Rachel's Holiday - Marian Keyes (1997)

Rachel Walsh has such a fondness for recreational drugs that she's even had her stomach pumped. Now her family's bought her back to Dublin for a spell in the Cloisters rehab clinic. She's only agreed because she needs a holiday and she's heard it is like a spa full of rock stars. What Rachel finds is a diverse group of characters fighting addictions to everything from alcohol to gambling - and not a massage table in sight. Lucky that Rachel doesn't actually have a problem like the rest of them - she's planning on checking herself out real soon. This book often tops the list of favourite novels for many chicklit authors and readers.

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Ralph's Party - Lisa Jewell (1999)

When Jem moves into a flat with the smooth Smith and his best friend Ralph, she is convinced one of the guys is her destiny since she's been having a dream about this flat since she was a teenager. Although Ralph, an artist, already has a girlfriend, he soon falls head over heels for Jem. But Jem has started dating Smith. Meanwhile Smith has spent years pining after the haughty Cheri who lives on the top floor of the apartment. But Cheri has been having an affair with neighbour Karl, who lives with Siobhan. And so the tangled web of relations begins. And it all comes to a head when Ralph throws a party. A great romantic comedy that will pull you in as soon as you read about the interconnected characters - and it's certainly not just for girls.

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Ready or Not - Chris Manby (2005)

Heidi is already having doubts about her upcoming nuptials even before her fiance Ed gets his eyebrows shaved off by his rugby mates. And her pre-wedding jitters are certainly not helped by the return of her significant ex, Steven - more gorgeous and grown-up than ever. Meanwhile her best friend, Kara, has found a new man via internet dating and is increasingly leaving Heidi and Ed to hold the baby. This is a fun read about a bride who is not sure if she's ready for marriage and family - or is simply with the wrong man.

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Ready to Love Again - Annalyse Knight (2014)

Katie is a single mother of one, who has moved to another town to escape her ex-husband's control. Chase is a single father of two children who is still trying to move on from a tragic accident that devastated him and his children's world. Shawn, Katie's son, and Tony, Chase's son, meet and despite their opposite personalities form a tight friendship which brings their parents together in more ways than one, and Katie and Chase realise that maybe there is a second chance of happiness for them. Chase's daughter, Liz, seems to think, however, that Katie is the worst thing that ever happened to them. This book is was very emotional and dealt with many life-changing events, from divorce, grief, single parenthood, love and even guilt. Chase and Katie have to make a choice to help Liz deal with her grief before their own happiness and hope that their love will survive the test. (KARM)

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Real Happy Family - Carol Wolfson Widger (2014)

Stage mother Colleen has always been willing to go to any lengths to help daughter Lorelei find fame and fortune. But after an embarrassing episode on reality TV show Flo's Studio, Lorelei has taken off and is refusing to speak to her. Life in Reno is becoming more desperate by the day for Lorelei, where she is a waitress at a dingy establishment and hangs out with her druggie boyfriend Don. Meanwhile her sister-in-law Robin, the agent who got her the audition on Flo's Studio, has started fertility treatment only to find husband Darren has to be away on a film shoot. When Colleen is offered the chance to feature the family on reality TV show Real Happy Family, which stages intervention for troubled family members, it seems this is Colleen's shot at getting her daughter back and giving her another chance at fame. With strong character development, this is a well-written dark tale about a family falling apart and the dangers of chasing stardom.

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Real Life & Liars - Kristina Riggle (2009)

Mira and her husband, Max, are approaching their 35th wedding anniversary. Ten days before the party Mira is shocked to find out she has breast cancer but resolves not to enter treatment even though the doctor has told her she has options. Now she must tell her three adult children about her disease and her decision. Her three kids arrive on the scene with issues of their own - her oldest, Katya, thinks her husband is having an affair and struggles with trying to keep everything perfect. Her son, Ivan, is pursuing a music career and keeps falling in love with the wrong women. The youngest, Irina, has grown up battling everyone, thinking she was a mistake for her parents. When Irina finds out she is pregnant, she struggles with what options she has with her new husband who she has only just met and married. A great tale of the behind-the-scenes dynamics of families and how they react in stressful situations. (CG)

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Reality TV Bites- Shane Bolks (2006)

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

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Recipe for a Happy Life - Brenda Janowitz (2013)

After an unfortunate incident with her musician boyfriend Jaime, Hannah takes leave from her Manhattan law firm (where it now looks like she's not going to make partner) to head off to the Hamptons to spend the summer with her grandmother. Her grandmother is a widow six times over and has been the closest thing to a mother Hannah has had. Hannah is hoping she will be able to learn from her the recipe for not only getting her life back on track but making it a happier one too. These characters - particularly the larger-than-life grandmother - will instantly hook you into this engrossing story. All in all, it's a very accomplished effort which will tug on the heartstrings.

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Recipe for Disaster - Miriam Morrison (2008)

Newspaper reporter Kate Walker needs a tasty new story, so she decides to do an expose on chefs and the restaurant industry. She goes undercover as a waitress at hot-tempered Jake Goldman's new restaurant Cuisine. Jake has put everything on the line, including every cent he's got. His wealthy rival since culinary school, Harry Hunter, has also just opened up a restaurant in town and he's intent on stealing away not only Jake's staff but his model girlfriend too. Through exhausting shifts, crazy colleagues, flooding and reality cooking shows, Kate finds a lot of the heat in the cooker-pressure environment is actually being generated between her and Jake. Just ignore the fact that no regional newspaper could spare a reporter for weeks and weeks on such a story - and enjoy this insight into a chef's domain. Dare we say it - this sweet debut is a recipe for success.

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Recipe for Disaster - Stacey Ballis (2015)

Anneke Stroudt is very happy with her life - until it falls to pieces in the blink of an eye. The day she decides she's had enough of her condescending boss and co-workers and quits her job, she comes home to find her fiance with someone else. All of the sudden, she is single, jobless, and for all intents and purposes, homeless. She packs up what's left of her life, including her cranky schnauzer, Schatzi, and moves into the shell of a house she is renovating in her free time. With nothing to do but work on her house, she figures now is as good a time as any to start the remodelling business she?s been dreaming about. With some help from her friends, old and new, she sets about finishing the house and in the process, puts herself back on her to-do list. While the home remodelling aspect was a nice change, there were a couple of projects described in the book that went into more detail than I cared to read about. Besides that, I loved reading a story about a smart, capable, real woman such as Anneke. Stacey Ballis is wonderful at creating strong lead women, which is why I always look forward to her books. For that, and all of the mouth-watering recipes she sprinkles throughout the story, Recipe for Disaster doesn't disappoint on either score. (LEK)

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Recipe For Love - Katie Fforde (2012)

Zoe Harper has always been the helper so it's no surprise that she ends up doing a lot more than she bargained for when she enters a televised cooking competition. Right from the start Zoe gets herself into hot water when she helps a judge get his car out of the mud. She's then stuck with beautiful contestant Che as her roommate. Cher wants nothing more than to win the competition and will go to any length to get her way, much to Zoe's chagrin. Throughout the competition, Zoe finds herself trying to keep her feelings for the sexy judge Gideon in check while also trying to fend off nasty sabotage attempts by Cher. Zoe also finds herself helping the owners of the accommodation a lot more than is necessary and possibly getting herself in over her head. What's a girl to do when her heart is ruling her thoughts? Can Zoe possibly keep up the charade of not being interested in Gideon long enough to win the competition? This is another wonderfully written novel by Fforde. With brilliant characterisations, mouth-watering meals and a heroine who is part hopeless romantic and part realist, you won't want to miss out on this heart-warming story of love and cooking. (AS)

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Recipe for Love - Sasha Wagstaff (2012)

Food writer Cassia has just become engaged and is planning a whirlwind wedding when her job on Scrumptious magazine sends her to shadow Italian chef Rocco Disanti. Rocco is notoriously private but has been talked into the media exposure to aid the opening of his new Las Vegas restaurant. So Cassia heads off to Sorrento, leaving her fiance Finn's mother in charge of the wedding preparations. And the haughty Grace has no intention of following her future daughter-in-law's low-key wishes. Cassia finds Rocco as infuriating as expected, as he is so busy running the business that he has no time for his cooking passion. The Disanti family believe they are under a curse and it certainly seems as if someone is out to sabotage the restaurants. Meanwhile Cassia is hoping to track down her late father's Italian roots while her hopelessly disorganised sister Jules falls for Finn's playboy brother. This is certainly the story for those who love drama and family intrigue. There's lots of sizzling sexual tension and sexy food writing. But it certainly doesn't take a genius to work out who has it in for the family.

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Recipe for Scandal - Debby Holt (2010)

Alberta (Bertie) Granger seems to have her life all worked out in a thoroughly modern way. She shares a home with her partner Tony, his parents and teenage son while running a successful catering business. Bertie has a loving if complicated relationship with her parents and her daughter Hannah has just moved to London to start a new life. But things are about to get messy as Bertie's foundation is rocked by revelations in the tabloids. Everything she thought she knew about the people she loves seems to be wrong and with the entrance of a new potential love interest, her life could be about to change for good. A great read which reminds you that while family sometimes can make life very difficult, they still are the most important part of who we are. (NR)

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Red Carpets & White Lies - Lea Black (2015)

In this debut novel by the Real Housewives of Miami's Lea Black, Miami socialite Leigh Anatole White has hosted an annual charity ball for years but has now decided to bow out. But when she attends another charity ball and can't believe how awful the setup is, she decides to do one more year - and she wants to make sure that this is her biggest charity ball ever. She calls on her friends and her faithful assistant to help with this extravaganza. Dixie Johnson is married to a well-known therapist to the stars. She has been having issues with her marriage and has been having a fling with her driver, Danny. Her huge Texas personality is almost too much for some people and of course her love of alcohol has had most of Miami's society talking. Known as the queen of gossip, in her spare time she listens to her husband Howard's confidential tapes of his clients. The amount of gossip she gains from these tapes are enough to shut down all of Miami's heavy hitters. Katie Parker knows her husband is planning on leaving her. They never talk to one other and she is always out at parties hooking up with as many playboys as she can. Knowing he will execute the prenup that she hadn't wanted to sign in the first place, Katie has no problem playing dirty to keep her in Louboutins and diamonds. Miami is no stranger to scandal, and with this group it is a guarantee. Who will fall and who will stand above the fray? This is a good debut, I enjoyed all the characters and would have liked to know more about them by the end of the book. Even though it is a long book, it was still a fast easy read. (CG)

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Redneck Cinderella - LuAnn McLane (2009)

Jolie Russell and her widowed father are redneck farmers in Kentucky. Cody Dean, son of a wealthy real estate developer, buys their farm for $3.5 million. The developers turn their farm into an upscale gated community with one of the homes built for Jolie and her father. Jolie has had a crush on Cody since high school but she believes that he would never fall for her redneck ways. As Jolie and her father try to fit into their new county club lifestyle, they find themselves being looked down upon by their new neighbours. Can Jolie keep true to herself and win the heart of Cody? While the storyline is predicable, it is still a humorous and entertaining read. (AO)

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Reinventing Mona - Jennifer Coburn (2005)

When a redundancy package becomes available, Mona decides to leave her engineering job and lead a different life. First step is winning over her dream guy, family accountant Adam, so she sets out to become the sort of woman she thinks he'd want. She even hires an obnoxious magazine columnist, Mike, to advise her and this leads to her learning how to strip and hiring actors to play heartbroken former lovers. Meanwhile best friend Greta really thinks Mona should concentrate on finding herself first. Readers will empathise with why Mona feels so adrift in the world when her family tragedy is revealed. But no prizes for guessing who her dream guy actually turns out to be.

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Re-inventing Tara - Lennox Morrison (2002)

TV astrologer Tara MacDonald has the life she always dreamed of. But with tabloid journalist Jordan about to ghost write a book for her, she is worried her past is going to be made public. She was once an unhappy, teased, fat girl called Scarlett, from Glasgow. But a friendship with her English teacher, Flora, saw her reinvent herself into the gorgeous media darling she is now. But with Jordan on the trail of a scoop - and aiming to bed her too - Tara needs to keep one step ahead. Switching between past and present, this loses points for the writer's device of showing what each character is thinking at a particular moment. Sometimes it was clever and funny but after a while it just became annoying.

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Relative Love - Amanda Brookfield (2004)

Gathered together in their large family home for Christmas we meet the Harrison family: mother and father Pamela and John, their four children and grandchildren. Throughout the novel we learn about their lives during that same year, their ups and downs, their happiness and their sorrow and about how they deal with what life throws at them. This family saga is well written, with characters that we come to really care about. At the heart of the story is the tragic death of an infant, a hit-and-run accident and the repercussions that affect each family member. We discover long-kept family secrets, failed romances, adulterous affairs, and secret illnesses. It is a lengthy novel packed full of issues that are well documented. (JH)

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Reluctantly Charmed - Ellie O'Neill (2014)

Dublin copywriter Kate McDaid - the only child from a long line of only children - is called to a will reading of a 19th century ancestor of the same name. The former Kate McDaid, a self-proclaimed witch known as the Red Hag of Knocknamee, requires her descendant to publish seven letters in order to receive her inheritance. The first of the seven steps is a poetic plea about reconnecting with the fairies, so Kate thinks 'what harm can it do?' and posts it to a rarely updated website of a local band - let's just say she has a bit of a crush on the singer, Jim. Suddenly Kate's post is getting plenty of hits, a bunch of anoraks are camped outside her door proclaiming to be her fan club, Jim is loving all the publicity and even her parents are basking in the limelight. But lots of strange and ominous things start happening - and Kate wonders if she's done a deal with the devil. This well-written, very unique story with a memorable leading lady shines a spotlight on a facet of Irish folklore. Although there is romance, the crux of the book is definitely the machinations of the Red Hag, and those who want to know her secrets. I was intrigued to find out what the last letter actually contained - but I can't say I loved how the author chose to play out the final, rather dark, scenario. If you are looking for a twist on chick lit, you may well be charmed by O'Neill's clever debut. It will definitely get people talking.

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Remember Me? - Sophie Kinsella (2008)

Lexi Smart is having a crappy night. Her date is a no-show, she's the only staff member at her flooring company to miss out on the annual bonus and her new boots are too small - oh and tomorrow is her father's funeral. While trying to hail a taxi, she slips and bumps her head. But when she wakes up in a hospital bed, she actually discovers it's 2007 and she's got amnesia after a car accident. But in the three missing years of her life she's gained a millionaire husband, a glamorous wardrobe, a luxurious apartment and has become boss of her department. How on earth did she land this dream life? And why do her friends hate her and why does her husband's colleague insist they were having an affair? Kinsella has delivered another failsafe chick lit comedy - maybe not her most memorable but you'll still devour it as fast as you can.

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Remote Control - Cynthia Polansky (2007)

Judith McBride certainly did not anticipate how her life would end so abruptly. At 31, she is just leading an ordinary life working as a physical therapist and happily married to her one true love, Saul. But when her medical operation goes absurdly wrong, Judith ends up in heaven - in a brand-new environment with numerous rules. Still unable to get over her old life, she resorts to spying on Saul, and soon learns about her husband's involvement with another woman, who she deems as having ill intentions. Judith tries to interfere in their relationship, even at the expense of defying the laws of the spiritual world. Will she succeed? It's refreshing to see a light-hearted story based on a rather serious theme - the afterlife. The plot is not particularly heart-tugging but the message of letting go reverberates throughout the entire story, leaving one thinking about life, love and even probes deeper into the reader's stand on whether the character Judith made the right choice in the end. (XT)

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Replacing Barnie - Patrice Wilson (2009)

Divorce lawyer Lydia O'Reilley has had enough of failed romances and heartbreaks in her life, and has since come to the conclusion that relationships don't last. Desperate to replace her bedroom toy Barnie, she ends up having a one-night stand. And if sleeping with a supposedly married man wasn't enough to add on to her bad experiences with men, Lydia soon learns that Jed Harrison is also her client's husband. Despite her attempts to avoid Jed, she ends up meeting him frequently and discovers that she might be falling in love with him. Worse still, Lydia finds out that she's pregnant with Jed's child, but he seems apprehensive about getting into another marriage. (XT)

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Rescue Me - Rachel Gibson (2012)

Sadie Hollowell left small-town Lovett, Texas, years ago and has never looked back. A cousin's wedding and a much overdue visit to her father drags her back for a short visit. Vince Haven, a former Navy Seal in Afghanistan, is visiting his eccentric aunt in Lovett. Sadie helps him out by driving him into town when she finds him standing by his broken-down car on the side of the road. To repay the favour, Vince reluctantly agrees to be Sadie's guest at her cousin's wedding. Sparks fly immediately and Sadie and Vince, who are both not interested in a relationship, agree to a short fling. Suddenly, Sadie's dad gets injured and her visit is extended and Vince contemplates a business deal that would make Lovett, Texas, his permanent home. So the pair are quickly forced to reevaluate their no-strings-attached relationship. Even with a predicable story line, this novel is a perfect read for the beach. Fans of Rachel Gibson will immediately recognize Vince as Autumn's brother in Any Man of Mine. (AO)

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Results Not Typical - Catherine Ryan Howard (2011)

Slimmit International Global Incorporated are famous for their slogans "Where You're Fat and We Know It!" and "Where the Fat IS Your Fault!" They claim to have slimmed five million people with their weight loss system and believe that they're making the world a more attractive place one fatty at a time. But when someone steals their revolutionary weight loss product, Lipid Loser, the real secret behind their success threatens to be exposed. With all the key company staff members involved, the race is on to retrieve the Lipid Loser and save Slimmit from total disaster. If their secrets get out, their competitors will put them out of business. If the government finds out, they'll all go to jail. And if their clients find out? Well, as Slimmit's Slimming Specialists know all too well, there's only one thing worse than a hungry, sugar-crazed, carb addict - an angry one. Will the secret behind Slimmit's success survive the day, or will their long-suffering slimmers finally discover the truth? When I read the blurb for Results Not Typical, I was slightly concerned that the corporate element of the book was going to alienate me as a reader and that I'd find it hard to get into the story because of that - but as soon as I started reading, I gobbled the book up (no pun intended). It's a delightfully satirical tale, with a fresh perspective on the well-established theme of weight loss, and a quirky writing style. Just like its title, this book is anything but typical and if you want to take a chance on something completely different, this is the story to choose. (SBB)

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Return to Sender - Zoe Barnes (2009)

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

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Reunion - J.L. Penn (2009)

It's spring, the air is full of bright colours and floral patterns. Jess and her friends are getting ready to do a Sex and The City take-off girls night out. Out clubbing at the Peacock Club, Jess' friend Kelly decides it's time to play Do Him, Date Him or Dump Him. This game ends up taking off on a tangent with Jess reminiscing about her high-school crush David Miller. Fast forward to the present day: Jess is 37, married and her friend Michelle has finally convinced her it's time to venture on to Facebook. While searching around and adding friends, she decides to look David up. After the pair meet up for a reunion, Jess must decide whether to finally succumb to her crush or stay till the end with husband Kyle. A wonderfully written book that will have you laughing and imagining the amazing settings from Spring Collection at Macy's to the strutting of the patrons at the Peacock Bar, all dressed to the nines. (PP)

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Revenge - Sharon Osbourne (2010)

Maggie Michaels always wanted to make it big. When she was 16 she moved from her small town to London where she discovers she needs more than a pretty face to become a star. She ends up falling for Derek Stone, a con artist who leaves her for her roommate Camilla when he finds out she is pregnant. Derek's brother, George, is used to cleaning up Derek's messes but when he shows up to pay off another woman in trouble he realises he may have found the perfect girl for him. Years later, Maggie has pushed her daughter, Amber, into the world of acting and singing. All Amber wanted to do is sing - she didn't care if it is only in front of two people. But thanks to their mother, her relationship with older sister Chelsea has been strained for years. And the rivalry begins when Chelsea finds fame by fluke - Amber was auditioning for an acting role but Chelsea ended up with the part. She enjoyed five years of being on top as Roxy, a troubled teen. When the TV series comes to an end, Chelsea has a hard time getting her life together to figure out what is next. Between drugs, alcohol and sex, her life is one whirlwind of chaos. Then one night she shows up at her parents' house where she catches her father in a precarious position that will change her life forever. This is a great, racy and fast-paced read about fame, sibling rivalry and, of course, revenge. (CG)

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Revenge of the Cube Dweller - Joanne Fox Phillips (2014)

Tanzie has left behind her glamorous life in Houston, Texas, and her role as a country club wife to a successful executive after being replaced with a younger model. So at 52, Tanzie is resuming her career as an internal auditor. Starting at ground level at a gas company in Oklahoma, she soon discovers she is working for imbeciles who undermine her and won't acknowledge her abilities. Exploiting the company's security flaws, Tanzie soon uncovers a major fraud and realises how negligent her management really are. I loved every second of this book, how Tanzie turned super-sleuth and outsmarted her bosses on every level. Written by an internal auditor and fraud examiner, the details all add up, making for an enjoyable reading experience right from the intriguing first chapter. Would love to see a Tanzie Lewis sequel.

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Revenge of the Wedding Planner - Sharon Owens (2007)

aka The Trouble with Weddings

Mags Grimsdale finds it difficult to say no to people. As a result she is looking after a Belfast wedding planning business while her boss Julie takes off with a young stud, Jay. She's also left to organise her dad's send-off and set up a home within her home for one of her sons, Alexander, and his anorexic girlfriend Emma. And while juggling these mini crises, Dream Weddings is dealing with its biggest clients to date - an ageing rock star and his model girlfriend - and they want the works: fireworks and ice sculptures, castles and bats. Don't let the title mislead you, this is more about the characters and less about wedding hi-jinks.

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Revenge Wears Prada - Lauren Weisberger (2013)

Ten years have passed since Andy Sachs unceremoniously quit her job as assistant to the cruel Miranda Priestly, editor-in-chief of Runway Magazine. Though time has passed, her memories of Miranda still give her nightmares. She never wants to see that woman again. Ever. Since then, Andy has struck up an unlikely friendship with her past co-worker and nemesis, Emily. Together, they start a high-end bridal magazine called The Plunge. She meets Max Harrison - a wealthy, handsome, charming man, and seems to be everything Andy ever wanted. Things are looking up for Andy. Until... she finds out that her pompous future mother-in-law is actively trying to get rid of her. And that her husband may be keeping secrets. And that she still might be in love with her ex-boyfriend, Alex. And, perhaps worst of all: Miranda Priestly wants to buy her magazine, and keeps popping up in her life in unexpected ways. Should Andy marry Max anyway? Should she leave her magazine, her baby, that she worked so hard for, in the hands of the devil? After all the hype and anticipation for the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, I felt a bit let down by this book. It just didn't meet my expectations. The title had me conjuring images of the evil Miranda, going out of her way to wreak havoc on Andy's life. But, Miranda played a rather minor role, and what she did do could hardly count as revenge. It was interesting to find out what happened to the characters from the first book, but it wasn't at all what I expected, and frankly, a bit boring at times. (CK)

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Reinventing Claire - Darian Wilk (2012)

Imagine one day you have everything and then just like a domino effect, everything comes crashing down until there's nothing left. For Claire, the domino effect starts when she is fired from her job and then her husband drops the bomb that he has been seeing another women - her friend Monica, no less! - for a year. He wants to get a divorce so he can marry her - oh, and he wants their house too. In a space of a few days, Claire had lost everything she has worked for over the past six years. Claire's sisters, Holly and Sam, help her kickstart a new life which includes a few terrible first dates. A year passes and Claire sees Charlie in passing every now and again and her heart still aches, but will this change when Claire meets Mac, who is also divorced. Claire and Mac hit it off and all is going well until Charlie returns, begging for her to take him back. Who will Claire choose and which guy is best for her "Reinventing Claire" life plan? This portrays "The D Word" in a humorous light, albeit with plenty of sad moments and outright crazy, mental breakdown moments. It shows the joy of finding love again when you thought there was no hope left in the world. (PP)

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Riches - Megan Cole (2011)

Celine, Jhumpa and Luci are three very different girls. Though they are all smart in their own ways, they are also complete and total opposites. So when the three are thrown together by a sinister tragedy, it makes working as a group very hard at first. However, the fact remains that they must put their differences aside to locate their kidnapped parents and find a national treasure before it is too late. As they embark on a global quest, they learn all about themselves - and each other - while meeting gorgeous guys and exploring beautiful locations. With danger lurking at every corner, none of these girls could imagine how hard and dangerous it would be to save their parents but what other option do they have? While the characters are no doubt glamorous, sexy and in ways funny, they lack something that it's hard to pinpoint. In addition, the story would have been much better had there not been so many typos in the finished copy of the book. Sometimes there were words that didn't even make sense so the reader has to pause for a moment and figure out what exactly should have been there instead. It makes it hard to get absorbed in the plot when you're constantly stopping to figure out a typo. As a follow-up to Fortune, this title pales in comparison, but sans the typos it's still a fun, light beach read. (AS)

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Rich Girl Poor Girl - Lesley Lokko (2009)

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

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Right Before Your Eyes - Ellen Shanman (2007)

Liza is an aspiring playwright who spends her days working as a temp. But it seems even her temping days may be numbered when her latest supervisor, a nun, pushes her too far. Out on the town with her best friend Parrot - a real party girl - Liza meets banker George and right from the start they forge a combative relationship. He takes her to hospital when she sprains her ankle, where she meets ER doctor Tim. The doctor seems perfect on paper but ... Meanwhile a moody theatre director has picked up her play and a reality TV camera crew is set to film them workshopping it. Read it for the feisty heroine and witty dialogue.

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R is for Rebel - Megan Mulry (2014)

Abigail Heyworth is the youngest daughter of the former Duke of Northrop. While most of the family has been tethered to English tradition, Abigail has always maintained her independence and free will. For the last decade she has travelled and done charity work around the world with her longtime girlfriend Tully. Her relationship with Tully has ended and she finds herself trying to fit back into her royal family. Eliot Cranbrook is a wildly successful American businessman. He is perfectly polished and a family friend to Abigail's brother and wife. What started out as a friendship turns into something much more complicated between Eliot and Abigail. This is the final book in the Unruly Royals Series. Fans of the series will be happy to see all members of the Heyworth family are back with more love and drama. (AO)

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Rites of Spring (Break) - Diana Peterfreund (2009)

The third instalment of the Secret Society Girls series follows the Diggers on a wild spring break trip to the society's private island off the coast of Florida, Cavador Key. Amy is involved in a prank against a rival society that goes horribly wrong, and is now the target of their revenge attacks. Finally on vacation and ready to relax on Cavador Key, Amy finds herself the centre of a few life-threatening "accidents". In the midst of trying to stay alive, figuring out who is trying to hurt her, and trying to enjoy her trip, she finds herself having a spring fling with her one-time rival. This fast-paced book really kept me guessing. (AV)

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Rival Passions - Zoe Miller (2011)

Twins Serena and Jack Devlin own the ultimate retreat for socialites and celebrities. Tamarisk Manor is a chic, five-star hotel nestled in the wooded hills of County Wicklow and is synonymous with serenity. But the Devlins' personal life is anything but tranquil, with Serena's obsessive commitment to the hotel taking a toll on her family life and Jack's struggle to cope with his wife's untimely death causing him to flee to their sister hotel in France. A chance encounter with Jenni in France turns his world upside down - but how will his new lease on life impact his responsibilities to the hotel and to Serena? As Serena works even harder to win the coveted Haven of the Year accolade for Tamarisk Manor, her marriage suffers more and more. Does the hotel mean more to Serena than her family, and conversely, is Jack willing to lose everything for love? Having read all of Zoe Miller's books, I had high expectations for Rival Passions - expectations that were far surpassed. This, for me, is her strongest book to date. Miller has always excelled at depicting realistic yet highly romantic and heartfelt relationships, but the relationship between Jack and Jenni is so powerful and beautiful that I could feel the connection between them fizzing off the pages. They intrigued me as a couple and I found myself fervently looking forward to every scene they would be in. (The fact that Jack was a scrumptious leading male character probably didn't hurt either.) The outcome of their relationship is unpredictable due to the nature of it, something that kept my interest high. Serena and her husband Paul's crumbling relationship also drew me in, and Serena's work-life balance dilemma is relatable territory. The sub-plots are also intriguing. I was particularly interested in how Serena's best friend Kim was infatuated with Jack and what the ramifications of this would be to Jack and Jenni's relationship. As for Jack and Serena's mother Charlotte and her past, I did feel that she gave herself rather too hard of a time; however, the author has written her story convincingly and I could accept Charlotte's rationale even if I didn't agree with it. As you might expect from a book of this title, there are quite a lot of intimate scenes. I personally think if an author is going to go down that route, they better get it right - something which Zoe Miller absolutely does. The intimacy in this book is woven into the story tastefully and non-gratuitously, and is definitely a vital component in conveying aspects of particular relationships in the book to full effect. There are also a few mysteries. Rival Passions is a book with many layers; on one level, the glamour of the locations and the lifestyles is sheer escapism, but on another, there's such a depth of common human emotions contained in the threads of the overall story that it's entirely accessible. There was such heart in this book that I've found myself thinking about it and smiling several times since I finished it. If you want a good, solid story with romance, glamour and deep emotion, don't miss Rival Passions. (SBB)

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Roadside Sisters - Wendy Harmer (2009)

Twenty years ago, Nina, Meredith and Annie were part of a feminist gospel choir. Now the trio are hitting the road again, travelling north from Melbourne to Byron Bay to attend the wedding of Meredith's daughter. Their home for the next two weeks is a motorhome, with Elvis emblazoned on the side. Nina, the overweight wife of a footy legend and mother of three sons, is desperate for some female bonding - if only she could stop acting like a mother hen. Divorced homewares shop owner Meredith is wondering if her perfectly elegant life is perhaps a bit empty; while single real estate agent Annie has been drowning her sorrows in drink. With a catty choirmate, hairy union officials and feral pigs to contend with, their unforgettable roadtrip makes for one feel-good read.

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Rock Chicks - Ronni Cooper (2010)

Rock Chicks is a tangle of love stories set against the backdrop of pure sex, drugs and rock'n'roll. Set in the late 80s and early 90s it follows the meteoric rise of rock band The Spikes and tells the story of the three powerful women behind the band. The girlfriend, Marni, the groupie, Coco, and the manager, Lori. All three women are running from their past, clinging to the band, yet they seem to be the glue that stop the band from spiralling out of control. It lives up to the hype of being 'raw, shocking and downright sexy'. Just be careful where you read this one, with explicit content all the way through, it might make you blush! (AB)

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Rock My World - Sharisse Coulter (2013)

When an unplanned pregnancy derails Jenna's plans, the daughter of a famous musician instead marries Alex, the love of her life and up and coming punk rocker. To the outside world, it appears she has made a success of her life, married to her high school sweetheart and raising a teenage daughter. Everything seems perfect until she comes home and finds her husband and best friend Airika kissing. As Jenna?s world crumbles, she struggles to find herself and meaning in her life as more secrets come to light. I found Jenna easy to connect with. She starts out as quite naive but by the end of the book, she has developed a spine and has discovered her authentic self. Felicity, Jenna?s daughter, is a bright young woman suffering the normal teenaged angst while trying to cope with the uncertainty of her parents? marriage and her own new first love. I found myself getting frustrated with Alex for being a weak character and not doing enough to resolve the issues that I believe he is solely responsible for. I struggled with a few of the plot twists that I felt had no relevance and was frustrated that these twists were pulling me out of the story. Though I struggled with several aspects, I found the story to be enjoyable for the most part. It's one that may suit readers who enjoy stories with complex character relationships. (SH)

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Room for Improvement - Stacey Ballis (2006)

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

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Round the Corner - Nancy Moser and Vonette Bright (2004)

As book two of the Sister Circle series starts, we discover that Evelyn Peerbaugh's house is empty once again as her previous tenants - whom all formed a sisterly bond with each other - have moved on to greener pastures. Evelyn, not sure exactly how to run a boarding house, decides to leave it up to God once more, though it seems this time he may be testing her. The first tenant to arrive is Heddy, who seems to be hiding a dark secret. Will the bond of sisterhood get her to open up and become her true self once again? The second tenant is Gail Saunders, who also has a dark secret. Who is Gail really and what is she hiding from? The last tenant is the lovely Piper whose parents have moved into her apartment during her mother's surgery. She meets a hunky Jewish doctor but can she really date a non-Christian? Meanwhile Evelyn is being sued by a tenant she turned down who claims she was discriminated against because she is FAT. And former tenant Audra is trying to get her daughter's biological dad, Luke, to sign the papers so her new husband Russell can adopt Summer. Will the new tenants become the second generation of the Sister Circle? (PP)

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Royal Secrets - Kathleen Irene Paterka (2013)

Lily Lavender was born and raised in Las Vegas by her mother, Mimi, but while growing up Lily decided she wanted nothing to do with the promise of "happily ever after" that her mother's business The Royal Wedding Chapel of Las Vegas offered. Now a single mother herself, her daughter, Tori, who shares the passion her grandmother has for the wedding chapel in Las Vegas, runs away from home to go to Las Vegas. Obviously Lily has no choice but to return to her hometown to get her daughter. The characters were well thought out and the hatred Lily felt towards her mother was depressingly real, as was the relationship between Lily and Tori. Although Tori was a teenager, she seemed to have the most realistic grasp of everything that was going on around her because her mother's hatred clouded her judgment in so many ways. Eventually Lily realises that not everything is what it seems, and for the most part she has seriously misjudged the people around her and their motivations. This book is about the lengths a family will go to protect their own and how forgiveness and having an open heart can change your life. (KARM)

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RSVP - Tara Moore (2010)

Set in the heart of Ireland, the wealthy Granville family has gathered for the engagement of Rossa Granville and Ashling Morrison. But like many powerful families, this one has many dark secrets and scandals - and the feuding is about to get even worse. There's matriarch Honoria, whose relationship with Rajesh, her Indian servant, goes a little beyond the bounds of servant-boss partnership. Jasper, Honoria's only surviving son, is the outcast, gay and living in Africa. Then there's Carrick, the oldest grandson and heir to Carrickhouse, who realises he's about to be disinherited unless he pulls out all stops to expose his brother Rossa, who is living a double life. And more scandal is threatened since Ashling and her stepmother Coppelia are more connected to the family than both realise. What happens when the truth starts to worm its way out? It becomes every man or woman for themselves as this pacy, racy story of murder, deceit, revenge and romance unfolds. (PP)

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RSVP - Helen Warner (2011)

When Anna receives an invitation to her ex Toby's wedding, her friend Clare urges her to attend to get "some closure". Toby was her university boyfriend and even now, more than a decade later, she still hasn't gotten over him. Ella also once had her eye on Toby but now she's married to a much older man. She too is a guest at the wedding but how welcome is she? And little does Clare know that the wedding is going to have big repercussions in her own life. Meanwhile, Rachel, the bride, seems to be having doubts as the big day dawns. With lots of flashbacks to pivotal events, this is a captivating book about how one wedding changes a lot of lives. Don't turn down this invitation.

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Rubber Gloves or Jimmy Choos? - Faith Bleasdale (2000)

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

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Rubbish Boyfriends - Jessie Jones (2008)

Beauty therapist Dayna is in hospital, about to give birth. Her best friend Emily is there with her candles and whale song CDs but the father is conspicuous by his absence. And so the book journeys into Dayna's boyfriends past to determine who the father is. First up is Simon, her first love who can't stop at one woman. Then there's Chris, a serious university student who wants to be a rock star, and rough-and-tumble Archie with his own particular views of the world. Mark seems the perfect boyfriend - but there has to be a catch and then there's her boss' son Cristian, who wants to settle down. With the author's trademark humour and loads of hilarious cultural references, this is the polar opposite of rubbish. Oh - and one of the truths about one of the boyfriends turns out to rate among the funniest passages I've ever read. Sequel please.

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Ruby Blues - Jessica Rudd (2011)

This sequel to Campaign Ruby takes place two years into Max Masters' first term as Australian Prime Minister. Ruby has become his strategic communications advisor. But her boyfriend Luke, who once worked for Masters, isn't happy with her long hours. Ruby's certainly got her hands full at work, with damaging stories about the Government being leaked to the media and having to deal with her colourful and over-enthusiastic intern, Bettina. Plus someone is sending threatening messages to the chief of staff, Diana, who once had a fling with Max. This really doesn't have much of a plot, instead it reads more as a series of mishaps - from speech snafus and Twitter trouble to waxing woes and vomit vexations. Some are hilarious which is just enough to save the book.

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Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict - Laurie Viera Rigler (2009)

In this sequel to Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, Jane Mansfield wakes up in the body of Courtney Stone in modern day Los Angeles. As the 19th century Englishwoman struggles to understand modern life, Courtney's friends blame her weird state of mind not just on her bump to the head but also her obsession with Jane Austen and broken engagement. As Jane marvels at modern conveniences, dress standards and social mores, she is drawn to Courtney's friend, Wes. Although there are laughs at Jane's predicament and the story gives more background about why she and Courtney swapped lives, I didn't enjoy it anywhere near as much as the first book. And I was really disappointed how the women ended up.

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Rules - Jane Beaton (2009)

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

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Rumours - Freya North (2012)

When Stella Hutton takes on a multi-million-pound country estate of Longbridge Hall, home to eccentric Lady Lydia, she thinks her luck might be changing. Desperately secretive about her past, and over-protective of her son Will, she hopes commission from a sale would provide them with much-needed stability. But as Stella gets to know Longbridge Hall, she finds it impossible not to be led by her heart. Especially when Xander, who grew up on the estate, starts to cross her path. If you've read a Freya North book before, you'll know that there's a warmth and homeliness that she creates with her characters that make you want to be their friend, as well as a few dirty romps along the way. It's a nice enough read, I personally would have liked a few more twists and turns and a few more obstacles in the way for Stella, rather than just her past. (AB)

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Rumour Has It - Jill Mansell (2009)

Tilly Cole comes home to find her boyfriend has packed up his stuff and left. So she quits her London life for a fresh start in the small town of Roxborough where her friend Erin lives. Tilly fits right into her new role as a Girl Friday for divorced father Max and his teenage daughter Louisa. And, despite her best intentions, she finds herself drawn to Max's friend Jack who has a terrible reputation around town for bedding every woman in sight. An easy-reading story filled with engaging characters including Lou's US-based soapie actress mum Kaye, who is run out of Hollywood after an unfortunate incident with a pampered pooch, and town gossip Stella who is bitter about her husband Fergus moving on. Just a shame about the rushed ending.

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Run Catch Kiss: A Gratifying Novel - Amy Sohn (2000)

Ariel Steiner, a 22-year-old graduate from Brown University, heads back to New York to jump-start her acting career that she left as a child. According to her agent, college didn't just leave her with a degree but with an extra 15 pounds that she needs to lose immediately before she can even consider getting any decent acting gigs. Reluctantly, Ariel settles for a temp job to make some money and uses her lunch break to head out to auditions for purely "fat girl parts". Besides feeling down about her absent acting career, she writes about her sexual frustrations which are taken to a weekly paper, City Week, where she is offered a sex column, Run Catch Kiss. After weeks of getting hate mail from her readers about her lack of an exciting sex life, she reinvents herself and makes up sex stories that are based on her fantasies and some actual dates that are abnormal but tantalising. While Ariel can come across as crass, self-absorbed and even trashy, she is really just a normal girl looking to find both love and success. Indulge in this hilarious tailspin of erotic stories that has clever humour, and unrated scenes with a character as snarky and sex-obsessed as the story itself. Sohn herself wrote a similar newspaper column. (CC)

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Running Away From Richard - Chris Manby (2001)

In this sequel to Lizzie Jordan's Secret Life, the wannabe actress is dumped by her boyfriend of four years, Richard, a week before her best friend Mary's wedding. Fat Joe, her former flatmate and now a transvestite living in Los Angeles, lets Lizzie move into his Venice Beach home. Soon Lizzie is working as a waitress and pretending to be the fiancee of a hot movie director, who just happens to be gay.

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Running in Heels - Anna Maxted (2004)

Natalie Miller's life has gone into a tailspin. She loses her PR job for a ballet company, her brother is dating the ballerina Natalie outed as an anorexic and she's exchanging drunken kisses with her best friend's husband. What Nat really needs to face is the mirror - to take a good hard look at herself.

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Running on Empty - L.B. Simmons (2013)

Imagine having the perfect life - a great job, three beautiful daughters and a loving husband who you have known since you were thirteen and then one day having one of those things taken away from you. How would you cope on a day-to-day basis? Running on Empty will show readers that all it can take is a morning of bad luck to change your life forever. Alex's story starts when she and her daughters are running late, only to discover her petrol tank is running on empty. Her knight in shining armour arrives and Alex is shocked to discover it is none other than Blake Morgan - her school crush before she met her husband Derek. Will Alex realise that it is alright to move on with Blake and that by doing so, she isn't disrespecting her late husband? Running on Empty is a rollercoaster ride of emotions that once you get started you won't want to get off. If you are someone who writes notes to yourself, then you will love this as Alex and the author have inserted several Notes to Self throughout the book. (PP)

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Run Rabbit Run - Kate Johnson (2012)

Sophie Green is an ex-British spy who is forced back into her old life when she is framed for the murder of an MI5 officer. Sophie goes on the run trying to discover who set her up. She quickly meets up with sexy Jack, another fugitive on the run. Luke Sharpe, a handsome, suave, James Bond type spy, works for MI6. He always swore he would never get involved with Sophie, however, he is completely in love with her and sets out to protect Sophie and find the real killer. Sophie is a hysterical and loveable character. As a 5 foot 10 sexy bombshell, with a trashy side, she doesn't exactly blend in well. This is the fifth novel in the Sophie Green series. Although, I have never read the previous novels, I was able to jump right in and quickly get to know the characters. Written from Sophie and Luke's perspective this is a humorous fast-paced mystery. (AO)

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