Book Review of Rumor Has It:In a town this small, a secret is hard to keep by Jill Mansell

Welcome to the Book Blog Tour of Jill Mansell's Rumor Has It!


The blurb:
This man doesn't seem to match his reputation. . .

Newly single Tilly Cole impulsively moves to a small town, only to find she's arrived in a hotbed of gossip, intrigue, and rampant rivalry for the most desirable man -- irresistible Jack Lucas, whose reputation is beyond bad.  Tilly has no intention of becoming another notch on his bedpost.  But the thoughtful, caring guy she comes to value as a friend doesn't seem to fit the town's playboy image.

Till doesn't know what to believe -- and Jack's not telling.

Review:
In Rumor Has It: In a town this small, a secret is hard to keep, Jill Mansell comes up with another hilarious madcap and satisfying read!  In the best British chicklit tradition, Mansell creates slightly spacey but sympathetic women romantic lead characters.  When Tilly comes home to find her apartment ransacked, it takes a while before she realizes that her boyfriend has left her.   Tilly's response is to take the commuter rail to the small town of Roxborough -- to visit her best friend, Erin, for cheering up.

Tilly comes across an ad for a "Girl Friday" job in Roxborough just as she decides that she's ready for a change of scenery.   A string of events make it possible for Tilly to chuck her old life and start anew, surrounded by a new set of friends.  Among the different characters, we meet:

• Max - a loving father, who has recently come out of the closet and separated from his wife;
• Kaye - Max's ex-wife, a famous daytime television star in the US, based in California;
• Louisa - Max and Kaye's teenage daughter, ginger haired, pale, lively, and fun.  Louisa draws everyone together and decides quite early on that Tilly would be a good addition to the household;
• Jack - Max's best friend, the most sought-after bachelor in the area, deadly good looks, wealthy, and not looking for a serious relationship; and
• Erin - Tilly's best friend from college, the owner and manager of a vintage/high end thrift shop in Roxborough.

Tilly, Max, Louisa, Kaye, and Erin are upbeat and supportive of each other as they each face their personal crises.  Coincidences, misunderstandings and mishaps abound to create a fun, romantic comedy.   Mansell's humor, sense of timing and wit come together so well to make Rumor Has It a surefire hit!  If you're looking for a hilarious and satisfying read in the realm of women's fiction, I highly recommend Rumor Has It!

ISBN-10: 1402237502 - Trade Paperback $14.00
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (May 1, 2010), 416 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.

About the Author, in her own words:
Jill Mansell lives with her partner and children in Bristol and writes full time.  Actually, that's not true; she watches TV, eats gum drops, admires the rugby players training in the sports field behind her house, and spends hours on the Internet marveling at how many other writers have blogs.  Only when she's completely run out of ways to procrastinate does she write.

Thank you so much to SourceBooks for this review opportunity!