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The Publicist #2
Shelf Life
Publishing: An industry of out-of-control of egos, unrealistic expectations, and books with the shelf life of milk. This is Kate’s world, but for how long?
When one of Kate Mitchell’s star authors is carted away in handcuffs, she thinks it’s only the beginning of her troubles. As her world crumbles around her, Kate desperately looks for anyone to hold onto but finds that happy endings are truly works of fiction. When her career and love affair hit their expiration date, Kate sets off on a new adventure….
Starting over in California is easy, but Kate soon learns that leaving her old life behind isn’t. Nicholas Lavigne is eager to help her forget, but two things still own her heart, the dream of discovering the next great American novel, and MacDermott Ellis. As Kate tries to rebuild her life she finds a surprising gift that reboots her career in a new and unexpected direction. Suddenly her name becomes synonymous with one of the biggest bestsellers publishing has seen in ages and she's welcomed back with open arms. At the height of her success the ghosts of her past come back to remind her of the world she'd been trying to forget and the man who never let go of her heart. Behind the book, there’s always more to the story.
Welcome to Publishing, the ego has landed.
When one of Kate Mitchell’s star authors is carted away in handcuffs, she thinks it’s only the beginning of her troubles. As her world crumbles around her, Kate desperately looks for anyone to hold onto but finds that happy endings are truly works of fiction. When her career and love affair hit their expiration date, Kate sets off on a new adventure….
Starting over in California is easy, but Kate soon learns that leaving her old life behind isn’t. Nicholas Lavigne is eager to help her forget, but two things still own her heart, the dream of discovering the next great American novel, and MacDermott Ellis. As Kate tries to rebuild her life she finds a surprising gift that reboots her career in a new and unexpected direction. Suddenly her name becomes synonymous with one of the biggest bestsellers publishing has seen in ages and she's welcomed back with open arms. At the height of her success the ghosts of her past come back to remind her of the world she'd been trying to forget and the man who never let go of her heart. Behind the book, there’s always more to the story.
Welcome to Publishing, the ego has landed.
275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 22, 2013
35 people are currently reading
1222 people want to read
About the author
Christina George
27 books196 followersI've worked in publishing for twenty years and I sincerely love books and authors. I started this journey with my own books planning to write just one, and then well - all I can say is the stories kept coming. My original series The Publicist, follows Kate, Mac, Nick, Vivienne and a host of other awesome characters as they make their lives in New York, amidst the chaos that publishing often brings with it.
I am now exploring a fictional small town called Harper's Corner. This series is so fun, because there are so many characters in this town, from sexy firemen and hot Army guys, to an awesome group of women that I affectionally call "the coven." These books will explore each of these characters, and their journey to finding the loves of their lives.
I love writing, and I love reading and if I'm not actively writing a book, I'm probably dreaming of what I'll write next.
Please feel free to email me at authorchristinageorge@gmail.com with your thoughts on any of my books.
I am now exploring a fictional small town called Harper's Corner. This series is so fun, because there are so many characters in this town, from sexy firemen and hot Army guys, to an awesome group of women that I affectionally call "the coven." These books will explore each of these characters, and their journey to finding the loves of their lives.
I love writing, and I love reading and if I'm not actively writing a book, I'm probably dreaming of what I'll write next.
Please feel free to email me at authorchristinageorge@gmail.com with your thoughts on any of my books.
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May 3, 2015
“There are two circumstances that lead to arrogance: one is when you're wrong and you can't face it; the other is when you're right and nobody else can face it.”
----Criss Jami, an American author
Christina George, am American author, has woven the next adventure in Kate's life which leaves her jobless and heart-broken, in her book, Shelf Life which is the second book in The Publicist series.
Synopsis:
t’s an industry of out-of-control egos, unrealistic expectations, and unfulfilled promises.
This is publishing and it’s Kate’s world, but maybe not for long.
When one of Kate Mitchell’s star authors is carted away in handcuffs, it’s only the beginning of her troubles. As her world crumbles around her, Kate desperately looks for anyone to hold onto but finds that happy endings are truly works of fiction. With the shelf life of her career and her love affair quickly expiring, Kate sets off on a new adventure…
Starting over in California is easy but Kate soon learns that leaving her old life behind isn’t. Nick Lavigne is eager to help her forget but two things still own her heart, the dream of discovering the next great American novel, and MacDermott Ellis.
As Kate tries to rebuild her life she finds a surprising gift that reboots her career in a new and unexpected direction. Suddenly her name becomes synonymous with one of the biggest bestsellers publishing has seen in ages and she's welcomed back with open arms.
But at the height of her success the ghosts of her past come back to remind her of the world she'd been trying to forget and the man who never let go of her heart.
Behind the book, there’s always more to the story. Welcome to Publishing, the ego has landed.
In the first book, we see that Kate ends up falling for the dashing and irresistible and married editor from her publishing house, Mac, thereby breaking Allan's nephew, Nick's heart. But this time, the challenges get trickier as one of her authors get arrested due to child-prostitution, following which Kate's job as a publicist comes to a full-stop and Mac unintentionally makes her the victim in this whole author-getting-arrested-drama , as a result, Kate ends the forbidden relationship between them. On the other hand, Nick saves Kate from the pain, grief and embarrassment, what happens next is for you to find out.
The book gets more raunchier and sexy this time, as the passion runs high and deep with an expiry date. The burning chemistry between mac and Kate is still there in the first part of the book, which kept me hooked onto the story. And in the next part of the book, we get to see a lot of love-making scenes between Nick and Kate, which are equally hot and passionate.
The writing is equally fine just like the previous book. The narration is kept edgy and evocative. And the narration shifts from Kate to Mac, thus in that way, we get to contemplate we the feelings of both these characters from their own POV.
The characters, Kate and Mac, have grown up more than the previous book and they can handle any challenges thrown on to their track. I agreed with Kate's decision of breaking p with Mac, since it was Mac's faulty to put her on such a position and I was thankful that Kate handled the situation with her brain instead of using her heart. I was crying at the end of the book because of Nick, since I wanted to read more about him since I liked his positive presence in the book.
The scandals behind the doors of a publishing industry are vividly portrayed by the author. Although, I don't know if something like this happens in and around a publishing house, but I can say that the author have closely kept her story stick to the reality. Once again the author have layered the plot with some deep burning desire, passion and emotions, which kept the story rolling in an thrilling way. In short, this book was one hell of an emotional roller-coaster ride that goes in-and-around a top-shot publishing company.
Verdict: This book is recommended to all the contemporary romance readers.
Courtesy: I received the book for a blog tour.
----Criss Jami, an American author
Christina George, am American author, has woven the next adventure in Kate's life which leaves her jobless and heart-broken, in her book, Shelf Life which is the second book in The Publicist series.
Synopsis:
t’s an industry of out-of-control egos, unrealistic expectations, and unfulfilled promises.
This is publishing and it’s Kate’s world, but maybe not for long.
When one of Kate Mitchell’s star authors is carted away in handcuffs, it’s only the beginning of her troubles. As her world crumbles around her, Kate desperately looks for anyone to hold onto but finds that happy endings are truly works of fiction. With the shelf life of her career and her love affair quickly expiring, Kate sets off on a new adventure…
Starting over in California is easy but Kate soon learns that leaving her old life behind isn’t. Nick Lavigne is eager to help her forget but two things still own her heart, the dream of discovering the next great American novel, and MacDermott Ellis.
As Kate tries to rebuild her life she finds a surprising gift that reboots her career in a new and unexpected direction. Suddenly her name becomes synonymous with one of the biggest bestsellers publishing has seen in ages and she's welcomed back with open arms.
But at the height of her success the ghosts of her past come back to remind her of the world she'd been trying to forget and the man who never let go of her heart.
Behind the book, there’s always more to the story. Welcome to Publishing, the ego has landed.
In the first book, we see that Kate ends up falling for the dashing and irresistible and married editor from her publishing house, Mac, thereby breaking Allan's nephew, Nick's heart. But this time, the challenges get trickier as one of her authors get arrested due to child-prostitution, following which Kate's job as a publicist comes to a full-stop and Mac unintentionally makes her the victim in this whole author-getting-arrested-drama , as a result, Kate ends the forbidden relationship between them. On the other hand, Nick saves Kate from the pain, grief and embarrassment, what happens next is for you to find out.
The book gets more raunchier and sexy this time, as the passion runs high and deep with an expiry date. The burning chemistry between mac and Kate is still there in the first part of the book, which kept me hooked onto the story. And in the next part of the book, we get to see a lot of love-making scenes between Nick and Kate, which are equally hot and passionate.
The writing is equally fine just like the previous book. The narration is kept edgy and evocative. And the narration shifts from Kate to Mac, thus in that way, we get to contemplate we the feelings of both these characters from their own POV.
The characters, Kate and Mac, have grown up more than the previous book and they can handle any challenges thrown on to their track. I agreed with Kate's decision of breaking p with Mac, since it was Mac's faulty to put her on such a position and I was thankful that Kate handled the situation with her brain instead of using her heart. I was crying at the end of the book because of Nick, since I wanted to read more about him since I liked his positive presence in the book.
The scandals behind the doors of a publishing industry are vividly portrayed by the author. Although, I don't know if something like this happens in and around a publishing house, but I can say that the author have closely kept her story stick to the reality. Once again the author have layered the plot with some deep burning desire, passion and emotions, which kept the story rolling in an thrilling way. In short, this book was one hell of an emotional roller-coaster ride that goes in-and-around a top-shot publishing company.
Verdict: This book is recommended to all the contemporary romance readers.
Courtesy: I received the book for a blog tour.
September 22, 2017
I won a copy on Goodreads Firstreads.
Let's start with some disclaimers of a sort. You may have seen me comment in other reviews that the rule of thumb for me is that the longer it takes me to read a book, the less I like it. That is not the reason in this case. This was a galley that was printed a little differently from the normal book. Instead of being printed on both sides of the paper, the story had 2 pages printed side by side on the same side of the paper. It was also bound on the top of the page instead of the side. This has nothing to do with the story or even the finished book, but it did make it physically difficult to carry around and read like I do with most books. That is why it took me longer than normal to read. Secondly I am guessing that what I liked the most about the book is not what will draw in most readers. Also what will draw most people to the novel did not appeal to me as much. This is the second book in the series. I have not read the first book. While I had no problem following the story, there are parts that I am sure would be better appreciated if you had read the first book as well. Finally while I am rating this book as 4 stars (really like by Goodreads rating system), It was actually somewhere between the 3 star(like) and 4 star marks.
Kate is a publicist in a New York publishing house. It is her job to help promote the books and deal with the often crazy antics of the authors that she is promoting. It is a job she both loves and hates. In addition to dealing with authors that can test her sanity at times, she has to deal with some truly staggering egos from her co-workers. In fact, she is romantically involved with an editor called a legend in the field. The only problem is that he is married. On the other hand, she has Nick. Nick seems to be the perfect guy except she isn't drawn to him like she is to Mac. But when one of her authors is taken away in handcuffs by the FBI, she runs from Mac to Nick. Can she put Mac and her past behind her and began a new life with Nick in California?
There are 2 major threads in this book, Kate's professional life and Kate's love life. I am guessing most people will be more interested in Kate's love life. Personally I was drawn to her professional life more. I have always been an avid reader and even worked in book stores for several years. I can honestly say I am fascinated by books, writers and the world of publishing. The stories of the crazy antics of the writers really pulled me into the story. My favorite character were Andrew and Jamie.
Like I said, most people will be more attracted to the romance part of the book. I had some problems with it myself. I did not approve of Kate's and Mac's relationship. I have always believed that you should end a relationship before starting another one. Mac is a serial cheater and never seems to feel guilty for it. To me this shows that he is basically selfish since he cares more for his own feelings than others. It is a copout saying that his wife is too fragile to handle a divorce. Getting caught cheating and then going through a divorce would cause more pain. Kate isn't really any less selfish. She knows Mac is married and still continues to see him even while she says she knows it can't last. They also both treat people as disposable since they know their relationships won't end well. The last leg of the romantic triangle is Nick. I didn't really feel like I got to know him that well. I am guessing he is more fleshed out in the first book which I did not read. Even though I did not necessarily feel like I knew Nick that well, I also wanted to smack him several times. Keep rebounds to basketball dude.
So I guess I am sounding prudish about this story. I don't mean to do that though. Like I said earlier, the romance will be the main draw to most people. For me the secondary thread of Kate's professional was the more appealling aspect. But truthfully the two threads combine to make a book that is well worth the read, especially if you have read the first book.
The plot is interesting with plenty of twists. The book flows fairly fast with part of this due to very short chapters. There are 62 chapters plus a prologue and epilogue in 266 pages. Short chapters are like potato chips. Once you start, you just can't seem to stop. The characters are interesting and for the most part fully fleshed out.
Let's start with some disclaimers of a sort. You may have seen me comment in other reviews that the rule of thumb for me is that the longer it takes me to read a book, the less I like it. That is not the reason in this case. This was a galley that was printed a little differently from the normal book. Instead of being printed on both sides of the paper, the story had 2 pages printed side by side on the same side of the paper. It was also bound on the top of the page instead of the side. This has nothing to do with the story or even the finished book, but it did make it physically difficult to carry around and read like I do with most books. That is why it took me longer than normal to read. Secondly I am guessing that what I liked the most about the book is not what will draw in most readers. Also what will draw most people to the novel did not appeal to me as much. This is the second book in the series. I have not read the first book. While I had no problem following the story, there are parts that I am sure would be better appreciated if you had read the first book as well. Finally while I am rating this book as 4 stars (really like by Goodreads rating system), It was actually somewhere between the 3 star(like) and 4 star marks.
Kate is a publicist in a New York publishing house. It is her job to help promote the books and deal with the often crazy antics of the authors that she is promoting. It is a job she both loves and hates. In addition to dealing with authors that can test her sanity at times, she has to deal with some truly staggering egos from her co-workers. In fact, she is romantically involved with an editor called a legend in the field. The only problem is that he is married. On the other hand, she has Nick. Nick seems to be the perfect guy except she isn't drawn to him like she is to Mac. But when one of her authors is taken away in handcuffs by the FBI, she runs from Mac to Nick. Can she put Mac and her past behind her and began a new life with Nick in California?
There are 2 major threads in this book, Kate's professional life and Kate's love life. I am guessing most people will be more interested in Kate's love life. Personally I was drawn to her professional life more. I have always been an avid reader and even worked in book stores for several years. I can honestly say I am fascinated by books, writers and the world of publishing. The stories of the crazy antics of the writers really pulled me into the story. My favorite character were Andrew and Jamie.
Like I said, most people will be more attracted to the romance part of the book. I had some problems with it myself. I did not approve of Kate's and Mac's relationship. I have always believed that you should end a relationship before starting another one. Mac is a serial cheater and never seems to feel guilty for it. To me this shows that he is basically selfish since he cares more for his own feelings than others. It is a copout saying that his wife is too fragile to handle a divorce. Getting caught cheating and then going through a divorce would cause more pain. Kate isn't really any less selfish. She knows Mac is married and still continues to see him even while she says she knows it can't last. They also both treat people as disposable since they know their relationships won't end well. The last leg of the romantic triangle is Nick. I didn't really feel like I got to know him that well. I am guessing he is more fleshed out in the first book which I did not read. Even though I did not necessarily feel like I knew Nick that well, I also wanted to smack him several times. Keep rebounds to basketball dude.
So I guess I am sounding prudish about this story. I don't mean to do that though. Like I said earlier, the romance will be the main draw to most people. For me the secondary thread of Kate's professional was the more appealling aspect. But truthfully the two threads combine to make a book that is well worth the read, especially if you have read the first book.
The plot is interesting with plenty of twists. The book flows fairly fast with part of this due to very short chapters. There are 62 chapters plus a prologue and epilogue in 266 pages. Short chapters are like potato chips. Once you start, you just can't seem to stop. The characters are interesting and for the most part fully fleshed out.
May 22, 2015
I really enjoyed the first book in this series so I was anxious to see where Kate and mac were in this next chapter.
The world or a publicist is a crazy as ever. From authors faking 5 Star reviews, to one who wrote a book about how she lost a bunch of weight, except shed didn’t, to an author being arrested for a despicable crime, Kate is in the thick of it.
Then Kate is betrayed by the man she loves and is assaulted by someone and her whole world comes crashing down. No way will she be returning to Morris and Dean.
Now Kate is behind the wheel of a pink Cadillac convertible, heading towards Los Angeles and a new future and maybe a new romance.
Nick is opening his home to her, as a guest, but I’m sure he wants more. He’s still in love with her and remains hopeful Kate will get over Mac.
Mac betrayed her in the worst possible way. I couldn’t believe it. He always seemed so strong, so sure of himself. I guess he isn’t that strong after all. He chose a cowards way out of a sticky situation and it hurt Kate deeply.
I wanted to give Kate a high five for finally putting the brakes on her relationship with Mac. He is married and shows no signs of leaving his wife. His latest stunt broke her heart but set her on a new path. One I find very exciting.
There are big changes in this second book. Some so exciting I wish I could share. But that would be spoiling it. Gots to leave you with some anticipation.
I’m still having fun with this series and am almost finished reading the third book, Climax. If your looking for a great summer read, these will do nicely. I hope you try them.
I received this book for my honest review.
August 23, 2016
Note: This is not a standalone; you really need to read Book 1 to get what is going on in Shelf Life.
That being said, I'm glad I dove back into this series because this installment of Kate Mitchell's saga is even more fun than the first. Much of the story focuses on the love triangle between Kate, editor Mac Ellis and Nick, the nephew of an eccentric but super-talented author that Kate had befriended before his death. There are all kinds of shakeups happening at Kate's publishing house, but much of the attention in this installment revolves around whether Kate will remain in her half-relationship with the very married Mac, or whether she will move on with Nick, who is obviously deeply interested in her and more importantly, who is actually single.
Because of the adultery, I spend a lot of my time wanting to despise Mac and yet I can't. Somehow George manages to make him sympathetic. At times I do want to shake him until his teeth rattle, but it's impossible to completely give up on the idea of redemption for him. And perhaps that's part of what makes this book as irresistible as it is.
And then there are the publishing war stories. As a reviewer, I love the peek behind the curtain that one gets here. The crazy world of what it takes to get a book into the hands of the public(not to mention great snarky asides on the trends of the moment) combines with tales of bizarre author antics and provides readers with a vivid backdrop to Kate's adventures. I don't always approve of her choices, but most of Shelf Life is interesting and fun.
That being said, I'm glad I dove back into this series because this installment of Kate Mitchell's saga is even more fun than the first. Much of the story focuses on the love triangle between Kate, editor Mac Ellis and Nick, the nephew of an eccentric but super-talented author that Kate had befriended before his death. There are all kinds of shakeups happening at Kate's publishing house, but much of the attention in this installment revolves around whether Kate will remain in her half-relationship with the very married Mac, or whether she will move on with Nick, who is obviously deeply interested in her and more importantly, who is actually single.
Because of the adultery, I spend a lot of my time wanting to despise Mac and yet I can't. Somehow George manages to make him sympathetic. At times I do want to shake him until his teeth rattle, but it's impossible to completely give up on the idea of redemption for him. And perhaps that's part of what makes this book as irresistible as it is.
And then there are the publishing war stories. As a reviewer, I love the peek behind the curtain that one gets here. The crazy world of what it takes to get a book into the hands of the public(not to mention great snarky asides on the trends of the moment) combines with tales of bizarre author antics and provides readers with a vivid backdrop to Kate's adventures. I don't always approve of her choices, but most of Shelf Life is interesting and fun.
April 14, 2014
Visit my blog to enter to win a copy of both The Publicist and Shelf Life (2-book giveaway), open internationally from now until 22nd April 2014.
Shelf Life continues the story of New York publicist, Kate Mitchell, picking up not long after the end of book one. More unhinged authors, more terrible titles, and more time with the sexiest editor in the country, MacDermott Ellis. Mac isn't happily married to his wife of twenty years, Carolyn, but he's always been clear he'll never leave her either. Kate knows this as well as any other woman he's been with, but the thought of breaking the affair off with him just isn't something she feels capable of doing. Both Kate and Mac are putting off facing the hard decisions and emotional heartbreak that, deep down, they know must come one day.
That day arrives in the summer, the day they launch the biggest book on Morris and Dean's portfolio for the year: The Continued Promise, the follow-up to a previous bestseller, The Promise. The CEO of MD, Edward - a dictatorial man in his seventies who's been running things for as long as anyone can remember and who thinks its his right to feel up the female employees - unexpectedly moved up the release date without a clear reason, and the alarm bells are ringing louder than ever in Kate's head. Her gut instinct was always that the author, Michael Singer, was suspect, and when the FBI arrest him on the same day the book launches, it's not just MD that suffers, or Kate's career. When Kate learns that Mac knew about the police investigation but didn't tell her so she could prepare damage control, she's devastated. Her career might not be salvageable, and now she knows that her relationship with Mac isn't either.
Rather than face her situation square on, Kate runs - she escapes New York for the sun and surf of California where her friend Nick gives her valuable time and space to recover. It's time to sort our her life, her head and her heart, but that's easier said than done. As much as she keeps telling herself she's over Mac, there's a part of her that's still running from the truth.
Having just read the first book, The Publicist, I knew exactly what to expect from Shelf Life in terms of character and style. However, compared to the first book, there's a lot more plot in book 2. Having established her characters and the dynamics between them as well as the publishing industry, George moves on to Kate's personal story. The breakup we always knew was going to come, came, and Shelf Life is very much Kate's story of self-discovery and overcoming obstacles. With the same humour and entertaining insider stories as The Publicist, this was just as fun and engaging to read - perhaps more so, as there were some real nail-biting scenes and I loved learning how Kate was going to get herself out of some tight spots. She's certainly very good at her job, though as we all know, being good at your job doesn't protect you from the sharks.
There is an element to George's style that, while it makes for a quick, consistent pace, also makes events seem a bit too pat. A bit too easy, which can make it feel less realistic. Part of the problem is that, despite Kate being for the large part a worthy protagonist, for large chunks of this story things just happened to her, so that even when she was actively making a decision, it still felt like she was a passive recipient of good luck. It's hard to pin-point, because she's an extremely hard worker who rose up out of the ashes of her career to forge a new path, and she forged it well. It was just a bit too, well, convenient, that Allan Lavigne's book would be an instant bestseller and so beloved by everyone - when does that ever happen? There isn't a single book that doesn't have its critics - and everything worked out so well for her. I was happy for her, but it started to lose its sense of realism because the story became a kind of list telling us all the good things to happen one after another.
Granted, Kate's love life is still a big mess, but I confess I started to lose patience with her after a while. There were aspects of Kate's character that were largely missing, and she wasn't flawed enough to seem human. Her world is surprisingly small and her new boyfriend, Nick, is way too perfect. You never really get to know him, beyond that he's very attractive and very successful. He's depicted as a fantasy, which Kate never picked up on - fantasies do not make for solid, long-term relationships. I liked Nick, thanks to a few moments when we get to see him vulnerable, but he's representative of a certain manly ideal women supposedly have - a cliché or a stereotype of what women want in a man that I've come across so many times before, in romantic comedies and other formats - so for me he was a vacuous, unappealing romantic character who served as a plot device rather than as a human being in his own right.
I could say the same about many characters in many books, who get side-lined by the "main event" - in this case, Kate and Mac's messy relationship. Mac was the real star of the story, even though he, too, fulfils the role of another stereotypical male love interest. It was his flaws, and the fact that he's a philanderer, that gave him an edge as a character over all the others. Kate's flaws are distantly irritating ones, the kind of flaws that women latch onto because she seems so bloody perfect and all these attractive men keep falling in love with her. Too good, you know? You just want to see them fall, and not in the sense of bad things happening to them: no, you just want a sign that they're human, that they're loved not because their perfect (for what mortal woman can compete with, or hope to achieve, that?) but because they're human and imperfect and its our imperfections that make us endearing to the right person.
But like I said, it's a very engaging, entertaining read, and this one in particular - because of it's well-rounded conclusion - had me gripped. In a way it's reminiscent of Hollywood movies, in that it follows a fairly predictable path, but as with the movies, it doesn't stop you from enjoying the ride. Part of the enjoyment, I think, is in knowing the formula and the glee you get from seeing how things unfold. Plus, despite the truly atrocious titles these publishers put so much weight behind (self-help? bad tell-alls by convicted murderers?), or perhaps because of them, it's so much fun to get that peek inside the industry. If Kate's path to rescuing her career and finding love was a bit smooth and convenient, the shady, political dealings inside publishing more than make up for it.
My thanks to the author for a copy of this book via iReads Book Tours
Shelf Life continues the story of New York publicist, Kate Mitchell, picking up not long after the end of book one. More unhinged authors, more terrible titles, and more time with the sexiest editor in the country, MacDermott Ellis. Mac isn't happily married to his wife of twenty years, Carolyn, but he's always been clear he'll never leave her either. Kate knows this as well as any other woman he's been with, but the thought of breaking the affair off with him just isn't something she feels capable of doing. Both Kate and Mac are putting off facing the hard decisions and emotional heartbreak that, deep down, they know must come one day.
That day arrives in the summer, the day they launch the biggest book on Morris and Dean's portfolio for the year: The Continued Promise, the follow-up to a previous bestseller, The Promise. The CEO of MD, Edward - a dictatorial man in his seventies who's been running things for as long as anyone can remember and who thinks its his right to feel up the female employees - unexpectedly moved up the release date without a clear reason, and the alarm bells are ringing louder than ever in Kate's head. Her gut instinct was always that the author, Michael Singer, was suspect, and when the FBI arrest him on the same day the book launches, it's not just MD that suffers, or Kate's career. When Kate learns that Mac knew about the police investigation but didn't tell her so she could prepare damage control, she's devastated. Her career might not be salvageable, and now she knows that her relationship with Mac isn't either.
Rather than face her situation square on, Kate runs - she escapes New York for the sun and surf of California where her friend Nick gives her valuable time and space to recover. It's time to sort our her life, her head and her heart, but that's easier said than done. As much as she keeps telling herself she's over Mac, there's a part of her that's still running from the truth.
Having just read the first book, The Publicist, I knew exactly what to expect from Shelf Life in terms of character and style. However, compared to the first book, there's a lot more plot in book 2. Having established her characters and the dynamics between them as well as the publishing industry, George moves on to Kate's personal story. The breakup we always knew was going to come, came, and Shelf Life is very much Kate's story of self-discovery and overcoming obstacles. With the same humour and entertaining insider stories as The Publicist, this was just as fun and engaging to read - perhaps more so, as there were some real nail-biting scenes and I loved learning how Kate was going to get herself out of some tight spots. She's certainly very good at her job, though as we all know, being good at your job doesn't protect you from the sharks.
There is an element to George's style that, while it makes for a quick, consistent pace, also makes events seem a bit too pat. A bit too easy, which can make it feel less realistic. Part of the problem is that, despite Kate being for the large part a worthy protagonist, for large chunks of this story things just happened to her, so that even when she was actively making a decision, it still felt like she was a passive recipient of good luck. It's hard to pin-point, because she's an extremely hard worker who rose up out of the ashes of her career to forge a new path, and she forged it well. It was just a bit too, well, convenient, that Allan Lavigne's book would be an instant bestseller and so beloved by everyone - when does that ever happen? There isn't a single book that doesn't have its critics - and everything worked out so well for her. I was happy for her, but it started to lose its sense of realism because the story became a kind of list telling us all the good things to happen one after another.
Granted, Kate's love life is still a big mess, but I confess I started to lose patience with her after a while. There were aspects of Kate's character that were largely missing, and she wasn't flawed enough to seem human. Her world is surprisingly small and her new boyfriend, Nick, is way too perfect. You never really get to know him, beyond that he's very attractive and very successful. He's depicted as a fantasy, which Kate never picked up on - fantasies do not make for solid, long-term relationships. I liked Nick, thanks to a few moments when we get to see him vulnerable, but he's representative of a certain manly ideal women supposedly have - a cliché or a stereotype of what women want in a man that I've come across so many times before, in romantic comedies and other formats - so for me he was a vacuous, unappealing romantic character who served as a plot device rather than as a human being in his own right.
I could say the same about many characters in many books, who get side-lined by the "main event" - in this case, Kate and Mac's messy relationship. Mac was the real star of the story, even though he, too, fulfils the role of another stereotypical male love interest. It was his flaws, and the fact that he's a philanderer, that gave him an edge as a character over all the others. Kate's flaws are distantly irritating ones, the kind of flaws that women latch onto because she seems so bloody perfect and all these attractive men keep falling in love with her. Too good, you know? You just want to see them fall, and not in the sense of bad things happening to them: no, you just want a sign that they're human, that they're loved not because their perfect (for what mortal woman can compete with, or hope to achieve, that?) but because they're human and imperfect and its our imperfections that make us endearing to the right person.
But like I said, it's a very engaging, entertaining read, and this one in particular - because of it's well-rounded conclusion - had me gripped. In a way it's reminiscent of Hollywood movies, in that it follows a fairly predictable path, but as with the movies, it doesn't stop you from enjoying the ride. Part of the enjoyment, I think, is in knowing the formula and the glee you get from seeing how things unfold. Plus, despite the truly atrocious titles these publishers put so much weight behind (self-help? bad tell-alls by convicted murderers?), or perhaps because of them, it's so much fun to get that peek inside the industry. If Kate's path to rescuing her career and finding love was a bit smooth and convenient, the shady, political dealings inside publishing more than make up for it.
My thanks to the author for a copy of this book via iReads Book Tours
September 6, 2016
Review originally posted on Kindles & Wine
Back in February (2013), I reviewed The Publicist, Book 1 in this series. I rated it a B+ because the writing was pretty great even though I didn’t love the characters. In Shelf Life, the characters introduced in Book 1 are still living their lives and reacting to the drama that surrounds them. And boy, does the drama increase! Read on to see how I felt about the characters and their drama this time around…
I’m not particularly interested in the publishing world. Granted, I don’t know a lot about it but I’m actually okay with that. I don’t need to know the ins and outs of how books are published and sold in order to enjoy reading them. In fact, for me, I think it’s a little like the meatpacking industry: it’s better if I don’t know the whole story. Print runs, marketing strategies, Barnes & Noble contracts…a reader would really need to have more than a passing interest in these aspects of publishing in order to maintain interest in this book since much of the story is dedicated to these intricacies. Plus, there are a couple of not-so-subtle knocks against Fifty Shades of Grey. Now, I’m not a big fan of that series, but it still came off as petty and really unnecessary to me.
Despite these issues, it was Kate, the heroine, that ruined this book for me. I just had a huge problem with how selfish Kate was. Maybe she’d always been selfish and it wasn’t obvious to me before, but it got to the point where, by the middle of the book, I could hardly stand reading a scene with her in it. Of course, this was a huge issue since Shelf Life is essentially a book about her, told mostly from Kate’s point of view.
I also thought Kate seemed really childish. Her friends try to relay something to her, something she already knows but doesn’t want to deal with, but when they try to talk to her, she wants to hang up on them or walk away from them mid-conversation…and occasionally, she does just those things. Come on! She’s an adult and should know by now that you can’t really run from big problems the way she wants to run from them.
Lastly, Kate treated people pretty poorly. She knows there is a problem with her assistant, but she’s too busy to ask, even after her assistant has followed her all over the country just because she wants to help. I don’t think that Kate deserved ANY of the forgiveness she received from various people. She hadn’t grown or become a better person by the end of the book, so the scenes of forgiveness seemed false and trite.
Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy Shelf Life; it almost ended up in the DNF pile several times. You might be wondering why in the heck I chose to review this book if I’m not super interested in the publishing world. I guess I was hoping that there would be less work stuff and more of everything else in this book—relationships, friends, family. Still, I like the author’s writing style and enjoyed Book 1, and I truly think I would give this author another chance if she’d write a story on a different topic.
Bottom Line
I did not enjoy the story or main character in Shelf Life; however, the writing was very good. I would recommend this to people who have an interest in a detailed exploration of the behind-the-scenes drama in the publishing world, but I’d recommend you read Book 1 first.
Rating: C-
Review copy courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review
Back in February (2013), I reviewed The Publicist, Book 1 in this series. I rated it a B+ because the writing was pretty great even though I didn’t love the characters. In Shelf Life, the characters introduced in Book 1 are still living their lives and reacting to the drama that surrounds them. And boy, does the drama increase! Read on to see how I felt about the characters and their drama this time around…
I’m not particularly interested in the publishing world. Granted, I don’t know a lot about it but I’m actually okay with that. I don’t need to know the ins and outs of how books are published and sold in order to enjoy reading them. In fact, for me, I think it’s a little like the meatpacking industry: it’s better if I don’t know the whole story. Print runs, marketing strategies, Barnes & Noble contracts…a reader would really need to have more than a passing interest in these aspects of publishing in order to maintain interest in this book since much of the story is dedicated to these intricacies. Plus, there are a couple of not-so-subtle knocks against Fifty Shades of Grey. Now, I’m not a big fan of that series, but it still came off as petty and really unnecessary to me.
Despite these issues, it was Kate, the heroine, that ruined this book for me. I just had a huge problem with how selfish Kate was. Maybe she’d always been selfish and it wasn’t obvious to me before, but it got to the point where, by the middle of the book, I could hardly stand reading a scene with her in it. Of course, this was a huge issue since Shelf Life is essentially a book about her, told mostly from Kate’s point of view.
I also thought Kate seemed really childish. Her friends try to relay something to her, something she already knows but doesn’t want to deal with, but when they try to talk to her, she wants to hang up on them or walk away from them mid-conversation…and occasionally, she does just those things. Come on! She’s an adult and should know by now that you can’t really run from big problems the way she wants to run from them.
Lastly, Kate treated people pretty poorly. She knows there is a problem with her assistant, but she’s too busy to ask, even after her assistant has followed her all over the country just because she wants to help. I don’t think that Kate deserved ANY of the forgiveness she received from various people. She hadn’t grown or become a better person by the end of the book, so the scenes of forgiveness seemed false and trite.
Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy Shelf Life; it almost ended up in the DNF pile several times. You might be wondering why in the heck I chose to review this book if I’m not super interested in the publishing world. I guess I was hoping that there would be less work stuff and more of everything else in this book—relationships, friends, family. Still, I like the author’s writing style and enjoyed Book 1, and I truly think I would give this author another chance if she’d write a story on a different topic.
Bottom Line
I did not enjoy the story or main character in Shelf Life; however, the writing was very good. I would recommend this to people who have an interest in a detailed exploration of the behind-the-scenes drama in the publishing world, but I’d recommend you read Book 1 first.
Rating: C-
Review copy courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review
July 19, 2016
Original review found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/
4.5 stars
I won this book in exchange for an honest review via a Goodreads giveaway.
I will start by saying that this is the second book in a series and I did not read the first one. I was able to understand everything and felt like it was not required to read the first book but how I wish I did. Not because I needed to but based on this read I really think I would have enjoyed the first read. If Kate and Mac had this much chemistry in the second instalment I can only imagine what the first one was like.
I almost hesitate to say how much I enjoyed this read. I normally save all of my praise for those books that I consider "epic" which if I am honest with myself are normally tragic stories that seem to revolve around war times. This was not one of those stories yet I found I took great pleasure within the pages, For this reason I am changing my rating system. I am now going to base my ratings strictly on how a book made me feel and stop benchmarking them against my "top 5 reads of all time" list.
The story of Kate and Mac was one of great chemistry. I can't believe that I am admitting that I was rooting for the married guy in this story! What female cheers for the married cheater when the perfect guy is waiting in the wings? I can honestly say I have never before this story. This is part of the reason I want to go back and read the first book. If I was cheering for him in this story how would I have felt if I read the first one? I have a feeling it would be the same but with more feeling. Kudos to George for coming up with two characters that do not seem to be whole without the other
Putting the characters aside I loved that this book was centralized around the publishing industry. As someone who reads a lot and blogs for fun, I have a fascination with the entire industry. The fact that George has admitted that some of the stories are true (and some are not) only adds to my interest. The inside view in to the publishing world was just as interesting to me as the actual character storyline. I believe that the world is just as crazy as described in the book and only wish that I could join their ranks someday.
Overall this was a great and fast read for me. I acknowledge that it is not going to make my epic list however something about this book stuck with. It was pure entertainment for me and provided the needed escape to my everyday life. I will be looking forward to going back and reading the first book and will also be reading the third instalment. Thank you to Christina George for getting me out of my book comfort zone and allowing me to enjoy something that is not within my regular genre. I will be keeping an eye out for future work
4.5 stars
I won this book in exchange for an honest review via a Goodreads giveaway.
I will start by saying that this is the second book in a series and I did not read the first one. I was able to understand everything and felt like it was not required to read the first book but how I wish I did. Not because I needed to but based on this read I really think I would have enjoyed the first read. If Kate and Mac had this much chemistry in the second instalment I can only imagine what the first one was like.
I almost hesitate to say how much I enjoyed this read. I normally save all of my praise for those books that I consider "epic" which if I am honest with myself are normally tragic stories that seem to revolve around war times. This was not one of those stories yet I found I took great pleasure within the pages, For this reason I am changing my rating system. I am now going to base my ratings strictly on how a book made me feel and stop benchmarking them against my "top 5 reads of all time" list.
The story of Kate and Mac was one of great chemistry. I can't believe that I am admitting that I was rooting for the married guy in this story! What female cheers for the married cheater when the perfect guy is waiting in the wings? I can honestly say I have never before this story. This is part of the reason I want to go back and read the first book. If I was cheering for him in this story how would I have felt if I read the first one? I have a feeling it would be the same but with more feeling. Kudos to George for coming up with two characters that do not seem to be whole without the other
Putting the characters aside I loved that this book was centralized around the publishing industry. As someone who reads a lot and blogs for fun, I have a fascination with the entire industry. The fact that George has admitted that some of the stories are true (and some are not) only adds to my interest. The inside view in to the publishing world was just as interesting to me as the actual character storyline. I believe that the world is just as crazy as described in the book and only wish that I could join their ranks someday.
Overall this was a great and fast read for me. I acknowledge that it is not going to make my epic list however something about this book stuck with. It was pure entertainment for me and provided the needed escape to my everyday life. I will be looking forward to going back and reading the first book and will also be reading the third instalment. Thank you to Christina George for getting me out of my book comfort zone and allowing me to enjoy something that is not within my regular genre. I will be keeping an eye out for future work
January 31, 2015
This book was soooo much better than the first one. The reason I enjoyed this book so much more was because there was infinitely more intrigue going on, specifically related to the authors Kate is forced to deal with as part of her publishing career. In the first book, we were introduced to some wacky characters whose crazy antics were more eye-roll inducing than anything else, but in Shelf Life we observe more of a darker side to the desperation of these authors, some of whom we met in the previous novel, as well as some new ones. One author in particular was already presented to us, but just on a questionable surface level. The mystery of this character is slowly peeled away in this book, and even though you know it is ultimately leading to something awful, you can't help but continue reading. It'll leave you on the edge of your seat at times, which was an aspect that never appeared in the first book, thereby making Shelf Life a more dynamic and interesting read.
And now let's take a look at Kate's love life shall we? In my opinion, it's pretty much headed to hell in a handbasket. Unfortunately, she didn't follow my advice from the 1st one, which was to choose neither Mac nor Nick. Instead she went with her gut to explore a relationship with the married Mac, and Nick decided to go back to his life in California. If you ask me, he was lucky to get away while he could. However, that doesn't mean that the story ends there, oh no. After all, Mac is still married, so Kate is constantly struggling with her decision to carry on their affair, while at the same time chastising herself for refusing Nick after he'd been nothing but wonderful to her. Enter major plot twist and Kate's entire life is thrown upside down. She starts to wonder if maybe Nick is the one for her after all. So basically, just when you thought she had finally made a decision in regards to the love of her life, she changes her mind again. And again!
Unlike the first novel, Nick did have a much larger presence in Shelf Life, which was definitely a welcome change. That being said, he did still seem like something of an afterthought. While it truly does appear Nick is head over heels in love with Kate, I still question why. I felt like we never really got to see that spark between them at the beginning of their relationship, so when he says how she's the only one for him I just don't see how he came to that decision. Although the author may have included Nick more in the story line of this book, Kate herself appears to focus much more of her attention on Mac, so once again Nick seems like the designated rebound.
And now let's take a look at Kate's love life shall we? In my opinion, it's pretty much headed to hell in a handbasket. Unfortunately, she didn't follow my advice from the 1st one, which was to choose neither Mac nor Nick. Instead she went with her gut to explore a relationship with the married Mac, and Nick decided to go back to his life in California. If you ask me, he was lucky to get away while he could. However, that doesn't mean that the story ends there, oh no. After all, Mac is still married, so Kate is constantly struggling with her decision to carry on their affair, while at the same time chastising herself for refusing Nick after he'd been nothing but wonderful to her. Enter major plot twist and Kate's entire life is thrown upside down. She starts to wonder if maybe Nick is the one for her after all. So basically, just when you thought she had finally made a decision in regards to the love of her life, she changes her mind again. And again!
Unlike the first novel, Nick did have a much larger presence in Shelf Life, which was definitely a welcome change. That being said, he did still seem like something of an afterthought. While it truly does appear Nick is head over heels in love with Kate, I still question why. I felt like we never really got to see that spark between them at the beginning of their relationship, so when he says how she's the only one for him I just don't see how he came to that decision. Although the author may have included Nick more in the story line of this book, Kate herself appears to focus much more of her attention on Mac, so once again Nick seems like the designated rebound.
September 18, 2013
"Shelf Life: The Publicist,Book Two" which I won from Goodreads Giveaways is a fascinating contemporary romance set in the hectic world of a publishing company, Morris and Dean where expectations are high, egos are fed and dreams can be shattered in an instant.
As the story opens Katie Mitchell, a publicist whose job is to push books and choreograph an author's media image, is faced with a myriad of problems, and struggles to squelch any resulting bad publicity. She loves her career but hates the kinds of trashy novels her boss Edward has her promote. When a scandal erupts, the result of one author's criminal activities, Katie's budding career is damaged and her simmering love affair with the well-known editor MacDermott Ellis is shelved.
With her life in shreds Katie escapes to California and into the arms of her old friend Nick Lavigne, but even with a promise of happiness and a welcome gift that will reboot her career, she's still haunted by memories from the past and the one man who owns her heart.
This well-written and beguiling plot is filled with twists and turns, and convincing characters with complex personalities. Katie Mitchell is a feisty, high achiever who's determined to rebuild her life and career, but who makes selfish decisions that will have painful consequences. MacDermott Ellis is a notorious womanizer who struggles to change his sordid past, make amends to those he's wronged and to fight for the one woman he can't forget. Nick Lavigne is a kind and amiable young man who's determined to win the woman he loves. As well as strong main characters there's a wealth of minor ones including the egotistical bully Edward; Kate's loyal and trustworthy confidant Grace; the dependable and energetic Lulu and the shrewd and friendly former Rockstar Andrew.
This novel is a page turner from beginning to end that not only gives a glimpse into the unsavory parts of the publishing industry but captures the hearts of contemporary romance buffs. I enjoyed it immensely.
As the story opens Katie Mitchell, a publicist whose job is to push books and choreograph an author's media image, is faced with a myriad of problems, and struggles to squelch any resulting bad publicity. She loves her career but hates the kinds of trashy novels her boss Edward has her promote. When a scandal erupts, the result of one author's criminal activities, Katie's budding career is damaged and her simmering love affair with the well-known editor MacDermott Ellis is shelved.
With her life in shreds Katie escapes to California and into the arms of her old friend Nick Lavigne, but even with a promise of happiness and a welcome gift that will reboot her career, she's still haunted by memories from the past and the one man who owns her heart.
This well-written and beguiling plot is filled with twists and turns, and convincing characters with complex personalities. Katie Mitchell is a feisty, high achiever who's determined to rebuild her life and career, but who makes selfish decisions that will have painful consequences. MacDermott Ellis is a notorious womanizer who struggles to change his sordid past, make amends to those he's wronged and to fight for the one woman he can't forget. Nick Lavigne is a kind and amiable young man who's determined to win the woman he loves. As well as strong main characters there's a wealth of minor ones including the egotistical bully Edward; Kate's loyal and trustworthy confidant Grace; the dependable and energetic Lulu and the shrewd and friendly former Rockstar Andrew.
This novel is a page turner from beginning to end that not only gives a glimpse into the unsavory parts of the publishing industry but captures the hearts of contemporary romance buffs. I enjoyed it immensely.
October 6, 2013
Alright. Now, I may have gone into this book biased. I may have emailed the author as soon as I finished book 1 and told her I NEEDED book 2...and she MAY have sent it to me because I NEEDED to know what was happening. That MAY have happened, but I'll never tell.
Let me just say, we all know that a series is hard to keep the momentum going. Well, um, I've gotta tell ya, Christina George blew me away with this follow up to The Publicist. In Book 1, we're introduced to Katie, Mac, Lulu, Edward, Pete, Alan, and Nick (swoooon Nick)....and then, well, in case you didn't see my review of Book 1...I was sorta angry at the fact that we were left hanging. Ok, not angry, but I needed answers. Not only did I like book 2...I liked it even more than book 1.
Now, like I mentioned, this is book 2 in the series. Yes, you could read this without reading the first book and totally understand what's going on, but I don't recommend it. (I'm only looking out for you here) I want to say so much, but I don't want to say TOO much because, well, I really hate spoilers. Let me just tell you, if you're looking for a book that shows you what it's like to be a part of the cutthroat publishing industry, has an aspect of romance to it, a story that shows what it's like to be cut down to nothing and have to start over, well, then, this book is for you. Sure, maybe some of the romantic aspects of the book were a bit cliche and predictable, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a good story nonetheless. No, it's not a deep, emotional turmoil type book but it kept me reading and that is ALL that matters to me when deciding if a book is worth sharing with others. I finished this in one day because I just had to know what was going to happen. I will be shouting Christina George's name as a recommendation to friends. Book two definitely did not disappoint and I can't wait to see what else is in store for us with these characters.
Let me just say, we all know that a series is hard to keep the momentum going. Well, um, I've gotta tell ya, Christina George blew me away with this follow up to The Publicist. In Book 1, we're introduced to Katie, Mac, Lulu, Edward, Pete, Alan, and Nick (swoooon Nick)....and then, well, in case you didn't see my review of Book 1...I was sorta angry at the fact that we were left hanging. Ok, not angry, but I needed answers. Not only did I like book 2...I liked it even more than book 1.
Now, like I mentioned, this is book 2 in the series. Yes, you could read this without reading the first book and totally understand what's going on, but I don't recommend it. (I'm only looking out for you here) I want to say so much, but I don't want to say TOO much because, well, I really hate spoilers. Let me just tell you, if you're looking for a book that shows you what it's like to be a part of the cutthroat publishing industry, has an aspect of romance to it, a story that shows what it's like to be cut down to nothing and have to start over, well, then, this book is for you. Sure, maybe some of the romantic aspects of the book were a bit cliche and predictable, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a good story nonetheless. No, it's not a deep, emotional turmoil type book but it kept me reading and that is ALL that matters to me when deciding if a book is worth sharing with others. I finished this in one day because I just had to know what was going to happen. I will be shouting Christina George's name as a recommendation to friends. Book two definitely did not disappoint and I can't wait to see what else is in store for us with these characters.
February 25, 2016
Wow! Just wow! What a story. George had me hooked from the beginning to the very end. I could barely put it down while reading it and now can’t stop thinking about this remarkable story. I loved how multifaceted the tale was. George took in every aspect of her characters’ lives and included it, showing just how all-encompassing certain things can be. The emotionally charged scenes brought George’s writing to a whole new level. Combine this with the priceless premise of the story and George’s witty writing and you have a novel that will whisk you away from your reality for a while and straight into hers. The way that this author brings publishing into the forefront of her story was fantastic. She really made me think about things in a different light, all the while laughing and crying alongside the characters.
George has filled this novel with a fantastic cast of well-developed characters that can’t be beat. These characters aren’t your prim and proper individuals. They live their lives the way that suits them, facing the consequences and reaping the rewards. Things definitely don’t always come easily, but getting to know the characters as they overcome was quite inspiring. I definitely didn’t agree with everything that these individuals did, but at the same time I could understand where they were coming from. Even more important than that, they were easy to connect to and to fall in love with.
George has created a spectacular follow-up to The Publicist. It’s even more entertaining than the first. This is a must read for lovers of romance with something more.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
George has filled this novel with a fantastic cast of well-developed characters that can’t be beat. These characters aren’t your prim and proper individuals. They live their lives the way that suits them, facing the consequences and reaping the rewards. Things definitely don’t always come easily, but getting to know the characters as they overcome was quite inspiring. I definitely didn’t agree with everything that these individuals did, but at the same time I could understand where they were coming from. Even more important than that, they were easy to connect to and to fall in love with.
George has created a spectacular follow-up to The Publicist. It’s even more entertaining than the first. This is a must read for lovers of romance with something more.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2016
4.5 stars.
I really liked this book and I equally enjoyed Book 1 in the series. Until I read these novels, I had no idea what a doggie-dog-world the publishing business really is about. In addition to savoring an engaging and romantic read, I now have a deep respect and admiration for authors, publicists and publishers.
Hot, NYC publicist Kate Mitchell is in love with her boss, gorgeous all-star editor MacDermott Ellis (Mac). Mac is unhappily married and has been separated from his wife for years. Kate and Mac have been quietly seeing each other for months, enjoying each others company and mind-blowing sex. Love is in the air, but naturally Mac's marriage is a barrier.
Kate's dream is to one day be able to select the books she wants to publicize and consequently, make a difference in the world. She is tired of being dictated to by her publisher, providing publicity for books that have no substance, authored by jailbirds, cult quacks and has-been celebrities, all for the almighty dollar.
Humiliation and embarrassment seem to cling to Kate, as she is always stuck cleaning up her author's and publisher's messes. It is only when she has finally experienced enough grief in both her professional and personal life, that is she able focus on herself and make her life a priority.
With the help of her true friends; Grace, Nick and Andrew, Kate is able to pull her life together. Mac realizes Kate is his life and does everything in his power to have her, without any baggage.
Another great read from Christina George!
I was gifted this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this book and I equally enjoyed Book 1 in the series. Until I read these novels, I had no idea what a doggie-dog-world the publishing business really is about. In addition to savoring an engaging and romantic read, I now have a deep respect and admiration for authors, publicists and publishers.
Hot, NYC publicist Kate Mitchell is in love with her boss, gorgeous all-star editor MacDermott Ellis (Mac). Mac is unhappily married and has been separated from his wife for years. Kate and Mac have been quietly seeing each other for months, enjoying each others company and mind-blowing sex. Love is in the air, but naturally Mac's marriage is a barrier.
Kate's dream is to one day be able to select the books she wants to publicize and consequently, make a difference in the world. She is tired of being dictated to by her publisher, providing publicity for books that have no substance, authored by jailbirds, cult quacks and has-been celebrities, all for the almighty dollar.
Humiliation and embarrassment seem to cling to Kate, as she is always stuck cleaning up her author's and publisher's messes. It is only when she has finally experienced enough grief in both her professional and personal life, that is she able focus on herself and make her life a priority.
With the help of her true friends; Grace, Nick and Andrew, Kate is able to pull her life together. Mac realizes Kate is his life and does everything in his power to have her, without any baggage.
Another great read from Christina George!
I was gifted this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2014
Kate world is breaking around her, one of her star authors is being carted away in handcuffs and that’s just the beginning of Kate’s troubles. After she ends her career and the love affair with “the love of her life” she starts over in California. Nick is all too helpful to help Kate start over on more ways than one. He wants her heart and to help her follow her dreams, but can he really make she forget that her heart is with someone else?
Kate starts to rebuild her life and find that someone helps her with a surprising gift that she can’t forget. After hard work her name is a household name and the biggest bestseller in ages. She welcomed back with open arms, but can she welcome back “the one” with open arms? Who has her heart?
I love this book, but it was slow of me to get into after reading the first one. I wanted to know what happen with Kate and Mac but I was afraid that I wouldn’t be happy with it. At time I wanted to kick Kate but she end up making the right choice. Kate was just as feisty, high achiever that she was in the first book. What Mac did in this book only made me love him even more, he changes his past, mends who he has hurt and is fighting for the only women who made him want more. I started to like Nick but then he gone and did want he did to Kate in the end.
Christine wrote a great follow up that was well written, plot filled with many twisted and turns that will keep you guessing and happy. The characters are convincing with complex personalities that you fall in love with. I love Andrew and his man, so funny and true friends to Kate.
Kate starts to rebuild her life and find that someone helps her with a surprising gift that she can’t forget. After hard work her name is a household name and the biggest bestseller in ages. She welcomed back with open arms, but can she welcome back “the one” with open arms? Who has her heart?
I love this book, but it was slow of me to get into after reading the first one. I wanted to know what happen with Kate and Mac but I was afraid that I wouldn’t be happy with it. At time I wanted to kick Kate but she end up making the right choice. Kate was just as feisty, high achiever that she was in the first book. What Mac did in this book only made me love him even more, he changes his past, mends who he has hurt and is fighting for the only women who made him want more. I started to like Nick but then he gone and did want he did to Kate in the end.
Christine wrote a great follow up that was well written, plot filled with many twisted and turns that will keep you guessing and happy. The characters are convincing with complex personalities that you fall in love with. I love Andrew and his man, so funny and true friends to Kate.
October 20, 2013
If even 10% of some of the crazy stuff that could happen in the job of a publisher, I'm really glad I'm a bookkeeper. Like REALLY glad. There is absolutely zero percent chance I would smack an author or coworker. Or anyone that looked at me sideways. Just wow. Perhaps the dysfunction of traditional publishing houses has been the real downfall of them and the upswing of self-publishing.
After reading (and laughing) through the first book, I was really excited to see this book come out. And it did not disappoint. Full of laughs, insanity, completely over the top and ridiculous. It's one of those books you just want to curl up with, have some chocolate and giggle your way through. It's a beach read. A bubble bath read. That kind of fun book that will clear your head of any heavy reading.
No, it's not War & Peace - and thank goodness for that. It's fluff. It is what it says it is.
However, it also has the undertone of the main character, Kate, finding herself in the world. It's about realizing that life is too short and doing what makes you happy, looking past other's faults, accepting others for who they are and forgiveness. Maybe that sounds a little too deep for a fun book, but that's what I took away from it.
Recommended for fans of the first book and chick lit readers. You don't have to have read the first book to get what's going on, but I highly recommend it.
After reading (and laughing) through the first book, I was really excited to see this book come out. And it did not disappoint. Full of laughs, insanity, completely over the top and ridiculous. It's one of those books you just want to curl up with, have some chocolate and giggle your way through. It's a beach read. A bubble bath read. That kind of fun book that will clear your head of any heavy reading.
No, it's not War & Peace - and thank goodness for that. It's fluff. It is what it says it is.
However, it also has the undertone of the main character, Kate, finding herself in the world. It's about realizing that life is too short and doing what makes you happy, looking past other's faults, accepting others for who they are and forgiveness. Maybe that sounds a little too deep for a fun book, but that's what I took away from it.
Recommended for fans of the first book and chick lit readers. You don't have to have read the first book to get what's going on, but I highly recommend it.
November 2, 2013
4.2 Star Review - Shelf Life (The Publicist Book # 2)
I recommend this book.
I enjoyed this book by Christina. I myself don’t like to read about the affair with a married man but others don’t really mind. But I didn’t take rating points off for that. A very good read.
If you have not read the below I would recommend reading this book first.
The Publicist
This is the second book in the Publicist series. I admit that I have not read book 1. But was told this book is a continuation. It started right where the first book ended.
Kate Mitchell is a publicist for MD publishing. She is having an affair with a married man. When something happens at her job she decides to quit and move to California.
She moves in with a friend Nick she knows is in love with her. He knows she loves someone else but maybe he can heal her broken heart and she will fall for him.
Marc is who she left behind. He is married. He loves her but has made it clear he was staying married. After she leaves and he is divorced he knows he needs to get her back as he has loved her forever.
When she opens her own publishing firm she wants Marc to work with her. Will she stay with Nick or go back to Marc
You learn things about the publishing you might not have known you also learn about her author clients and they are very interesting.
I recommend this book.
I enjoyed this book by Christina. I myself don’t like to read about the affair with a married man but others don’t really mind. But I didn’t take rating points off for that. A very good read.
If you have not read the below I would recommend reading this book first.
The Publicist
This is the second book in the Publicist series. I admit that I have not read book 1. But was told this book is a continuation. It started right where the first book ended.
Kate Mitchell is a publicist for MD publishing. She is having an affair with a married man. When something happens at her job she decides to quit and move to California.
She moves in with a friend Nick she knows is in love with her. He knows she loves someone else but maybe he can heal her broken heart and she will fall for him.
Marc is who she left behind. He is married. He loves her but has made it clear he was staying married. After she leaves and he is divorced he knows he needs to get her back as he has loved her forever.
When she opens her own publishing firm she wants Marc to work with her. Will she stay with Nick or go back to Marc
You learn things about the publishing you might not have known you also learn about her author clients and they are very interesting.
February 9, 2014
This is the second book in The Publicist series and I really enjoyed it. The main character Kate hits some major challenges in this book both professionally and in her love life. Everything comes to a head and she’s either going to sink or swim. I appreciate how Kate is such a strong female character, sometimes she might not make the best decisions but she's a fighter and didn't stop working for her future even when she was basically at rock bottom. I have enjoyed these characters so far and I found this book to always have me on the edge of my seat. I am curious as to how anymore books will be made for this series because just about everything seems to have wrapped up pretty nicely at the end. However, since I have liked these characters so much I definitely would like another book to come out, but I just hope it isn’t beating a dead horse and that it will find the same fun and excitement that these two books have had so far
September 17, 2013
I received a copy of Shelf Life by Christina George in exchange for an honest review.
I have reviewed the first book from George, The Publicist, and I’m happy to say that I really enjoyed the second a lot more. The editing was a lot better, much more polished, and the story kept me more interested quicker and longer. There was a lot of intrigue amongst some of Kate’s crazy authors, as well as her relationship with Mac. I enjoyed watching Kate struggle between two men and really between right and wrong. I didn’t really like how her ending with Mac came about. He came off a bit of a hero to me when I don’t believe that. I don’t want to give too much away, but it was a bit of a letdown with him. Overall though, I’m glad I gave this book a chance because I was able to enjoy and even relate to parts of the story.
I have reviewed the first book from George, The Publicist, and I’m happy to say that I really enjoyed the second a lot more. The editing was a lot better, much more polished, and the story kept me more interested quicker and longer. There was a lot of intrigue amongst some of Kate’s crazy authors, as well as her relationship with Mac. I enjoyed watching Kate struggle between two men and really between right and wrong. I didn’t really like how her ending with Mac came about. He came off a bit of a hero to me when I don’t believe that. I don’t want to give too much away, but it was a bit of a letdown with him. Overall though, I’m glad I gave this book a chance because I was able to enjoy and even relate to parts of the story.
November 16, 2019
I'm surprised I made it to the end of this book because I was never crazy about her relationship with Mac, and the writing and audiobook narration made the relationships all feel passionless to me. I got the impression that the author really hates the trend for erotic fiction, because multiple characters complained about the popularity of 50 shades or about having to publish porn. While I totally get the hate for the quality of writing in books like 50 Shades, if the alternative to these uber-racy books is the dry, boring, over-way-too-quickly love scenes that were in this book, I would choose that other "porn" any day. I can't count the number of times this book used the phrase "They made love." Or how when she did try to describe a sexual act, it felt like a court stenographer was reporting on what happened.
December 28, 2013
I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads Giveaways.
This book was a little bit different because it was more in manuscript format being the pages were bound together and it wasn't actually in hardback or paperback form. Which had an added appeal since the reader got to actually feel like a publisher.
This book was about Kate Mitchell who works as a publicist. It was an interesting read but not a huge amount of character depth or drama surrounding Kate. I hadn't read the first book so I felt a little out of the loop. However the big draw in this book was the insights and education about the publicist world. It was incredibly interesting and informative for the reader. If the story was given a bit more oomph to it than it would be a really good read.
This book was a little bit different because it was more in manuscript format being the pages were bound together and it wasn't actually in hardback or paperback form. Which had an added appeal since the reader got to actually feel like a publisher.
This book was about Kate Mitchell who works as a publicist. It was an interesting read but not a huge amount of character depth or drama surrounding Kate. I hadn't read the first book so I felt a little out of the loop. However the big draw in this book was the insights and education about the publicist world. It was incredibly interesting and informative for the reader. If the story was given a bit more oomph to it than it would be a really good read.
September 4, 2013
I haven't read the first book in this series so I wasn't quite sure what I would get myself into.
The story follows the life of Kate Mitchell, a publicist in New York.
I think the story was quite realistic, however there was definitely a touch of added drama here and there to make the story more compelling.
Besides the story, the reader also learns a thing or two about publishing, making the book not only entertaining but also slightly educational.
Overall it was a good read and I can see why people really like this book series.
The story follows the life of Kate Mitchell, a publicist in New York.
I think the story was quite realistic, however there was definitely a touch of added drama here and there to make the story more compelling.
Besides the story, the reader also learns a thing or two about publishing, making the book not only entertaining but also slightly educational.
Overall it was a good read and I can see why people really like this book series.
September 16, 2013
Amazing, loved the way the story picked up and unfolded! Although unexpected it was perfect!
June 5, 2016
I chose to stop listening to the epilogue and enjoy the HFN ending of the last chapter.
August 19, 2020
I kind of don’t even know what to say about this book. It doesn’t push as many of my emotional hot-buttons as the first one did, but you still know full well going into it that the triangular nature of Kate’s love life is going to leave a trail of carnage a mile wide behind her. For my personal preferences, there was just too much book here telling the main story. Yeah, there are some fun detours – I absolutely ADORED Andrew – however I thought they distracted more than enhanced the central plotline. I liked seeing the lessons that Kate learns on this somewhat forced journey of self-discovery. It’s an often-twisty path she follows, yet I think she comes out of it stronger and more self-aware. I’m not sure either man is the right fit in her life, but I do think the way this book ends is correct for the moment they’re in.
August 20, 2020
This was such a great read. I read both of them one after the other and can’t believe how addictive they were. I was so invested in the storyline and loved all of the characters, they were all great! You wanted them all to get their happy ending but knew that one wouldn’t so it was intriguing constantly guessing which way the books would go. It wasn’t annoying like other books can be when there are love triangles. This was a book that really showed you the difference between choosing with your head and your heart. It’s the first books I’ve read from this author and I loved them and how they were written, I can’t wait to read the third one now. I read this book as an ARC.
May 11, 2015
Title: The Publicist (The Publicist #2)
Author: Christina George
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Women's Fiction
Publication Date: August 22, 2013
Published by: CreateSpace
Source: Copy Given by Author and Tour Organizer
(NOTE: May contain a few spoilers.)
ARA'S NOTE:
I've never been a fan of love triangles. They're messy, someone always ends up getting hurt, and you don't know which guy you'd side on because they're both amazing in their own way! The reason I'm ranting about this, is because Shelf Life's story revolves mostly around that -- a love triangle. Yup. Because putting a Mac-Dreamy (see what I did right there?) is just not enough, they had to add in another women-all-over-the-world-will-kill-to-be-with-him kind of man. Damn you Kate Mitchell.
*****
SYNOPSIS:
It’s an industry of out-of-control egos, unrealistic expectations, and unfulfilled promises.
This is publishing and it’s Kate’s world, but maybe not for long.
When one of Kate Mitchell’s star authors is carted away in handcuffs, it’s only the beginning of her troubles. As her world crumbles around her, Kate desperately looks for anyone to hold onto but finds that happy endings are truly works of fiction. With the shelf life of her career and her love affair quickly expiring, Kate sets off on a new adventure…
Starting over in California is easy but Kate soon learns that leaving her old life behind isn’t. Nick Lavigne is eager to help her forget but two things still own her heart, the dream of discovering the next great American novel, and MacDermott Ellis.
As Kate tries to rebuild her life she finds a surprising gift that reboots her career in a new and unexpected direction. Suddenly her name becomes synonymous with one of the biggest bestsellers publishing has seen in ages and she's welcomed back with open arms.
But at the height of her success the ghosts of her past come back to remind her of the world she'd been trying to forget and the man who never let go of her heart.
Behind the book, there’s always more to the story. Welcome to Publishing, the ego has landed.
*****
CHARACTER BACKGROUND:
Kate Mitchell is confused, happy, hurting, doubtful. She experiences a myriad of emotions, and it leaves her broken and confused as to what she should do. She experiences great loss and great success. But she also ends up hurting someone. Someone who loves her deeply.
Mac Ellis loves Kate more than anything. He now knows that he needs to have her in his life to make him happy and his life complete. He'll do everything to get her back and make things right.
Nicholas "Nick" Lavigne believes in fate. And for him, the first time he met Kate, he already fell in love. This charming boy-next-door from California knows that he needs to give Kate time to sort out her feelings. But he's about done with giving her space. He's now making his move.
*****
TO LOVE:
I earlier said -- okay, ranted -- how much of an anti-love triangle I am. Hasn't changed, but in this book, I almost didn't mind it. It was quite interesting because you see Kate being very involved in the relationship no matter who she's with. Sure, emotionally she wasn't giving 100% of her love to Nick, but she wasn't consciously holding back either.
Let's now talk about the men:
Mac is much more...*sigh* He did such an a-hole thing to Kate, that's a given, nut the things he did to make it up to her...whew! There's no way a person would question his love for our heroine.
Nick is the perfect man. He's successful, has the biggest heart, freaking gorgeous, uncomplicated, and irrevocably in love with Kate. He understands Kate's baggage and is willing to wait. He knows that Katie is his future, and he's willing to do everything to keep her by his side.
Don't even get me started on the story. I have no idea if the publishing world is truly that dramatic. But if it is, then there are two things I need to do now: 1st, I need to start reading the "Acknowledgement" section. I'm sorry! I just don't get around reading it. It's a lot like the credits after a movie...it's there but most people walk out the theater while it's rolling. Anyway, 2nd point, I have to start doing some research on the people behind the books I'm going to buy before I make the purchase. I don't want to support bad people, you know what I mean? Character growth is amazing. Kate, Mac, and Nick have all grown substantially; Career-wise, emotionally, mentally, and in general. The change of setting is also great, from New York to California. It was a good break.
*****
TO BLEH:
This book focused more on the characters' personal lives, and the world of publishing sort of took a back seat. I wanted to see more, especially since Kate's life has changed...a lot. It would've been great to see how she is as a *bleep* because she was such an amazing publicist.
I just also need to say that I hated the cliffhanger. Motherf*!! It's the exact reason why I hate love triangles!!! Someone got hurt (of course), then said person got hurt some more, and then then the last few pages happened, giving off the impression that there will be more pain and confusion in the next book! It's absolutely maddening!!
*****
SUMMARY:
Nevertheless, I give Shelf Life 5 stars. Did you see that coming? I loved the second installment to the series more than I did the first. It's more exciting, intriguing, and would definitely have readers on the edges of their seats -- or in my case, the floor. Wonderful book that would almost make you afraid of reading the third and last part.
Author: Christina George
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Women's Fiction
Publication Date: August 22, 2013
Published by: CreateSpace
Source: Copy Given by Author and Tour Organizer
(NOTE: May contain a few spoilers.)
ARA'S NOTE:
I've never been a fan of love triangles. They're messy, someone always ends up getting hurt, and you don't know which guy you'd side on because they're both amazing in their own way! The reason I'm ranting about this, is because Shelf Life's story revolves mostly around that -- a love triangle. Yup. Because putting a Mac-Dreamy (see what I did right there?) is just not enough, they had to add in another women-all-over-the-world-will-kill-to-be-with-him kind of man. Damn you Kate Mitchell.
*****
SYNOPSIS:
It’s an industry of out-of-control egos, unrealistic expectations, and unfulfilled promises.
This is publishing and it’s Kate’s world, but maybe not for long.
When one of Kate Mitchell’s star authors is carted away in handcuffs, it’s only the beginning of her troubles. As her world crumbles around her, Kate desperately looks for anyone to hold onto but finds that happy endings are truly works of fiction. With the shelf life of her career and her love affair quickly expiring, Kate sets off on a new adventure…
Starting over in California is easy but Kate soon learns that leaving her old life behind isn’t. Nick Lavigne is eager to help her forget but two things still own her heart, the dream of discovering the next great American novel, and MacDermott Ellis.
As Kate tries to rebuild her life she finds a surprising gift that reboots her career in a new and unexpected direction. Suddenly her name becomes synonymous with one of the biggest bestsellers publishing has seen in ages and she's welcomed back with open arms.
But at the height of her success the ghosts of her past come back to remind her of the world she'd been trying to forget and the man who never let go of her heart.
Behind the book, there’s always more to the story. Welcome to Publishing, the ego has landed.
*****
CHARACTER BACKGROUND:
Kate Mitchell is confused, happy, hurting, doubtful. She experiences a myriad of emotions, and it leaves her broken and confused as to what she should do. She experiences great loss and great success. But she also ends up hurting someone. Someone who loves her deeply.
Mac Ellis loves Kate more than anything. He now knows that he needs to have her in his life to make him happy and his life complete. He'll do everything to get her back and make things right.
Nicholas "Nick" Lavigne believes in fate. And for him, the first time he met Kate, he already fell in love. This charming boy-next-door from California knows that he needs to give Kate time to sort out her feelings. But he's about done with giving her space. He's now making his move.
*****
TO LOVE:
I earlier said -- okay, ranted -- how much of an anti-love triangle I am. Hasn't changed, but in this book, I almost didn't mind it. It was quite interesting because you see Kate being very involved in the relationship no matter who she's with. Sure, emotionally she wasn't giving 100% of her love to Nick, but she wasn't consciously holding back either.
Let's now talk about the men:
Mac is much more...*sigh* He did such an a-hole thing to Kate, that's a given, nut the things he did to make it up to her...whew! There's no way a person would question his love for our heroine.
Nick is the perfect man. He's successful, has the biggest heart, freaking gorgeous, uncomplicated, and irrevocably in love with Kate. He understands Kate's baggage and is willing to wait. He knows that Katie is his future, and he's willing to do everything to keep her by his side.
Don't even get me started on the story. I have no idea if the publishing world is truly that dramatic. But if it is, then there are two things I need to do now: 1st, I need to start reading the "Acknowledgement" section. I'm sorry! I just don't get around reading it. It's a lot like the credits after a movie...it's there but most people walk out the theater while it's rolling. Anyway, 2nd point, I have to start doing some research on the people behind the books I'm going to buy before I make the purchase. I don't want to support bad people, you know what I mean? Character growth is amazing. Kate, Mac, and Nick have all grown substantially; Career-wise, emotionally, mentally, and in general. The change of setting is also great, from New York to California. It was a good break.
*****
TO BLEH:
This book focused more on the characters' personal lives, and the world of publishing sort of took a back seat. I wanted to see more, especially since Kate's life has changed...a lot. It would've been great to see how she is as a *bleep* because she was such an amazing publicist.
I just also need to say that I hated the cliffhanger. Motherf*!! It's the exact reason why I hate love triangles!!! Someone got hurt (of course), then said person got hurt some more, and then then the last few pages happened, giving off the impression that there will be more pain and confusion in the next book! It's absolutely maddening!!
*****
SUMMARY:
Nevertheless, I give Shelf Life 5 stars. Did you see that coming? I loved the second installment to the series more than I did the first. It's more exciting, intriguing, and would definitely have readers on the edges of their seats -- or in my case, the floor. Wonderful book that would almost make you afraid of reading the third and last part.
March 19, 2017
Enjoyable read, even though the heroine is fickle, and annoying at times. I just wish she'd make up her mind!
Again, too many typos.
Again, too many typos.
December 29, 2014
Shelf Life
Christina George
The Author Visits received Shelf Life in exchange for an honest review.
Shelf Life is the second installment in Christina George’s three-part romantic series, The Publicist.
Kate Mitchell is a publicist in the world of publishing. Kate has her work cut out for her trying to keep her crazy author clients and their antics in line. But things have a way of blowing up in Kate’s face and in the Shelf Life, Kate is subjected to the negative side of publishing when a publicity campaign blows up in her face and her reputation is one the line.
Kate needs her friends and Grace Adler, her best friend from college and Nick Lavigne, the nephew of her beloved friend, Allan Lavigne, swoop in to help Kate find her grounding after her rather massive publicity fiasco thanks to Mac Ellis, her lover and Edward Sherman, the head of Morris and Dean.
Kate makes some major changes in her life, moving from the east to west coast for starters and deciding to take a different direction with her career. She also says good-bye to Mac and makes a life for her and Nick.
Although Kate believes she has her everything worked out, she can’t break the bad habit that is Mac Ellis.
Shelf Life examines Kate’s choices, both professionally and personally.
What I liked about Shelf Life:
1. Cast of characters:
I am a huge fan of Grace Adler. I hope George is planning on writing a series about Grace. She is definitely best-friend material but more than that, she has the makings of a leading lady. I wanted to scream at Kate so many times but was glad Grace was there to talk sense into Kate. Grace is level-headed, observant and thoughtful in ways Kate is lacking. But perhaps that is the angle George needs to take in Kate’s evolution as a character. Maybe, making Kate appear needy is part of the continual development of her character arc and what I feel is lacking could be a deliberate choice. Only time will tell.
Andrew Trapp: the aging British rocker who on the outside appears to be a bad-ass rock star but on further inspection, is nothing of the sort. On the contrary, Andrew is a warm-hearted, down-to-earth, fantastic kind of guy who has been having a love-affair with his best friend, James for twenty years. Andrew, James and Kate form a long-standing friendship and I loved the addition of these two men into Kate’s life.
2. Writing:
George’s writing matured with the second installment. There was less info-dumping and more exploration of the emotional quotient. George’s strength lies in her ability to write at length about what she knows intimately, in this case, the world of publicity and publishing. But as Kate went from one bad situation to another, George was able to get the depth of feelings across the page far better than the first go around. I also saw a side of Kate that was so human, one, when she is blindsided by the publicity fiasco and two, when she has to make some hard choices where her heart is concerned. Love can do crazy things to even the most grounded women and Kate has been through hell and her emotions are all over the map. Mac has this mystical ability to make Kate second guess herself and although that makes her appear weak, it also makes her human.
3. Storyline:
There were some fantastic twists in the Shelf Life. I loved watching Kate come into her own as a publicist and forging her own way. The triangle between Kate, Mac and Nick had some major ups and downs and while the ending of the second book was unceremoniously lop-sided, the writing for what’s to come is on the wall.
What I didn’t like about Shelf Life:
1. Kate’s character development:
Kate’s character is still lacking well-roundedness. I still think Kate is too immature, too flippant and too gullible for her own good. While Kate is an adept publicist, every other area of her life is lacking that kind of steadfastness. Kate is still very one-dimensional. But I am giving George the benefit of the doubt in the hopes the third installment will find Kate evening out the playing field between heart and head.
2. Mac.
Still do not like Mac.
Shelf Life put a smile on my face. Kate is a lucky girl. Despite being in the line of fire, I love that she takes a chance in rebuilding her career. As for her love life, that’s a totally different story. Who does Kate finally end up with is the million dollar question. I am definitely looking forward to the last book in the series. I can’t wait to see where Kate goes from here. I suspect she still has some hard lessons to learn but overall, the Shelf Life was worth the read.
My rating: 4 Stars.
Read our reviews at The Author Visits
Christina George
The Author Visits received Shelf Life in exchange for an honest review.
Shelf Life is the second installment in Christina George’s three-part romantic series, The Publicist.
Kate Mitchell is a publicist in the world of publishing. Kate has her work cut out for her trying to keep her crazy author clients and their antics in line. But things have a way of blowing up in Kate’s face and in the Shelf Life, Kate is subjected to the negative side of publishing when a publicity campaign blows up in her face and her reputation is one the line.
Kate needs her friends and Grace Adler, her best friend from college and Nick Lavigne, the nephew of her beloved friend, Allan Lavigne, swoop in to help Kate find her grounding after her rather massive publicity fiasco thanks to Mac Ellis, her lover and Edward Sherman, the head of Morris and Dean.
Kate makes some major changes in her life, moving from the east to west coast for starters and deciding to take a different direction with her career. She also says good-bye to Mac and makes a life for her and Nick.
Although Kate believes she has her everything worked out, she can’t break the bad habit that is Mac Ellis.
Shelf Life examines Kate’s choices, both professionally and personally.
What I liked about Shelf Life:
1. Cast of characters:
I am a huge fan of Grace Adler. I hope George is planning on writing a series about Grace. She is definitely best-friend material but more than that, she has the makings of a leading lady. I wanted to scream at Kate so many times but was glad Grace was there to talk sense into Kate. Grace is level-headed, observant and thoughtful in ways Kate is lacking. But perhaps that is the angle George needs to take in Kate’s evolution as a character. Maybe, making Kate appear needy is part of the continual development of her character arc and what I feel is lacking could be a deliberate choice. Only time will tell.
Andrew Trapp: the aging British rocker who on the outside appears to be a bad-ass rock star but on further inspection, is nothing of the sort. On the contrary, Andrew is a warm-hearted, down-to-earth, fantastic kind of guy who has been having a love-affair with his best friend, James for twenty years. Andrew, James and Kate form a long-standing friendship and I loved the addition of these two men into Kate’s life.
2. Writing:
George’s writing matured with the second installment. There was less info-dumping and more exploration of the emotional quotient. George’s strength lies in her ability to write at length about what she knows intimately, in this case, the world of publicity and publishing. But as Kate went from one bad situation to another, George was able to get the depth of feelings across the page far better than the first go around. I also saw a side of Kate that was so human, one, when she is blindsided by the publicity fiasco and two, when she has to make some hard choices where her heart is concerned. Love can do crazy things to even the most grounded women and Kate has been through hell and her emotions are all over the map. Mac has this mystical ability to make Kate second guess herself and although that makes her appear weak, it also makes her human.
3. Storyline:
There were some fantastic twists in the Shelf Life. I loved watching Kate come into her own as a publicist and forging her own way. The triangle between Kate, Mac and Nick had some major ups and downs and while the ending of the second book was unceremoniously lop-sided, the writing for what’s to come is on the wall.
What I didn’t like about Shelf Life:
1. Kate’s character development:
Kate’s character is still lacking well-roundedness. I still think Kate is too immature, too flippant and too gullible for her own good. While Kate is an adept publicist, every other area of her life is lacking that kind of steadfastness. Kate is still very one-dimensional. But I am giving George the benefit of the doubt in the hopes the third installment will find Kate evening out the playing field between heart and head.
2. Mac.
Still do not like Mac.
Shelf Life put a smile on my face. Kate is a lucky girl. Despite being in the line of fire, I love that she takes a chance in rebuilding her career. As for her love life, that’s a totally different story. Who does Kate finally end up with is the million dollar question. I am definitely looking forward to the last book in the series. I can’t wait to see where Kate goes from here. I suspect she still has some hard lessons to learn but overall, the Shelf Life was worth the read.
My rating: 4 Stars.
Read our reviews at The Author Visits
August 13, 2013
Please note: I received an advanced copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.
Shelf Life. To shelve it or to read it?
I vote to read it. Shelf Life is the sequel to The Publicist. A follow-up to the busy and often crazy life of a publicist in the publishing world.
Now, if you know me, you know that I finish a book in a day if I have nothing to do. Two-three days if I am busy at work. LOL! You can just call me Speedy Gonzalez! Now my interest in the book does play a factor too. If the story is kind of slow, it will take longer. If I’m invested in the characters, I can wrap it up quickly.
In the case of the Shelf Life, it took me 5 days to finish it. I started it on Monday and finished reading it Friday night. That’s not to say it wasn’t good, but it did have its slow moments for me.
I wanted to read the Shelf Life because I was curious to see what happened with Kate and Mac. Did she leave him for Nick? Did he leave Carolyn for her? I just had to know, and truth be told, I liked the way the story unfolded. Christina George, job well done!
So here is a little about the book:
Kate is a publicist at MD Publishing House. She works for a creep named Edward and is in love with a taken man named Mac. While trying to figure out the best marketing plans for her authors, she often encounters some of the craziest things. An author who has anxiety over appearing on TV so she’s locked herself in her dressing room. Greedy sisters convicted of killing their parents who want both the notoriety and money that comes along with publishing their tell-all book. An author who can’t take bad reviews and writes her own posted reviews. Oh and authors who make the NY Best Sellers List by buying up copies of their own book. Crazy right?
Well as life may have it, the rug is pulled from under her in a major way, and Kate’s world falls apart. Her credibility is shot when she finds out both the man of her dreams and her boss betrayed her in hopes of having a #1 seller. She flees NYC and heads to LA in a pink Cadillac straight into the arms of someone else. Can Kate make the best of her west coast trip? Can she rebound from Mac and the disaster that is her career?
Yes. Yes. And Yes! Kate comes out of it all like a phoenix rising from the flames, stronger and smarter, and ready to go back to the world of publishing on her own terms.
So what do I think about it?
First and foremost, please read The Publicist, and then read this one because I do recommend this book. It really does show the inner workings of a publicist. Who knew they had to do that much? Who knew the authors and their demands were that crazy? Authors are just like artists, a little neurotic it seems. George, a publicist herself, has taken her life experiences and created a world of publishing that will suck you right into it.
George also did a great job with the character development of both Kate and Mac. Their growing pains are truly what endeared me to them.
Favorite Character: Mac because he finally grew a pair and demanded “more” from his life. Initially, he was too complacent and took the easy road out. He never wanted “more” from his life until Kate challenged the way he thought. He’s my favorite because I saw true character development, and he did a great job of making things right between Kate and him.
Most Annoying Character: Grace! I hate when people project their insecurities onto you. Don’t get me wrong, she had great points. I just hated her delivery!
Most Hated Character: Edward, of course. He’s a douchebag on so many levels.
Most Lovable Character: Nick. Although I was cheering for Mac the entire time, a small part of me wanted her to choose him. He’s the good guy. The guy who goes above and beyond to show you how much he cares. In the end, he got hurt because like they say, “the good guy always finishes last. “
Favorite Element of the Book: The affair! Don’t judge me. Ever since The Publicist, I’ve been rooting for Mac and Kate. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Matter of fact, everyone was rooting for them except Nick and Grace. They tried to hide their affection, but even Edward saw it. They were so good together and so happy that Mac used to whistle. In the words of Edward, “who whistles anymore?’ I want to whistle too. I want what Mac got! Christina George gave life to their romance, and I was so connected to them.
Overall, I liked it. I would recommend it. It took me awhile to gain momentum in reading it, but once I started it, I couldn’t put it down. I give it a 3.75/5.
Be sure to check it out!
Review is also posted on my blog, Pearls and Peacocks (www.pearlsandpeacocks.com)
Shelf Life. To shelve it or to read it?
I vote to read it. Shelf Life is the sequel to The Publicist. A follow-up to the busy and often crazy life of a publicist in the publishing world.
Now, if you know me, you know that I finish a book in a day if I have nothing to do. Two-three days if I am busy at work. LOL! You can just call me Speedy Gonzalez! Now my interest in the book does play a factor too. If the story is kind of slow, it will take longer. If I’m invested in the characters, I can wrap it up quickly.
In the case of the Shelf Life, it took me 5 days to finish it. I started it on Monday and finished reading it Friday night. That’s not to say it wasn’t good, but it did have its slow moments for me.
I wanted to read the Shelf Life because I was curious to see what happened with Kate and Mac. Did she leave him for Nick? Did he leave Carolyn for her? I just had to know, and truth be told, I liked the way the story unfolded. Christina George, job well done!
So here is a little about the book:
Kate is a publicist at MD Publishing House. She works for a creep named Edward and is in love with a taken man named Mac. While trying to figure out the best marketing plans for her authors, she often encounters some of the craziest things. An author who has anxiety over appearing on TV so she’s locked herself in her dressing room. Greedy sisters convicted of killing their parents who want both the notoriety and money that comes along with publishing their tell-all book. An author who can’t take bad reviews and writes her own posted reviews. Oh and authors who make the NY Best Sellers List by buying up copies of their own book. Crazy right?
Well as life may have it, the rug is pulled from under her in a major way, and Kate’s world falls apart. Her credibility is shot when she finds out both the man of her dreams and her boss betrayed her in hopes of having a #1 seller. She flees NYC and heads to LA in a pink Cadillac straight into the arms of someone else. Can Kate make the best of her west coast trip? Can she rebound from Mac and the disaster that is her career?
Yes. Yes. And Yes! Kate comes out of it all like a phoenix rising from the flames, stronger and smarter, and ready to go back to the world of publishing on her own terms.
So what do I think about it?
First and foremost, please read The Publicist, and then read this one because I do recommend this book. It really does show the inner workings of a publicist. Who knew they had to do that much? Who knew the authors and their demands were that crazy? Authors are just like artists, a little neurotic it seems. George, a publicist herself, has taken her life experiences and created a world of publishing that will suck you right into it.
George also did a great job with the character development of both Kate and Mac. Their growing pains are truly what endeared me to them.
Favorite Character: Mac because he finally grew a pair and demanded “more” from his life. Initially, he was too complacent and took the easy road out. He never wanted “more” from his life until Kate challenged the way he thought. He’s my favorite because I saw true character development, and he did a great job of making things right between Kate and him.
Most Annoying Character: Grace! I hate when people project their insecurities onto you. Don’t get me wrong, she had great points. I just hated her delivery!
Most Hated Character: Edward, of course. He’s a douchebag on so many levels.
Most Lovable Character: Nick. Although I was cheering for Mac the entire time, a small part of me wanted her to choose him. He’s the good guy. The guy who goes above and beyond to show you how much he cares. In the end, he got hurt because like they say, “the good guy always finishes last. “
Favorite Element of the Book: The affair! Don’t judge me. Ever since The Publicist, I’ve been rooting for Mac and Kate. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Matter of fact, everyone was rooting for them except Nick and Grace. They tried to hide their affection, but even Edward saw it. They were so good together and so happy that Mac used to whistle. In the words of Edward, “who whistles anymore?’ I want to whistle too. I want what Mac got! Christina George gave life to their romance, and I was so connected to them.
Overall, I liked it. I would recommend it. It took me awhile to gain momentum in reading it, but once I started it, I couldn’t put it down. I give it a 3.75/5.
Be sure to check it out!
Review is also posted on my blog, Pearls and Peacocks (www.pearlsandpeacocks.com)
May 8, 2014
Kate is back and better than ever. She's got just as much if not more on her plate now yet she's got it covered....well as best she can. Hey, there was NO WAY she could see some of the things coming that ARE in fact coming....nor could she prevent some of the hardships she'll have to overcome up ahead. The best we can hope for is that our girl will pull through with a sunnier disposition to boot. Let's just say that Kate will fall in and out and in and out and maybe in love again with both fellas and the industry as the story progresses, but it just adds that little something extra to keep your attention. As for her potential love matches, we've got Mac and Nick. Mac, she has a history with and a love both tumultuous and satisfying, but only just. There's no denying his appeal but there are a few hang ups that should give Kate pause....unlike with her blonde god by the name of Nick. Despite his always sunny disposition, we get to see a darker side of Nick when things spin out of control....the veer-age to the which makes him more human.
As for the story. though even I can't deny the electricity the author infuses between certain characters throughout the story, I have to say this...between book's one and two, this one has more story, more focus whereas book one lingered more between the sheets. It was great to see more of a balance. It felt like we were seeing the author truly grow from her previous experience. (Way to go!) I for one can't wait to see what she has in store for us next time around. The world she shows us is just fictitious enough to be daydreamed of and yet real enough to....well, still be front and center in our daydreams but also painful, disheartening, and downright hard to wake up to in the morning. Ah but still, TOTALLY the life no matter what it throws at her.
The only drawbacks for me truthfully ends in a list of two. First, I felt that the trip the Whistler was cut WAY too short. They pretty much get there separately, find each other and then....poof, we're back in New York. I was definitely expecting a little something more considering. The second item was something I found consistent w/ book one. It's something small and trivial. ..the leading lady's name or rather what others call her. She is named Katherine. She is called Kate and Katie (among other endearing terms). The problem? She is referred to by BOTH names from the same individual within the same dialogue sequence. For me, it just creates a little bump in the story, making you back up a second to make sure you were following the story closely enough and didn't miss an add in character's introduction. Other than these two things, I'm riding the wagon of FANDOM with our flag PROUDLY displayed.
Recommend for fans of Fiction, Women's Fiction, Chick Lit and Romance. .. this is definitely a series you'll want to add to your must read list.
*review copy received in exchange for my honest review. .. full post can be seen on my site*
As for the story. though even I can't deny the electricity the author infuses between certain characters throughout the story, I have to say this...between book's one and two, this one has more story, more focus whereas book one lingered more between the sheets. It was great to see more of a balance. It felt like we were seeing the author truly grow from her previous experience. (Way to go!) I for one can't wait to see what she has in store for us next time around. The world she shows us is just fictitious enough to be daydreamed of and yet real enough to....well, still be front and center in our daydreams but also painful, disheartening, and downright hard to wake up to in the morning. Ah but still, TOTALLY the life no matter what it throws at her.
The only drawbacks for me truthfully ends in a list of two. First, I felt that the trip the Whistler was cut WAY too short. They pretty much get there separately, find each other and then....poof, we're back in New York. I was definitely expecting a little something more considering. The second item was something I found consistent w/ book one. It's something small and trivial. ..the leading lady's name or rather what others call her. She is named Katherine. She is called Kate and Katie (among other endearing terms). The problem? She is referred to by BOTH names from the same individual within the same dialogue sequence. For me, it just creates a little bump in the story, making you back up a second to make sure you were following the story closely enough and didn't miss an add in character's introduction. Other than these two things, I'm riding the wagon of FANDOM with our flag PROUDLY displayed.
Recommend for fans of Fiction, Women's Fiction, Chick Lit and Romance. .. this is definitely a series you'll want to add to your must read list.
*review copy received in exchange for my honest review. .. full post can be seen on my site*
January 28, 2015
I “read” and reviewed The Publicist (book 1) as an audiobook. I was so excited to continue with Kate’s story (and Mac and Nick)… but to hear it in my own voice (in my head, you know). My biggest negative in listening to an audiobook (for this book) was that the narrator had voiced Nick in a way that irritated me, and really left me feeling like he was a little creepy. Why would someone like Kate be attracted AT ALL to someone that had an edge of ick. And, I honestly didn’t love how Mac was voiced either. I know he was a player and cheater… but I would like to think Kate would have steered clear if he sounded as smooth and smarmy as he did in the audiobook. So… THRILLED to have had a chance to slightly recreate my feelings.
I have to admit it took me a few chapters to actually read Shelf Life myself. It will sound weird… but I actually could still hear how the narrator would read this book. She was in my head. I had to keep stopping myself and re-sound it out. It’s really interesting to me how much the reader actually shapes the story. I know I’ve heard that no 2 people read the same book… and now I’m positive that’s true.)
Enough of the book vs. audiobook chatter… Shelf Life… I absolutely loved it. The continued look into the world of publishing just fascinated me. The whole machine at work. Just having a better idea of how many people are involved in getting a book into my hands is really pretty overwhelming. Then you add in Kate, who is madly in love with being a publicist. I think even as much as some of the crazy authors and her crappy boss irritate her… she loves every moment of the challenge. While I would never want or aspire to be Kate… I have to say… I would love to be Lulu (Kate’s assistant). Just to be a part of Kate’s whirlwind love affair with publishing would excite me.
Oh… and of course Kate’s ongoing struggle with Mac and Nick keeps the pages turning. I refuse to even hint at where Kate goes with either relationship… but oh my, it sure is a fun ride. Pink convertible Cadillac and all.
I will say, that at the core, this book is about making the right choices. In love, in work, in life. Not the easy choices… maybe not even the best choices… but the right choices. Not everyone makes the right choices. It’s so easy to get on a path and just go along for the ride. I can imagine that so many people have found themselves in lives that aren’t really what they want. But, it’s so much easier to just stick with the status quo than to stir it all up. It takes courage. It takes guts. And, most likely… it will get bad before it gets good if they do decide to go for right.
While this book ends in a spot that it could be “done”… I CAN. NOT. WAIT. to read book 3. (Thank goodness I’ll have a review for that week!!!)
I have to admit it took me a few chapters to actually read Shelf Life myself. It will sound weird… but I actually could still hear how the narrator would read this book. She was in my head. I had to keep stopping myself and re-sound it out. It’s really interesting to me how much the reader actually shapes the story. I know I’ve heard that no 2 people read the same book… and now I’m positive that’s true.)
Enough of the book vs. audiobook chatter… Shelf Life… I absolutely loved it. The continued look into the world of publishing just fascinated me. The whole machine at work. Just having a better idea of how many people are involved in getting a book into my hands is really pretty overwhelming. Then you add in Kate, who is madly in love with being a publicist. I think even as much as some of the crazy authors and her crappy boss irritate her… she loves every moment of the challenge. While I would never want or aspire to be Kate… I have to say… I would love to be Lulu (Kate’s assistant). Just to be a part of Kate’s whirlwind love affair with publishing would excite me.
Oh… and of course Kate’s ongoing struggle with Mac and Nick keeps the pages turning. I refuse to even hint at where Kate goes with either relationship… but oh my, it sure is a fun ride. Pink convertible Cadillac and all.
I will say, that at the core, this book is about making the right choices. In love, in work, in life. Not the easy choices… maybe not even the best choices… but the right choices. Not everyone makes the right choices. It’s so easy to get on a path and just go along for the ride. I can imagine that so many people have found themselves in lives that aren’t really what they want. But, it’s so much easier to just stick with the status quo than to stir it all up. It takes courage. It takes guts. And, most likely… it will get bad before it gets good if they do decide to go for right.
While this book ends in a spot that it could be “done”… I CAN. NOT. WAIT. to read book 3. (Thank goodness I’ll have a review for that week!!!)
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