Tasmina PerryReseñas

Another reviewer already said it best. In case it doesn't come up in your scrolling: "This book was such a bore and dragged on and on and on. "


I wish there was a separate portion to review the narrator, though. She was great. Her accents were a bit muddled but her voices were excellent. I never got the characters confused (even when they were too dull or cheezy to even care if they were someone new) and she really embodied a lot of the emotional ups and downs.

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 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!

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 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!

Amy Shepherd has it all: a handsome husband, a much coveted job and the cutest little daughter but everything seems to fall apart when she does a favour for her old friend, Karen. Inviting Karen's daughter, Josie, into her life appears to be a big mistake for Amy and paranoia quickly sets in over Josie's motives. Josie is young, attractive and clever and she seems to have everyone wrapped around her little finger, while Amy becomes discredited at every turn. Why is Josie out to get her?

The setting for Friend of the Family is a fashion magazine, so if you've ever watched Ugly Betty you will easily be able to visualise the cutthroat environment portrayed here. There is so much backstabbing and bitchiness behind smiling faces! Josie is painted as so sweet on the outside but dark and manipulative on the inside that you can't help but dislike her, but I wondered where her motivation to destroy Amy had come from.

I loved the flashbacks to Amy's life at Oxford in 1995; a small group of young men and women who have remained friends for many years. Their lives intermingle as they work and holiday together and anyone would give their right arm to be part of their tight-knit group...but what is hiding behind those smiles? Everyone has secrets so put your crash helmet on as they're all about to come out!

Friend of the Family is proper bitch-lit; trust no one in this cutthroat psychological domestic noir novel...but remember to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Didn't want to put it down! Story is based on a high end inherited family business. However. Other family members want control. It has all the elements , sex, love, betrayal, adultery, attempted murder, greed, etc. The book reminds me of Barbara Taylor Bradford's early books. I would recommend this book and hope to read another of this author' s books.

Nat and Jem move to New York when he is offered his dream job - sounds perfect, but is it? They become friends with a group of very rich people who spend their weekends in the exclusive, upmarket Hamptons where there is a mystery concerning Alice, one of the previous weekenders. Jem makes it her mission to find out what happened. This was a very easy to read story which flowed along nicely as the reader discovers the murky doings of the jet set. Although it was easy to see how it would all pan out, it didn't detract at all from the book. Loved the New York/Hamptons descriptions and the cover too. Exactly the type of book to accompany a holiday!

Jim Johnson goes with his parents to Savannah in the Deep South. Jim merts Jennifer Wyatt, the daughter of the owners of Casa D'Or, the plantation house by the lake. Jim and Jennifer very quickly get to know each other. That summer tragedy strikes. Twenty years later Jim is back to restore the house into a hotel.

This book appealed to me instantly. I loved the picture on the cover and the description of the story. The book sounded very much in the vain of Kate Morton. I enjoy these type of books as for me they are stories that pull me in and I can get lost in.

This book was ok. It had the story, the rambling house, likeable main characters and of course the big secret. I found the book however very flowery. It was what I call a surface book, as in it doesn't go too deep. When it came to the secret there was more than one. The one secret for me was one too much and didn't do anything for the story whats so ever. In a way it spolit the story, it wasn't needed. It seemed that all the characters needed their own secret which for me it didnt work.

The book was a pleasant read but I didn't feel as engrossed as I would have liked to. An average rambling house story.

Thank you to Headline via Netgalley for the chance to read and review the book.

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 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.

It could have done without the love sceens. ok I know that I am in a minority of wishing that if they are not part of the story they would not bother with them but this did feel as if someone had gone over the story and slotted in a couple of sexie bits.
well done however of actually keeping me guessing till the end - I had so thought that the second male love interest would turn out bad (but then again I am a cynic).
The story is told from two main viewpoints and wonderfully their were two destinct personalatires behind them

Sometimes you just need a fun book. A book that will take you on a journey that doesn’t require too much on your behalf, yet is fun and entertaining. Recently stricken by a cold, I picked up this book to read (its weight was about my limit at the time). It’s what some may term a ‘bonkbuster’ – yes, there’s sex, but not as much as the Fifty Shades series and not requiring cable ties. There’s also glamour, fashion, beauty, intrigue and a lot of emotions (plotting, planning and parading). There’s a big cast too – it took me a little while to work out who was who and more importantly, who their allegiances were to! Once I had that sorted (a Penny Vincenzi style list of characters would have been helpful), I was ready to enjoy the ride.

Original Sin focuses on the Asgill family, who run a cosmetics empire that is fading. Their hopes of a boost in American society rest on Brooke Asgill marrying America’s answer to the Kennedy family. However, the rest of the Asgill family as not as clean as the head of the family would like, so mother Meredith hires a PR manager to ‘handle’ any items that come up before the wedding. Tess, an ex-tabloid journalist, certainly has her hands full! One Asgill has been snapped enjoying substances, another is blackmailed after an incident in a bathroom and another just seems to have plain bad luck. Can Tess ensure the wedding occurs and the Asgills fall into line?

I really enjoyed this novel. It was perfect to pop into and out of when I was feeling a bit dodgy, as well as eating in big chunks when I was awake but confined to the couch. There’s drama aplenty to keep you turning the pages. My main concern was that the characters initially needed a little more to distinguish themselves from each other, but I got that straight as I read further (and possibly as my head cleared). For those of you experiencing summer at the moment, this would be an ideal holiday read to while away the hours on the beach or aeroplane. Alternately, it’s a great book to snuggle under a rug with while you’re next to a fire! Original Sin is great escapist fantasy – plenty of money, sex, glamour and fashion. While the ending was unexpected for me, it fit in with the book’s themes very well.

Tasmina Perry’s books are not a cliché of this genre and well worth checking out if you’re after a lighter read.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com (My book blog)

I read all the author's books; Daddy's Girls, Gold Diggers, Guilty Pleasures, Original Sins, and Kiss Heaven Goodbye. To be truthfully, i have been waiting for this book for awhile and was very happy to know that i can buy it from Booksonboard. The book begin with the story of Anna joining the prestigious law firm, Donovan Pierce and was assigned to Sam Charles' case. She failed to have the injunction to stop the media from exposing the adultery committed by Sam and this has hit her hard. She determined to find the culprit who have exposed the story to the media without realising her investigation has lead to major discovery.

The book is rather thick and for its ebook version, it have 510 pages, It was rather lengthy but as it also have other subplots, such as the relationship between Anna with her parents and sisters, her relationship with Sam, Sam and his relationship with Jessica, and the relationship between Matthew and Larry has added some excitement to the story. I find that although the book's synopsis focuses on Anna, the actual fact was that due to the subplots, this have make the focus on Anna's diminishes.

Overall, the book is generally ok to read; with good plot and characters. ;)

Set in the glitzy and glamorous world of film, lawyers and the media, this is a chick-lit style thriller involving dirty dealings, skulduggery and murder.

It's a fast paced read and I particularly liked the characters of Anna and Matthew, two of the lawyers, and enjoyed their roles and storylines. However, I thought there were far too many other characters who were far too perfect. I also thought it was far too long with too many plot lines. It started off well and then got quite confusing with all the different threads and complications. I think it could have been condensed a little.

My book was an advance reading copy and I expected a certain amount of omissions and mistakes. Unfortunately, due to the numerous, and I mean numerous, amount of errors, including actual name changes and completely incorrect words/grammar, the writing did not flow for me. This was a shame as I cannot say if it was well written or not and I feel that this is a little unfair on the author. I also think this went some way to spoiling my reading experience.

Nevertheless, I think it would make a good beach read with only the sound of the waves in your ears and a cocktail for company! It would definitely take you into a different world.

I enjoyed this book even though technically there weren't any surprises in it. You could easily see where each part of the story was leading and how things would turn out, but that didn't prevent it from being a good, easy read. The book is quite long (over 650 pages), but this enables the full story to unfold without being rushed and enabled the characters to fully develop. Some of the characters are easy to relate to where others are just plain nasty or annoying, but it's touches like this that stop it becomming dull - you can't like everyone! I would be interested in reading other books by this author.

Not bad. I've read worse. Good story, but sometimes the narrative was sub-par. But overall, not bad.

Nicht gerade überwältigend, habe mich mehr durch das Buch gezwungen.