It’s a real delight today to be joining the blog tour for The One That I Want by Lynne Shelby, published by Accent Press tomorrow (26th July) in paperback and for kindle. Goodness, this one’s been a long time coming – I loved the look of the book when Lynne first told me about it, way back in March 2017, and I’ve been really looking forward to reading it ever since. And isn’t it lovely when a book turns out to be exactly what you want it to be – and maybe a little more? I so enjoyed this one…
When Lucy Ashford lands a top job at a leading theatrical agency in London, work mixes with pleasure, as she literally falls into the arms of Hollywood heartthrob Daniel Miller. Handsome, charming and irresistible, Daniel is just what unlucky-in-love Lucy needs, and she is quickly drawn into his glittering celebrity lifestyle. But can she tame the A-list bad boy or is she just one more girl in Daniel’s long line of conquests?
And then there’s up-and-coming actor Owen Somers, fiercely talented but as yet uncast in a starring role. After she takes him onto the agency’s books, Owen and Lucy’s friendship slowly grows. If she looks closely, Lucy’s leading man might be right before her very eyes…
Even if I hadn’t heard about this book, it would most certainly have drawn me by its cover – isn’t it just gorgeous? There have also been a couple of wonderful cinematic trailers – such fun, and perfect introductions to the warmth and excitement of the book’s story. You’ll find the first here, on YouTube – and the second via Lynne’s Twitter feed (Lucy and Daniel look exactly as I pictured them!).
This is just a wonderful story – and a really perfect summer read. I guess we all have a bit of a fascination with the lives of the rich and famous, and maybe a bit of a hankering for being part of it all – and when Lucy moves to London and a job with a theatrical agency, she certainly gets caught up in it, and in a way she could never have imagined. Having made some wrong choices in the past, Lucy can’t believe her luck when she catches the eye of big screen heartthrob Daniel Miller – he’s well used to encountering paparazzi on every outing and rather revels in his fame (or should that be notoriety?) and the superficiality of it all, and he’s a wonderfully drawn character.
To Lucy it’s all new and distinctly uncomfortable, but I really liked the way she comes to terms with it – she’s so very likeable, feet firmly on the ground however much it shifts beneath her. I enjoyed the friendships in the book too. Cassie’s persona as Princess Snowdrop totally takes over her life, an escape too from issues of the past that threaten to overtake her when things don’t go as they should: and Owen, the wonderful male best friend every girl needs when life takes an unexpected turn. The downside of fame, fortune and adulation is so well done too – the rottenness behind the glamour, the emptiness underneath it all.
There’s plenty of glitzy settings, the limousines, the champagne fuelled clubbing in VIP areas, the premier league footballers at the breakfast table – but also the fake friends and hangers on, and the downright treacherous ones. And it’s a great story, so well told – a perfect escape from day-to-day reality, with a reminder that fame and fortune can be gone in an instant, and that real life can maybe sometimes be a more comfortable place to be. And it’s beautifully written – with a joy and lightness about it, and a chance to encounter a lifestyle and range of experiences most of us can only dream about. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
About the author
Lynne Shelby writes contemporary women’s fiction/romance. Her debut novel, French Kissing won the Accent Press and Woman magazine Writing Competition. She has done a variety of jobs from stable girl to child actor’s chaperone to legal administrator, but now writes full time. When not writing or reading, Lynne can usually be found at the theatre or exploring a foreign city – Paris, New York, Rome, Copenhagen, Seattle, Reykjavik – writer’s notebook, camera and sketchbook in hand. She lives in London with her husband, and has three adult children who live nearby.
I’m so thrilled that you enjoyed The One That I Want, Anne 🙂 Thank you so much for such a lovely review 🙂
I thoroughly enjoyed it Lynne – and so many other people will too! It was an absolute pleasure xx