Louise Bagshawe
Author of Glamour
About the Author
Works by Louise Bagshawe
Three Great Novels - The Bestsellers - Venus Envy / A Kept Woman / When She Was Bad (2005) 13 copies, 1 review
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Bagshawe LoCicero Mensch, Louise Daphne
- Other names
- Bagshawe, Louise
- Birthdate
- 1971-06-28
- Gender
- female
- Education
- University of Oxford (Christ Church)
- Occupations
- author
Member of Parliament - Organizations
- Conservative Party
- Relationships
- Bagshawe, Tilly (sister)
- Short biography
- Louise Daphne Bagshawe was born on 28 June 1971 in England, UK. She attended a local all-girls Catholic schools near her family home in Surrey, before going to Oxford University in 1989. After graduating with a degree in Anglo Saxon and Norse, she worked as press officer with EMI records and then as a marketing official with Sony Music. On her 22nd birthday, her passion for writing was realised with a major publishing deal as Louise Bagshawe. She is the author of more than fifteen novels, published in more than eight languages.
Louise married Anthony LoCicero, and they had three children, but since June 2011, she is married with her second husband Peter Mensch. Her sister, Tilly Bagshawe, is also a writer. She lives in Northamptonshire with her family, and has been the Parliamentary Candidate for Corby and East Northants since November 2006, and became the Member of Parliament for Corby after winning the seat at the 2010 general election. She then resigned in 2012 and has moved to the US with her children. - Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- England, UK
- Associated Place (for map)
- England, UK
Members
Reviews
Having read and enjoyed Beauty earlier this year, my lovely god-sister loaned me a few Louise Bagshawe books. It was recommended that I start with Sparkles and I can see why - it's completely addictive reading, with more bitching and backstabbing than an episode of Dynasty.
As with Beauty, Louise Bagshawe goes into such descriptive detail, from the designer of the clothes to the cut of the diamond, that a multi-dimensional picture is created in your mind and the characters are almost jumping show more out of the page in 3D.
I loved and loved to hate all of the characters. There is Pierre's widow, Sophie, who has to step in to save the business for her son, Tom. Pierre's haughty mother, Katherine, who bends Tom's ear and convinces him that Sophie is devaluing his inheritance. Tom, the son, and spoilt playboy who thinks he's a man but can't see when he is being played. Not forgetting my favourite love to hate character of Judy, one of Pierre's mistresses, who intends to get her hands on the Massot business one way or another.
There is a massive twist in the story and I didn't guess all of it. In fact it's a twist that, once revealed, keeps twisting. It reminded me that hell hath no fury, like a woman scorned...but which scorned woman will have her revenge? You'll just have to read it for yourself to find out! show less
As with Beauty, Louise Bagshawe goes into such descriptive detail, from the designer of the clothes to the cut of the diamond, that a multi-dimensional picture is created in your mind and the characters are almost jumping show more out of the page in 3D.
I loved and loved to hate all of the characters. There is Pierre's widow, Sophie, who has to step in to save the business for her son, Tom. Pierre's haughty mother, Katherine, who bends Tom's ear and convinces him that Sophie is devaluing his inheritance. Tom, the son, and spoilt playboy who thinks he's a man but can't see when he is being played. Not forgetting my favourite love to hate character of Judy, one of Pierre's mistresses, who intends to get her hands on the Massot business one way or another.
There is a massive twist in the story and I didn't guess all of it. In fact it's a twist that, once revealed, keeps twisting. It reminded me that hell hath no fury, like a woman scorned...but which scorned woman will have her revenge? You'll just have to read it for yourself to find out! show less
I was pre-warned that this book was a little steamy and it certainly was! Sex scenes aside, it was actually a really enjoyable story about two women who used to be friends at university but fell out when Rowena slept with Topaz's boyfriend. When they both find themselves in New York, whilst trying to climb the career ladder, we find out that Topaz has neither forgiven nor forgotten Rowena and seeks her revenge.
Rowena is a young executive in the music industry, trying to discover bands and show more make a name for herself. Topaz is climbing the ladder in magazines and uses her influence to take shots at Rowena every chance she gets. It was really exciting to see what Topaz would do next and I almost forgot that Rowena was the boyfriend-stealing baddie and started to feel sorry for her. Then Rowena starts an affair with a married man, making any compassion I felt for her melt away like the ice cubes in my gin and tonic (who am I kidding, I don't water down my drinks).
I wouldn't have the energy to carry a grudge like Topaz, but it certainly made good reading. As they were mixing in the same social circles, I did wonder if they could ever bury the hatchet and be friends again. When business eventually throws them together, I couldn't put the book down!
As with other Louise Bagshawe books we are treated to excellent descriptions of items being worn. This one didn't feel it was advertising as much as Destiny but I still wondered if people in New York walked backwards as their ass always seems to get a mention.
It was a nice few hours of escapism from Louise Bagshawe with the glitz and glamour of New York's social scene and the cut-throat backstabbing of the business world. show less
Rowena is a young executive in the music industry, trying to discover bands and show more make a name for herself. Topaz is climbing the ladder in magazines and uses her influence to take shots at Rowena every chance she gets. It was really exciting to see what Topaz would do next and I almost forgot that Rowena was the boyfriend-stealing baddie and started to feel sorry for her. Then Rowena starts an affair with a married man, making any compassion I felt for her melt away like the ice cubes in my gin and tonic (who am I kidding, I don't water down my drinks).
I wouldn't have the energy to carry a grudge like Topaz, but it certainly made good reading. As they were mixing in the same social circles, I did wonder if they could ever bury the hatchet and be friends again. When business eventually throws them together, I couldn't put the book down!
As with other Louise Bagshawe books we are treated to excellent descriptions of items being worn. This one didn't feel it was advertising as much as Destiny but I still wondered if people in New York walked backwards as their ass always seems to get a mention.
It was a nice few hours of escapism from Louise Bagshawe with the glitz and glamour of New York's social scene and the cut-throat backstabbing of the business world. show less
My god-sister posted a photo of this on Twitter and I was like one of the ladies in the store where Dina worked, rushing to get my hands on a jar of Meadow cream - I just had to read it, so I raced to the library to pick up a copy.
I absolutely raced through this book, it was so fast paced and full of life that I didn't want to put it down. From the beginning when Dina is born and is unwanted and unloved by her parents I was hooked. She has a very good relationship with her brother, Johnny, show more despite him getting all the love and opportunities from her parents. So Dina grows up, leaves home and makes her own opportunities!
Dina has a difficult time in Manhattan as she has no college education and because of her natural beauty, people try to take advantage of her. She works her way up from being a waitress to a coffee shop manager and it is here that she meets Edward. Edward is with a group of friends who are taunting Dina and Edward apologises for their actions, so Dina agrees to go out on a date with him. Unfortunately for Dina, Edward is not all that he seems but even more unfortunate for Edward, Dina is not afraid to take her revenge.
This incident only makes Dina grow stronger, as she makes money by flipping property and using her knowledge of beauty products to expand quiet dingy stores into heaving places to be. Simmering away in the background is Edward, in the style of Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl, seething at Dina's success and plotting his own revenge, with devastatingly tragic consequences.
What a brilliant book, I can't believe I haven't read any Louise Bagshawe/Louise Mensch books before but if they are all of this standard then Beauty won't be my last! If you loved Gossip Girl, you'll love this book, although be warned that Edward is way nastier than Chuck! I was transported to Manhattan, browsed in the Green Apothecary, and queued in Times Square enjoying every moment with the fabulous Dina Kane! show less
I absolutely raced through this book, it was so fast paced and full of life that I didn't want to put it down. From the beginning when Dina is born and is unwanted and unloved by her parents I was hooked. She has a very good relationship with her brother, Johnny, show more despite him getting all the love and opportunities from her parents. So Dina grows up, leaves home and makes her own opportunities!
Dina has a difficult time in Manhattan as she has no college education and because of her natural beauty, people try to take advantage of her. She works her way up from being a waitress to a coffee shop manager and it is here that she meets Edward. Edward is with a group of friends who are taunting Dina and Edward apologises for their actions, so Dina agrees to go out on a date with him. Unfortunately for Dina, Edward is not all that he seems but even more unfortunate for Edward, Dina is not afraid to take her revenge.
This incident only makes Dina grow stronger, as she makes money by flipping property and using her knowledge of beauty products to expand quiet dingy stores into heaving places to be. Simmering away in the background is Edward, in the style of Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl, seething at Dina's success and plotting his own revenge, with devastatingly tragic consequences.
What a brilliant book, I can't believe I haven't read any Louise Bagshawe/Louise Mensch books before but if they are all of this standard then Beauty won't be my last! If you loved Gossip Girl, you'll love this book, although be warned that Edward is way nastier than Chuck! I was transported to Manhattan, browsed in the Green Apothecary, and queued in Times Square enjoying every moment with the fabulous Dina Kane! show less
It started out quite nicely and I enjoyed it but after a while it felt like i was reading a harlequin or as we in The Netherlands call them, a bouquet reeks. The women are gorgeous, smart and very horny, the men are handsome, domineering, bronzed , manly and also very horny. lol
They like each other but by misunderstanding each other they are not couples. Typical like a harlequin. I do think this is much better than those. There is at least a bit of substance in the book.
They like each other but by misunderstanding each other they are not couples. Typical like a harlequin. I do think this is much better than those. There is at least a bit of substance in the book.
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Statistics
- Works
- 26
- Also by
- 3
- Members
- 2,136
- Popularity
- #12,044
- Rating
- 3.4
- Reviews
- 32
- ISBNs
- 203
- Languages
- 8
- Favorited
- 4