Something from Tiffany's

*screams in find me a book that doesn't suck* Obviously Melissa Hill is a popular author of pastel-covered chick lit because she is somehow still writing on a regular basis, but this early attempt (note early and not debut) is atrocious! Hallmark movies should stay onscreen, because obviously trying to transform the time honoured tropes into literature does not work. And I know that because the only reason I wanted to read this mush - at a discount - is because Reese Witherspoon has recently turned the book into a film, which I hope is an improvement but can now never watch.

How do I hate this book, let me count the ways. Firstly, 400 pages is WAY too long. This is a short story in a woman's magazine at best. Hill stretches out her show more painful prose, full of unnecessary exposition - not only does she tell and not show, but supplies thought, feeling, motive and backstory for EVERY character - by drawing out and repeating scenes and dialogue until I started to wonder if she was writing for children. There are obvious Heroes and Villains, but even the good guys are obnoxious. Case in point being Ethan, the drippy single dad who spends $20,000 on an engagement ring - without consulting his intended fiancée, I might add - but then is too nice to figure out how to get his expensive gift back when there is a mix up with another little blue bag outside the store. He doesn't own up to his girlfriend that there's been a mistake when she opens a cheap charm bracelet instead, and when he tracks the wrongful recipient down, he can't bring himself to tell her boyfriend is a lying dick and he wants his ring back. And the dick boyfriend is all, 'You can't prove that you bought the ring' - really? Tiffany's don't keep records of ridiculously expensive items? They couldn't resolve this whole mess in ten minutes?

We're supposed to care for Ethan, I imagine, because he has big blue eyes and a strong jaw - no, really - and because he's a widowed father to an 'adorable' eight-turned-thirty year old daughter. Atticus Finch, however, he ain't. He literally admits to hunting down a mother figure for his child and doesn't actually love the woman he paid $20,000 for, but she's the villain in the end because - wait for it - she didn't want more children but was prepared to care for his daughter and then had an affair with his friend because she knew she could never compare to the Dead Wife. And the couple on the reverse end of the Tiffany's debacle are no better - Gary the opportunist ring thief is portrayed throughout as crass, chauvinistic, arrogant and dumb as a box of hair, while Rachel is stunningly beautiful, a talented baker and businesswoman and beloved by all - but also lacking in brain cells because she puts up with Gary. And after pages and pages and pages of the same conversation between different characters about the damn ring - she goes back to her lying, thieving, lazy boyfriend. This isn't even a spoiler because I guarantee that anybody who gets to the end of the book will have given up caring - I started skipping all the 'introspective' paragraphs and skim reading through the dialogue just to confirm that there was no need to read three quarters of the book. To summarise, which the author is clearly incapable of doing, 'he wanted the proposal to be something special, something romantic she would remember forever, rather than a long and confusing story about some stupid mix-up.' show less

I found this book to be totally charming (pun intended)! Holly finds a charm bracelet in the lining of a jacket donated to the vintage clothing store where she works. Holly, herself, has a charm bracelet that she wears all the time. It is extremely important to her, commemorating all of the important events in her life. Since her bracelet is so important to her, she feels the owner of the bracelet she finds must be devastated by its loss. She decides that she needs to return the bracelet to its owner. The only way to do this is to try to find her by following the clues that the charms give to the identity of the owner. Holly ends up searching out clues all over New York City
This book is a mystery – actually several mysteries in one. show more Not only is there the main mystery involving the bracelet Holly finds, there is a mystery about the bracelet that Holly wears. She received her bracelet, and subsequent charms, from an unknown source. They seem to arrive whenever important milestones are happening in her life. She has several ideas about who is sending them, but she doesn’t know for sure.
The author weaves the story of three different people together to make this wonderful story. Switching the storyline back and forth between them, we get to know the important characters. (Here is another mystery – trying to figure out how they will all come together!) Oh – and there is a little romance involved!
I was so impressed with this book that I actually dug out my own charm bracelet that I haven’t worn in years – and bought more charms to update it! I am wearing it as I type this review! Although the action in this book takes place during the Holiday Season – I feel it should not be saved just to be read at Christmas time. It is a definite feel-good, read anytime, book! show less

My title is "Something From Tiffany's". (2022 reissue)
Cute story, but you really have to suspend disbelief that something like this would happen.
After losing his love Jane to cancer, Ethan Greene plans to propose to his girlfriend Vanessa while in NYC for Christmas, having purchased a 2-carat diamond ring from Tiffany's, with the help of his 8-year old daughter, Daisy. But on Christmas morning, she opens the iconic blue box to find a silver charm bracelet. Realizing there was a mix-up, he tries to find the missing ring, but will he find more than just the ring? Will the Tiffany magic lead him to find his true love?
Meanwhile, a man hit by a cab lies in a hospital while his girlfriend, Rachel, waits for him to recover. He has the ring! show more Rachel thinks it is for her, and he doesn't tell her the truth. show less

Ethan decides to take his daughter and his new girlfriend, Vanessa, to New York for Christmas. It used to be his favorite place to share with his now deceased wife. He wants his daughter and Vanessa to share in the magic of this beautiful city. He also has an ulterior motive. He intends to stop by Tiffany’s and purchase an engagement ring.

But, as usual in the way of life. Ethan purchases the ring but in the confusion of an accident, gifts get switched. Ethan follows the ring all the way overseas to try and retrieve his gift. Things do not work out as planned.

I enjoyed this novel. Now, this is your typical Christmas romance. And I had it figured out after 2 chapters. I knew exactly what was going to happen. But, there is just something show more about this time of year and all the romances. They are quick, easy reads. Perfect for when life gets busy around the holiday. Just plain magical escapes.

Need a good book to get you in the spirit of Christmas…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. show less

It’s Christmas Eve in New York city, visiting from London professor Ethan Greene along with his young daughter Daisy has one special purchase to pick up before his holiday is complete. Unfortunately while being a good Samaritan his package is mixed up, when his girlfriend, Vanessa opens the gift on Christmas morning he’s at a loss, instead of a brilliant Tiffany’s Marquise engagement ring inside the iconic blue box is a simple charm bracelet.
Dubliner Gary Knowles has almost finished his Christmas shopping and with a last thought that he should get his girlfriend, Rachel something because after all she did gift him with this trip to the big apple for Christmas, he stops at Tiffany’s to get her a little something special. show more Unfortunately before they can celebrate he’s struck by a New York taxi and ends up in the hospital. When they do finally get to exchange presents he’s astounded to find that instead of a charm bracelet his girlfriend removes a beautiful and expensive diamond engagement ring from the little blue box.
What happens next is a comedy and tragedy of errors, mistakes, lies and betrayals and perhaps a little fateful magic all brought about by a little blue box.
Melissa Hill’s beautifully penned Christmas novel is rich with scenes from both sides of the pond. With characters that are both naughty and nice who play their roles to perfection and one little girl who believes in magic. Her plot takes twists and turns so sharp you might think you’re clinging to the side of a cliff and just when you think there’s a straight-a-way ahead it’s only a mirage as you plunge down another steep dip in the story. It’s rife with humor and heartache, with both comedy and tragedy and it reminds us that fate is indeed a force to be reckoned with.
If you’re looking for a holiday tale to get the spirit started, a perfect gift for a friend or maybe, just maybe that perfect accompaniment to a certain special gift in a little blue box.
Melissa, thank you for a novel I will cherish for years to come and that will definitely come off the shelf to be re-read every Christmas season. I can’t wait to see where you take me on our next journey together. show less

On 5th Avenue in New York City, two very different men are shopping for gifts for the women they love.
Gary is buying his girlfriend Rachel a charm bracelet. Partly to thank her for paying for their holiday-of-a-lifetime to New York. But mainly because he’s left his shopping far too late.
Whereas Ethan’s looking for something a little more special – an engagement ring for the first woman to have made him happy since he lost the love of his life.
But when the two men’s shopping bags get confused, and Rachel somehow ends up with Ethan’s ring, the couples’ lives become intertwined.
As Ethan tries to reunite the ring with the woman it was actually intended for, he discovers this isn’t that easy. Does fate have other ideas for the show more couples? Or is there simply a bit of Tiffany’s magic in the air… show less

This review will consist of a bit of a back story, so forgive me for ranting a bit.
As I got to know the characters in the book, I could already figure out the basic ending, and I was right. But there was something so addictive about Hill's writing that made it almost impossible to put the book down.
For some reason, I knew that for the Chinese New Year holidays, I had wanted to read this particular book. Weeks before I went on holiday, somehow, I had this book planned in my head already. For some reason, I had wanted this particular book. I went through the other books I had, but in the end decided on the original book that I had in mind. (It was a conflict between a Nicholas Sparks' piece and The Charm Bracelet.) If I had wanted to, I show more could've finished in a week, but when I was on holiday, I dragged a bit because I didn't want to finish the book so quickly and not have anything else to read after.
Anyway, though a slightly, typically cliche plot, I must admit the ending surprised me a bit and left me a bit confused about Cristina (without giving too much away). When Karen made such a big deal (for all the wrong reasons too, in my opinion) when Greg quit his job, I didn't really like her starting then.
The moment the ball dropped about who the lost bracelet belongs to, I could pretty much affirm how the story would obviously end, and I was right.
However, Hill's writing style kept me engrossed in every page. I managed to finish the book in a little over 2 weeks, which is good considering the usual time constraints in the remaining of my days after work. show less