Face Value [Mass Market Paperback]

Kathleen Baird-Murray (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 3, 2008

Small-town reporter Kate Miller has never been a fashion do––until now.

Kate Miller is no beauty expert. The rookie reporter from small-town England can’t walk properly in a pair of heels and doesn’t know the first thing about waxing. But then she receives an incredible phone call. Darling magazine in New York wantsher to be their new beauty editor! So what if she has no idea whether gray eyeshadow is the new black kohl? Suddenly Kate—along with her deep-discount clothes and hopelessly dated hair—is in the Big Apple, being swept away by the world of fashion. But she better find a way to put a positive spin on plastic surgery for the big yearly supplement or she’ll lose everything––including the hotshot plastic surgeon-to-the-stars who thinks Kate’s beauty is way more than skin deep.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Kate Miller is an earnest reporter for a small-town newspaper and a no-frills kind of girl, but when the editor of New York’s Darling magazine calls out of the blue and asks her to be the new beauty editor, she can hardly turn down the opportunity. Kate manages to muddle through her first week, picking knowledge up as she goes along and finding she likes the perks of the high-fashion world. But when she is sent to L.A. for Darling’s special plastic-surgery supplement, she is determined to turn it around from the shallow promotion it normally is. In L.A. she meets the renowned plastic surgeon John Kingsley III and takes an immediate dislike to him after his secretary introduces Kate to a woman whose Kingsley-performed plastic surgery went horribly wrong. But just as Kate is posing as a beauty guru, the surgeon, his victim, Kate’s editor, and even her French coworker are not what they seem. Fans of Marian Keyes will enjoy this story of literal and figurative makeovers and cover-ups. --Hilary Hatton

Review

“Deliciously taut and sparky. A fascinating subject for a novel…It really is rare for popular fiction to handle such an incendiary controversial subject so well.””
--Marian Keyes

“A great read. Reaffirms my Botox.”
--Trinny Woodall, cohost of What Not To Wear

“A fun and fantastic romp through the world of glamour as only a true insider can know.”
--Poppy King

" [F]ans of Marian Keyes will enjoy this story of literal and figurative make- overs and cover-ups ."
--Booklist

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (June 3, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425221458
• ISBN-13: 978-0425221457
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,310,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born. Grew up in Maidstone, bar short period in Malta due to father being in Navy. Sent off to boarding school in Torquay, a town whose claim to fame is as the setting for John Cleese's Fawlty Towers. School had severe religious tendencies, still wondering what I did wrong. Studied Law at University of Sussex because everyone told me to study English or History. This proved to be pathetic act of rebellion but taught me lifelong lesson that I am not always right. Modelled for several years, humiliating myself on Marks and Spencers bra packets but causing much mirth for friends and family therefore can be perceived as selfless act of heroism marginally better than waiting tables. Studied journalism in Cardiff, drank so much to alleviate boredom my voice went husky for brief period thus rendering me infinitely attractive. Worked on magazines including year-long stint in Sydney as beauty editor on Marie Claire. Views of ocean, what's not to like? Returned to work on Telegraph, Frank magazine (sadly no more but it wasn't my fault). Married, gave birth on two separate occasions resulting in deliciously beautiful and wildly behaved young children whose sole purpose on this earth seems to be stopping me from working. Spent five and a half years on Tatler magazine as beauty director, during which I wrote How to Be Beautiful (are you still following all this?), then left to write a serious history book about plastic surgery which no one wanted to publish (their loss) so decided instead to write entertaining novel about Kate Miller, young journalist in search of the truth about the beauty industry (and a good time). The rest as they say...

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 50/50, April 30, 2011

By 

Book Lover from GA (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Face Value (Mass Market Paperback)

I think readers of this book fall into one of two camps. Either you love it or hate it. I was attracted to the book because of the blurb I read on the back. I was expecting something like "Jemima J", the ugly duckling to swan story with a twist, but got something else. Once I'd finished the book, I wasn't sure exactly how I felt about it and which camp I was in.

Kate Miller is a writer for a small newspaper Maidstone Bazaar. She likes her job, but doesn't do or go for any of the glamorous stuff. She writes an article on a celebrity television host/reporter and it changes her world around. She gets a call from a New York Fashion magazine, Darling, to be their new beauty editor. Kate knows nothing about beauty, and when she tries to confirm they have the right person, the editor of the magazine gives her an offer and salary she can't refuse, so she takes it.

She's settling in and learning the ropes, when she's sent to LA to meet plastic surgeons and come up with stories for the plastic surgery edition. She meets handsome plastic surgeon John Kingsley III, who comes across as really slimy and someone who has it all; the guy you have a crush on and hate at the same time. Kate who's described as being a before picture, can't understand why all of a sudden this hot plastic surgeon is pursuing her and calling her his muse. Signals get crossed, emotions become high, and all is not what it seems.

I loved how the book was written. It wasn't something I expected. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, something new was revealed. I liked being kept on my toes. Kate was an equally likable character. She felt like a bit of an every-woman. What I didn't like was how often she doubted herself. Dr. Kingsley III was a surprise. I will definitely take a look at Kathleen Baird Murrray's past and future releases. Happy reading! :)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a wonderful find - Loved loved loved this book, September 13, 2008

By 

V. Tydeman (London, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Face Value (Mass Market Paperback)

Bought this book to take on a relaxing holiday on a boat. So glad I did. Just loved it - seriously couldn't put it down till I'd finished much to the upset of my fellow travellers!! Humourous, insightful and wonderfully real, rounded characters. I totally identified with Kate as she embarked on her journey into the scary world of high glamour and all that comes with it. What the 'Devil wears Prada' is to fashion - 'Face Value' is to beauty & glamour. Whatever your views or values - BUY IT -this book with its details and references really takes you behind the scenes for a peek into a world that let's face it we all have a slight fascination for.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rollicking plot in unlikely places., July 1, 2008

By 

O. Daniaud (London, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Face Value (Mass Market Paperback)

Picked this up in New York JFK last week for a more light hearted read as was tiring of my Mussolini biography and couldn't bear to finish my "Bastard on the Couch" manual which has now clocked more airmiles than a UN envoy since it never leaves my cabin holdall. Well I reluctantly have to use that well coined phrase "I could hardly put it down.." (except for cocktail & meal breaks and occasional hops to the lavatory). Face Value has a cracking plot set in unlikey places such as Maidstone, Kent, via NYC and LA-CA where the action unfolds. Kate Miller, the principal hapless character attracts a mix of amused sympathy early on and one really begins to empathise with her plight and admire her determination and gusto. This book fizzes with humour and quirky details that definitely set it aside from your average chick-lit opus. More interestingly Face Value contains little raunchiness but instead well crafted characters. In parts a subtle uderlying sense of menace makes Kate's meanderings in the world of glamour plastic surgery even more rivetting. Definitely worth attention.