Customer Reviews

Rumor Has It: In a town this small, a secret is hard to keep

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've just recently discovered the writing of Jill Mansell and even though some of her books are harder to get here in the states she's worth the wait to have them shipped from England if you have to. Rumor Has It is no exception; fun, quirky characters make this book a quick can't miss hit.

Tilly Cole has just been left by her boyfriend but she's not all that disappointed because she's been trying to get him to break it off for awhile. A previous breakup has made her afraid to end it with men so she usually acts in a way that will guarantee an end of the relationship by her boyfriend. Not having any attachments she impulsively finds a job in the small town her best friend lives in and moves in with her new employer. Her new job as a "girl Friday" which basically means she takes care of her employer's daughter, cooks dinner and does odd jobs allows her to meet the town heartthrob Jack Lucas. She is warned by everyone she knows in town to stay away from Jack because of his reputation for sleeping with all of the women in town and Tilly's resolved to remain friends with him and resist his romantic advances.

If you've read Jill Mansell before then you know there is always lots and lots of interesting subplots in each book that can sometimes be more engrossing than the main plots. This book has Erin, Tilly's best friend and her many speed bumps in the road to love. I won't go into detail but dating a man who is separated from his wife is no easy task for Erin.

I love the easy style in which Mansell writes. Her books are always quite long (300+ pages which is a lot for chick lit) but they never seem to take long to read. I always find myself having a hard time putting the books down when it is time to go to bed, which to me is a the measure of a good book. Generally speaking I don't like books where there are more than one plot going on but for some reason I don't have a problem with it when reading Jill's books. She writes characters that I would like to be friends with and that is why her books are so fun to read.

I am going to say right off the bat that I really could never get into Chick Lit, that is until now. This is the most hilarious story with that off the wall pure British comedy that will make you chuckle from page one to the end. This author has certainly shown me that light and fluff with a great storyline, a few important messages and some just down and out comedy is what you need every now and then. OMG, I'm still chuckling. I am so going to have to check out the rest of this author's line of books.

Rumor Has It is about Tilly who being dumped by her live in boyfriend ends up taking a live in position as a Girl Friday. Her boss is a hunka hunka but low and behold he is gay. Oh well, not the end of the world for Tilly as she's not looking really and there are plenty of fish in the ocean.

Along comes Jack Lucas. Tall, dark, oozing with sexual charm that draws you in like bees to honey. Oh baby is he hot. So hot in fact that he is known about town by every female old enough to have her hormones in working order.

Tilly is warned by everyone to stay away from Jack as he would only break her heart and chalk her up as another notch on his bedpost. Thank goodness Tilly has the strength of Hercules in the will department. Ahhh, but who says that even that will protect her in the end. Will she give in or will Jack break her heart into millions of shattering pieces.

The author has done a fabulous job above and beyond anything I would have ever expected. I love the sense of humor, the solid storyline with it's hidden messages that are a strong reminder to one and all. The play of emotions is outstanding and oh gee I just don't know what more to say without giving it all away. Guess you'll have to read for yourself and see what a hoot this book truly is.

THREE QUICK POINTS
* Point 1: Predictable. It's the nature of the beast with chick lit, but in the case of Jack & Tilly, it's a bit more obvious than necessary.

* Point 2: Slow start. The really "good stuff" doesn't begin to reveal itself until about chapter six, so a reader will need to exercise a bit of patience.

* Point 3: Culture shock. I've read a bit of Brit chick lit, but this one seemed especially heavy on the Briticisms. Fair warning for the Yanks.

SHORT SYNOPSIS
Tilly Cole's boyfriend has left her. Just like that. She comes home one day to find all his stuff moved out. So she takes a trip to visit her best friend Erin in the small town of Roxborough to drown her sorrows. But the small town dug its claws into Tilly and she ends up taking a job as a Girl Friday with one of its more prominent residents, Max Dineen and his teenage daughter Louisa. Through her connection with Max, Tilly meets the most coveted (and infamous) bachelor in town, Jack Lucas and Tilly tries everything in her power not to fall for his charms.

MY THOUGHTS
I had to start this book a couple different times because it took a while to get into. It does open with a relative bang--Tilly coming home to a half cleaned out apartment--but I found Tilly to be a rather bland character. Then around chapter six when the other characters and sub-stories were introduced, the pace, and appeal, of the book immediately picked up.

For me, Tilly was too plain Jane. Every once in a while she trips over something or says the wrong thing, but it felt more contrived than anything. Then there's Jack. Everyone is whispering that he's a playboy and warning Tilly off of him. Yet another contrivance and I never really got into the blossoming of their relationship.

Thing is, I adored the side stories of Erin and Kaye. They were hilarious. Erin seemed far more real and affable than Tilly and Kaye was just off the wall wacky (reigned in when necessary, of course). Even Louisa, Kaye and Max's teenage daughter, was just the right amount of quirky; watching her story unravel was quite pleasant. These would be the reasons I'd recommend reading this book and although the relationship between Tilly and Jack is supposed to be center stage, it read like a placeholder.

Also, (speaking to the Non-Brits, here) if you aren't used to reading British literature or watching the BBC, this book will take some getting used to. There are a number of slang terms used throughout-- enough to make you raise an eyebrow and wonder what just happened. Once you get used to them, though, it's smooth sailing.

At the end of the day, I'd recommend reading it for the lighthearted and often comical side-stories, but don't expect too much from the two main characters' romance. It's sweet, but not Earth-altering.

This book was a quick and easy read and it was enjoyable, but it was really predictable. I tried Jill Mansell because I had heard she was similar to Sophie Kinsella but I don't enjoy her writing nearly as much. I missed the laugh-out-loud moments! I think it's worth it to read if you can get it on sale, but otherwise I'd pass for something more well written with a bit more wit.

I really enjoy Jill Mansell's writing. She brings in not just one heroine and one hero, but a full cast of characters who are diverse, witty, and up for a hilarious romp and her stories are rich with the side stories of all her characters. This story was no exception and I appreciated all these aspects of Rumor Has It and highly recommend it as a fun, light read with a strong English flavor. My favorite part was when the auntie brought out tea with grapes floating in it - hilarious for anyone but particularly for us Brits who do like our tea!

Jill Mansell books are ridiculous..... they're bubble-gummy, over-the-top, crazy fun stories with a ton of characters and a lot of different storylines...... yet, they just WORK! In this book, we meet Tilly.... and Jack, Erin, Fergus, Max, Lou, Kaye, Stella, Amy, Gavin, Parker, etc. etc.

It's the kind of book you want to pick up on a rainy day and just enjoy how silly and light it is. Word of warning about this one though - there is one particular storyline that is a tad heavy, involving cancer. Pretty unusual considering the other 2 Mansell books I've read, so I wanted to point that out. Otherwise, the same breezy style fans of Mansell are used to.

It took me a while to warm up to this style of writing - the book is narrated in 3rd person (which I usually don't enjoy), and the characters sometimes speak to you, the reader.... but in the end, I found the writing to be just right. The more Mansell books I read, the more I enjoy her storytelling. Can't wait to pick up my next one!

The humor is great! The characters are fun. I enjoyed this book! Jill Mansell is a wonderful author!

Rumors. Everyone has heard them. Some funny and some are hurtful! Some rumors are just weird! In the book Rumor Has It by Jane B. Mason and Sarah Hines Stephens. It is just rumor central! Rumors morph into a slam book that involves the 6th and some of the 7th graders. Audrey is the main character. Maliee is the new girl from California. Audrey's plan is to become friends with the new kid but her plan just doesn't work...at least in the beginning. Other kids help on the plan and mess it up! Read more to find out if Audrey and Maliee ever become friends! This book has 160 pages.
Have you ever heard a rumor or even you were in it? Well I'm pretty sure you have at least heard one. Well both of these happened to Audrey. Audrey was always in the middle. But then it takes a big when she creates a slam book. Now you're probably wondering "Why would she ever create a slam book?" Maliee. She's the new girl from California. Audrey really wants to be her friend but she doesn't know how too. So that's why she creates a slam book to find out what Maliee thinks of her. But when her best friend, Carmen gets mad at her. What will she do to get even?
My favorite part in the book is when Audrey and Carmen get in a fight. And Carmen does something to get even. It really made want to keep reading and reading to find out what would happen to there friendship. And since I don't want to ruin the surprise let me just say, what she does is totally unexpected. And you wonder "Will they ever be friends again?" You'll have to read more to find out...
From this book I learned that rumors are awful. Try not to tell them. Try not to even listen to them. And another thing I learned was when you see someone that you really want to meet it won't hurt to go up to them and say something simple like "Hi!" or something.
Similar books can be found in the series " A candy apple book" they're really good. And I know some of them look a little girly but just try one. They are very fun and entertaining.
This book is pretty good. It started out a little slow for me. I mean when ever there was a really good part it was really slow to find out what happened next. And if this book isn't for you, there's other really good books in the series " A candy apple book."
My star rating: 4

Londoner Tilly Cole walks into her home one day to discover her live-in boyfriend of many years has "done a runner." Startled by just how heartbroken she doesn't feel, Tilly gets away to visit her friend Erin in Roxborough, out in the Cotswolds, for a little fresh air and time to regroup. It's there that she meets Max Dineen, a local single dad, and his daughter Lou -- as well as Jack Lucas, the "tragic widower" whose gorgeous physique compete with his quick wit and friendly manner in terms of grabbing Tilly's attention.

Knowing she has little left for her in London and eager to begin a new phase of her life, Tilly takes a job working as Max and Lou's "Girl Friday," helping out with Max's interior decorating business and generally being a pal and helper for teenage Lou. When Kaye, Lou's mom and Max's ex-wife, is caught up in a Hollywood scandal and returns to England, Tilly immediately worries her easy relationship with the Dineens will be threatened -- and her services no longer required. But it's not as simple as all that.

In fact, nothing in RUMOR HAS IT is simple -- or an easy out, as far as Mansell's concerned. Bring into the fold the burgeoning love between Erin and Fergus, a man still plagued by his drama queen ex-wife Stella, and a complete cast of extra quirky characters and then just try not to be bewitched by Roxborough. I certainly was.

In all of my far-ranging experience with chick lit, it doesn't get much more "chick lit-y" than Mansell -- and, for that matter, no British chick lit author surpasses her in my eyes. Her writing is so fresh and fun and the male leads so charismatic, it's impossible not to fall in love with the men in her books.

What I love about Mansell's novels are the realistic, fun and funky heroines -- ordinary women who aren't models, aren't wildly successful, aren't supernaturally beautiful: just regular people capable of great feeling. Tilly thinks like I do, acts like I do -- has ridiculous things happen to her, just like we all do. (Think reeking of garlic breath just as the man of your dreams finally comes in for a romantic kiss. Yeah.) It's the tiny details that set this and other novels, like MILLIE'S FLING, apart for me. And I adore them.

Tilly Cole has a bad track record of failed relationships. The thing is that they are Tilly's fault. When she doesn't want to be with a guy any longer, she pushes them away until they break up with her. After her latest break up, Tilly packs up and moves away. She gets a job as a Girl Friday.

Jack Lucas is the most desirable man. All the ladies want him. Luckily for Tilly, Jack wants her.

Rumor Has It is the fifth book I have read by Ms. Mansell. While, I liked the light-hearted, jolly tone of this book, it wasn't one of my favorites. Though, I can say that I still plan to read more of Jill Mansell's novels as I enjoy them. They are a nice break from the dark, serious, suspense/thriller books I read.

The thing I didn't really care for in this book was all the different characters and story lines there seemed to be. Every character was a main character versus some being secondary. I don't mind many characters but they all came at me really fast. I didn't get much time to get to know them better before they were introduced to me. Rumor Has It that if you like chick lit books and are looking for a summer read, then you might just like this book.