Small-Town Girl in London
Written: Mar 19 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very funny story, told in the First Person
Cons: None, really
The Bottom Line: This story was very English, very funny, and quite refreshing. For those who don't normally read romances, this one just might appeal to you.
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| daphnec's Full Review: |
City Girl in Training by Liz Fielding was hilarious! Reading this book was a lot like watching those quirky English comedies that attract the likes of Hugh Grant.
I've read quite a few Britain-based Harlequin Romances over the years. They're usually not as racy as their American counterparts, and they're never funny. I usually have difficulty connecting with the male protagonists because they tend to be arrogant and overbearing, and for some reason, the women in those novels seem to just love it. Right.
I bought City Girl in Training at a local store, initially intrigued by the cover art, featuring a redhead being assisted from a limo, and was sold when I realized that the story was told in the first person, which is unusual in this genre.
As I read about the misadventures of a very backwoods-ish twenty-two year old virgin named Philly, I laughed and laughed. At first glance, Philly was very cliche: the youngest of four children, she still lived with her parents, worked at a job that her father arranged for her, and, surprise, was somewhat engaged to the boy next door, having followed him around like a lovesick puppy since she was ten and he was a disinterested twelve. Reading further, I discovered that there was a lot more to Ms. Philippa of Maybridge than met the eye.
First of all, Philly transferred to a London bank as a favor to her boss, set up in a posh flat in the heart of the city with a couple of party girls, and she literally stumbled into the arms of the best-looking man in London. It took about ten seconds to forget Don-next-door, with a heart going ka-thump, ka-thump for a guy that, according to her roommates, is gay. Was Philly disappointed? Noooo, she felt safe.
The plot thickens, twists and turns, as it turns out that the guy the flatmates call Gorgeous George (who's gay) left weeks ago, replaced by Callum McBride (the owner of the flat) and a clueless Philly's flirting outrageously with one of London's most eligible bachelors, dropping hint after hint that she thinks he's gay and safe. Never mind that the guy's kissed her socks off more than once.
When Philly discovers that Cal is straight, she feels guilty for about ten seconds (after all, she's almost engaged to Don, back in Maybridge), then decides to go for it. Discovered the morning after an innocent overnighter, Philly and Cal wake up to find almost-fiance Don at the door. Big fight scene, right? Nope. Don, who's found his true love in Philly's absence (another guy, no less), wishes Philly all the luck in the world.
Reading this whole crazy account from Philly's point of view made me feel that I was there. What a funny girl! I doubt she'll ever really be a city girl, when all she does is break things, get lost, and get in trouble, but I laughed and laughed. I'll be much more likely to read books from the Tango series if they're as funny as City Girl in Training. How about a couple of sequels: City Wife in Training, or City Mom in Training. If they're as funny as the book I just read, I'm all for it.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
daphnec
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Location: El Segundo, CA
Reviews written: 71
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
Teacher, married, mother of four
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