All That Glitters by Ilana Fox and introducing our latest contributor, Helen.

All That Glitters by Ilana Fox

(Orion, Sept 2012.)

Helen’s verdict on ‘All That Glitters’ by Ilana Fox. 

Ella Aldridge seems to have it all. Married to Danny Riding, one of the Premiership’s leading goal-scorers, she lives the dream – the mansion, the car, the freebie designer clothes. But Ella and Danny have a secret. Their marriage is not what is seems. Between them, it takes a lot of hard work to fool the press and the nation that they really are Love’s Young Dream, when deep down Danny’s desires lie elsewhere.
With Ella’s star in the ascendant, the world is at her feet – a TV show, a fashion column. But then she meets Johnny Cooper, the bad boy of British television. He’s ruthlessly charming and sexy, and he can see through Ella’s sham of a marriage in a heartbeat. Drawn into a risky, high-octane affair, Ella suddenly realises how much she has to lose and how quickly it can be taken from her…

I’m not usually a fan of the celebrity lifestyle magazines or novels, but I do love Ilana Fox’s books, and this one didn’t disappoint.

When the novel starts you think Ella has everything anyone could want – she’s got the hot boyfriend, the awesome house and the wealthy lifestyle. Until we see the cracks in her relationship, which could lead to the end of it all.

Ella then meets Johnny Cooper, who unfortunately sees the cracks we do. Of course, being hot, arrogant, and dangerous she’s immediately attracted to him.

Before she met and married a famous footballer, Ella was a ‘normal’ girl like you and me, made her real and able to sympathise with her from the off. When things started going wrong, I couldn’t stand it and was immediately routing for her.

It’s a total escapism book, which took me away from daily life, because Ella’s life was just so different to mine. If I had any complaints, the one would be that I read it too quickly; I have to admit I spent a weekend curled on the sofa reading it. It was a great weekend.

To find out more about Ilana, click here. 

Introducing our new contributor, Helen. 

Helen has been reading since she can remember. If she was ever lost as a kid, she could always be found with her head in a book. This love of books carried on through her teens and now way (way) into adulthood. Helen is also a keen writer and has recently started editing the book she hopes you’ll be reading soon.

Read about Helen’s writing, reading and the life that comes between her and these goals on her blog under her not-so-secret, and slightly outdated online persona Newtowritinggirl or on Twitter.

She lives with her boyfriend a stone’s throw from the Thames in her second favourite city London (favourite being New York – of course, 

​

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.