Naked in Knightsbridge - Nicky Schmidt (2009)

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

Naked in Knightsbridge, by Nicky Schmidt, is about 20-something Jools Grand who is left destitute after an unfortunate cleaning disaster. Finding herself down and out she decides to auction herself online for a marriage of convenience. What Jools isn't banking on is a bidding war between two not-so-eligible bachelors - Rodney, a gay, would-be politician who needs a wife as a cover to win an election, and Niles, a loner who will do anything to ensure he's not outbid. And so Jools discovers that nothing in life comes without a price. Naked in Knightsbridge, one of the first titles from London-based Prospera Publishing, is out in November. Head to the company's website for a sneak look at the first chapters. Schmidt works in publishing.

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