Talli Roland

Talli Roland's WATCHING WILLOW WATTS shines like a bright star in the chick lit world.

Willow Watts never imagined dressing up as Marilyn Monroe for her best friend's celebrity picture booth would change her life. When her imagine is up on YouTube and appears sanctioned by Marilyn's ghost, Willow goes viral. Marilyn's fans proclaim her as the new Marilyn and everyone is clamoring to make a pound, including Willow. As the new Marilyn learns what fame means, Willow discovers the truth in who show more she is and what she's willing to sacrifice for happiness.

Talli Roland excels in quirky, unique novels. Willow Watts transforms on the page and inspires not only her small village in England but the world around her. Fame is fickle and tiresome. The romances of the secondary characters were sweet. I cheered as Willow discovered it was better to be herself than anyone else. Roland breathes life into her characters. I cried, laughed, and felt a deep passionate hatred for Willow's you-know-who, also known as the agent. The only minor distraction for me as a reader was in the portrayal of Betts the American, who didn't sound like she was from Georgia sometimes. Overall, I loved how the 'new Marilyn' inspired the village and changed it for the better.

Talli Roland's WATCHING WILLOW WATTS is a must-read with unforgettable characters, a unique storyline, and a beautiful message that being who you are is better than being anyone else. show less

Another great book from Talli Roland! I enjoyed the characters and thought their motivations were realistic even if sometimes you just want to slap them and say "You're being stupid! Just do _____!" But that's what makes it fun to read. I also loved the way her descriptions really painted the scene - from the literal paint on the walls to the unique settings (boats, vacation spots) it's like I was right there experiencing all the vibrant colors. Very fun!

Talli Roland is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! This was the first book of hers I read but all her books have a common element - awesomeness. I've always liked chick lit as a genre but recently was disappointed with the quality of books I came across. Just because I want a light read doesn't mean I want flimsy characters and unrealistic plotlines. "Build A Man" brought me back to the genre with its likable characters and engaging story. Serenity, the main character, did some show more cringeworthy yet realistic things, which is what I like to read. Perfect characters are boring but you don't want to hate them either. Serenity made this story, and I could hardly put the book down as I waited to find out what happened next! show less

3.5 stars. Rose goes from a boring job cataloging endless artifacts in the cold basement of an archaeological museum, to... cataloging artifacts in the cold basement of a house about to be turned into a museum.

As an American reader, I am sometimes charmed and sometimes bewildered by the Britishisms. Is a "Y-front" the same as a thong? And why would a couple have matching ones?

Love the concept of the place being a museum of broken hearts, and the description and backstory of some of the show more artifacts. Loved that Rose eventually woke up to the idea that her "boyfriend" was a sponge and a user. But despite her attraction to her new boss, the chemistry between them isn't consistent. When she meddles in Heath's life, it seems to make things worse, then things magically work out (hence the miracle in the title) without there being a real explanation of WHY.

This feels choppy in places, as if it wanted to be a longer story (it's only about 65 pages), but as a (currently) free e-book, I can't complain of being overcharged. It gives a nice sample of this author's writing, which is light and funny with likable characters. show less