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Take a Chance - Sarah Webb (2005)
When Gemma Redden, the Agnetha of Abba tribute band AbbaFab, breaks her ankle on stage, she turns to younger sister Mia to step into the white thigh-high boots. But Mia, whose older sister Wendy (aka Frida) became her guardian when their mother died, lacks confidence in her ability to perform. Things come to a head when Wendy has a terrible accident - threatening to blow apart the band and the sisters' bond. It didn't take much to guess the family secret.
7/10
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Tales of a Drama Queen - Lee Nichols (2004)
Life would be perfect for Elle Medina and her attorney fiancé Louis, if he hadn't married someone else on a business trip to Iowa. So Elle moves to Santa Barbara to be with her best friend Maya and her boyfriend, Perfect Brad, to start again. She just needs to find a job, an apartment and a new boyfriend - and avoid a credit card collection agent. But this proves rather challenging as she finds it hard to hold down a job and the only man she meets has awful red hair.
8/10
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Tears of a Class Clown - Sara Faith Alterman (2006)
Nina Kurtz is a bartender at a comedy club but her dream is to be up on stage performing a stand-up act. She's got the quick wit and hilarious lines just keep tripping off her tongue but she just can't overcome her stage fright. Nina's love life has similar woes - all the boys love a funny girl but only as a friend. So when she gets an invitation to her 10-year high school reunion, she wonders whether this is the perfect time to find out what she did right with her former boyfriend, Jacob.
4/10
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Tell Me Something - Adele Parks (2008)
All Elizabeth ever wanted in life was an Italian husband and lots of bambinos. She has found her man, Roberto, but after six years of marriage she is still desperately trying to fall pregnant. When Roberto loses his job in London, they head to Italy to help out his family business. Elizabeth is hoping the change of scenery will boost her chances of conceiving. But her dreams about an idyllic Italian lifestyle are shattered by the mother-in-law from hell. And with Roberto's ex living nearby, and Elizabeth's growing friendship with American teacher Chuck, their marriage is placed under even more strain.
8/10
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Ten Steps to Happiness - Daisy Waugh (2003)
In this sequel to The New You Survival Kit, PR agent Jo Smiley leaves London to live in her husband Charlie's draughty manor house. In the middle of nowhere, Fiddleford makes the ideal refuge for paparazzi-battered guests such as overweight actress Messy Monroe and charismatic politician Maurice Morrison. And the income will help prevent the house from crumbling around them. But first they have to get past the public health inspector.
5/10
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Thanks for the Memories - Cecelia Ahern (2008)
Joyce Conway is given a blood transfusion after falling down some stairs and losing her unborn child. Justin Hitchcock is in Dublin to give an art lecture when he is persuaded to give blood. When Joyce finds she now knows all about architecture, can speak several languages and has memories that aren't her own, she begins to wonder about the person who helped save her life. Will they ever meet? There's no big twists but it's an enjoyable read. And Joyce's dad, Henry, is such a character (just loved the airport scenes) you'll be wanting to get along to his Monday Club.
7/10
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Thinking of You - Jill Mansell (2007)
Gina Holland's nest is empty after her daughter Jem heads off to university. At only 38, she realises she'll have to kick-start a whole new life - and find a new man. But the first man she thinks is showing interest in her actually accuses her of shoplifting. Then she advertises for a lodger and believes she'll be sharing her home with the charismatic Perry. Instead the room's for his reclusive sister, Laurel, who is still obsessed about an ex-boyfriend. Even on the work front, Ginny finds she's left a disastrous first impression with new boss Finn. And just as she is getting to know him, someone from his past turns up on the doorstep.
7/10
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Things to Make and Mend - Ruth Thomas (2007)
As teenagers, Sally Tuttle and Rowena Cresswell were inseparable until a life-changing incident destroyed their friendship. Now in their early 40s, Sally is a single mother who still lives in East Grinstead and works at an alterations shop. She wins an embroidery prize and is invited to speak at a conference in Edinburgh. Rowena is now a translator and is in Edinburgh to see her son Joe before he leaves for a new job in America. Memories of their teenage lives are woven into their current story as the pair head towards their predictable reunion. Although I was expecting the needlework part of the story to bore me, I thought the friends-torn-asunder-but-reunited-years-later storyline would keep me going. Apart from the unexpected twist about the blouson, this was one of the most disappointing reads I've had all year.
3/10
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32AA - Michelle Cunnah (2003)
Advertising secretary Emma Taylor wants an engagement ring and a job promotion for her 30th birthday. Instead her boyfriend Adam (also her boss) announces that he's seeing another woman and that she's been passed over for the junior account manager's job. Convinced that her small breasts are somehow to blame, homeless Emma is rescued by her stepmother's brother Jack. He once made fun of her breasts at a family wedding but now seems quite enamoured with her.
6/10
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This Charming Man - Marian Keyes (2008)
When it is announced that charismatic Irish politician Paddy de Courcy is getting married, three women are particularly interested in the news. Lola is devastated, because she has been Paddy's girlfriend for 16 months and now he's marrying someone else. Heartbroken and unable to concentrate on her work as a stylist, Lola flees Dublin to a friend's country cottage. Journalist Grace is intrigued, as she's had dealings with Paddy and the bride-to-be, Alicia, before and is certainly not a fan. For one, Paddy was the first love of her twin sister, Marnie, who is now having trouble keeping her life together. With a serious underlying theme, slowly revealed secrets and characters who will draw you into their pain, could it be Keyes' best yet?
9/10
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This Side of Married - Rachel Pastan (2004)
The three Rubin daughters from an affluent Philadelphian family have a domineering mother, an obstetrician, whose dearest wish is to see them happily married. And just like in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, there's an unsuitable suitor in the form of cardiologist Anthony Wolf who offers his hospitality when one daughter falls ill. There's his blunt friend, journalist Simon Goldenstern who seems to be interfering in the path of true love but is in fact saving their honour. There's even a long-lost cousin, Soren Zank, from a Swedish line of the family who comes to eye up the daughters, and a father, Judge Rubin, who largely stays out of the fray. The oldest daughter - dreamy Alice - falls into a speedy engagement with Anthony; the middle daughter - sensible Isabel - has already tied the knot with lawyer Theo but their marriage is under strain because of their inability to have children. And the youngest - beautiful Tina - has been planning her wedding for years.
5/10
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Those Faraday Girls - Monica McInerney (2007)
Five sisters live with their widowed father Leo in Tasmania - hardworking Juliet, dramatic Miranda, determined Eliza, anxious Sadie and calm Clementine. Then 16-year-old Clementine falls pregnant and the sisters agree to bring up her baby, Maggie, together. Just before Maggie's sixth birthday, an unforgiveable act changes everything. Twenty years later, Maggie is living in New York, when she gets a surprise visit from Leo, who needs her help. When the Faradays gather at their Irish holiday home to celebrate Christmas in July, more family secrets are revealed.
8/10
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Three Wishes - Liane Moriarty (2003)
The birthday dinner of the Kettle triplets, Lyn, Cat and Gemma, comes to an abrupt halt when one of them throws a fork into the pregnant stomach of another. This book then recaps the sisters' tumultuous year of family secrets and betrayals, sibling rivalry and rekindled love that lead to the restaurant argument.
8/10
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Trick My Truck but Don't Mess with My Heart - LuAnn McLane (2008)
Candie Montgomery has left a good job in Chicago and headed back to her Kentucky hometown to help out in her family's used-car business. But as she rolls into town, she's surprised to discover that the small-town welcome she expected is sadly lacking. Her twin, Sarah, soon reveals why the townsfolk have been shunning her - they blame Candie for her sister's broken engagement to her close friend Nick. Somehow she's been exposed as the other woman despite being gone for two years. It's a shame she doesn't have her own boyfriend to help put a lid on the gossip. But then a good-looking guy in the pub, Tommy Tucker, puts his hand up for the job - and Candie seems all too willing to let him fill the vacancy. Then Candie comes up with a proposition for Nick that may just save the family business and help fix her sister's broken heart. Just the ticket for anyone seeking some light-hearted fun and romance from some sassy Southern characters. McLane says the storyline was inspired after she watched Trick My Truck on the Country Music Channel. It is the third in her series of Southern romantic comedies, which she pitched as GRITS Lit (Girls Raised in the South). “I wanted to write novels that small-town girls could relate to as if the stories were written about their lives,” she said.
6/10
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24-Karat Kids - Judy Goldstein with Sebastian Stuart (2006)
Dr Shelley Green is a recently qualified paediatrician who is hired by an exclusive practice on the Upper East side of Manhattan. She discovers this is a world of hyperparenting, where a mother will consider a nose job for her baby. In a bid to develop the right persona for the job, Shelley slims down, dresses in designer clothes and spends weekends in the Hamptons. Her easy manner with the children and her ability to diagnose wins her lots of fans, but her relationship with her schoolteacher fiancé may not survive.
6/10
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Two of a Kind - Mina Ford (2006)
Twins Harriet and Hermione Harker haven't seen each other for 15 years - not since a tragic accident and a bitter row drove them apart. Now with Harriet's marriage ending and Hermione falling pregnant to a married man, both set out to track each other down. A real page-turner.
7/10