MISA RAMIREZ

Hasta La Vista Lola! (2010)

In this second book of the Lola Cruz Mysteries, Lola (Dolores) Cruz is still going against the wishes of her Mexican parents who want her to be a nun, not a private investigator. Heading out on assignment she follows a woman to yoga class before capturing her on camera in a back alley trying out some interesting Kama Sutra moves with a lover. Back at the office, who should walk in but Jack, her hunky newspaper columnist friend who she wishes would take their relationship further. Just as things are looking promising on the romance front, she gets a hysterical phone call from her mother - Lola has just showed up on the news . . . dead. Being written off as dead puts a huge dent in Lola's social life, so she springs into action to not only solve who the real victim was but convince people she's not a ghost but truly alive and kicking. The story mixes elements of mystery, chick lit and romance, making this an enjoyable, laugh-out-loud read. (PP)

Also by author:

Living the Vida Lola

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ROBERT RAVE

Waxed (2010)

Three sisters Carolina - glamorous, chic and a bit of a neat freak; Anna - a recent divorcee with three children trying to find herself again; and Sofia - a newlywed unsure if she wants to be a domestic goddess or a party girl, are brought together by Carolina's own much raved about waxing salon - Impresario, where all of New York City's elite and famous go to get plucked, waxed and trimmed. The novel follows each sister's experiences - both the public and the private - from her own viewpoint. On the surface these sisters have a perfect life but you quickly learn that each has a skeleton in her closet that surprisingly makes you relate to and like her even more. This is a definite must-read. (AV)

Also by author:

Spin

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THERESA REBECK

Theresa Rebeck is an American playwright and TV writer.

Twelve Rooms with a View (2009)

Possession is nine-tenths of the law - or is it? This story revolves around Tina, the youngest of three sisters, who is a cleaning lady and whose current address is a trailer park. Tina's mum, Olivia, has just passed away from a heart attack, and while standing around her mother's new home in the ground, Tina learns about her inheritance. She's been left a 12-room apartment overlooking Central Park. But other family members dispute her claim. So now Tina is stuck squatting in the apartment, battling against stepbrothers, sisters, lawyers and apartment residents including Frank the doorman and Len the anthropological botanist. Tina, feeling like the black sheep, does what she thinks will help her keep the apartment - befriending the members of the co-op committee. There she develops feelings for the chairman's son Vince, though her heart is also tugging in the direction of Peter, the stepbrother she has just discovered. Can Tina make up her mind about what she really wants and stop being walked over? And who will win Tina's heart - Vince the spoilt trust-fund baby or Peter the NYPD cop? This is a solid read that has you seeing stories from different occupants and shows when it comes to the crunch - money and status can play a huge role, especially in a luxury apartment building worth millions. (PP)

Three Girls and Their Brother (2008)

Teenage sisters Daria, Polly and Amelia Heller are the beautiful grand-daughters of an American literary critic. When famous photographer Herb Lang photographs them for New Yorker magazine, the girls are catapulted into It girl status. Amelia, only 14, is no longer able to attend high school, while oldest sister Daria is desperate to take advantage of this opportunity for fame and fortune. Under the guidance of pushy agent Collette, the girls are soon doing modelling shoots, attending star-studded events and being targeted by the paparazzi. But it is Amelia who soon becomes the focus of everyone's attention when she bites a middle-aged movie star who tries to manhandle her and lands the leading part in an off-Broadway play. With their protective brother Philip sent packing to live with their dad and their mother too busy drinking in their fame - and her alcohol, the girls have to learn to look out for each other. Each sibling takes a turn at the narration but am not convinced each voice was distinct enough.

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LINDSAY FAITH RECH

Losing It (2003)

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

Also by author:

Joyride

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PAMELA REDMOND SATRAN

Babes in Captivity (2004)

Four women from a mother's group decide to each strive towards a goal. Mother of twins Deirdre, who fantasises about former band member Nick, dreams of resurrecting her singing career. Juliette, whose son Trey has autism, wants another baby and plans to start fertility testing. Ms Organised Lisa decides to write a self-help book but must first face a health crisis. And Anne wants to open a restaurant.

Also by author:

The Home for Wayward Supermodels; Suburbanistas; Younger; The Man I Should Have Married

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KATY REGAN

One Thing Led to Another (2009)

This is based on the author's real life experiences and Marie Claire column. Magazine writer Tess, 28, discovers she's pregnant to her best male friend Jim. He is more than happy to be part of the baby's life but it doesn't mean they are going to finally become a couple. Then her sexy ex, Laurence, reappears in her life but how will he react to news of her pregnancy? A promising debut - full of believable emotions and genuine humour - about two friends and a complicated situation.

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KERRY REICHS

Kerry Reichs is the daughter of bestselling thriller writer Kathy Reichs.

The Good Luck Girl (2009)

aka Leaving Unknown

Maeve Connelly believes she has rotten luck. It took her nearly eight years to graduate college and she still hasn't settled into a career. When she loses her job at the pub for running late yet again (her old banger of a car, Elsie, ran out of petrol), she decides to pack up and head across the country to Los Angeles to meet up with an old friend she reconnected with through Facebook. But her car breaks down in Unknown, Arizona, and the only mechanic for miles has just gone to try his luck in Vegas and no one knows when he'll be back. So Maeve moves into the local boarding house and gets a job in the bookstore. And so begins her fresh start at life, with a new cast of intriguing characters. A truly inspiring story that will entertain, captivate and bring on the tears. Watch out for the occasional appearance of her sister Vi, from Reichs' first novel The Best Day of Someone Else's Life.

Second Opinion

The Best Day of Someone Else's Life (2008)

When Kevin "Vi" Connelly was six years old, she was a flower girl at her aunt's third wedding - and ever since she's been addicted to "marry-tales". Now in her late 20s and working as a wine buyer in Washington, Vi is about to be bridesmaid three times over - and then attend more than a dozen other weddings. Still stuck on her ex Caleb, Vi is wondering if she'll ever experience her own Best Day of Your Life. She's already discovering that weddings are an expensive business even when you're just a guest - Vi even resorts to signing up as a medical guinea-pig to fund her attendances. Read it for the sassy heroine and her mixed-up movie titles, to experience a range of different weddings (please don't leave us on the cash bar side of the fence) and an appealing Irish leading man.

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CARMEN REID

Celebrity Shopper (2010)

Annie Valentine is back for the fourth time for more shopping and makeovers. This time Annie has scored herself a second season with TV series How Not To Shop. However even with Ed at home looking after the baby twins, things aren't completely rosy, with never-ending house renovations, fears she might be replaced on the show and a nosy tabloid reporter hanging around waiting to get a juicy scoop on Annie. Her friend Svetlana and her newly found daughter Elena also make a reappearance in this novel. As Svetlana has lost most of her money through the recession, Elena starts a dress business called The Perfect Dress. But when Svetlana makes a few bad business choices behind Elena's back, is the business doomed before it even takes off? The action then heads off to that fashion mecca Paris before Annie decides to show the world that even she can hike up the Scottish hillsides in three-inch heels. Another fun read about our favourite fashion shopper - is there more tales to come? (PP)

How Not To Shop (2009)

Move over Trinny and Susannah, run away Gok Wan as the Home Channel presents former personal shopper and retail worker at The Store Miss Annie Valentine. In this third book in the series, Annie has been offered the chance to work on TV as a wardrobe makeover expert to all the poor saps out there with their baggy clothes and shoddy hairstyles. Sounds glamorous? Well Annie thought so about this chance of a lifetime but it turns out that they have hired a big-wig star, the bossy Miss Marlise, to be the main talent. Annie also discovers that the pay is pitiful and that the show's budget is zip - it's style on a shoestring. Feeling pressure about the show, all Annie wants is to go home and relax in peace and quiet but things on the home front aren't looking too great. Her boyfriend Ed is left home with her two children, Owen who's gone on an eco-war and Lana, a sullen teen. And if that's not enough she gets lumbered with her friend/socialite/co-star's secret daughter, Elena, a 22-year-old Russian bombshell. Can Annie handle the pressures of the 3 Fs - fame, friends and family? (PP)

Late Night Shopping (2008)

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

The Personal Shopper (2007)

Annie works as a personal shopper in a London department store. As a single mum to typical teen Lana and shy Owen, she leads a whirlwind life as her family's breadwinner, since her actor husband Roddy is no longer around. Much to the chagrin of her boss, she also earns money by doing private image consulting and operating an eBay store, selling bargain designer finds and hand-me-downs from clients. It's little wonder that she hardly has time for men. The first in the Annie Valentine series, her story continues in another three books.

Up All Night (2005)

There are simply not enough hours in the day for Jo Randall - and this is no ordinary week. The newly divorced mother of two is a newspaper reporter whose love life is heating up thanks to a sexy younger chef, Marcus. And she's working on two big stories. She's chasing an interview with the Green Goddess, Savannah Tyler, who is expected to be the first Green MP and has been keeping her private life secret for a reason. Then's there her investigation into a potentially harmful vaccination as a whooping cough epidemic takes hold. Can she uncover the truth before it affects more families - including her own?

Also by author:

New York Valentine; How Was It For You?; Did the Earth Move? Three in a Bed

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MARTINA/TINA REILLY

The Summer of Secrets (2007)

Hope has just been let go from yet another job and decides to go on holiday to Boston. But her plane has trouble taking off and crashes, killing most of the people on board. She awakes in hospital with her two best friends Adam and Julie by her side. They take her to a cottage in her Irish hometown of Dunport to recover - a place Hope was happy never to see again. She goes into therapy to help her get over post-traumatic shock disorder but her therapist suggests that she first needs to face up to her unsettling past first.

Wedded Blitz (2005)

A tale of warring spouses, embarrassing parents and the battle of the hairdressing salons. When hairdresser Jane discovers another salon is opening up down the road, she enters a hairdressing competition to help woo customers. On the home front, her husband, Jim, has moved out so her mother moves in. Then an accident makes Jane and Jim relive a past tragic event and forces them to confront what drove them apart in the first place.

Also by author:

A Moment Like Forever; The Wish List; Second Chances; All I Want is You; Wish Upon a Star; Something Borrowed; Is This Love?; The Onion Girl; Flipside

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ROS REINES

Gossip (2006)

Ros Reines worked as a gossip columnist for a Sydney newspaper so news of her debut novel had many wondering how much of it would be fiction. Her heroine, Venous Ventura, is a gossip columnist for the Sunday Observer. She enrols in an exclusive self-help course at Byron Bay at the behest of her boyfriend - former rock star Larry. Tagged The Bitch, she joins fellow guests, including her nemesis, fashion designer Ruby Star (Abusive) and football star Todd Straw (Unfaithful), in facing their demons. And of course Venous is not only determined to keep breaking celebrity stories, such as J.Lo's arrival in town, while she's on the retreat but she's also desperate to dish the dirt on Ruby's secret.

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EILEEN RENDAHL

Un-Veiled (2007)

The Zimmerman twins, Ginger and Cinnamon, work together in their hairdressing salon, Do It Up. After local-girl-turned-popular-actress Courtney Day gets them to work their magic for her much-photographed wedding, the salon is inundated with women seeking "The Courtney" for their own special day. One day the groomsman for another wedding strolls into the salon and Cinnamon looks like she's seen a ghost. Could he be the mystery father of her daughter Sage? And Cinnamon is not the only person in town keeping mum about something. Ginger for one is planning to change career and leave town. In a riotous, really enjoyable tale, all the town's secrets soon come tumbling out.

Also by author:

Un-Bridaled; Balancing in High Heels; Do Me, Do My Roots

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JOANNE RENDELL

Crossing Washington Square (2009)

This is one of those books that I am so happy I read. The day I was browsing the bookstore, I remember picking it up off the table and putting it back down two or three times. My hesitation was more about spending money on another book than it was on the story itself. But something about the description just stuck with me and I had to have it. This book has what I consider the perfect elements of a chick lit novel - a New York City setting, strong, intelligent women wrestling with their lives (and each other), and of course, a love interest or two. The fact that these women are English professors referencing centuries of women's fiction was the icing on the cake for me. Diana Monroe and Rachel Grey are both English professors at Manhattan University with completely different areas of study. Diana is a tenured expert on Sylvia Plath and Rachel has just moved to New York to teach contemporary women's fiction. They clash from the get-go and things between them become further strained when visiting Harvard professor Carson McEvoy vies for the affections of them both. When they agree to co-lead an undergraduate literary trip to London, they are forced to interact on a new level and end up learning about themselves, and each other, in the process. An engaging, smart story showing you can't always judge a book by its cover, especially when it comes to people. (LEK)

The Professors' Wives' Club (2008)

A garden nestled within Manhattan U provides a refuge for the faculty wives - so they are upset when they hear it's earmarked for a carpark. For award-winning writer Mary, who is married to the dean behind the carpark plans, she has finally had enough of his bullying ways and is planning on escaping to San Francisco once their daughter's wedding is over. Art student Hannah, married to computer science whiz Michael, uses the garden to paint - and escape her guilt over her affair with an art tutor. Sofia, a former Hollywood agent who's married to an expert in Edgar Allan Poe, spends time there with her young children; while Ashleigh is wondering how she's going to tell her Republican senator father that she's living with a woman. The women band together to save the garden and uncover what Mary's husband is up to - and why he is suddenly so interested in Poe. Even though it doesn't take a Rhodes scholar to figure it all out, you'll enjoy the genuine character studies.

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LANI DIANE RICH

Ex and the Single Girl (2005)

Ever since Peter's sudden disappearance on Valentine's Day, Portia Fallon has been drowning in misery, filling her life with nothing other than reruns of Pride and Prejudice, and putting her dissertation on hold. For the Fallon women have a big problem when it comes to relationships - they can't keep men around for long. Portia's dad ran away from home when she was young, and even her grandmother and aunt had the same problem. When Portia is asked to go back home to Georgia for the summers to help out with the bookstore, little did she know that her family was trying to set her up with a fling, gorgeous British novelist Ian Beckett, to help her move on with her life and forget about Peter. But when she realises that she's falling hard for Ian, he tells her that all he wants is just to be friends. Things start to get messy when her dad comes back into the picture, her mum gets arrested and Peter unexpectedly returns. (XT)

Also by author:

Dogs and Goddesses (with Jennifer Crusie/Anne Stuart); Wish You Were Here; A Little Ray of Sunshine; The Fortune Quilt; Crazy in Love; The Comeback Kiss; Maybe Baby; Time Off for Good Behavior

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NICOLE RICHIE

The Truth About Diamonds (2005)

Chloe Parker had lead a wild childhood running with the young A-list crowd after being adopted by a music producer. She disappears for a week when she has a fight with a friend at a nightclub. On her return best friend Simone, who makes everyone's private phone numbers public when she leaves her mobile in a rest room, announces that she and Chloe are going to be spokespeople for Magdalena cosmetics and they will shoot a reality TV ad. It doesn't seem as if Richie has strayed too far from her own experiences to act as the story's narrator. She's the adopted daughter of singer Lionel Richie and she starred in reality TV show The Simple Life with her then best friend Paris Hilton (and Paris did once lose her phone).

Also by author:

Priceless

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KRISTINA RIGGLE

Real Life & Liars (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)

Also by author:

The Life You've Imagined

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NORA ROBERTS

This American author has published more than 150 romance novels.

Bed of Roses - Nora Roberts (2009)

This is the second book of the Bridal quartet which chronicles the lives of four lifelong friends - MacKensie, Parker, Emma and Laurel - who start a wedding planning business called Vows. This one focuses on Emma, who arranges the flowers. Jack the architect does business with Vows on a regular basis. He plans the space that Vows uses but also would like to design a way into Emma's heart. Even if you aren't a huge Nora Roberts fan, this one comes highly recommended - especially for all the anecdotes of the different brides that grace their doors. (JG)

Also by Author

Happy Ever After; Savour the Moment; Vision in White

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ELISABETH ROBINSON

The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters (2004)

Hollywood film producer Olivia Hunt was working on the fourth draft of her suicide note (she'd been fired, dumped by her boyfriend and had discovered evidence of a moustache) when she got a phone call that her younger sister Maddie has leukaemia. Through a series of letters, the book follows her time spent at her sister's bedside as she attempts to get Don Quixote made into a film.

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KATE ROCKLAND

Falling is Like This

Twenty-three-year-old Harper Rostov is tired of her life. So she quits her job at a tabloid magazine, abruptly leaves her laidback boyfriend and heads out on her own with only her purse and no concrete plans. All she knows for certain is that she wants to be a music journalist. Before she can make it back to her parents' house in New Jersey, Harper meets her longtime crush Nick, who is the lead singer of her favourite punk band Hitchhikers Revenge, at a local coffee shop. Within a day, the two begin a whirlwind week-long liaison which shows Harper how much passion had been missing from her life with her boyfriend. However, as the week comes to a close she must make a decision whether to hang out with the band or start to get her old life back on track. Begrudgingly and despite her ill-conceived fantasies of how the rock star life should be, Harper must ask herself if being one of the band is really all it's hyped up to be. This debut novel has been receiving lots of praise but I just couldn't fall for it. Harper was a dull character and the flashbacks to her childhood were even more annoying than the storyline itself. Even Harper's unique parents and the backdrop of the New York City hipster scene couldn't save this uninteresting novel from being dead on arrival. (AS)

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JACKIE ROSE

Marrying Up (2005)

Newspaper obituaries writer Holly Hastings - a compulsive therapy user - writes her own obituary and is less than impressed to find she's going to die alone at 85. Inspired by the Marilyn Monroe movie How to Marry a Millionaire, she decides to do just that and write a book on the topic. Honing her search to some of America's most wealthy regions, she and best friend George arrive in San Francisco (home of most millionaires under 50) and start dating two rich men. But they find that money doesn't necessarily buy love.

Slim Chance (2003)

Evie's determined to lose weight for her wedding to long-time boyfriend Bruce, especially after she picks up a Vera Wang gown at a sample sale. She only needs to drop 40, maybe 50 pounds to fit into her dream dress. So the self-absorbed Evie hits the gym, starts dieting like mad and spends up big on making the most of her new look. But Bruce doesn't seem to like the slimmed-down Evie. Is she about to lose more than a few dress sizes?

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MELANIE ROSE

Coming Home (2010)

After a sudden snow storm leaves a young woman stranded and unconscious on the side of a deserted road, the only thing she can recall is being picked up by a rescuer who she feels extremely connected to. Upon waking with no memory of herself, her accident or where she is, "Kate" as she comes to call herself, finds she is face-to-face with a little girl named Jadie who wants to know if she is her new mummy. Unbeknownst to Kate, this little girl has not uttered a word in two years, since her sister died and her mother ran off due to the grief. Now Kate has to figure out who she is and how she got to this house in the country, while also trying to figure out the little girl's father, Vincent. Why did she feel so connected to him when he rescued her, yet she hasn't felt anything towards him since she has woke up? To complicate matters more, the housekeeper Tara doesn't approve of Kate's visit and wants Kate to get her memories back so she can get on with her life. Tara's brother Colin, a hypnotherapist, decides to help Kate try to get back her memories. But when Kate starts recalling strange memories that make no sense at all and may not even be her own, she begins to wonder what it is that brought her to this house. She now doesn't think she's here by chance, while Jadie thinks Kate is an angel, sent to help the family in their time of need. While the story shows a lot of promise it fails to answer some key questions for me about Kate's real identity. But otherwise the story flows nicely and is quite suspenseful and interesting. It will make readers wonder what it really means when you experience deja vu and will also encourage the reader to believe in the magic of second chances. (AS)

Life As I Know It (2010)

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

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

Also by author:

Down to Earth

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SARALEE ROSENBERG

Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead (2008)

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

Also by author:

Fate and Ms. Fortune; Claire Voyant; A Little Help from Above

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JILL AMY ROSENBLATT

For Better or Worse (2009)

Emily is marrying ambitious money manager Parker at a big summer wedding in New York. She is hoping her best friends Elizabeth and Karen will soon follow her down the aisle. But Elizabeth, who is still carrying the humiliation of being left at the altar, isn't so sure that boyfriend Nick is the one for her. As a painter who abandoned that world to become a money manager, she is instead drawn to one of the wedding guests, Ian, a Scottish artist. Playwrights Karen and Robert are planning on getting married but her divorced parents are proving to be a big problem. Meanwhile Emily finds that married life isn't the happily-ever-after she dreamt of.

Project Jennifer (2008)

For secretary Joan Benjamin, bad things not only come in threes, but also in the form of Jennifer. In just one week, she sees her ex-fiance Michael marry another woman, loses her cushy job and is forced out of her apartment. All because of women named Jennifer. For Joan, who at 30 still hasn't settled down with a man or career, it's enough to make her want to be someone else - someone called Jennifer. So she embarks on a new persona, striving to become a thinner, sexier, more composed, successful woman - just like all those perfect Jennifers with the world at their feet. But at what cost to her true self? An enjoyable debut about a grown woman still trying to find her way - before she earns herself a bad name.

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LUCINDA ROSENFELD

I'm So Happy for You (2009)

Wendy and Daphne have been best friends for 15 years. During that time, Wendy has always been there for Daphne, offering a shoulder for Daphne to cry on and giving her much-needed advice when she gets in over her head. And the truth is that Wendy likes it this way. She prefers to be the strong one in the relationship, always coming to the rescue of her overly dramatic wreck of a best friend. However, when Daphne's life begins to turn around and she marries the perfect husband, renovates her dream brownstone in the best part of Brooklyn, and becomes pregnant with the child that Wendy can't seem to conceive, Wendy finds herself having a very hard time being happy for her best friend. In fact, she realises that she is downright jealous of Daphne and the way her life is moving forward, while Wendy seems to be stuck in a dead-end job with a slacker husband in a run-down apartment. The author does an excellent job of exploring the often tenuous relationships between best friends and the surprising feelings that come to light as their lives begin to travel down different paths. At times during the book, you will find yourself sympathetic to both Daphne and Wendy, always aware that there is sometimes a fine line between love and hate in female friendships. Anyone who has ever had a hard time being happy for a friend's good fortune when your life seems to be stuck will relate to this story. (LEK)

Also by author:

Why She Went Home; What She Saw . . .

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JENNIFER ROSS

The Icing on the Cupcake (2010)

Ansley Wallen has been publicly dumped by her fiance, who may have never loved her. Growing up in Dallas, where marriage and children seem more important than a woman's career, Ansley expected to have married and started a family after graduating college. Now, she's obviously not going to be doing either of those things, so what's a girl to do? The only option seems to be for Ansley to start over by leaving Dallas. Moving to New York seems like a good idea. But the only contact Ansley has in the city is her grandmother, Vivian, who she has never met. Deciding on a whim to send a letter asking if she can go and live with her grandmother is risky - it's very possible she won't even get a response. And her grandmother is apparently a horrible person who abandoned her daughter and husband 46 years earlier. But her newly widowed grandmother, Vivian, does reply, and when she arrives in New York she is surprised by how much they have in common - especially their love of baking. But Vivian dishes up some tough love, telling her she needs to get a job within eight weeks or she can't stay. This leads Ansley on a quest that sees her opening her own business and finally letting go of her past. This is a great story about family, secrets and especially baking. The end of each chapter has a delicious cupcake recipe with a name that reflects the sentiment of that chapter - it's a book not to be missed, especially if you are an avid baker. (AS)

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LAURA RUBY

Laura Ruby also writes books for kids and teens.

I'm Not Julia Roberts (2007)

Lupe Klein may resemble the stepmom Julia Roberts portrayed in the movie of the same name but she's definitely not as lucky as her. When she married Ward, other than knowing that her life was more or less screwed up by his three less-than-endearing kids, she certainly hadn't expected that his plump ex-wife Beatrix would constantly send her threatening messages. As for Beatrix, her life isn't any better, with her stepdaughter Liv proving to be a strangely sarcastic teen. Liv's mother Roxie is also dating a divorced man - and the chain of blended families goes on. It's just like when Stepmom meets Desperate Housewives, but just not as interesting. (XT)

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JESSICA RUDD

Campaign Ruby (2010)

Ruby Stanhope gets an email announcing that her position with a London investment bank has been made redundant. As she goes to collect her free box to pack up her belongings, she fires back a sarky email to her bosses that goes viral. That night she attacks a timely delivery of Australian wine, and ends up purchasing herself a plane ticket to Melbourne. Staying in the Yarra Valley with her aunt, she is offered a job by Luke, the chief of staff for the Leader of the Opposition Max Masters, just as a snap election has been called. The long-sitting PM has just been ousted by his Treasurer Gabrielle Brennan. Thrust on to the hectic campaign trail, Ruby's soon jetting across the country - sometimes saving the day with her trusty toolkit, sometimes leading things astray. This is like an Australian version of Sammy's Hill by Kristin Gore (the daughter of former US vice-president Al Gore). Written by the daughter of ex-prime minister Kevin Rudd, the part that makes it so fascinating is how it details the ousting of a prime minister by the woman who becomes the nation's first female PM - which is exactly what happened to her father several months AFTER this book was finished. This is a very funny, easy-to-read debut - and would easily travel beyond Aussie shores.

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ALLISON RUSHBY

It's Not You, It's Me (2004)

Charlie is at the airport leaving for a trip to Europe when she hears over the announcement system a name from her past - Jasper Ash. It's her former flatmate, a songwriter who has gone on to great things as Zamiel in supergroup Spawn. The last time she saw him was when they nearly slept together - until he backed away at the last moment proclaiming 'it's not you, it's me'. When Jas joins her on a bus tour to Oktoberfest in Munich (even though Charlie hates beer), they slip straight back into their easy banter. But That Night looms over them as an undiscussed topic. Both seem at a crossroad in their lives - why is Jas ignoring all his phone calls and why has Charlie still not finished uni or got stuck into creating her sculptures? Not just a light frothy read. You'll also get some great survival tips in case you ever find yourself at Oktoberfest with a group of Australians from a Beer-drinking Society.

allmenarebastards.com (2000)

Also known as Friday Night Cocktails

Best friends Gemma and Sarah are at their ritual Friday night cocktails, when Sarah adds another name to their bastards list - a collection of 20 yellowing pages of men who have done them wrong. They add the list to Gemma's homepage and she creates a form so other internet users can add their own stories of bastards they have known. It becomes an overnight success so Gemma sets up a new website called allmenarebastards.com. This becomes Gemma's place to vent, especially now her ex-fiancé Brett has sent her an invitation to his wedding to another woman. But is Gemma's manhating getting out of control?

Also by author:

The Dairy Queen; Hating Valentine's Day

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LYNDSAY RUSSELL

Fat Chance (2008)

Sharon is overweight, lonely and miserable. When her best friend cracks on to the guy she likes, her self-esteem hits rock bottom. Seduced into trying a miracle weight cure, she goes to see the mysterious Dr Marvel. She soon finds herself in a reversed world where fat is in and thin is unattractive. Sharon becomes a supermodel and dates a variety of celebrities, including a rock star, polo player and actor. This book is definitely food for thought. Especially as this world where the media mocks skinny people seems to be no better.

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JESSICA RUSTON

Luxury (2009)

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

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