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Tainted - Brooke Morgan (2009)

Englishman Jack Dane came into the life of Cape Codder Holly Barrett and her five-year-old daughter, Katy, like a breath of fresh air. He was handsome and charming and immediately took to Katy as if she were his own daughter. Holly is swept off her feet as their whirlwind romance progresses to marriage. But is Jack all that he seems? Sometimes, it seems like he is hiding something. Holly's grandfather, Henry, is suspicious enough of Jack to take matters into his own hands - a mistake everyone will regret for the rest of their lives. When Holly begins to realise what Jack really is, she must find the inner strength to save the ones she loves. Undeniably creepy, yet compelling, this novel examines the depths people will go to have everyone perceive them as someone they aren't. It is suspenseful and heartbreaking at times, and is sure to prove a story that will stick with you for years to come. (AS)


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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.


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Take a Chance on Me - Jill Mansell (2010)

Jill Mansell is one of those authors you never have to take a chance on. This, her 21st novel, proves again that she always delivers easy-to-devour stories with engaging characters. For sisters Cleo and Abbie, the men in their lives both have secrets that are going to turn everything on its head. Cleo thinks she may have found The One in her new boyfriend Will but then why does she still let her teenage tormentor, Johnny LaVenture, get to her so much? And her sister Abbie makes a shocking discovery when she delves around in husband Tom's sock drawer - one that leaves her very much on the outer in her own home. This also has a strong supporting cast of characters, including a chubby radio DJ called Ash who finds he gets incredibly tongue-tied around the girl of his dreams, and Georgia, the girl who's going to iron her way to fortunes.


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Tales From a Hen Weekend - Olivia Ryan (2007)

Katie is engaged to Matt and about to set off on her hen weekend to Dublin. She's not happy about her fiance taking off to Prague with the boys for 10 days but it seems what he's up to is the least of her worries. With alcohol loosening lips, her mum, sister and close friends start revealing some big secrets. As a treasure hunt introduces the bride-to-be to Harry - as in find a gorgeous man - it seems Katie's keeping the biggest secret of them all. Fasten your veil, raise your glass and expect the unexpected - this page-turner is a real gift.


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Tales From a Honeymoon Hotel - Olivia Ryan (2009)

Three couples meet up in Croatia on their honeymoons. Childhood sweethearts Gemma and Andy seem the perfect couple but one of the other island visitors seems to know Andy far too well. Older couple Ruby and Harold are hoping for a fresh start after some pretty troubled times but Harold just can't seem to work up the energy to enjoy his honeymoon. And Jo and Mark have just married because she is pregnant. But Jo can't seem to stand his fussing - especially as he's not even the father. Told from the viewpoints of the three women, this is the last book in the Tales From trilogy and like the earlier books, there are lots of plot twists and character secrets to keep you in suspense. I really wish there were more to come!


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Tales From a Wedding Day - Olivia Ryan (2008)

It's Samantha's wedding day and as her best friend and chief bridesmaid, Allie is ready to leap into action whenever and wherever trouble looms. And Samantha's madcap family is unlikely not to get into trouble. The bride is scared about settling down; her spoilt younger sister Chloe is bringing an uninvited guest; her grandfather doesn't know what day it is; and her young nephew Troy can't help misbehaving. And it seems Sam has also invited their treacherous ex-friend Julia to the wedding while her brother David seems to have his eye on Abbie. With the story set over the course of the big day, this is another delightful tale from Ryan, one of chick lit's most recent great finds.


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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.


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Tan Lines - J.J. Salem (2008)

New York Post's Page Six is running items about a grisly murder, a premature birth and a public meltdown. Each headline applies to three friends who signed up for a summer-share lease in the Hamptons. There's Liza, a feminist media commentator who is stuck in an unfulfilling marriage; Kellyanne, an actress-model whose biggest role to date is mistress to a demanding developer; and Billie, an indie rock singer who's hell-bent on self-destruction. Despite the book's premise resting on who is going to suffer which fate, there was very little suspenseful build-up to the actual murder. If you don't like raunchy reads, you'll probably find this more painful than a dose of sunburn.


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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.


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Tease - Immodesty Blaize (2009)

This debut novel from a well-known British burlesque dancer follows in the traditions of a Jackie Collins bonkbuster. It is about - you guessed it - a burlesque dancer named Tiger Starr who is at the top of her game. She has adoring fans around the world, beautiful outfits, money to burn and countless sexual encounters. However in her shadowy, cut-throat world, she has created a number of enemies. Someone is stalking Tiger and leaving threatening letters about exposing her past life before she became a star. As her whole facade starts crumbling, Tiger is offered her dream of starring in a Vegas show. Can she put aside her fears to present the show she has waited for her whole life or will she lose everything she has worked for? A sexy and intriguing novel, you won't find out who is out to get Tiger until the last chapter. (PP)


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Tell Me Everything - Sarah Salway (2006)

Life changed for Molly Drayton the day she confided in her biology teacher about her father's behaviour, embellishing the truth. That's when she started realising the power of her stories, and began making up events that didn't exist in her mundane life. Throughout this entire story, it's hard to grasp what's true and what's not, because everything seems to be concocted by Molly. Following her father's disappearance and her mother wanting nothing to do with her, Molly soon meets Mr Roberts who offers her a place to stay in exchange for her help at his shop. As the story develops, more new characters come into the picture. Molly starts to develop a friendship with a woman named Miranda, who works at a nearby salon, and gets to know Liz, a librarian who offers her recommendations for romance novels. Portrayed as another mysterious character, her boyfriend Tim is said to be working as a secret agent and meets her regularly at the same bench in the park. Molly continues to tell tall tales about herself and her past to the people around her, but it is all just an act to shield her vulnerable side. This is an intriguing tale of how a woman becomes so lost in her own world of deceit. But I wished the ending offered a better closure to Molly's stories. (XT)


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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.


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Temptation - Olivia Darling (2010)

Three women from different stages and circumstances of life are about to find their lives collide when they each realise they are determined to get what they deserve. Temptation is written like an opera and is centred around the opera world. Singers Cosima and husband/ex-husband Nolan are back on tour together and stalked by crazed fanatics. Juliet attends the opera to get closer to her married boss whom she has been having an affair with for the past five years. Then there's Mercy, a cleaner who dreams of becoming an opera star. When the men in these three women's lives betray them, it's time to stop giving in to their whims and time for them to give into their own temptations and have some fun. These women's temptations lead them through a journey of love, affairs, jealousy, passion and death threats - and proves that hell has no fury like a woman scorned. (PP)


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10 Reasons Not to Fall in Love - Linda Green (2009)

Jo Gilroy doesn't want a man in her life, apart from her son Alfie. She had her heart broken when Alfie's father, Richard, left them on his son's first birthday. Now Jo is returning to work part-time as a reporter at a Manchester TV station and Richard is not only her new boss but he's dating the gorgeous weather girl, Tricia. Believing Jo no longer has her career at the top of her priorities, Richard keeps assigning her to the And Finally stories, those light, fluffy ones at the end of the news. Then Jo and Alfie meet Dan the balloon man at a kids' Christmas function - and maybe he is just the kind of guy who can break through her objections to falling in love again. In fact, Dan's back story of his distressing home life, told through flashbacks, is one of the highlights.


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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.


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Thanks for Nothing, Nick Maxwell - Debbie Carbin (2008)

Twenty-five-year-old Rachel has an affair with a work colleague, Nick, without knowing that he's only 19 years old and still lives with his mum. She later discovers she's pregnant. And the first person she tells is a stranger whose mobile phone she found. Hector turns out to be the brother-in-law of her best friend and becomes an important stabiliser in her life as she decides whether she's ready to bring a baby into the world. Rachel starts out as a self-centred, vain and shallow character, but she'll definitely grow on you as one of chick lit's favourite heroines. It has also been written in a first-person conversational style with a quirky way of switching to scenes involving others. A top debut.


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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.


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That Loving Feeling - Carole Matthews (2009)

Librarian Juliet has been married to Rick for nearly 25 years but now they seem to have drifted apart. They thought at this stage of their life they would have more time together but their two grown-up children, Tom and Chloe, are still loafing around at home and her mother, Rita, has left her husband and moved in. So when Steven, the man who left Juliet at the altar all those years ago, turns up out of the blue, she is tempted to secretly see him. This is a great story about what happens when a couple from the sandwich generation loses that loving feeling. You'll certainly be getting that giggly feeling from all the hilarious predicaments Rick inadvertently gets himself into. This is one of my favourite Carole Matthews' books to date.


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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.


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Things I Want My Daughters To Know - Elizabeth Noble (2008)

After their mother Barbara dies of cancer, four sisters struggle to cope with their grief and to ensure their future happiness. Each sister has a wildly different personality and has their own set of problems. The story is punctuated with letters from Barbara that she wrote before she died and her diary. By shedding light on her own life of her successes and mistakes, Barbara helps her daughters to get on with their lives and tackle their problems. To say this book is a bit of a tearjerker is an understatement but the tears are well worth it. It is a beautifully heartwarming story of the bond between mothers and daughters. Make sure you have some tissues handy! (AB)


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Things I Wish I'd Known - Linda Green (2010)

When Claire stumbles across a list she made when she was 15 about her future dream life, she realises how far she has diverted from her teen vision. Instead of being a partner of a big city law firm, her clients tend to be small-time crooks. She's also still not particularly well-endowed, she hasn't spoken to her best friend Frankie for years and instead of being married to her pin-up idol, league footballer Andy, and living in a thatched cottage in the countryside, she's already been divorced and is now reluctantly considering buying a new home with her lawyer boyfriend Mark. Told in alternating chapters between the present and the mid-80s, Claire discovers she has to face up to her past before she can move ahead with her future. The story was totally different to what I expected but in a good way and I think it is best enjoyed if you don't know too much about the plot going in. It's a touching story with a clever mix of light and dark moments. And if, like Claire, you were a teen in the 80s, you'll certainly enjoy all the in-jokes about that decade's pop culture.


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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.


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Third Time's a Charm - Virginia Smith (2010)

"You can always count on your sisters." This third book in the Christian Sister-to-Sister series focuses on the baby sister, Tori Sanderson. Tori has been given the opportunity of a lifetime in her job at an advertising firm - to become account executive at 24 would make her one of the youngest to ever be hired in that position. But there's only one position up for grabs - and she's been given a month to come up with a marketing plan for a new restaurant. It shouldn't be too hard but Tori has distractions - her sister Joan (from Stuck in The Middle) is about to get married to Ken "The Religious Nut" and Joan and Allie (from Age before Beauty) are trying to set her up with country bumpkin Ryan. When talk about fathers comes up, Tori decides to go searching for hers, which provides her with surprising results. Can Tori balance her career, family, love and of course her number one priorities - shopping and coffee - with everything happening around her? This is a heart-warming read about three sisters coming together in times of strife and happiness and providing us with the knowledge that no matter what we encounter - we can always count on our family to support us. (PP)


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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.


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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?


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This is How It Happened - Jo Barrett (2008)

When Madeline's boyfriend of four years, Carlton, dumps her, she gets mad, then decides to get even. Not only has he stolen away her dreams of a wedding but he has also shut her out of the company she helped create. Madeline toys with the idea of killing him via arsenic brownies and carbon monoxide poisoning. But in the end she hires a hit man to carry out her plan of attack. The story alternates between this campaign and flashbacks to their relationship, which is slowly revealed to be not as perfect as she thought. This tale of heartbreak and sweet revenge surpassed expectations.


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This Is Not A Love Song - Sarahbeth Purcell (2006)

It wasn't the first time Chase took off on a road trip in pursuit of inspiration and inner peace, but he certainly wasn't coming back this time. Overwhelmed with feelings of abandonment and hurt, his girlfriend Julia turns for comfort and support to the pile of postcards and letters written by him in the past, and also to her best friend Delia, an insecure and wounded soul beneath her attractive appearance. Written in a series of letters, each beginning with song titles, it is a story of love, hope and forgiveness. (XT)


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This is Your Song, Lola Rose - Donna Hay (2008)

On the day she buries the man who had made her life a misery, Lola discovers he was not her father. Instead she was the result of a backstage fling between her mother and Rick Wild, who has gone on to become a rock god. Despite not exactly enjoying a joyful reunion with her long-lost dad, Lola leaves behind her policing job and England to go on tour in America with his band Poleaxe. But will she survive life on the road with an overindulged rock star, a jealous wife, a crazed fan and her half-siblings, spoilt Tiffany and resentful Jay? Unlikely to be a hit.


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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.


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This Year's Model - Carol Alt (2008)

Melody Ann Croft is your average hometown girl - very practical, with her whole life planned out ahead of her. That all changes one day when a customer at the restaurant where she is working tells her she could be a model and gives her his card along with the numbers of all the top agencies in New York. Melody is a little curious, despite thinking this man is crazy, so she calls one agency and just with the mention of this man (who happens to be a famous photographer), she gets an appointment immediately. That begins her career as MAC, the model, for Delicious Models. Her booker, Francesca, has her going on go-sees at lightning speed and she books her first job in no time. Melody plans to save her money for college so she won't need a scholarship, but making so much money so quickly with modelling is addictive and Melody starts thinking that maybe she can defer college and model for a few years instead. With the obvious perks of modelling also come the many pitfalls: lecherous men, drugs and other things Melody is not used to. After a fling with a male model named Duncan and being stabbed in the back by her so-called best friend Jade, Melody starts to wonder who she can trust, if anyone. But after booking her first cover, only a few months into her career, Melody is hooked on modelling and travelling to exotic locations. The only question is, how much of herself does she have to give up in order to succeed in the modelling business? (AS)


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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.


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Three Girls and Their Brother - Theresa Rebeck (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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Three Men and a Maybe - Debbie Carbin (2009)

Beth spends her days waiting for the reappearance of the unrequited love of her life, Richard - even rehearsing how she will look when he walks back into her life. Richard, the boss at her training company, is currently in Portugal, in the arms of his girlfriend. With her friend Vini pushing her to find a new man, Beth goes along to speed dating where she meets nice guy Brad. Meanwhile Beth is forming an email attachment to millionaire Rupert, the Horizon Holidays chief she is wooing for a training contract. And then there's Sean, her shifty colleague who's had his eye on her since she turned blonde and the company announced it needed some new contracts - fast. Suddenly Beth is juggling more men than she can handle. This is another hilarious novel from one of the most promising new authors. Stick with it as it becomes more of a page-turner the further you get into it. Even working out the twist before it is revealed - there are lots of clues - doesn't ruin the story. Watch out for the connections to Carbin's debut novel Thanks for Nothing, Nick Maxwell. Its heroine Rachel worked for Horizon Holidays and was the mobile phone woman Rupert's friend, Hector, is talking about.


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Three's a Crowd - Dianne Blacklock (2009)

Annie was like the Carrie of the group - the crux that brought Catherine, Lexie and Rachel together. But with her sudden passing, she not only leaves behind a shellshocked husband Tom and two teenage daughters - her circle of friends are also finding it difficult to regroup. Lawyer Catherine has worked hard her whole life and pushes her friends to strive to be their best too. But things aren't so perfect - she doesn't have a good relationship with her teenage daughter Alice and is talking about leaving her solid but boring husband Martin. Lexie, who is married to hard-working cafe owner Scott, loves being at home with the kids and doesn't know how to tell Catherine that she doesn't actually want a job. Rachel has never settled down - into a career or a relationship. Catherine thinks she needs a man in her life but Rachel can't come clean about the one man she's got her eye on. This is a captivating story about the repercussions of a central character dropping out of your life.


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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.


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Time of My Life - Allison Winn Scotch (2008)

Jillian is married to investment banker Henry and has a beautiful baby daughter Katie. But she can't help asking herself 'what if'? What if she never broke up with her former boyfriend Jackson? What if she hadn't ended up living this often-dreary suburban life? Then one morning, she wakes up seven years in her past, when she was still living with Jackson. This time she can choose to do things differently. What if she can help her best friend Megan conceive her much-wanted baby and avoid her fatal car crash? What if she advances further in her advertising career? What if she answers that letter from her estranged mother? And although being away from Katie is tearing her apart, the fact that she's hardly thinking about Henry must be telling her something. This will get you thinking about your own 'what ifs' and it really deserves a spot on your must-read list.


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Today's Special - A.M Goldsher (2008)

Chef Anna Rowan has created a thriving and respected Chicago restaurant called TART, financed by her boyfriend Byron. But things heat up when reality-TV chef Jordan DeWitt turns up to compete against Anna for a FoodTube series. Read it for its interesting take on the restaurant world, complete with recipes and explanatory footnotes for the non-foodies. But if you have a hunger for romance, the story arc of Anna deciding between her boyfriend, a cute younger waiter and the celebrity chef really isn't that satisfying.


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To Have and To Hold - Jane Green (2004)

Alice is a successful caterer in England who has always dreamed of living in the country and having children. She sacrifices her dream when she reconnects with her schoolgirl crush, Joe. Joe turns out to be a philandering snob who is only interested in transforming Alice into a glamorous trophy wife. After years of marriage, Alice eventually starts to question her unhappy life with her husband. When he is transferred to the US, Alice finally begins to blossom. As a Jane Green fan, I expected to love this book, however, I felt that while Green did a fantastic job developing the character of Joe, the main character Alice had little depth and was portrayed as a malleable wallflower who constantly turned a blind eye to her husband's cheating. (AO)


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To Hellas and Back - Lana Penrose (2007)

Imagine being offered the chance to move to sunny Greece with the love of your life, where you'd move into a great apartment and not need to work. Sounds like heaven? Well for Australian Lana Penrose, it was more a hell on earth. When her Greek-Australian boyfriend Dion gets the chance to run a radio station in Athens, she gives up her job as an MTV producer and leaves Sydney for a more ancient civilisation. But as Dion gets more and more caught up at work - even when the bureaucrats take the station off air - Lana is stuck at home without a working visa or an ability to speak Greek. Her days are spent trying to learn the language, ironing everything in sight, desperately seeking friends, plucking the hairs from her legs - and slowly getting sucked into a spiral of depression. Then Lana finally meets kindred spirits in her new gay pal, young New Zealander Tim, and American rocker Johnnie. But will her relationship with Dion survive the culture shock? This memoir about one woman's modern-day Greek tragedy takes a no-holds-barred approach in its display of raw emotion and self-deprecating wit.


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Too Good To Be True - Kristan Higgins (2009)

In sixth grade, she was already dating a cute guy named Tyler, whose family owned a horse ranch. At 15, her boyfriend Jack was the son of a restaurant owner. In college, she was with romantic Frenchman Jean Phillipe. But there was one thing these guys have in common - they don't even exist! Faking a boyfriend is nothing new to Grace Emerson - she sees it as an essential survival skill. When her ex-fiance Andrew starts dating her younger, prettier sister Natalie, in order to convince her family that she's moved on and totally over him, she does what she does best - make up a boyfriend. Everyone seems to believe her - except for her new neighbour, Callahan O'Shea, who's fresh from prison. Who is he to question the existence of her boyfriend? The more Grace tries to stay away from him, the more she can't control herself from getting closer.(XT)


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Tout Sweet - Karen Wheeler (2009)

While visiting a friend in rural France, fashion and beauty journalist Karen Wheeler stumbles upon a small cottage that is for sale and in need of quite a bit of TLC. The thought of giving up her lush life in London and starting over in France is too much to pass up, so Karen buys the house on a whim after seeing it only once. She waits a year to move in, during which she has a falling-out with her only friend in France. Having no experience with house renovation, Karen stumbles through the DIY process while staying with a couple of new-found friends who own a bookshop in town (luckily, people in rural France seem very friendly and helpful). When she feels she has overstayed her welcome, she moves into a small motel until she can make at least one room in her new home inhabitable. Karen made such a big change in her life partly due to the end of her relationship with her long-time boyfriend, Eric. Now, the chances of her finding another man are slim - some of her suitors range from being married to being completely deranged. Besides the renovations (which can sometimes be quite hilarious as things inevitably go wrong) and the occasional dinner at a friend's house, Karen enjoys seeing what her village has to offer. Vividly written - so much so that you can picture yourself in Karen's shoes, standing in the market square surrounded by the loud chatter of the locals and the fragrant aroma of freshly baked bread. It is written as if it is being told to you by an old friend, and it's bursting at the seams with humour, adventure and an authentic voice in reality chick lit. A wonderful and inspiring read for anyone who craves a little change in their life but can't bring themselves to make it. After reading Karen's story you may just be brave enough to go ahead. (AS)


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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.


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Trouble - Kate Christensen (2009)

Psychotherapist Josie lives a comfortable life in Manhattan with her husband Anthony and adopted daughter Wendy. But when she finds herself chatting up a younger man, she's overwhelmed with relief and happiness as it suddenly dawns on her that her marriage is over. She wanted a life filled with passion and excitement, everything that Anthony failed to provide. Her college friend, Raquel, a LA rock star, has just had her heart broken by a younger man who, unknown to her, had a pregnant girlfriend, and now her reputation is on the verge of being destroyed by the negative publicity. Together, the two best friends Raquel and Josie flee to Mexico City to get away from their messed-up lives. A great story about women redefining themselves and taking risks to get the life they truly desire, as they deal with changes and choices, and remember the importance of friendship. (XT)


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True Love & Other Disasters - Rachel Gibson (2009)

Faith thought that her past as a former stripper and Playboy star would be left buried after her marriage to Virgil Duffy, who is 51 years her senior. (Remember the guy who was set to marry another trophy wife in Simply Irresistible?) She wanted to start life afresh, and with Virgil, the only person to understand her and treat her with respect, he gave her what she yearned for the most - security. So when he dies of a heart attack five years into their marriage, Faith is devastated. After being humiliated by Virgil's son Landon about her ugly past, he claims she has no hope of managing the professional hockey team his father left behind. But despite knowing nothing about the game, Faith decides to take on the challenge and prove him wrong. Star player Ty Savage fears Faith will ruin the reputation of his hockey team and wreck its chances of winning the Stanley Cup. But soon sparks fly between the pair and they find themselves falling in love. But when Landon threatens to spread the news of their relationship, will Faith choose to give up her true love to save the team from the negative publicity? Not one of the author's best books but it's worth reading because of its refreshing mix of characters and storyline. (XT)


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True Love (and Other Lies) - Whitney Gaskell (2004)

Travel writer Claire meets lawyer Jack on a flight from New York to London. He's heading to break up with his girlfriend; she's in town to write a travel story and catch up with her best friend Maddy. After spending time together in London, it turns out Jack isn't exactly the best guy for Claire to fall for (should be obvious to most of you why not right from the start but I won't reveal the twist just in case). Read it for loveable character Claire, the frustrated Gen-Xer who has to work for a seniors interest magazine and has always felt second-best to her glamorous best friend.


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Tug of Love - Allie Spencer (2009)

Lucy Stephens knows that there's never a winner in divorce after watching her parents' marriage disintegrate. Now as a divorce barrister, she is battling to gain a permanent position in chambers against the slimy Hugo. Her chances are given a boost when she scores a spot on the legal team representing Prime Minister Llew Jones. But will she get blamed for the leak when salacious secrets about his impending divorce get revealed in the media? Meanwhile, Lucy's been warned that seeing her new man, Mark, may jeopardise her career while her cheating ex, Jonathan, is trying to convince her he's a changed man. For those who want a bit of law and courtroom order with their romance.


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Tulle Little, Tulle Late - Kimberly Llewellyn (2006)

Nina is caught out at the bridal shower of her competitive cousin Celie, trying on her Vera Wang wedding gown. It's the exact same dress Nina never got to wear for her aborted walk down the aisle with globe-trotting journalist Jeremiah. Thinking it's about time she gets serious about her life and her public relations career, Nina puts herself up for a promotion against the young and hungry Chad. Her test is to tame the difficult movie star, Jackleen Liquori. Just as she meets the cool motorbike-riding Dante, who helps charm the aging diva, Jeremiah crashes back into Nina's life, telling her he's in danger. Perhaps all a bit predictable on the romance front but you'll enjoy the author's signature sharp wit.


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Twelve Rooms with a View - Theresa Rebeck (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)


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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.


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Twenties Girl - Sophie Kinsella (2009)

This follows the life of Lara Lington who is suddenly "haunted" by her great aunt Sadie. Sceptical at first, Lara eventually feels that Sadie is her guardian angel and helps Sadie find the one thing that she needs to rest in peace - her beautiful dragonfly necklace. In the process, Lara believes her great aunt was murdered, asks a handsome stranger on a date, and talks to Sadie (who no one else can see) so much that people start to think she has lost her mind - which is easy to believe as she hasn't been acting right since her break-up with her true love, Josh. Eventually, Lara discovers that someone in her family has been harbouring a secret that will ruin them and Lara, with the help of Sadie, decides to expose them and finally set things right. It is fun, feisty and an absolutely brilliant read. (AS)


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29 - Adena Halpern (2010)

Widow Ellie is about to blow out the candles for her 75th birthday. Still young-at-heart, she gets along better with her 25-year-old fashion designer granddaughter Lucy than her interfering 55-year-old daughter Barbara. But even with some cosmetic tinkering, Ellie can't hold back time. After wishing to be 29 again, she wakes up the next morning in a much younger body. She hits the town with Lucy - masquerading as a cousin from Chicago - while her best friend Frida and Barbara pair up to track down the missing birthday girl. A fantastic read if you want to lose your preconceptions about older women. Ellie is a wonderful feisty character who needs to face up to some of her life regrets. But it's the bumbling duo of best friend and daughter that really steal the show.


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20 Times A Lady - Karyn Bosnak (2006)

"The average person has 10.5 sexual partners in their lifetime." For Delilah Darling, she has well exceeded the numbers - almost two times as high as the national average. She decides to set things right, by imposing a limit - to sleep with only 20 males, meaning she has only got one more chance left - for her future husband. But after losing her job at Elisabeth Sterling Design and making the big mistake of sleeping with her loathsome boss Roger, Delilah has used up all her chances. Determined to get a last shot at happiness, she comes up with a plan to track down all 20 guys she has slept with, with the help of her actor neighbour Colin. A hilarious and fun read about second chances in love. Columbia has acquired the movie rights for this novel, with Mark Mylod (Entourage) directing the movie, and Anna Faris playing the role of Delilah. It has been renamed What's Your Number? (XT)


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Two for Joy - Patricia Scanlan (2003)

This novel follows the life of three women from a small town in Ireland and the men that ultimately intertwine their lives. Noreen Flynn is unhappily married to a workaholic. Haunted by past secrets, she is desperate to have a baby, hoping that this will bring her and her husband closer together and give her purpose in life. Lorna Morgan is eager to leave her small town and start a glamorous life in Dublin. But her dream that her new life will be like an episode out of Sex and the City is quickly shattered. Heather Williams moves to Dublin with her cousin Lorna, however, unlike Lorna she misses her small-town life. So she moves home and questions whether an old boyfriend is the right man for her. The author does a fantastic job developing characters that a reader can relate to - you will not be able to put this book down. (AO)


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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.


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