Tasmina Perry

I’ve enjoyed reading Tasmina Perry’s previous books – despite being the size of door-stops they were glitzy and racy reads and an escape from normality although I have to admit that one or two of the later books haven’t always hit the mark for me. However, the latest offering, The Proposal, is a completely different type of read and I absolutely loved it.

26 year old American waitress/dancer, Amy Carrell, is expecting a proposal. She has spotted a Tiffany ring box in a drawer show more belonging to her high flying boyfriend Daniel and when he invites her to a posh pre-Christmas party, she is expecting a magical evening. However instead of a marriage proposal, she finds herself dumped, basically because Daniel and his parents do not consider her to be good enough.

When she subsequently answers an advertisement for a travelling companion for a trip to New York, it is merely a way for a cash-strapped Amy to be able to visit her family at Christmas whilst deciding what to do next. Little does she know how much of an impact on her life, her travelling companion, the elderly Georgia Hamilton, will have.

The story then slips back from 2012 to 1958 when we meet 18 year old Georgia Hamilton. Georgia having attending a Parisian finishing school, is fiercely independent with dreams of becoming a writer. However her family have other ideas and she is being heavily encouraged by them to participate in ‘The Season’ – to come out as a debutante with the end result of finding herself a rich husband. What Georgia lacks in temperament and the correct family background, she makes up for with strength of character and spirit and you feel for her as she tries to fit in with her peers.

Georgia’s time as a debutante was one of my favourite parts of the book. The glamour, the parties, the excitement of romance and the competitiveness between the girls as to who would bag the most eligible young men was brilliantly executed and I felt as though I were a bystander watching this most English of traditions.

Both Georgia and Amy were wonderful characters. Georgia’s background meant that she was a very proud and genteel lady and her attempts to advise and educate Amy in how to dress and which cutlery to use were countered by Amy’s sense of fun whilst showing Georgia around New York. Despite their difference in ages and lifestyle, you could feel the genuine fondness that developed between the two women and although her successful career had made her a very rich woman, there is a great sadness in Georgia’s life, and one which Amy is determined to put right.

I’ve never been to New York but the excellent descriptions of Central Park in December, the cold, the glamorous cafe’s and the general hustle and bustle really made it come to life. (There is a very good brief guide at the back of the book, giving more details of some of the NY locations visited).

This could easily be a contender for my book of the year. I loved spending time with both Georgia and Amy and was quite sad to get to the end. There is everything in this book – fabulous locations, glamour, romance and betrayal and I can’t recommend it highly enough. show less

The House on Sunset Lake is a wonderfully written story about young love, destructive secrets, and second chances. I was quickly drawn into the story and I found both storylines equally interesting. Jim Johnson has never really gotten over his first love when he travels to America to oversee the transformation of Casa D'Or from a family home to hotel. But, a chance meeting with Jennifer brings the memories of a summer 20 years back to him and is there a second chance for them or have too show more much time gone by and are the secrets too dark for them to take on?

I found The House on Sunset Lake to be an interesting book, and I liked how two grown people got the chance to reconnect 20 years later after falling madly in love when they were young. It's also a tragic story, especially towards the end of the book when so much is revealed, like why Jennifer chooses to stay with Connor and marry him, despite loving Jim. I really felt for Jennifer while reading this book, her father barely knew her, and her mother was trying to control her, going so far as lying to her. There is a scene in this book towards the end of the book at Jennifer's birthday party when I just wished that Jennifer would have put down her foot when those close to her tried to make a big decision for her. I got so mad reading that part. And, it's now we are starting to learn what really happened all those years ago. I must confess that I was surprised to see where to story was going...

This book surprised me, it was much darker and tragic than I had expected. But, that's not bad, it just shows that life isn't always a dance on roses.

I want to thank Headline for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review! show less

Jag älskar böcker där man får följa rika människors liv, väg till framgång och deras motgångar. Det är lyx och jetset liv .

Golddiggers har stora likheter med Tasmina Perrys debut roman pappas flickor som utkom 2007 och blev hennes genombrott. Båda böcker handlar om mycket rika och bortskämda människor, lyxiga och vackra miljöer och mycket svek.
Jag gillar Tasmina Perrys båda böcker även om de är ytliga och personerna i de saknar djup, men vill man bara fly en stund i de show more vackras värld så är Golddiggers perfekt. show less

Francine Day has worked hard to build a reputation as a top London divorce lawyer. Against her better judgement she becomes romantically involved with one of her clients, Martin Joy. Fran can't fight the feelings she has for Martin and is obsessed with his relationship with his soon to be ex wife, Donna Joy. After following Donna one night, Fran awakes the next morning with no clear memory of what happened the night before. When Donna goes missing, Fran does whatever it takes to protect show more herself and the man she loves.

This is the book I have been waiting for in the suspense genre. In recent years there have been a few books that were quite good but didn't really live up to the hype. This book hit all the right notes for me. I thought Fran was an interesting and complex character. I was never quite sure in what direction the book would go which made for an on the edge of my seat type of read. I really enjoyed watching the story unfold.

This book might have a few flaws but my enjoyment was never lessened because of them. The book starts off a bit slow but definitely before page 100 I was hooked. At times watching this smart, successful woman make poor decisions based on her obsession with Martin can be difficult to read. However, in some respects that was also the strength of the book because you never really knew what could happen next. Overall, this was just one of those fun reading experiences and I definitely hope others enjoy it as much as I did.

I won a free copy of this book but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion. show less