Opportunity Knocks: A Novel

by Alison Sweeney

"In Opportunity Knocks, Sweeney captures the insanity of Hollywood in the perfect blend of fun, intrigue, and romance."---Portia De Rossi, actress and New York Times bestselling author of Unbearable Lightness

Alex Cleary has careened from one dead-end position to another. But suddenly the ingenious makeup artist finds her distinct talents are valued by none other than lifestyle-empire mogul Hillary P.--renowned for her golden touch in broadcast and print media, as well as for her hair-trigger temper. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the daytime television scene that Alex is determined not to screw up.

Then a frank word in the wrong ear puts Alex's job on the line. Alex anticipates Hillary's rage, but she can't believe that this multimillionaire is holding her newest staffer to a nondisclosure agreement that demands reparation of 5 million dollars.

Alex has only 48 hours to repair the damage. And with a vengeful Hillary P. watching the clock, the devil will have her due...

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Contemporary, Adult Fiction

248 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 5, 2016

About the author

Alison Ann Sweeney is an American dramatic actress, author, novelist and reality show host. Sweeney is best known for her portrayal of Samantha 'Sami' Brady on NBC's long running 'Days of our Lives.' In this role, she has earned a Daytime Emmy Award. In 2007, she became the host of 'The Biggest Loser.'

Reviews

[yura · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.75, I didn’t expect to enjoy this so much since I had no expectations going into the book and it was soo fast paced, it’s a short book (242 pages) and it was reallyy good 😭🫶🏼

loved the characters sm (alex&billy🤭🤭) except one (or two 😭)

[Joy (joyous reads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I remember now why I don’t enjoy reading celebrity-written novels. I mean, don’t get me wrong. There are actually talented celebrity writers out there, but you can tell this one was written by an amateur because it shows. She was fond of telling instead of showing and the characters are nothing but cardboard cutouts possessing the personalities of bland gruel. Let’s not even talk about the plot. If you think Hollywood is far out of realism, this book blows that perception out into outer space.

Alex Cleary is a fledgling makeup artist who hasn’t made it to Hollywood. She knows what she wants to do but just hadn’t quite caught a break. For now, she’s taking small time gigs while helping out in her family’s pool business along with her on-again, off again boyfriend. Who, by the way, seems to be only interested in her for the career her family name can afford him. On the other hand, hers wasn’t going anywhere, and her life is at a standstill. Until she finally snags the opportunity of a lifetime: working as Hillary P.’s (even her name sounds pretentious *gag* ) makeup artist.

Lauded as a Devil Wears Prada wannabe, Opportunity Knocks tells the story about how easily it is for Hollywood to squash your dreams. Actor or not, it’s a shark infested water and you’re a bleeding, flailing bait. Alex Cleary finds herself on the cusp of a breakthrough but when she trusted the wrong people, it was all over even before it begins. Hillary P. is your typical egomaniacal villain bent on showing off her influence and power. She’s rude, a devil of a diva, and she makes sure everyone knows just how big her head is.

The writing is barely passable; the only good thing it had going for it was the fact that you’ll fly through this book. Though, now that I’ve thought about it, I think I skimmed a lot of nonsense. The characters are what you see what you get – no depths, no charms. They are just there to play their parts. You don’t get to know them any deeper than what’s there on the pages. Overall, I’m just happy I gave her work a chance. At least I know now to avoid them in the future.

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an alright read. Opportunity Knocks by Alison Sweeney was a quick read. I thought the story was enjoyable some moments, and not so enjoyable in others. I did get rather bored with this book. I thought the mystery was good, but I was just expecting more as this is my first book by her as an author. I did not feel a connection with the characters, and I thought the chapters ended abruptly. I will read her other books, as I heard great things about them. I just feel a bit disappointed because I was expecting more. Overall, an okay read.

[Alissa Koewler · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting at the pool. I would’ve put it down ten pages in but didn’t have a second book with me. It’s quite a pile of badly written nonsense, complete with shallow characters and stupidly unnecessary descriptions. Not worth your time.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well ... It's hard to describe what this book was, or at least what it felt like to me. It was somehow a mix of a Young Adult book with 4 or 5 hints of the author trying to break out of that genre and getting into adult novely by adding a couple swear words and two scenes that maybe were supposed to be spicy but didn't have any real spice at all.

The book had this unmistakable YA feeling where the main character gets an amazing opportunity, takes it, then comes the handsom young man who she falls in love with, they oh no, comes the problem that they solve with a solution that seems so far fetched, I can't believe this would actually work irl. Not to mention the kind of unresolved issue at the end with the main character's best friend, but that's beside the point.

I don't really know what to think of this book. It was definitely not something I would rea today, but I can see my 14 year old self liking it a lot.

[Jack Reynolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

I figured this book was going to be fun schlock and was not disappointed. Sweeney may not be the best writer, but she does make you curious as Alex gets the opportunity of a lifetime and has to figure out how to save her reputation with the help of new friends. There were plenty of unrealistic elements and tropes I forgot didn't just apply to YA (the insta-love express), but Opportunity Knocks was an incredibly quick read that was fun while it lasted. Fans of hers who haven't checked this out yet should give it a go.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was something I picked up for a very cheap price, and, having thought that it sounded like a light fun read, I dived straight into it.
This was not a masterpiece of literature by any stretch of the mind, however, I enjoyed it much like I enjoy a Lifetime or Hallmark film, simply because it is entertaining. It is well written, engaging, and the characters all have some depth to them.
If you are looking for something simple, I would recommend this book.

[Michelle Boyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young woman named Alex is working as a makeup artist in California, doing her best to save up money to move out of her parent's house, and suddenly finds that she's getting dumped by her longtime boyfriend. Luckily for her, she's on the set of a famous tv personality's show when the resident makeup artist is whisked away to the hospital. Alex is on hand, she does some makeup, and boom she's hired -- and she's asked to move to New York to continue working with said celebrity. It seems like these events come at the perfect time. Add to this she ends up in the bed of a hunky, hunky movie star...well, nothing could be better.

Except Alex accidentally blabs to a reporter about her boss's crazy antics and suddenly she's violated her NDA and is about to owe someone $5 million that she will never, ever have. Alex, her new beau Billy, and a few others create a plan to get the reporter to squash the story. They have 48 hours to get this done.

Okay, so the plot comes rather quickly, but it is a short book -- making it the perfect short read. However, you do find yourself having a lot of questions. Did this movie star really fall this hard for a girl within about five minutes of knowing her? How many people are willing to put their careers on the line to help this makeup artist? Alex keeps saying how independent she is but is there ever a moment where you feel like she actually is?!

For me, the depth wasn't there. It makes for a fun, quick read, but it is something that once you read it you're not going to go tell your best friend about. You're not in love with any of the characters. The story just falls a little flat (and is a little too perfect with its tidy ending) and of course, "show versus tell" is an issue throughout. So it is something you can get through quickly but isn't going to stay in your soul.

PS: This is written, I'm told, by a celebrity -- had no idea. Still not entirely sure who Alison Sweeney is because I never watched "The Biggest Loser" but again, I'm told she's kinda famous. For what it is worth.

[Cindy Roesel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chances are you know who Ali Sweeney is. Up until last year, she was the host of “The Biggest Loser” for eight seasons. She won an Emmy for her role as the villainess, “Sami” on the soap, “Days of Our Lives.” She’s recently starred in several Hallmark Original movies and now she’s out with her third novel, OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS (hachettebooks). The first two did well in chick-lit circles and she’s hoping the third time will be the real charm! So far, the reviews are fabulous and for good reason – OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS – ROCKS!

“I’m not going to spend the rest of my life in debt to the devil.”

The glamour of Hollywood is starting to wear-off in make-up artist, Alex Cleary’s life. She can’t seem to catch a break – bouncing from one job to the next. But suddenly, just like out of a movie, “opportunity knocks” with none other than lifestyle empire mogul, Hillary P. – known as a brilliant TV diva with the golden touch and an unmatched temper! Alex has a chance to join her daytime TV hit and she’s not going to blow it! Beware of what you hope for!

Making faces isn’t always pretty, as Alex quickly finds out and the so-called friendships behind-the-scenes aren’t what they appear to be, either! The daggers you feel stabbed into your back in showbiz are “real!” Alex grows up quickly and we readers get to take a bi-coastal ride with her as she quickly goes from “green” to knowing how to deal with the mean, and ends up getting the guy, too! NO, this ISN’T a spoiler! It’s chick-lit, of course she’s going to get the guy!

It’s a quick-paced, fun read that you’ll enjoy at the beach or pool – make sure you have a margarita or two – frozen!

For all things ALI you can find her on FB or twitter @Ali_Sweeney

[Carol Boyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Make Up Is More Dangerous Than Just Lipstick!, April 24, 2016

Alison Sweeney is an all around gal with tons of talent and she proves it not only as an actress on Days of Our Lives for many years, but as a writer, producer and director of other productions. Her book Opportunity Knocks is an highly entertaining read, a look into the glamorous high society world of on the runway, and the folks who demand the best in the business. Alex lands a dream job as a make-up artist for a high powered woman and not so nice mogul who dictates to everyone around her in a volatile manner. Alex is high energy, passionate about her career which is going so well despite the harsh treatment from her boss, until she is called on the carpet for violating a non-disclosure agreement which had her in a bind unless she can come up with $5 million dollars in 48 hours and be out of a job.. The pace is on, relationships are cautious, who can she trust, how did this happen, and how or can she fix this? The pace of this book keeps you reading and guessing till the end.

[Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I checked this out thinking it would be trashy fun, and I was not disappointed. It reads like a good version of a Lifetime original movie, complete with a neophyte make-up artist with a dream, some insider detail (courtesy of the author's acting experience), a bitch boss, a shining knight sexy actor, a sleazy reporter, a boring ex-boyfriend, a treacherous friend, and lots of NYC details.

[Alyce (Alyceloves2read) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, it was just okay. Quick and easy read but the storyline seemed rather unbelievable. If you are looking for a light beach read this probably wouldn’t be a bad choice but if you are looking for something deeper, look elsewhere.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hallmark movie style escapism

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

The more I think about this book, the less I like it. Give me another day, and the rating will drop to a One.

It’s click-lit, so it’s not like my expectations were high. And the start is pretty good with the main character Alex (a woman) explaining her new career as a makeup person for models and weddings. Her explanations of what she does are realistic, and you get a sense of the high amount of judgment that goes into the process when it’s being done well. The woman’s problems are laid out well too — smug boyfriend, interfering parents, low self esteem.

But then the book goes entirely off the rails with a wholly implausible plot and caricatured TV and movie people. As a sitcom, maybe it would work if the dialogue was better. Not in this case, with a lot of interior monologue about lack of confidence, claustrophobia, and other anxieties. The evil person who drives the story, a Martha Stewartish TV hostess named Hillary, just screams at everyone all the time. Are there people like that? Yes. Donald Trump is one. But everyone knows he’s a horrible person, but in this book Hillary is implausibly able to hide her bad side from the public.

Until Alex spills the beans. That sets things careening out of control, and Alex is saved from ruin through the intervention of Billy, a ridiculously handsome and kind movie star who falls for her at first sight. No idea why he does. Alex has no idea, either. I guess we’re supposed to think her charm is that she’s more real than TV and movie types, but all of Billy’s friends pitch in to help save her, so how bad can any of them be?

Anyway, it all turns out perfect in the end, which is especially unsatisfying given how implausibly we got there. I’ll mention a couple of additional egregious clunkers. The bad woman is Hillary, and the perfect man is Billy. Billy and Hillary—as in the Clintons, get it? What kind of reference is this? Do you really want to claim Bill Clinton was a good guy and pretend he has an ounce of sincerity? Do you really want to portray Hillary as a witch, which is the exact stereotype lie the Republicans paraded? And do you really want your obviously capable Alex to turn to another man to save her, right after escaping a long term boyfriend who underestimated her? In fact she tells Billy she’s embarrassed to rely on him, and his answer is the nonsensical “ you’re not.” Dumb and dumber.

[Shari Nagy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A VERY quick read, maybe took me about 3 hours total to get through. Full of twists that you would not expect, this book is my favorite of her three and very hard to put down!
Alex is a makeup artist feeling stuck not only in her job in LA but in her relationship with Sean. Emma, her friend from New York, works for a talk show host. When the show comes to LA, she invites Alex to join. Alex comes, ends up doing the host’s makeup and meets Billy Fox (a recurring character from all three or Sweeney’s books). She is invited to join the team full-time and moves to New York single and ready to work.
Throughout her time in New York, Alex makes mistakes, falls in and out of love and looks at friendship in a new way. This book shows what many twenty-thirty year olds go through in order to discover your true self. A great story with an even stronger message.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the whole Hollywood plot and those who work behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. This was a cute and fast read. Certainly some loose ends that were never tied up and left me wondering. It would be a good book to segue into a sequel.
.
“When opportunity knocks, you’d better answer.” Alex is entering into the makeup business in LA. Trying to be more independent and not rely on her family, she is quickly and unexpectedly offered a job opportunity with a high profile celebrity, though the job is in New York. Alex moves her life across the country to follow her dream. There, she is quickly consumed by the fast-paced work. Making a mistake that she didn’t realize she was making, she has now violated a non-disclosure agreement and has to find a way to resolve it or she will have to pay 5-million dollars that she does not have.

[Jessica Zack · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Alison Sweeney, so I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, it just was not for me. I read about half of it and got so uninterested I put it down for almost a year before forcing myself to finish it. One positive is it's quick to get through. However, so much happened, and none of it felt earned. The relationship built too quickly and on seemingly nothing - it was very unrealistic. And all the events happened with very little build up or tension. This was marketed as a thriller, but really it was a romance with a few risky events thrown in. The writing wasn't terrible but the construction felt amateurish. And everything wrapped up in way too neat a bow at the end.

[Rachel Weikart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this book as a quick beach read, and it fit that purpose well. The book is super easy to read that even I, a slow reader, was able to finish the whole novel in two days. The storytelling jumped a fair amount from one event to another with minimal information in between. While this means almost no information in the book is unnecessary, but it was easy to feel unattached to the main character's problems.

[Lindsay V. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just ok - length-wise it wasn't very long, but story wise, I felt like it went on forever. I was hooked after the first chapter, and it lost me by about the 5th. Boring, kind of predictable or maybe I just stopped caring what was going to happen... An insight into the celebrity world, but nothing new.

[Shauna Cochran · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I thought initially about a 3 star review but dang it it was a quick fun chick lit read that made me feel good so it gets a 4 for that reason. It was an escape from my reality and very different from what I would normally read. So yea. Lay by a pool, sit on the beach, or by the fire in front of your Christmas tree and read this quick one as if it’s a Hallmark movie. 😊

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This almost seemed like YA. The protagonist is supposed to be 25, but she seemed really immature and more than a little stupid. But I'm pretty far removed from 25, so maybe that's normal. She does show some growth throughout the book and I liked the ending, so overall this is an enjoyable book. It takes a while to get where it's going though.

[Jodie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a quick read, but very not believable. I could not relate to the main character, Alex, in any way. I thought the writing could be a little convoluted at times. I had to go back and reread things a few times because I thought I missed something, but it never became more clear. I think the author jumped around a bit and did not clearly introduce some characters.

[Devon Nasser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book about a makeup artist and I can honestly say Alison Sweeney made me want to learn how to do makeup for other women. She had a way of making everything in this book sound like something magical and fun to do. I look forward to reading her other books.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fictionalized behind the scenes look at the Hollywood scene. Filled with characters you'll root for and character's you want to slap, this romp through the Alex's life as a freelance make-up artist is great fun!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Allison Sweeney as an actress on Hallmark channel, so when I saw that she had written books I was intrigued. The story did not disappoint. It was an easy read and enjoyable. A great book for taking a break from reality.

[Jacquelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! It kinda reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, except in this case the main character is a makeup artist working for an absolute monster of a celebrity in NYC! As an aspiring makeup artist myself, I found it very amusing!!

[Rebecca Raeske-Grinch · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It was really distracting that she named the boyfriend Billy, the boss Hillary and the boss's hair stylist Monica. Also, Sami Brady tends to end chapters really abruptly.

[Ed Finnegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

murder mystery ..main charter is a make up artist that gets involed in the murder of a celebrity client.

[Angelica Belenski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun summer read!

Alison Sweeney needs to write another book, and I mean soon! I've read all the books she's written so far and I am looking forward to more!

[Andrea Conley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly little chick lit book, but I flew through it in a day and really loved it! Nice change of pace from all the intense books I've been reading as of late!