book club

Hooray for Heather's weekly book club---
This week I read:
Betrayal by Danielle Steel


At thirty-nine, Tallie Jones is a Hollywood legend. Her work as a film director is her passion and the center of her life; one after another, her award-winning productions achieve the rare combination of critical and commercial success. With no interest in the perks of her profession or the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles, Tallie maintains close and loving relationships with her college-age daughter and her aging father, and has a happy collaboration with Hunter Lloyd, her respected producing partner, confidant, and live-in lover. Rounding out the circle and making it all work is Brigitte Parker, Tallie’s devoted personal assistant. Friends since film school, they are a study in contrasts, with Brigitte’s polished glamour balancing Tallie’s artless natural beauty, and her hard-driving, highly organized style a protective shield for Tallie’s casual, down-to-earth approach.
As Tallie is in the midst of directing the most ambitious film she has yet undertaken, small disturbances begin to ripple through her well-ordered world. An outside audit reveals troubling discrepancies in the financial records maintained by Victor Carson, Tallie’s longtime, trusted accountant. Mysterious receipts hint at activities of which she has no knowledge. Soon it becomes clear that someone close to Tallie has been steadily funneling away enormous amounts of her money. In the wake of an escalating series of shattering revelations, Tallie will find herself playing the most dangerous game of all—to trap a predator stalking her in plain sight.
In this riveting novel, Danielle Steel reveals the dark side of fame and fortune. At the same time, she brilliantly captures a woman’s will to navigate a minefield of hurt and loss—toward a new beginning.
(thanks to her website)
This book is a truly super fast read, a lot of useless details and run-on sentences but still enjoyable. I thought the main character was so stupid and I definitely saw two of the twists coming; but it could have been worse. I liked that it was a more of a darker danielle novel :)   A decent way to send a couple hours of my afternoon. I give it a solid C.

Jill Mansell's Mixed Doubles


New Year is looming and best friends Liza, Dulcie and Pru are making their resolutions. Liza wants to get married - she's never had any trouble hooking a man. The trouble is, she can never stay interested once she's got him. Dulcie thinks marriage sucks. Her husband, Patrick, may be gorgeous and charming, but the impulsive Dulcie needs more excitement in her life. She wants a divorce. Pru loves her roving husband, and she secretly enjoys the periods when he's making up for his outrageous behaviour. All she wants is to stay married. Liza, Dulcie and Pru have no idea what the New Year has in store - but Fate has some sneaky plans up her sleeve...
(thanks to her website)

I thought that this book although fun to read was not as addicting as her previous novels. Entertaining characters and a decent ending though. Not as much humor although a lot of heart. I give it a solid C.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald


This exemplary novel of the Jazz Age has been acclaimed by generations of readers. The story of the fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, of lavish parties on Long Island at a time when The New York Times noted “gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession,” it is an exquisitely crafted tale of America in the 1920s. The Great Gatsby is one of the great classics of twentieth-century literature.
(thanks amazon)

Alright, I was excited to read this because I have heard a lot of raving about this classic (and surprisingly enough I have never read it before...) romance novel. However I felt like I was missing something for more than half this short novel---the romance! And I found it strange that it was told from a third person perspective. A lot of dull details and story lines yet an interesting view into the Jazz Age. Surprising ending, talk about karma! I give this a D/C.
Sorry, don't hate me :)

The Holiday by Erica James


Torn between struggling to live up to the expectations of being a Modern Woman and ridding herself of the effect of a repressed upbringing, Izzy Jordan would be the first to admit that it’s time to take stock of her life. She’s 31 with a teaching career on the skids – not surprising really, given that she harbours a strong desire to lock her pupils in the art room cupboard and throw away the key. She also has a manipulative mother and an ex-boyfriend whose parting shot was to tell her she was boring in bed! So when she’s invited to spend the summer on Corfu and is offered the chance of a no-strings holiday romance with the irresistible Theo, what should she do? Go for it, or listen to the voice of Modern Woman and tell him to sling his hook? Just as she thinks she’s made up her mind, along comes Mark, whose turbulent past sets in motion a series of dramatic events that will bring near-tragedy, profound change and, finally, happiness for Izzy.
(thanks to her website)

I loved this book even though it is quite a long read. Funny,sweet,scary,deep,humorous,real-life,intense,wild ride and fun characters. All the main characters were great to get-to-know and i didn't hate any of them. This story could have stopped at numerous points yet it kept going and it was better and better. I give it an A for sure.
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What have you read?

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Happy Weekend!