Review: 'Pretty Famous' by Carla Caruso (2015)

Celeste Pretty is getting married!
A dark secret from Hollywood's Golden Age. A possible prince-in-hiding. Astonvale's about to implode...
Professional organiser Celeste Pretty swore she'd never work with uber-blonde interior designer Imogen Karmel again, but then she's presented with a project she can't refuse. The prestigious Astonvale College is celebrating its centenary and needs the pair to ensure the festivities go off without a hitch.
As Celeste sets to work in a flurry of activity - in between organising her own engagement party - she finds herself blowing away the cobwebs on a sixty-year-old secret.
Meanwhile, Imogen becomes enamoured with a substitute teacher, Hudson Addison, who may or may not be a royal in hiding. And there's nothing Imogen dreams of more than becoming a princess.
Will all be revealed on party night?
For quite a long time now I have gotten used to saving some of the novels I've been most excited about for when I go on holiday. I love having some great reads to look forward to while I'm away from home; reads which I am sure won't disappoint me. So, for my summer holiday this year I had already put aside a book which I really looked forward to reading: Carla Caruso's third part of the Astonvale series titled 'Pretty Famous.' I loved the first two instalments of this book series titled 'A Pretty Mess' (click here to read my review) and ‘Pretty Shore' (click here to read my review). Carla Caruso is a great author and I really enjoy her writing style. Her novels have never disappointed me so far, so I just knew I'd end up enjoying 'Pretty Famous' as well (a special big thanks to Carla for mentioning me and my blog in the acknowledgements for the novel; you have no idea how surprised and happy I was when I found out! :))!
Twenty-something Celeste Pretty loves her work as a professional organiser and has found herself in some interesting situations since she started her own business. However, one thing she never expected to do would be working together with one of her enemies, interior designer Imogen Karmel. Celeste can’t possibly refuse this big project at Astonvale College, so she decides to give teaming up with Imogen a chance. As soon as the project starts, Celeste discovers she has other things to worry about than Imogen, including her own engagement to her handsome boyfriend Lenny and a sixty-year-old mystery revolving around the unexpected death of a local famous actress. At the same time, Imogen Karmel is finding her way around Astonvale College and is pleasantly surprised when she bumps into Hunter, a substitute PE teacher at the school. As a dedicated fan of everything glamorous and royal, Imogen has always dreamed of marrying a real-life prince and this might be her chance at a happily-ever-after because Imogen is pretty sure Hunter is hiding something from her…
Oh, I just love Carla Caruso’s ‘Astonvale’ book series and was really excited to sit down with the third part, ‘Pretty Famous.’ Celeste Pretty is one of my favourite contemporary book heroines and I can’t get enough of reading about everything that happens in her life as a professional organiser. In this next instalment of the series, Celeste not only finds herself becoming engaged to her boyfriend Lenny but she is also working together with her enemy interior designer Imogen Karmel on a big project at Astonvale College. The book is actually told from the perspectives of both Celeste and Imogen, which was great because it provided me with a chance to also get to know Imogen a bit better. In the previous books she appeared to be incredibly bitchy and just generally unlikeable, but now we also get a chance to see things from her point of view. 
The book has several storylines intertwined with one another which meant there was constantly something to keep the reader interested. There’s Celeste dealing with her in-laws who want to organise a big engagement party, Imogen who’s looking for her own Prince Charming, and a mystery revolving around a local actress who died under suspicious circumstances approximately 60 years earlier. I really enjoyed all of the different aspects of the story and Carla Caruso’s writing style is just so well-paced and a true pleasure to read. Since this is the third part of the Astonvale series, I’d recommend picking up the other two books (‘A Pretty Mess’ and ‘Pretty Shore’) first, just so you know the history of all the characters, but the novel can also be read as a stand-alone. Once again a simply wonderful read from Carla Caruso! ‘Pretty Famous’ is a thoroughly entertaining and fun chick lit novel which I couldn’t get enough of; a read that comes highly recommended, especially if you haven’t checked out any of Carla Caruso’s work yet, you won’t be disappointed!

Rating:10/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'Pretty Shore' by Carla Caruso (2014)

Professional organiser Celeste Pretty has a summer getaway planned in well-to-do Robe, the 'Hamptons' of Australia. She's staying at the beach 'shack' of her hunky new builder beau, Lenny Muscat. The first week she'll de-clutter the holiday home of fashion designer Sabine Cloud with her assistant, Flip Belmont. Then she'll enjoy loved-up bliss with Lenny.
But despite Celeste's penchant for organisation, things have a way of veering off-script. She soon discovers the last person who occupied Sabine's pad - the designer's model daughter, Romy - died from a possible overdose. Plus, Sabine's uber-glam real estate agent seems intent on throwing herself at Lenny. Meanwhile, Flip is distracted by the bad-boy son of a rock star, Blaise Zenith, who some say is responsible for Romy going off the rails.
And Celeste thought sunburn and sand in the house were all she'd have to worry about these holidays.
Last year I was introduced to author Carla Caruso when I got the chance to read and review her novel 'A Pretty Mess', the first part of the Astonvale series. I really enjoyed the book (click here to read my review) and fell even more in love with Carla's writing style when I reviewed her Christmas novella 'Secret Santo.' I couldn't wait to read the second part of the Astonvale series, 'Pretty Shore', and was really happy when I managed to get a review copy through NetGalley. I looked forward to catching up with Celeste, Lenny, and Flip and kept my fingers crossed, hoping I'd enjoy the novel as much as I enjoyed the first Astonvale book!
Celeste Pretty can't wait for her holiday with her hunky boyfriend Lenny Muscat in the small beach town of Robe, Australia. However, Celeste's holiday doesn't officially start until she has finished her latest assignment, organising the house of designer Sabine, one of the Robe locals who also happens to be the mother of supermodel Romy who died recently. While Celeste's assistant Flip is unexpectedly distracted by bad boy Blaise, who is rumoured to have been involved in Romy's death, Celeste has her hands full not only dealing with her best friend suddenly not talking to her anymore but also the gorgeous local real estate agent, who seems to have set her sights on Lenny...
Sometimes sequels can disappoint, especially when you really enjoyed the first book of a series and the second book has to live up to that. Luckily, this was not the case with 'Pretty Shore, which is just as much of a thoroughly entertaining and fun read as 'A Pretty Mess'. I personally love Carla Caruso's writing style; it's well-paced, really comfortable to read, and perfect for the chick lit genre. Celeste and Flip are two great female characters and I loved the fact that the author decided to focus on both their storylines, which were just as interesting. The two women are dealing with different things and I was fascinated by everything happening to them from the first chapter until the last. 
The novel also has a wonderful scene setting which made me long for a warm and sunny day at the beach! It's also a read that's perfect for a day at the beach, but just as perfect when you're craving a bit of sunshine in your life. I definitely advise readers to first pick up 'A Pretty Mess' before reading this, because I think it makes the reading experience more fun if you know the characters' background stories. Overall, 'Pretty Shore' is a summery, thoroughly entertaining read with a good dose of fun, secrets, and intrigue; I already can't wait to read the third Astonvale novel, 'Pretty Famous'!

Rating:9,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'Secret Santo' by Carla Caruso (2014)

Holly Plume is a bookseller by day and a romance blogger by night, dishing out scathing reviews under her pseudonym, Sultry Scarlet. When she scores an invite to the publishing event of the year, Holly couldn't be more excited. Finally a chance to meet her favourite author, the mysterious thriller writer known only as AJ Ruffo.
When Holly literally falls into the arms of the mysterious and charming Santo Randolfi, she's sure it must be AJ. After all, Santo has tousled good looks, dark curls, luscious lips . . . He's exactly what she'd imagined. But when Santo reveals he's actually the author of a romance novel Holly recently slammed on her blog, keeping her online identity a secret becomes vital.
As Holly struggles to keep Santo from learning the truth, she realizes just how much she likes him. But when he discovers who she is, will their relationship be over before it's even begun?
Thanks to the lovely people over at Penguin Books Australia I received a review copy of Carla Caruso’s Christmas-themed short story ‘Secret Santo’ via NetGalley. I was introduced to Carla Caruso’s work earlier this year when I got the chance to read and review her novel ‘A Pretty Mess’ (click here to read my review), a book which I really enjoyed. As soon as I read the blurb of this short story I added it to my December TBR-list, because I immediately loved the sound of Holly, the main character who is a bookseller by day and a romance blogger by night. I was really curious to check out the story and hoped I would enjoy it as much as I hoped I would!
Holly Plume has one passion in her life: books. She loves her job as a book seller and devotes all of her remaining free time to her blog where she reviews romance novels under the pseudonym Sultry Scarlet. All her hard work pays off when she is invited to one of the biggest publishing events of the year where she hopes to meet her favourite author, AJ Ruffo. While at the party, she accidentally falls into the arms of a handsome man named Santo Randolfi. Holly is certain it must be AJ Ruffo, but when he tells her he is actually a romance author whose novel she recently gave an extremely bad review on her blog, things start to get complicated…
I loved the plotline of this short story, especially since I could easily relate to Holly since I’m also a book blogger and a big Christmas fan, just like she is. A touch of romance is added to the story by Holly bumping into Santo Randolfi at the big publishing party she is invited to, and with it comes a bit of mystery as well, since I found myself guessing until the end who Santo really is. I just thought it was a shame that the story was so short, because I think it would have been really interesting to read an entire novel starring Holly and her adventures within the blogging and publishing world!
Carla Caruso’s writing style is quite quick-paced with enough details and just really comfortable to read. I love short stories, because they are incredibly easy to pick up during your lunch break or on your commute to work, and this one is simply perfect for the holiday season. ‘Secret Santo’ is a fun, feel-good and festive Christmas novella; a great and quick read to pick up to get ready for the holidays!

Rating:8/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads   Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'A Pretty Mess' by Carla Caruso (2014)

Sometimes, to come clean, you've got to get your hands dirty ...
Celeste Pretty, a self-confessed neat freak, has found the job she was born to do: a professional organiser, de-cluttering people's homes and workplaces. Her new business gets off to a cracking start when she lands her first client, health and fitness guru Natalia Samphire, in the well-heeled suburb of Astonvale. But things get messy at Natalia's mansion when Celeste finds a blackmail note and other mysterious items. And then there's Lenny Muscat, the sexy builder renovating the place, whose constant presence is muddling Celeste's usually organised brain.
When things get decidedly suspicious at the mansion, she and Lenny have to team up to investigate. But will Celeste emerge with her heart and professional reputation unscathed?
Not too long ago I was contacted by HarperCollins Publishers Australia about reviewing Carla Caruso's latest book, 'A Pretty Mess', which was released on the 1st of October 2014. The novel is the first in a new series, the Astonvale series, and I have to say that after seeing the cover and reading the blurb I was quite curious about it and looked forward to picking it up, especially since I didn't have the chance to check out Carla Caruso's work before!
Celeste Pretty is a professional organizer; a job which is simply perfect for a neat freak like herself. She decided to start her own company called POPink and has landed her first very important job, namely helping fitness guru Natalia Samphire organise her new home. Celeste wants to do anything she can to make sure she does a good job, but at the same time she's busy dealing with her cousin and new assistant Flip and Lenny, the handsome builder who's working on Natalia's house and always seems to be around. To make matters even worse, Celeste unexpectedly discovers Natalia is being blackmailed by someone, and soon she finds herself entangled in way more than just the organizing job she signed up for...
This book can be described as a combination of enjoyable chick lit and an entertaining touch of detective/who-done-it/mystery. I really liked the plotline of the novel and it didn't take long before I was fully immersed by the story, guessing what would happen to the characters and how it would all work out in the end. It took me a bit of time to get used to the main protagonist, Celeste. There were moments when I really liked her, and then her sometimes slightly snobbish behaviour came around the corner again. However, I did warm to her as the story progressed and I definitely wouldn't mind reading other stories in which she stars as the leading lady.
Lenny, the hunky builder who works for celebrity Natalia Samphire just like Celeste, was a great male character and I think many female readers will develop a small crush on him like I did. The chemistry between him and Celeste is undeniable and really added something fun to the story. There are some colloquialisms used in the book which I wasn’t familiar with, but from the context I could get what I needed to understand what was going on, so it definitely didn’t ruin the reading experience. Overall, ‘A Pretty Mess’ is a fun and entertaining chick lit and mystery mix and I already look forward to the next part of Carla Caruso’s ‘Astonvale’ series! Rating:

8/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.