REVIEW for Love Lies

Thank you goes out to Barbara at Penguin books for sending this to me!

TITLE: Love Lies

AUTHOR: Adele Parks

GENRE: Chick Lit

RATING: 4 Stars

I use to read Adele Parks a long, long time ago and then, for some reason, I stopped. I was wondering why I ever did this, especially after reading Love Lies which is a book that just attached itself to my romantic side as well as my vivid imagination of "what if".

This book looks at the "one" thing that most women have thought about at one point or another in their life - "what would it be like to be with a famous guy and to live "the" life", instead of staying home with hubby/boyfriend who has become predictable and, let's face it, a little boring. Well, hang on to your hat, you are about to find out.

The one thought that kept coming through my head as I read this book was "watch what you asked for, you might get it". Fern is our main character - she has an average life, with an average boyfriend of four years and, oh boy!, she is about to turn the big 3-0(why is this considered such a bad thing anyway? 30 is pretty young as far as I am concerned). So, for her 30th b-day, Fern does the unthinkable - she gives her boyfriend Adam an ultimatum - gimme a ring for my 30th or else!!! now, we ALL know how much guys LOVE ultimatums... and predictably, on her 30th birthday, Adam (who works in the world of rock and roll) gives Fern an "all access" pass for a show - where she meets Scottie Taylor.

There are sparks and Scottie and Fern become the "it" couple. He is a huge sensation in the music world and she gets to live the life of "the pop god's girlfriend". Fern takes full advantage of it and loves that women are jealous of her - she is Scottie's girl and he is the man she has always wanted - but wait! is he?

This is where the novel gets very, very exciting. There are some great descriptions of life in the limelight, lots of overindulgence and even some kind of sad and creepy moments. But what works best is that Fern's mind and heart won't shut up - although she "wants" to believe that this is the answer to all her problems, I mean what a glorious life and what a glorious guy, Fern realizes that, perhaps, some of her problems cannot be cured by simply changing locations or boyfriends and that sometimes, things may be way better in your imagination than in real life. Yet, there are some great, great moments with Scottie - what girl would ever want to turn away from this.

Parks writes beautifully - and makes all of the characters come to life. At times, I felt as though I was right on the stage - watching and listening to Scottie - made me dream my own thoughts of romance in the world of rock and roll. Yet, Parks also makes some valid points, behind the words and this is the best part of her novel.

I loved, loved, this book and no, I will not tell you who Fern ends up with - its up to you to read this great book :)