Monday, November 22, 2010

Review: "Hollywood Ending" by Lucy Simone & Giveaway

Trina Stewart is in need of a real job- and fast. Her $100,000 in film school debt isn't paying itself, and her job teaching English as a second language is barely paying the bills. Trina loves Hollywood, but apparently Hollywood is not loving her. Complicating things is the fact that she's distracted by her hunky upstairs neighbor, Maitu Wulf, here taking classes on set design so that he can get more recognition in his native New Zealand. If only Maitu didn't seem so disgusted by her mere presence.

Maitu is appalled by Los Angeles, but he's definitely attracted to his downstairs neighbor, Trina. Falling in love with her will certainly interfere with his plans to finish taking his classes and hightail it back to New Zealand. Or will it?

Hollywood Endings was fun and interesting, and thankfully short on the "froth factor" that makes me roll my eyes when reading some chick lit. It's fantastic to see so many women's fiction authors realizing that yes, we want something fun and not overly heavy, but we don't want our books dumbed down either. I appreciated the blossoming romance between Trina and Maitu, and was especially happy when she doesn't turn into a swooning female, forgetting her own dreams and goals, in his presence.

The supporting characters in Hollywood Endings, kick-butt female Juliet (who I'm excited to see may be getting her own novel) and the obnoxious but well-meaning Todd, were a welcome addition to the story, adding depth beyond your typical boy-meets-girl plot. Overall this is a well-written and enjoyable story, and I look forward to reading more by Lucy Simone.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of women's fiction
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010

Thanks to BooksSparks PR I have one copy of Hollywood Endings to give away. To enter:

1. *Mandatory Entry* Tell me: have you ever been to Hollywood? If not, do you plan to go someday? Please include your e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win. No e-mail= no entry.

2. *Bonus Entry* Become a follower of this blog through Google Friend Connect and leave me a separate comment letting me know that you now follow. Already a follower? Great! Just leave me a separate comment letting me know that you already follow.

3. *Bonus Entry* Spread the word about this contest in some way. Facebook about it, Tweet about it, blog about it, or add it to your sidebar. Leave me a separate comment letting me know how you spread the word (maximum one bonus entry for this option).

This contest runs until December 6, 2010 at midnight. Winners will be notified by e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond. Due to publisher's restrictions, this contest is open to US addresses only.

33 comments:

  1. I would love to go to hollywood someday!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I follow through google friend follow!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes, I have. When I had just moved to Southern California, we went there. I am not sure how it is now but I was too scared to park and get out to see Gromann'S Chinese Theatre so we just drove by. But then we took a tour of Universal Studios and loved it. We didn't see any stars but I loved seeing one of the prop rooms and seeing how they could make an instant flood in Italy. We also drove around where the stars were supposed to be living but all we saw where giant outside gates that lead to the mansion that we could not see.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I follow this blog with Google Friend Connect.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I tweeted. My Twitter name is Carolee888

    http://book-chic.blogspot.com/2010/11/review-hollywood-ending-by-lucy-simone.html? See above for giveaway of 'Hollywood Ending'.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for the giveaway!!! I have never been to Hollywood, but I wouldn't mind going someday!!

    areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I follow with GFC!!

    areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have been to Hollywood. We got lost driving trying to get closer to the sign.

    teresasreadingcorner at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great giveaway. I have never been to Hollywood. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Never been to Hollywood but this book sounds interesting. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I will leave the giveaway to someone else to win because I have far too many books in my TBR stack already. I often don't like chick lit - for the reasons you mentioned. Glad to hear this one is different.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dont enter me as I am overseas. Just wanted to say thanks for visiting and following me!

    ReplyDelete
  13. no i have not been to hollywood...

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I went to Hollywood about 9 years ago. The only celebrity I saw was Kelly Osbourne in her car.

    adr52775 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I have never been to Hollywood, and I doubt I will. I prefer the east coast.

    anastasia.trombly [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nope, never been to Hollywood. And I don't think I will ever go. Lots of other places I really want to go before Hollywood or even most or Californa.

    vickykerr[at]sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  17. I tweeted this:

    http://twitter.com/#!/superauntvicky/status/7969413378609153

    vickykerr[at]sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh, yes, I've been to Hollywood. I used to commute to my mid-Wilshire office via the back streets of Hollywood, coming down Melrose or Hollywood Blvd. every morning just as the hookers were calling it a night. :-) Used to love to eat lunch at Nickodell, the restaurant right in front of the Paramount main gate. Have been on the Paramount lot a few times -- watched shows taping, ate in the commissary. Fun stuff. Memorable. As I drove through Hancock Park each morning, I used to regularly see David Groh (Rhoda's husband) out walking his two large dogs. I read recently that he died and that made me feel sad -- a reminder that time has moved on and so much has changed since those days.

    JHS
    Colloquium

    jhsmail at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  19. GFC follower (although your widget is not showing at this time).

    JHS
    Colloquium

    jhsmail at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  20. Have not been to Hollywood but would love to go!
    Smallb@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I am already a follower of your Fabulous Blog!! :)

    Smallb@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I have been to Hollywood, but it was about 15 years ago, and I don't remember much about the visit. :(

    shanaelyse@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I follow with GFC!

    shanaelyse@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I've never been to Hollywood and not sure if I want to go.
    mdmartin076@bellsouth.net

    ReplyDelete
  25. I've never been to Hollywood. I do plan to go there someday, if I have enough money to cover the traveling expenses.

    aikychien at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm a follower.

    aikychien at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I tweeted:

    http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/10285070405345282

    aikychien at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I have been to Hollywood and was very disappointed. I did not see any celebrities!
    ra6352 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I am a follower.
    ra6352 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I shared on facebook.
    ra6352 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Yes i have. I loved it!

    billiondollarprincesss@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I've never been to Hollywood or even California. But if I ever get the chance I'd love to go visit. :0)

    Thanks!
    librarygrinch at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Congratulations to Aik who won! I've sent you an e-mail.

    ReplyDelete