her boyfriend on the other hand is a total different story altogether. He is always hungover and strolling into work at silly hours. While working on the sale of the cosmetic surgery, the deal does not go as planned and her love life is threatened. Can Rachel come to the rescue? This is a great series and you will find yourself relating to the characters. At one point I forgot that they were characters in the novel and found myself wanting to go for a drink with them after work. The books have some overlap with each other but it works! There are rumours of a TV series being made on this series. (SG)

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Never Say Goodbye - Linda Kavanagh (2011)

Having read all of Linda Kavanagh's back catalogue, I was delighted to hear the news of this release - and the premise was certainly an intriguing one. Thirty years ago, the official verdict was that 13-year-old Zoe Gray accidentally drowned. But when her sister Claire inherits the family home, she discovers her sister's secret diary, which tells a very different story. Claire discovers that four schoolgirls in Zoe's class were guilty of appalling acts of bullying that ultimately led Zoe to take her own life. She vows to avenge her sister by finding and punishing the women responsible. The four schoolgirls are now in their early 40s, and all are leading wealthy and privileged lives. The tragedy of Zoe's death has defined their own lives, and kept them close to each other, united in guilt that is never spoken about. But suddenly, out of the blue, someone is threatening to strip away the safe veneer of respectability they've built around themselves. They all have so much to lose. Yet as the story unfolds, even more astonishing are the secrets they've never shared with each other . . . As Claire starts out on her journey of revenge, she finds herself in a world where nothing is quite what it seems. Will she succeed in avenging Zoe? And are there further secrets to be uncovered? If you like your women's fiction dark, Kavanagh does dark extremely well - and this novel is no exception. School bullying is a subject that I've rarely come across in women's fiction, and this book handles it extremely well - along with some other very serious themes. There's a present day story and a back story running through the novel, and for me, the back story is by far the more powerful and impactful. There were times when I wanted to scream at the injustice Zoe suffered and fervently wished that someone would help her make her way out of her hopeless predicament. The author also shows great skill in making the reader empathise with some of the characters that initially seem abhorrent, and in showing that some people who appear to be bad eggs in life are bad for a reason and that nothing is as simple as it seems, while others are simply bad and beyond redemption. With a chilling ending, this book is well worth a read for those who are looking for something gritty. (SBS)

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Never Say Goodbye - Susan Lewis (2014)

Josie Clark and her husband are very hard-working people. They have two children, a son who is in jail for a crime Josie knows in her heart he could not commit, and a daughter who springs the news on them that she's getting married to her long-time boyfriend. Josie is so worried about her son, especially when she receives some devastating news that makes it seem that she's running out of time to help him. Bel is a property developer who is lonely, still mourning the death of her twin sister. She spends much of her time with her sister's husband and their two children, seemingly trying to take her sister's place, which is not ok, since her (ex) brother-in-law has remarried and his wife is not happy about it. Josie's and Bel's lives will intersect in a way they least expect and help them both to survive emotionally at one of the most difficult times in their lives. This was a wonderful story and I felt the anguish of both women, being drawn to each other for friendship and support that would both enrich and devastate their lives. I actually sobbed with the unfairness of it all. (KARM)

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Never Say Never - Melissa Hill (2005)

A group of Irish university friends arrange to meet five years on. The book then skips to seven years later when it is clear that life has not gone according to plan . . . There's Olivia, who was married to college sweetheart Peter and has a daughter, Ellie, who he never knew. Can she ever get over her grief and find a new man? Accountant Robin lives in the US and is determined never to return home. But her publisher wants her in Ireland to publicise her book series for kids with allergies. Leah is unhappily heading towards the big 3-0, despite a successful business partnership with fellow graduate Andrew, a star rugby player who is married to the jealous Amanda. The unexpected twist (it actually made me gasp) really makes this a fantastic read.

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New Beginnings - Fern Britton (2011)

When journalist Christie is left widowed with two children, she knows the opportunity of a presenting job on daytime TV show Tart Talk is too good to pass up. And with the help of her mum and sister - and a very attractive divorced school dad - she should just about manage to juggle home and work. Money is still tight for Christie, especially as she's paying off a debt her husband Nick took out to help his dad. She signs up with the very pushy agent Julia, who has been in the headlines herself recently over the suspicious death of a client. Christie is filling in for diva Gilly, who despite going on maternity leave for triplets, doesn't want to let her replacement get too comfortable in her chair. For a novel set in the fast-paced world of TV, written by a real-life TV presenter, this really plods along. The only highlight worth hanging around for was how Julia was going to get her comeuppance.

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New Money - Lorraine Zago Rosenthal (2013)

Savannah Morgan has been scraping by all her life. She grew up in a single-parent household and has had to hold down less-than-pleasing jobs to keep things afloat at home. After getting fed up with her latest job as a librarian's assistant, Savannah finally catches a break. A call letting her know that she's the daughter of the late billionaire Edward Stone changes things dramatically. Yes, she may be the illegitimate daughter, as Edward's two children keep letting her know, but she's his daughter nonetheless and for some reason he has left her a hefty inheritance. The only catch is that Savannah has to work at Stone Media for one year. That means she needs to uproot her life in South Carolina and move to New York City where she knows no one. Figuring she has nothing to lose, Savannah moves to the city and instantly feels so much better about life. Things fall into place, she meets two very handsome men who seem to want her and attends the most glamorous parties. But with sabotaging step-siblings and a best friend who tends to disrespect everything Savannah owns, are things really as peachy as she thinks? This is a fun, though cliched, story. Savannah is an enjoyable character but her best friend, Tina, is really annoying. More than once I wanted to pull her out of the book and slap some sense into her. Tina feels entitled to everything and her behaviour throughout the novel is appalling. Without her, the story progresses nicely and would be perfect for a day at the beach. (AS)

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News Blues - Marianne Mancusi (2008)

When Maddy Madison is offered an investigative producer spot on a new News 9 San Diego show, she is hoping it will take her one step closer to her dream job on Newsline - and away from puff pieces about Killer Cosmetics and Pudgy Pets. But first she has to become accustomed to working directly with anchor Terrance Toller who can't get enough of his face on screen and needs three hours notice of a shoot to prepare his hair and make-up. Things are also looking up when she is partnered with a cute new cameraman, Jamie, but she is disappointed to learn he comes with a fianc�e. During a handbag shopping spree over the border in Tijuana, Mexico, a stallholder tells her about a drug tunnel into the US and Maddy thinks she's on to the scoop of her life. But she doesn't realise how close the story will come to her own family - and what she'll have to risk to get it broadcast.

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Newton Neighbors - Suzy Duffy (2013)

This story revolves around Crystal Lake Lane in a desirable Boston neighbourhood. Puerto Rican bombshell Maria thinks she's losing her mojo - so feels even more deflated when her husband Ricky openly admires the gorgeous new babysitter, Jessica. Jessica, who is over from England to study for a masters in psychology, just wants to concentrate on getting good grades. But all her rich and spoilt room-mate Ely wants to do is party. Maria's social-climbing friend, Cathi, is desperate to move into a house on the lakeside of Maria's street and is willing to go to drastic lengths to get there. From fire dramas to parties gone wrong, from amorous dogs to a wise old neighbour, this is one rollicking read - very enjoyable.

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New Uses for Old Boyfriends - Beth Kendrick (2015)

Lila Alders made sure she married into money. She was accustomed to the finer things in life and enjoyed the facade of having a perfect life. When her husband leaves her, her image explodes and she is forced to move back home to Black Dog Bay, the Delaware beach town she grew up in. Lila quickly discovers that the family fortune is gone and her mother, a former model, is living in denial. Her mother's closets are full of vintage high-end labels and Lila quickly sees a way to reinvent herself and make some money. Lila and her mother open a vintage clothing boutique. As Lila makes her business mark in her hometown, she is thrown together with her ex-boyfriend, Ben, and Malcolm, the man she didn't get a second glance to as a teenager. This novel is a fun quick read about second chances. Fashion lovers will delight with all the designer label references. Fans of Kendrick's earlier novel, Cure for the Common Breakup, will be happy to see their favourite characters make an appearance in this book. (AO)

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New York Dolls - Catherine L. Hensley (2014)

Denton Hodges has landed an internship at Glitter magazine and has been given her first writing assignment during New York Fashion Week, though it comes with a few strings attached. The first is that she's not actually going there as herself but as Anna - the beauty and fashion editor. When Denton finds pop star Amber Donovan in a bad shape in the loos, Denton - being the nice girl she is - offers her assistance and just like that she becomes Amber's best friend Dee-Dee and is introduced to the world of celebrities including hunky Hollywood actor Chris West. As Denton gets to know Chris, sparks fly but what will happen when he discovers that she is one of those tabloid magazine reporters he hates so much? Soon Denton is caught in a sticky situation with Glitter editor Alice wanting her to get the inside scoop on Amber and Chris. What is more important to Denton when it comes to the crunch - her career or love ? I really enjoyed New York Dolls as it gives the reader the other side of working in the magazine world, rather than just the glam side of attending events and meeting celebs. (PP)

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New York Valentine - Carmen Reid (2011)

This is the fifth instalment about the personal shopper turned TV guru Annie Valentine. After her TV show How Not to Shop gets cancelled, Annie is offered an opportunity by her old friend Svetlana that's too good to pass up. Annie flies to New York and takes along her daughter Lana, saying goodbye for a month to husband Ed, teenage son and baby twins. While in Manhattan, Annie gets seduced by the fabulous fashion, and Lana by New York men. But when a scandal surrounding Ed breaks out in London, Annie has to decide between her new love of New York and her family and home. New York Valentine has the usual mix of calamities, love and fashion fixes that we've become used to with the other books in this series. The characters by now are like old friends and seem to improve with each book. (AB)

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Nice to Come Home To - Rebecca Flowers (2008)

Pru Whistler always assumed that at 36 years old she would be married with children. Instead, her long-term boyfriend dumps her for his therapist and her flaky sister and her two-year-old niece move in with her. Pru finds herself hiding out at the local coffeehouse owned by John Owen, a wonderful man in the midst of divorce. Pru and John find themselves constantly making excuses to be around each other, however, after Pru finally takes a leap with John, his wife wants to reconcile. Pru's family and friends rally around her as she decides to make big changes in her life. Only when Pru's definition of happily ever after starts to change, does her love life fall into place. The reader will love Pru and the quirky people she surrounds herself with. (AO)

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Night Blindness - Susan Strecker (2014)

Jensen Reilly had an incredible future in front of her. She hailed from a successful Connecticut family and had a wonderful relationship with her high school sweetheart, Ryder. One night a horrible accident kills Jensen's beloved brother, Will. So she quits her dreams and tries to escape her past. Now married to her former art professor, Jensen lives in Santa Fe. When her father gets diagnosed with a brain tumour, she returns to her family for the first time in thirteen years. Her father's neurosurgeon is her old high school boyfriend. Jensen slowly falls into her old life and begins to question her new life. Before she can move forward, she must reveal a secret that has haunted her since the night her brother died. This novel is my favourite book for 2014. The author wrote a compelling story about grief and love. The mystery that is revealed at the end of the novel ties it all together beautifully. Just don't read this book if you have any commitments for the next day because you won't be able to stop reading. (AO)

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Nights In Rodanthe - Nicholas Sparks (2002)

Adrienne is a grieving widow who is struggling to bring up her two children alone and decides to tell her eldest daughter the story of her relationship with a man called Paul in an attempt to show her daughter that after tragedies, life goes on. It's 1988 and Adrienne has been abandoned by her husband for a younger woman. An opportunity comes along to look after a friend's guesthouse for the weekend in the coastal town of Rodanthe and Adrienne can't think of any reason not to get away. Newly divorced Paul is heading to Rodanthe to get away from his old life and start again. As they both arrive in the small town, a storm starts to close in and the two strangers are brought closer together than they ever could have imagined. Neither of them know that this one weekend will resonate throughout the rest of their lives. Sparks has once again written a tearjerker that will have you gripped until the very last page. Curl up in bed with a hot chocolate and a box of tissues and prepare to fall in love with a story that will stay in your mind forever. The film version stars Richard Gere and Diane Lane. (LL)

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Nine Months - Paula Bomer (2012)

If you are a pregnant woman who spends her days daydreaming about the moment you will hold your new baby, this is not the book for you. The author introduces us to Sonia, a Brooklyn mother of two who find herself pregnant with her third child. Overwhelmed by the idea of raising another child, Sonia abandons her husband and two children during her last trimester and takes off on a road trip. She smokes, has unprotected sex with a stranger at a reststop and visits an ex-boyfriend during the trip. Finally, her impending birth forces her to choose her future. As a mother of three, I thought I could sympathise with Sonia's overwhelming fear of failing as a mother, however, the author made Sonia such an unlikeable and selfish character that I couldn't relate at all. (AO)

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Nineteen Minutes - Jodi Picoult (2007)

The novel begins on an ordinary school day at a local high school in North Hampshire. That is until student Peter Houghten, who has been bullied and teased at school for many years, enters the building with a gun and begins shooting the students. Alex Cormier, the judge sitting on the case, has a daughter, Josie, at the school where the shooting has taken place. In fact Josie is the best witness to the shooting. However she claims she cannot remember what happened. This story - one of Picoult's best to date - demonstrates the relationship between children and parents and how keeping things inside can result in disastrous decisions. (SG)

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Nine Uses For An Ex Boyfriend - Sarra Manning (2012)

Hope and Jack have been together for 13 years. During that time, they've settled into a companionable lifestyle in which Hope can rely on Jack to be there for her during the worst of times. Then one day everything changes. When Hope hosts her first grown-up dinner party, she never expects it to end in disaster. Especially not the disaster of her boyfriend and long-time neighbour kissing her beautiful best friend, Susie. In a fit of rage, Hope storms out the door and leaves Jack hanging for the night. However, the next day she goes back home, presumably to pack her things, but instead she listens to Jack's explanation and believes him. The sad thing is that Hope doesn't "get even" - she doesn't even seem to have the willpower to leave Jack after he betrayed her. This was the beginning of the end, for me, because even though I'm a huge fan of Sarra Manning and her previous work, I just couldn't fathom how Hope could go back to Jack after he did such a thing - and at her own dinner party to boot! However, things get complicated where emotions are concerned and Hope begins to wonder if she really wants to be with Jack anymore. Their indecision about what they really want from life and each other causes Hope and Jack to go back and forth like this for much of the story, which seemed a little bit drawn out. Then there is Wilson, who is one of the more likeable characters. He is Susie's ex-boyfriend, who was also hurt during the dinner party kiss. Where does he come into play? Can Hope ever learn to like him? While this is a good story, it's not a great story. It lacks something. Girl power maybe? The I'm-gonna-kick-your-ass-to-the-curb attitude would have made Hope a whole lot more likeable and relatable. That being said, there are surely many women who can relate to Hope's situation and may feel the same emotions and make the same decisions. The question is are they the right decisions? (AS)

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Nobody But Him - Victoria Purman (2013)

In small towns of Australia, there are two types of people - people who come and go and those who decide to stay there for the rest of their lives and grow old happily living in the same place. For Julia Jones, she decided that she was destined for bigger and brighter things so when she turned 18, she high-tailed it out of town, leaving behind her mother and her love Ryan Blackburn, and never looked back. Now 15 years later, Julia's mother has died so Julia is back in Middle Point to settle up her estate. She plans to return to the big smoke as soon as she can, however as she spends more time here, she discovers a part of her life that she missed and maybe, just maybe, this may be a place for her. Ryan is like the town's hero and bachelor of the year. But he has a chip on his shoulder about Julia and when he spots her it brings out the anger he feels towards her. Can Julia and Ryan avoid each other until everything is done and dusted or have they been given a second chance at romance? This is a rural romance that fans of Karly Lane, Loretta Hill and Rachael Johns will enjoy. (PP)

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No Cure for the Broken Hearted - Kenneth Rosenberg (2010)

Architect Katherine is single and living in New York. She was madly in love with Nick as a teenager and thought he felt the same way but alas not and he broke her heart. Now 12 years later, Nick wants her to build his house for him and his new fiancee. Reluctantly Katherine accepts the commission, hoping that by watching Nick get married she can finally move on. But Nick has other plans as he finds himself falling for Katherine. Will Nick go through with his marriage to his bridezilla or will he discover that his happily ever after should be with Katherine. This novel sends the message that if you love somebody, then hurry up and tell them. (PP)

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None of My Affair - Fiona O'Brien (2008)

Carrie is thinking of finally leaving her philandering husband, Rob, when her supermodel daughter Ali announces her engagement. With the wedding to take place on a friend's luxurious yacht off the coast of Marbella, the couple decide to delay their separation. Daughter Hope, who moved to Spain to escape her family and work on a photography book, is less than enamoured to have them descend on her to prepare for the wedding. Meanwhile Rob's mistress, TV presenter Olwen, is having second thoughts, and Carrie's friend Jay will do anything to hold on to her own husband, Frank. I found I didn't really care for any of these characters and even the explosive ending couldn't save the story.

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No One Ever Has Sex on a Tuesday - Tracy Bloom (2013)

When Katy turns up to her first antenatal class with her partner Ben, the last person she expects to see is Matthew, her childhood sweetheart, and, more worryingly, potentially the father of her unborn child, although up until this point neither Matthew or Ben are any the wiser over the issue of the uncertain paternity. Katy and Matthew had both expected their one-night stand after their school reunion to be just that but now they have to face up to each other and their choices. Tracy Bloom's debut is refreshing and fun. While it was funny, I did feel that some scenes tried a bit too hard and that the book's humour was at its strongest when it was less contrived. The characters however come to life wonderfully and it seems that the author has a particular talent for writing men, in characters like Ben and his bumbling sidekick Braindead. I also loved the fact that I felt conflicted over who Katy should end up with, Matthew or Ben, and that right until the end it was uncertain as to which way things would go. This is a strong debut that suggests there's lots more to come from this author. (JC)

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No One Wants to be Miss Havisham - Brigid Coady (2015)

Edie Dickens is a cynical, hard-nosed divorce lawyer who makes life hell for her colleagues. With a father who abandoned her and a broken relationship with the perfect guy behind her, she has formed a heart of stone and absolutely detests weddings. Bah sugar-coated almonds! But she's agreed to be maid-of-honour for her best (and only) friend Mel. This emotional Scrooge is about to be visited by the ghosts of past, present and future to help her change her ways. And scrumptious fellow lawyer and former rugby player Jack Twist is on hand to crack open those chinks in her armour. This twist on the Charles Dickens' tale works well, and is a fun, lively read.

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Northern Heat - Helene Young (2015)

Kristy and Conor are both fleeing nasty pasts and striving for an idyllic life in the North Queensland town of Cooktown. Kristy is a doctor at the local hospital and cares for her daughter alone. Conor manages lucrative investments and coaches at the PCYC on the side. He's in the wrong place at the wrong time when he discovers the body of a man who's been shot. Given his mysterious past, he's implicated. Conor is also attracted to the serious doctor and wants to make her laugh and be happy again. Through random shootings and local friendships, the two become involved with a notorious crime family. Kristy's daughter, Abby, is friends with Sissy, the daughter of Freya and Jonno. Almost inconceivably, this family is mixed up with the past Conor is trying to reconcile. Amidst a raging category 5 cyclone, Conor will prove to Kristy that he's not what he appears. Helene Young delivers contemporary romance with a large dose of suspense. This is a sizzling romance with the heavier issues of domestic violence and family dynamics thrown in.

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Northern Soul Revival - Claire Moss (2010)

The night before her old school mate Carl leaves for Australia, Joss heads to Leeds to see him. Having just broken up with her boyfriend of six years, Joss is thinking that a fling may be just what she needs to move on. And Carl has had unrequited feelings for Joss for years and thinks he's got nothing to lose. Months down the track, Carl is settled in Tasmania with a new girlfriend when Joss discovers she's pregnant. But she just can't bring herself to tell Carl. What will happen when he returns home for a friend's wedding and sees Joss as a heavily pregnant bridesmaid? Told from the alternate viewpoints of Carl and Joss, this is an interesting story about two friends getting more than they bargained for from a night of passion. But it had to lose marks for its sometimes forced dialogue and too-good-to-be-true ending.

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North Star - Karly Lane (2011)

For Kate Thurston, life was difficult growing up and she spent most of her time with her grandparents. When her grandfather Henry dies, he leaves her his rural estate, North Star. Kate wants to escape her life in the city as she has just gotten out of a troubled marriage and thinks moving back home may be just what she and her two children Liam and Georgia might need. When she arrives at North Star, it appears it will need a lot of work to restore it to its former glory and so she gets stuck in. But it isn't long before those demons from Kate's past start to catch up with her, especially when she starts to show feelings for the town's police officer John. Will her family's so-called curse be passed on to her? This is an amazing novel that presents itself not only as a family drama/saga but also a suspenseful mystery as bits from the family's past is revealed. Filled with twists and turns, North Star is a great Australian outback tale that will keep you enthralled. (PP)

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No Sex in the City - Randa Abdel-Fattah (2012)

Esma is looking for her Mr Right - but he has to be a Muslim like her. The never-been-kissed 28-year-old sets up the No Sex in the City group with her Sydney friends Nirvana, an Indian midwife; Ruby, a Greek lawyer; and Lisa, a Jewish refugee caseworker. Then just like waiting for a bus, along come two suitors at once - Metin, a doctor, and Aydin, a filmmaker. Esma, a recruitment specialist, also thinks that her boss Danny may be sexually harassing her but she can't just up and leave her job as she is helping out her father. This debut adult title from the author of Does My Head Look Big in This? focuses on dating in Australia from the perspective of people from different backgrounds. Esma is definitely not some ditzy single - she does volunteer work with refugees so has a strong social conscience. This comes with lots of laughs.

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No Strings Attached - Clare Dowling (2007)

Judy's fiance Barry goes AWOL the night before their wedding and his best man Lenny has to break the news of his disappearance. Then to add insult to injury, activity on their credit card suggests Barry is living it up in France. Lenny, king of the short-term relationship, stays on as Judy deals with the humiliation. Maybe a fling with no strings attached is just what she needs.

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Not Another Bad Date - Rachel Gibson (2008)

Fantasy novelist Adele Harris heads back to her Texan hometown after her sister's husband ups and leaves her. And it's lucky she's on hand because Sherilyn is admitted to hospital with pre-eclampsia halfway through her pregnancy and Adele needs to look after her teenage daughter Kendra. It is while picking Kendra up from a friend's house that she runs into her former boyfriend and now high school gridiron coach Zach. His wife Devon - Adele's schooldays nemesis - died a few years earlier in a car accident. But Adele is not keen to embrace love the second time round - especially as she believes she is cursed to always have bad dates. This is the fourth book in the series based around four writer friends and reveals the reason behind Adele's bad run of dating luck.

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Nothing But Trouble - Rachel Gibson (2010)

Ten years of pent-up disappointment at trying to break into the Hollywood movie scene is enough to push struggling actress Chelsea to the brink of breaking. She heads to Seattle to visit her sister, Bo, the PR agent for ice hockey team the Chinooks (this is Gibson's fifth title based around the team). Chelsea is offered a personal assistant's job - to help former superstar Mark Bressler recover over three months. With the bonus cheque of $10,000 in mind, and the hope of changing her life, Chelsea is determined to get Mark back on track. The entire storyline and the characters were disappointing - the book focused too much on the sexual tension between Chelsea and Mark, and became less engaging as the story progressed. One for her fans perhaps? (XT)

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Not Meeting Mr Right - Anita Heiss (2007)

Alice Aigner is a confirmed single but at her 10-year high school reunion she has a change of heart, deciding she does want it all - the successful career as head of history at a Catholic school, plus marriage and kids. So she sets a goal to find the perfect man and marry him before her 30th birthday. With her best friends' help, she draws up a 10-point selection criteria such as: No.2 Must think I am the most gorgeous woman on the planet; No. 6 Must be punctual (although I am allowed to be on Koori time) and No. 8 Must love his job (don't want him whingeing every night about his day). Alice tries blind dates, dating friends' relatives, holiday romances, internet dating - but can she find Mr Right in time?

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Not My Daughter - Barbara Delinsky (2010)

Teenager Lily and her friends make a pact to get pregnant. None of them think that their behaviour will affect anyone else, especially their parents. The 17-year-olds all think they can be better mothers than some of the woman they had seen in town. Each girl happily goes to tell their mothers that they are pregnant. But none of them foresee what will happen once their plan is made public. Lily's mother, Susan, is the high school principal so faces scrutiny from the school board and the town. Susan was herself 17 and pregnant when she started over in this town and now her reputation is on the line. Although I would not have chosen to read this if it had not been a book club selection, I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from this author. (JG)

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Not Quite Nice - Celia Imrie (2015)

Theresa is approaching her sixtieth birthday. She's just lost her job and she certainly doesn't want to spend any more time looking after her daughter's rude children. So she sells up and buys a property in a sweet French town just outside Nice. There she meets a number of expats, including former TV star Sally, the incorrigible Zoe, glamorous American couple Carol and David, and the charming Brian. With a plan to make money through cooking classes and taking in a lodger, Theresa soon finds life isn't as peaceful here as she first thought. This is an absolutely delightful story with a bunch of larger-than-life characters and a rollicking plot. Fantastique debut from a British actress.

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Not Quite Perfect - Annie Lyons (2013)

This is a story of two sisters who are tempted to find out what else life could offer them. Book editor Emma has just gotten engaged to the lovely Martin when she starts working with new author Richard. And the very intense writer appears keen to pursue a non-working relationship. Meanwhile her sister Rachel is somewhat frustrated with domestic life as a mother of three, and now discovers husband Steve wants to transfer to Edinburgh - away from her family. She gets herself into a bit of a pickle with the bachelor living next door, Tom. As they say, sometimes you don't know what you've got til it's gone. This is a funny and sometimes poignant family story - with two characters that women will readily identify with.

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Not Ready for Mom Jeans - Maureen Lipinski (2010)

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

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Notting Hell - Rachel Johnson (2006)

Mimi and Clare live on the communal garden in Notting Hill where it is very much a case of the haves and have-yachts. While Mimi's interest is piqued by the neighbourhood's new billionaire, Clare is keeping an eye of some illicit going-ons, of the adultery and construction kind. Each is striving to be the best Notting Hill mummy - Mimi just needs the six-figure income; Clare the baby.

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Not What They Were Expecting - Neal Doran (2014)

This follows the story of Rebecca and James as they find out they are expecting a child. This time of life is stressful for any new parent-to-be but when James loses his job and Rebecca's family starts to fall apart, they both wonder if they are truly ready to be parents. However, soon they are thrust into this brand-new world and realise that nothing can ever really be what they expected. I love Neal's writing and his incredibly witty sense of humour. Often humour can come across as too false and scripted but Neal is not like that at all. The humour feels so organic and natural and as the characters strike up conversation between each other and insert witty remarks, I find myself genuinely smiling as I read. The plot and pacing is outstanding - the story progresses seamlessly and there's not one point where you get bored of the narrative. Neal has really perfected the art of storytelling and keeping an audience hooked on every word and as you come to the end of a chapter, you just HAVE to read the next one. The characters are also spot on and although they sometimes feel as though they live up to stereotypes, the way they interact with each other was just perfect. Neal's observations of family life and being in a relationship are so relatable that one can't help but wonder if it is slightly autobiographical...! I really enjoyed Neal's writing which has plenty of sass, sarcasm and superb wit. (LL)

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Not What You Think - Melissa Hill (2004)

Chloe Fallon is planning the wedding of the year. But little does she realise how a mix-up over invitations will cause trouble for herself, her fiance Dan Hunt and a group of three friends. Laura Fanning is about to marry Neil, who is very supportive of her decision to quit her job and start her own jewellery company - even if her own family is horrified. When she is given Chloe's invitations by mistake, she realises that the groom is her friend Nicola Peters' ex. Nicola is now dating Ken, the manager of the gym where she works and the last thing she needs is having Dan come back into her life. Meanwhile, the third friend Helen Jackson has a great career but has never bonded with her young daughter Kerry. The father left her and no man has wanted to stick around since. But maybe she's about to take her friends for granted once too often. When Chloe starts delving into why Dan and Nicola broke up, all sorts of secrets start coming to the surface - and of course there's a big twist or two.

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Not Without You - Harriet Evans (2013)

Actress Sophie Leigh has always had a fascination for 1950s movie legend Eve Noel. Indeed the rom-com queen would love to bring her life to the big screen and find out what ever happened to her after she disappeared from public life. A worthwhile project like that would make a nice change from her Hollywood agent pushing ditzy roles on her. So when Sophie returns home to England for a movie about Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare's wife, she takes the opportunity to track down Eve. The story of what happened to Eve in the 1950s runs in tangent with Sophie's story. Eve always had a piece missing from her heart since the day her mischievous sister, Rose, was swept away in a swollen stream. While she falls into marriage with mean-spirited Gilbert, she falls in love with alcoholic screenwriter Don. But what causes Eve to throw in her star-studded lifestyle and vanish into thin air? Meanwhile, it seems, someone has it in for Sophie, leaving her eerie messages, seemingly connected to Eve Noel. Although its mystery elements and dual narrative leave you wondering what will happen next, somehow this book didn't fire for me. It just didn't feel like a Harriet Evans novel.

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No Way to Say Goodbye - Anna McPartlin (2006)

A new neighbour is moving in next door to Mary of the Sorrows. She is so-named because she has experienced much tragedy in her 29 years of life, including the death of her mother, boyfriend and young son. The newcomer, American music executive Sam, has moved to the Irish village where his grandmother once lived to escape his drug addiction. There's also Mary's cousin Ivan, whose wife has left and taken his kids; and her journalist friend Penny, who needs to face up to the fact that she's an alcoholic and her long-running affair with a married man is ending. This is a moving story about a group of lost characters needing to be freed from their past hurts. It is quite emotive but even tragic Mary's sense of humour is allowed to shine through.

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Now A Major Motion Picture - Stacey Wiedower (2015)

Amelia Wright has been trying to get over her first love Noah Bradley for years. After that horrible night that changed everything, Amelia did everything in her power to leave her hometown of Girard, Illinois, and move on from her fiance. After graduating from college she moved to New York City, but after a couple of years and her best friend Reese begging her to move to Memphis, Tennessee, with her, Amelia decided to go ahead and move again. After getting a job in PR, Amelia writes her first book, Shattered, under a pseudonym Mel Henry. It immediately becomes a best seller and she is contracted to write a whole series. When her grandma dies, she returns to her hometown and finds a burst of inspiration for her third instalment. She has never told anyone that the two main characters are based on her and Noah. With news that her story has been optioned for a movie, Amelia worries that Noah will find out about her books and recognise himself. Meanwhile Noah, now lives in Dallas, Texas, and works as an architect. His friends have no idea why he hasn't dated anyone long term. He hasn't wanted to get into a relationship with anyone since he had screwed up his relationship with Amelia. But, now he has met Erin through a mutual coworker and hopes his new relationship will help him fill the void. Will Noah and Amelia move forward with their lives or will they always be miserable longing for one another? I absolutely loved this book! It flipped back and forth between Amelia and Noah's stories. You rooted for both characters even though you should just be rooting for Amelia after you see why they broke up. Highly recommended! (CG)

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Nowhere But Home - Liza Palmer (2013)

Queen Elizabeth "Queenie" Wake has just returned home to North Star, Texas, after being fired ... again. After several years spent working as a chef in kitchens across the country, she decides it might be time to take stock of her life. While her sister, Merry Carole, and nephew, Cal, welcome her with open arms, the rest of the town still considers the Wake family to be the lowest of the low, even after all these years. When she takes a job cooking last meals in the death house of the local prison, a job she realises she loves, Queenie tries to reconcile the numerous ghosts from her past and contemplates staying in North Star or once again moving on. This book is emotional, funny and heartbreaking. It's easy to become swept up in the petty high school dramas that play out between the Wake sisters and the mean girls, the small-town atmosphere where everyone knows your business (even when you think they don't), and the sense of purpose and belonging that Queenie is so desperate to find. Liza Palmer (and her books) continues to impress. Do not miss this one. (LEK)

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Nowhere Left to Hide - Elle Amberley (2011)

Natasha is in her third year of university when she gets the opportunity of a lifetime to study abroad in California for her final year. She jumps at the chance, even though it means leaving her only friend Poppy to her own devices in England. Once in California, Natasha wants to shed her shy demeanour and be whoever she wants to be in this new place. A place to explore and forget her horrible past of abuse that she suffered from her now deceased parents and her two step-brothers. She meets a group of friends including Kirsten, Mike - and Tyler whom she is attracted to instantly. But she is afraid to pursue a relationship with him since her dealings with the opposite sex are few and far between. This is a great coming-of-age story about getting over your past tribulations and excelling in the end. (CG)

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