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Wynette, Texas #3
Glitter Baby
Welcome to the world of the Glitter BabyFleur Savagar is the most beautiful woman in the world . . . to everyone but herself. With her oversized hands and paddle-boat feet, her streaky blond hair and funny green eyes, she lives a life filled with secrets that began before she was born. That was when her bewitching mother left home to find James Dean and met Errol Flynn instead. Now Fleur has to grow up quickly, and life won't make that easy.
Jake Koranda is both New York's most brilliant playwright and Hollywood's hottest actor. Difficult, talented, and tormented, he has no patience for international glamour girls, not even ones with beautiful bodies and smart-aleck mouths. But there's more to the Glitter Baby than shine, and Fleur's tougher than Jake expects. Even with the odds stacked against her, she's fiercely determined to discover the woman she's destined to be.
An ugly duckling who can't believe she's turned into a swan . . . A tough-guy movie star with a haunted past . . . In a land of broken dreams, can two unlikely lovers trust their hearts?
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
339 people are currently reading
3799 people want to read
About the author
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
47 books15.8k followersSUSAN ELIZABETH PHILLIPS
Susan Elizabeth Phillips has been called the “Queen of Romantic Comedy and is the creator of the sports romance, beginning with her 1989 bestseller, FANCY PANTS. An internationally acclaimed author, her books have been published in over 30 languages. She’s the only four-time recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Favorite Book of the Year Award, and a recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award.
Susan's newest book, SIMPLY THE BEST, is coming in hardcover, ebook and audiobook in February 2024. SIMPLY THE BEST is book #10 in the highly acclaimed CHICAGO STARS football series. Susan is also known for the Wynette, Texas book series and many stand-alone women's fiction/romance novels.
In addition to being a New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, and USA Today bestseller, she is a hiker, lazy gardener, horrible singer, passable cook, passionate reader, wife, mother of two grown sons, and grandmother.
You can visit Susan on Facebook, Instagram or on her website.
https://www.facebook.com/SusanElizabe...
https://www.instagram.com/SEPauthor/
http://susanelizabethphillips.com/
Susan Elizabeth Phillips has been called the “Queen of Romantic Comedy and is the creator of the sports romance, beginning with her 1989 bestseller, FANCY PANTS. An internationally acclaimed author, her books have been published in over 30 languages. She’s the only four-time recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Favorite Book of the Year Award, and a recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award.
Susan's newest book, SIMPLY THE BEST, is coming in hardcover, ebook and audiobook in February 2024. SIMPLY THE BEST is book #10 in the highly acclaimed CHICAGO STARS football series. Susan is also known for the Wynette, Texas book series and many stand-alone women's fiction/romance novels.
In addition to being a New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, and USA Today bestseller, she is a hiker, lazy gardener, horrible singer, passable cook, passionate reader, wife, mother of two grown sons, and grandmother.
You can visit Susan on Facebook, Instagram or on her website.
https://www.facebook.com/SusanElizabe...
https://www.instagram.com/SEPauthor/
http://susanelizabethphillips.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 755 reviews
December 11, 2015
I loved this one. It was a re-read and I think I loved it even more this time... I had sort of forgotten the book. Then Karen and Sharon read it recently and it piqued my interest as their review/updates were intriguing me. Karen loved it. Sharon, not so much... Mmmm, I said to myself, I wonder how I would feel about it now doing another read!
Fleur has a fairly fucked up childhood. Her parents are assholes. OK, her mother thinks she is pushing her child out of love but to me it was selfish and self-serving.
I get that some might be put off by the whole "background" story ... Alexi, Belinda ... maybe not enough Jake and Fleur. Not me, I was intrigued by it all.
Alexi, he was such a horrible character. I hated him.
Kissy got it right ...
Belinda. Talk about pushy. Even at the end of the story, she hadn't really grown up.
FLEUR. Beautiful Fleur who could not see her own beauty.
JAKE.
Fleur has a fairly fucked up childhood. Her parents are assholes. OK, her mother thinks she is pushing her child out of love but to me it was selfish and self-serving.
I get that some might be put off by the whole "background" story ... Alexi, Belinda ... maybe not enough Jake and Fleur. Not me, I was intrigued by it all.
Alexi, he was such a horrible character. I hated him.
Kissy got it right ...
"Alexi Savagar is a whacko prick."
She stayed like that, listening to the pounding of her own heart until the deepest hours of the night.
Belinda. Talk about pushy. Even at the end of the story, she hadn't really grown up.
She had to run until she disappeared, even from herself.
FLEUR. Beautiful Fleur who could not see her own beauty.
JAKE.
An ugly duckling who can't believe she's turned into a swan . . . A tough-guy movie star with a haunted past . . . In a land of broken dreams, can two unlikely lovers trust their hearts?
"What's my tragic flaw?" Fleur asked.
Kissy thought for a moment.
"Shitty parents."
"Jake?"
"Hmmmm?"
"I really am pretty, aren't I?"
He looked at her and grinned, a wisecrack ready to slip from his mouth.
But then he saw her expression, and his grin disappeared.
"I think you're the prettiest woman I've ever seen," he said simply.
October 7, 2015
5 STARS
Ok, so this is one of those books that you have to read…then sit back and think about for a while before you decide how you feel about it. To be honest, I got about half way into it deciding that it really wasn’t doing anything for me. But then… something happened, and it all just started making sense to me.
It was like the story was just turning out to be one big prologue. I kept waiting and waiting for the real story to pick up. I kept thinking that this is way too much background information. And it didn’t really hit me until after I finished the book, that you couldn’t have understood the significance of Fleur Savagar’s life without knowing the circumstances that created her existence.
And her character is quite a complicated one. It baffles my mind… the creative imaginations of some of these authors we read. Fleur Savagar is one of those heroines whom everyone see’s initially as being weak, but turns out to be quite the opposite.
Just one block. Could she make it that far? She began to run.
Coming from a background of extreme wealth and notoriety often produces children who are spoiled and vain, but somehow the complete and utter dysfunction that ruins the childhoods of Fleur and her brother Michel, also saves them from this ultimate fate. But at the same time the neglect that they both received made it difficult for both of them to trust.
“Glamour girls don’t know how to read. We just look at the pictures.”
Then there was Jake Koranda… the tortured soul. I LOVED this man. He had all of my prerequisites for the perfect male hero.
“Love, I've discovered is a transient emotion best satisfied by a good fuck.”
He would have fit quite nicely into any Sandra Brown novel. A sensitive guy with a rough facade. Rough around the edges, and a bit of an asshole at times… even a chipped tooth! I’m in LOVE! (again!)
“Cut the crap and tell me what color panties you’re wearing.”
Jake is probably what threw this book into the 5 star range for me. And he was the perfect person for someone like Fleur. A hot guy, but also an intellectual. Someone who was not impressed with the glamorous life. And then there was his perpetually broken heart. What’s not to love there?
“I'm not living in the shadows anymore. I want to walk in the sun. But I can't do that without you.”
Anyway, the story was a long one. and it took some determination to get through all of the background information, but in the end, it was yet another example of the romantic genius that is Susan Elizabeth Phillips. The supporting cast was fabulous as usual. It was quite different from her other books, but still just as good.
There is one thing I do need to mention. This book is listed on GR and on Amazon, as the Wynette Texas Series Book #3. I’m still trying to figure that one out. This book has NOTHING to do with Wynette, Texas, or any of the characters from that series that I can see. So if you want to skip it in the series, I’m pretty sure you can, or if you want to read it as a stand alone, that is how I would see it.
On to the rest of the Wynette’s!!! God I love this author!
Ok, so this is one of those books that you have to read…then sit back and think about for a while before you decide how you feel about it. To be honest, I got about half way into it deciding that it really wasn’t doing anything for me. But then… something happened, and it all just started making sense to me.
It was like the story was just turning out to be one big prologue. I kept waiting and waiting for the real story to pick up. I kept thinking that this is way too much background information. And it didn’t really hit me until after I finished the book, that you couldn’t have understood the significance of Fleur Savagar’s life without knowing the circumstances that created her existence.
And her character is quite a complicated one. It baffles my mind… the creative imaginations of some of these authors we read. Fleur Savagar is one of those heroines whom everyone see’s initially as being weak, but turns out to be quite the opposite.
Just one block. Could she make it that far? She began to run.
Coming from a background of extreme wealth and notoriety often produces children who are spoiled and vain, but somehow the complete and utter dysfunction that ruins the childhoods of Fleur and her brother Michel, also saves them from this ultimate fate. But at the same time the neglect that they both received made it difficult for both of them to trust.
“Glamour girls don’t know how to read. We just look at the pictures.”
Then there was Jake Koranda… the tortured soul. I LOVED this man. He had all of my prerequisites for the perfect male hero.
“Love, I've discovered is a transient emotion best satisfied by a good fuck.”
He would have fit quite nicely into any Sandra Brown novel. A sensitive guy with a rough facade. Rough around the edges, and a bit of an asshole at times… even a chipped tooth! I’m in LOVE! (again!)
“Cut the crap and tell me what color panties you’re wearing.”
Jake is probably what threw this book into the 5 star range for me. And he was the perfect person for someone like Fleur. A hot guy, but also an intellectual. Someone who was not impressed with the glamorous life. And then there was his perpetually broken heart. What’s not to love there?
“I'm not living in the shadows anymore. I want to walk in the sun. But I can't do that without you.”
Anyway, the story was a long one. and it took some determination to get through all of the background information, but in the end, it was yet another example of the romantic genius that is Susan Elizabeth Phillips. The supporting cast was fabulous as usual. It was quite different from her other books, but still just as good.
There is one thing I do need to mention. This book is listed on GR and on Amazon, as the Wynette Texas Series Book #3. I’m still trying to figure that one out. This book has NOTHING to do with Wynette, Texas, or any of the characters from that series that I can see. So if you want to skip it in the series, I’m pretty sure you can, or if you want to read it as a stand alone, that is how I would see it.
On to the rest of the Wynette’s!!! God I love this author!
September 13, 2017
Giving this one another try! SEP is one of my favorite authors. I must have been in a mood!!! 😊😊
Nope. Didn't work the second time either. No worries. I still love her. :)
**************************
2.5 Stars
Gosh, I don't know what to say about this one other than as a whole it just didn't work for me.
I truly enjoy SEP's writing so I am not sure where this one went wrong for me.
I started skimming which is always dreadful to admit but it happened. Instead of completely embracing the story, sadly I found myself wishing it was over.
Oh well. You can't win them all!
Nope. Didn't work the second time either. No worries. I still love her. :)
**************************
2.5 Stars
Gosh, I don't know what to say about this one other than as a whole it just didn't work for me.
I truly enjoy SEP's writing so I am not sure where this one went wrong for me.
I started skimming which is always dreadful to admit but it happened. Instead of completely embracing the story, sadly I found myself wishing it was over.
Oh well. You can't win them all!
February 27, 2016
Glitter Baby is the third installment in Susan Elizabeth Phillips's contemporary romance series titled: Wynette, Texas. This ended up being a great book even though it took a little while for me to find my own personal enjoyment. Glitter Baby begins by immediately setting up the relationship between "Glitter Baby"'s parents before her birth. I didn't like the parents' characters or their relationship and could not find any investment in this story...at all. In November 2015, I ended up DNF'ing around the 25% mark feeling like this book would be a waste of time for me personally. After some encouragement from readers who sited Glitter Baby as one of their favorites, I picked it back up the following January (starting right where I left off), and coincidentally it was at that point when the story switches to focus on Fleur, the Glitter Baby herself, and I had no further problems feeling invested and engaged. I actually loved it and would have rated it 5 stars if not for my experience with the first 25%. I realized after finishing that the parental characters are not meant to be likable so I want to note that for anyone else who may have a similar experience while starting off.
I now will be in that group of readers who will encourage other DNF'ers to reconsider Glitter Baby. Why? Because I was reminded that we all feel inadequate, awkward, and untalented at times but we all also have our very own special shade of glitter that shines through regardless of anything else. Don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle ♥
My favorite quote:
"Her face was part of her. It might be too big to fit her personal definition of beauty, but she saw intelligence in her reflection, sensitivity in her eyes, humor in her wide mouth. It was a good face. Well-balanced. It belonged to her, and that made it good."
01/12/2016:
A few months ago, I DNF'd this book around the 25% mark. So glad I picked it back up and finished it!
Review to come...
I now will be in that group of readers who will encourage other DNF'ers to reconsider Glitter Baby. Why? Because I was reminded that we all feel inadequate, awkward, and untalented at times but we all also have our very own special shade of glitter that shines through regardless of anything else. Don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle ♥
My favorite quote:
"Her face was part of her. It might be too big to fit her personal definition of beauty, but she saw intelligence in her reflection, sensitivity in her eyes, humor in her wide mouth. It was a good face. Well-balanced. It belonged to her, and that made it good."
01/12/2016:
A few months ago, I DNF'd this book around the 25% mark. So glad I picked it back up and finished it!
Review to come...
July 26, 2017
I loved this book.
There are TWO VERSIONS of this book. Glitter Baby was first published in 1987. The version I read was published in 2009 and includes changes made by the author. I recently listened to the audiobook which was released in December, 2008. I’m pretty sure it is the revised book.
AUDIOBOOK:
The narrator Julia Gibson was excellent, but someone inserted 20 seconds of music periodically during the reading. The music was ok but the placement was terrible. Most of the time it was in the middle of a scene or middle of a conversation. It should have been placed between scenes or when the setting changed. This was not-good production.
STORY BRIEF:
Fleur is the most beautiful woman in the world. Her parents are among the worst. Fleur reluctantly becomes a model and an actress at the request of her mother. Jake is a brilliant playwright and Hollywood’s hottest actor. Jake does not want to use Fleur in his movie, but the director hires her. She is 19 and he is 28. That is how they meet. The main story is about Fleur who is living a glamorous life, and then has nothing, then amazingly brings herself back to the world, developing brains, strength and relationships along the way. She also must handle and fight through tough obstacles.
The first 57 pages of the book are about Belinda, Fleur’s mother, who is not fun to read about. Belinda is beautiful, superficial and manipulative. The story gets better once Fleur is in the picture. One of the tragedies in Fleur’s life is having Belinda as a mother.
OPINION:
After the first 57 pages, I did not want to put the book down. The book has a happy and fulfilling ending. I was so emotionally drawn into the characters and events. The author takes her time to develop intriguing and complex characters. This book was longer than most romance novels.
As I reread this in 2014 I was reminded of how good this kind of writing is when compared to many New Adult books. Glitter Baby has a lot of angst that is good, because the angst is from character conflicts. Too many New Adult books have most of their angst within the main character’s head - like “I’m damaged. I’m no good for anyone. I hurt people close to me.” Many New Adult books have too much wallowing in self pity. In Glitter Baby, she hits the bottom and suffers, but she takes interesting action and does neat things.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 429 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words but not often used. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 13, half of them are briefly referred to with no details. Setting: From 1955 to the mid 1980s in New York City, Southern California, France and other locations. Genre: contemporary romance.
OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my reviews of other Susan Elizabeth Phillips books, see my 5 star review of “It Had To Be You.”
There are TWO VERSIONS of this book. Glitter Baby was first published in 1987. The version I read was published in 2009 and includes changes made by the author. I recently listened to the audiobook which was released in December, 2008. I’m pretty sure it is the revised book.
AUDIOBOOK:
The narrator Julia Gibson was excellent, but someone inserted 20 seconds of music periodically during the reading. The music was ok but the placement was terrible. Most of the time it was in the middle of a scene or middle of a conversation. It should have been placed between scenes or when the setting changed. This was not-good production.
STORY BRIEF:
Fleur is the most beautiful woman in the world. Her parents are among the worst. Fleur reluctantly becomes a model and an actress at the request of her mother. Jake is a brilliant playwright and Hollywood’s hottest actor. Jake does not want to use Fleur in his movie, but the director hires her. She is 19 and he is 28. That is how they meet. The main story is about Fleur who is living a glamorous life, and then has nothing, then amazingly brings herself back to the world, developing brains, strength and relationships along the way. She also must handle and fight through tough obstacles.
The first 57 pages of the book are about Belinda, Fleur’s mother, who is not fun to read about. Belinda is beautiful, superficial and manipulative. The story gets better once Fleur is in the picture. One of the tragedies in Fleur’s life is having Belinda as a mother.
OPINION:
After the first 57 pages, I did not want to put the book down. The book has a happy and fulfilling ending. I was so emotionally drawn into the characters and events. The author takes her time to develop intriguing and complex characters. This book was longer than most romance novels.
As I reread this in 2014 I was reminded of how good this kind of writing is when compared to many New Adult books. Glitter Baby has a lot of angst that is good, because the angst is from character conflicts. Too many New Adult books have most of their angst within the main character’s head - like “I’m damaged. I’m no good for anyone. I hurt people close to me.” Many New Adult books have too much wallowing in self pity. In Glitter Baby, she hits the bottom and suffers, but she takes interesting action and does neat things.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 429 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words but not often used. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 13, half of them are briefly referred to with no details. Setting: From 1955 to the mid 1980s in New York City, Southern California, France and other locations. Genre: contemporary romance.
OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my reviews of other Susan Elizabeth Phillips books, see my 5 star review of “It Had To Be You.”
November 3, 2017
Nuestra reseña en A la cama con... un libro
Un chasco. No hay nada peor que leer llevando expectativas
Un chasco. No hay nada peor que leer llevando expectativas
June 8, 2023
How the heck is this supposed to be part of the "Wynette, Texas" series? There's no Wynette in it. There's no hint of the previous couples. It was written before any of the others, as well. I have to believe that is a mistake and since being part of the series is why I read this bomb I feel more than a little cheated. ETA: Ah. Turns out Fleur and Jake are parents to a lead in a book later in the series. Bah.
So anyway, the biggest problem with this book is the awful people at the heart of it. And while I don't mean Fleur and Jake, you still see way, way, very much way too much of Alexi and Belinda. Worse, SEP seems enamored of the selfish idiot Belinda so we get to spend whole sections (including the stupidest epilogue of any of her books so far) from her PoV. Alexi is an obnoxious sexual predator who practically spends the novel rubbing his hands together, cackling while hatching his zany plots. That he actually manages to vex Fleur was pure authorial fiat and having him drive so much of the plot grated on me like, uh, a grater. Belinda is a manipulative moron who displaces her worst narcissistic fantasies on movie stars and whose success depends entirely on authorial intrusion and the conceit that a middle-aged one-time beauty can have her pick of celebrity trysts despite decades of dissipation.
These people were awful, but SEP also spreads this story out over decades of time so we get to watch poor Fleur wander around a plot that could have been mapped out by following an ADD kid hopped up on sugar and let loose in Santa's electronics warehouse. Which means she spends half the book (and half a decade) nowhere near Jake as she runs around Europe finding herself. Or losing herself. Both, really. SEP is talented enough that it's not boring. Except in retrospect.
And while I liked Fleur, and even Jake (when he wasn't being an emotionally constipated idiot), they still manage to fall into half the romance clichés that ever took a shot at the respectability of tropedom (but failed). Ugh.
I made it to the end because, uh. I don't know why, now I think on it. She threw enough secondary characters at the reader that I suppose I just got distracted. Fleur's friend Kissy and her brother Michel were tons of fun and I guess they kept me entertained while Fleur and Jake explored every romance cliché they found cut from SEP's good novels. So the book isn't a dead loss, I suppose. Still, I'd definitely give it a pass if I had it to do over.
A note about Steamy: I dunno. There was explicit sex. I find I don't care and I lost count. Not that it was tons. Middle of my steam tolerance, tops. I just can't be arsed to go into it. It doesn't help that Jake's a selfish idiot and his emotional constipation completely undermined most of the intimacy in the story. Seriously, the man's a trainwreck and Fleur would have been better off romancing fire hydrants. Or boxcars. You know, things more likely to be emotionally open and reliably honest.
So anyway, the biggest problem with this book is the awful people at the heart of it. And while I don't mean Fleur and Jake, you still see way, way, very much way too much of Alexi and Belinda. Worse, SEP seems enamored of the selfish idiot Belinda so we get to spend whole sections (including the stupidest epilogue of any of her books so far) from her PoV. Alexi is an obnoxious sexual predator who practically spends the novel rubbing his hands together, cackling while hatching his zany plots. That he actually manages to vex Fleur was pure authorial fiat and having him drive so much of the plot grated on me like, uh, a grater. Belinda is a manipulative moron who displaces her worst narcissistic fantasies on movie stars and whose success depends entirely on authorial intrusion and the conceit that a middle-aged one-time beauty can have her pick of celebrity trysts despite decades of dissipation.
These people were awful, but SEP also spreads this story out over decades of time so we get to watch poor Fleur wander around a plot that could have been mapped out by following an ADD kid hopped up on sugar and let loose in Santa's electronics warehouse. Which means she spends half the book (and half a decade) nowhere near Jake as she runs around Europe finding herself. Or losing herself. Both, really. SEP is talented enough that it's not boring. Except in retrospect.
And while I liked Fleur, and even Jake (when he wasn't being an emotionally constipated idiot), they still manage to fall into half the romance clichés that ever took a shot at the respectability of tropedom (but failed). Ugh.
I made it to the end because, uh. I don't know why, now I think on it. She threw enough secondary characters at the reader that I suppose I just got distracted. Fleur's friend Kissy and her brother Michel were tons of fun and I guess they kept me entertained while Fleur and Jake explored every romance cliché they found cut from SEP's good novels. So the book isn't a dead loss, I suppose. Still, I'd definitely give it a pass if I had it to do over.
A note about Steamy: I dunno. There was explicit sex. I find I don't care and I lost count. Not that it was tons. Middle of my steam tolerance, tops. I just can't be arsed to go into it. It doesn't help that Jake's a selfish idiot and his emotional constipation completely undermined most of the intimacy in the story. Seriously, the man's a trainwreck and Fleur would have been better off romancing fire hydrants. Or boxcars. You know, things more likely to be emotionally open and reliably honest.
May 8, 2016
Even with the long, drawn out beginnings, I still love SEP's older books to pieces. I hate to admit it, but telling the parent's story really does add a depth to the H/h's tale that is incomparable. I think this may be my favorite of the series so far. I've been listening to it on audio and the narration is fantastic. Multilayered characters, a story spanning decades, and often villains that you can empathize with. Romance that is super spicy but truly realistic, even though it's set in a world of glitz and glamour.
June 9, 2017
Got in your past sociopaths & narcisists? not to worry. This is the story of how what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, plus it's got heaps of redemption. Not my genre, but still much enjoyed it as well as the fine audio reader.
August 14, 2012
I swear, Susan Elizabeth Phillips has sacrificed more virgins than the Aztecs.
Usually (by usually, I mean the 8 books I just inhaled), she wins me over with her banter and zaniness, but Glitter Baby was unappealing from beginning to end. I spent the first half of the book uncomfortable with the various plotlines and loathsome characters, and by the time the first "love" scene rolled around, I was mentally grabbing a habit and ruler and yelling, "STOP RIGHT NOW!"
In romance books, you know which characters are *breathy sigh* MFEO (made for each other -- shoutout to Sleepless in Seattle). I can forgive a lot of plot ridiculousness as long as there's fun and chemistry along the way. And okay, some smut. However, there was too little fun and too much fuckedupness in this one. Belinda would win the Dina Lohan Parent/Pimp of the Year Award. Alexi would get the Woody Allen Parent/Perv one. By the time you get to Fleur, the main character, you're so disgusted by everyone else that it's hard to care. Then there's Jake, the tall, handsome, basketball playing movie star/playwright. When alllllllll that (and basketball!) doesn't immediately win ME over, you know there's a problem. I wasn't cheering for the couple to get together even though I liked them individually. There's enough to the story to keep you reading, and I think Fleur developed into a strong character, but it wasn't enough for me to like the story overall.
Another problem I had was that this book is part of the Wynette, Texas series and yet there's no mention of Wynette or Texas. After Book 2, Lady Be Good, I was really hoping to hear more about the townspeople and check in on Kenny and Emma, but there's nothing. Fleur and Jake make cameos in Book 6, Call Me Irresistible, but Glitter Baby (Book 3) doesn't have anything to do with Wynette. I wonder if the book was meant to be a standalone but then later marketed as part of Wynette because of Call Me Irresistible.
I'm glad this wasn't my first or second SEP because it probably would've made me stop reading her books altogether. Of course, then I would've slept way more this past week, but I do really enjoy her other books, especially the Chicago Stars series. Read those or skip this one and go straight to Call Me Irresistible.
Usually (by usually, I mean the 8 books I just inhaled), she wins me over with her banter and zaniness, but Glitter Baby was unappealing from beginning to end. I spent the first half of the book uncomfortable with the various plotlines and loathsome characters, and by the time the first "love" scene rolled around, I was mentally grabbing a habit and ruler and yelling, "STOP RIGHT NOW!"
In romance books, you know which characters are *breathy sigh* MFEO (made for each other -- shoutout to Sleepless in Seattle). I can forgive a lot of plot ridiculousness as long as there's fun and chemistry along the way. And okay, some smut. However, there was too little fun and too much fuckedupness in this one. Belinda would win the Dina Lohan Parent/Pimp of the Year Award. Alexi would get the Woody Allen Parent/Perv one. By the time you get to Fleur, the main character, you're so disgusted by everyone else that it's hard to care. Then there's Jake, the tall, handsome, basketball playing movie star/playwright. When alllllllll that (and basketball!) doesn't immediately win ME over, you know there's a problem. I wasn't cheering for the couple to get together even though I liked them individually. There's enough to the story to keep you reading, and I think Fleur developed into a strong character, but it wasn't enough for me to like the story overall.
Another problem I had was that this book is part of the Wynette, Texas series and yet there's no mention of Wynette or Texas. After Book 2, Lady Be Good, I was really hoping to hear more about the townspeople and check in on Kenny and Emma, but there's nothing. Fleur and Jake make cameos in Book 6, Call Me Irresistible, but Glitter Baby (Book 3) doesn't have anything to do with Wynette. I wonder if the book was meant to be a standalone but then later marketed as part of Wynette because of Call Me Irresistible.
I'm glad this wasn't my first or second SEP because it probably would've made me stop reading her books altogether. Of course, then I would've slept way more this past week, but I do really enjoy her other books, especially the Chicago Stars series. Read those or skip this one and go straight to Call Me Irresistible.
January 18, 2020
O poveste de viața care parcurge 30 de ani. Doua destine întretăiere, emoții și sentimente; iluzii și deziluzii. O carte scrisă cu sufletul, ce ajunge direct in suflet!
January 25, 2010
Waaaaaaaaay too much back story in this one! I tried to stick with it, but the hero doesn't even make an appearance until page 109 and the heroine's selfish mother was grating on my last nerve. There was a hint of possible incest or statutory rape which I am not a fan of. Lots of name dropping and references to brands. Ended up chucking this one.
Such a shame because SEP is one of my favorite authors. If I had read her oldest stuff first, I probably wouldn't have bothered with the Chicago Stars series. And we all know how much I love the Chicago Stars!
Such a shame because SEP is one of my favorite authors. If I had read her oldest stuff first, I probably wouldn't have bothered with the Chicago Stars series. And we all know how much I love the Chicago Stars!
January 13, 2022
A couple of years ago I read some b0oks about the bad behaviour of some of the twentieth century's Hollywood stars, including Errol Flynn. Much loved in the movies, but IRL apparently Flynn was pretty much addicted to alcohol and sex. I found it very plausible that he could have and I got hooked into Fleur's dramatic story with its many twists and turns.
The young Fleur is surrounded by horrible people who use her for their own ends. Her mother Belinda is shallow, selfish and helpless. Trapped in an unhappy life of her own making, Belinda lives vicariously through Fleur, forcing Fleur into a life she doesn't want but is too young and naive to be able to escape from. Fleur's rich European stepfather Alexi is twisted and truly horrible and creepy. He uses and manipulates people, and seeks vicious revenge when his own warped desires are thwarted.
Fleur has been blessed with a fair amount of natural intelligence and charisma, but as a young woman, her life is bound up and manipulated by her twisted mother and stepfather. It takes years for Fleur to eventually find herself and what she really wants. I liked her character, and the twists and turns of her story kept me interested all the way through. I also liked Jake, Hollywood actor and Pulitzer prize winning writer, although it was much later in the book until we really learned much about him and what drives him. This book is basically Fleur's story.
I found the storyline quite plausible, even though the behaviour of some characters is extreme. After reading about the real life bad behaviour of some of the old 'matinee idols', and also about some of the horrible stage mothers who were quite happy to pimp out their daughters just to get them into movies, it wasn't hard to believe in characters like Belinda and Alexi.
So for me, this was a fast-moving and involving story, and one of Ms Phillips' better books. Originally written in the late 1980s, the version I read was apparently updated in 2009, although I'm not sure what changes were made to the original. Still, when reading, you have to step back into the twentieth century and try to imagine the times to really enjoy the book.
The young Fleur is surrounded by horrible people who use her for their own ends. Her mother Belinda is shallow, selfish and helpless. Trapped in an unhappy life of her own making, Belinda lives vicariously through Fleur, forcing Fleur into a life she doesn't want but is too young and naive to be able to escape from. Fleur's rich European stepfather Alexi is twisted and truly horrible and creepy. He uses and manipulates people, and seeks vicious revenge when his own warped desires are thwarted.
Fleur has been blessed with a fair amount of natural intelligence and charisma, but as a young woman, her life is bound up and manipulated by her twisted mother and stepfather. It takes years for Fleur to eventually find herself and what she really wants. I liked her character, and the twists and turns of her story kept me interested all the way through. I also liked Jake, Hollywood actor and Pulitzer prize winning writer, although it was much later in the book until we really learned much about him and what drives him. This book is basically Fleur's story.
I found the storyline quite plausible, even though the behaviour of some characters is extreme. After reading about the real life bad behaviour of some of the old 'matinee idols', and also about some of the horrible stage mothers who were quite happy to pimp out their daughters just to get them into movies, it wasn't hard to believe in characters like Belinda and Alexi.
So for me, this was a fast-moving and involving story, and one of Ms Phillips' better books. Originally written in the late 1980s, the version I read was apparently updated in 2009, although I'm not sure what changes were made to the original. Still, when reading, you have to step back into the twentieth century and try to imagine the times to really enjoy the book.
Read
May 26, 2017No soy capaz de puntuar este libro, no me salen las palabras para hablar de mi experiencia lectora, así que recurriré a las imágenes aunque no se si lo captarán.
March 26, 2010
Sheltered and hidden away for most of her life, Fleur Savagar is not prepared for the glamorous world she's thrust into at such a young age. Her striking looks, that she's never reconciled with the ugly ducking she began her life as, open her to a world of games and secrets that menace her very innocence. But no one threatens her heart and mind- until Jake Koranda.
A hot actor who agrees to have Fleur act in the first movie both written and performed by him, at first, Jake dismisses Fleur as another empty headed starlet wannabe. When he sees her determination to get every scene right, he realizes she's something more. In one passionate moment he senses she threatens the walls he's built around his heart- and his very sanity.
But betrayal is right around the corner and Fleur's parents are not ready to relinquish the bone of contention between them that is their only daughter. Can true love survive in the world of broken dreams that The Glitter Baby was born into- or will she become just another star who shines bright and burns out before its time?
If you've been reading romance as long as I have, Glitter Baby will take you back to the days of glitz and heat, when Judith Krantz and Jackie Collins ruled the bestseller lists. Novels stuffed with starlets, champagne, betrayal and- true love, there is an atmosphere created in those books that reel you in and let you escape for awhile.
But Glitter Baby has the one thread that many of the over the top novels from the golden age of romance did not- it has a vulnerable, smart, strong heroine who doesn't give up on finding her independence. She lives and love passionately, goes for what she wants but has a selflessness that women of today relate very well too.
Fleur may have been dealt a raw deal with the family she was born into- but she never gave up and her attitude took her farther than her cold-hearted father's money ever could.
This novel makes you run the gamut of emotions like any good escapist reading should. However, it requires your attention because it doesn't spoon feed you it's plot and characterization. You have to journey along with the characters to "get them". Not many contemporary's out there now take the time to build a story like this anymore. I didn't realize how much I missed it till I read the last page.
If you only started reading romance, go back to one of the masters who helped to make this industry what it is today and read Glitter Baby. You'll be glad you did.
A hot actor who agrees to have Fleur act in the first movie both written and performed by him, at first, Jake dismisses Fleur as another empty headed starlet wannabe. When he sees her determination to get every scene right, he realizes she's something more. In one passionate moment he senses she threatens the walls he's built around his heart- and his very sanity.
But betrayal is right around the corner and Fleur's parents are not ready to relinquish the bone of contention between them that is their only daughter. Can true love survive in the world of broken dreams that The Glitter Baby was born into- or will she become just another star who shines bright and burns out before its time?
If you've been reading romance as long as I have, Glitter Baby will take you back to the days of glitz and heat, when Judith Krantz and Jackie Collins ruled the bestseller lists. Novels stuffed with starlets, champagne, betrayal and- true love, there is an atmosphere created in those books that reel you in and let you escape for awhile.
But Glitter Baby has the one thread that many of the over the top novels from the golden age of romance did not- it has a vulnerable, smart, strong heroine who doesn't give up on finding her independence. She lives and love passionately, goes for what she wants but has a selflessness that women of today relate very well too.
Fleur may have been dealt a raw deal with the family she was born into- but she never gave up and her attitude took her farther than her cold-hearted father's money ever could.
This novel makes you run the gamut of emotions like any good escapist reading should. However, it requires your attention because it doesn't spoon feed you it's plot and characterization. You have to journey along with the characters to "get them". Not many contemporary's out there now take the time to build a story like this anymore. I didn't realize how much I missed it till I read the last page.
If you only started reading romance, go back to one of the masters who helped to make this industry what it is today and read Glitter Baby. You'll be glad you did.
February 6, 2017
Son zamanlarda okuduğum belki de en iyi kitaptı!
SEP yine farkını göstermişti ve ben yazarın kalemini çok özlemişim.
Karakterleri o kadar incelikli işliyor ki kitaplarına aşk kitabıydı deyip geçmek büyük haksızlık. Karakterin alt yapısını, nedenlerini, karakterini ilmek ilmek dokuyarak, hiçbir sayfasından sıkılmamayı garantileyerek veriyor okura. SEP farkı da bu olsa gerek...
Ben kitaptan bir parça SEP'in kitaplarından biri olan BALAYI tadını aldım, ki o kitabı da çok çok severim. Fleur'un çocukluğunda tohumları atılmış güvensizliğini, kabul edilme ve sevilme özlemini içim sızlayarak okudum. En az onun kadar sempati beslediğim bir diğer karakter de şüphesiz Jake oldu.
Kurguyla ilgili detay vermeyeceğim, arka kapak yazısından aşağı yukarı bir şeyler çıkarılabilir. Ama şu kadarını söyleyeyim ki bu kitap çok daha fazlası!
Bana göre tek eksik Michel'in fazlasıyla gölgede kalmasıydı, ki o da en az Fleur kadar yaralı ve marazlı bir çocuktu.
Ve Belinda!!! Okuduğum her sayfada kadından nefret ettim. En az Alexi kadar hastalıklı ve iğrençti!
Demem o ki, Taş Bebek muhteşemdi.
Kapağı hariç! Sevgili Pegasus kapağa simli lak yapana kadar keşke kitabın boyunu standart boyutlarda tutsaymış!
SEP yine farkını göstermişti ve ben yazarın kalemini çok özlemişim.
Karakterleri o kadar incelikli işliyor ki kitaplarına aşk kitabıydı deyip geçmek büyük haksızlık. Karakterin alt yapısını, nedenlerini, karakterini ilmek ilmek dokuyarak, hiçbir sayfasından sıkılmamayı garantileyerek veriyor okura. SEP farkı da bu olsa gerek...
Ben kitaptan bir parça SEP'in kitaplarından biri olan BALAYI tadını aldım, ki o kitabı da çok çok severim. Fleur'un çocukluğunda tohumları atılmış güvensizliğini, kabul edilme ve sevilme özlemini içim sızlayarak okudum. En az onun kadar sempati beslediğim bir diğer karakter de şüphesiz Jake oldu.
Kurguyla ilgili detay vermeyeceğim, arka kapak yazısından aşağı yukarı bir şeyler çıkarılabilir. Ama şu kadarını söyleyeyim ki bu kitap çok daha fazlası!
Bana göre tek eksik Michel'in fazlasıyla gölgede kalmasıydı, ki o da en az Fleur kadar yaralı ve marazlı bir çocuktu.
Ve Belinda!!! Okuduğum her sayfada kadından nefret ettim. En az Alexi kadar hastalıklı ve iğrençti!
Demem o ki, Taş Bebek muhteşemdi.
Kapağı hariç! Sevgili Pegasus kapağa simli lak yapana kadar keşke kitabın boyunu standart boyutlarda tutsaymış!
July 20, 2017
MARAVILLOSA.
Mi percepción demuestra una vez más que no todos sentimos de la misma manera una lectura.
Me sentí atrapada por la magia de Susan, sentí que cada linea relatada tenia su razón para contarnos esta hermosa historia.
Mi percepción demuestra una vez más que no todos sentimos de la misma manera una lectura.
Me sentí atrapada por la magia de Susan, sentí que cada linea relatada tenia su razón para contarnos esta hermosa historia.
May 14, 2016
3'5☆ De todos los libros que llevo leído de esta autora,este me ha parecido el más flojo...
El comienzo me pareció muy lento.
Me ha sobrado momentos de la madre,se me hacía muy pesada.
Me ha faltado más momentos entre J y F.Pero eso si,los que había me han encantado.♡
La historia en sí,no ha estado mal,habido momentazo!
Me ha gustado :)
El comienzo me pareció muy lento.
Me ha sobrado momentos de la madre,se me hacía muy pesada.
Me ha faltado más momentos entre J y F.Pero eso si,los que había me han encantado.♡
La historia en sí,no ha estado mal,habido momentazo!
Me ha gustado :)
August 6, 2022
4,5 ⭐️
All’inizio, durante la parentesi sulla madre, non nego di aver avuto difficoltà ad entrare nella storia, l’impressione è stata quella che fosse troppo “datata” per poter essere interessante. Invece poi si è iniziato a parlare finalmente della protagonista e la SEP ha fatto di nuovo la sua magia intrappolandomi nel racconto completamente! Fleur è un personaggio semplicemente straordinario, con una forte personalità e un grande coraggio. E l’ho adorata insieme a Jake! 😍🥰
All’inizio, durante la parentesi sulla madre, non nego di aver avuto difficoltà ad entrare nella storia, l’impressione è stata quella che fosse troppo “datata” per poter essere interessante. Invece poi si è iniziato a parlare finalmente della protagonista e la SEP ha fatto di nuovo la sua magia intrappolandomi nel racconto completamente! Fleur è un personaggio semplicemente straordinario, con una forte personalità e un grande coraggio. E l’ho adorata insieme a Jake! 😍🥰
February 3, 2009
I am not a fan of re-issued romances. This one was disappointing and I could not finish it. Susan Elizabeth Phillips' books have obviously very much improved since this one was written. I think they must have decided to re-issue this one because the main characters show up nominally (and years later) in the new book "What I Did For Love".
If you are new to Susan Elizabeth Phillips please skip this one and try one of the newer books! If you are a SEP-fan, then this may be worth your while. But be warned that it is very different from her usual (modern) style. It seems to me more like the old Judith Krantz books or maybe Danielle Steel??? than what we have become used to and love.
If you are new to Susan Elizabeth Phillips please skip this one and try one of the newer books! If you are a SEP-fan, then this may be worth your while. But be warned that it is very different from her usual (modern) style. It seems to me more like the old Judith Krantz books or maybe Danielle Steel??? than what we have become used to and love.
August 3, 2015
DNF - 35%
There are not many books I abandon but this one has been added to that pile. For me it was a rollercoaster ride and every time I thought it was going to get going it stalled....There's no way to sugar coat it but I was bored and have moved onto the next.
From what I could tell this book doesn't seem to have anything to do with Wynette so can't understand why it's in this series!
There are not many books I abandon but this one has been added to that pile. For me it was a rollercoaster ride and every time I thought it was going to get going it stalled....There's no way to sugar coat it but I was bored and have moved onto the next.
From what I could tell this book doesn't seem to have anything to do with Wynette so can't understand why it's in this series!
May 3, 2016
Početak je dosta obećavao, ali zatim je počeo uvid u život Fleurine majke, Belinde, pre nego što je Fleur postala Zlatna djevojka, ma pre nego što je uopšte Fleur došla na svet...taj deo je tako bio dosadan...pa onda povratak u "sadašnjost" i tu već počinje da se dešava nešto.
Kako mi je prvi deo ovog serijala puno bolji od ovog dela a dala sam mu 4 zvezdice, ovaj deo jednostavno ne mogu da ocenim sa više od 3 zvezdice.
Kako mi je prvi deo ovog serijala puno bolji od ovog dela a dala sam mu 4 zvezdice, ovaj deo jednostavno ne mogu da ocenim sa više od 3 zvezdice.
April 7, 2022
4.5 stelline
Questo romanzo non è solo una storia d'amore , ma è un romanzo di una donna , Fleur , è la sua crescita personale. Vissuta lontana dalla sua famiglia , con una madre egoista e un padre che la ripudia perché simbolo del tradimento della moglie, riesce ad affermarsi con non poche difficoltà e a conoscere l'amore.
Questo romanzo non è solo una storia d'amore , ma è un romanzo di una donna , Fleur , è la sua crescita personale. Vissuta lontana dalla sua famiglia , con una madre egoista e un padre che la ripudia perché simbolo del tradimento della moglie, riesce ad affermarsi con non poche difficoltà e a conoscere l'amore.
February 5, 2022
2,5*
Бих казала, че историята в книгата беше много хубава и държеше интереса. А точно това не го очаквах, мислех си за някаква бозава историйка, обаче бях приятно изненадана. Героите обаче никак не ми харесаха и по-скоро не ми допаднаха решенията, които взимаха и после действията на тези решения. Фльор и Джейк - много различни един от друг, но пък и добре се допълваха. Белинда ми беше толкова безмозъчна, особено в началото, просто не можех да я трая и така си остана до края. Само се чудеше като млада на кой мъж да се прехвърли, че да я издържа, доста ниско. Четеше се много бързо и наистина беше интересно, както казах не го очаквах това. Не беше и претрупана историята, нито наситена с много ненужни неща, просто имаше един добър баланс. Накаря малко взеха да се предобрят нещата, но краят дойде и всичко се нареди по местата си.
Да видим какво ще стане с другите книги от поредицата, пак така няма да очаквам нищо и може пък да ме изненадат приятно.
Бих казала, че историята в книгата беше много хубава и държеше интереса. А точно това не го очаквах, мислех си за някаква бозава историйка, обаче бях приятно изненадана. Героите обаче никак не ми харесаха и по-скоро не ми допаднаха решенията, които взимаха и после действията на тези решения. Фльор и Джейк - много различни един от друг, но пък и добре се допълваха. Белинда ми беше толкова безмозъчна, особено в началото, просто не можех да я трая и така си остана до края. Само се чудеше като млада на кой мъж да се прехвърли, че да я издържа, доста ниско. Четеше се много бързо и наистина беше интересно, както казах не го очаквах това. Не беше и претрупана историята, нито наситена с много ненужни неща, просто имаше един добър баланс. Накаря малко взеха да се предобрят нещата, но краят дойде и всичко се нареди по местата си.
Да видим какво ще стане с другите книги от поредицата, пак така няма да очаквам нищо и може пък да ме изненадат приятно.
December 19, 2016
Haftasonumu güzelleştiren diğer kitabı sizlere nasıl anlatsam bilemiyorum. Kısaca #SEP diyeyim siz anlayın.
Bu yazara aşığım, hayranım, böyle pamuklara sarıp sarmalamak, bütün gün envai cesit yiyecekle beslemek ve sadece yazsın o muhtesem kalemini konustursun istiyorum. ❤
Geçen yıl temmuzdan beri yeni kitabını bekliyordum ki yayinevi sagolsun sonunda bizi hatunumuza kavusturdu. #Tasbebek ile yeni bir seriye gecis yaptık . Bu seride daha cok medyatik yüzler, oyuncular, senaristler, mankenler var.
Kitabı kısaca anlatayım desem de inanmayin. Her sahnesini yazmak anlatmak istiyorum ama sığmaz ki işte benim Sep aşkım ufacık instagrama :)
Fleur Savagar, normal kızlardan biraz daha uzun büyük el ve ayaklara sahip oldugunu ve oldukca kaba göründüğünü düşünen amma cillop gibi bir hatun kızımızdır. Doğduğundan beri pislik Alexi ve annesi Belinda yüzünden manastırda yaşamaktadır. Annesi yılda 2 kez onu ziyaret etmekte ve Fleur ona büyük bir hayranlık beslemektedir. Annesi onun her seyidir ve onun icin her seyi yapmayi göze alir. Buna kendi hayallerini annesinin hayallerine dönüştürmek de dahil.
16 yaşında annesinin baskılarıyla medyaya mankenlikle adım atar ve Taş Bebek unvanıyla ortalığı yıkar geçer. Ilk filmini cekecegi sırada Jake Koranda ( oyuncu-tiyatro ve senaryo yazari, karizmanin dibi. oldukkkcaaa yakisikli ve seksii ve ve ve tazilarin şahı *_* ) ile tanışır ve ona aşık olur. Ancak saklanan sırlar, pis ihtiraslar ortaya çıkıp, gerçekler incitici yüzünü gösterince Fleur bu istemediği şöhretten kaçıp kendi yolunu ve kendi karakterini cizmeye başlar.
5 yıl sonra döndüğünde o 19 yaşındaki kız artık büyümüş ve oldukca cesur bir sekilde dimdik ayaktadır. En önemlisi de artık kendisini ve amacını bulmustur. Michel ve Kissy'e de deginmeden gecmeyeyim cok ponciktiniz beaa :D
Kitap başlı başına resmen bir film gibiydi ve beni ezdi geçti. 70-80 yıllarında gecmesi beni zerre etkilemedi aksine daha da icine cekti. Pislik ebeveynlere sinirlenip küfürler yağdırırken, hemen arkasindan komik bir sahneyle gulumseten, arkasindan huzne bogan duygu gecisleriyle on numara bes yildiz tam bir sep kitabiydi iste.
Okurken keşfettiğim ve hosuma giden bir seyse kitapta gecen bazı ünlülerin gercekten var olmalarıydı. James Dean ve Errol Flynn gibi :D Belinda 'yı anlayabilecegim tek yön buydu iste adamlar gercekten taş arkadas :P
Açıkçası Belinda'nin da Alexi gibi bir sonu olsun isterdim. Pislik kadın -_-
Ayrıca kitap sayesinde bircok filmi de izleme listeme almış oldum. Bunlardan biri de "Sonsuz Ölüm" :D
Yani sonuc olarak tabiki de öneriyorum. Sep bu yahu okumayan sevmeyen çarpılır cidden o derece diyorum (Y)
Size en sevdigim ve güldüğüm alıntıyı atıp kaçıyorum.
~~~~~
Fleur'ün elleri sabahlığın önüne gitti. Sabahlığı açarak kollarını dışarı kaydırdı. Kumaş hafif bir tıslamayla yere kaydı.
Adam silahın namlusunu cok hafifçe kaldırdı. "Saçlarını çöz."
"Ulu Tanrım..." Fleur'ün elleri iğneleri çekiştirdi ve saçları açılırken çıplak omuzlarına su damlaları saçıldı.
"Güzel. Gercekten güzel. Şimdi de gecelik."
"Sakın..." diye yalvardı Fleur.
"Askıları yavaşça aşağı çek. Tek tek. "
Fleur ilk askıyı çekti ve durdu.
"Haydi." Adam tabancayla sert bir hareket yaptı. "Sana dediklerimi yap."
"Hayır."
Adam oturduğu yerde doğruldu. "Ne dedin sen?"
"Beni duydun."
"Beni daha fazla zorlama, Öğretmen Hanım!"
Fleur kodlarını göğsünde kavuşturdu.
Lanet olsun, diye düşündü Jake. Şimdi ne yapacaktı. :D :D :D
Bu yazara aşığım, hayranım, böyle pamuklara sarıp sarmalamak, bütün gün envai cesit yiyecekle beslemek ve sadece yazsın o muhtesem kalemini konustursun istiyorum. ❤
Geçen yıl temmuzdan beri yeni kitabını bekliyordum ki yayinevi sagolsun sonunda bizi hatunumuza kavusturdu. #Tasbebek ile yeni bir seriye gecis yaptık . Bu seride daha cok medyatik yüzler, oyuncular, senaristler, mankenler var.
Kitabı kısaca anlatayım desem de inanmayin. Her sahnesini yazmak anlatmak istiyorum ama sığmaz ki işte benim Sep aşkım ufacık instagrama :)
Fleur Savagar, normal kızlardan biraz daha uzun büyük el ve ayaklara sahip oldugunu ve oldukca kaba göründüğünü düşünen amma cillop gibi bir hatun kızımızdır. Doğduğundan beri pislik Alexi ve annesi Belinda yüzünden manastırda yaşamaktadır. Annesi yılda 2 kez onu ziyaret etmekte ve Fleur ona büyük bir hayranlık beslemektedir. Annesi onun her seyidir ve onun icin her seyi yapmayi göze alir. Buna kendi hayallerini annesinin hayallerine dönüştürmek de dahil.
16 yaşında annesinin baskılarıyla medyaya mankenlikle adım atar ve Taş Bebek unvanıyla ortalığı yıkar geçer. Ilk filmini cekecegi sırada Jake Koranda ( oyuncu-tiyatro ve senaryo yazari, karizmanin dibi. oldukkkcaaa yakisikli ve seksii ve ve ve tazilarin şahı *_* ) ile tanışır ve ona aşık olur. Ancak saklanan sırlar, pis ihtiraslar ortaya çıkıp, gerçekler incitici yüzünü gösterince Fleur bu istemediği şöhretten kaçıp kendi yolunu ve kendi karakterini cizmeye başlar.
5 yıl sonra döndüğünde o 19 yaşındaki kız artık büyümüş ve oldukca cesur bir sekilde dimdik ayaktadır. En önemlisi de artık kendisini ve amacını bulmustur. Michel ve Kissy'e de deginmeden gecmeyeyim cok ponciktiniz beaa :D
Kitap başlı başına resmen bir film gibiydi ve beni ezdi geçti. 70-80 yıllarında gecmesi beni zerre etkilemedi aksine daha da icine cekti. Pislik ebeveynlere sinirlenip küfürler yağdırırken, hemen arkasindan komik bir sahneyle gulumseten, arkasindan huzne bogan duygu gecisleriyle on numara bes yildiz tam bir sep kitabiydi iste.
Okurken keşfettiğim ve hosuma giden bir seyse kitapta gecen bazı ünlülerin gercekten var olmalarıydı. James Dean ve Errol Flynn gibi :D Belinda 'yı anlayabilecegim tek yön buydu iste adamlar gercekten taş arkadas :P
Açıkçası Belinda'nin da Alexi gibi bir sonu olsun isterdim. Pislik kadın -_-
Ayrıca kitap sayesinde bircok filmi de izleme listeme almış oldum. Bunlardan biri de "Sonsuz Ölüm" :D
Yani sonuc olarak tabiki de öneriyorum. Sep bu yahu okumayan sevmeyen çarpılır cidden o derece diyorum (Y)
Size en sevdigim ve güldüğüm alıntıyı atıp kaçıyorum.
~~~~~
Fleur'ün elleri sabahlığın önüne gitti. Sabahlığı açarak kollarını dışarı kaydırdı. Kumaş hafif bir tıslamayla yere kaydı.
Adam silahın namlusunu cok hafifçe kaldırdı. "Saçlarını çöz."
"Ulu Tanrım..." Fleur'ün elleri iğneleri çekiştirdi ve saçları açılırken çıplak omuzlarına su damlaları saçıldı.
"Güzel. Gercekten güzel. Şimdi de gecelik."
"Sakın..." diye yalvardı Fleur.
"Askıları yavaşça aşağı çek. Tek tek. "
Fleur ilk askıyı çekti ve durdu.
"Haydi." Adam tabancayla sert bir hareket yaptı. "Sana dediklerimi yap."
"Hayır."
Adam oturduğu yerde doğruldu. "Ne dedin sen?"
"Beni duydun."
"Beni daha fazla zorlama, Öğretmen Hanım!"
Fleur kodlarını göğsünde kavuşturdu.
Lanet olsun, diye düşündü Jake. Şimdi ne yapacaktı. :D :D :D
June 13, 2017
Bu benim ilk SEP romanımdı.
Yazar ile bu kitapla tanışmakla doğru mu yaptım pek emin değilim açıkçası.
İlk başlarda biraz zaman dilimine alışmakta sıkıntı yaşadım.
Gereksiz uzatmaların da etkisinde kaldım. Olay gelişimlerine lafım yok o konuda iyi ilerledi.
Ardından iki baş karakterin ilişki gelişimine çok çok geç ulaştım. Açıkçası daha çok bu ikiliye odaklı olmasını isterdim.
Belinda ve Alexi için diyebilecek laf zaten yok.
Böyle aileler olmaz olsun..
Fleur içinse ona da yer yer kızdım. Özellikle evden kaçışına kadarki olan Alexi ile ilişkisine.
Belinda ile olan ilişkisini saymıyorum bile deli etti beni.
Tamam ailesinden ilgiye aç bir şekilde büyüdüğü için bu şekilde davranmış olabilir ama daha da aklı başında olmasını dilerdim. Belinda'dan yiyeceği kazığı beklemesine gerek kalmadan da uyanabilirdi.
Bir de cep boy mu yapsam yoksa normal kitap boyunda mı çıkarsam kararsızlığında kalıp aman ikisi arasında bir şeyler yapayım bir de üzerine parıltı ekleyeyim ki 30 lira etiket fiyatı basayım mantığındaki sevgili yayınevi...
Ben biriken puanımla almıştım yoksa sahafıma gelirse alırdım ya da almazdım zaten ki yazarın birkaç kitabını da sahafımdan almıştım.
Yayınevinin fahiş fiyat politikasına girsem sabaha kadar konuşurum zaten o nedenle susuyorum!.
Yazar ile bu kitapla tanışmakla doğru mu yaptım pek emin değilim açıkçası.
İlk başlarda biraz zaman dilimine alışmakta sıkıntı yaşadım.
Gereksiz uzatmaların da etkisinde kaldım. Olay gelişimlerine lafım yok o konuda iyi ilerledi.
Ardından iki baş karakterin ilişki gelişimine çok çok geç ulaştım. Açıkçası daha çok bu ikiliye odaklı olmasını isterdim.
Belinda ve Alexi için diyebilecek laf zaten yok.
Böyle aileler olmaz olsun..
Fleur içinse ona da yer yer kızdım. Özellikle evden kaçışına kadarki olan Alexi ile ilişkisine.
Belinda ile olan ilişkisini saymıyorum bile deli etti beni.
Tamam ailesinden ilgiye aç bir şekilde büyüdüğü için bu şekilde davranmış olabilir ama daha da aklı başında olmasını dilerdim. Belinda'dan yiyeceği kazığı beklemesine gerek kalmadan da uyanabilirdi.
Bir de cep boy mu yapsam yoksa normal kitap boyunda mı çıkarsam kararsızlığında kalıp aman ikisi arasında bir şeyler yapayım bir de üzerine parıltı ekleyeyim ki 30 lira etiket fiyatı basayım mantığındaki sevgili yayınevi...
Ben biriken puanımla almıştım yoksa sahafıma gelirse alırdım ya da almazdım zaten ki yazarın birkaç kitabını da sahafımdan almıştım.
Yayınevinin fahiş fiyat politikasına girsem sabaha kadar konuşurum zaten o nedenle susuyorum!.
March 5, 2018
Ha sido el libro de SEP que más me ha costado leer y se nota que es el primero. He tenido altibajos con él porque hay partes que me han divertido mucho y otras que se me hacían pesadas. He echado de menos más relación de los protagonistas, ha sido más una historia de ella, toda la vida de ella, lo cual está bien pero no es a lo que yo estoy acostumbrada con SEP. Los padres lo PEOR, ¡qué gente! De todos modos hay partes que me las he leído del tirón y que me han gustado mucho, la esencia de esta mujer está ahí, des del principio de su gran carrera.
January 3, 2017
Започна неубедително тази книга, но постепенно стана интересна.Не е типично в стила на авторката,малко ми наподобяваше Луиз Бегшоу. В крайна сметка всичко си дойде по местата, не липсва чувството й за хумор, добрите диалози.Грандоманията е това , което ме дразни в американските автори.Всичко е най. Свръхреалистични неща се описват, които нямат нищо общо с живота.Всяка книга обаче,която ме кара да я прочета на един дъх,получава моята висока оценка.
May 20, 2010
You know you are in the hands of a good writer when time suspends, the story is so real you find yourself lost in it, and the characters are three dimensional enough that you truly CARE what happens to them. Susan Elizabeth Phillips is a goddess of romance for these very reasons!
Glitter Baby, although it is an earlier work of hers, still has all the elements that make SEP so unique and addicting! Glitter Baby has elements of BOTH romance and fiction. It is unlike lots of her newer work that focuses mainly on romance. Glitter Baby is definitely more in the vein of her books Honey Moon and Hot Shot vrs. the Chicago Stars series.
This is a "coming of age" story. This is the story of Fleur Savagar. If I had a vote for "the most unfortunate child of derelict parents"..Fleur would get my vote hands down! Fleur's mother is, to put it kindly, a flake! She is obsessed with Hollywood, and lives in an almost fairytale world of make believe with actors being the kings and queens. She will do anything to be in the company of stars. Fleur's "dad" is also a really big problem...he is manipulative, vindictive, and totally self motivated. Combine these two people and Fleur's only saving grace is that she was forced out of her home and raised in a convent!
Fleur is a pawn in her parent's twisted lives, obsessions, and desires. She is incredibly beautiful so her mother capitalizes on this by making her into an actress/model. Fleur is not interested in these occupations, but both allow her mother to be in the "limelight" with beautiful, and more importantly, FAMOUS people. Fleur, still dealing with her abandonment issues, wants to make her mom happy and agrees to a life she does not want.
Jake Koranda is one of the "yummiest" hero's I've read in a long time. He is funny and yet deep. He's tortured, but not too much so...just tortured enough to make your heart bleed for him. He and Fleur are destined and meant for each other....you realize it very early in the book and are cheering for them throughout all their ups and downs.
The best part of this book is watching Fleur's coming of age and her learning how to become her own person. It's painful to watch, but isn't life like that sometimes. What is MOST painful TEACHES us and we GROW!
This book is very hard to put down...it's separated into sections going from past to present, and has a great many characters to keep track of. It is funny, heartwrenching, and by far the best book I've read in a long time. You'll laugh through your tears...another vintage SEP experience!
Glitter Baby, although it is an earlier work of hers, still has all the elements that make SEP so unique and addicting! Glitter Baby has elements of BOTH romance and fiction. It is unlike lots of her newer work that focuses mainly on romance. Glitter Baby is definitely more in the vein of her books Honey Moon and Hot Shot vrs. the Chicago Stars series.
This is a "coming of age" story. This is the story of Fleur Savagar. If I had a vote for "the most unfortunate child of derelict parents"..Fleur would get my vote hands down! Fleur's mother is, to put it kindly, a flake! She is obsessed with Hollywood, and lives in an almost fairytale world of make believe with actors being the kings and queens. She will do anything to be in the company of stars. Fleur's "dad" is also a really big problem...he is manipulative, vindictive, and totally self motivated. Combine these two people and Fleur's only saving grace is that she was forced out of her home and raised in a convent!
Fleur is a pawn in her parent's twisted lives, obsessions, and desires. She is incredibly beautiful so her mother capitalizes on this by making her into an actress/model. Fleur is not interested in these occupations, but both allow her mother to be in the "limelight" with beautiful, and more importantly, FAMOUS people. Fleur, still dealing with her abandonment issues, wants to make her mom happy and agrees to a life she does not want.
Jake Koranda is one of the "yummiest" hero's I've read in a long time. He is funny and yet deep. He's tortured, but not too much so...just tortured enough to make your heart bleed for him. He and Fleur are destined and meant for each other....you realize it very early in the book and are cheering for them throughout all their ups and downs.
The best part of this book is watching Fleur's coming of age and her learning how to become her own person. It's painful to watch, but isn't life like that sometimes. What is MOST painful TEACHES us and we GROW!
This book is very hard to put down...it's separated into sections going from past to present, and has a great many characters to keep track of. It is funny, heartwrenching, and by far the best book I've read in a long time. You'll laugh through your tears...another vintage SEP experience!
February 21, 2022
Prima di cominciare fatemi dire che sono una grande fan della SEP. Trovo che i suoi libri siano meravigliosi e che i personaggi abbiano tutte le qualità indispensabili per essere godibili. Che si parli di sport romance o di rosa nudo e crudo, sono sempre rimasta piacevolmente colpita dai dialoghi frizzanti che supportano trame altrettanto creative.
Solo che in questo caso, forse complice il fatto che sia uno dei primi libri pubblicati, ho avuto più difficoltà ad amarlo totalmente.
Si inizia conoscendo una giovane Belinda che dal paesello fugge a Hollywood per diventare una star. Ma il suo sogno di gloria va presto alla deriva poiché Belinda è priva di talento e l’unica cosa che può fare per brillare è diventare una groupie e vivere quindi della luce riflessa delle star, proprio come i girasoli hanno bisogno del sole. Non crescerà mai come donna, se non anagraficamente, perché resterà meschina e manipolatrice dall’inizio alla fine, o forse le parole migliori per descriverla sono proprio quelle dell’autrice: “una donna fragile e frivola che voleva il meglio dalla vita ma che non aveva né la capacità né la forza di carattere per ottenerlo da sola.”
Poi all’improvviso la storia cambia e conosciamo Fleur Savagar, una giovane ragazzina che rappresenta una pedina nella guerra eterna dei suoi genitori. Abbandonata dalle suore sin dai primissimi giorni di vita, ama alla follia la madre, schifa il padre – a buon ragione sant’iddio-, e ha grandi sogni per il proprio futuro. Sogni molto intelligenti, che però non coincidono con i piani di sua madre. Piani che la portano oggettivamente a splendere e da cui il nome d’arte Glitter Baby.
Nonostante la protagonista indiscussa sia Fleur, è stato donato parecchio spazio al passato. Potrebbe diventare pesante talvolta, ma badate bene, ogni mollichina serve a fortificare la costruzione di Fleur e vi renderete conto proprio alla fine che nulla è stato lasciato al caso.
La storia mi è piaciuta, i personaggi ni. Certo, indiscutibilmente piacevoli, ma forse ora che sono abituata alla versione moderna dell’autrice, questo tuffo nel passato non è proprio my cup of tea.
A prescindere dal mio personalissimo trovare il pelo nell’uovo, una lettura di livello assicurata.
Cherry.
https://www.thedirtyclubofbooks.it/gl...
Solo che in questo caso, forse complice il fatto che sia uno dei primi libri pubblicati, ho avuto più difficoltà ad amarlo totalmente.
Si inizia conoscendo una giovane Belinda che dal paesello fugge a Hollywood per diventare una star. Ma il suo sogno di gloria va presto alla deriva poiché Belinda è priva di talento e l’unica cosa che può fare per brillare è diventare una groupie e vivere quindi della luce riflessa delle star, proprio come i girasoli hanno bisogno del sole. Non crescerà mai come donna, se non anagraficamente, perché resterà meschina e manipolatrice dall’inizio alla fine, o forse le parole migliori per descriverla sono proprio quelle dell’autrice: “una donna fragile e frivola che voleva il meglio dalla vita ma che non aveva né la capacità né la forza di carattere per ottenerlo da sola.”
Poi all’improvviso la storia cambia e conosciamo Fleur Savagar, una giovane ragazzina che rappresenta una pedina nella guerra eterna dei suoi genitori. Abbandonata dalle suore sin dai primissimi giorni di vita, ama alla follia la madre, schifa il padre – a buon ragione sant’iddio-, e ha grandi sogni per il proprio futuro. Sogni molto intelligenti, che però non coincidono con i piani di sua madre. Piani che la portano oggettivamente a splendere e da cui il nome d’arte Glitter Baby.
“Aveva fatto un ottimo lavoro fingendo, ed era esattamente quello che avrebbe fatto con questo film. Avrebbe finto.”
Nonostante la protagonista indiscussa sia Fleur, è stato donato parecchio spazio al passato. Potrebbe diventare pesante talvolta, ma badate bene, ogni mollichina serve a fortificare la costruzione di Fleur e vi renderete conto proprio alla fine che nulla è stato lasciato al caso.
La storia mi è piaciuta, i personaggi ni. Certo, indiscutibilmente piacevoli, ma forse ora che sono abituata alla versione moderna dell’autrice, questo tuffo nel passato non è proprio my cup of tea.
A prescindere dal mio personalissimo trovare il pelo nell’uovo, una lettura di livello assicurata.
Cherry.
https://www.thedirtyclubofbooks.it/gl...
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