For All the Wrong Reasons: A Novel [Mass Market Paperback]

Louise Bagshawe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 14, 2003

Diana Foxton is the toast of New York. She's rich, British, and beautiful, with a designer wardrobe to die for. Recently married to the head of a publishing empire, she fills her days with shopping, gossiping, and hosting the hottest parties in town. But when Diana discovers her husband is having an affair, her glamorous bubble bursts. She suddenly finds herself without any money or job qualifications, shunned by the glittering society that she once ruled. On her own for the first time, she takes the only job she can get, exchanges her Manolo Blahniks for Payless, and tries awkwardly--and hilariously--to settle into the life of a woman who does her own laundry, buys her own groceries, and takes the bus. Will she attempt to regain her throne? And can romance find her again?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Bright, brash, and breezy...a classic riches-to-rags-to-riches tale. Toss this sexy read into your Gucci beachbag and enjoy." --Antoinette Stockenberg, author of Tidewater

"Unputdownable Bagshawe." --Cosmopolitan

"Ms. Bagshawe's latest is full of lively characters amidst the bustling New York atmosphere..." --Romantic Times

"This American debut by the author of four erotic bestsellers in the U.K. serves fair warning that there's a new sexy romance queen panting at the gates, with one difference: Bagshawe doesn't try to sugar-coat her characters' ruthless, selfish, or venal behavior, giving her story a witty edge....Designing Women meets The Wife of Bath's Tale in this blithely erotic name-dropping romp through Tiffany's, Cartier and an entire Yellow Pages of designer showrooms and posh eateries....this title could hit the big time--Jackie Collins, watch out!" --Publishers Weekly

"Glitz galore..." --Kirkus Reviews

"Even more compulsive than Jackie Collins' latest."--Company

"A gripping tale of revenge & ambition...Brilliant." --Heat

From the Back Cover

"Jackie Collins, watch out!" --Publishers Weekly

"Bright, brash, and breezy...a classic riches-to-rags-to-riches tale. Toss this sexy read into your Gucci beachbag and enjoy." --Antoinette Stockenberg, Author of Tidewater

Diana Foxton is the toast of New York. She's rich, British, and beautiful, with a designer wardrobe to die for. Recently married to the head of a publishing empire, she fills her days with shopping, gossiping, and hosting the hottest parties in town. But when Diana discovers her husband is having an affair, her glamorous bubble bursts. She suddenly finds herself without any money or job qualifications, shunned by the glittering society that she once ruled. On her own for the first time, she takes the only job she can get, exchanges her Manolo Blahniks for Payless, and tries awkwardly--and hilariously--to settle into the life of a woman who does her own laundry, buys her own groceries, and takes the bus. Will she attempt to regain her throne? And can romance find her again?

"Unputdownable Bagshawe." --Cosmopolitan

"Ms. Bagshawe's latest is full of lively characters amidst the bustling New York atmosphere..." --Romantic Times

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; First Edition edition (March 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312987285
• ISBN-13: 978-0312987282
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #311,909 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A fair read, December 13, 2005

By 

Gigi Fufu "gigi fufu" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: For All the Wrong Reasons: A Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

This book started out interesting and then got bogged down by Ms. Bagshawe's repetitivenes.

The novel tells the story of Diana, a spolied and beautiful English woman who marries Ernie. Ernie is not an upper-class man, but has become quite wealthy as a corporate raider type in a big publishing firm. Together they move to New York City where Diana becomes a society wife while Ernie becomes even more ruthless in business. During the course of Ernie's business dealings, he meets Michael Cicero, a small publisher of children's books. He takes a dislike to Michael and vows to destroy him.

Meanwhle, Diana and Ernie's marriage falls apart and Diana is left humiliated and penniless. Somehow, she manages to fend for herself and begins working with Michael. A love affair of course ensues.

It makes for a fast read but is very much spoiled by repetitiveness. Bagshawe must provide at least a hundred descriptions of Diana's beauty, Michael's attraction to Diana, and Diana's attraction to Michael. This gets very old and makes the story drag on and on.

A fair try but is in desperate need of more imaginaion and good editing.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Are the characters supposed to be one-dimensional, November 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: For All the Wrong Reasons: A Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

I picked out this book and really liked how the back cover sounded so set to reading it right away... I was disapointed.. the story although good and funny at parts lacked any warmth or empathy for the characters. It seemed the book was just full of descriptions of either products, clothes, or the main character (Diana's) body. And frankly I don't need to hear how perfect her breasts are one more time, give us a little more depth next time.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Romantic tale of revenge, May 31, 2005

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: For All the Wrong Reasons: A Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

Diana Foxton marries publisher Ernie for money, hoping that the love will come along later if she provides a great home for him. After expressing boredom, she asks one of his new managers for a position in his office. Michael is not really enthusiastic about hiring British Diana as he thinks she is too cold and unfeeling.

Michael also does not realize that the plum contract he signed with Ernie will render him penniless, as Ernie is a known shark, and plans to steal Michael's business out from under him.

Shocked that Ernie has a predilection S&M, as well as a mistress at the office, Diana immediately leaves him, and confides in what she thinks is her best friend. Of course, Felicity soon takes advantage and moves in on Ernie. Just as Diana is served with divorce papers, Michael has the rug pulled out from underneath him and he is bitter. The divorce pretty much leaves her broke.

Shortly thereafter, Diana seeks him out for a reference. He gives her another chance, and soon the two become partners in creating education game software. After a few sleepless nights, the two become more than partners in the office, but because both have been hurt and are not ready to fully express the depth of their feelings, they part and start to see others. Diana meets up with a real estate mogul (which further enhances Michael's feelings that she is just after money); while Michael takes up with the trampy office secretary.

Ernie soon finds out about their enterprise and tries to ruin the two again - his feelings are that once he has knocked someone down, they need to stay there. Michael and Diana are ready for him this time. They soon start to question the chemistry between each other and try to come to terms with whether or not they want to be together once and for all, and whether it is for all the right reasons.