Book Review
New York Dolls by Catherine L. Hensley
Publisher: 48fourteen Publishing
Publication Date: November 14, 2014
Format: Paperback - 278 pages
Kindle - 4736 KB
Nook - 10 MB
ISBN: 978-1937546397
ASIN: B00PGJ1S9M
BNID: 2940150532779
Genre: Chick Lit
BUY THE BOOK: New York Dolls
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
Book Description:
Denton’s assignment: Get in the show at the posh Regency Viscount Hotel, and find a story. But a chance encounter with hard-partying starlet Amber Donovan forever changes the course of the night—and Denton’s life. After a night of being chased by the paparazzi, swimming in swag bags, and falling heart over heels for Hollywood hunk Chris West, Denton’s not just on the story. She is the story.
Suddenly, Denton’s no longer merely a low-level assistant. Amber’s latching on like a BFF from hell, Chris is flirting and cooking her dinner, and as Denton falls for the real people behind the tabloid screen, neither knows about her ties to Glitter. Only Denton holds the secret—or so she thinks. Is Anna Creel, Glitter’s icy beauty editor, on to her? Will Denton be able to write a story exposing her new friends? And is Chris more than just a friend, or did Glitter get the headline right—“Chris and Amber: Hot Nights!”?
Step into the spotlight, and peek beyond the red carpet in New York Dolls.
Book Excerpt:
I took Josie’s hand so as not to lose her to another bouncer this time. We made it onto the dance floor, weaving through the bumpers and grinders getting low, low, low. I spotted the doorway opening to the patio, finally, up ahead past the edge of the dance floor and to the side of the roped-off VIP area. Josie and I joined the line for the patio. Almost done, I kept thinking, like passing through this one final portal would be my rite of passage out of the tornado I’d gotten myself twisted up in. I wouldn’t have to lie that I’d been to the after-party. I could describe the scene, maybe see someone I recognized from the RV and get a quote. Or maybe Liz would buy an investigative journalism angle on this whole thing—“A Glitter World Exclusive: Reporter Denton Hodges Reveals Amber Donovan’s Hair Secret.” Play it like I was onto it all along.
And think of the material I could use—a puking Amber Donovan, needy, desperate, confused, not sure where she is or where she’s going, and Prince Charming Chris West, concerned, involved, pissed about having to make an appearance somewhere but willing to stay with you and make sure you’re all right, even giving you the shirt off his back. Who cares about what happened in between? I could take what I needed. This could be my exit—the patio outside and then a few slights of the pen. Waiting in that line, plotting so many ways to cover my ass and make it all neat and tidy, I felt dirty, and something more...something like...devious. For the first time since Liz had given me this assignment, I really felt like Anna Creel. Like I got the story, I did what I had to, and that’s all that matters, so go have a freaking fashionable night, because I’m...
“Denny!” MD was coming down the stairs from a VIP booth. “Oh my G!”
“Dee-Dee!” Amber pushed past the rope from the patio, tripping on her way toward me. Her purple wig had been replaced with a cherry-colored red one. “Oh my God, Dee-Dee! Where have you been? I neeeeeed you!”
“Anna?” That voice. I hope I’ll see you around.
I remembered his voice. He came up behind me and put his hand on my lower back. “Do you want to get out of here?” Why yes, Chris West, yes, actually I do. I don’t think I have the scoop on the story anymore. I am the story.
And think of the material I could use—a puking Amber Donovan, needy, desperate, confused, not sure where she is or where she’s going, and Prince Charming Chris West, concerned, involved, pissed about having to make an appearance somewhere but willing to stay with you and make sure you’re all right, even giving you the shirt off his back. Who cares about what happened in between? I could take what I needed. This could be my exit—the patio outside and then a few slights of the pen. Waiting in that line, plotting so many ways to cover my ass and make it all neat and tidy, I felt dirty, and something more...something like...devious. For the first time since Liz had given me this assignment, I really felt like Anna Creel. Like I got the story, I did what I had to, and that’s all that matters, so go have a freaking fashionable night, because I’m...
“Denny!” MD was coming down the stairs from a VIP booth. “Oh my G!”
“Dee-Dee!” Amber pushed past the rope from the patio, tripping on her way toward me. Her purple wig had been replaced with a cherry-colored red one. “Oh my God, Dee-Dee! Where have you been? I neeeeeed you!”
“Anna?” That voice. I hope I’ll see you around.
I remembered his voice. He came up behind me and put his hand on my lower back. “Do you want to get out of here?” Why yes, Chris West, yes, actually I do. I don’t think I have the scoop on the story anymore. I am the story.
My Book Review:
As a Chick Lit fan, I am always looking to read a story that will let me escape into a world that has a good mixture of humor, romance, and drama, and New York Dolls is that book!
Author Catherine L. Hensley weaves an entertaining tale that follows the journey of Denton Hodges, an intern at Glitter magazine, who gets a chance to go behind the scenes of the Big Apple's fashion industry's famous annual Fashion Week in search of a story ... and boy does she get one ... staring herself! Sampling the glitz, glamour, and excitement of the annual week long event and rubbing elbows with stars is some heady stuff for Denton, and it kicks up into high gear when she finds herself in the center of a paparazzi frenzy when she befriends starlet Amber Donovan and falls head of heels for Hollywood hunk Chris West! But there is just one tiny problem ... her assignment to get gossip for Glitter ... so what's a girl to do when she has a secret that could expose her new found friends and cost her a chance at romance too?
New York Dolls was everything that I hoped it would be: a fun, sassy, romantic, humorous, and dramatic Chick Lit tale that easily drew me into Denton's story. The author provides the reader with quirky characters, a thoroughly entertaining storyline, and richly vivid descriptions of New York, and a behind the scenes look at the fashion industry and it's famous annual Fashion Week. This story reminded me a lot of The Devil Wears Prada, a movie/book that is one of my favorites, so I easily found myself hooked, amused, smiling, and laughing as Denton's story unfolded with a lot crazy drama, chaos, romance, and turmoil.
New York Dolls is a well written, lighthearted, and fun read, it has everything that Chick Lit fans could hope for and then some.
RATING: 4 STARS
About The Author
Catherine L. Hensley is a professional freelance editor and writer. From fiction and nonfiction manuscripts to academic pieces, she provides an extensive range of copyediting, proofreading, content editing, and writing services to a wide variety of clients located around the United States and abroad.
A native of south Louisiana, Catherine received her master of arts degree in creative writing and media studies from New York University and her bachelor of arts degree in English from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, with minors in history and mass communication. Her writing has appeared in The Advocate (Louisiana’s largest newspaper), OT Practice magazine, Quiet Mountain: New Feminist Essays, and Mused, the BellaOnline Literary Review.
AUTHOR WEBSITE
GOODREADS
Virtual Book Tour
Tour Schedule:
January 6 - Polishedand Bubbly- Review & Excerpt
January 7 - Mrs.Mommy Booknerd’s Book Reviews – Excerpt
January 8 - Chick LitPlus – Review
January 9 - Reecas Pieces – Review
January 12 - Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt
January 13 - The Phantom Paragrapher – Review
January 14 - Bookish - Review
January 14 - Two Children and a Migraine – Review & excerpt
January 15 - Book Suburbia- Excerpt
January 16 - Ski-Wee’s Book Corner – Review & Excerpt
January 16 - Authors and Readers Book Corner – Excerpt
Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your review! I'm glad you enjoyed the book. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine! Thank you for the opportunity to host your virtual book tour event. I really enjoyed reading New York Dolls. :)
DeleteI always enjoy reading a good chick-lit book from time to time, and definitely need to read more humorous books. So I know where to turn when I need one of those now!
ReplyDelete